Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith - 421 pages

Alice has been best friends with Teddy and Leo for the past nine years -- ever since she came to live in Chicago after her parents' deaths.  For the past four years, she's been in love with Teddy.  She's been too scared to let anyone know about this -- not even Teddy.  Then for Teddy's 18th birthday, Alice buys him a lottery ticket that changes all of their lives.

I've liked the author Jennifer E. Smith ever since stumbling onto her first book Comeback Season several years ago.  This is her latest book.  It was just as enjoyable as her others.  In fact, it might be my favorite one so far.  I really enjoyed the rags to riches story and the effects it has on the people in Teddy's life.  I would recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen or Morgan Matson.

Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie

Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie - 256 pages

Tess is the typical crusader out to save the world.  So she's never understood why she is so attracted to conservative lawyer Nick.  When he proposes they pretend to be engaged for a business deal she reluctantly agrees . . .

This is another one of Jennifer Crusie's early romances.  This one didn't age quite as well as Getting Rid of Bradley.  It was also a little confusing as one moment the book was making fun of conservatives who wanted to succeed in business and the next making fun of those who wanted to work to better the world.  Still, I did enjoy reading the book.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion - 241 pages

R is a zombie -- but he's fine with it.  Until he meets Julie.  For some reason he decides to save her.  And that triggers a change, not only in him, but in many of other zombies.

This was made into a movie.  I liked the movie and decided to see if the book was similar or not.  The book was pretty good.  There were changes between the book and the movie.  I actually liked the movie better.

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

 Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, 96 pages

I never knew what this book was- my impression was that it was a sort of cheesey self-help book from the 90s... which is what it is.  Not-long-at-all-story short: change is okay- change can even be good- you have to go with it, though, instead of fighting it.  So much easier said than done.  But... especially relevant to my life right now- it wasn't unwelcome.

omg, I called it "cheesey" and I didn't even mean to make a pun lolololololololol

Caddy's World by Hilary McKay

Caddy's World by Hilary McKay - 265 pages

This is a prequel to McKay's series of books about the Casson family.  This book focuses on oldest sister Caddy during the summer and fall when she is 12 years old.  She has three best friends on who she relies to keep her world sane.  She fears change - which is coming whether she wants it or not.  Her mother gives birth prematurely to a little girl, her father has come home from London to stay with the family, and one of her best friends might be moving to Tanzania.  

I love this series of books.  It is an intimate look into a nontraditional family that somehow makes everything always turn out okay.  The books cover both the little everyday events family and friends as well as the big life-changing events that occur in their lives.  Wonderful books!