Book Reviews–June 2019 Part One

June 30, 2019

Welcome!  I have large stacks of books TBR (To Be Read) on my nightstand, plus electronic stacks of books lined up in my Kindle, as well as books on hold at the library.  As I read these books, I love to share my thoughts and opinions of what I’ve read here in this space, because I enjoy sharing my passion for books with others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  Finally, the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.  Thank you!)  I hope you enjoy this series.

Book #1: 

The Last RomanticsThe Last Romantics by Tara Conklin (Length: 368 pages).  This is an excellent read!  The writing is top-notch, the characters are well-developed and I wanted to keep reading.  This novel is told from the perspective of the youngest sibling of 4 (Fiona), and is primarily about the familial/sibling bonds of this group.  While it’s broad in scope and of time, the pace is quick enough to hold a reader’s interest (which I was very pleased about).  Book clubs would enjoy this book as there are opportunities to discuss your own bonds with your siblings.  (Note:  climate-change deniers, whoever you are, may want to skip this book because there is a somewhat intense and VERY realistic peek into our planet’s near future in the flash-forward scenes.)

From the publisher:

When the renowned poet Fiona Skinner is asked about the inspiration behind her iconic work, The Love Poem, she tells her audience a story about her family and a betrayal that reverberates through time.

It begins in a big yellow house with a funeral, an iron poker, and a brief variation forever known as the Pause: a free and feral summer in a middle-class Connecticut town. Caught between the predictable life they once led and an uncertain future that stretches before them, the Skinner siblings—fierce Renee, sensitive Caroline, golden boy Joe and watchful Fiona—emerge from the Pause staunchly loyal and deeply connected.  Two decades later, the siblings find themselves once again confronted with a family crisis that tests the strength of these bonds and forces them to question the life choices they’ve made and ask what, exactly, they will do for love.

A sweeping yet intimate epic about one American family, The Last Romantics is an unforgettable exploration of the ties that bind us together, the responsibilities we embrace and the duties we resent, and how we can lose—and sometimes rescue—the ones we love. A novel that pierces the heart and lingers in the mind, it is also a beautiful meditation on the power of stories—how they navigate us through difficult times, help us understand the past, and point the way toward our future.

Book #2: 

Packing for MarsPacking for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach (Length: 335 pages).   I’m not sure where I heard about this non-fiction pick, but I’m SO glad I read this book.  I’ve read the author’s “Stiff” and “Gulp” previously, so I knew I’d find this exhaustive account of the preparation that must occur before spacewalks and our eventual travel to Mars to be worth my time.  This book, as with her previous books, showcases the author’s wit.  (For example, the line, “‘They didn’t want the hot water cooking the skin flakes'”, he said, speaking four words together that have no business being so.”)  The author does get bogged down into the minutiae (as is her style) . . . for example, what is it like to go without washing for two weeks in space, what it’s like going to the bathroom, etc but the minutiae IS so very interesting, in my opinion.  I will say, this book is difficult to read in one go, but by chapter it’s fine.  Definitely do NOT skip the footnotes!  (If you’re reading this on a Kindle, just click on the asterisks within the text itself).  These often contain the most interesting (and funny) factoids!

From the publisher:

“America’s funniest science writer” (Washington Post) explores the irresistibly strange universe of life without gravity in this New York Times bestseller.

The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule, Mary Roach takes us on the surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.

Book #3: 

Fierce KingdomFierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips (Length: 278 pages).  Whoa.  This book is INTENSE.  If you’re looking for a lightning-fast, thrill-ride of a read that you’ll finish in one sitting, this is it.   This novel is very well-paced, and the author is all about moving the plot (about some gunmen in a zoo at closing time) forward, but what characters there are, you absolutely understand them and their motivations along the way.  The main narrator, Joan, is a mom at the zoo with her young son.  She’s heroic at times, and shockingly not at others.  She’s very believable and makes you think about what you’d do in that same situation.  There is a secondary character of a retired third-grade teacher (who’s seen at least a dozen of her former students on the news in some capacity after they reach adulthood), and having been a substitute teacher for third-grade, I absolutely related to her character.  The novel’s ending is very sudden, and you can read what you want into it.  Love those types of endings–definitely worth a read.  This would be a fantastic book to read on a long airplane flight or car ride as the time will fly by!

From the publisher:

One of the New York Times Book Review’s Best Crime Novels of 2017

“Warning: you’ll finish this in one sitting.” —TheSkimm

“Expertly made thriller . . . clever and irresistible.” —The New York Times

An electrifying novel about the primal and unyielding bond between a mother and her son, and the lengths she’ll go to protect him.

The zoo is nearly empty as Joan and her four-year-old son soak up the last few moments of playtime. They are happy, and the day has been close to perfect. But what Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit gate minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours—the entire scope of the novel—she keeps on running.

Joan’s intimate knowledge of her son and of the zoo itself—the hidden pathways and under-renovation exhibits, the best spots on the carousel and overstocked snack machines—is all that keeps them a step ahead of danger.

A masterful thrill ride and an exploration of motherhood itself—from its tender moments of grace to its savage power—Fierce Kingdom asks where the boundary is between our animal instinct to survive and our human duty to protect one another. For whom should a mother risk her life?

Book #4: 

Chasing FirefliesChasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Length: 351 pages). I LOVE me some Charles Martin.  This is yet another great novel of his.  He does touch upon (briefly) some tough subjects such as child abuse (both physical and sexual) as well as HIV, but he’s never too graphic and it’s never gratuitous.  The narrator is a younger male (30 years old) who is a journalist.  He’s adopted and lives with an older couple he calls Uncle Willie and Aunt Lorna, and we learn about Uncle Willie’s very storied past.  As always, Martin does a fantastic job of painting a sense of place, in this case, the marshes of Georgia, with his always-beautiful writing style and a fantastically-paced plot.  You HAVE to keep reading to find out how it ends.  There’s a mystery within the plot, per usual, but Martin definitely doesn’t spoon feed it to you.  I LOVE this book!  

From the publisher:

On a stifling summer day, an old Chevy Impala ignored the warning signals and was annihilated by the oncoming train. What no one realized until much later was that the driver had paused just before entering the tracks and kicked a small boy out of the car. A small boy with broken glasses who is clutching a notebook with all his might . . . but who never speaks.

Chase Walker was one of the lucky ones. He was in foster care as a child, but he finally ended up with a family who loved him and cared for him. Now, as a journalist for the local paper, he’s moved on and put the past behind him.

But when he’s assigned the story of this young boy, painful, haunting questions about his own childhood begin to rise to the surface.

And as Chase Walker discovers, learning the truth about who you are can be as elusive—and as magical—as chasing fireflies on a summer night.

Book #5: 

Good Morning MidnightGood Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (Length: 274 pages).   This book is based on SUCH an interesting premise, even for a dystopian novel.  The main characters (in alternating chapters) are:  An elderly scientist who stays put after an evacuation of a research station near the North Pole, and a female member of a crew of 6 en route back to Earth from a study/exploration of Jupiter.  The female crew member, Sully, is estranged from her daughter, much like August, the research scientist on Earth.  The author creates a fantastic sense of place in both locales–and since I really enjoy reading about space AND the Arctic, this novel is really my jam.  While this is more about “the journey” and the meaning of life than the arc of the plot, it’s definitely worth a read.  Just a warning that the last two chapters are definitely a bit of a surprise (that I suspected but really didn’t see coming).  I’m okay with the (rather abrupt) ending but some readers may not be.   I absolutely will read whatever else this author publishes!

From the publisher: NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY SHELF AWARENESS AND THE CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS • COLSON WHITEHEAD’S FAVORITE BOOK OF 2016 (Esquire)

Augustine, a brilliant, aging astronomer, is consumed by the stars. For years he has lived in remote outposts, studying the sky for evidence of how the universe began. At his latest posting, in a research center in the Arctic, news of a catastrophic event arrives. The scientists are forced to evacuate, but Augustine stubbornly refuses to abandon his work. Shortly after the others have gone, Augustine discovers a mysterious child, Iris, and realizes that the airwaves have gone silent. They are alone.

At the same time, Mission Specialist Sullivan is aboard the Aether on its return flight from Jupiter. The astronauts are the first human beings to delve this deep into space, and Sully has made peace with the sacrifices required of her: a daughter left behind, a marriage ended. So far the journey has been a success. But when Mission Control falls inexplicably silent, Sully and her crewmates are forced to wonder if they will ever get home.


As Augustine and Sully each face an uncertain future against forbidding yet beautiful landscapes, their stories gradually intertwine in a profound and unexpected conclusion. In crystalline prose, Good Morning, Midnight poses the most important questions: What endures at the end of the world? How do we make sense of our lives? Lily Brooks-Dalton’s captivating debut is a meditation on the power of love and the bravery of the human heart.

Book #6: 

Becoming OdyssaBecoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Pharr Davis (Length: 322 pages).  Fun fact:  I’m OBSESSED with the Appalachian Trail, and have read more than half a dozen books about this trail, and thru-hikers in particular.  This particular memoir is now in my top 3 primarily because the author’s writing is very good, and descriptive, and for a 22 year-old woman (at the time she hiked the trail), she isn’t whiny, but instead is very positive and empathetic to others.  She definitely encounters some difficult people and dangerous situation and endures physical trials, but she handles all of them with admirable strengthe and grace.  Her writing (and viewpoint) is a bit too religious for my taste in part, but not enough to put me off reading (and recommending) this book.  

From the publisher:

After graduating from college, Jennifer isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she’s crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. The next four months are the most physically and emotionally challenging of her life. She quickly discovers that thru-hiking is harder than she had imagined: coping with blisters and aching shoulders from the 30-pound pack she carries; sleeping on the hard wooden floors of trail shelters; hiking through endless torrents of rain and even a blizzard. With every step she takes, Jennifer transitions from an over-confident college graduate to a student of the trail, braving situations she never imagined before her thru-hike. The trail is full of unexpected kindness, generosity, and humor. And when tragedy strikes, she learns that she can depend on other people to help her in times of need.

May 2026–Part One:

May 11, 2026

Book #35:

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (329 pages).  I adore this author and how she always features strong females from history. I listened to this one and it was a fantastic read on audio. Here, the author focuses on two strong females from real-life: Lady Evelyn Herbert (daughter of Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle) who is one of the only female archaeologists in 1920s Egypt and England, and the first female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, whose reign almost 3,000 years earlier has been forgotten in history. I loved the references to Highclere Castle (as a huge Downton Abbey fan) as well as ancient Egypt. The author bounces between ancient and more modern-day history with ease; the stories are propulsive and well-told with gorgeous language and crisp dialogue. Both timelines were easy to follow on the audio version thanks to the narrator’s different voices. So well done! 5 stars for this memorable historical fiction read.

Book #36:

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (Length: 401 pages). I’ve owned this historical fiction novel for several years and just decided to pick it up off my shelf, and I’m so glad I did. This is based on letters written between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley. This is so well-written, and features so many esteemed writers and artists who Ernest and Hadley interacted with in 1920s Paris, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso and Gertrude Stein. The author’s writing is so evocative of this time and place, and I felt as if I was there with the couple. I couldn’t put this down and I am so glad I finally picked up this beautiful novel. 5 stars from me.

Book #37:

The Wall of Winnepeg and Me by Mariana Zapata (Length: 475 pages).  This rom-com features a premise where Vanessa is a personal assistant to the nation’s best defensive end, and after two years of dealing with Mr Grumpy Asshole, she just quits. Aiden comes to her a few months later begging her to come back so that he can get his green card (as he’s Canadian) in case he isn’t able to stay playing in the NFL. This novel is a LONG romance full of yearning where the will-they or won’t-they of it all doesn’t resolve until the 95% mark. I do enjoy the yearning part of a romance tale, but this is about 175 pages too long, as well-written and lovely as it is. 3.5 stars from me.

Book #38:

Future Boy by Michael J Fox (Length: 161 pages). I saw this slim book on the New Releases shelf of our local library, and having attended the recent re-screening of the original Back to the Future movie with my dad and my husband at our local movie theatre, I was happy to pick this non-fiction book up. Here, Michael J Fox reminisces about how the movie came about, specifically how he replaced the existing lead actor (Eric Stoltz–who played the part of Marty McFly with zero comic relief) about 9 weeks into filming. Fox originally wasn’t asked to play the main role due to his hit TV show Family Ties, but after Stoltz’s performance wasn’t clicking the film’s producer and director begged Fox’s Family Ties producer to let Fox shoot the sitcom during the day and the movie during the night. Fox details here how this crazy schedule was implemented as well as giving the reader a true insider’s look at the film’s creation. This is well-written, and Fox is self-effacing but is clearly a fantastic comedic actor with serious acting chops. This super-quick read would make a great gift for a Back to the Future fan. 4 stars.

Book #39:

Wreck by Catherine Newman (Length: 223 pages). This is the sequel to the fabulous novel Sandwich and features the same characters Rocky and Nick and their adult children as well as Rocky’s dad, two years later. Rocky’s mom has passed away during these intervening years. Here, Rocky is dealing with the diagnosis and stress of a mystery illness which is wreaking havoc on her body as well as worrying over the death of her son’s classmate in a collision with a train. I love Catherine Newman’s writing style, her sense of humor and her very relatable musings on motherhood and marriage. Just as with Sandwich, not much happens here plot-wise, but that’s okay. I really enjoyed the ride. 5 stars from me.

April 2026–Part Two:

April 30, 2026

Book #31:

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley (317 pages).  This is the sequel to The Guncle, which I loved. Set 5 years later, Maisie and Grant meet up with their uncle Patrick in Europe, for the wedding of their father to Livia, their uber-wealthy European stepmother. Their uncle takes them on a mini tour of Europe before the wedding (in Lake Como!) using 80s song lyrics to show them different “love languages” to get them used to the idea of a stepmom, 5 years after their own mom’s death. I adored the setting, the pop culture references, the author’s humor and writing style and this book holds the same fun and charm as the first. A solid 4 stars from me.

Book #32:

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (Length: 465 pages). This is my book club’s May pick. It’s literary fiction with elements of magical realism and features three main characters: Arthur, a young man in 1840 London; Zayleekah, a hydrologist in 2018 modern day London, and Narin, a 10-year-old girl in Turkey when ISIS is beginning its takeover. These three character arcs are connected with various symbols such as an ancient Mesopotamia poem and hybrid animal as well as a solitary drop of water. You do have to pay attention to every detail in this novel for it to work. I felt the author is telling more than showing with the repeated symbolism and the topics are depressing here. I may not have been in the right headspace to read this however, as the majority of reviewers seem to love this book. It’s not my favorite. 3 stars (for quality writing).

Book #33:

The Q by Beth Brower(Length: 612 pages).  While I’m anxiously awaiting this author’s next books in the Emma M. Lion series, I picked up this one, a self-published FUN story about Quincy St Claire, a 19-year-old genius running the “Q” in 1850s Rhysdon, outside London. The “Q” is a gossip style daily insert for major papers where society and others post questions. Quincy was rescued as an orphan by her Uncle (the original owner of the Q) and Quincy from the age of 9 is able to figure out the printing presses, marketing, typesetting and how to grow the business. Quincy is a quirky character (a clear forerunner to her later Emma M Lion character) and I adored her. The plot is a big laggy in the middle (and the book is just too long), but I couldn’t put it down. My issue with this book is it’s obviously self-published and is riddled with several errors (whose vs who’s, etc) and could have used a much more thorough editing. 4.5 stars (deducting .5 for the errors, which grew too distracting as the novel goes on).

Book #34:

The Better Mother by Jennifer Van Der Kleut (Length: 326 pages). This is an insane thriller that is fantastic on audio. Savannah Mitchell has a two-night stand, gets pregnant and the father of the baby gets back together with his ex. But his ex is willing to help raise the baby with him, and Savannah is cautious but excited to have co-parents. This is a WILD ride as hijinks ensue. This is well-told, in the vein of Freida McFadden, but better written. A lot of fun with plot holes you can drive a truck through. 4 fun stars from me!

April 2026–Part One:

April 15, 2026

Book #27:

Talking at Night by Claire Daverly (400 pages).  I don’t recall where I first heard about this novel, but it’s been in my Libby holds for awhile. Rosie and Will meet in high school in England. They experience a soul connection, but a series of tragedies and bad timing seems to keep separating them. This is told in flashbacks as well as in present day. This isn’t as angsty as I feared this would be, featuring younger people, thanks to the stellar writing quality and the help of fun supporting characters such as Marley, Rosie’s best friend as well as Will’s grandmother. A story with more emotional depth and enough of a relationship thru line is what I’ve found here. 4 stars from me.

Book #28:

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (Length: 380 pages). This is the first book in a series of 5. I’ve read this author previously so when I saw a few of her books in this series in the clearance section of Half-Price Books, I snapped them up. This is a fun pool/vacation book, and features Josephine Doyle who has been a loyal fangirl to Bad Boy PGA tour star Wells Whitaker for the past 5 years, even during his most recent 2-year slump. Josie’s family owns a pro shop in Palm Beach and after it gets destroyed by a hurricane, Wells joins forces with Josie to help one another through their tough times. This rom-com is VERY steamy, so a heads up to those avoiding open door romances. There is a great depiction of type 1 diabetes as well as the life of pro golfers. The plot is sufficiently propulsive, this author’s writing is continually solid and I enjoy how she introduces the next couple in this series; I’m picking that one up very soon. 4 stars.

Book #29:

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz (Length: 603 pages).  This is the second in the Magpie Murders trilogy and I was so excited to get to it after how much I enjoyed the first one. Here we are reunited with the previous book’s protagonist, book editor Susan Ryeland who returns to London/Suffolk to investigate another murder. This one is also inspired by an Atticus Pund mystery book she previously edited, so it’s another book within a book here. Both mysteries are very well-constructed, per usual, and I really enjoyed the connections between the two mysteries. This is LONG (a two for one) but it goes down very smoothly thanks to excellent writing, well-drawn characters and fast-moving plots. 5 stars.

Book #30:

So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder (Length: 384 pages). This came highly recommended by a book podcaster I listen to, but I’ve seen some other reviewers who didn’t care for it. The premise in this novel, labeled “friendship fiction” is the author follows a group of friends from college into middle age, tracking their personal changes as well as the changing dynamics amongst the friends. The novel starts with a funeral, but the reader doesn’t know who died; from there the author starts at the beginning of the friend group. It definitely reminded me of the movie The Big Chill, where not a lot happens plot wise but there’s a lot of introspection and navel-gazing with each individual character and how they relate to the others in the friend group. The writing is fantastic and while I didn’t like any of the characters, I really enjoyed the author’s perspective and characterizations here. If you must like your characters, skip it, but if you don’t, give it a whirl. This is a memorable read! 4 stars.

March 2026–Part Two:

April 1, 2026

Book #23:

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan (415 pages).  This historical fantasy novel caught my eye because even though it’s about World War 2 (enough already, amirite?), THIS one is about a coven of witches who form a resistance against the Nazi regime in London. A few of the witches are tasked by Winston Churchill to track down an evil grimoire (a type of spellbook) before it gets in the hands of Nazis. This is so well-plotted, is pulse-pounding (and a bit stressful to read at times), with fully drawn and believable character dynamics. This is such a cinematic read and would be a fantastic movie. Such a fun ride! 4 stars.

Book #24:

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum (Length: 256 pages). This is a mystery with a duet recording on audio that I really enjoyed. Featuring two main characters, best friends Benny and Joy, who host a podcast entitled “This Story Might Save Your Life.” The premise of the podcast is they banter back and forth where one posits a scary scenario (such as being stuck in quicksand) and the other host, with zero research, guesses as to the best way to get out of said scenario. In the very beginning of the story, we learn that both Joy and her husband Xander go missing, and Benny tries to find them and solve the mystery of their disappearance. This is SUCH a fantastic listening experience on audio (especially with the bonus chapter at the end–only available on audio I believe) and that’s how I’m recommending you take this special book in. The characters are fully fleshed out, I enjoyed the side characters even and I just couldn’t stop listening. Such a fun and clever book. (Trigger warnings do apply so if you’re a sensitive reader, you may want to Google first). 4.5 stars from me.

Book #25:

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (Length: 369 pages).  This is a very well-written enemies to lovers romance set in the publishing world where two warring assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company delight in playing various passive-aggressive and silly games to get through their workdays. This trope is executed perfectly here, with chemistry that jumps off the page, and the writing is excellent. I enjoyed the movie (and watched it right after reading this book), but the book is definitely better. 4 stars.

Book #26:

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (Length: 349 pages). I finally picked up this literary read that was EVERYWHERE when it was published in 2017. The bardo is a Tibetan Buddhist term for the in-between, transitional state between death and the afterlife, where the physical body is decaying and the soul is departing. Willie Lincoln, the beloved 11-year-old son of Mary and President Abraham Lincoln, dies of typhoid fever and is laid to read in the Georgetown cemetery. This is historical fact, and the author has written a story about the inhabitants of the cemetery and their various stages here in the bardo. There are dozens of characters here (I can’t imagine reading this on audio for this reason) and the author intersperses snippets of their backstories and conversations with historical footnotes from real-life books and diaries that documented Willie Lincoln’s illness and death. This is a very inventive and odd story, and I am glad I read it as I do appreciate the genius of this author. However, I also think this author is a bit too obsessed with penises and that is very apparent here. Overall, I’d give it 3 stars.

March 2026–Part One:

March 15, 2026

Book #19:

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto (457 pages).  I own the gorgeous print version of this fantasy novel as the sprayed edges and gorgeous cover caught my eye at our local bookstore. This is set in Evermore, where 2 different worlds battle for power. Rose in chains refers to Briony Rosewood, the Princess of Evermore who is now imprisoned by Toven Hearst of the other kingdom. Mind and heart magic war here and play large roles in the plot. This is much more violent than many fantasy romances with rape occurring (off the page) and is very dark. However, none of it is exploitative and absolutely moves the plot forward. I absolutely want to read the next book of this trilogy (out December 2026) for sure as these characters are memorable and well-drawn. 4.5 stars.

Book #20:

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus (Length: 291 pages). I picked this up because it was available at my local library and wow, am I glad I did! Set in the early 1800s in England, the young widow Isabel leaves London for a tiny shack on the coast in Cornwall, near where she was found as a 4-year-old orphan, dripping wet from the sea. With no memory of her parents or where she came from, Isabel was rescued by a wealthy couple and taken to London. After being newly married and losing her husband to the war, Isabel has no choice but to try to start over in a new community. This wonderful novel mixes bits of magical realism (think stories of mermaids/mermen) but the focus here is mostly on the smugglers who supply the community with the items that are heavily taxed to fund the war, and how those smugglers affect Isabel. This is very well-written, the plot is so much fun (although it takes a good 15% to get started) and is very memorable. 5 stars. LOVED!

Book #21:

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (Length: 341 pages).  If this stunning novel isn’t in my favorite top 5 books of 2026 I will be very surprised. This fairy tale fantasy novel turns the Cinderella tale on its head and is told from the point of view of the “wicked” stepmother. There’s falconry, the royal court, apple orchards, decaying estates . . . the background is so interesting here. But the interpersonal dynamics among all of the major players (the 3 daughters, the stepmother, the Prince, the Queen, the Queen’s advisor) are the best part of this fantastic novel. The plot is propulsive, the prose is rich without being stuffy, and this gorgeous book is absolutely unforgettable. This is the perfect beach read, if you can wait that long. 5 glorious stars from me.

Book #22:

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (Length: 189 pages). This is an award-winning collection of nine short stories all about the lives of black women and girls from four different generations. The author explores the divide between the expectations of the church and their own real lives and desires. The stories vary from a mistress listing the various rules she has for her male visitors to a young woman who falls for a pastor’s son, the same pastor who has taken her own mother on as a mistress. This is so well-written, engaging and interesting. I listened to these stories on audio and the narrator is fantastic!