#love – Donna's Reading Chair

Book Review: Give Me A Sign

I chose this book as I participate in a monthly bingo in one of the many reading Facebook groups I’m in. One group had a square for a disability being represented and another had a square for flowers on the cover…I have been wanting to read this one for awhile so I decided it was time!

This was an absolutely FANTASTIC YA read which followed Lilah as she attended a camp for those who are blind and Deaf. Living as a Deaf girl with hearing parents, she has never really been exposed to Deaf culture and finds herself immersed in it. I’m so proud of Lilah in this book!!

I was very eager to read this as I work closely with a colleague who is Deaf. I’ve been picking up sign and challenge myself to learn at least 1 new sign a day. This book helped put some things into a different perspective for me as well. Side note: today I learned the sign for awkward!

I highly recommend this one, the author did FANTASTIC with how she wrote this and I strongly recommend you NOT listen to the audiobook for this, you’d miss a lot! When they’re signing she writes with italics and when people are speaking to Lilah she uses dashes to represent what Lilah doesn’t understand or misses. I thought that was brilliant! I couldn’t tell you how many times I would get frustrated and I thought, wow, great job really getting someone who is hearing to gain a different perspective! Great read!

4 stars. Lilah’s growth was incredible. I thought this book also portrayed everything in this book in a real manner. From how Lilah finds herself, to how Lilah and her friends get treated out in public, and just the overall feel to the book. I look forward to reading more by Sortino!

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Title: Give Me A Sign

Author: Anna Sortino

Genre(s): Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Reads

Release Date: July 23, 2023

Find it here on Goodreads

Book Review: The Day After The Party

Thank you to the Facebook Group I Just Want To Do Book Nerd Stuff With My Friends for selecting this as our book club pick for the month of April! I would have never read this one otherwise!

That being said, this was fairly predictable, with the exception of the twist at the end. Overall the book kind of felt rushed in general. This is the first book I’ve read by Nicole Trope so I’m not sure if this is her style…shorter, faster paced books with less details, or if that was a one off (if you’ve read her before, let me know).

Katelyn loses memory of her birthday party. Her best friend and husband seem to be hiding something from her. Supposedly her memory went missing from traumatic information and she believes her husband has a secret he’s failing to tell her. I did enjoy getting to know the backstory of Katelyn and best friend Leah and if I’m honest, it’s all weird how they’re both connected to Katelyn’s husband as well. Reminded me a little of Vanderpump Rules, haha.

This is told in dual POV with Katelyn and Leah, but in 3rd person, and with how rushed everything kind of was, didn’t really execute well. By the time you get to the end it’s like, wait, that’s it? Surprising, but, that’s it? Also, it doesn’t read like a thriller, more like a domestic drama.

3.5 stars. I’m not mad I read it, but it was just eh. If it falls into your lap, it’s a worth a read, but I wouldn’t seek it out. The ending made me bump it up a half star, so not a terrible book, but not a great one. Just a middle of the road one! Anyway, onto the next read!

Title: The Day After The Party

Author: Nicole Trope

Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Bookouture

Release Date: October 30, 2023

Find it here on Goodreads

Book Review: Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy of this one in exchange for my honest review (and apologies for the almost 5 year delay, oof).

This story is all about Dan and his life. He is obsessed with lists and thus his tale is told through them. Dan has quit his job teaching, opened a bookstore, has a baby on the way, is irritated at times that his wife is a widow, and the money he’s making isn’t adding up to what he tells his wife.

Oh yeah, his father left him at a young age and he hasn’t really gotten over that. He isn’t dead, he just walked out of his life when his parents got divorced. One of the more common sentences he writes down is, “Mom divorced you, I didn’t divorce you,” which is absolutely heartbreaking.

So, this story is told in the form of lists…which is weird and I never quite got used to it. I did get a little attached to Dan and all his quirks. Personally, this man needs some intensive personal therapy, as well as couples therapy because I’m not even too sure how he’s married. Hopefully his lists are different from how he is with his wife…

3 stars. I thought this was ok. The list format was different and honestly, he drove me nuts. It felt like complaint after complaint after complaint. He makes references how people comment it’s weird that he’s writing while engaged in conversations with them, and, it is. This whole book was just odd…so be warned if you pick it up!

Title: Twenty-one Truths About Love

Author: Matthew Dicks

Genre(s): Fiction, Contemporary, Humor, Adult Fiction

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Release Date: November 19, 2019

Find it here on Goodreads

Book Review: Tell Me Goodnight

(*Disclaimer: I did receive a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Kelsey for the copy!)

Here’s the synopsis of Tell Me Goodnight which is out TODAY here. A widowed father and his 3 young daughters find a way to make it through life…with the help of a newly hired babysitter who comes into their lives at the right time. You can read more about the summary of the book on Amazon or Goodreads, usually I would give more detail, however, I am here to tell you what this book is truly, sincerely about.

Every line in this book is damn near quotable. Every. Line. The magic felt in this book was unreal and tears sprang to my eyes numerous times throughout this novel. This book deals heavily with loss and grief, but we also see a hurting man go through the healing process. Sometimes we find friends in unlikely places and situations and this certainly rings true for Jon. Sometimes we need that friend to kick our butt into gear and get us out of a funk and that is exactly what happens. I have never cheered more for a couple than I have while reading this book…

This sweet quote above is spoken by Jon (the widowed father) to his girls every night before they go to bed. We eventually find out where it came from and the reason why it is said, is so sweet. Maybe even as sweet as the love that slowly blooms in this read (Kelsey SLAYS the slow burn in this one).

When we think all hope is lost and a dream is about to given up, magic happens. Sometimes we can’t see the forest through the trees and that’s what happened to Jon. Characters from past novels of Kelsey are seen in this book, but don’t worry. If you haven’t read Daisies & Devin or The Life We Wanted you won’t miss anything. If you have, you will be SO PLEASED with the cameo appearances!

I have never written a review that lacks in a summary, but this book was just so moving. I hope I have done this book justice and I have let you know just how freaking amazing it is. It was a very emotional and healing read. Words cannot express the flow of words that traveled on paper like a beating heart looking for its soulmate. If you are a fan of romances this is a must read. If you are struggling with grief and heartache, pick up this book. Let the words speak to you, because they will. Yes, there is a happy ending and I understand there is one because it’s a work of fiction, but that doesn’t mean that the words within this book cannot help heal you as well.

5 stars. This book blew away all my expectations. If you have read it, let’s chat. If you haven’t, get it STAT.