Book Review: Holly's Inbox and Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City

{sources} Holly's Inbox and Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City 

I'm drawing a blank right now to where I first heard about these books, but to the person/blog that recommended them...thank you.

These were such easy and light reads (took me one week and three days to finish both)! When you look at the thickness of the books, it might scare you...Holly's Inbox is over 600 pages and Holly's Inbox:Scandal in the City is over 500...but both are written in e-mail format so really it's like only reading half a page.

It's no secret I like me a good British Chick Lit type book...I mean I did read all of the books in the Shopaholic series...and these two books were very similar to that series. Even though Holly wasn't a shopaholic (heck she kept talking about how broke she was), she still gets herself into some interesting situations at work and real life...ha ha.

These were the perfect beginning of summer books to read. Also, these kept my mind off the book I'm anxiously waiting to be released...the third installment of the Divergent series...come on October...ha ha.

Book Review - The Expats

Feels like forever and day since I reviewed a book. The last book I read was Safe Haven back at the beginning of this year. I borrowed this book from Elizabeth per her recommendation. She did not disappoint. While it may have taken me a while to finish it (my shows come first ha ha), I really did enjoy this book.

I think you would classify it as a spy novel. It pretty much follows the life of one woman who is skeptical about everything and everyone because that was her job in the past. She finds out some interesting tid bits through old contacts and things happen from there.

I feel like this book could be turned into a really good movie, if they do it the right way.

Safe Haven - Book and Movie

Book review - I read this book at the beginning of the year right when all the previews for the movie started airing all. the. time. Even though the previews spoiled a few things for me, I still really enjoyed the book. This was actually the first Nicholas Sparks book I've read. I've seen all the movies though. This was a pretty fast read for me and I liked that it was told from different peoples perspectives. I've noticed a lot of authors have been doing that lately. I would definitely recommend reading this if you haven't seen the movie or if you have and want a better story

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Movie review - Well I knew from the previews that they had changed stuff from the book...like the peoples hair color and added a canoing scene (notebook rip-off anyone?!?!), but I wasn't anticipating them changing major events or names!!! So of course I couldn't really enjoy the movie because the whole time I was sitting there I kept thinking back to the book and how things should have been. Even without reading the book first, I don't think I would agree with most other people and say this was the best movie made since the Notebook. While it was a decent movie, it was also pretty cheesy and I don't feel as if the chemistry was really there. But that's just me... However, even if someone had told me everything I just said above, I would still see the movie. Ha ha. I know...I sound wishy-washy.

Gone Girl

This was another book I read just because everyone was talking about it... And guess what, I liked it too! To me it was just like a Lifetime movie...I mean seriously I think they should turn it in to one...who's with me?!?! The only way I know how to describe it without giving anything away is through reactions....

First you're like...whhhhaaaaatttt?

Then you're like...no way...you fooled me!

Then you're like...O.M.G!!!

Then you read the last page twice because you can't believe that's the way it ended...I mean it really could have had a better ending, but overall it was a good read.

By the way the caption in the picture up there couldn't describe the book better "He's the perfect suspect. She's the perfect victim."

Where We Belong



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Another good one from Ms. Emily Giffin. While it's not as juicy as say Something Borrowed it is my fourth favorite from her (1. Something Borrowed 2. Something Blue 3. Heart of the Matter). This one is told from two peoples perspectives, Marian and Kirby (both are female characters).

The book is about how your past may not always stay in the past, but it's not always a bad thing if it comes back into your life. Also, it's about searching for who you are and finding where you really belong...oh yeah I just referenced the title...haha.

Honestly, I think this book would make a good movie...ha ha. I know Something Borrowed didn't do that well, but still I like how it played out in my head...ha ha.


****Don't read any further if you don't want to see who I think should be cast****


Here's who I would cast...



Kate Hudson as Marion even though she was cast in Something Borrowed




Shailene Woodley as Kirby but she would have to go blonde or wear a wig



Jon Hamm as Peter



Chris Evans as Conrad

Have you read the book yet? What do you think of my casting skills...yay or nay or who would you cast? 

Fifty Shades Trilogy **Spoilers**



From Pinterest

That's right I read these. All the hype got to me and I had to figure out why everyone was so gaga over this series. While I enjoyed the real story lines, I personally believe these were over-hyped. All the "extra" stuff that everyone was in a frenzy about was shocking at first, but after a few scenes you're just like come on now...by the end of the first book I was skipping over those sections.

Also the writing was horrible! The same words are used over and over again. Very annoying and tiring to read. However, I kept reading to find out what was going to happen. In my opinion the second book, Fifty Shades Darker, was the best out of the three with the first book being the absolute worst.  

What also bugged me about this series was the fact that they were just a R rated version of the Twilight series. Yes yes yes, I know that the author of the Fifty Shades trilogy is a huge Twilight fan and that these books are fan fiction, but still couldn't she have changed anything?!?! Below I've created a list of stuff that was similar in this series and the Twilight series...

I'm sure I left a lot of the similarities off, but after a while I just gave up writing them down and I've already finished another book so I've forgotten a few things. So there you have it...my thoughts about this overly-hyped series. If I had to choose between Twilight and Fifty Shades...I choose Twilight.

Have you read them? What did you think?

The Hunger Games Trilogy

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I loved this trilogy! I knew I would like the first book since I had already seen the movie, but I hadn't expected to become so engrossed in the other two to the point where I never wanted to put them down. I honestly don't think I can pick a favorite. There were things in all of them that I really liked. Overall, I'm really happy I jumped on the bandwagon and read these. Can't wait for the other movies!

Shopaholic Series




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 You may or may not have noticed that I haven't posted many book reviews on here. Well there's a reason for that. I've been reading the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella and it's taken me a while to get through them. And by a while I'm talking about starting somewhere in 2011 and finishing in June 2012. However, six books is a lot for someone like me who prefers to watch tv or movies...so I'm pretty proud of myself!

These were good, easy and quick reads (well quick when I didn't have shows to catch up on). My favorite out of the whole series was the last one (or the last one for now) Mini Shopaholic. I think this was the first time I had actually laughed out loud while reading. Maybe a chuckle here and there, but this one I was actually laughing. When I was trying to explain what I thought was so funny to the boyfriend, he couldn't understand me because I had started laughing again. However, if you don't read all of them and understand the characters' characteristics then it won't be as funny.

The whole series is about a woman named Becky and what she gets herself into with her shopping addiction (i.e. she's a shopaholic). She denies it, justifies it, tries to hide it, tries to change herself, but in the end she can only be what she is and above all she still finds that people love her for who she is no matter her faults.

If you happened to see the movie without reading the books first, please don't judge the books by the movie. The Becky in the books is not nearly as over the top as the Becky in the movie. The Becky in the book is also described as looking completely different than the Becky in the movie, so I really don't know why the cast Isla Fisher to play her. So in summary, books = good, movie = bad. Ha ha.

p.s. I'm currently reading the Hunger Games trilogy! I'm always late to the table with popular book series (except Twilight I read those before there were talks of a movie). So far I'm really enjoying the series and can't wait to see what happens!

Baby Proof

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I’m finally all caught up with the Emily Giffin novels! Woo Hoo! And just in time for her new book that is coming out July 24, Where We Belong. I truly enjoy her writing. All her books have been very easy reads. However, Baby Proof is probably my least favorite of hers. While it’s still entertaining, it’s not as gripping as say Something Borrowed or Heart of the Matter. Maybe it’s because there’s no adultery.

Baby Proof is about a woman, Claudia, who is anti-having kids. While she loves her nieces and nephews she does not want any of her own. This has made it tough for her to find a man to call her husband who feels the same way as her on the subject. Then she meets Ben who shares her opinions about kids. After a few years of marriage, one party’s opinion begins to change and in turn puts a strain on their relationship. The book is all about what you will and won’t do for the people you love.

What made this book my least favorite is that things seemed to happen really fast. Don’t get me wrong I love fast paced story lines (both books and movies), but I also like there to be some build-up. The only other negative I have is that the main character, Claudia, seemed whiney at times. Other than that I really enjoyed reading Baby Proof.

Love the one you're with

This is the latest book I’ve read by Emily Giffin. It’s another easy read and Giffin seems to be sticking with the same theme in all of her books, but I guess that’s also what makes them so interesting.

This one took me the longest to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The book is focused around a woman who becomes conflicted when her past comes back and stirs up old emotions. It’s about how hiding your emotions/feelings/attitudes can cloud your judgment and make you act in ways foreign from your true self.

Like the others, I would suggest reading this if you like chick-lit. Has anyone else read this? What did you think?

Giffin has one more book (her third book actually…not exactly reading these in order am I?!?!) in her collection called Baby Proof which I plan on reading before her brand new book comes out.

Heart of the Matter

At the end of April, I read Heart of the Matter; the most recent book by Emily Giffin. I borrowed the book from the same co-worker who lent me Something Borrowed and Something Blue. This book captured my attention right away just like the other two. It’s another good and easy read.

It’s told from the perspective of two women living completely different lives, but become connected in a way you probably don’t want to be connected to another person. Let me know if you read it and what you think! Enjoy!

Something Borrowed and Something Blue

I borrowed these two books at the beginning of the year from one of my lovely co-workers. She said her and her daughter absolutely loved them and if I like chick-lit with lots of craziness then I would love these too. She was right! I couldn't put them down! Seriously...I was thinking about pulling an all-nighter just to finish even though I was working the next day...ha ha

I'm not going to go into detail about what they are about (just in case you haven't read them yet or you are in the middle of one...don't want to give anything away) but what I will say is that they are very easy reads and all you need are the first few pages and you will be hooked!

Then the movie adaptation came out and boy was I excited!! I love chick flicks (especially anything Kate Hudson related) and this was a good one, but I will say that the book was much more dramatic. However, I still enjoyed the movie and loved John Krasinki's character...he really does steal the scenes sometimes with those one liners.

p.s. I would have done each book in its own post but I can't talk about one with out talking about the other one...it's like I think they are one book or something.