Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: March 18, 2014

My rating: ★★★★ 

Can I just say, Colleen Hoover just gets me. This book drew me in immediately and I finished it super quick! The beginning of the book took me back to college SO fast. Sydney sitting out on her balcony every time the mysterious guitar-playing guy across the courtyard comes out...that's just the dream, right?! 

In this book we get to ride the rollercoaster that is Ridge and Sydney. Feelings are flying all over the place in this story and at times it's a little hard to keep up! This story surprised me within the first few chapters, so I feel like I can't say TOO much without giving things away. Guess you'll just need to read it. ;) 

The main thing I struggled connecting with in this book is when Ridge and Sydney wrote songs together. The songwriting process is fascinating, but when Ridge and Sydney did it I just didn't really feel interested in it or connected to it (and I know I was SUPPOSED to feel connected to it, does that make sense?). I think I just found some of those moments to be a bit on the cheesy side. 

Altogether though, I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed all the characters we met and am SO happy there are some follow-up stories with those people!

Review: If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman

If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman

Publication Date: February 26, 2019

My rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: Audrey's family has fallen apart. Her two grown-up daughters, Jess and Lily, are estranged, and her two teenage granddaughters have never been allowed to meet. A secret that echoes back thirty years has splintered the family in two, but is also the one thing keeping them connected. 

Whew. This one was a doozy. This story reaches in and tugs deep at your heart. This is not a boring estranged family story (is there such a thing!?), but it's a story of secrets, lies, and assumptions. I won't lie, this book flips around quite a bit, especially in the beginning. Almost to the point of confusing me. Not only are we seeing the stories of Audrey, Jess, and Lily, we are also flipping back in time to a couple different moments in these women's lives. The flip-back moments are VERY important to the story and help us see the big picture, but it did feel a little all over the place for a while.

I really enjoyed this (heartbreaking) story. I loved seeing each woman separately as it can make you understand that person a little bit...but then during the next chapter you get frustrated at the women you previously understood. Did that make sense? No? Okay, moving on. ;) One thing this book made me think of was, "secrets secrets are no fun. Share them with everyone"...did anyone else hear or say that at a sleepover if two girls were whispering to each other? Ha, it brings back such memories! Anyway, this story reminded me of that phrase because it is a great example of how a simple assumption and lack of communication can completely ruin relationships. 

This is a great story surrounding the relationships between sisters and mothers and daughters. It's not my cutesy love story type book that I really love to read, but this is definitely a great read (even if it was a doozy for me!)