Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

The series has ended! Having accidentally read some articles that "hinted" at what happened, and having had my own thoughts on the matter, I have to say I wasn't terribly surprised with the outcome. The first few hundred pages were a slow go, a similar experience to the previous books in the series (especially the longer ones) but the end moved quickly, and the end was satisfactory. Justice was done to the characters that needed it, and loose ends have been tied. I hope Rowling sticks to her word and puts the Harry Potter series to rest, though it has been a fun ride.

In Progress:
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office -Lois P. Frankel
Four Past Midnight -Stephen King

Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

This was an amazingly fun read. Rachel, our "second fiddle" heroine, is 100% identifiable. Even though you know that stealing her best friend's fiance is wrong, you're brought through her logic, and even cheer her on as she starts to make amends with herself for the years playing her best friend Darcy's doormat. Anyone with a close friend so selfish is in complete empathy with her situation!

I am excited to read Something Blue, the next book in the series written in Darcy's voice.

In Progress:
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office -Lois P. Frankel
Four Past Midnight -Stephen King

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

After 10 years and restarting about 4 times, I finally made my way through Great Expectations. One of my favorite movies from the 90s is the screen adaptation with Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow (probably one of her two best roles), so my brain primarily tied the scenes together by envisioning the movie. Pip falls in love with Estella at a young age, and when he suddenly comes into inheritance, he believes it is from Estella's guardian, Miss Havisham, and subsequently disowns his only family. It isn't until years later that he discovers the money comes from a much "dirtier" source, and his life is turned upside down as he tries to save his benefactor and make amends with his own previous decisions. Dickens pulls you along by emotion for the characters and what happens to them, and the plot moves slowly as a result, describing Pip's internal anguish.

In Progress:
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office -Lois P. Frankel
Four Past Midnight -Stephen King