Tag: Amazon Prime First Reads

December 2022 Reading Wrap Up

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

It is the last reading wrap up of the year and there is only one book I read. And honestly, if I hadn’t been in the mood for reading this last week it wouldn’t have been finished lol. But it’s the end of the year and usually around this time of year I don’t read much and that’s fine. We did a lot of reading the rest of the year so we deserve a break.

West with Giraffes

This was an Amazon Prime First Reads book and I have to say I enjoyed it. It was not something I would usually read and so it took me a while to get into it but once I was in I thought it was good.

The writing style was not my favourite but we can forgive that because the story was a cute one. Plus I got very emotional towards the end which I was not expecting. Like literally read the last pages and then burst into tears so I guess the book had more of a hold on me than I thought.

But that was the last read of the year and I’m glad we ended on a high. And there’s plenty more reading to come in 2023, especially because my boyfriend got me a bunch of books for Christmas and a Kindle. So I am more than ready to begin the next year reading-wise.

I think I am setting my goal for next year at 30 books. I mean I’ve achieved it in the last couple years without trying so I think it’s a safe goal. I can’t imagine being a 52-book goal person. I read a lot but a book a week is too much lol sometimes you need longer sometimes you need shorter. But never say never.

I hope you will continue on my book journey with me I’m 2023. Who knows. Maybe my reading will inspire you to pick up your own book. Or not lol I imagine my books aren’t to everyone’s taste but still as long as I’m reading I’ll be here sharing it. See you in 2023!

When I Was You by Minka Kent Review

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

Took a chance on an Amazon Prime First Reads selection. They never have a huge selection but I still check in every month to see if there is anything interesting.

This book caught my eye because I love a good thriller with lots of drama. And this had the potential to go somewhere. And go somewhere it did.

As soon I started to read this book I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know more and what was going to happen.

I have to say though as it got towards the end it became somewhat predictable…I mean I guess from the beginning I was trying to figure out what was going on. I sensed that Niall was shady and I thought maybe he was the one who attacked Brienne in the beginning, I also suspected that the woman pretending to be her knew about the attack and wanted to take on her life. It didn’t make sense otherwise.

Though it didn’t seem to be too much of a mystery once the second part of the novel began and everything was about Niall. From then things started to get a bit more interesting and fast-paced, though his whole plan and backstory was revealed within the first five minutes lol.

I was surprised to find out that Niall hadn’t told Sam, the woman pretending to be Brienne, the plan. It just doesn’t sit right to me that she lived as Brienne for months and no one recognised her or that she wasn’t caught out in some other way.

I also think it was wild that they revealed all this information about Niall in the first chapter in his point of view but just threw in somewhere in the middle that he killed Sam’s dad like wow, I wasn’t expecting that for him. Sure he has done a lot of terrible things so far but just casually mentioning murder is crazy. But I guess it was to show just how far he was going to go.

Still, like I said things came predictable towards the end with the girls meeting each other and Niall was always either going to get away or get caught. It’s funny how after everything I still get annoyed when things wrap up too perfectly, like sure it’s a novel and fictional but sometimes you just wish for that one extra plot twist.

But definitely a good read, I enjoyed it and like I said I couldn’t put it down, finished it in two days. So I guess Amazon Prime’s First Reads isn’t too bad, I don’t always find something I like there but I might as well take advantage if it means a free book.

Next up on the reading list is probably the Handmaid’s Tale, I know I’m late to the party but what else is new? I picked up the book at the start of the year so I think it’s time to start reading it. I should be back with another review soon to let you know my thoughts.

~ Courtney x