Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
I’m never one to shy away from a book based in History but when it is paired with a love story, I’m absolutely hooked. I know very little about Cuba’s history but this book really brought it to life. The story goes back and forth between 1950’s Cuba and present day. Elisa Perez lives a pretty sheltered and upper class life until she meets a revolutionary. In present time Elisa’s granddaughter travels to Cuba for the first time to after hearing stories about it from her grandmother her whole life. The contrast of Cuba’s beauty and unstable political climate create a push and pull for Elisa. This book was captivating for me since the first chapter. I’ve also read the second book in this series (review here) Grade: A
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book has made it’s way into one of my favorite books of all time. Daisy Jones & the Six were the IT band of the 70’s. They epitomized Sex, Drugs and Rock N’ Roll but their music is legendary. This is the story behind how Daisy Jones, the beautiful club hopper with a voice that everyone falls in love joins the band The Six. The band’s members are highly talented but all have their demons. The story is told by an oral history of interviews of all the band members. Each person is in present day reflecting on their memories of the rise of the band. The sometimes contradicting stories paint the picture of that era and what it is like to rise to the highest level of stardom. I actually recommend listening to this one because each character is narrated by a different voice. Grade: A
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
It wouldn’t be a book list without something from the WWII era. In 1939 three generations of the Kurc family are trying to keep up their normal life in Poland as war creeps closer. As Jews, their rights are slowly taken away and the must do what they can to survive. This story takes you thru each family members journey, one is forced into exile, another tries to leave the continent while some are constantly trying to escape certain death. The whole time they are torn from each other and can only pray that the rest of their family is surviving. During the darkest, most horrific time in the 20th century, this family tries to perservere in ways most of us can’t imagine. I’m a firm believer that every person needs to read and learn as much as they can about this era so something like it will never happen again. Grade: A
Killing Jesus by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard
This book, like others in the series, focuses on the facts and history of the time period. I loved learning about the political and social landscape of the time of Jesus and how that played a big factor in his death. For me, it strengthened my faith even more. I have now reread this one a few times and for me is a great book to read leading up to Easter. Grade: A
Life Will Be the Death of Me by Chelsea Handler
I posted a mini review of this book on my instagram. The first thing I’ll say is that it is not what I expected from Chelsea. Yes, it has her sharp dark humor but it is much more than that. It follows Chelsea’s year of self discovery. With the help of a therapist, she works thru some of the major traumas in her life and learns how they have influenced who she is and her life path. She knows she needs to make changes to herself and to the world at large. I honestly laughed, cried and shook my head many times through out this book. As much as it is entertaining, I also found new ways to challenge myself to grow from this book. Grade: B
I’m Kara, a 30-something living in Oklahoma City. I’ve always had a passion for fashion and beauty and like to make it approachable for everyone!
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