Book Tracking

 How do you keep track of what you've read and your to be read pile?  I have friends and family members that look at a book and debate whether they've read that book before or not.  They know they liked a certain book and would like to read more from that author but they don't remember anything about it.

I've track my reading for decades.  I can't wait to update my lists when I'm done and add the next book.  When I got some new shelving recently I took the time to update the lists with everything I own.  I used to be bad for buying multiple copies of a book because I didn't know what I had.  Now when I'm at my local bookstore I pull up my app and I know with certainty what I've read and what I own.

Back in the early 1990's I started a journal of sorts where I wrote down everything I've ever read.  I did one side by title and another entry by the author.  It was a three ring binder with lined paper.  Then around 2006 I transitioned to Goodreads.  

These days I consider myself obsessed with Goodreads.  I open the app at least once a day.  I love reading the reviews and entering the contests.  But most of all I love tracking my reading.  I love setting a reading goal for the year and Goodreads telling me that I'm ahead of schedule on my goal.

I also love having friends and family on  Goodreads so I can see what everyone is reading.  I often discover a book I don't know about this way.  But also, when we see each other I already know what they've been reading and we can chat about it or easily recommend another book I think they might like.

These days there's a lot of conversation around other apps like Fable or Storygraph and others.  I downloaded a few a year or so ago but I kept coming back to Goodreads.  It works for me and I don't see myself changing.

How do you track your reading?  Or do you just guess if you've read a book before?  Add me as a friend on Goodreads My Goodreads Profile

We Met Like This by Kasie West

Margot Hart is desperate for love.  She's been sleeping with her boss at a literary agency where she works.  She's been desperate for a promotion that he keeps promising.  Their quick weekend trips are nice but when he ignores her at the office - that's not love.  

3 years ago she had a match on her app.  It was a boring date with Oliver talking about fonts forever.  But it ended with a hot make out session in his car that she's never forgotten.  Any time she opens the apps she sees he's still there.  Maybe she can tolerate boring for that hotness.  But ultimately Margot wants the meet-cute she reads about in her romance books.  Spontaneous meeting and instant attraction.  Love at first sight.

Margot decides it's time to force her future.  She schedules a meeting with her boss for Friday and invites one of the other managers so it doesn't turn into a make out session.  Then she schedules a celebration lunch with Oliver to give him one more chance.  Friday is going to be a good day.

Well things don't unravel exactly as Margot hoped but sometimes things have a way of working themselves out.  I enjoyed this book and the characters.  Anyone who loves a good romance novel with a slow get together will enjoy We Met Like This.  I found the book fast moving.  I really enjoyed the ending where there was a very surprising twist.  

 

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely

 

Friends to Lovers is the story of Joni and Ren.  Their mothers are best friends - have been forever.  Joni and Ren grew up together.  The two have always been best friends.  When Joni moves to the East coast leaving Ren in Portland their friendship is at risk but they make a point to always be the others plus one at weddings ensuring they see each other once a year at least.  

Here begins the slow transition from friendship to lovers. Told in alternating chapters between present day and weddings past the story of their friendship unravels.  There is two and a half years when they don't even talk to each other.  But now at Joni's sister's wedding it's time to talk things through and face tough subjects.  Say the things that have been unsaid.

At times I found this story a little too dragged out but ultimately I did enjoy the novel.  I enjoyed all the characters.  There's a musical theme to the story as well and at the end I found a playlist that I will give a listen to.  All in all I would say this is a great romance novel and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading the friends to lovers trope.  Friends to Lovers would make a great beach read as most of the story line takes place at a cabin in Portland on the water.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs

 

The Retirement Plan is hilarious!  I'm pretty stingy with my five stars and this one got ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.  It fits with my cozy mystery vibe that I've been on and it made me laugh out loud.  I absolutely loved it!  

There are four couple friends that have all been best friends for over 30 years.  A few years ago one of the guys led the others to invest all their retirement money and lost it all and life hasn't been the same since.  This isn't what any of them envisioned retirement to be.  They all had pretty good marriages before they lost the retirement money but now the guys feel bad and the girls can barely look at their husbands.

But the husbands have a plan that will more than make up for the missing retirement money and win their wives back.  The wives also have a plan to make some money that definitely doesn't include their husbands.

This whole week I haven't stopped talking to people about The Retirement Plan.  This is the first novel for Sue Hincenbergs but after listening to her chat at a local library there are more books in the works.  This is definitely my favourite read so far this year - and I've read some great books.  Indigo has it on sale right now for 30% off because it's one of their best sellers.  I highly recommend you pick it up and read it this summer.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deads by Allison Brennan

I recently learned the term cozy mysteries and I think it might be my new favourite genre for the next little bit.  Beach Reads and Deadly Deads certainly fits into that cozy mystery.  I'm not sure the true definition but for me it means murder and mystery without the blood and guts and maybe a love story on the side.

Beach Deads and Deadly Deads follows the story of Mia.  She's just arrived on the island of St Clair for a much needed vacation - mandated by her boss.  Just shy of her 30th birthday and she doesn't remember the last time she took time off.  She's also about to commit to becoming an owner of the accounting firm she works for and once she does that there will be no vacations ever.  So with a promise to relax and enjoy she steps on to the island of St Clair with the news a previous resort guest has gone missing.

Mia has read enough mystery novels that she figures herself part sleuth.  Also, it's hard to relax until she knows what happened to the woman who went missing - maybe she was murdered.  Intent to solve the mystery and also have a one night stand, Mia engages in conversation with everyone she crosses and there sure are a lot of mysterious people staying at the resort.

I really enjoyed this novel.  My first read by Allison Brennan even though she already has many titles.  I gave it 4 stars but I think I could move that to 4.5 if Goodreads would only allow half stars.  I would recommend this to anyone who thinks they only like romance novels and are ready for a change.  I will also note that I saw someone's comment on Goodreads that they didn't finish the book because of profanity and I would say that I barely noticed any profanity.  

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

 

WOW!!  Where to start with this book.  I gave it 4 stars but I'm rethinking that maybe it should be 5 stars.  What Kind of Paradise is truly a great novel.  At the beginning it felt predictable and familiar - like the Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (which I also love), but then the twists started coming and really it's not comparable.

Jane has lived in remote Montana as long as she can remember.  Her mom passed away when she was four and since then it's just been her and her dad.  Jane is home schooled.  Her dad went to Harvard - he can teach her everything she needs to know.  Her father also teaches how to survive the wilderness and most importantly keep your eye out for the FBI.  Jane's only connection to the outside world is an occasional trip into town to a book store.

As Jane gets older she starts to question some of her dad's ideas and ways of living.  It's the mid 1990's and one day dad brings home a computer.  He wants Jane to learn to program so he can share his message with the world.  He needs them to know the dangers of these new computers.  He's been telling anyone who will listen for ages and the people who need to hear this are online already.

This book goes from a quiet slow life in rural Montana to full speed in a moment.  This book is action packed.  I was on edge and flipping pages as fast as I could to see the ending.  What Kind of Paradise is unlike anything I've read in a while.  I recommend this book to everyone but especially those that worked in tech in the mid 90's.  It's an excellent book that I'm sure we will see on top 10 lists very soon.  I think it would make an excellent book club choice as well as there is a ton to discuss here.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I almost didn't read Atmosphere because I'm not interested in space but I love other Taylor Jenkins Reid books so I gave it a shot.  I'm glad I did.  This is going to be a very loved book by many.  Strong female characters based in the 80's.  I was surprised when I found myself crying at the end.  It's a fantastic book.  The characters are that good.

Joan has just been accepted by NASA.  It's 1980 and this is the first round of women to be accepted into NASA's programs.  Joan has been preparing for this moment her whole life.  She's been studying the stars and dreaming of this day.  Joan's been so focused on her career she's left little room for much else.  Her niece Frannie is the exception - Joan adores her niece Frannie.

As Joan, meets her fellow crew and gets entrenched in training she finds herself hanging out with the crew on evenings and weekends.  For the first time since college she's hanging out with people and forming bonds - even enjoying a beer or two here and there.

In the first chapter of the novel we learn that one of the missions isn't going as planned.  Joan's story is  being unravelled before the tragedy and after the tragedy.  Atmosphere is more than just a space story.  It's romance, women's rights, friendship and more.  If you love Taylor Jenkins Reid - like so many of us do - don't miss this one.  It's a great read.