Thank you for joining me here! I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.
Book #1:
The Sixth Wedding by Elin Hilderbrand (Length: 76 pages). This is a short story sequel to the author’s novel 28 Summers (previously reviewed May 2021). I’m not sure this was a necessary sequel for her to write, but it was an semi-enjoyable, quick read. The plot essentially focuses on Mallory’s brother Cooper wanting a “re do” of that fateful summer 28 years ago. He believes that summer is the reason he’s married five times. This seems a bit like an outline for a future book that needs to be fleshed out a bit more, and quite frankly the ending sucks. I wouldn’t waste any money purchasing it, but if you were a fan of the previous book (like I am), it is worth a library read to find out what happens to the characters.
Book #2:
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding (Length: 353 pages). This novel has an intriguing set-up with a sugar daddy and his “baby” in New York City. The sugar daddy ends up dead and the baby is suspect #1. Zero characters in this book are people you’d genuinely like in real life, so if that bugs you, skip this book. That doesn’t bother me, and I enjoyed both the plot and the setting in this “fluff” novel. This is definitely a page-turner, but without great writing. Therefore, I’d recommend as a library check out only.
Book #3:
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (Length: 278 pages). Whoa. This is INTENSE. Apparently this is part of a new breed of novel called an “eco” novel. Focusing on an Irish/Australian woman who travels via a fishing boat to follow the alleged last flight of Arctic Terns before their extinction. This is set in the very near future, after climate change wreaks its havoc, killing off most of the animals on earth. The main character has extreme mental health issues, the causes of which are gradually revealed as you read further. This is a VERY sad novel but it’s also beautifully written. I couldn’t stop reading it, even when it was tough to read, mostly because I wanted to see if the narrator makes it to the end. This has been named a “best book” by many podcasters and bloggers and I’d definitely recommend it as well.
Lora Terrill 