Since I totally skipped out on posting what I read in April, today you get a quick review of all the books I read in both April and May. Enjoy!

Searching For Sunday by Rachel Held Evans

Synopsis: Like millions of her millennial peers, Rachel Held Evans didn’t want to go to church anymore. The hypocrisy, the politics, the gargantuan building budgets, the scandals–church culture seemed so far removed from Jesus. Yet, despite her cynicism and misgivings, something kept drawing her back to Church. And so she set out on a journey to understand Church and to find her place in it. Centered around seven sacraments, Evans’ quest takes readers through a liturgical year with stories about baptism, communion, confirmation, confession, marriage, vocation, and death that are funny, heartbreaking, and sharply honest.

I hovered between 2 and 3 stars when rating this book, but ultimately ended up rounding up to 3. There’s a lot I liked about this book and a lot I didn’t like. I took away some great thoughts, but was bored and disagreed with some of her thoughts, as well. I can definitely see why so many people think highly of it — the topic of doubt in the church is one that needs to be discussed and handled better in most situations, but a lot of it didn’t resonate with me — and that’s ok. We all doubt and question in our own way, and I appreciate the fact that she is trying to make doubt in the Christian world a more talked about topic.

3 stars.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Synopsis: Cassandra is lost, alone and grieving. Her much loved grandmother, Nell, has just died and Cassandra, her life already shaken by a tragic accident ten years ago, feels like she has lost everything dear to her. But an unexpected and mysterious bequest from Nell turns Cassandra’s life upside down and ends up challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. Inheriting a book of dark and intriguing fairytales written by Eliza Makepeace—the Victorian authoress who disappeared mysteriously in the early twentieth century—Cassandra takes her courage in both hands to follow in the footsteps of Nell on a quest to find out the truth about their history, their family and their past; little knowing that in the process, she will also discover a new life for herself.

Would you believe this is (finally!) my first Kate Morton book? I’ve had a bunch of her books on my to-read list for years, but finally picked this one up since it was my new book club’s first book. I really enjoyed it, and it reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Thirteenth Tale. It did get a little long in the middle, but I loved how everything came together at the end. I loved the character of Cassandra, and was so glad she got a happy ending. Definitely recommend!

4 stars.

*After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

Synopsis: Noah Alderman, a doctor and a widower, has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie, and for the first time in a long time he and his son are happy. But their lives are turned upside down when Maggie’s daughter Anna moves in with them. Anna is a gorgeous seventeen-year-old who balks at living under their rules though Maggie, ecstatic to have her daughter back, ignores the red flags that hint at the trouble that is brewing. Events take a deadly turn when Anna is murdered and Noah is accused of the crime. Maggie must face not only the devastation of losing her only daughter, but the realization that her daughter’s murder was at the hands of a husband she loves. New information sends Maggie searching for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she could have ever imagined.

This book was just pretty ridiculous. The characters, the storyline, all of it. I pushed through, but it took me quite a while. The idea is a good one, I think, but it was executed all wrong, and left me feeling exasperated the whole time, and the ending felt a little un-jointed (is that a word?) to me.

2 stars.

*The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick

Synopsis: Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait – supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better… The woman is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child.The painting is more than just a beautiful object from Alison’s past – it holds the key to her future, unlocking the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance, and the enigma of Alison’s son. But Alison’s quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbours secrets in its shadows…

I enjoy reading about the era of the Tudors and King Henry VIII, and this one was a little different with elements of time travel and mystery. As a whole I enjoyed it, but found the time travel aspect a bit strange and far fetched/not explained well. It was  still an interesting read though, just not quite what I expected.

3 stars.

Preggers by Chelsea Johnson

Synopsis: Preggers is your new favorite guide to pregnancy, from trying to get pregnant all the way up to labor and delivery. It’s the perfect combination of informative and funny, and you’ll love reading about the crazy, wonderful, disgusting things that happen during pregnancy. Filled with tips and practical suggestions to help you survive pregnancy, Preggers gives you all the information you need without being overwhelming or too medical. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll feel like someone actually gets what it’s like to be pregnant! Whether you’re a naive first-time mama or a seasoned third-time mama, this book is for you!

My awesome friend Chelsea over at Life With My Littles just released her first book this year, and it was a fun read! As a third-time mom, I didn’t necessarily learn anything new, but would definitely recommend it to all my first-time momma friends! This is the pregnancy book you want to read.

4 stars.

*The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd

Synopsis: Secrets are con artists: they trick you into letting them out. Sadie loves her rocker boyfriend Henry and her running partner and best friend Lucie, but no one can measure up to her truest love and hero, the dazzling and passionate George. George, her secret. When something goes wrong and Sadie is taken to the hospital calling out for George, her hidden life may be exposed. Now she must confront the truth of the past, and protect a world she is terrified to lose.

I really enjoyed this book as a look into mental health and illness, and just how easy it is to slip to the other side. Sadie is me and you, we can all resonate with and see ourselves in her. I’m not sure I would read it again (maybe I would), but I think it was still a good read that I really enjoyed. It was beautifully written, and I loved getting to know Sadie and her story. I also think it’d make a great YA movie, so take that for what it’s worth. (The Harry Potter references were a bit too much for me, though, even as an avid HP fan myself.)

4 stars.

Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle

Synopsis: As a pastor working in a neighborhood with the highest concentration of murderous gang activity in Los Angeles, Gregory Boyle created an organization to provide jobs, job training, and encouragement so that young people could work together and learn the mutual respect that comes from collaboration. Tattoos on the Heart is a breathtaking series of parables distilled from his twenty years in the barrio. Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God’s love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyle’s wonderful, hard-earned wisdom. Inspired by faith but applicable to anyone trying to be good, these personal, unflinching stories are full of surprising revelations and observations of the community in which Boyle works and of the many lives he has helped save.

I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would, but I still really enjoyed it and the thoughts and emotions it spurred within me. The wisdom and compassion of G is astounding, and we can all learn from him and his time working with gangs in LA. Definitely recommend, even if my 3 stars don’t quite show that.

3 stars.

*The Seven (7 1/2) Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Synopsis: How do you stop a murder that’s already happened? At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed–again. She’s been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend–but nothing and no one are quite what they seem.

First, a note about the title — it was released as The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle in the UK, but will be released in the US as The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Moving on — holy wow, I loved this book! Like, really loved it. It was fast paced, interesting, unique and just all around GOOD. It has similarities to Agatha Christie novels, and reminded me a bit of Clue, with some Momento, Inception, and Groundhog Day thrown in. The whole premise is fascinating, I don’t even have words to describe it. I had no idea what I was getting into, but it was better than I imagined. The twists, the turns, the ending! The author astounds me with the world he’s built, because the whole story is so complex it must take a brilliant mind to create it. Although long in pages, it was a quick read that I couldn’t put down, and it was a very satisfying read. I’d recommend it anyone and everyone.  Pick it up, read it, love it.

5 stars.