March Book Review
March flew by and I have 4 books to share with you! This group of books is very diverse, so hopefully at least one of them piques your interest!
Head over Heels- This book is CUTE! We meet Avery (a former elite gymnast who was on the brink of making the Olympic team) as she is moving back to her home town and at her lowest. Then we meet Ryan, the newest coach at the gymnastics studio where Avery spent most of her adolescent years. Its a fun little love story but also has some gymnast/elite athlete abuse/scandal intertwined so it isn’t too fluffy. If you are a gymnastics fan or are just looking for a beach read, this one is great!
The Four Winds—Gah…this book was emotional and the tears were flowing. It is set in Texas in the 1920s and 30s during the Dust Bowl. We follow Elsa, who is told by her parents that she is too ugly, sickly and old to ever marry. That’s where the heartache and un-acceptance begins, but there’s more devastation in store for her. At every turn, and by people she loves, she is hurt time and time again. It’s harsh and terrible but she survives awful treatment and horrendous living situations. It is a hard read, but for me, Elsa’s motherly strength and devotion shines through.
This is a story you will continue to think about long after you close the book.
*Fun Fact- I listened to an interview with Hannah who said that Elsa was her favorite character to ever create.
The Ensemble-Aja Gabel’s debut novel follows the lives of the 4 members of a string quartet and how their relationships (with each other, their families, their trade) evolve over time. I loved how the 4 came from such diverse upbringings, had completely different reasons for playing, had different ability levels and yet were ultimately in the same group with the same love of music. I also really enjoyed the musical references and metaphors throughout the book. If you are a fan of the musical arts or are looking in a different brand of “love story” you should certainly give this a read!
*It is also worth noting that the author is a talented cellist herself.
Layla- I typically love a Colleen Hoover read, but this one was weird for me. I liked it, but it doesn’t compare to any of her other books I’ve read recently. And oddly, I think if I had known how it would end before I started reading it, I would have enjoyed the whole story more. It’s about guy and a gal (Leeds and Layla) that meet at a wedding reception and its a love at first sight situation. Skip forward a bit and Leeds takes Layla on a trip to try to reconnect and relax. Enter a ghost…and here is where things get weird. But…I really did like how things ended. Worth a read but just know it its an odd one. =)
