HOW IS IT ALREADY SEPTEMBER?!? 2022 has flown by far too fast. I haven’t had enough time to do anything besides reading. Another month of not reading enough – August went by just TOO quickly for me. I read two books (again) this month instead of my target of 3 books. The only reason for this is ALL the time I’ve wasted binge-watching content this month. I did start reading a third book but its pace was too slow for me, I’ll get back to it this month. But the two books I did read both turned out to be really nice. Read on for the mini-reviews.
WATCHING YOU by Lisa Jewell
Plot: Newly married, Joey and her husband move in with Joey’s brother as they figure out their lives. Joey soon develops a huge crush on their neighbour, Tom Fitzwilliam who is the headmaster of a local school. It appears that most women who cross paths with Tom end up infatuated. Tom’s teenage son on the other hand is reserved and spends his time stalking his neighbours from his bedroom window in the hopes of eventually becoming a spy for MI5. But is Tom as clean as he appears? One of his students, Jenna Tripp doesn’t seem to buy his good guy act. What secrets is he hiding? Why does his family have to move homes so often?
Review: My favourite book that I’ve read in 2022 is by Lisa Jewell (The Family Upstairs), so now I’m on a mission to read all her books. Watching You was an interesting thriller to read. So many stories running parallel makes you wonder which one is going to lead to the final crime. I was absorbed in the story and kept wanting to read more. Was it as good as The Family Upstairs? No. But if you like thrillers, you will like this book.
Verdicts: 7.5/10; It’s definitely worth reading once.
PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry
Plot: Alex and Poppy are college best friends who are poles apart. He is quiet and likes to stay in, she is loud and likes travelling the world. They make a pact in college to meet every year for a summer vacation no matter where life takes them. They continue with these vacations for a decade until something happens on a vacation 2 years back and they haven’t spoken since. Poppy tries to bring their friendship together by planning another summer holiday. Will they be able to salvage their friendship?
Review: I picked up this book because I loved the idea of two friends making a pact to keep meeting every year irrespective of where life takes them. I know how hard it can be to keep your childhood friendships going once you are grown up and life keeps coming in the way. AND I LOVED THIS BOOK. I literally couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. I could relate to the two protagonists SO much. They were very real and I enjoyed seeing their relationship change as they grew up. I ended up tearing up and crying too in the end. Definitely recommend reading this book!
Verdict: 8.5/10
I tried reading – Lyrebird by Cecelia Ahern but found it too emotional a read for me so postponed reading it. I was halfway through ‘How Not to Die Alone’ by Richard Roper. I’ll finish it this month. What are you currently reading?
Reading progress 2022: 19/30
If you haven’t already, check out my other recent posts:
Happy Panda 
The first one seems really interesting ” WATCHING YOU ”
I would love to read can you tell me where I can read this book on phone.
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It is! Super intriguing till the end.
Libgen is an online repository for e-books. You can use the epub versions from there or buy the kindle version and read with the kindle app for phone.
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Okk thanks
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I have been meaning to read a Lisa Jewel book, so maybe Watching You would be a good one to start with?
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I’d recommend – The Family Upstairs. It is the best book I’ve read all year. I’ve just started reading its sequel.
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Thanks for the advice, I will do that…
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Your mini review of People We Meet on Vacation has made me want to read the book (I had been unsure about it).
Lyrebird is a good book but yes it can be heavy. I’ve posted a review of it- If you like you can check it out – https://ohsobookish.in/2022/08/14/lyrebird-book-review/
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People We Meet On Vacation is really good! I’m sure you’ll like it.
Okay, so, TBH the reason I didn’t go on reading Lyrebird is that I hate books or any content that makes cheating (even emotional cheating) seem okay. It irks me A LOT. I don’t think I will read the book but I will read your review. 🙂
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Yes, I think I will read it.
And thanks 😀
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People we meet on vacation seems a promising book. Sadly, I know that I wont be able to read it anytime soon.
Thanks for the mini reviews though.
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Won’t be able to read it – cause you have a long pile of books lined up to read before?
Thanks for readings! 🙂
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Haha. Though true but in a different way. I feel at more ease with either english non fiction or with oriental literature such as Persian, Hindi or Urdu.
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Lisa Jewell sure knows how to write a thriller! I’ve been meaning to read Watching You for a while now, it sounds very creepy, haha!
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Right?!!? I love her. I just started reading the sequel to The Family Upstairs…and I finished half the book in one night. She knows how to keep things thrilling.
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I’m super excited about your book reviews because we seem to have similar tastes and I’m forever looking for new things to read. I’m not currently reading anything because my poor phone broke and I’m looking for a replacement. All my books are on audible or Kindle so I can carry them with me everywhere I go. I normally read about 2-3 books a week. I’m definitely going to download watching you now! Thanks for the amazing advice.
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Wow 2-3 books a week? That is amazing!!
Please share some recommendations. I’m huge on thrillers & mythological /historical fiction.
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What lies between us, Jar of hearts, the quiet ones – those are thriller/ mysteries. Anything at all be Amy Harmon is incredible she writes historical fiction and romance one of my favorites is where the lost wander, running barefoot, and she has a mythological one that’s to die for but the name is slipping my mind. Across the winding river by Aimie is good, obviously where the crawdads sing is amazing too but you’ve probably tackled that already, I really liked a series by nick Jones it’s oddly about time travel which isn’t my usual genera but I was sucked in immediately. These silent woods was soooo delicious, we are all the same in the dark (yummy book), anything by Kathy reights is good, the girls in the stilt house, the last thing he told me, paper palace, and then she vanished, outlander would keep you busy for a LONG time, Harlan Coben is delicious, and the one I’m on now is “all good people here”… That has amazing reviews and was written by a woman who runs a podcast about murder mysteries and it has amazing reviews. So there’s a lot for you! 😊 Should be something in there that you haven’t read.
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I enjoyed reading your recaps of these two books & congrats on finishing 2 books in August! I can’t wait to dive into People We Meet On Vacation, it sounds really good.
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Thank you. 😊
It’s a really great read. Hope you enjoy it!
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Thanks! 🙂
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People We Meet On Vacation is a book I have been meaning to read for a while now. It’s sounds really good.
I definitely can’t believe it’s September already as well, I swear this year has flown by!
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I added Watching You to my reading list!
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Watching you seems intriguing and mysterious. I like thrillers so I will add it to the list along with the Family upstairs!
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You’ve done a few of these reading updates and I have always commented the same thing each time: “I am stillll in my slump!!!” BUT I AM SOOO HAPPY TO SAY I’VE FINALLY DUG MYSELF OUT OF IT!!! I read 6 or 7 books in August, I think 7 but it could have been 6! I am once again addicted to reading! I will read anything!!! Doing a reading update myself soon – can’t wait!!! 🙂 I did also read the Family Upstairs and that book did also make me want to read all her books but some of them were hit and miss! I will add “Watching You” to the list! 🙂
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I didn’t love People We Meet on Vacation, but I did really enjoy Book Lovers! If you haven’t read that one yet, you might enjoy it! 😊
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