Equal parts sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, Renée Ahdieh weaves a magical new fantasy tale in her book, The Beautiful. Following a mysterious society and one girl’s wish to start anew, supernatural forces come into play that make our protagonist question everything.
     In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret. When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights…and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.
     Although the first few chapters are a bit slow, the mysteries of the Court of Lions and supernatural elements haunting New Orleans are revealed bit by bit, hooking the reader into the story. By midway through the novel, I was itching to know what would happen next!
The setting of 1800s New Orleans makes this YA novel even more alluring. I don't know if this novel would have worked if it were for the time period. It adds an extra level of intrigue and it’s a lot of fun to read about these characters trying to rebel against the confines of society and finger out what kind of serial killer is plaguing their city.
   Speaking of characters, all of them are so much fun to learn about. Celine, the protagonist, is determined and witty and longs for a sense of agency in her life. Her friends, Pippa and Odette, are loyal in their own ways and help Celine throughout the story. And Bastien’s dark and enigmatic personality is just so enticing that you can’t help but want to dig deeper into what makes him tick. Even Michael, an antagonistic character who seems to be a meek gentleman, shifts from annoying to a likable. The characters help make this story what it is and keep the reader entranced with the plot from start to finish.
​      And HOLY GOODNESS THAT PLOT TWIST?!?!! I would’ve NEVER guess who the killer was and the things that are revealed at the end of the book make the longing for the sequel even greater. While everything starts to make sense towards the end of the novel, you’re still left wanting more.
     Overall, if you’re looking for a new fantasy series to sink your teeth into, then Ahdieh’s The Beautiful is the perfect book to satiate your craving. I cannot wait for the sequel to come out in July to see what these amazing characters get up to next!

*Special thank you to Penguin Teen for a copy of the book to read!

     In their debut collaboration, Sarvenaz Tash and Sarah Skilton have joined forces to write a romance that will make you want to explore New York City in an instant! Ghosting: A Love Story follows two ghostwriters who know how to help others find love, but don’t quite know how to help themselves in the same department.
     Dumped by his fiancée, not only is Miles couch-surfing across New York City, but downsizing has forced him to set up shop at a café. Also, he no longer believes in love. Not a good look in his line of work. Meanwhile, Zoey's eccentric L.A. boss sent her packing to New York to "grow." But beneath her chill Cali demeanor, Zoey's terrified to venture beyond the café across the street. The only thing Miles and Zoey share is their daily battle for Café Crudité's last day-old biscotti. They don't know they're both ghostwriting "authentic" client profiles for rival online dating services. Nope, they have absolutely nothing in common, until they meet anonymously online, texting on the clock. Soon, with their clients headed for dating disaster, both Miles and Zoey's jobs are at stake. And once they find out their lines have crossed, will their love connection be the real thing--or vanish into the ether?
     I loved the concept of this novel! The world of ghostwriting is one I was unfamiliar with so the idea of two people trying to help others find love, yet be oblivious to their own feelings, was fun and flirty! The emails before each chapter helped shape the world of ghost-writing and both Miles and Zoey were fun to read about, but I almost wish there would’ve been more details about some of the minor characters, like Aisha, Leanne, and Clifford.
     I also really enjoyed the setting of New York and the realm of possibility that exists there. The way that Miles tries to make Zoey fall in love with the city and to see his appreciation for the Big Apple was really cool to read about  and made me want to hop on a train to Manhattan immediately!
     However, if I’m being honest, it took me such a long time to get into this book and I think it’s because of all of the set up that needed to take place to make the world of ghostwriting comprehensible. I also found the build up to Miles and Zoey’s relationship to be a bit too slow for me. If you like a slow burn romance, then you might appreciate it more than I did; however, when the main characters don’t actually have a full conversation until the book is halfway done, it’s a bit too slow in my opinion.
     While it took me a bit to get into it, I did end up enjoying this story! It was a little cheesy at times, but overall, is a fairly entertaining read. If you're looking for a summer rom-com that has a lengthy build-up, but fun conclusion, then I would definitely check this book out.

*I received an ARC from Kensington Books in exchange for my honest opinion. 

     ​If you’re looking for a binge-worthy  historical fiction book then look no further! Jeannie Mobley’s The Jewel Thief is a lush, slow-burn romance set in 17th century France, and centered around the broken history of the Hope Diamond. Set to be released on May 26th, the romance and excitement all set in France’s high society makes this the book you need to read right now!
     In the depths of the Bastille, sixteen-year-old Juliet Pitau sits cold and filthy in her cell. Charged with stealing what has come to be known as the Hope Diamond from King Louis XIV, she has one final chance to convince the King that her motives were pure. If she fails, this night may be her last. Recording her confession is Rene, a scribe for the king and the man she loves. But Rene won't even look her way, let alone begin to forgive her for her betrayal of him. Before Juliet was imprisoned, she was the daughter of the finest gem cutter in all of Paris. The young King Louis XIV hand-selected Jean Pitau to be his crown jeweler, the only man who could make him shine like the sun. When Louis purchases the Tavernier Violet, a large, deep-blue diamond the likes of which the French court has never seen, Jean is tasked with turning it brilliant. But Juliet's father has never cut a diamond quite like this--and shaping it is risky business. While Jean spirals into depression, Juliet takes it upon herself to have the diamond cut for the King. But with every misstep, she brings her family closer to ruin, and closer to probable death at morning's light once Louis casts his sentence.
     This book hooks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the very end. The narration of the story (Juliette recounting the last two years to Rene) keeps the plot engaging and exciting. The world of gem cutting was fascinating to read about. Although most of the characters in the story were fictional, the way Mobley interweaves history and fiction together makes for a wonderful story. The historical aspects of this novel (the way Jews were treated in France, the politics of French courts, the way jewelers worked, etc.) was super interesting to read about and piqued my interest in a time period I really had no prior knowledge about.
    Aside from the plot, the character’s were fantastically flawed and each and every one of them wonderfully developed. Juliette’s ambition is both inspiring and frustrating to read about, which makes her, as a narrator, so much fun to read about. The way she is willing to risk everything to help her father succeed again and the later risk her own life to protect the ones she loves is heartbreaking and beautiful to see. Her struggles and her determination help propel the story and Mobley develops her into a fantastic protagonist.
     Overall, this book will make you smile, make you cry, and make you want to binge the entire novel in one sitting. Fans of historical fiction and YA literature will love this story and it’s the perfect addition to your summer reading list!

*I received an ARC from PenguinTeen in exchange for my honest opinion.

     What do you get when you cross two writers who need to finish their novels, weird field trips, and undeniable attraction? You get Emily Henry’s new novel, Beach Read! Best known for her young adult books, like the co-authored Hello Girls, Henry has now ventured into the genre of adult romance and started off on the right foot! Although it doesn’t come out until May 19th, Book of the Month readers got a sneak peek of the book as an April pick and it has been getting rave reviews all across social media!
     Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They're polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
      I don’t think there’s anything I can say about this book that hasn’t already been said but here goes: this book is just absolutely amazing! Henry creates not just a wonderful story, but also weaves in January and Gus’s other fictional novels in making this plot have books within a book. 
      The idea of this romance author losing her faith in HEAs and trying to make sense of her perception of love is ironic, yet so interesting to read about. And Gus’s cynicism is also a perfectly added dynamic to the plot! The idea of not worrying about forever and being satisfied with “happy-for-nows” is something I think a lot of us can learn to live with and Henry does a beautiful job of showing how readers can focus on the now.
     On top of all of this depth, Henry throws in the hilarity and steaminess that readers love in a good romance book! The way this novel balances out hope, love, family, grief, and forgiveness is beautifully done and makes this romantic story into a fully developed novel anyone would enjoy.
     Again, I don’t think I can sing enough praise about this book, so trust me when I say you need to grab Beach Read and make it a priority read for the summer! It’s flirty, it’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, and just encompasses everything a reader could want in a summer rom-com!

     Hi everyone! I’ve got a different kind of Multi-Review for today! I’ll be honest, I got so distracted by Staci Hart’s The Bennet Brothers Series and was too busy waiting for the next book to be released that I completely forgot to write down my initial thoughts of them. Therefore, I didn’t have enough material to write full-fledged reviews of each book. So once I finished the Pride and Prejudice-inspired series, I thought “Why not just do a giant review of the entire series in one post?” So here we are! Below will be summaries and my thoughts on each book and then I will rate both the book individually and the series as a whole!
NOTE: These summaries and reviews are as spoiler-free as possible, so you can read through them without ruining too much of what happens throughout the series! Also, these books can work as stand-alones, but I definitely recommend reading through all of them.

1) Coming Up Roses (The Bennet Brothers #1)
Summary: Everyone hates parts of their job. Maybe it’s the paperwork. Maybe it’s the day-to-day grind. Maybe it’s that client who never knows what they want, or the guy who always cooks fish in the microwave. But not for Tess. She loves every corner of the Longbourne Flower Shop, every flower, every petal, every stem. She love the greenhouse, and she love Mrs. Bennet, her boss. She loves creating, and being a florist. She doesn't hate anything at all. Except for Luke Bennet. The Bennet brothers have come home to help their mom save the flower shop, and Luke is at the helm. His smile tells a tale of lust, loose and easy. He moves with the grace of a predator, feral and wild. A thing unbridled, without rules or constraint. When he comes home to save Longbourne, Tess almost can’t be mad at him. Almost. He doesn’t remember that night she’ll never forget. That kiss, touched with whiskey and fire. It branded her like a red-hot iron. But it meant nothing to him. Everyone hates part of their job, and Tess hates Luke Bennet. Because if she doesn’t, she’ll fall in love with him.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this novel! It was funny, steamy, and a really good start to the series! I found one of the plotlines a bit too shocking, but the way Tess and Luke rediscover what they liked about the other and shift from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers is really enjoyable to read about. Overall, I enjoyed it and was intrigued enough to continue with the series (clearly lol)!
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

2) Gilded Lily (The Bennet Brothers #2)
Summary: They say there’s no such thing as perfect. But Lila built her life to perfection—the perfect boyfriend, the perfect apartment, the perfect career planning celebrity weddings. Her job—her only job—is to make sure every event is absolutely and completely perfect. What’s not perfect? Kash Bennet. And she wishes she didn’t find that so appealing. She could have told you every perfectly imperfect thing about the gardener at Longbourne. Like his hair, lush and black and far too long. Or his nose, the flat bridge of a Greek god, bent a little like it’s been broken. Or his size. Beastly. Roped and corded with muscles, gleaming with sweat and peppered with dirt. There’s no escaping him, not if she’s going to use his family’s flower shop for her events. But nothing is what it seems. And in the span of a heartbeat, Lila’s perfect life is turned inside out. They say the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody new. When Kash offers his services to the cause, it sounds like the perfect plan. What’s not part of the plan? Falling in love with the gardener. But they were right—there’s no such thing as perfect. And Lila thinks she’s the fool who finds out the hard way.

My Thoughts: I loved the romance between Kash and Lila! I really enjoyed Lila’s strong and determined personality and the contrast with Kash’s laid-back nature. I also felt like there was a lot of focus on Lila and Kash’s struggles within themselves and how they approach relationships and the way it plays into their relationships was really fun to see. I loved the way it integrated aspects from the first novel into this story and the whole wedding planning backdrop added some juicy drama that was so much fun!
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

3) Mum’s the Word (The Bennet Brothers #3)
Summary: Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option. Maisie’s mother has summoned her home to take her place at Bower Bouquets, and as the heiress, she’s expected to do as she’s told. Maisie is expected to sit by her side as her mother does her best to decimate the Bennet family and their flower shop, Longbourne. Maisie’s expected to play by her mother’s rules, or she’ll ruin her too. But the day Maisie crashes into Marcus Bennet changes everything. And the kiss seals the deal. If her mother finds out, Maisie will lose everything—my family, my life, my security. Worse, she’ll make sure the Bennets pay for her mistakes. Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option. But Maisie might not have a choice.

My Thoughts: I love a good forbidden romance, so add in an oppressive family legacy, twisted secrets, and meddling relatives and you have a fantastic story in my opinion! Marcus has always been the quiet, serious brother throughout the series so giving him his own series really helped him shine and made readers see a different side of him. It was also really cool to see Bower from a non-Bennet perspective and I think it brought the series full circle. I was eager to finish it to see what was going to happen, yet didn't want the story to end!
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Overall: I feel like the first book was very good in setting up the entire series. It allowed for the other books in the series to be more plot driven and not waste time on backstory. I think for the biggest plot twist, my favorite had to be Gilded Lily, but I loved the forbidden romance between Marcus and Maisie in Mum’s the Word! Overall, where I think Coming Up Roses was more plot driven and Gilded Lily was more character driven, Mum’s the Word was a nice mixture of both. Overall, the series was 4 stars for me and I highly recommend that if you’re looking for a fun rom-com series to check it out! I can’t wait to read more of Staci Hart’s books in the future!

     Memoirs allow a reader to dive into a new world and learn about someone’s life that can be very different, or very similar, from their own. In Martina Reaves’s new memoir, I’m Still Here, she chronicles her life from the late sixties up until the early 2010s as she grapples with cancer diagnoses, her love life, and raising a child amidst a changing world.
     In 1969, at age twenty, Martina moves to San Francisco. She lives in a commune, marries her hippie streetcar driver, and moves away from the city—first to Mendocino County, Oregon, and then to the Virgin Islands. In 1980, Martina comes out. She finds her life partner, Tanya, at work, and in 1986 they have a son, Cooper.  In 2008, Martina is diagnosed with serious tongue cancer. Her journey in the aftermath of this diagnosis is one of hope, fear, family, friendship, perseverance, and learning to live with a terminal diagnosis. Reaves braids these strands of her life together in I’m Still Here, presenting readers with a nuanced, poignant exploration of what it means to live—and love—authentically. 
     While it took a little while for me to get used to the writing style and the chapters that alternated between past and present, Reaves offers insight into her life and how the events around her shaped her into who she is today.
     Reaves openly talks about her health, sexuality, family, and feelings throughout the book discussing everything from working as a teacher in Costa Rica, meeting her wife while in law school, and being the only lesbian family in her son’s elementary school. These life moments not only showcase Reaves’s life, but offer a glimpse at what a somewhat ordinary life was like throughout American history. However, like life itself, some chapters were more interesting than others. The writing was well done, but sometimes the mundanity of life wasn’t the most exciting thing to read about.
     Admittedly, I do not read many memoirs, so maybe this was not the best way to ease into this new genre. I think that I was expecting some excitement or action that never quite happened. However, this is still a great book and if you like memoirs or would like to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, then I definitely recommend checking out this book!

*I received a copy of the book from BookSparks in exchange for my honest opinion.

      In Katherine Slee’s new novel, The Book of Second Chances, readers meet a young woman who must undergo a bizarre follow-the-clues type of adventures in order to grieve the loss of her grandmother and also make her peace with her tragic past. This novel is a touching story about one woman’s path towards learning more about her grandmother and herself in the process.
     Emily can't remember the last time she left the house. Or spoke to anyone besides her grandmother, beloved children's author Catriona Robinson. After Catriona's death, Emily is at a complete loss . . . until she gets an unexpected letter from the woman she loved most. Catriona has revealed there might be one last, lost unpublished manuscript in her wildly popular book series. And she's left a secret diary and trail of clues that only Emily can follow. From London to Paris to Verona, Emily traces her grandmother's past, finding out more about her family — and herself — than she ever imagined possible. Hopeful and adventurous, The Book of Second Chances celebrates books and bookstores, the power of imagination, and having the courage to shape our own destinies.
   Grief-stricken and reclusive, Emily Davenport experiences PTSD after a tragic accident and her grandmother’s scavenger hunt/adventure forces her to come out of her shell and confront painful memories from her past. The theme of getting a second chance at life is portrayed as both hopeful and foreboding. The idea that both Catriona and Emily are given second chances in their lives allows them to heal from their past and try and do better to honor the ones they love. In turn, it forces them to think of themselves and their hopes and dreams.
     Emily’s physical and psychological disabilities help contribute to a deeper sense of the themes of living life to the fullest. Since she is so self-conscious about her scars and speech impediment, Emily is wary of the unknown and experiencing things outside of her comfort zone. Added to the fact that the one person in her life that has been a constant source of support and stability has died, leaves Emily reeling. However, the way she accepts the things that have happened to her becomes inspiring and shows that while healing isn’t easy, it is necessary.  
     Emily uses birds to cope and bring her joy in her life and Slee utilizes the birds not only as chapter titles, but the facts and attributes they represent only contribute to both the development of Emily’s character and the themes of the novel. The illustrations before each chapter are beautiful and match wonderfully and really bring the story to life for the reader.
     This novel also highlights the ways in which one's life can be touched. Whether it be from a favorite book, a relatable character, friends you’ve known for decades or friends you haven’t spoken to in years, certain things impact our lives and Slee shows just how one moment or persons can alter someone’s life forever.
     Overall, this novel will bring tears to your eyes and move you to think about how to live your life to the fullest. Anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one can take comfort in knowing that everyone has felt desolate and lost after the fact. However, Emily’s story will inspire hope that though a Phoenix may die, a new one will rise from the ashes in its place.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

     I’ve officially finished writing my thesis and I’m so relieved and proud of myself if I’m being honest! It’s not submitted for grading yet, but nearly 26 pages written,  months of work/research, and few stress out sessions later and it’s finally done! So to celebrate this momentous occasion that literally no one but me cares about, I figured I’d post a multi-review of all of the books I used for my research! Below will be a small summary of each book and then my thoughts!

NOTE: Most of these ratings are based solely on the plot and entertainment value of the novel compared to other books I've read in the past. I appreciate all of hem for their complexities,  purposes, and the impact they have on society and the literary world. If I take that into account, all of the ratings would be slightly higher.

Candide by Voltaire
Summary: Candide is the story of a gentle man who, though pummeled and slapped in every direction by fate, clings desperately to the belief that he lives in "the best of all possible worlds." On the surface a witty, bantering tale, this eighteenth-century classic is actually a savage, satiric thrust at the philosophical optimism that proclaims that all disaster and human suffering is part of a benevolent cosmic plan. Fast, funny, often outrageous, the French philosopher's immortal narrative takes Candide around the world to discover that -- contrary to the teachings of his distinguished tutor Dr. Pangloss -- all is not always for the best. Alive with wit, brilliance, and graceful storytelling, Candide has become Voltaire's most celebrated work.

My Thoughts: A funny satire that seems super bizarre and absurd (but that’s the point)! While i found myself confused and sometimes rolling my eyes at the antics that Candide and Co. get up to, it's still a pretty funny book. This is a quick read that will have you questioning the stupidity of society back then and maybe even how you view life right now.
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This Is the Life by Alex Shearer
Summary: This is the story of Louis, who never quite fit in, and of his younger brother, who always tried to tag along. As they got older, they grew apart. And as they got older still, one of them got cancer, and the other became his caretaker. Then they became close again, two brothers on one final journey together, wading through the stuff that’s thicker than water. Told in anecdotes as his brother remembers them, we discover who this cranky, cancerous Louis once was. That before his brain surgery he had a mind that was said to be bigger than the rest of the family’s put together, and that his heart was—and still is—just as big. That it’s hard getting a haircut with a brain tumor, and that it does no good to help your brother memorize a PIN number when he might not be able to remember where the bank is. We learn along with these two brothers how the little stuff is as big as the big stuff, how tragedy and comedy go together, and how necessary it is that they do. Inspired by Shearer's experiences when his own brother was dying and written with a warm touch that is at once tender and achingly funny, This Is the Life is a moving testimony to both the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of the simpler things in life, like not taking a dying man’s tea kettle away.

My Thoughts: While it took me a little while to get into the groove of the way this book is written, it offers interesting insight into what it’s like to watch a loved one die. The best way for me to describe this novel is as a pseudo-memoir since it’s all about Louis, but the whole thing is narrated by his brother. The chapters are not in chronological order so it's a bit difficult to follow sometimes, but it's still a touching read about a man trying to make sense of his relationship with his dying brother. Overall, it’s a unique look at storytelling that shows what it means to be family. 
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Summary: A very young woman's first job: governess for two weirdly beautiful, strangely distant, oddly silent children, Miles and Flora, at a forlorn estate...An estate haunted by a beckoning evil. Half-seen figures who glare from dark towers and dusty windows- silent, foul phantoms who, day by day, night by night, come closer, ever closer. With growing horror, the helpless governess realizes the fiendish creatures want the children, seeking to corrupt their bodies, possess their minds, own their souls... But worse-much worse- the governess discovers that Miles and Flora have no terror of the lurking evil. For they want the walking dead as badly as the dead want them.

My Thoughts: Reading this gothic horror story is not fun by any means, but it definitely makes you think about what’s real and who to trust in this book. The spooky elements when into the story will make you question whether the narrator is just crazy or if she's really witnessing a possession. But you could probably watch the film “The Innocents” instead and still get the gist of the novel, if I'm being honest.
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐  (just because it’s so dense and hard to get through)

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Summary: Heart of Darkness, a novel by Joseph Conrad, was originally a three-part series in Blackwood's Magazine in 1899. It is a story within a story, following a character named Charlie Marlow, who recounts his adventure to a group of men onboard an anchored ship. The story told is of his early life as a ferry boat captain. Although his job was to transport ivory downriver, Charlie develops an interest in investing an ivory procurement agent, Kurtz, who is employed by the government. Preceded by his reputation as a brilliant emissary of progress, Kurtz has now established himself as a god among the natives in “one of the darkest places on earth.” Marlow suspects something else of Kurtz: he has gone mad. A reflection on corruptive European colonialism and a journey into the nightmare psyche of one of the corrupted, Heart of Darkness is considered one of the most influential works ever written.

My Thoughts: I’m sorry this book is just terrible! It’s so hard to read and I found it dense and boring. I also hated Marlow and found him to be selfish and a terrible narrator. Thank God it was only 70-ish pages otherwise I don't think I could've lasted reading this whole story. If I didn't need to read the whole thing for my thesis, then I probably would've DNF this one. 
Rating:  ⭐

Conrad in the Nineteenth Century by Ian Watt
Summary: New scholarship concerning the life of the British novelist augments a critical study of Conrad's early literary development that examines his work in light of nineteenth-century social ethics and such movements as Romanticism and Symbolism.

My Thoughts: I’ll admit that I didn’t read this entire book since I was using it as research for my thesis, but the insight was very helpful towards my research and helped me defend my arguments. I specifically enjoyed the comparison between Henry James and Marlow! A well written and extensive look at Conrad and his works!
Rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

That's it! Five books later and I only liked about half of them! If all fairness, the only modern book in this list is This Is the Life, so it might be expected for an older book to be harder to comprehend. But has anyone else read any of these? If so, let's discuss in the comments below! I'd love to see if anyone has the same views as me on these books!