BookTok reeled me in, too

Thanks to a little app called TikTok, I too became a follower of BookTok. I don't know how I went down that rabbit hole, but I am glad that I did!

I was never one to enjoy reading in school. It was either for AR tests, studying, or researching. I never enjoyed it, nor did I have time to read for fun. Having recently finished my Master's Degree in Digital Marketing (WVU December Grad, woo!!), I needed something to fill the void that school and softball always took up in my spare time. Somehow, the magical TikTok algorithm presented me with #BookTok.

I officially started reading my first book on July 31, 2022. Here I am at the end of 2022 reflecting on my time spent reading ___ books later! I wanted to spread my love for reading with this blog post in hopes to reach others who feel they never got to read for fun. With the recommendations I am about to give, I hope I can spark your love for reading! :)

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***SPOILERS AHEAD!***

1. It Ends with Us - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Love. Absolute love.

This book gave me such a different pov of abusive relationships & why it's so hard to get out of them. Lily is absolutely right - it's easy to say "if I'm in that situation, I'll leave. No questions asked.", but when it actually happens to you... it is hard.

I loved Ryle at first. I think we all did. I thought it was such a cute storyline that he didn't want a relationship & told her upfront, but lily being Lily changed Ryle. Now I think we all know WHY TF HE DIDN'T WANT A RELATIONSHIP - BC HE CAN'T HANDLE IT!

And we all wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt when he told the story from his childhood.. but it still doesn't excuse him treating Lily the way he did!!!

Don't EVEN get me started on Atlas. That boy would move mountains for Lily. I need an Atlas ASAP, where do I sign up?

Ugh. Overall, this book really opened my eyes. I laughed, cried, sober even. One of my favorites! 😩

2. Verity - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The only words I have to sum up this book are the following: HOLY SHIT.

also. #TeamManuscript!

3. The Choice - Nicholas Sparks

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book is so wholesome. I saw the movie before I read this book, so I did already know how it ended. But I loved seeing both povs of Travis & Gabby. Overall, a comfort read!

4. This Lullaby - Sarah Dessen

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This was one of my favorite reads when I was in high school. Re-reading it again now, it is still so good. I am excited to see that Netflix is making this into a movie sometime soon! I can't wait to see the story come alive.

5. Ugly Love - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Half of my soul was left in this book.

I LOVED this storyline so much. Tate & Miles are def two of my favorite Colleen Hoover characters. Definitely read this!

6. November 9 - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Ok, a lot of people didn't like this book, or didn't think it was top tier COHO. I can agree, it isn't the BEST considering It Ends with Us & Ugly Love were written...

However, I thought this book was amazing. I thought it was such a feel good story! I loved the concept, and how it spanned over like 6 years time, but only covered one day of each! I also loved the dual pov.

The twist I def didn't see coming!!!!!!

Overall, I loved it. :)

7. Keeping the Moon - Sarah Dessen

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book was sweet. It wasn't one of my fav Sarah books, but it was still good!

8. All Your Perfects - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: BAWLED IN THIS BOOK!

I could feel the pain of Quinn through the words on the pages. I wanted to hug her so bad.

9. Waiting at Hayden's - Riley Costello

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I thought this book was decent! I liked the double storyline and how they intertwined with the common restaurant. Pretty cool!

10. Every Summer After - Carly Fortune

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: THIS. FREAKING. BOOK.

Loved the storyline! Loved the setting! Made me want to drop my life and move to Canada ASAP.

The build up, the connection between Percy & Sam.. I could feel it through the pages. One of my favorites by far.

11. Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book was good. I thought the beginning - page 100-150 was a slow burn. It took a while to get through that. But, from then on it picks up & draws you in! The book & movie are pretty much the same! Def read if you saw the movie/vice versa.

12. Layla - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This was an interesting read, not going to lie.

I definitely didn't see the ending coming. I was a little confused at first, but I came to understand it somehow. lol

I did like how it was written, going back and forth between the past & present!

13. Heart Bones - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: UNDER. RATED!

This book made me feel so many emotions!!!!!!!

14. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: This book was not what I excepted at all.

I loved the old Hollywood vibes and the details to which the author describes the clothes and features of the characters.

But I thought it was a little overhyped via BookTok.

15. Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Ugh. This book definitely took me by surprise.

I guess seeing all the hype around It Ends With Us, Ugly Love, Reminders of Him, Verity, etc. that this one has been overlooked or not discussed enough (from what I've seen)

But this book was wonderful. I thought the dual pov of the main characters added to how great this book is. I loved reading both of their thoughts, feelings, etc.

I loved the build up to the reasoning behind why Ridge couldn't leave Maggie. It was mentioned briefly: enough to make you wonder but not enough to keep you reading more & more!

I read this book in three days, and read the majority of it in the last two. I couldn't put it down! I just kept reading and reading to continue being in the story.

I didn't rate it 5 stars because I feel like a couple of her other books are better, but this one definitely is up there!

Colleen does it again!

16. Maybe Not - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I liked this book, a lot! It was short, really short, and the story moved fast. But I liked Warren & Bridgette's story.

I wish this would have been a dual perspective because I would love to know more about why Bridgette is the way she is & what she was thinking most of the time.

Overall, great read!

17. Maybe Now - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I have loved this series!

But this one might be my favorite! If you want a feel-good, can't stop smiling throughout the entire book, read, this is the one! The ending gave me major How I Met Your Mother vibes! Absolutely Loved!

18. It Starts with Us - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Lily and Atlas deserved this book to be written!

I am so happy to know how they turn out. This book made me smile so much!

I know some people believe that this isn't Colleen's best writing, that it was rushed, etc. But I feel like the point wasn't to create another story similar to It Ends With Us. The point WAS to give a positive story to Lily and Atlas. Not one with pain, but happiness. That is why I gave it a 5 star review!

19. Local Woman Missing - Mary Kubica

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: WOW!!!

I did not see this ending coming.

The story was very interesting and well written. I was kind of confused at the beginning of who everyone was in relation to the overall story, but once I figured it out I was hooked!

So many plot twists!!

20. The Cheat Sheet - Sarah Adams

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: This was the cutest freaking book!! the friends-to-lovers romance was adorable. i wanted to YELL at Bree 60% of the book for holding herself back & talking herself out of being vulnerable with Nathan. the other 30% of the book i wanted to YELL at Nathan for the same thing, lol. They were both so scared of hurting or ruining their friendship that they did nothing but bottle their feelings up!

on another note, i loved the way Sarah wrote this book. the added mental notes that both Nathan & Bree would make would make me rly feel like I was IN the book and apart of the story!

overall, my one word to describe this book: adorable. everyone should add this to their TBR right now!

21. Ice Breaker - Hannah Grace

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: this book was so cute!!! I love the grumpy/sunshine trop & dual pov so much. and the way Hannah writes this book... I literally felt like i was a student at UCMH! Nathan Hawkins. 😍😛🫣

my favorite book boyfriend by far. reading his pov was my favorite. the way he talks about Anastasia made my heart melt. 🥰🫠

don't let this cover deceive you... it had some S P I C Y moments for sure!! def one of my fav #booktok books so far!!

22. Reminders of Him - Colleen Hoover

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: wow 😭 this book was so good. i loved the dual pov, i loved the story/plot, i loved everything this book somehow gave me hope, that no matter what was happened, you can forgive yourself and others. it's hard to pick who my favorite character was, Ledger or Kenna, bc i loved them both!

i could see both pov of the plot, but i'm glad that it ultimately worked out for everyone in the end. 🥺🥺

23. All I Want for Christmas - Maggie Knox

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: This book is cute!! The first part of the book I thought went by very fast & wasn't very detailed. I was a little lost about what happened! But the rest of the book was good! It definitely put me in the Christmas spirit!

And with that, the 2022 reading season comes to an end! 🤩

I can't wait to share with y'all the books I read this upcoming year!!