katietotallybooked's Reviews (785)

The reason I've come to love historical fiction so much is because I love learning about events that have shaped our world's history, and sometimes you come across a historical fiction novel, like Take My Hand, that teaches the reader about events they never knew happened. I was captivated by this fictionalized story loosely inspired by the real life Relf v. Weinberger case in 1973. 
Perkins-Valdez really pulled me in with her captivating characters. I felt so much empathy for India & Erica and their traumatic childhood. I was rooting for Civil on her own personal journey of growth and search for belonging. In my eyes, it was a bonus to the novel to learn about this horrible event in our world's past, because the story about chosen family, love, and identity was enough to capture my attention. 

I'd recommend this book to any historical fiction reader, any women, and anyone who wants an emotional story about chosen family and the people who shape our lives. 

This was my first book by Kennedy Ryan and the first book pick for my new in person book club. 
This book had characters that I really enjoyed and that was probably my favourite aspect of the book. I fell in love with Yas and Josiah and I was rooting for them all the way. I loved getting to know the personalities of their children, and their friends too. 
This story was so emotional and I was taken aback by how well Kennedy Ryan handled the heavy themes of grief, loss, depression and mental health. She also openly presented therapy and brought up the stigma surrounding it. 

There were a few steamy sex scenes and lot of emphasis on physical appearance and attractiveness. For me as a reader, I don’t really need these in my books. So it just wasn’t a 5 star read for me. 

I don’t know that I’ll explore any of Kennedy Ryan’s other novels or series, but I will continue in this series so that I can follow the side characters I grew to love!

The only reason I pick up Jacqueline Woodson novels is because she writes such lyrical prose and tells her stories with grace.  I particularly enjoy her books on audio, as the author herself is often a narrator and she reads her stories with such emotion. This one was no exception to those feelings. I loved the storytelling, but the story itself was lack lustre. I don’t really know who I’d recommend this to because most of it I have already forgotten just a few days later. However, in the moment it was a quick, easy read that was enjoyable to listen to. You could devour this novel in one story. And as a multigenerational family saga, I appreciated the message it sent about everyone have a history, and a future, and that there are many people intertwined. 

I’m not sure that I’ll continue to pick up this author’s books  unless a story particularly intrigues me. I think I have gotten a good sense of the author based on what I have read so far. 

What I loved most about this book is that even though it was co-authored, it felt like a backlist Jodi Picoult book. I had relevance to current topics and trending issues, and it included a court case. I missed those aspects in her previous two books The Book of Two Ways and Wish You Were Here. 

I felt like I was able to get inside the mind of a transgendered person and it helped me to understand this experience. Although some aspects of domestic abuse that were portrayed were hard to read, I also appreciated how graphic the authors made these parts because they felt very real. 

Surprisingly, I also learned about beekeeping which was a relevant aside and I think it helped lighten the tone of heavier themes covered in this story. 
I was captivated by the writing, the themes and the characters. There is many reasons why I love Jodi Picoult books and this one is a perfect example of how much her novels offer to readers. 

This was a great read. I learned a lot of practical information that I want to keep in mind during my parenting journey. It is filled with examples that are relatable for any parent. I love the handy charts at the back that break down how to apply the strategies based on the age of your child. I know this is a book I will reference for years to come as my child grows up and I face new challenges. It also taught me a thing or two about my own brain and my own actions and how I could change those to set a better parenting example. 

A great read for any parent!

I’ve always been intrigued by the Royal Family, and I remember where I was the day I heard that Princess Diana died. I was only 8 years old at the time, but I remember we were in our car on the way home from a family vacation and the announcement came on the radio. 
I’ve always felt on some level for Harry & William because they lost their mom so young. I’ve also lost my Mom so I then felt I could relate as part of the ‘motherless club’. 
I lived in England for a year and I gained an understanding of the influence the Crown has there and the extent the media goes to publicize it all. So that’s why I wanted to read this book. 

I truly enjoyed Prince Harry sharing his story. Ultimately, I was saddened by his experiences. I am so happy that he found Meghan and their love story is one I am in awe of. I don’t think they deserve what they have gone through at all. 

I love memoirs and this one is no different. I know he had a ghost writer but I still commend him for sharing his story. While I did find the middle a bit dry, I ultimately just loved listening to his story. 
I do hope that he and Meghan can find peace in themselves and that perhaps this will evoke some change with how the paparazzi and the media do their daily work. 

I found this book to be a bit underwhelming. I think I went in with false expectations. I also think I was in the mood for a lighter romance, but then chose a heavier one. So my rating is more a reflection of me as a reader and my experience than of the book itself. Which honestly, most of my ratings are that way. 
I didn’t connect with Eva or Shane as main characters. I found them to be very codependent and I didn’t vibe well with that. So I know that is also why I didn’t feel too strongly for the story. I did love Audre, Eve’s young teen daughter though! Her banter with Shane and her personality were the highlight of this book for me. I was definitely rooting for her, as she was trying so hard to just please her mom. She truly idolized her, you could tell.

I learned that I don’t really like books about characters who struggle with substance abuse. I just find it harder to get in their heads when it isn’t something I have any personal experience with. 

I am already confused by all the characters. No thanks!

This collection of essays from Lauren Graham was an easy-listening audiobook. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I remember it in detail? Not likely. But any fan of Lauren Graham will want to pick up this book and read it or listen to it. It's humorous and light, and it won't cause you to lose any sleep. 

This was a slow, character driven historical fiction novel based on true events. There were times while reading that I was very drawn into the characters and the story, and times when I felt a bit bored. 
What I liked most was the unique story of this novel. Talia was adopted by her Romanian parents after being taken to an orphanage because she was found abandoned in the streets. Little did Talia know of her Jewish roots and where she came from for most of her life. I enjoyed reading her history slowly unfold for her through the pages. 
I think any historical fiction fan would find a bit of enjoyment in this book. More so if you like character driven novels, and less so if you don’t. I enjoy learning about experiences during World War II and the post war era, so overall there was value in reading this book. But I’m not sure if I’ll pick up any more by this author.