A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"He knew very well that some people thought he was nothing but a grumpy old sod without any faith in people. But, to put it bluntly, that was because people had never given him reason to see it another way. Because a time comes in every man's life when he decides what sort of man he's going to be: the kind who lets other people walk all over him, or not."

I cannot even begin to put into words how much I loved this book. To be honest, it seemed like such an odd premise that it took me a while to actually read this one. Now, it is definitely one of my all-time favorite books.

The story follows a man named Ove, who lives in a little community where he is one of the last standing from the older generation. Surrounded by younger couples of the new generation, Ove feels angry. He feels like the new generation is lazy, confused, and lacks respect for important, practical skills. Ove is your typical cranky old man. However, as the story carries on, he slowly learns to find a place in his community and find connections he never thought possible.

This book covers deep issues...but is hilarious. Laugh-out-loud hilarious. The cantankerous Ove has such a funny perspective of people and has such great lines in the book, especially at the beginning. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. I also loved the incorporation of the cat into the book--Ove hates cats.

I also enjoyed the message of this book, which is that you truly can't judge others. At the beginning, everyone sees Ove as this grumpy old man, including the reader. As the story unfolds, though, you learn so much about Ove's life and why he is the way that he is. Backman did an amazing job at incorporating so many details to explain every quirk on Ove's personality. Most of all, as you learn about Ove, you realize that behind the hard exterior is a huge heart, something the neighbors come to learn over time.

This book is also about the fact that so few of us take time to know those who live around us. It shows us what so many of us are missing by not getting to know our neighbors and those in our community. The beautiful thing about this book is that a community of individualistic families ends up coming together through the most unlikely source--a grumpy man called Ove.

Besides Ove, I adored the character of Parvaneh. She complements Ove's personality but in a softer, more loving way. I liked how she looked out for Ove and also leaned on Ove. Their friendship was very unlikely, but very touching.

This book will change the way you see others and make you realize that you can't know someone's whole story just by looking at them. It will make you stop and think before assuming you know someone. Most of all, it shows you that everyone needs to find a purpose and a connection to others in this world in order to find meaning.

Read this book. Tell all of your friends about it. It is not only an entertaining read, but an important reminder about life and the people around us. I will definitely be picking up more books by Backman.

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Bare Minerals Perfecting Veil Review

180 Seconds by Jessica Park
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"I am brave. I am brave. I am brave. But I cannot stop the tears. 'I don't want to live this like,' I say out loud over and over through my sobbing. I cry for who I have been, who I am, and who I could be. However, I also cry with an iota o relief, because a change is about to happen."

180 Seconds follows the story of Allison, who is very broken at the beginning. Having lived in foster-care pretty much her entire childhood, she learned to not get close to people and to not trust. Recently adopted by her adoptive father, Simon, she's still holding back. The only person she is close to is her best friend Steffi, who also grew up in foster care. On campus, though, she comes across a boy named Esben Baylor. She doesn't realize he is a YouTube sensation. When he challenges her to a social experiment in which they spend a mere 180 seconds together in silence, she agrees just to get out of the situation.

What she doesn't expect, however, is that the 180 seconds will change everything for her and threaten to break down her carefully constructed walls. As Esben and Allison explore something she never expected, she comes to learn that everyone has so much underneath the surface and that trusting another person can be safe.

I'll be honest--at first, I wasn't crazy about this book. I found the whole premise to be a little bit cheesy; could two people really fall for each other in 180 seconds? I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. I expected some superficial college romance to happen.

And then this book completely, utterly won me over. As Allison's walls come down with Esben, they also come down for the reader. As she finds herself, you discover so much about her that you like. By the end, I realized what masterful writing it takes to pull this off. It really puts you in the book, in the situation, and in the story.

This book is also about so, so much more than a college romance. It has so many twists and turns in the plot that I don't want to spoil, but trust me, by the end, you will be emotionally exhausted but satisfied. This book has so much packed into its pages. By the end, I adored Esben and Allison. I especially loved Allison's dad, Simon.

This book is heavy and fun. It's light and it's deep. It's this perfect concoction of the best of so many emotions. I definitely see why this book has become so popular. I would definitely read a sequel if the author wrote one.

So do yourself a favor this summer and pick up 180 seconds. Get ready for a roller coaster of emotion. Just, whatever you do, don't judge the book by the first few chapters. As the book teaches you, there's so much more underneath the surface if you're patient and brave enough to look.

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The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read The Beach House years ago and fell in love with Jane Green's writing charm and witty humor. I loved how she delved into deep issues fearlessly but with a sense of lightheartedness that made for great reading.

Jane Green's The Sunshine Sisters did not disappoint. It had that same feel as The Beach House, which was a great thing. The story follows the Sunshine family through the decades. In many ways, it is a family saga, but it is also about how the past can impact our identities.

Ronni Sunshine was a famous actress. However, she was never quite at the top of the Hollywood circuit. She was always just on the cusp of true, undeniable, life-altering fame. Because of this, she spent most of her life chasing that fame, resulting in a loss of connection with her three daughters. Through the years, the three daughters, Lizzy, Nell, and Meredith, are impacted by their mom's attitude and character.

The book is set at the end of Ronni's life, when she realizes how many mistakes she's made. She comes to regret the fact she hasn't been there for her daughters and that her daughters aren't close anymore. Deciding she still has time to make things right, she sets out on an impossible task: she wants to bring her family back together.

The book tells the family's story through the decades, giving us glimpses into their dynamic through the years. I love how each sister is very different and finds her own path in life. Each sister has her own successes and her own challenges. The three sisters have complex lives that are far from perfect, which made the book exciting to read. I love how there were so many different viewpoints and stories happening within the story.

I also love the deep themes that run through the book. Jane Green touches upon identity, family, loyalty, regret, and so many other human emotions in this book. I think every woman can relate to several pieces of this family's puzzle, which makes it a truly unique novel. It captures so much of the modern woman's struggle in a way that isn't in-your-face. It doesn't feel like a lecture; Jane Green's writing allows the reader to come to their own conclusion about the theme and about life itself.

I love the lighthearted moments that break up the novel. Lizzy was my favorite character by far. I found her to be the most human and the most exciting. I love the entire premise for the novel and found it to be very addicting. I also felt like I left the novel with many thinks to think about. This is definitely a book you could read several times because there are just so many themes running through it.

The only thing I disliked was the tense. The book is told in third person, and I found during the earlier segments of the book, the present tense felt awkward. I'm not sure if this was just me or because I've read a lot of books in past tense. I just found myself being thrown from the story. However, when the story got to present day, it made more sense.

Overall, Jane Green's newest book is a must read for the summer and really for anytime. I like that the cover captures the feeling and main plot of the story perfectly. Above all, I love that Jane Green managed to make me feel something for the Sunshine sisters. Even though I'm an only child, I felt like I could understand the bond of sisterhood, the loyalty of family, and the way it all shapes the women we become.

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Video Review of Jane Green's The Sunshine Sisters

To Say Goodbye

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up Where They Found Her because I was I really liked Reconstructing Amelia and thought I'd give this author another try.

Where They Found Her is a mystery/suspense focused around the discovery of a dead body near a campus in a small town. Molly Sanderson has just moved to the small town of Ridgedale with her husband after he takes a job at the University. Their lives are in turmoil due to personal events, but Molly ends up being assigned the case as a journalist. The story is her chance to restart her career and perhaps get her life back on track.

As Molly gets wrapped up in the mystery in the town, other mysteries begin to surface. By the end of the book, she finds herself completely entwined in numerous situations, all of which complicate her life and career.

I liked Molly's character in the book because she is a broken woman searching for redemption and strength. Readers get to see her emerge and blossom throughout the book from an unsure woman into a confident, strong force. I like her dedication to doing what's right and to finding her way, despite many obstacles.

Like many suspense novels, this book follows numerous characters' perspectives. It was really confusing for a while to keep all of the characters straight, but I like how McCreight seamlessly weaves so many people together in her book. There are many subplots to the novel, and I like how McCreight can keep all of the stories feeling well-developed. I was surprised numerous times in the book as many twists and turns occurred. This book is far from predictable, which I enjoyed.

I did find the middle section of the book to lose my attention and lose the intensity. Nonetheless, the last one hundred pages were absolutely thrilling and made me want to keep reading. I felt the last few pages of the book could have been better developed, but overall, I thought McCreight did a good job at tying up all loose ends.

This book is an exciting, intense read filled with all sorts of questions and horrifying conclusions. It really makes you think about issues of trust, love, and loyalty. I liked the well-rounded characters and the pace of the book at the beginning and end. McCreight is clearly a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

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To Say Goodbye by Lindsay Detwiler