We all show gratitude in a variety of ways (hopefully). There are so many things I'm grateful for, even when I may not always show it in extravagant ways. It's so easy to take things for granted, especially when they're considered the "little things," but those can be the things that matter the most. I wanted to share today nine "little things" that I'm grateful for, even if they seem so basic - but if I didn't have them, I would definitely miss them.



A husband I can be my weird, wonderful self with
For real - if the world only knew how weird I really am. I mean, I'm weird either way, but I get weirder when I'm home and my husband deals with my weirdness and loves me even more for it.


A close-knit family
I'm so grateful for this, because I forget other people aren't as lucky to have a close-knit immediate family that really takes care of each other and enjoys each others' company. (In the picture above is me, one of my sisters, and one of my nephews.)


A job that's meaningful
I've never worked anywhere that I've loved so much as my current position. I enjoy the autonomy I receive, the people I work with, and the purpose behind my job.


A cat that (maybe) loves me
Do cats love us? Science has yet to let us know, but I think this fluffy cat that lives in my house loves me at least a little...


The ability to go to school for free
I was lucky enough to receive grants and scholarships to complete my undergraduate degree. As a full-time professional in a university system, I am now able to work on my graduate degree via tuition assistance. Though I complain about school being difficult, I am grateful to earn my degrees with no cost to myself.


Health insurance that covers my diabetic supplies
I've gone without health insurance, and even with good benefits, diabetic supplies are extremely expensive. But I am grateful to have what I do to be able afford my insulin and such. (My complaints can take up their own series of blog posts, though.)


The ability to read
Yes, of course. I have use of all my senses (though my hearing could use some improvement), and I am insanely grateful I can use my sight and knowledge to read the books I love so.


Capability to eat/drink my favorite things
Yes, I have diabetes and maybe shouldn't all the things I do (or I should really be better about my portion sizes), but I don't have a food allergy. I have the capability to buy Chick-fil-a or grab coffee on-the-go and for that I'm grateful


Owning a car I enjoy that is in good shape
I definitely always want to trade it in for my dream car (a Prius), but I love the car I have. It was the first brand new car I bought on my own and it's treated me well so far.

An InLinkz Link-up

Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same latter



TW: murder, systemic racism, fat-shaming, prostitution



I've honestly had Persons Unknown on my kindle for two years, and just now got around to reading it (I really dislike ebooks, I'm telling you). I enjoyed the first in the series, Missing Presumed, well enough. It definitely held my interest, but there were definitely some problematic issues in the story. I didn't enjoy the way the first book wrapped up, but I felt like the second book took such a ridiculous turn.



I am all for stories that discuss race issues and bring to light societal and systemic race issues, but I felt it was done in a really juvenile way, and very ineffectively. It was centered in the story, while also being a side note somehow. Compared to Missing Presumed, the storyline was messy, the dialogue was confusing, and so much of the story seemed to just end without being wrapped up.






Everything was just so sloppy, and the entire story was so dang slow. I figured it out incredibly quickly, so I felt there was absolutely no twist, though perhaps it was supposed to be quite shocking. This story pretends to be about systemic racism, but there are no efforts to dispel the issues being brought up. So, again the white folks just continue living their lives with no problems truly disrupting their lives.

I certainly wouldn't recommend this novel, or even the first novel at this point, and I definitely won't be reading anymore about Manon Bradshaw.



Goodread rating: ★★☆☆☆

















*I received a copy of this novel free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

This year, one of the Popsugar reading prompts is "A book about family." I know it can be tough to fill all of the prompts each year, so I'm here to make it just a bit easier on you. Something I love about some of these novels is they discuss how family doesn't necessarily mean blood. Sometimes family is much more than genetics. Some of these stories are heartfelt and full of warmth. Others, not so much. But they all have a centered focus on family.





The entire Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan
The premise of this series stars Rachel and beau Nick. In book one, they travel to Shangai for Nick's best friend's wedding and Rachel finds out Nick is actually part of one of the richest families in China. The trilogy continues to follow the relationship of the couple, but the series truly focuses on the little intricacies of family - out to the craziest cousins and the secrets that are kept.



Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
When Georgia discovers her fiancé has a major secret mere weeks before her wedding, she travels home to her parents where she knows she'll feel safe. Only her parents are keeping secrets of their own. This novel is a light-hearted read with all the makings of a good love story.



The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
When Starr's unarmed best friend is shot by a cop right in front of her, she vows to fight the good fight and stand up for everything important to her. As her family and friends join her side, she'll come to realize the true meaning of community and banding together for all that is right.



The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
When four young siblings are given the dates of their deaths by a clairvoyant, they begin living their lives to the fullest. This book follows each sibling at different parts of their own timelines leading up to their timely (?) demise.



The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs
When famous mathematician Isaac Severy dies, his granddaughter Hazel is tasked with delivering his last equation to a trusted colleague. Only, when Hazel arrives, she realizes she's not the only one in search of the equation, and things in the family are more twisted than they first appear.



The Leavers by Lisa Ko
When Deming's mother leaves for work one day, she doesn't return. So young Deming, a Chinese-American, is adopted by an older White couple who rename him Daniel. But as he gets older, he wants to search for his birth mother - what happened to her? Why did she leave? This novel is a relevant and heartbreaking tale about family and the depths we'll go to in order to save them.



Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
When Suzette returns home from school, she learns that her stepbrother Lionel has been suffering with a mental illness. She's terrified for him, but also worried about her past. This YA novel is a gripping tale of what it means to be family and how to forgive those you love, including yourself.



Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The Richardson's are your perfect all-American family in Shaker Heights. After their rental home is home is occupied by single mother Mia and her teenage daughter, Elena Richardson makes it her mission to uncover Mia's past, even if it means sacrificing the secrets of those around her.



The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Brand new from Jane Harper, this novel follows the Bright family after one of their own is found dead in the sweltering Australian heat. As they work to uncover what happened to their brother, family secrets start to be revealed, and everything is not what it may seem.



A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
When his mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Conor begins having an odd dream. A dream about a monster that wants the truth from him. But does Conor even fully realize the truth? And could it destroy his relationship with the mother he loves so.



The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
When Lane's cousin goes missing from their grandparents home, Lane travels back to a dark and nasty place she vowed never to return to. But her cousin's missing and she has to find her. Will she drag up some old secrets along the way?



Scream All Night by Derek Milman
Dario has no intention of returning to Moldavia Studios, but when his brother calls inviting him to a tribute to the old horror films that make him a child star, he feels obligated to go. When he returns home, he's sucked into the drama and fright that he never wanted to be a part of.



The Shining by Stephen King
When Jack Torrance gets a job as caretaker at the Overlook Hotel for the harsh Colorado winter, it's the perfect thing he needs to break his writer's block. He brings along his wife and their five year-old son, Danny, who may or may not have a special gift that's warning them all about the terror that is to come.

An InLinkz Link-up

Well, the first month of 2019 is over and done with. It was a slow-moving month, but now I can't believe we're basically halfway through February. Time is weird as an adult. Anyways, I feel pretty good about a solid five books in January, and I'm well on track to meeting both my Popsugar reading challenge and Goodreads challenge goals. I didn't really love any of the books I read last month - it was pretty mediocre for me, but The Lost Man has been my favorite so far.






The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor ★★★☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters

Brief synopsis: The story is about Eddie, a man who witnessed some pretty terrible things as an adolescent. Growing up, he and his friends would leave messages to each other in chalk, until one day - the chalk leads them to a terrible discovery. The novel switches back and forth between Eddie's childhood in the 80s and his adulthood in 2016, the story weaving together through the timeline and each chapter.

Overall thoughts: This book was pretty graphic in a multitude of ways. The story was kind of twisty, but I felt there was too much left unanswered. Tudor's writing was strong, and the story reminded me a lot of It, but without the supernatural factors. Full review here.







Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough ★★★☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book told from multiple character POVs

Brief synopsis: Told from multiple perspectives, this novel follows Lisa, single mother of 16 year-old Ava, and Lisa's best friend Meredith. They all have secrets to hide. Lisa is overprotective of Ava, and becomes anxious at the slightest inconvenience. She begins to slowly unravel as clues from her haunted past begin popping back up. Meanwhile, Ava is chatting with an older man online and hiding it from everyone, including her friends. Meredith, who's always calm, collected, and put-together, has secrets of her own. And literally no one is talking to those who are closest to them.

Overall thoughts: I loved Pinborough's last one (Behind Her Eyes), but this this one just didn't do it for me. There was some pretty rough child violence centered in the story, and it was pretty sickening to be honest. The characters were unbelievable, but the twists kept me on my toes. Full review here.








More Than Bones by Craig David Singer* ★★★☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book published in 2019

Brief synopsis: The story focuses on Emily, a medical intern who relocates from the Carolinas to Baltimore to complete her residency at a Catholic hospital. Though her father is a Southern preacher (not Catholic at all), Emily prefers to choose science and logic over religion. New to the area, Emily quickly dives in to friendships with a slew of quirky characters, including her new roommate Norton, and an odd old man named Frank who lives next door. Frank immediately gifts her with a pendant, urging her to not take it off once she wears it close to her heart. Thinking the man old and senile, she wears the pendant briefly and after taking it off a variety of bad things begin happening all around her. But they can't possibly be related, right? I mean, how much power can a simple pendant have?

Overall thoughts: Even with a cast of quirky characters, and more of them LGBTQ than not, this novel fell short. There was a ridiculous amount of fat-shaming and classism. I couldn't get past those things to really enjoy the story, which could've been fun, southern-style fiction with a twist. Full review here.








An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen* ★★★★☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book by two female authors

Brief synopsis: The novel follows Jess, a struggling makeup artist living in the city and trying to do right by her family. When an opportunity arises for her to make some significantly extra cash by entering a research study, she jumps at the chance. After some preliminary questions, she's offered a chance to proceed further into the study for even more money. Only the study isn't what she expected - she gets in too deep, in too personal, and she's not quite sure anymore if entering the study was a good idea.

Overall thoughts: This one was twisty, as expected, and it kept me engaged more than The Wife Between Us did. The plot was different than a lot of other stories in the same domestic thriller featuring women genre. Kind of gave me some You vibes. Full review here.







How to Experience Death for Beginners by Jessica Branton* ★★☆☆☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book about someone with a superpower

Brief synopsis: The story follows 17 year old Casey, who at 7, witnesses her father’s death through his eyes as a vision. Those visions continue to happen throughout the next 10 years, not only for close friends and family, but geographically close folks. So when a serial killer shows up in the small Georgia town Casey lives in, the visions become increasingly more violent until Casey herself becomes a suspect.

Overall thoughts: This story was written when the author was 14 and that's apparent. The writing is messy, the dialogue is confusing, and a lot more editing should have been completed prior to publication. But the plot-line is super interesting, and the book had a lot of potential. Full review here.









The Lost Man by Jane Harper* ★★★★☆
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book about a family

Brief synopsis:The story focuses on brothers Nathan and Bub, who find their third brother - Cameron - dead in the outback desert right on an urban legend's grave marker. The death is unexplained and mysterious, but foul-play doesn't seem to be involved. So what happened to the brother that was so loved by the community?

Overall thoughts: I really enjoyed this domestic crime thriller set in Australia. It was written so well I was able to forget I was reading a thriller and just really get invested in the characters. It was definitely different than what I was expecting, though some of the resolutions seemed a bit unbelievable to me. Full review here.


























* denotes I received a copy free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Relationships are such an important piece of life, whether they're romantic, platonic, familial, or whatever. We survive off those we form relationships with, and we love those who help us love ourselves better. Who better to help you love yourself than best friends?

In the list below,  you can find more than 10 books about best friends. Some may be obvious parts of the story, while others may be a bit more subtle within the story.




The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker
This story follows best friends Mel and Sharon on their journey into fame within the animation world. Set in New York with reminiscence of the south, this book is gorgeously written and surprisingly a debut.



Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
A story of best friends, new friends, and frenemies, Big Little Lies is a mysterious story told in a unique perspective. This novel's the inspiration for the HBO adaptation of the same name.



Duma Key by Stephen King
A haunting and underrated King novel, this story follows Edgar after a life-altering accident. He retreats to the Florida Keys where he makes quick friends with his closest neighbor.



Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
Though this is a story about self-awareness and being in love with yourself, friends certainly play a part in uplifting others while uplifting yourself.



The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This is a fantastic and realistic story about believing in yourself, your rights, and speaking up about what's wrong. Best friends and family all play a part in the importance of standing up for what you believe in.



It by Stephen King
Following the Losers Club as children and almost 30 years later as adults, this is a terrifying novel about a fearmonging entity feeding on children in a small Maine town. The group of "losers" come to learn about the importance of true friendship and love.



The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
Teenage best friends come back together as adults for a private school reunion. Their high school experience was much darker than it seemed, and reminiscing will reveal some terrible secrets.



The entire Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs
When Jacob accidentally finds a time portal while on a trip to Wales, he discovers a school for children with extraordinary gifts. When their story gets a lot deeper than he could've imagined, he becomes close friends with many of the peculiar children in an attempt to save everything the peculiar children have ever known.



The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
This classic tells the story of Ponyboy and his greaser friends. When one of his friends kills a soc, he struggles with an internal battle of good versus evil, and have to discover the meaning of true friendship and family.



Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
In this cyber-RPG novel set in the fairly near future, friendships are physically hanging out. What starts out as a fun-filled game to win a billion-dollar enterprise quickly becomes dark and twisted proving what real friendship really is.



Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
This novel is exactly what it sounds like. Some girls come back from the dead and form a circle of friends to try to figure out who killed them. This book is so full of girl power and proves that even your worst frenemies can have redeeming qualities.
















Charlene is a 20-something wife and fur-mama living in Portland, Oregon. She's a follower of Christ, watcher of SciFi, reader of fantasy, singer of show tunes, and lover of her husband! She uses her blog, Enduring All Things, to help couples build a marriage that will endure whatever comes their way.

An InLinkz Link-up