sandypcoelho's reviews
43 reviews

The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy

I'm not usually someone who reads classics.
I try, but usually I never finish them. 
Wining the giveaway that gave me the opportunity to listen to this book on the Audrey app was a change to get out of my confort zone and give a chance to something I'm not used to pick up. 

The book was interesting but what made my experience even better was listening to it in the app. 

Audrey gives you the opportunity to listen to the book, while adding comments and explaining what happens in each chapter and I found that incredible, because it gives the opportunity of understanding the characters and the story better. 

This book makes you think about death, but even more about life. 

He dies, but did he truly lived? 

I think in the end the main character finds what we all hope to find one day in death.

Peace. 

And that's what matters the most. 

If you, like me, are not a fan of classics, this one can be a good way to start. It's short, easy to read and the message is clear. 

E se eu morrer amanhã? by Filipa Fonseca Silva

Esta foi a primeira obra que li desta autora e tenho de vos dizer que foi, para mim, uma das melhores leituras do meu ano até agora.

Fui surpreendida pela positiva, com uma história que aborda temas tabu, ajudando a desmistificar um pouco certas situações, como o sexo na terceira idade. 

A autora consegue, de uma forma bastante rápida, fazer com te prendas à história e com que queiras saber mais. 

Eu acabei o livro a querer ser como a protagonista quando for mais velha! Que mulher! 

A forma como é abordado o tema "Porque é que os homens podem e as mulheres não?" é feita de uma excelente forma. 

Conseguimos perceber muito bem sobre estigma e os julgamentos que a sociedade tem para com a mulher.
Principalmente a mulher livre e bem consigo própria, sem medo de admitir que gosta de sexo por prazer e não só para procriar.

Se ela fosse homem, ah e tal 'é normal'.. Sendo ela mulher, já é puta. (E não, não aceito a analogia estúpida e sexista da chave e da fechadura.)

Admito que fiquei triste com final e achei que foi um pouco abruto, mas ainda assim, não diminuiu a prazerosa experiência que foi ler este livro. 

Gostei mesmo muito desta leitura e aconselho muito a que peguem no livro e que o leiam de mente aberta. 
Vale muito a pena. 

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

What if your life takes an irreversible change without any warning? 

What if when you think you have everything figure it out, life comes and shows you that you don't? 

This book follows the story and relationship of Emma and Jesse. They are a happy and lovely couple, living their dream life together, until everything changes. 

As always, Taylor Jenkins Reid brings to life compelling characters and writes in a way that makes you feel like you are living this story closely. 

She makes you connect with the characters and rooting for them. 

The way she writes about love, makes you understand that even if a relationship ends, it doesn't mean that person wasn't your 'one true love' in the time you were with her. 

It shows you that you can have more than 'one true love' in your life, because life isn't a fairytale and change happens constantly. 

Because your love life doesn't needs to end with the death of the person you love.

Because you can find love more than one time in your life and that's alright.

Becsuse moving on its alright. 

I did suffer a bit with this book, but I loved the book and the way the development of the characters and relationships was written and in the end everything was worth it. 

If you like love stories, i advise you to try and read this book, because in the end, love it's all that matter. 
Even if you suffer a bit to get there. 

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid surprised me yet again with a short story I wasn't expecting liking but I did.

As someone who doesn't like to read about betrayal, because it's a trope I despise, I went to read this short story with curiosity but afriad to be something wouldn't be able to read until the end. 

But, for the first time EVER, I read it, I finished it and I enjoyed it. 

Taylor Jenkins Reid is amazing at delivering well written and compelling stories and I'm very happy I went forward with this one. It was a good surprise and a way to get out of my comfort zone. 

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

When reading a trilogy or saga, I'm always afraid to be let down the more I read.

I'm happy that this books was a very good exception to that fear. 

This second books is full of everything I like in fantasy. 

Compelling characters, good storytelling and a plotline that leaves you curious page after page. 

This was a great reading and I loved how page turning this second book was. 

Even though the end of the book, the epilogue, ruined me and pissed me off A LOT, because why can't things ever get good before they get bad AGAIN, this was an amazing read and if you liked the first book, I'm sure you will like this one a lot! 

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

As someone who didn't enjoy that much the Caraval trilogy, this book was a very good surprise.

I thought the characters were a lot more interesting and the development of the story very well done. 

I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put the book down. 

Jacks is such a compelling character, since Caraval, that knowing more about him was a great journey. 

It not necessary to read Caraval to read this book, you will understand the story without that background, but I advice you to do some research if you're curious about this book but never read Caraval. 

This was a easy read and if you like adventure and mystery, surrendered by a fantastic fantasy world, this book will probably be a good choice for you. 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Let's start by saying that this book is my least favorite from Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I had my problems with Daisy Jones and the Six, but this one was worse for me to read. 

I'm not saying it's a bad book. It's not. It's just a lot of things happening at the same time, which makes this book very confusing and I feel it promises more than it deliveries. 

If you like Taylor Jenkins Reid and her writing, I advice you to read it and you might have an opinion different than mine. 

This is not a bad book. It's just a book I didn't connected with. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

You know that type of book that surprises you by the positive?

This book was it for me. 

I've been reading Emily Henry for awhile now, and this book is, by far, my favorite from the author. 

I loved the way the author wrote the story between real life and happy place. And the way she develops the relationship between the characters. 

I feel like like this author knows how to write a romance story in a way that it always makes you feel something. 

This book starts with a reunion between friends, for a wedding, where a lot of things happen and are discovered.

Hard truths, difficult decisions. 

I loved the friendshop between Harriet, Sabrina and Cleo and the way they prove that a relationship can change, can have ups and downs and that's alright. That even after the hardships, and the differences, they can still be friends and stick together. 
That soulmates can be friends. 

I loved how the relationship between Harriet and Wyn (book boyfriend alert! I loved him!), even after everything ends up in the happy ending I always love. 

If you like romances, well written characters and important friendships, I absolutely advice you to read this book. You won't regret it. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

slow-paced

Have you ever heard the saying "opposites attract"? Alex and Poppy are the example of that. 
Poppy and Alex are friends.
They travel together every year. 
Twelve years of travelling together, discovering new places and themselves make their friendship grows. 

But, between failed relationships, trips and bad timing, they understand they like each other but don't say anything with fear of losing their friendship.

This book is heavily inspired on the 1989 movie "When Harry met Sally" and it was such a good surprise to read that it became my favourite from the author. 

The way the progress of their relationship is written, in a more adult, earth to earth and realistic way makes so much interesting and relatable.

This is a well written slow burn book and if you like romances well constructed and with happy endings, this is a goose choice for you to try. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

medium-paced

Did you ever had a book that surprised you for being out of the box? 

This book was it for me. 

Nora is the typical New York City woman. 
The personification of The Devil Wears Prada. 
She's ambitious, career oriented and doesn't intend to change. 

She loves the city and want to keep it that way. 

Until the day her pregnant sister asks her to go in vacations to small town that looks exactly like one of those cities you see on Hallmark movies. 

Nora is out of her element and has yet another 'problem' to solve when Charlie Lastra comes into the picture. 

While checking out item on a cliché list, her sister has a plan in motion without Nora knowing. 

I love the fact that even though we have an happy ending, this happy ending doesn't happen with the woman changing her whole life for a man. 

Nora and Charlie are an interesting couple of enemies turned friends turned lovers. 

Charlie isn't the typical stereotype of small city guy and does put Nora's needs before his own, understanding and supporting her choices, even when it hurts him. 

This was an enjoyable reading. It's a funny book but it touches delicate themes with care and I loved the way it was written. 

Emily Henry is becoming a favourite author of mine and this book deserves a lot more hype than it has.