February 2019 Book Reviews

Welcome back, fellow bibliophiles! Can you seriously believe it’s March? Time goes way too fast.

I read 4 books in February, so not quite as good as January. But I can always blame the shorter month. : )

On to the books!

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I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

Disclaimer: I received I Owe You One for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Plot: Always dutiful, agreeable Fixie Farr is left to help manage her family’s housewares shop after her dad’s passing. Unfortunately, that usually entails being the only dependable one, and putting herself last.

After an encounter with a handsome stranger, he leaves her an IOU to redeem any way she sees fit. Will she use the IOU to her own benefit, or waste it on yet another mooch?

My review: A hardcore Kinsella fan from way back, I never miss one of her books. They strike a nice balance against the dark books I frequent.

Kinsella’s main characters are always so funny, and the British turn of phrase never ceases to tickle me.

Oddly enough, the formulaic approach to her books comforts me rather than annoys.

I found this book charmingly on par with Kinsella’s other novels. (Though my absolute favorite is My Not So Perfect Life.)

The plot isn’t deep, and Fixie is always getting herself into some kind of predicament, but if you want to relax into an easy, amusing read, give I Owe You One a try.

The Girl in 6E by A.R. Torre

Plot: Deanna (a.k.a. Jessica) lives by three simple rules: 1. Don’t leave the apartment. 2. Never let anyone in. 3. Don’t kill anyone.

Working as a ‘cammer,’ she hasn’t left her apartment in 3 years. It’s safest for everyone that way. But what if one day she decides to break the rules?

My review: This book was graphic in every sense, so consider yourself warned. But I found the plot and the character fascinating.

I thought the story was done well, and it kept me rather addicted the entire time. Though Deanna’s murderous fantasies were a little Quentin Tarantino-esque for my taste.

If you’re willing to handle gore and explicit content in exchange for an excellent, crazy, dark, suspenseful story, The Girl in 6E delivers.

P.S. I just realized that there are actually 2 follow-up books! I had no idea it was part of a series. But alas, my library doesn’t carry them. Sigh.

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Plot: When Georgina’s high school best friend Angela went missing 14 years ago, no one suspected she had anything to do with it.

Now that Angela’s remains have been found in the woods near Georgina’s childhood home, it is thought to be the work of serial killer Calvin James. Who was Geo’s high school boyfriend. What secrets has Geo been keeping, and how far will she go to hide them?

My review: Another riveting thriller! For some reason I love when the narrator doles out pertinent information very slowly to the reader. Gotta keep ‘em guessing.

Truly a suspenseful story, the characters were well-developed, and the plot moved around between past and present.

Though it came in (a very close) second to The Girl in 6E, Jar of Hearts was certainly a very decent read. If violence or sexual assault is a trigger for you, stay away!

I honestly fear that I may have become immune to (fictional) depravity at this point…

Now for my non-fiction selection!

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

Premise: Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, chronicles the fascinating story of how the shoe company came to exist, flounder, and flourish.

In business school, Knight came up with idea for a company that imported Japanese shoes. With a fifty dollar loan from his father, he started selling shoes out of the trunk of his car.

My review: With unbelievable heart, humor, and humility, Knight shares the engrossing adventure that he and the other ‘shoe dogs’ went on whilst building the company. It is truly a testament to the power of passion and determination.

A lover of all entrepreneurial stories (hence my Shark Tank obsession), I found Knight’s story captivating, and his writing style very entertaining.

If you have ever dreamt of owning a business, Shoe Dog can be the start of your education. It has to seriously be one of the best business memoirs of all time.

That’s a wrap!

Surprisingly (to me), my top pick for February has to be Shoe Dog. When nonfiction reads like fiction, I’m all in.

I would recommend any of these books though, depending on your genre of choice.

Thank you so much for checking out what I read last month. I’d love to know what your current favorites are!

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