Books in Tromso, Norway

2022 Book Challenge Quarter 1: Books 1-4

Books in Tromso, Norway

Slow start to 2022, probably because I did such a power read last December!

The first three months of the year wound up being way busier than I meant for them to do be, so I had a lot less time for reading than I thought! I wound up going on a last minute trip to Italy, a ski trip to Belleayre, catsitting in DC, and planning another last minute trip to Korea!

I did read four books over the three months. I have to say the final one is probably one of my favorite books ever, which is saying a lot because that list is sacred for me!

Everything I Read from January – March, 2022

Beauty in Thorns by Kate Forsyth | 2022 Book Challenge

1. The Beauty in Thorns

A look into the lives of the bohemian Pre-Raphaelites.

  • Author: Kate Forsyth
  • How I Read: Physical Book
  • Category: 19th Century Historic Fiction
  • Location: Around the UK
  • Buy on Amazon

Thoughts

I’ll always like Kate Forsyth’s works, especially when I get immersed in a world I knew nothing about before. I do think the scope of this book felt a bit too large so that you lose touch with the characters. Part of why The Wild Girl is probably my favorite of Forsyth’s books is that it’s focused on ONE character who becomes real to you as the reader.

Anyway, this follows Ned Burne-Jones, Georgie Macdonald, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Lizzie Siddal , William Morris, Janey Burden, and Margot Burne Jones and is such an interesting look at the artists of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Be prepared to want to google the paintings as they come up!

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade | 2022 Book Challenge

2. Spoiler Alert

A plus size fan fiction writer suddenly finds herself dating the attractive male lead.

Thoughts

This book is cute even if it has some unrealistic and slightly cringy moments. It’s not amazing, but if you need a little romance story to lift your day, this one has a plus size lead. I loved that the show in the book is basically a Roman gods “Game of Thrones,” and the author use that to just shade the creators of GOT the whole time LOL.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid | 2022 Book Challenge

3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

A lowly magazine writer is mysteriously tapped to write a profile on an elusive former screen star, infamous for her husband history.

  • Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • How I Read: Libby/Kindle
  • Category: 20th Century Historic Fiction
  • Location: Mainly LA
  • Support Local // Buy on Amazon

Thoughts

I really liked this book despite not loving the writing style. I do give it some leeway because it’s supposed to be a recording of Evelyn Hugo describing her life, in which case the very straightforward way of describing things makes a bit more sense.

I just thought Jenkins Reid was pretty clever in how she tied everything together! Obviously the big “surprise” is that the great love of Evelyn Hugo’s life was not, in fact, any of her seven husbands but her “friend” and “rival,” Celia St. James. Apparently this is no longer a surprise because the book is on a ton of lesbian romance lists, so, duh lol.

Evelyn was my favorite character. She’s just so interesting and motivated. Celia worked my nerves half the time because she seemed both spoiled and somehow unaware of the anti-gay sentiments of old school Hollywood?! And, of course, the best guy in the book is Harry who is gay lol.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry | 2022 Book Challenge

4. People We Meet on Vacation

Poppy and Alex live polar opposite lives but share one thing in common – their year vacations. They’re back to do one more after two years of not speaking.

Thoughts

I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favorite reads of the year! My friend, Caitlin, recommended it ages ago, but it took quite a while to become available in Libby. I always enjoy a book that has some good romantic tension, a main character with confidence, and slides in a little revelation to have me examining my own life lol.

I loved the character of Poppy! She’s a writer for a travel magazine who also has/had a bit of an online presence, so travel is very much her bread, her butter, and her interest. Part of it is because she hated where she grew up, which I very much relate to. This is like the perfect book to me – fun locations, fun characters, and a fitting and realistic plot. Also Emily Henry can write modern dialogue without it being cringey, which I can’t say for a lot of similar books I’ve been reading.

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