Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge Results

With the end of summer comes the end of the Literary Ladies Summer Book Challenge, and I'm happy to say that I finished it (with a few days to spare!).

I'm kind of weirdly anal, so I stuck with my original book list. I figured that since I took the time to search Goodreads for the "perfect" book for each category, I should probably read them. (And, hey, I wanted to cross several of these off my "To Read" list anyway.)

I'm not going to share detailed reviews in this post (if you want to read more of my thoughts on these novels, I'll be linking to the reviews I've already shared), but I'll at least let you know if these are worth picking up.



1. A YA Book: Identical by Ellen Hopkins (565 pages)
Date Completed: 07/16/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: I liked this book, but it's definitely not for everyone. If you're not the kind of person who enjoys dark and disturbing stories, you should probably pass on this one. If, however, you're intrigued by books that deal with heavy subject matter, you might want to add this to your "To Read" list.
My Detailed Review: Identical is the first book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

2. A Book By A Non-U.S. Author: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (458 pages)
Date Completed: 07/07/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
My Quick Review: I absolutely loved this book! It's one of my favorites so far this year. I stayed up late to read "just one more chapter" several times because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
My Detailed Review: Big Little Lies is the fifth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

3. A Book That Was Recommended By Another Blogger: Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam (335 pages)
Date Completed: 09/16/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't fall in love with it the way I thought I would. Although it didn't fall under the "completely amazing" category for me, it made me remember the girl I was in my early 20s (and, as a result, stirred up a lot of intense emotions).
My Detailed Review: This hasn't actually posted yet. If you're interested in reading more of my thoughts on Last Train to Babylon, I'll be posting my review when the next Show Us Your Books! link-up rolls around.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

4. A Book That Has Been On My "To Read" List For A Year Or More: White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (227 pages)
Date Completed: 08/03/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
My Quick Review: This book had been on my "To Read" list for several years, and I'm so glad I finally took the time to read it. It was haunting, heartbreaking, and beautifully written ... It was everything I'd hoped it would be (and more).
My Detailed Review: White is for Witching is the fifth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

5. A Book With A Kickass Female Character: The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (403 pages)
Date Completed: 07/02/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars
My Quick Review: I wasn't sure if I'd like this book since it falls under the zombie genre (and I'm not a fan). And, while it had some of the usual shit you'd expect in a book about zombies, it also focused on things like ethics, scientific discovery, and themes of identity. It wasn't a perfect novel, but it was an enjoyable read.
My Detailed Review: The Girl With All the Gifts is the fourth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

6. A Book That Is (Or Will Be) A Movie Or TV Show: Under the Skin by Michel Faber (311 pages)
Date Completed: 07/14/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: This was another book that had been on my "To Read" list for several years. It was a really unusual story, and the writing was spectacular ... But I did feel it was lacking in some way. If you decide to pick this one up, please avoid any spoilers. (Don't even read the extended summary on Goodreads!) This is one of those books that's best if you go in knowing as little as possible about the plot.
My Detailed Review: Under the Skin is the seventh (and final) book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

7. A Book Written By A Comedian Or Celebrity (Or A Memoir): Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson (230 pages)
Date Completed: 08/18/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 3/5 stars
My Quick Review: I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but this memoir was interesting enough to hold my attention. Winterson's early life experiences were heartbreaking, but this memoir was also filled with hope.
My Detailed Review: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is the second book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

8. A Book With A One Word Title: You by Caroline Kepnes (422 pages)
Date Completed: 08/30/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars
My Quick Review: This book is dark and fucked up in the best way possible. (Though, to be fair, I tend to like my entertainment dark and fucked up.) It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but that wasn't a bad thing. I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
My Detailed Review: You is the fourth book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

9. A Suspenseful Book (Mystery, Thriller, Etc.): The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper (285 pages)
Date Completed: 06/25/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 2/5 stars
My Quick Review: I was really looking forward to reading this book, but it was fucking terrible. It read like a really bad action flick with cheesy dialogue. I definitely had an "I want to throw this fucking book out the window" moment with this one.
My Detailed Review: The Demonologist is the third book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

10. A Book About Summer, With Summer In The Title, Or In Any Way Related To Summer: Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (387 pages)
Date Completed: 07/27/2015
My Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars
My Quick Review: I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. It's even more surprising that I loved it when you consider that it centers around the lives of really repulsive characters. But it's well written, entertaining, and I had a hard time putting it down. It's probably not for everyone, but I thought it was wonderful!
My Detailed Review: Summer House with Swimming Pool is the third book reviewed in this post.
For More Information: Check it out on Goodreads.

I had so much fun with this challenge! I read a couple of things I probably would never have chosen for myself, and realized I actually might kind of like YA. (Well, some of it anyway.) And I'm really glad that of the 10 books I chose, only one of them was a dud.

I'd never participated in something like this before, and I'm sure there will be more book challenges in my future!