Recent Reads - Quarantine Edition #2

About a month ago, I posted about what I've been reading in quarantine.  Guess what, I'm still at home.  But that's okay!  I'm honestly perfectly happy in my room with my books and my laptop and my window and my Spotify playlists.  And while my reading hasn't really gotten any faster, I've still read some pretty great stuff.

In my Never Say Goodbye review, I mentioned that I'm in a weird headspace reading-wise right now.  Either I read nothing for a week, or I devour three books in three days, and there seems to be no in-between.  Which, I mean, could be worse.  At least I'm loving the books I'm reading, right?

So here I am again with more mini-reviews of what I've been reading lately because I'm obsessed with all of them, tbh.

Martin Legacy - Abigayle Claire

 

 

"so what do you do on the days when you can't move on?"

julie smiled, though it wobbled a little.

"trust God and try again tomorrow."

 

Technically I made this collage back when I read Martin Hospitality, but I never shared it and in a way, it fits this one better.  God is good like that, huh?  I loved the first book when I read it last year, and I'm so glad that I finally read the sequel - I absolutely adored it.  Abigayle has a way of writing slice-of-life stories that keep hold of you until the very last page, and it's a roller coaster of emotions along the way.  I laughed, I cried, it moved me Bob.  (bonus points if you get that reference, lol)

Rating: 5 stars

Met Her Match - Susan L. Tuttle

 

 

"truth is, the only thing that's sure is God.

maybe try trusting him and stepping out where he's leading,

because it's always solid ground even when it shakes."

"shaking ground isn't solid."

"and that's why our God is king of the impossible."

 

Susan L. Tuttle quickly became one of my favorite authors last year when I read her two full-length novels, and this was novella the only work of hers I had left to read.  And I'm already dying for more.  Her books are perfect feel-good rom-coms, they make me so happy, and this was no exception.  Pem and Tobias were so great; I loved both of them individually and then even more together.  It was just a lot of my favorite tropes all rolled into one adorable story that I will 100% be revisiting in the future.

Rating: 5 stars

Wonder - R.J. Palacio

 

 

"if every single person in this room made it a rule

that wherever you are, whenever you can,

you will try to act a little kinder than necessary

- the world really would be a better place."

 

I'd call this book a modern classic - I've heard so much about it for so many years, but I only just last month got around to reading it.  I finished the whole thing in less that 24 hours, and it was so beautiful.  Auggie's story is one that I won't soon forget, and I can't wait to watch the movie, even though I know I'm going to bawl my eyes out. 

Rating: 5 stars

Kit Kittredge Collection - Valerie Tripp

 

 

"how come you're so sure?" kit asked her.

aunt millie considered kit's question. "I guess teachers

and gardeners are just naturally optimistic," she said.

"can't help it. children and seeds are never disappointing."

 

A couple of weeks ago, I was in kind of a "meh" mood, so I decided to re-read the entire Kit Kittredge series.  I grew up on the American Girl books, and while Kit wasn't my favorite as a kid (that went to Felicity), she does live during the Great Depression, which is the time period my novel is based on.  So, you know, I can count it as "research".  Totally.  But anyway I had a wonderful time revisiting these books.  Aunt Millie is an icon, Will Sheperd was totally one of my first fictional crushes, I would die for Stirling, and the film is genuinely such a great adaptation.

Rating: 4 stars

Once Upon a Marigold - Jean Ferris

 

"nobody ever gets enough appreciation

when they're behaving themselves,

but there's no end to hearing about it

when they're not."

This was so weird and whimsical and wonderful and exactly what I needed.  I picked up both this and the sequel at a used bookstore a few years ago, and just now got around to reading it.  It's so adorable.  Christian and Marigold are wonderful, it's got so much humor and heart, and even though I saw the plot reveals coming a mile away, they were still enjoyable.  It's not only a spoof of the classic fairytale setting, but a love letter to it.  It's not perfect, but I had such a good time reading it.

Rating: 4 stars


And there you have it!  Five more books I've read recently.  What have you been reading?  How's quarantine treating you?  Did you have a favorite American Girl character as a kid?  Let me know all the things in the comments below!

~ Abby