Monday 28 May 2012

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner (Book #1)

Book #1: Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Synopsis: 
The lives of four very different women intertwine in unexpected ways in this new novel by bestselling author Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes; Best Friends Forever). Each woman has a problem: Princeton senior Jules Wildgren needs money to help her dad cure his addiction; Pennsylvania housewife Annie Barrow is gasping to stay financially afloat; India Bishop yearns to have a child, an urge that her stepdaughter Bettina can only regard with deeply skepticism until she finds herself in a most unexpected situation. Interlocking dramas designed to ensnare; bound to be a bestseller.
Time to Read: 1.5 days

Review:

Once I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down, even when one of my friends came over to my house for a visit, I found myself looking back at the book on my coffee table, wondering what the characters were up to. This book was about something that I know next to nothing about: surrogacy. It's told from the perspective of four different women, who are all involved in a surrogacy to create a baby: the egg donor, the surrogate mother, the mother, the mother's stepdaughter (and godparent). I 

The characters are interesting, but if there was one character I never quite got connected to it's Annie Barrow, who is the surrogate mother and actually carries the baby. Maybe it's because I can't identify with someone who only ever saw themselves as a mother, since I'm not at that point in my life even though we're the same age! (24) The characters I was always excited about when it came to their chapter were: Jules and India. Jules has a revelation about halfway through the book and she is just an extremely interesting character whose life is nothing like mine.  Jules is described as extremely beautiful and has a father whose battling addiction, and the way that she loves her father, is uncomfortable in her own skin, and feels just different then everyone else is really interesting. In the first chapter (I think!) of the book, she describes how she feels like she's lying to guys when they check her out, like she's not really what they think she is, which to me is interesting because who could you feel like you were lying about what you look like? India was interesting just because she had a fascinating life and was determined to be the best in her life no matter what, I actually quite liked India, which is why I maybe never was captivated by Bettina.

Bettina was also okay but I just wasn't hooked by her, I actually liked India and she was one of my favourite characters.

I've read a few reviews and if there's one thing I agree with, it's that the book ends a bit unrealistically. 

Overall, I liked the book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a quick, easy happy read. There wasn't anything in particular about the book that truly grabbed me, which is why it only gets a 4/5. However, I could barely put it down, so you have to give credit to the author for that.

Review (In related to my reading style): Then Came You actually made me really interested in reading a book about a character like Jules, so if you have any recommendations, please leave it in the comments or send me a message. I learned that I really love books that are told from different characters' perspectives and whose lives are so vastly different but then they are brought together in some way. In my opinion, books like that are more interesting to read than ones that the characters are obviously intertwined, e.g. family, friends, schoolmates, etc.

WeekToRead's Ranking: 4/5 


Next week...

A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Current Progress: Page 208 

Comment: I will read/finish this book!! I know that a lot of people love it, so this is going to be my kick to actually finish it.

Questions: 
  1. Have you read "Then Came You"? What about it did you like? Didn't like?
  2. When books have unrealistic endings in the real world, do you just sort of accept it or does it actually make you dislike the book?



Do you have any recommendations for me to read next?! Please send me a message if you do, I'm open to all suggestions.




Friday 25 May 2012

Day One Week One - Allie's First Reading List

Welcome to my humble little corner of the web! I love reading and this is my declaration to the internet that I am going to finish at least one book every week for the next 365 days (which is 52 weeks 1 day)


Here is a current list of books that I'd like to read:


  1. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
  2. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
  3. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
  4. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers
  5. Southern Charm by Tinsley Mortimer
  6. 127 Hours (Between a rock and a hard place) by Aaron Ralston
  7. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
  8. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  10. The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory
  11. The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
  12. The Boelyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
  13. Innocence by Kathleen Tessaro
  14. Water for Elephants by Sara Cruen
  15. Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin
  16. 50 Shades Freed by E.L. James
  17. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

As your can tell, I have a wide arrangement of interests from Young Adult to Historical Fiction to Mountain Climbing Adventure Stories but that's why I like reading so much, it allows you to not be limited and to explore whole different worlds that you wouldn't otherwise be exposed to. And honestly, about all but 4 of these books I already own and just need to read. I picked up Then Came You today on a whim while shopping at my favourite bookstore when I was little so hopefully that will be the first tick off. I also read I am a Pole (and so can you!) by Stephen Colbert while waiting in line, but I don't think that one counts!

Here's the plan
  1. Post each Sunday what book I will be reading / finishing that week
  2. I'm obviously allowed to read more than one book at a time but my goal is to finish one a week.
  3. Have at least one weekday evening and one weekend "time slot" (morning, afternoon, or evening) dedicated to reading/immersing myself in what I'm reading.
    1. This is me being selfish, because it's honestly one of my favourite things to do and I want to make sure I make time for it!
  4. Post a review of the book and what I thought about it (be personally accountable!) by Sunday.
  5. Constantly be updating my "Week to Read" Reading List with new books I want to read, I've never reached a point that I didn't want to read something.
  6. Re-read some of my favourites and post reviews on them.
  7. Post reviews on the "Archives" of books I've already read.
So lovelies, that's it! I'm going to curl up for the rest of the evening with Then Came You and I will report back soon!

PS - I already finished a book this week, so expect the first "official" post this Sunday!

PPS - Yes, sometimes I like to read cheesy embarrassing young adult novels, reading's fun! It doesn't always have to change your outlook on life.