alltheradreads's Reviews (1.9k)

I heard about this one from Anne Bogel's podcast first, and instantly added it to my list. I had seen it around but never really knew the premise, and even once I did, I wasn't sure what I would think. Knowing it was about Paul (a neurosurgeon in his residency) and his own cancer that took him too soon, I was afraid it would be horribly depressing and morbid, but it was beautifully written and poignant. I couldn't put this one down (I literally only did because it was late and I really needed sleep) and wept like a baby throughout his wife's epilogue. This is a 5 star, must-read! It won't take you long and it will be a lovely look at how to live well even in the face of death.

I didn't expect to like this one, much less love it! It's massive (literally the only book bigger than this that I've ever read is the Bible...) and set back in medieval times... you guys, this story is just GOOD. It's so fascinating, it never felt slow or boring, and it was just really, really well-written. Highly recommend this one to EVERYONE. I ordered the sequel moments after finishing this one and can't wait to dive into it! (Be warned, there is some pretty descriptive rape/violence throughout that made me a little uncomfortable, so just a trigger warning there!)

This was one I grabbed since Anne Bogel recommended it in her summer reading guide, and it was such a fun read! I'm a country music fan admittedly, and really loved the show Nashville for a while (until some key people died...) and this reminded me so much of that show! It's not total fluff, but it is a really light-hearted and easy read -- perfect for summer!