alltheradreads's Reviews (1.9k)

I really, really loved this one. I needed to read it exactly when I did, and was so glad I had it waiting on my shelf. Fleece's story is seriously unreal-- I can't imagine going through what she went through-- but instead of telling it in a way that invited pity or feeling sorry for herself, she tells it honestly, openly, and in a way that really makes it bigger than just herself. It's a book I'm absolutely going to share with people struggling through feelings of depression/loneliness, because it's exactly the book I needed to read in the midst of my own season of those feelings.

I think I only really enjoyed this one because I was listening to Graham herself reading it, otherwise the plot was pretty weak (although La La Land-ish!) and nothing terribly original or exciting. It's a fun, light-hearted read (like a classic chick lit or flick, really) but not one I'd especially recommend or anything.

Like many Christians, I've read and loved Bob Goff's book "Love Does," so when I saw this one from his wife hit our shelves, I knew I wanted to read it. I wouldn't say it's as compelling, but her thoughts on love as shown through hospitality and motherhood and open doors are really beautiful. The writing isn't especially strong or polished, but it feels like a warm hug from a dear friend, and for that, I'm glad I read it.

I 100% grabbed this one because of that cover -- isn't it so pretty?! -- and was so surprised by how much I loved it. It's a quirky story that feels reminiscent of Me Before You or something, with a story that unfolds in a bit of an unexpected way that keeps you enchanted. It has a fun and likable cast of characters that are a little unusual, and the stories about the lost things scattered throughout this book are beautifully written (as is the rest of the book). I was so pleasantly surprised by this one and would absolutely recommend it!

This wasn't my favorite of celebrity memoirs (and I've read a handful now!) -- it wasn't as engaging as others I've read, as funny as I expected from her, or as interesting a look at her life as I thought I'd find. I'd probably pass this one up, if I were you.

I had mixed feelings about this author based on things I've seen, heard, and read about and from him, but the premise of this book (and that awesome cover!) grabbed me. I read this one in one sitting, and found it to be incredibly well done. It covers nearly every possible question people have about faith, from the big ones like why a good God would allow suffering, to ones we don't hear as much, like what the deal was with Adam and Eve. This is a book I will absolutely pass along to friends who are wrestling through these questions of faith, and one I'm glad to have in my personal arsenal as a reference when I'm asked some of these questions. It's written with a healthy dose of humor (that sometimes crossed the line for me into sarcasm and snark) and in a very approachable Q&A format that I think worked well. A solid read!

I listened to most of this one on a road trip to my grandparents' house, and it was an engaging story on audio (I've found this to be rare!) -- stories about quirky, likable old men seem to keep popping up on my radar -- but I liked the angle of this one with the books as these remedies and prescriptions for ailments only Monsieur Perdu seemed to sense in folks. It's a sweet story and one I enjoyed but wasn't obsessed with.

Taylor recommended it on Instagram and I took her word for it even though it didn't seem like something I thought I'd really love... but wow. Couldn't put it down. The story is about a young girl growing up in a crazy twisted Mormon-ish impoverished cult in Mexico, and it's one of those stories that breaks your heart while making you so engrossed in the story while also making you want to adopt all the poor babies living in awful circumstances... it's a must-read. That's all I'll say about it, because I don't want to give this one away.

This was another work snag (we get so many ARCs from publishers, and it's a dream) and I read it during a lunch break when I felt particularly tired and uninspired, and I'm so glad I did. Maples has a compelling story that really illuminates the need for hope even in the darkness and hardest of circumstances, and I resonated with much of her story here. It's a pretty quick read, but really encouraging for anyone in challenging seasons where the light seems so far off.

As a HUGE fan of sharing stories (stay tuned for something super exciting I'm bringing back to life soon!!!) I knew I had to read this one. Also, that cover. Goodness, I love that cover. Anyway. The stories inside are wonderful-- eclectic, nuanced, well-told, funny, heart-breaking, intriguing... All the stars for this one. (Also, when talks can translate well from being spoken to being written, that speaks volumes, and these DO.)