Friday, January 3, 2020

Five Star Friday: December 2019



On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.

December was a great month! I was able to get ahead on my ARC reading (miracles do happen!), and finish my reading challenges (In your FACE, 50 States. I did it!). I read 37 books, and added another 5 books to my 5-star shelf.


Though this wasn't the story I was expecting, I still loved it with all my heart. The focus on friendship and family was wonderful, and Lord did an incredible job capturing that really confusing time between the end of high school and the beginning of a new life chapter that teens experience. I won't lie, she left me with a BIG question (at least in my mind), but she hit me with so many feels, I forgave that one omission.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe
Miranda Kenneally

One of the best reading decisions I made this year, was to pick up this series again. I forgot how much I loved Kenneally's books, and Breathe, Annie, Breathe was another stellar example of her work. It was heartbreaking watching Annie come to terms with her boyfriend's death, but at the same time, it was beautiful. Heartwarming and heart breaking, and exactly what I have grown to expect from Kenneally.

Throw Like a Girl
Sarah Henning

I have a special place in my heart for sports books, and it's not because I was a big sports fan. It's because they never fail to deliver a good dose of feel-good, and Henning didn't disappoint. I had a great time watching Liv blazed a path as the QB. Fabulous friends, fantastic family, and the lack of that expected conflict with always see in books, where girls dare to join a boys team, made this a hit for me.

Then, Now, Always
Mona Shroff

I expected to like this book, because contemporary romance is my thing, but I never expected this book to totally consume me the way it did. The plot wasn't super original, but Shroff executed it beautifully, and crafted amazing characters I could not help but love. This one really hit me with quite an emotional punch, and the ending! I am crying-smiling-laughing over here just thinking about it.

Tweet Cute 
Emma Lord

You all know I am sucker for a super cute romance, and with the word "cute" in the title, I had no doubt this would be a hit for me. I was a super fan of this pairing, and I loved all the ways these two interacted. But, this wasn't just a romance. It was about finding your place in this world and the complicated nature of families. It was fun and sweet and that ending was perfection!





Did you have any five-star reads last month? 
Let us know in the comments!

44 comments:

  1. Two of your 2019 favourites are on this list which shows how good of a reading month December was for you :D I am glad you could love so many and Tweet Cute sounds so lovely. :) I wish you many five stars in January too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The high quality books just keep finding me. I love it! Tweet Cute was the fun and adorable, but also meaningful, read that I needed.

      Delete
  2. Well done on your challenges! It's been a year of the 3 star books, some good and some closer to meh! Not very many five star books this year! Maybe I'm getting pickier about what I classify as 5 stars...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was really stressing out about some of those states. I thought Wyoming was going to ruin it all for me, but I did it! 5-stars for me is a story that entertained me, that I lost myself in, and that made me feel, and not only was I feeling something as I read, I was feeling something when I was done. I am lucky enough to find these books.

      Delete
  3. I love your 5 Star Friday post idea! You should make it a meme we can participate in!

    I really do need to get to Breathe, Annie, Breathe. I've had a copy for a while now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love for people to join me. I like the memes where you shower love. Start keeping track, and show me your Jan 5-star reads on the first Friday in Feb.

      Delete
  4. Yay, I'm glad that you enjoyed Tweet Cute! I'm looking forward to reading that this month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved it! It was fun, and there were all these sweet moments, and some meaningful moments, and the ending was stupendous, in my opinion. I hope you enjoy it!

      Delete
  5. 37 books is quite impressive! Congrats on completing your challenges!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the quality of the books that I am most pleased about. I love that I have such a long list of books, that delighted me.

      Delete
    2. Yes! That's awesome! I was just reading someone else's blog. They had only read about 30 books this year and most were low stars. I don't think I'd enjoy reading with that. But, I tend to DNF a book if I'm not feeling it. There are just too many good books out there for me to waste my time.

      Delete
    3. Same. I abandon books that aren't working for me. I would rather fill my shelves with books that I adored

      Delete
  6. I would love to try one of Emery Lord's books again Sam and this one seems really good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which one did you read? This is a sequel, so if you read the first one, I would say, go for it. Otherwise, the first was wonderful too

      Delete
  7. Can I just say how much I love all these covers!! So pretty!!! You did so well in 2019!! I'm hoping we both have a great 2020 with a ton of five stars!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So, so pretty, and they fit. When you read the story, you understand why the artist chose that for the cover.

      Delete
  8. Yeah take that 50 states! :) Seriously though- great job!!

    These all look nice but I especially like the look of Tweet Cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was touch and go with the 50-states. I try to find books I would enjoy, and it's hard for those "middle" states.

      Delete
  9. Congrats on meeting your goal for the 50 states challenge! 37 books in December is impressive too!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That 50 states challenge is a lot harder than it seems. I actually had to push through a book or two for that one.

      Delete
  10. I’ve heard so many positives about Tweet Cute, I’m kicking myself for not requesting it. Congratulations on reading all 50 states, what an incredible milestone! And now I’m going to look up The Map from Here to There. I just like the sound of it from the title.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Map is a sequel, and you really do need to read the first book to fully appreciate it, since it's the continuing story of Paige, who was the MC in the first book as well. Tweet Cute was all sorts of adorable fun. I loved every second of it.

      Delete
  11. Wow 50 states! And congrats on completing all of your challenges!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 50 States is probably the hardest challenge I do, so, I might have sucked it up for the last book, but I did it!

      Delete
  12. I'm so excited for Tweet Cute! Thought I had a contact to get an early copy, but her copy disappeared. :-(. Oh well, I'll get to it soon! I love when you do this post. I should try it one month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do it! I am going to try and talk my daughter into making me a snappy graphic and I am going to try to launch this as a thing. I combat my inner negativity with positive things, like these celebratory posts. I hope you get to read Tweet Cute at some point, because it is a smile in a book

      Delete
  13. You rocked it in December! Woo hoo!

    I'm reviewing TWEET CUTE for a blog tour this month. Sounds like it will be a fun read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I devoured that book. It was cute, fun, sweet - loved it!

      Delete
  14. Loved Breathe Annie Breathe! And I can't wait to read Tweet Cute!!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That one hit right through my heart. Loved it! I hope you enjoy Tweet Cute. I thought it was just perfect

      Delete
  15. Ahhh yes Tweet Cute, I adored that one so, SO much! and I really need to read some Emery Lord books, they sound wonderful. So happy you had such a good reading month! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emery Lord books are really good. She's right up there with Kasie West, JES, and Emma Mills for me

      Delete
  16. I'm always so jealous of your reading Sam!

    Amber Elise @ Du Livre

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get better and better at finding books I love, and I think it's because I am sticking to my go-to genre.

      Delete
  17. The cover of Tweet Cute is just so adorable, I can't stand it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sarah Henning is going to be at my local library this week. I feel like I probably need to go and buy a copy of Throw Like a Girl for her to sign. Tweet Cute was a really nice read!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm so happy to see Tweet Cute on your list! It wasn't on my radar originally, but then all the praises it's received from bloggers I trust - you included - has made me really interested. And, yes, I'm happy it was as cute as you expected. :) Great post, Sam!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG! It was so fun and cute. I think you could love this book

      Delete
  20. Congrats on finishing your 50 States Challenge Sam! I loved Breathe Annie, Breathe, and am really looking forward to Keneally's new book. Throw Like a Girl was such a wonderful read as well! I hope you have a lot of 5 star reads for January as well :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want to finish all the Hundred Oaks books before I read the new Kenneally, but I am not sure if I can fit them in. I am over the moon we are getting something new from her, though

      Delete