karamaek's reviews
621 reviews

This book appeared in my Amazon Suggestions one day so I downloaded it. I needed a light, quick read after finishing a deeply concerning book. I do that to sort of cleanse my pallet before moving on and it really keeps my read eclectic.

Through the first few chapters I found the character development to be weak. I felt that I must be reading the second in a series due to how little the author described the main character but I don't think that is the case. As far as I can tell, this is a standalone book though I would like to see a sequel.

Due to the lack of character development I created the main character in my head. As I read it I learned she was a size 8, so she shrunk. Then I learned she had brown hair so her hair color changed. Since this truly was a quick read that was not as bothersome has I would have expected.

The story line was fairly predictable as it followed the rhythm of most romantic comedies or chick lit books. But the author did a good job of keeping it fun without too much drama. Lola, the main character, seemed to have a good head about her. While she did get caught up in the moment a few times, she also never really lost sight of what was really going on with the man she was dating. She was, however, pretty blind to other things going on in her life. That balance made the story seem realistic, like it could happen to your best friend, opposed to other books in this genera that leave you screaming at the girl to get her head together.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading this author again.

I started to read this book because it was picked for a book club a friend of mine had just started up. To be honest I only kept reading the book because I wanted to be able to contribute to the book club discussion.

Typically when I read I become the main character or a close friend of the character. The story comes to life in my head and I feel a deep connection with the main character. This has lead to many, many interesting dreams following an evening of reading. This is also why I cannot watch any movie when I have already read the book, I get upset when the characters to not match what I have created in my head.

This book was different. While I did become attached to Pi through the first part of the book, as soon as he was in the lifeboat I had to walk away. I kept reading but I made it a point not to be connected. I did not want to feel his suffering. I did not want to be the one who had to kill a turtle or a fish or clean up after a Tiger.

Since I no longer had that connection the author's great detail sometimes annoyed me. When I was connected to Pi, all the detail was tolerable and I often assumed it would be useful information later in the book. When I disconnected, it was annoying and trite.

As soon as Pi was off the boat I reconnected. I read the last section intently and I felt like my friend was back. And the ending was very thought provoking.

I feel the book was well written but was not a book for me, someone with a great love for animals and a weak heart when it comes to their suffering. If you can handle that, then I think you will really enjoy this epic tale of triumph over tragedy and the will to survive in even the direst of circumstances.

This follow up book to Shoe Addicts Anonymous was an absolutely hilarious page turner! I had a very hard time putting it down once I started reading. This book can be read before the first book as they are not true sequel or series. There is one main character that is in both books, and if you do read this book first, you do learn how the first book ended but besides that, this book has full character development and the details that are often lost or redundant in a sequel.
The name Shoe Addicts Anonymous is not accurate however; I do understand the want to tie this book to the first. Maybe, The PTO Club would be better!
The story is funny and keeps moving along at a quick pace. It is predictable at times but most Chick-Lit tends to be that way.
I look forward to reading another Beth Harbison book in the very near future!

The Henry and Mudge series is among the favorite list in our house. We discovered it at the library and have read them all now.
This is a typically book in the series and tells the story about how Henry, Henry's Dad, and Henry's big dog Mudge survive a gloomy February weekend.
Highly recommended to Mudge lovers everywhere!

Very Boring Alligator is a favorite in my house. We checked it out of the library and loved it so much that we ended up ordering it. We have favorite sayings which we quote all the time and now Gatorade is called Gator-rator-raid.
I highly recommend this book to children of all ages!

I first discovered Megan McCafferty on a list here on Amazon.com when I wanted something new to read. She is a wonderful author who can accurately express the thoughts and feelings of a sixteen year old girl. Sloppy Firsts is a funny and honest introduction into Jessica Darling's sixteenth year of life, starting with her best friend moving out of town, to her learning to live with the people she never really thought were her friends, to falling for the bad guy, to dealing with her father that obsessed with her track career, to her mother who is obsessed with her sisters wedding. You will laugh through most of the book and sympathize with the rest. This book definitely leaves you wanting more; luckily Second Helpings is right there waiting for you!

This is McQuestion’s best book so far and as I understand, it was her first book published. I picked it up a couple of days ago and didn’t put it down until I was finished.

I immediately felt a connection to the main character Skyla and her new neighbor / best friend Roxanne. While I have a lot in common with Skyla, my husband is much more like Roxanne’s husband. When ready Audrey’s point of view, I felt like I was her daughter in law and found myself frustrated with the way she carried herself. She felt the need to be in control but instead of communicating her wants and needs, she took the classic mid-western approach and was passive aggressive in all of her actions.

The main character, Skyla, was very easy for me to relate to. Being a mother without a mother is not easy. Not all of us want to seek out someone who will fill that void. I found myself becoming very frustrated with how her mother in law, Audrey, felt she needed to be such a huge part of Skyla’s life. What really got to me was how insulted Audrey was that Skyla would not call her Mom. When a woman lost her mom at a young age, she will not take lightly who, if anyone, she chooses to call Mom in the future. I guess it is not something one can relate to unless they are unlucky enough to be in this situation.

Overall, I am going to give this book 5 stars and I beyond excited to read another McQuestion novel!

Life On Hold was the first Young Adult novel I read by Karen McQuestion after falling in love with two of her Adult novels. She is on par with other YA Authors of this genera like Sarah Dessen.

The story is about a 15 year old girl who, along with her slightly flighty mother, moves every time the going gets tough. Now, she is 45 minutes away from the only other family she knows, her Grandparents who are so welcoming they even have a bedroom for her at their house. Her own bedroom where she can keep anything she wants while her mother drags her around the country.

After her mother promised they would stay in one place for the next two and a half years so Rae can graduate from High School where they currently life, Rae finally lets her guard down and beings to make a few friends.

Being the smart, responsible kid she is known to be, her Vice Principal matches her up with another new student who could use some help learning her way around the school. This opens Rae up to friendships she has never experiences before and pushes her to learn to stand up for herself to her mother.

Karen McQuestion has a knack for telling a story through a teenager’s eye without making the reader feel like she is reading someone’s diary. I was hooked at the start of the book and didn’t want to put it down until the story was finished. She has a way of neatly wrapping up the story lines so the book feels complete and well rounded.

I recommend this book to any teenage girl or woman looking for a heartfelt coming of age story.