books on tap: here we go again

Wow - the first month of 2017 is already done. How crazy is that? It's time for our first Books on Tap of the year!
 
My goal this year is to read fewer books, but really savor them and read more intentionally. I'm not sure whether this month could be considered a success or failure. I read more books than I thought I would, but I did feel like I savored them all (except my one DNF - Did Not Finish). I guess we'll see how February goes. We'll be traveling a lot, so that cuts down on reading time in one aspect - but in another, it offers a lot of time in planes and cars to read. Anyway.

What are you currently reading? Do you have any reading goals for the year? Is there a book I absolutely must add to my list? Let me know in the comments below!
 
xoxo,
E

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Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. Yeah, I know I'm like, the last person to read this. My former neighbor, Chris, gave it to me to read after he was done. Thrillers aren't my favorite genre, but it was so popular I decided to give it a shot. Flynn did write some great prose. There are paragraphs and parts that were extremely well-written. The first half was good, suspenseful and intriguing. Then it just got weird and kind of sick. And the end was so convoluted that it felt contrived, like Flynn was trying her hardest to make it as un-predictable as possible. I stand by my original assessment: thrillers just aren't my thing. 3/5 stars.

Fitness Junkie*, by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza. When Janey's business partner tells her she has to lose 30 pounds or lose her job, she tries all manner of diet fads and wacky workouts (Free the Nipple Yoga?!) to lose weight. Maybe it's because I've been doing yoga for nearly a decade and have recently embarked on a healthy eating change, but her description of the different workouts and crazy people she meets are hysterical. But the plot itself isn't super-captivating. There's no urgency to Janey's losing weight, and her cousin's plotline is thrown in there kind of randomly without much reasoning behind it either. 3/5 stars.

Make It Happen, by Lara Casey. Casey is the creator of PowerSheets, which I haven't yet tried (still too addicted to my PlumPaper planner), but I've heard good things. This book offers an encouraging, Christ-centered approach to, well, getting stuff done. Casey gives readers an honest look at her life - the good and the bad - as an example, and offers scripture verses as inspiration to set intentional goals, live for a purpose, and cultivate what matters. The book has explanations and descriptions, as well as to-dos for the reader. It's interactive, gentle, and so inspiring that I ordered six-month PowerSheets to arrive in June.  4/5 stars.

It Started With Goodbye*, by Christina June. The premise of this was cute: a teenage girl, under house arrest after being falsely accused for a crime she didn't commit, moonlights as a graphic designer, meets a cute boy, and helps the family in some way. What way, you ask? I have no idea. The writing was too awful for me to get there. Grammatically and stuff everything was fine, but it was extremely forced - nothing in the first three chapters flowed naturally at all. The plot may have been good, but I couldn't force myself to wade through the writing long enough to find out. June needs to read Story Genius, clearly. DNF.

The Best of Adam Sharp*, by Graeme Simsion. I chose to review this because I loved Simsion's books, The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect. While the book may be the best of Adam Sharp, it's the worst of Graeme Simsion. The story is about Adam and an old flame that comes back into his life.  I didn't love any of the characters or feel like I could really get into their heads or understand their motivations. The ending was entirely too convoluted - I never could figure out Charlie. And the weird three-way sex scenes in the French farmhouse were absolutely bizarre, not to mention gross. 2/5 stars.

Chasing Slow*, by Erin Loechner. It was pure luck that I saw this book on BookLook Bloggers after reading Emily P. Freeman's blog post endorsing it. I'm glad I did. First of all, the book itself is beautiful - well-designed and laid out. I love her lists and math equations sprinkled throughout the pages. But her words are the best part. She has such a gift for writing, for telling her story in the most lyrical and beautiful way, and encouraging you to find a new, slow way. This is a fantastic book for anyone who's tired of the rat race. 5/5 stars.

Nothing To Prove*, by Jennie Allen. This is another one on Emily P. Freeman's list that I was able to review. It's a great, Biblically based look at why we can all stop trying so hard to achieve - because God doesn't need us to. Allen offers real-world examples and scripture to show readers that there's another, better way to live - fulfilling your purpose at the same time acknowledging that nothing you do or don't do will ever lessen, or even change, God's love for you. It's a refreshing wake-up call for those who, again, are tired of being caught up in the rat race and are seeking something more. 4/5 stars.

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*Disclaimer: The titles notated with a star (*) above were given to me for free by either NetGalley, BookLook Bloggers, or Blogging For Books, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
**Also - the books linked in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click on any of the book links and order one (or any) of them through Amazon, I may earn a small commission. B thanks you in advance for helping to support my psychotic book-buying habits.