July 2023–Part Two

July 27, 2023

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 Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (Length: 410 pages) This is the second book by this author that I’ve read. (I reviewed Horrorstor--his horror novel set in an IKEA a while back). Like that novel, this one is a WILD ride. This is a mystery/thriller/horror novel which features Patricia Campbell, an ordinary housewife in a true crime book club in Charleston, when a charming stranger moves into town. He’s sensitive to sunlight and happens to be on the scene of a few disturbing abductions. Patricia suspects he’s up to no good but he’s so charming that everyone else loves him. There are some very disturbing scenes in this novel, but it’s very well-written and the plot is compulsively readable. All in all, while this is quite odd in terms of content, it’s very memorable and I would recommend if you aren’t squeamish.

Book #2:

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (Length: 336 pages). I think this is the third psychological thriller by this author that I’ve read, and apparently this one is her most popular. I read this one instead of listening to it as I did with the previous two. The premise of this novel is a young woman named Millie Calloway is grateful to take a job as a live-in maid for a wealthy couple with an odd daughter as Millie was recently released from prison. The set-up is creepy right off the bat, and there’s a big twist halfway through. It’s very predictable if you’ve read any psychological thrillers but I do enjoy this author’s writing and I just enjoyed the ride here.

Book #3:

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (Length: 390 pages). This gorgeous family epic featuring the four Padavano sisters is my book club’s August book. Set in Chicago in the 1960s through the 1980s, this is beautifully written. So well-written that I often stopped to re-read certain phrases. The chapters alternate among 4 main characters, and the 4 sisters are very similar to those in the classic Little Women. I absolutely adore this novel and will remember certain plot points for a long time. I predict this will be in the top 3 books of the year for me for sure!

July 2023–Part One

July 7, 2023

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:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Length: 663 pages) This adult fantasy book that has taken the BookTok and Bookstagram worlds by storm really lives up to its hype! I thoroughly enjoyed this Harry Potter/Divergent/Hunger Games with dragons-mashup of a novel. The writing is excellent, as are the characters and the plot pacing. This is the type of book where you’ll be thinking about it when you’re not actually reading it, and I love it when that happens. There are some VERY racy open-door love scenes between two of the characters, but for that, this would be perfect for younger teens. The second the next book in the series comes out this fall, I’ll be reading it. What a fun ride!

Book #2:

Drowning by T.J. Newman (Length: 300 pages). I read (and reviewed) this flight attendant-turned-author’s debut novel, Falling, and really enjoyed it so I was very excited to get my hands on this one. The premise here is VERY far-fetched, but just suspend your disbelief, and hang on and enjoy the ride here. A jet crashes into the Pacific Ocean shortly after taking off from Honolulu, and this is what happens to the passengers in the 12 hours or so after the crash. The plot is incredibly propulsive and there are some very sweet character moments (father-young daughter, elderly couple, newlyweds) but this is an action-packed thriller, plain and simple. I sat down one afternoon to dip into a few pages and three hours later I had finished the entire book. This is a fantastic summer read–just maybe not while on an airplane over a major body of water. 😉

Book #3:

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (Length: 279 pages). I picked this incredibly charming novel for my June Book of the Month pick and I lucked out with this one! It’s like Willy Wonka, but with books. A beloved children’s chapter book author (all set on Clock Island) stops writing for several years and after this hiatus, announces a contest whereby a few lucky adult readers will win a trip to the “real” Clock Island to play games and solve riddles. The lucky winner will win the only copy of the author’s latest book in the series. This novel is written for adults but it is teen-friendly. I wouldn’t recommend that younger kids read it only because the author touches on some serious issues such as foster care and child abuse. This is an absolutely wonderful escapist read, with a plot that’s more unique than a most of what I’ve been reading lately. I will remember the details of this novel, especially the details of Clock Island. This is a book you’ll hug when you’re done.

June 2023–Part Three

July 3, 2023

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 Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh (Length: 384 pages) This is a mystery novel with the premise that Emma, a marine biologist has a secret past life that her husband Leo starts to uncover early on in the novel. I would say this is more accurately classified as women’s fiction so if you read it with that mindset, you won’t be as annoyed with the slow start. This is so well-written, however, that I didn’t want to stop reading. The plot does pick up around the halfway mark, and there was a twist that I didn’t see coming, which I always enjoy. The author tackles a few tough topics here, such as post-partum depression and mental illness which adds depth to the story. Overall, I’d rate this 4 stars.

Book #2:

When in Rome by Sarah Adams (Length: 320 pages). I really enjoyed this author’s previous novel, The Cheat Sheet, so when this rom-com popped up as a Kindle Daily Deal, I grabbed it. The trope in this novel is that of a stranded pop star (think Taylor Swift status) who meets a small-town baker hunk, and it’s set in Rome, Kentucky. Amelia Rose and Noah Walker are adorable, the writing is very strong, and the character development of all of the characters is excellent. I especially enjoyed Noah’s three sisters. The small town setting is charming as well. Everything is very idealized, of course, but that is what makes this a perfect escapist read. I adored this book!

June 2023–Part Two

June 20, 2023

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:

Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson (Length: 188 pages) This novella was one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2022 so when it was available at my library, I scooped it up. The premise is interesting here. The narrator runs into the protagonist while they are both waiting for a flight and the recognize one another as former classmates in college. The protagonist, Jeff Cook, decides to share with the narrator a single event that occurred after college graduation that literally changed the arc of his life. The event occurs right in the beginning, so this isn’t a spoiler; Jeff happens upon a man drowning in the ocean and saves his life. The rest of the story is about what happens from there. The writing quality here is EXCELLENT. The content of the story is a bit too navel-gazing for me, but that’s the entire point of the novel. The final line is fantastic, so read this just for that.

Book #2:

Crying in H Mart by Charmaine Wilkerson (Length: 239 pages). I have had this book on my TBR for a long time so when my book club picked it for our June selection I was excited to finally read this. I absolutely LOVE this memoir, about a woman whose Korean mother is ill with cancer so the author returns home to be with her in her last months of life. This is not depressing, as I thought it might be, but instead the author’s memories of her mother’s cooking, Korean culture and travel to Korea make this an uplifting exploration of and often complicated mother-daughter relationship. This is beautifully written and relatively short, so it’s a memorable fast read. Definitely pick this one up!

Book #3:

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Length: 227 pages). This must be my time for short novels. This is book one of a very popular series internationally. I listened to this one and I found it to be utterly charming and sweet. The premise is there is a small basement cafe in Tokyo that has been brewing coffee for over a hundred years. An urban legend starts that there is one magical seat in the cafe where patrons can travel back in time to visit someone who also is in that cafe. The catch? You have only the amount of time to spend with that person before your coffee gets cold. While this is a very different type of story, following four different people is so interesting and heart-warming. The narration on the audio is very clear and easy to follow–it took me under 6 hours to listen to, so keep this in mind for a road trip. Two thumbs up!

Book #4:

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (Length: 432 pages). Ahhh–I LOVE this sweet novel. I’ve read (and reviewed) a few of this author duo’s novels and my older daughter recommended this one to me. It’s my favorite so far. This novel toggles back and forth between the pre-teen/teen years and present day of one couple, Elliot and Macy. Primarily set in Northern California, alternating between a small town on the Russian River and then Berkeley/Bay Area, this is marketed more as women’s fiction rather than as a rom-com and I’d agree with the categorization. While there is the “don’t talk about why you’re mad so lose touch for years” trope here, once the reason is finally revealed it makes sense and I wasn’t as annoyed as I typically am with this scenario. I adore their writing, and the couple’s constant discussions about the books they’re reading as well as their “favorite word” that day are just adorable. Also, my dream is to one day have a book closet/mini-library in my home. Five stars for me, all day long.

June 2023–Part One

June 10, 2023

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 Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand (Length: 417 pages) This quintessential beach read about a brand-new and fully renovated multi-million-dollar hotel on Nantucket was a slow start for me. I actually started it twice. There are two parallel plot points in this novel: the first involves the ghost of Grace Hadley (a servant girl who perished in a fire when the hotel was first built) who makes an occasional appearance amongst the guests post-remodel and the second focuses on the various employees and guests of the hotel. I found the multiple points of view to be confusing but I kept at it and I’m so glad I did. This is standard, charming Hilderbrand, with enough of a plot to keep things moving and with her signature attention to details such as the food offered in restaurants and about the hotel itself. This is a GREAT beach read–but maybe not at a busy pool if your attention will be divided in the beginning.

Book #2:

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (Length: 402 pages). I have had this book on my TBR for way too long because I LOVE this book! This is a beautifully-written story that toggles back and forth among an island in the Caribbean, Europe and the United States. The story is about three kids who grow up and go their separate ways for a bit before transitioning to the story of their children who live in the United States. The meat of the novel is told primarily in flashbacks and those flashbacks are my favorite part of this novel. There are lots of details about food, history, oceanography and other seemingly disparate subjects. The character development here is stellar, with a bit of a mystery thrown in. The chapters are super short which also help to make this novel fly by. I hope you love this as much as I did.

Book #3:

The Life Council  by Laura Tremaine (Length: 208 pages). I am a fan of this author’s podcast as well as her voice, but I chose to read this on my e-reader. This is an interesting take on the types of female friendships women typically enjoy, all of which form a “life council” that the author believes women should have in their lives. Some examples are a Battle Buddy, a Soul Sister, as well as a Mentor. I enjoyed this quick read as well as her personal friendship stories that she used to illustrate each type. I absolutely identified with the concept as well as most of the friend categories. I found myself matching women in my life to the various categories and it made me want to reach out to some of my friends, which is a nice bonus. I will say this isn’t an earth-shattering read so perhaps a library checkout is warranted rather than a purchase. This would make a great book club choice. (If you enjoy the book, definitely check out the author’s podcast–10 Things to Tell You).

Book #4:

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (Length: 334 pages). I really enjoyed this mystery. It features a fast-paced plot with fantastic details regarding the world of orchestras and classical music, and most specifically, violins. The mystery at the center (a young Black man’s Stradivarius is stolen early on in the novel) is so interesting and well-constructed. I found the actual writing style a bit amateurish in parts but my interest never wavered and I will always remember this one. Definitely worth a read–a beach or travel read for sure!