Ok, I confess: I went on a Liane Moriarty kick this month. I loved What Alice Forgot, but was hesitant to read her others. I didn’t think they could live up to Alice. But I’ve really liked all of her books! Are they Chick-Lit-esque? Yes, but I think they have a little more depth and heart than typical chick-lit. There are dark parts (Big Little Lies and The Husband’s Secret particularly) and real issues that people face. Domestic violence, unplanned pregnancy, rape, ex-spouses, bullying, and so much more are in these books. And portrayed in a way that makes you think about them without shoving them down your throat. At least, that’s how I felt!

And in case you didn't notice, there was a name change to this monthly link-up. Twitterature has become Quick Lit! And now for the first installment of Quick Lit:

Three Wishes was the first post-Alice Moriarty book I read. It was lighter than the other two subsequent books I read. It focuses on three sisters who are triplets and their families. It is heart breaking, uplifting, and at times makes you want to just shake your head. But I enjoyed it! I picked this up on sale for my kindle, and it is on sale now! ($2.99 for Kindle)

The Husband’s Secret was unputdownable for me. I got to the end of this book around 9 pm one night, and my husband kept trying to get me to put it down and come to bed. But I’d reached the point in the book where I couldn’t possibly put it down without finishing it! It was a pretty quick read did throw a few surprises out there. I found this one at the library but also had it on my Kindle (another one I picked up on sale). It isn’t on much of a sale right now, so I’d hold off until it goes down again. Or head to the library! ($9.99 for Kindle)

Big Little Lies may have been my favorite of the three Moriarty books I read this month. You find out at the very beginning that someone died at the school trivia night, but you don’t know who until the end. I honestly didn’t guess who it was until right before the scene (I’m usually pretty good about guess it right way in advance) so of course I loved it! Some very heartbreaking (but relatable) elements of this one, and I highly recommend it. ($3.99 for Kindle)

Drums of Autumn is the latest installment of the Outlander series that I've finished. I find myself getting sucked into the Outlander world and never wanting to leave, I decided to listen to the audio books instead of reading them. That way I can only “read” when I’m in the car or having a slow day at work. I can’t stay up until all hours of the night listening to the audiobook like I would reading it. Because sometimes I just want to know what is going to happen!! The Outlander world has expanded quite a bit by this book, and I can’t really tell you anything about it without some major spoilers for those of you who haven’t made it this far in the series. But let’s just say that I am still loving the story. (Side note: If you are interested in listening to the audiobooks, I highly suggest subscribing to Audible. This book is over $40 to buy through Audible, but when you are an Audible member you get credits. So I use credits for these pricey titles and pay for the cheaper ones [like Yes Please].) ($4.99 for Kindle)

I listened to Unbroken as an audiobook as well. Goodness, this is such a great story. Even more amazing that it is a TRUE story. I might have cried at multiple points, because hearing the description of Pearl Harbor was almost painful. Thinking about all those people who died…well, it broke my heart a little. It’s one thing to read things in history books, or watch them on the History Channel. But I think hearing this story it really hit me that every person who died in that awful war had their own story, most of which will never be told. But this one was. And it is inspiring and painful and amazing. I can’t wait to watch the movie and see how they handled things. I’m sure this one would be just as good (or better) read than told. And it’s on sale for the Kindle right now! ($2.99 for Kindle)

I Capture the Castle is another audio book I listened to last month. It was a daily deal a few weeks back, so I bought it without knowing too much about it. I really enjoyed it, though. It is the story of a 17 year old girl who lives in an old English castle. It is told through the eyes of the girl, in the form of journal entries. I honestly had no idea it was originally published in 1948 until doing a little research for this blog post. And that the author also wrote 101 Dalmations! I think this book was great as an audiobook because it was so descriptive. I could picture the castle, the characters, everything in my head as I drove my daily commute. It made the mind numbing traffic bearable as I imagined the dark and damp old castle. Read or listen, but definitely give this book a try! ($8.53 for Kindle)

I Heart My Little A-Holes is a book I don’t know exactly how to classify. It is essentially a collection of stories (blog posts) about parenting. It’s hilarious. I think I probably won’t appreciate how funny it was until I have kids, but I think it helped me get in more of a realistic frame of mind. Kids are wonderful, but they can also be tiny little a-holes. As evidenced by so many stories in this book. Moms, you need to read this. Women considering becoming moms, read it too! And then maybe re-read it after the kids are born :) ($9.78 for Kindle)

The Vacationers – I heard great reviews of this book, but honestly? I was a little meh about it. It was fine. It kept me entertained in the dealership waiting room while my car had the oil changed. If you have free time and are looking for a book, it will keep you busy. But there are a lot of other great books out there that I’d recommend over this one. However, I did appreciate how she told the whole back story within the context of the 14 day vacation. It was well written, but not compelling. If that makes sense. ($10.99 for Kindle)

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Merry Christmas!

Quick Lit December 2014

2015 is Gonna Be A Good One.