my all-time favorite love stories

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! I hope you spend today with whatever or whomever makes you feel the very fuzziest on the inside.

Do you set reading goals for the year? I was so close to mine last year, but I spent a bit too much time begrudgingly reading books that I just wasn't into (looking at you, Beartown) and fell behind by about six books. Yiiiiikes. I set my Goodreads challenge to 25 books (again) for this year, which means I need to spend less time scrolling and more time picking up my Kindle.

I've been wanting to do a 2018 book review post, but since it's Valentine's Day, aka the day of luuurrrve, I thought I'd share some of my all-time favorite love stories.

I feel like I go through "stages" with book genres. From 2015-2016, I was an avid thriller-seeker. Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, The Woman in Cabin 10...any book pertaining to a female and a place she has or hasn't been, I was reading it. But over the last year, I've been veering more toward frivolous, light reads. Perhaps it's the current political climate, or all the horrific things happening in the world, but I've been partial to happier (or happy-ish) romantic books.

And don't worry - you won't catch 50 Shades of Gray on this list. Hop on out of here with that, y'all.

(JK, you can stay).

Note: Some affiliate links may be used. This means that, if you make a purchase through one of these links, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you. I appreciate you! Also, I'm an avid library book reader, so I say try to get these babies for free first.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Forever Is The Worst Long Time by Camille Pagan - favorite book of 2018, and quite possibly one of my favorite books ever. I recommend this book all the time.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin - I absolutely devoured this book years ago, and I always think about going back to re-read it. It isn't earth shattering or anything, but definitely a page turner.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - written by my all time favorite YA author. Anyone else used to read/still reads her stuff?

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks - an oldie but a goodie. The movie is great, but the book is just fantastic.

One Day in December by Josie Silver - like many, I read this book during the month of December, and I finished it in maybe two days. I loved the writing style, and I felt like the storyline was unique. 10/10 recommend.

Me Before You (the trilogy) by Jojo Moyes - clearly this was going to be on the list. I'm actually reading the third and final book in the series called Still Me. I really liked After You, so I'm excited to see where Lou ends up.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan - this book was written so well, and I felt like I developed my vocabulary while reading it, which isn't always the case with romantic novels. Also, for whatever reason, I pictured Lucy Hale as Ella, which I think made the story that much more enjoyable. Ha!

What are some of your favorite romantic novels? I want to add them to my list!

what i read in august.

Last month, I finally got a three week summer vacation between semesters. I spent most of that break traveling in Europe, so binge watching Game of Thrones (I just started season one!) wasn't really an option for me. Instead, I spent a whole lot of travel time reading on my new Kindle Paper White. Like many avid readers, I much prefer the feel of turning actual pages to simply swiping on an electronic screen, but let me just say that my little Kindle was a life saver on my trip.

In the summertime, I like to keep my reads light and easy. Books like Gone Girl and Girl on the Train are my favorite, but sometimes I need a mental break from dark and twisted mystery types. Ya feel me? 

PS: For future book review posts, I'll probably try to sum up the plot on my own...but my mind has been in such a whirlwind, I feel like I'd miss out on details if I tried to whip them up for you over a month later. Sorry for the lengthy summaries!
PPS: Note that this post does contain Amazon Affiliate links!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty ($11.24 on Amazon)

Summary (via Goodreads): Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.

My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars

How I Felt About It: I had high expectations for this book, and I think that put me in an awkward position reading it. I loved Big Little Lies and The Husband's Secret, and because this was the first Liane Moriarty book I've read following those two twisted storylines, I was slightly disappointed because this plot and its characters didn't captivate me in the same way. Having said all that, I think that if I went into this book with a different mentality, I would've enjoyed it more. Still written very well, and still worth the read (especially if you're a Liane fan). 

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover ($8.99 for Kindle on Amazon)

Summary (via Goodreads): Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars
How I Felt About It: This book was a whirlwind, and when it took an unexpected turn it did, I couldn't believe I didn't catch on to it before. The summary says it all - everything seems "almost too good to be true." Like most things in life, if you think something is too good to be true, it probably is. I felt like a lot of the events played out very rapidly over 367 pages, but I think the author did a fantastic job of wrapping it all up in the end. Overall, I loved her style of writing, and I couldn't put this book down!

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty ($6.99 for Kindle on Amazon)

Summary (via Goodreads): Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful thirty-three-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Whenever they're together, laughter, drama, and mayhem seem to follow. But apart, each is very much her own woman, dealing with her own share of ups and downs. Lyn has organized her life into one big checklist, juggling the many balls of work, marriage, and motherhood with expert precision, but is she as together as her datebook would have her seem? Cat has just learned a startling secret about her marriage -- can she bring another life into her very precarious world? And can free-spirited Gemma, who bolts every time a relationship hits the six-month mark, ever hope to find lasting love?
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars
How I Felt About It: This is actually Liane Moriarty's first ever published book! I have recently become a big fan of hers, so I felt obligated to read her debut novel. As per most of her books, the POV jumped between each sister, along with a little quip at the end of each chapter from bystanders observing the triplets from afar at different points of their lives. While it was no The Husband's Secret, I enjoyed the story, and it was a cheap thrill for just $7. My biggest gripe about it: random italicizations. I don't know if it was an editing mistake or what - you could tell that just one word was meant to be italicized, but then the rest of the sentence + end quotations, etc. would be italicized, too. Had nothing to do with the quality of the story of course but wowza, it drove me nuts.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella ($7.99 for Kindle on Amazon)

Summary (via Goodreads): An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
How I Felt About It: While I had heard great things about this book, I felt a little "meh" about it. I felt like I kept waiting for something big to happen, or to at least find out what happened to Audrey. I found the book spent a little too much time focusing on her brother, whose storyline I didn't really care for. I normally love Sophia Kinsella, so I think I was expecting this to be more along the lines of Shopaholic...alas, it was not. However, it was a decently enjoyable book - heart warming, a bit funny at times, a good light read.

Wonder by R. J. Polacio ($9.99 for Kindle on Amazon)

Summary (via Goodreads): August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
How I Felt About It: I ADORED THIS BOOK. Although it's intended for a much younger audience, I think it contains a lesson that we could all be bashed over the head with every once in awhile: to always, always, always be kind. While the story is primarily told from Auggie's POV, it jumps around a bit to nearly everyone involved in the story, which I really liked. I laughed. I cried (quite a bit). I'd recommend it to anyone, as it really is such a heartwarming story.

Have you read any of these books? What did you read last month?

Last Month Today | April 2017.

As much as I love blogging, it’s safe to say I am not the most consistent blogger out there (not even close!). I can blame a lot of that on my school and work schedule, but it’s also due to a severe lack of planning posts on my end. Whoops.

A few weeks back I read a post about filling up a content calendar, written by the lovely Summer over at Coffee with Summer. Tip #1? Create a monthly and/or quarterly series. I loooove series posts from my favorite bloggers (like Chelsea’s bookrecommendations and monthly to-do lists and Olivia’s Weekly Chat), so I thought I would try to hop on the bandwagon and see if it’s something I can keep up with (and see if it’s something you guys are interested in, of course!).

I’m a huge fan of John Oliver and his weekly show on HBO, Last Week Tonight, where he talks about the past week’s current political events each Sunday night. So – I decided to snag the idea! On the last day of every month, I’ll be posting a new series, Last Month Today, where I talk about the books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched, restaurants I’ve tried, what I’ve worn, etc. over the past month…maybe even what I’ve studied, for those of you interested in my grad school journey to become a speech-language pathologist!

What I Wore: We’re only a month into spring time, and Florida is already testing my patience. It’s been upwards of 90 degrees all week, my friends. 90 degrees plus the kind of humidity that makes you feel like you’re walking underwater (or, as my mother so eloquently says, “like you’re living in Satan’s underpants.” I can’t). Because of the ridiculous temps, my wardrobe has been a whole lot of anything flowy that I can pair with a bralette. Tobi was kind enough to send me a couple of items this month, and I’ve been living in this Show Me Off Shift Dress. 

Note: This post contains a few affiliate links.

I’ve been on the hunt for this type of dress for what feels like forever! I love the flattering V-neck in the front, and don’t even get me started on the open back...it’s the perfect dress to throw over my favorite Aerie bralettes (this baby is on sale for $20!).

Tobi has a ton of beautifully simple basics just like this dress, be sure to check them out here!

Dress, Tobi | Bralette, Aerie | Purse, Coach

To continue with my all-things-comfy-only trend, I scooped up these adorable shorts from Target this weekend (only $18!). I already have a pair in olive green and I basically live in them, so I’ve been slowly adding to my collection…their soft denim and maroon colors are next on my list!). I haven’t always been a fan of flowy shorts, but this cut is actually super flattering. If you’ve been on my Instagram lately, you can see I also paired them with my new favorite cold-shoulder top (also from Target!). I love this top because it’s easy to pair with comfy shorts, but I can also dress it up with dark jeans and wedges to go out!

Shorts, Target | Top, Target | Mug, Francescas | Necklace, Charming Charlie's

What I Watched: I established a new [loosely termed] house rule – TV shows on week days and movies on weekends. We’re obsessed with our shows we watch together (How I Met Your Mother, Homeland, Veep, Big Little Lies, etc. with plans to start 13 Reasons Why) and I’ve been watching shows on my own (Girlboss and re-watching One Tree Hill!). But as much as I love a good TV show, there’s something to be said about taking a couple hours to get lost in one continuous storyline…AKA I miss watching movies! This month, I watched –

War Dogs (2016) – starring Jonah Hill and Miles Teller.

Watch the trailer

"With the war in Iraq raging on, a young man (Jonah Hill) offers his childhood friend a chance to make big bucks by becoming an international arms dealer. Together, they exploit a government initiative that allows businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts. Starting small allows the duo to rake in money and live the high life. They soon find themselves in over their heads after landing a $300 million deal to supply Afghan forces, a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people" (Google).
My thoughts: I wasn't sure if I'd be interested in this storyline, but I love Jonah Hill & Miles Teller, so I went for it...and loved it. It's described as a crime/drama film, but I found myself laughing throughout.

Money Monster (2016) – starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

Watch the trailer

"Lee Gates is a Wall Street guru who picks hot stocks as host of the television show "Money Monster." During a live broadcast, a disgruntled investor storms onto the set and takes Gates hostage. He tells Lee that he lost everything on one of his tips. As Gates tries to plead with the man, he's also using an earpiece to communicate with his producer in the control room. Together, they must figure out a way to defuse the situation and disarm the angry young man" (Google).

My thoughts: Another movie I wasn't sure I'd care for, but I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this film. Mildly predictable, but still made for an interesting plot.

Spotlight (2015) – starring Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Ruffalo.

Watch the trailer

"In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter "Robby" Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll and Sacha Pfeiffer interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents. The reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church" (Google).
My thoughts: FINALLY! I'd been wanting to watch this movie for so long, then kinda forgot about it, and rediscovered it on my Netflix watchlist this weekend. Such an amazing film (hence the Academy Award win for Best Picture in 2016). Amazing and simultaneously horrific, considering it's based on the real investigation for the real article because it's based entirely on true events. 

Up next on my watchlist: Southpaw, The Revenant, Cake, and Carol.

What I Read: I finally finished The Woman in Cabin 10! First of all, fun fact: the cabin is a cruise cabin, not a log cabin somewhere out in the woods...that’s what I pictured before I cracked open this one. In a nutshell: It’s a murder mystery following a travel journalist who was given the chance to review a brand new leisure cruise…and the trip turns awry real quick. I found the storyline to be a bit outlandish, but certainly unexpected, so if plot twists are your thing, dive in! I definitely think it’s worth the read.

I’ve also been desperately trying to get into 13 Reasons Why, as I wanted to read the book before watching the show. Can someone please tell me this book gets better? I’ve heard great things about the show, but I find the writing to be hard to follow and frankly, uninteresting. I might just cut straight to the show at this point, as I’ve had zero desire to pick the book up again!

What I Worked Out: Or I guess how I worked out? Ha! For the longest time, I’ve been intermittently doing Kayla Itsine’s BBG workouts. Even though I love them (and plan to start them again in the next couple weeks!), I felt like my body was in some serious need of cardio, so I’ve been on a cardio kick for about three weeks. This month, my friend and I went for a run on Tampa’s iconic Bayshore Boulevard, and I made an effort to run on the treadmill a couple times a week. My apartment gym also has legit cycling bikes in one of the workout rooms, so I’ve been taking full advantage of that...and it’s been worth it! I can definitely see my legs slimming down, which I’m super pumped about. Bring on bikini season!

What I Did:

- Traded the Gulf for the Atlantic when my mom and I kick-started the month of April with a trip up to St. Augustine to visit my grandparents.

- Saw Viola Davis speak at USF’s Lecture Series (she’s amazing!).

- Drank margaritas on a beachside rooftop and hopped into my childhood home’s backyard (with permission, of course!) with my older sister while she was in town from Bulgaria.

- Bought locally made hot sauce from the Saturday Market in downtown St. Pete.

- Had my last day of clinic and classes for my second semester of grad school! Two down, four to go, my friends.

What You May Have Missed:

If you’re about to graduate college (or know someone who is!), click here.

If you’re a Communication Sciences & Disorders major, or you have an interest in applying to graduate school to become an SLP, click here.

What have you been up to this month? What are you looking forward to in May?

2016 Holiday Reading List.

Right now, the strangest feeling is knowing that I have absolutely nothing that I should be working on. No required readings, no quizzes, no treatment planning. I am a free bird until January 9th, and I'm not entirely sure what to do with all this newfound freedom.

Just kidding, I do. I want to paint with my watercolors, hit up the gym five times a week, make all the monies at work, bake, catch up on all my TV shows, and of course....read for fun! It's been a hot minute since I've really gotten into a book, but I lugged my library copy of The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty to New York, and absolutely devoured it during every second of down time I had on the trip. Thus, the other night I felt inspired to fill my library request queue with 16 books!

In similar fashion to a post written by Lauren over at The Lauren Elizabeth a few weeks back, I thought I would share what's currently on my "to-read" list. I've already done extensive research via Good Reads reviews, so most of these are already 4+ star worthy. You can take a look at my Good Reads account here :)

This is what's on my list for the next month (or six!):

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (HBO is also releasing a show based off this book next month!)

The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

After You by Jojo Moyes (follow up to Me Before You)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (also being turned into a movie produced by Reese Witherspoon next year!)

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (also turned into an Oscar winning movie!)

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (might have to bite the bullet and buy this one...I'm #96 out of 99 requests!)

Euphoria by Lilly King

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (I've heard this book is quite heavy, but worth the read)

Tony and Susan by Austin Wright (the book that the movie Nocturnal Animals was based on...with Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. Swoon.)

I already have four books ready for pick up tomorrow! AH. I'm still in the midst of reading Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, but I'm losing interest in it. Has anyone else read it? Should I abandon ship, or does it get better?

What's on your reading list? Have you read/loved/hated any of the books on mine?