Thank you for joining me here!   I typically post a few times per month but as I was on vacation for most of this month, I didn’t have a chance to post. Oddly enough, I also didn’t read as much as I typically do on vacation, so this month’s a bit shorter than other months. On the flip side, I really enjoyed most of what I did get a chance to read. Enjoy!

Book #1:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (Length: 293 pages).  OMG. I LOVE this book! It’s been on a library hold forever for me, and it was absolutely worth the months of waiting, and it definitely meets the hype! This is a fantasy fiction novel about Linus Baker who is a caseworker tasked with visiting an island orphanage filled with children with “magical” abilities to be sure they’re properly cared for. From Chauncey the amorphous blob whose dream is to be a bellhop to 6-year-old Lucy, the AntiChrist, the character development here is stellar. There are several LOL moments, but overall this is a very touching, compassionate portrayal of children (and people) who are “other” and how the world needs to do better. I appreciated how a few of the main characters being queer is 100% normalized here as well. This is a must read!

Book #2:

The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Length: 465 pages). I finally read this–after loving the movie for so many years. I will say I found the structure of the novel to be very interesting, with lots of funny asides and footnotes. This novel is based on the fake Morgenstern fairy tale but just with the “good stuff” (ie, pirates, sword-fighting, princess rescue etc). The writing is excellent here but I found it drags on way too long . . . I can absolutely see why this is a cult classic novel, but 100 pages less would’ve made it perfect for me.

Book #3:

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez (Length: 299 pages).  This is the third book in The Friend Zone trilogy. I loved (and reviewed) the first two, but this may be my favorite of the group so far. The premise here is similar to the first two–angst-filled potential romance between a female You-Tuber who thinks she may have ALS in the future and the hunky attorney Adrian (from Book 2). Again, the two protagonists just need to have a freaking conversation to resolve any and all misunderstandings, but then there would be no basis for a romance novel. I did adore the banter between the pair (this is what Jimenez excels at) and her writing style is continually excellent. Worth a read, and it’s perfect for summer travel.  

Book #4:

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (Length: 320 pages). This is such a good historical fiction novel, and absolutely worthy of the hype, but I found it takes a while to get there. (The last quarter of the novel is where I truly became interested). I was an English major with an emphasis on Shakespeare, so I especially enjoyed and appreciated the author’s research of William Shakespeare’s personal and family life, especially his married life with wife Agnes and his three children (Susanna, and twins Judith and Hamnet). You know from the beginning that Hamnet eventually dies and that the play Hamlet is based on Hamnet’s death (allegedly). This is a very sad and melancholy novel, with lots of death (due to the plague and hard life in general). It’s incredibly interesting that the author goes the entire novel without referring to William Shakespeare by his name, but instead refers to him as the husband of Agnes, father of Hamnet, etc. This is a gorgeously-written and memorable novel (you’ll never forget the details) but be forewarned that it’s very intense. I adored the last chapter–what a way to tie everything together!

Book #5:

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris (Length: 369 pages).  I’m in awe that this brilliant, sweeping novel is the debut of this author. This is set in the South immediately after the Civil War concludes and is about what happens to the slaves after they are freed by the Union soldiers. This novel focuses on a landowner George, his wife Isabelle and their son Caleb. (Their son is why this novel is characterized as an LGBTQ read). George befriends two freed slaves Prentiss and Landry. The writing is absolutely beautiful, the character development is masterful and the plot is compulsively readable. There is some violence so be warned of that. Overall, this is a well-written novel that you will always remember.  

Book #6:

Better Luck Next Time by Julie Claiborne Johnson (Length: 284 pages). I was so intrigued with the premise of this historical fiction novel set in Reno in 1938, on a dude ranch for wealthy divorcees who needed a place to stay to earn the 6-week residence required for divorce in those days. This is told from the perspective of 25-year old Ward, a Yale college drop-out who is working on the ranch just to pass time before he decides what to do with the rest of his life. The writing is strong, but while the beginning is interesting, the middle lagged quite a bit for me. I will say the (sort of surprise) ending tied it all together quite well, so I found it to be worth the read (at least a library check out). Just don’t expect to truly care about any of the characters (all of whom are remarkably vacuous) and instead, read for the interesting premise and setting.

Book #7:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Length: 389 pages).  Given how much I adore this author’s novel Circe, I had a feeling I’d love this first novel of hers just as much. I was correct! I’m still not a huge Greek mythology fan, generally speaking, but this author has a gift for managing to make mythology so accessible as well as propulsively readable. This novel shares the beautiful love story between Achilles and his childhood friend/companion, Patroclus, as well as the story of the build up to the great Trojan War (to “rescue” Helen). Her writing makes this very hard to put down, and was a novel I was always thinking about when I wasn’t actually reading it. (Which I love!) This will absolutely make my top ten novels of 2021.

Book #8:

The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary (Length: 336 pages). I loved this novel! It’s a rom-com but very well-written with a surprising amount of depth. The premise is simple: Tiffy and Leon share a flat (and its only bed) in the heart of London, but don’t lay eyes on one another for months thanks to their opposite work (and weekend) schedules). I will say I found it to be a bit of a slow start, but once the plotline deepens, it is difficult to put down. I appreciated the storylines of Leon’s brother being wrongfully imprisoned (with Leon working to get him released) as well as Leon’s work as a hospice nurse. There is a storyline about some pretty severe emotional abuse so be aware of that if it’s an issue for you. The main characters are all likeable here, and all are sufficiently quirky to keep them interesting, and I genuinely cared what happened to all of them. A two thumbs up for me!

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:

As You Wish by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden (Length: 273 pages).  If you are even somewhat of a fan of the movie The Princess Bride, this is a must read! Written by the actor who played Westley, this memoir puts you right in the middle of both the pre-production and the production of this incredible movie. This is very well-written (the actor is super smart as well as being super good-looking–who knew?!) as well as very thoughtful about all of the major (and minor) actors. Full of behind-the-scenes information, this isn’t gossipy, but is just plain interesting. After reading this, I came away even more impressed about this charming movie, and I’m especially impressed with the director, Rob Reiner, who seems to be an amazing human being. The synergy amongst and the cast and crew is apparently like lightning striking, and this lightning resulted in one of the best movies of all time. In my opinion. 😉

Book #2:

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (Length: 370 pages). Wow. This is an intense, very well-written mystery/thriller, and I’m so glad I was able to pick it up. I happened upon it on the New Releases shelf when my local library finally opened to in-person browsing, and I was so excited to see it as I’ve been hearing so much about it. This is excellent!! Based around the real-life abduction of Polly Klaas in 1993 in Northern California, this novel centers around Anna Hart, a detective who specializes in crimes against children. Anna returns to Mendocino, where she spent 8 years of her childhood as a foster kid, and as an adult is escaping some (initially unknown) personal trauma of her own. The central mysteries here (involving other teen girls who are missing) are a bit thin–I guessed who the abductor was very early on–but this is still very much worth reading, for the character development, the excellent writing and for the very propulsive and exciting plot. Let me know what you think!

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:

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (Length: 413 pages).   This is a middle-grade (fourth grade and up) fantasy book that reminds me a lot of Harry Potter, but a bit more grounded in reality. I really enjoyed this book, and I’m not a huge fantasy reader. I believe I first learned about this novel while listening to the Currently Reading podcast (a fantastic listen for book lovers!) and I’m so glad I picked it up. The plot is propulsive as it centers around a young teen girl who goes to a type of summer school or training ground for those with supernatural powers, in hopes of finding her older brother who had gone missing from the same school. The character development is decent, and I’m hopeful there are sequels to this amazing book. The setting (the training school) is the star here. This is absolutely worth a read, for middle grade to adult!

Book #2:

Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton (Length: 321 pages). I freaking LOVE this book!!! This is a fantastically imaginative story about an intelligent crow living in Seattle named ST (short for Shit Turd) who, along with the rest of the animal kingdom, domestic and wild, survives a zombie apocalypse triggered by a worldwide virus. This is laugh-out-loud funny (and I rarely find things funny enough to laugh about while reading), sad, very creepy thanks to some gory and scary scenes, with a hell of a plot. This is not for everyone (and admittedly the above description had kept me from picking it up for a while) but since many people whose opinions and reviews I respect highly recommend it, I finally took the leap. I’d suggest reading the first chapter and if that doesn’t hook you, don’t keep reading. I couldn’t put it down, and I am recommending it to everyone (with an open mind) I know. Five stars for sure!

Book #3:

Lonesome Cowboy by Debbie Macomber (Length: 177 pages).   I picked this one up at a library book sale, honestly just because it was cheap and I’m sometimes in the mood for novels where I don’t have to think too hard. This one is the first novel in the author’s Heart of Texas series. It’s cute, without much depth, which is typical of these types of romance novels. There is a enough plot here to keep the reader interested (will the sister of a brother/sister duo running their inherited ranch strike out on her own, personally and professionally?). The author also teases the significance of a nearby ghost town called Bitter End, in an effort to keep you reading further in the series. Since I also have the next novel in the series (Texas Two-Step) and that novel further develops characters introduced here, I’ll likely check it out. This is a quick beach read, worth at least a library check out.

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 Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (Length: 434 pages).   I’ve been hearing about this book for a long time so I was excited to finally read it. The main character Addie sells her soul to the devil in exchange for getting to live a more exciting life than she would if she stayed in her sleepy town in France. The tradeoff is that she will never be remembered by anyone the second she leaves their sight. I will say that the character development of the titular character is excellent, as are the plot and the various settings (France and NYC). There are a few factual inconsistencies that are a bit distracting (for example, Addie says she’s never had champagne before in Chapter 20, but in Chapter 18 she mentions drinking it). I also found the writing to be a bit overwrought and overdramatic, but the novel is still a total page-turner.

Book #2:

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (Length: 382 pages). If you enjoyed Beach Read by this author, you will love this novel as well. It’s chick lit but well-written and the characters have emotional depth. This time around the two central characters take an annual summer vacation together, regardless of whether or not they are involved with anyone else romantically. It’s very When Harry Met Sally, with flashbacks. Poppy works for a travel magazine in NYC (and writes a travel blog) while Alex is a teacher in Ohio. The travel aspect of this novel is a lot of fun as Henry does a great job with creating a sense of place. Like with Beach Read, the dialogue is the best part here as it’s snarky and witty in parts, and actually laugh out loud funny in others. I wish all romance novels were as well-written as this one, as I’d read them a lot more. It should go without saying that this is the perfect beach/vacation read.

Book #3:

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (Length: 482 pages).   If you loved The Martian, this is the book for you! I think this is even better than Weir’s first book . . . it’s got the same very witty dialogue/thoughts, and a propulsive plot, but this one goes even further creatively than The Martian, and is a total joy to read. Just as with the first, I tuned out a lot of the scientific (and mathematic!) details but it’s all still incredibly interesting. My favorite part of the novel, and when it really gets interesting, is jazz hands! (When you know, you know.) This would make an excellent Father’s Day gift as well–even non-readers will enjoy it because it’s so fun to read.

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:

No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez (Length: 325 pages).   This is a thriller set in Northern California that starts with a woman rescuing another woman she sees being chased by a scary-looking ex-convict. Complications ensue, and this is a nail-biter that’s difficult to put down. While it’s a bit graphic in terms of violence, I didn’t find the violent scenes to be gratuitous so they didn’t bother me very much. The central mystery is well-crafted even if it’s a bit formulaic (I felt like I’ve read something similar to this, but in a less well-written novel). The writing here is strong, as are the plot and the sense of place, but the character development is pretty thin–perhaps to preserve the mystery? Overall, it’s worth a read (a library check out for sure).

Book #2:

Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl (Length: 256 pages). This is an ARC of a memoir which comes out in October of 2021 I believe, and is written by a Broadway playwright living in NYC who suffers from long-term (over a decade) Bell’s Palsy, the onset of which occurred after she delivered twins. I was interested in this because a good friend also has the same diagnosis. This memoir traverses the past decade as she deals with this very obvious facial paralysis, first with intense frustration and depression, and eventually with grace and equanimity. The writing is excellent (as befits an award-winning playwright), but I do think the focus on Bell’s Palsy is a bit a too specific for most. I, for one, am glad I took the time to read this book as it gave me even more empathy for those who struggle with this disease, and I think I will always remember it.

Book #3:

Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (Length: 314 pages).   The familial saga was written by the author of The Nest (which I’ve reviewed here previously). This novel is based on the world of theater in NYC as well as in television in Los Angeles and is based on two different couples, along with the daughter of one of the couples. The novel opens with one of the women finding a wedding ring her husband claimed he had lost almost two decades earlier, and the rest of the book attempts to answer the question why. This is very character-driven, and is told mostly in flashbacks. Since there is not much plot, this won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy excellent writing and in-depth character development along with entangled family dramas (as I do), this is for you!

Book #4:

We Came, We Saw, We Left by Charles Wheelan (Length: 290 pages).   I LOVED this book! This is a family memoir/travelogue written by a Dartmouth professor about the nine months he and his family (three teenagers and his wife) all traveled to six continents in the span of nine months. He includes all of the nitty-gritty details of the planning, their daily budget, and how they decided where to visit. His writing style is very entertaining–witty, charming, and very real. He writes with honesty about his teenagers’ behavior and is also very self-deprecating. I loved reading about all of the places around the globe I’ll likely never get to visit–especially in South America. I never wanted the book (or their travels) to end. Definitely worth a read, and after you are finished, check out his family blog on Blogspot for more photos (he includes a handful in the book).