The Girls VS Beware That Girl

It feels so good to be reading again. I don't know about you, but I'll go through stints where I am a total book worm, then I'll go through phases where I'll leave one untouched for months. We have ourselves a battle of the "girls" right here. My latest reads were the "The Girls" by Emma Cline, then immediately after that I jumped into "Beware that Girl" by Theresa Toten. Both stories are thrillers centered around a group of girls, but in totally different time frames and cities. Since they have both been hot topics in the literary world as of late, I figured it would be fun to break down each book and let you decide which one sparks your interest more. One definitely did for me!

The Girls-- If you liked The Virgin Suicides you'll be quick to jump to read this one. Let me set the stage for you: Northern California, summertime, the 60's. The book follows, Evie, a young girl who is coming of age and ends up getting mixed up with a cult that lives hidden in the hills on a ranch. Evie comes across this group of girls and is completely enamored, and from there the story gets a little crazy. A little bit of drugs, a little bit of seduction and a little bit of violence. It's definitely a thriller, but I found it quite slow to really take off. I was constantly putting it down at first and trying to force myself to get through the first bit. However, it's no doubt that Emma is a great writer, she is very poetic. The book is dark, a little melancholy and it sure has a thrilling end!

Beware That Girl-- Think Gossip Girl meets Gone Girl. Theresa Toten was able to capture my interests a bit more in this one. The story takes place in current time on the Upper East Side, so immediately I was ready to dive in. To put it simple-- we have Kate, a girl with many secrets, looking to do whatever it takes to get into Yale. Whether that means getting close to "the haves" of the school, or working at a Chinese Market 7 days a week, she'll do it. I love that Kate is super smart and that her past unfolds as you get into the story. Things take a wicked turn when a certain someone comes into the picture. The story gets twisted pretty fast and the suspense will have you flipping the pages.

Overall? I found Beware That Girl to be more enthralling, thrilling and enjoyable. Must be my affliction to that NYC beat! It's definitely a lighter read, but I found it to be more suspenseful and fast-paced. Let me know if you'll read either book, or if you have already. Or if you hate that I just posted a book review on here! - lol

The Neutral Sofa Debate

Shopping for a couch can be an extremely intimidating task. There are countless places to look, a gazillion styles to choose from and don't even get me started on the colour selections. One shade off and you could be disappointed for life (or at least 15 years). And, if you are not doing this solo, let's add in the fact that you are potentially trying to merge two different styles and preferences into the search for the perfect piece.

Brandon and I had been on the hunt for the perfect sofa for a while. As you know by now, we recently moved in together and I have gone into full blown crazy decorator mode. The problem is once I have an idea in my head I want to see it through. Our styles are similar in some ways but definitely emanate serious differences. One thing that was a non-negotiable for me was a light coloured sofa. Not only do they make the room feel clean, fresh and bright, but they open up the room and usually make you feel relaxed enough to sit on. You don't want a sofa that guests are unsure if they can even move around on.

We shopped around and saw so many lovely pieces that were coloured and/or patterned that sparked some interest, Ultimately we stuck to the idea of getting a neutral sofa. A while back, we made this DIY Headboard for my bedroom and I chose blue fabric. While I absolutely love the headboard, after a year and a half I kinda had the urge to change the colour scheme in my room (shhhh- don't tell him!), but knew I couldn't do as much as I wanted to since the headboard was such a specific shade. When we were purchasing our sofa, I knew it had to be something to go with everything-- the seasons, our moods, etc. Something that pillows, throws and accessories could alter the look of, regardless of colour.

If you're in the market for a new sofa, here are some things to remember:

1. Sofas are investment pieces. Spend the money now and avoid a fast fix as you'll have it for quite some time. The piece should be of quality and give off a homey feel.

2. Neutrals usually offer the most versatility in terms of decorating/accenting. Throws and pillows are easy to change up and just doing this will completely alter the look of the room. Holiday accessorizing on a beige couch? No problem.

3. The sofa acts as the focal piece. The whole room is essentially designed around this piece. Have it blend it, or stand out. You can go bold with accessories, or not. It's up to you.

4. You don't need to compromise on the style. Styles and shapes can be timeless, while hot colours come and go. Focus on the style you love, as it will set the tone of the room. And be sure to take pictures and visualize the room with the sofa in it. It needs to be a good fit!

5. Be sure the fabric is durable, not fussy and easy to clean. Will you be giving any guest cut eye that sits on the couch with a glass of red wine?

I may be partial to neutral, but  this is just my take on the debate! If you love colour, go for it! And just to play devil's advocate.. here are some fab rooms that have nailed the coloured sofa trend.

What's your take on sofas? Do you go bold with the big pieces, or chose to accent boldly and keep the big ticket items a little understated?

P.S. Are you guys digging my house updates?! Let me know if I should keep 'em coming!