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). Ireally 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!
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). Ihave 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 Coldby 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.
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). Ihave 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). Iam 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!
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:
Lady Justice by Dahlia Lithwick (Length: 368 pages) I listened to this one on audio and WOW! This is such an inspiring read/listen on so many levels for me . . . as an attorney, as a mother, as a progressive Democrat. This account of the history of female lawyers/trailblazers is thoughtfully written and it’s never dull. I found this to be ultimately hopeful and VERY motivating, and I’ve already recommended this to every female attorney I work with and know. I will say that the audio is phenomenal, and I think it’s meant to be listened to. (Apparently the author also has a popular podcast so that makes sense).
Book #2:
The First Husband by Laura Dave (Length: 260 pages). You win some, you lose some. I thought this was a mystery for some reason when I picked it up on a Kindle deal, so I was very confused by the plot. I enjoyed the author’s The Last Thing He Told Me and was in the mood to read something similar. This is, in fact, women’s fiction and is a very slow building novel about Annie, a travel writer, who is trying to find herself after her long-time boyfriend breaks up with her. I found myself quickly annoyed with Annie and her actions didn’t really make sense for the situations she found herself in. There were also a few grammatical errors throughout the e-book which also distracted me from the plot. I did ultimately finish the novel because I was curious about the ending, so there’s that, but overall this is a very forgettable book. 2.5 out of 5 stars from me.
Book #3:
Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren (Length: 413 pages). I really enjoy this author duo’s books and saw this backlist title (the first of a series of 4 books) available at my library via the Libby app (the best!) so I took a chance. The premise is great: a recent college graduate visits Vegas with two of her best friends and meets a very handsome Frenchman with whom she has instant chemistry, and long story short, ends up in Paris for the summer. The character development is decent, the dialogue is witty and smart, I LOVED the Parisian setting, and I really enjoyed the friendships portrayed in the book. However, I’m decidedly NOT the audience for this book. This is like 50% open door bedroom scenes(and not enough plot advancement), plus the main characters are way too young for me at this point of my life. I will say another recent college graduate who wants to escape abroad with a handsome partner will likely adore this book/series.
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:
Happy Place by Emily Henry (Length: 395 pages) This is the fourth rom-com that I’ve read by this author. It’s my second favorite (after Book Lovers). The premise is that Harriet and Wyn have been together for 8 years since they met in college. They break up but pretend to still be together for one last vacation with their college friend group. I found this novel a bit slow to start, and the not talking about WHY they broke up trope is in full swing here, but Henry’s snappy dialogue is here along with a cute setting (a small beach town in Maine) and those two things redeemed this novel for me. And, the chemistry between Harriet and Wyn is fantastic. I will read anything Henry writes going forward, of course, and I give her latest 4.5 out of 5 stars. It should go without saying that this is a perfect beach read.
Book #2:
The Guncle by Steven Rowley (Length: 336 pages). It’s only May and this will be on my top 5 of the year 2023. It’s THAT good! This VERY funny novel about a gay uncle who cares for his niece and nephew for a summer while his brother, their father, is in rehab is absolutely fantastic. Set in Palm Springs, I adored every detail from the Guncle’s caftans, his house, his throuple neighbors J.E.D. and I laughed out loud in several places. (He tells his niece he doesn’t eat bacon because pigs are our friends, and we don’t eat our friends. His niece replies, we do if they taste like bacon). The dialogue is snappy, the plot developments are heartwarming, the pacing is perfect (where I couldn’t wait to pick it up again) and I adore all of the characters the author introduced. This is truly memorable and I may even treat myself to a re-read, which I never do. Please pick this gem of a novel up!
Book #3:
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica (Length: 353 pages). I listened to this thriller on my commute and WOW–it’s intense! The first chapter is pretty harrowing and involves a young child being held captive for several years, but once that chapter ends, it’s not quite as scary to listen to so push through because the payoff is worth it. The pacing is excellent and I enjoyed the narrator’s voice. The twists and turns are many, and it’s semi-believable but overall a really fun psychological thriller. I can’t say much more because it will ruin the surprises in store here. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Book #4:
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (Length: 274 pages). This is an interesting mix of a dystopian, pandemic and time travel novel. It’s very well-written on the whole (I enjoyed the author’s Station Eleven), but it’s a bit odd. There are a handful of disparate storylines in the first 50% that don’t seemingly have anything to do with each other, but right at the halfway mark (when the author develops the moon colonies storyline) it gets way more interesting. It’s not my favorite novel I’ve ever read because it just is plain weird but I do understand why it has such a cult following. I will say it’s a memorable read and I won’t forget the various plot lines and characters, but I perhaps wasn’t in the best headspace to be reading this type of novel because of the concentration it likely requires.
Lora Terrill 