Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Book #35 in 2024
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I never read this book as a kid but I enjoyed it as an adult. I listened to the audiobook as I read along with a physical book as part of my cochlear implant rehab.

Miyax finds herself lost in Alaska as she runs away from an undesirable home situation in hopes of making it to San Francisco to meet a pen pal who calls her Julie. While on her own, she learns to communicate with a wolf pack.

I liked the nature aspect of this book, especially in the first and last parts. I’ve always been interested in the ways animals communicate with each other – their own kind, other animals, and even humans. Miyax finds herself struggling to survive and learns about herself and how she feels about traditional Eskimo life and newer ways of thinking.

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

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After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Book #34 in 2024
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I’ve read almost all of this author’s books. This is one the last I’ve had to catch up on. I enjoyed it even if it was a bit like reading a Hallmark Channel movie with a neatly wrapped up ending. While in a way not much happens in the book the themes of love, family, and life stand out to remind the reader to focus on important things in life and at least try.

Lauren and Ryan fall in love in college. But after being married a few years they decide to take a year break. They’ve been fighting, not connecting with each other, and aren’t happy. As they separate, Lauren has to figure out what to do with her life, whether she wants to remain married to Ryan, and what she wants her future to look like.

I listened to this as an audiobook as part of my cochlear implant rehab.

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Book #33 in 2024
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I never read this book as a kid. I wonder what I would have thought of it from that standpoint vs as an adult. Some of the language in the book also made the book feel “old”. I still enjoyed it.

Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin go on an adventure as they look to discover what happened to Meg’s father. He disappeared suddenly and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. This fantasy plot takes the young kids to different places where they meet different creatures.

This is a somewhat classic story of good vs evil and who falls on which side.

She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

Book #32 in 2024
3.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I found this book to be a fast read even though the plot was slower at times and there are quite a few stories within the story. Some of the twists were a bit much. Some I figured out before they were revealed. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending.

Meghan is a nurse in ICU. There is a patient there who has attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge. Or was is a suicide attempt? Throughout the book you wonder about people’s motives and who is telling the truth. Will the various sub-plots connect?

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

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The Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Book #31 in 2024
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

To me this was more of a mystery than a thriller. But I liked it all the same. Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are connected through foster care when they were kids. Bones have been found under the home of where they all lived. They’ve been called back to answer questions to help with the investigation.

The three girls, who all have issues of their own, must relive their past, which wasn’t good with Miss Fairchild in the foster home. Who do the bones belong to? Will they become suspects?

The characters of the three girls were interesting enough and Miss Fairchild makes a good character you love to hate.

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

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Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Book #30 in 2024
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I’ve seen the movie and decided to read the book and listen to the audio version as part of my cochlear implant rehab. I has been a while since I’ve seen the movie so I want to see it again. I’m also interested in reading the next book in this series.

In a society where families can only have two children, Ender is a Third. His parents were asked to have a third child in hopes that he or she would be an ultimate general in a war against an alien race. Ender’s older brother is too violet. His sister too kind. The hope is that as a Third, Ender would be the perfect mix of his siblings.

At an early age Ender is taken from his home to begin training. He has to learn as part of an army with the hopes of becoming a leader. Ender faces challenges along the way as he tries to figure out what kind of person he is and what kind of person he wants to be while adults try and mold him into what they want him to be.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

Book #29 in 2024
3.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

This was a hard book for me to rate. I liked the overall theme of the story in the sense of living your life, not taking anything for granted. But I didn’t feel a strong connection with the main character and there are parts of the plot that I really didn’t get into.

Grace is left a house in Ibiza by a friend from her past who has passed away. Someone she hasn’t kept in touch with over the years. Grace travels to Ibiza to try and figure out why she was given the house and along the way she discovers things about herself as well.

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

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First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Book #28 in 2024
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

This was a quick read for me. The plot kept me interested in knowing what would happen next. There were some twists and turns and it was an overall enjoyable book.

Evie Porter is a con artist. Evie is not her real name. Her current mark is Ryan. But this job feels different. Her boss, Mr. Smith may be testing her somehow. Will she pass?

Stop reading if you want to avoid spoilers!

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The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

Book #27 in 2024
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I enjoyed this book. I also liked the first book by this author, The Wishing Game. This book is based on The Chronicles of Narnia.

Two best friends went missing for six months when they were teens. Now 15 years later they meet again and look to help Emilie find her sister who has been missing for many years.

I liked the characters in this book. The first 100 pages or so were slow but once they went to the Crow the pace picked up a bit. It’s still not an intense thrill ride but the plot kept my interest. It made me wonder what it would be like to live in a magical world.

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

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Thunderhead by Neil Shusterman

Book #26 in 2024
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

This is book two in this series. I don’t post spoilers for this book above a mention below that spoilers are coming. But if you haven’t read Scythe, the first book in the series and want to stop reading now as spoilers from that book will be in my review of Thunderhead.

This book picks up close to where Scythe ends. It starts about a year later. Citra has become a Sythe (Anastasia) and Rowan has gone into hiding.

Rowan has gone rogue and has taken it upon himself to kill scythes he feels are bad. Scythe Anastasia continues her mentorship with Scythe Curie. The two of them live together and have formed a good friendship.

Their lives are in danger as someone is targeting them because of their way of thinking. The two must try and stay safe and figure out who they can trust and who is out to get them.

Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers!

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