The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen Sarah Dessen has seriously been one of my favorite authors since middle school. This book so far seems like the perfect summertime read – with a balance of romance, seriousness, and lightheartedness.
Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast I saw good things about this book but I’m not entirely impressed with it. I am not sure if I will continue with the story after this – it really depends on if the rest of the book entices me.
You know how much I have been LOVING this series lately. But I hate to say that this 3rd book did not live up to the 2nd book. It was still excellent but I have a few qualms with it. That’s why . I decided to read The Rest of the Story before finishing this series and reading A Court of Frost and Starlight.
I have been in an Asian Drama/movie slump since May BUT I have started to watch again! So I will include my updates in this post too.
What I am currently watching
Toumei na Yurikago (JP) I found this drama on a list of Slice of Life-type dramas. It’s about a girl in nursing school who starts working at an OBGYN clinic where she has the opportunity to see life and death. It’s really interesting and emotional! Also – only 10 episodes so it was a good drama to get myself back in the groove of things.
What I recently finished watching
Office (KR) Honestly, I was not impressed with this movie. I was so confused about what was going on. [SPOILER:] my fiance interpreted it as the boss killed himself then possessed the worker girl? It just was not clear at all and all over the place.
What I am watching next
Shoplifters (JP) I have been planning to watch this movie for so long that I just have to do it! It has won awards and has received a lot of praise.
After a peaceful night of sleep from exhaustion, we were reading to head to the southeast side of Iceland!
Our 1st stop was going to be Fjadrargljufur Canyon – but it was closed due to thawing.
So instead, our first stop was Systrafoss – which means “Sisters’ waterfall” since they are 2 streams converging into 1.
Systrafoss, Iceland
There are steps that lead all the way to the top! They were a bit muddy so I definitely recommend wearing boots. But it’s definitely worth the climb to see how the waterfall starts.
Struggling to make my way up the steps
A little house that was on the top
The start of systrafoss
The big event for the day was supposed to be Vatnajökull National Park but unfortunately, most of it was closed as well.
Along the way to our next destination, we were amazed by the black sand beaches and the mossy rocks.
Black Sand Beach along the Southeast coast
Trying to pretend I’m not freezing
Obsessed with these mossy rocks
Found this piece of bridge that was destroyed by a major glacier outburst flood in 1996.
Next stop was Jokusarlon Glacier. Now this was definitely open haha. There was quite a few groups of tourists here.
Jokusarlon Glacier
Our highlight of the day had to be – Diamond Beach.
Diamond Beach
Our 2nd airbnb was a guest house in Hofn. It was a very cute little town. We originally wanted to eat out but everything was either pricey or closed. So, we just had instant noodles again and went to bed!
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell Format: Audiobook Genre: Young Adult, Romance Duration: 328 pages Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Holding Eleanor’s hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.”
Synopsis
Being the new kid in school is never easy, especially for Eleanor with her eccentric style. The first day on the bus when no one else was offering a place for her to sit, parked moved over and that spot became her official bus spot. They didn’t speak to each other but eventually Park realized that Eleanor would read his comics over his shoulder. He started giving some to take home along with music to listen to. This story is about how their relationship blossoms despite Eleanor’s hardships at home.
Review
This book was written in a very raw and beautiful way. I loved that it displayed both POVs – as Eleanor and Park, so you could see how they each view each other. This story had some points that just made me smile and giggle. I think the biggest let down of this book was how it built up to the end and then just kind of deflated – it could have been soo much better. But if you enjoy sweet romances that have a more real vibe – this book was very adorable.
After dreaming of becoming a doctor for years and enduring an endless amount of classes until you finally get to your 3rd year of medical school – where you are finally able to see patients.
You finally get to work and learn in a clinical setting. Mainly writing the notes and doing basic physical exams on patient you’re learning every step of the way.
Since we just started working in the clinic the 2nd week of July – it took awhile for doctors to have some trust in us.
Just as I was starting to feel bummed out a few weeks in from working hard but not really having the opportunity to do things – a doctor allowed me to perform a partial nail avulsion with phenolization.
I built up a rapport with the patient and we were getting along well so I knew she would be a good, calm first patient for me.
The doctor watched and guided me every step of the way and at the end she said I did great! I can’t even begin to explain how good that small praise made me feel.
Keep working toward what you know you want to do. It will feel tedious at time but you will get there and it’ll be so wonderful when you do.
The 2nd book in the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series picks up with Feyre reliving her nightmares from Under the Mountain while living in the Spring Court. Tamlin has confined her to the house and property out of being overprotective and she is planning her wedding with the help of Ignathe, a high priestess. When the wedding day finally comes, Feyre is wearing a dress she hates and is hesitating completely going to Tamlin to say their vows. In her head she is screaming for someone to save her – so, right on time Rhysand shows up to take her for a week as condition of their bargain. Feyre is resistant at first while in the Night Court but when she goes back to the Spring Court, she realizes that Tamlin does not try to understand what is going on with her. The last thing she wants is to be locked up for her safety – but Tamlin does not listen to her. The last straw was when Tamlin shielded her into the palace and she was so upset Rhysand set his cousin, Mor, to take her back to the Night Court. He gives her a choice to stay in the Night Court of go back to the Spring Court whenever she wants. Which begins her adventures with the Night Court.
Review
At this point, I am about halfway through with the 3rd book. So far – this has to be my favorite book in the series. I read it constantly and finished it in 5 days. There isn’t a moment of down time. the author beautifully shows Feyre and Rhysand’s relationship blossom and you can immediately tell how different it is between them compared to Feyre and Tamlin. How Rhysand is so patient to wait for her to come around and treats her like an equal. There are also some very steamy scenes 😉.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell This book is reminiscent of an adorable 80’s love story that makes jokes that crack me up and makes me smile like I’m crazy. It is just such a cute book so far!
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas You guys already KNOW how OBSESSED with this series I am right now. I finished the 2nd book this weekend and am working through book 3. Such an amazing series. If you have been holding out on it – GO READ IT NOW.
“Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.”
Synopsis
Feyre originally grew up in a wealthy home with her 2 sisters but when her father could not pay back debtors they were forced to live in poverty. She turned into the sole provider for her family – without her they wouldn’t have the food she hunted or the push to cut firewood to keep warm. One day while hunting desperate after a few days of not eating, she ran into a wolf that was about to steal the deer she was going to kill. So, she ended up killing the deer and the wolf to sell the wolf pelt for money and use the deer for food. The day after a Faerie came to her home terrifying her family – stating that the wolf she killed was a faerie so there was only 2 choices – he could kill her or she could live out the rest of her days in Prythian, land of the faeries. She ended up going with him the Prythian unsure if she made the right choice. This book follows Feyre’s adventure learning about the faeries she’s living with and what is engulfing their land.
Review
This series was recommended to me in a book FB group. The person told me to immediately put all 3 of the books in the series on hold at the library because it’s so good that you’ll want to read the next one right away. So I listened to her wise words and she definitely wasn’t wrong.
This book is such an adventure from start to finish. I was upset because when I was looking at the 2nd book on GR I accidentally read some of the synopsis and it spoiled what happened for me. BUT there was still so much anticipation and lead up to the ending.
This book will not disappoint you if you love fantasy.
July was an amazing month in books for me with 15 books read in total! While I was studying for my part 1 boards on July 3 – all I wanted to do was read books. I allowed myself to when I needed a study break of course, but when I finished my boards I just kept reading and reading! Lately, I haven’t been interested in watching shows, dramas, or movies which is strange but I’m not complaining.
I started listening to audiobooks back in June when I finally got connected to my library and saw how many they had. I was going on long walks so audiobooks were the perfect thing to listen to. I couldn’t find Verity anywhere so I ended up getting a free month on audible and it was the first book I downloaded.
This book seriously had me thinking about it for a week afterwards trying to figure out what was right. I’ve been loving psychological thrillers this year and if you do too – I highly recommend this book to you.
I listened to this book for a challenge where I had to read a book with ice cream on the cover. It was only okay for me – the romance was frustrating. You can read my full review here.
My 2nd audible pick since I saw @nerdoutwithmybookout recommend it on instagram! I loved the urgency this book portrayed and the creepiness from the husband. The adrenaline from not being able to trust anyone was what kept me going. I can’t wait to continue this series!
There has been a lot of hype about Lock Every Door so I knew I had to read it. I heard other readers saying that they liked it but enjoyed his other books more. I loved this book so I really look forward to reading his others as well!
After reading The Kiss Quotient in January I was waiting and waiting for this book. Helen Hoang definitely delivered! I wasn’t sure how she’d go about writing a 2nd book but I liked that it was kind of related to the first but very much it’s own book. She is so amazing at showing the hardships of loving and trusting someone.
I thought this book sounded like it had a really interesting premise but once I read it, I realized it was really slow. I can deal with slow paced books if it works up to something incredible at the end but even though it had a “twist,” it wasn’t super surprising.
I finished the first book on August 1st and now I am working my way through the 2nd. This series is so incredible so far. I didn’t anticipate loving a book about faeries so much but someone recommended it to me and now I can’t put it down.
Sarah Dessen has been my favorite author since I was in middle school/early high school. I re-read Keeping the Moon last month and it made me remember how I love the simple pace her books take. I can’t wait to read her newest book!
Since I started my hospital rotations I have been living in scrubs. My fiance’s mom bought me some wonderwink scrubs and they have been my favorite brand thus far. They are soft and comfortable and they look sleek and flattering on your body.
If you’re going to be standing and running around all day, you NEED good quality supportive shoes. Being in podiatry I am shocked at the amount of my colleagues who wear terrible shoes for their feet yet they recommend patients to wear these hoka types of shoes. I can feel the support these shoes give me since I have a collapsable arch and they allow me to stand for a long time comfortably. Also amazing for walking and running.
Overnight oats
I have finally found my favorite recipe for overnight oats and I have been eating them quite often.
1/3 cup oats
2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 scoop protein powder (pescience peanut butter cookie)
1/2 banana
2 tbsp peanut butter
Mix 1st 4 ingredients together and put in the fridge overnight. Add the banana and peanut butter in the morning and enjoy.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Format: Audiobook Duration: 342 pages Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
Jason Dessen lives a simple life as a physics professor at a community college with the woman he loves and their son. When he is invited to celebrate his college roommate’s nomination for his work in physics, he thinks about how he could’ve won a prize in physics if he chose his career over his home life 15 years ago. After the celebration he is kidnapped by someone who claims to have been watching him his whole life and he is forced to drive to a bunker in the middle of nowhere. His captor shoots him up with an unknown substance and he knocks out and wakes up in a completely different place with people greeting him and asking about where he’s been. He immediately understands things are not as they should be and escapes to find answers.
Review
When I first started reading this book I was in utter disbelief about everything that was happening is Jason’s life. It left me on the edge of my seat curiously waiting to see how Jason decided to emerge from this mess. I loved learning about the new worlds he was visiting and imagining how crazy that would be to have the ability to do that.
In the end, this book made me really think about how everything happens for a reason and all the choices I have made up until this point have been the right ones. It’s really easy to look back and be curious about the path not taken, but it is beneficial to realize that it is all for the best. One of my most difficult decisions within the past few years was deciding where to go to podiatry school. After a few months in NYC I was questioning if I made the right choice – school was tough, NYC was not everything I thought it would be, and I missed having a network of support with my friends. Now, I know there were definitely good reasons to come here and I absolutely do not regret it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Did you read this book? What did you think about it? Did you learn any life lessons from it?
Bookventuring 