Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott (Length: 349 pages).  I really enjoyed this psychological thriller that is set in an elite gymnastics gym/social circle.  This novel is surprisingly well-written, with a plot twist at the end, but a not-very satisfying wrap up of the plot.  I think the author was trying to be shocking and it works, in a way.  I would recommend if you enjoy this genre as it’s way better written than most!  (The Girl on the Train, I’m looking at you!)

From the publisher:

How far will you go to achieve a dream? That’s the question a celebrated coach poses to Katie and Eric Knox after he sees their daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful, compete. For the Knoxes there are no limits — until a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community and everything they have worked so hard for is suddenly at risk.

As rumors swirl among the other parents, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself irresistibly drawn to the crime itself. What she uncovers — about her daughter’s fears, her own marriage, and herself — forces Katie to consider whether there’s any price she isn’t willing to pay to achieve Devon’s dream.

From a writer with “exceptional gifts for making nerves jangle and skin crawl” (Janet Maslin), You Will Know Me is a breathless rollercoaster of a novel about the desperate limits of parental sacrifice, furtive desire, and the staggering force of ambition.

Book #2:

Whiteout by Adriana Anders (Length: 512 pages).  I’m not sure why I own this book, but I found it to be surprisingly well-written and an excellent action/thriller plot for a “romance novel”. (The love scenes are a bit too intense, in my opinion, but since I rarely read romance novels, maybe this is normal?)  Set in Antarctica, a killer virus is drilled out of the permafrost and is possibly going to be used as a biological warfare weapon (this part isn’t very clear).  While there is decent character development, I will say this isn’t relaxing COVID-19 reading given the killer virus topic. I do hope there is a sequel because of the cliffhanger ending.  

From the publisher:

With a storm coming and a killer on the loose, every step could be their last…

Angel Smith is finally ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her last day, the remote research station she’s been calling home is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and irritatingly gorgeous glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives…only to realize that in a place this remote, there’s nowhere left to run.

Isolated with no power, no way to contact the outside world, and a madman on their heels, Angel and Ford must fight to survive in the most inhospitable—and beautiful—place on earth. But what starts as a partnership born of necessity quickly turns into an urgent connection that burns bright and hot. They both know there’s little chance of making it out alive, and yet they are determined to weather the coming storm—no matter the cost.

Book #3:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (Length: 322 pages).  I first became aware of this novel when I read about the plagiarism controversy involving the author JoJo Moyes whose novel “The Giver of the Stars” is alleged to be lifted from this one, with many similar scenes and characters.  I have no opinion on this controversy but I did choose to read this particular book instead, and I’m glad I did!  This is such an interesting account of the Pack Horse Librarian project started by FDR as part of the WPA (Works Progress Administration), which ran from 1935-1943.  The joy people had/have in treasured books and reading material, the extreme poverty of Appalachian Kentucky, and very well-drawn characters make this book hard to put down.  There are some very dark and sad parts of this novel, but it’s an important and worthwhile read.  

From the publisher:

The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything—everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome’s got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.

Cussy’s not only a book woman, however, she’s also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy’s family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she’s going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman’s belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home.

Book #4:

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (Length: 387 pages).  This very controversial novel is my book club’s pick for the month of April.  I will say that, in a vacuum, I did enjoy this book.  It’s a very, very fast read, as it’s primarily plot driven (ie, will the two main characters, Lydia and Luca, a mother and son escaping cartel violence in their hometown of Acapulco, make it safely across the border of the United States).  The two main characters are the most well-developed, with many of the other secondary characters drawn pretty stereotypically.  There are several pulse-pounding moments of their journey which are written very descriptively and the author does do a good job of invoking empathy from her (very privileged) readers for the migrant experience, which is especially needed in these times.  The main issue of the controversy behind this book is that the author is a white citizen of this country who uses her husband’s immigration experience as one reason she’s empathetic to the migrant struggle.  One problem:  he’s Irish and white.   Excellent choice for a book club! 

From the publisher:

También de este lado hay sueños. On this side, too, there are dreams.

Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.

Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.

Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?

American Dirt will leave readers utterly changed. It is a literary achievement filled with poignancy, drama, and humanity on every page. It is one of the most important books for our times.

Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic,” Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Three Wishes by Lianne Moriarty (Length: 378 pages).  I enjoy Moriarty’s novels and decided to pick up this one, her first published novel centered around triplets in Sydney.  The book focuses on them and their adult relationships with one another, their parents and their spouses/partners.  This is very funny in parts, and incredibly fun to read as the plot is fast-paced, the characters are well-drawn and the setting is interesting.  There isn’t much of a plot per se, as it’s a bit predictable, but the character portraits are the stars here.  I found the author’s use of flashbacks (to childhood and beyond) to be really interesting, as well as the use of various third parties watching the triplets interact from afar.  (I didn’t understand these at first, but as the novel progressed I enjoyed this literary device, especially toward the end when some of these scenes overlapped with one another and we meet these third parties.)  This is a lengthier novel and would be a fabulous vacation/travel read!

From the publisher:

A New York Times bestseller, Three Wishes is the funny, heartwarming and completely charming first novel from Liane Moriarty, also the author of #1 New York Times bestsellers The Husband’s Secret, Big Little Lies, and Truly Madly Guilty.

Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful thirty-three-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Together, laughter, drama, and mayhem seem to follow them. But apart, each is dealing with her own share of ups and downs. Lyn has organized her life into one big checklist, Cat has just learned a startling secret about her marriage, and Gemma, who bolts every time a relationship hits the six-month mark, holds out hope for lasting love. In this wise, witty, and hilarious novel, we follow the Kettle sisters through their tumultuous thirty-third year as they deal with sibling rivalry and secrets, revelations and relationships, unfaithful husbands and unthinkable decisions, and the fabulous, frustrating life of forever being part of a trio.

Book #2:

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey (Length: 239 pages).  I picked up this book because I’ve heard of Sarah Bessey and this book in particular, as it’s recommended for those who are spiritual (and not necessarily religious).  The author experiences a major medical miracle while in Rome to meet the Pope (an unusual event in and of itself as she’s not Catholic).  This is very well-written, and I do see the appeal to non-Christians as it’s very practical in terms of how to find and keep a relationship with God or a higher power even in times of turmoil and great stress.  Worth a library check-out for sure.  

From the publisher:

A deeply moving and life-affirming account of wrestling with faith and God and finding miracles in the most unexpected places.

In the brief instant Sarah Bessey realized that her minivan was, inevitably, going to hit the car on the highway on the bright, clear day of the crash, she knew intuitively that it would have life-changing consequences. But as she navigated the winding path from her life before the accident—as a popular author, preacher, and loving wife and mother—to her new life after, inhabiting a body that no longer felt like her own, she found that the most unexpected result wasn’t the way this shook her body, but how it shook her deeply rooted faith, upending everything she thought she knew and held so dearly.

Weaving together theology and memoir in her trademark narrative style, Sarah tells us the story of the moment that changed her body and how it ultimately changed her life. The road of healing leads to Rome where she met the Pope (it’s complicated) and encountered the Holy Spirit in the last place she expected. She writes about her miraculous healing, learning to live with chronic pain, and the ways God makes us whole in the midst of suffering. She invites us to a path of knowing God that is filled with ordinary miracles, hope in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and other completely reasonable things.

Insightful, profound, and unexpected, Miracles and Other Reasonable Things is a wild, spirit-filled story of what it means to live with both grief and faith, suffering and joy, as we wrestle with God.

Book #3:

Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon by Michael P. Ghiglieri, Thomas M. Myers, et al. (Length: 500+ pages).  This was another book I picked up in preparation for my upcoming hike in the Grand Canyon.  This is a surprisingly well-written account of all of the known deaths in the Grand Canyon.  Written with lots of atmospheric detail, this book contains dozens of helpful facts and suggestions but is not exploitative in any way.  The authors provide some interesting history lessons along the way.  This is an oddly specific, but incredibly entertaining and worthwhile read.  

From the publisher:

Gripping accounts of all known fatal mishaps in the most famous of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders.
Two veterans of decades of adventuring in Grand Canyon chronicle the first complete and comprehensive history of Canyon misadventures. These episodes span the entire era of visitation from the time of the first river exploration by John Wesley Powell and his crew of 1869 to that of tourists falling off its rims in Y2K.

These accounts of the 550 people who have met untimely deaths in the Canyon set a new high water mark for offering the most astounding array of adventures, misadventures, and life saving lessons published between any two covers. Over the Edge promises to be the most intense yet informative book on Grand Canyon ever written.

Book #4:

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (Length: 256 pages).  When one is the mood for a satisfying mystery, an Agatha Christie book will fit the bill every time!  I read this years ago, but honestly didn’t remember who the murderer was and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.  This is a Hercules Poirot mystery and I enjoy how Christie refers to him in the third person, so the reader is not in his mind as we would be if he was narrating.  This mystery is such a good, classic set-up, and is beautifully staged with 12 different suspects/characters.  I love this fast-paced, quick read.  Perfect for a quiet Sunday afternoon.  

From the publisher:

“The murderer is with us—on the train now . . .”

 

Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.

 

Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man’s enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.

 

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Stones From the River by Ursula Hegi (Length: 531 pages).  This was the February pick for my personal book club.  I read this book when it was originally published in 1997 as part of the Oprah Book Club, and I remembered adoring it.  I still do.  It’s a sprawling, character-driven novel set primarily in a small town in Germany in WWI.  Trudi, a dwarf, tells stories (often embellished) to her neighbors, and the novel is one big story.  This is beautifully written, with heartbreaking scenes of love, loss, violence and war.  Much of the public sentiment surrounding the Holocaust is being repeated today in this country, making this a very relevant read.  

From the publisher:

From the acclaimed author of Floating in My Mother’s Palm and Children and Fire, a stunning story about ordinary people living in extraordinary times—“epic, daring, magnificent, the product of a defining and mesmerizing vision” (Los Angeles Times).

Trudi Montag is a Zwerg—a dwarf—short, undesirable, different, the voice of anyone who has ever tried to fit in. Eventually she learns that being different is a secret that all humans share—from her mother who flees into madness, to her friend Georg whose parents pretend he’s a girl, to the Jews Trudi harbors in her cellar.

Ursula Hegi brings us a timeless and unforgettable story in Trudi and a small town, weaving together a profound tapestry of emotional power, humanity, and truth.

Book #2:

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (Length: 337 pages).  As a HUGE fan of the TV show “Scandal” (rest in peace!), I have been excited to read this memoir written by the creator of that show (as well as “Gray’s Anatomy”, et al).  There are lots of revelations the author has in her year of saying yes to “everything” . . . she experiences less social anxiety, stronger and more meaningful personal relationships, better health (losing 127 pounds!) and a better work-life balance.  There’s nothing earth-shattering in this book but if you enjoy(ed) the lightning-quick verbal banter of Shonda’s TV show characters, you’ll enjoy the writing style in this very fun, easy read.  

From the publisher:

She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today. Her iconic characters live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could avoid public appearances? That she suffered panic attacks before media interviews?

With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.

This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. The book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. Yes.

Book #3:

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica (Length: 368 pages).  I didn’t expect to enjoy this psychological thriller as I did.  The writing quality is pretty good, and the pacing is fantastic!  I read the entire novel in under 4 hours because I literally didn’t want to put it down.  Set on a very small island in Maine, the setting is appropriately dark and spooky, and the central mystery keeps the plot moving in a forward direction.  I did figure out 1/3 of the mystery (the “third” being the key) immediately but the rest of the mystery was a bit of a surprise, thank goodness.  There will be a Netflix movie/series based on the book which will be fun to watch if this is any indication.  I wouldn’t recommend this as a book club book because it’s not “deep” enough for any meaningful discussion, but this would be a fantastic airplane/travel read.  

From the publisher:

Propulsive and addictive, and perfect for fans of “You,” The Other Mrs. is the twisty new psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.

But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius and Autism by Kristine Barnett (Length: 281 pages).  This is an incredible account of how a boy who is severely autistic was able to “wake up” and become one of the world’s leading astrophysicists at a very young age, thanks to “play” therapy designed by his mom.  I heard about this book from Anne Bogel on What Should I Read Next, and because I work with children in my current job (a substitute teacher at an elementary school) my interest was piqued.  Jacob’s mom ran a daycare and discovered  that autistic children began to develop social skills when they were permitted to deep-dive into whatever their passion happened to be (dinosaurs, cooking, how light moves in space, in the case of Jacob).  This book is very well-written and very readable.  (However, I will say DO NOT Google this author until after you’ve read this book.  Let this sweet story stay with you awhile first.  You’re welcome!)

From the publisher:

Kristine Barnett’s son Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein’s, a photographic memory, and he taught himself calculus in two weeks. At nine he started working on an original theory in astrophysics that experts believe may someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize, and at age twelve he became a paid researcher in quantum physics. But the story of Kristine’s journey with Jake is all the more remarkable because his extraordinary mind was almost lost to autism. At age two, when Jake was diagnosed, Kristine was told he might never be able to tie his own shoes.
 
The Spark is a remarkable memoir of mother and son. Surrounded by “experts” at home and in special ed who tried to focus on Jake’s most basic skills and curtail his distracting interests—moving shadows on the wall, stars, plaid patterns on sofa fabric—Jake made no progress, withdrew more and more into his own world, and eventually stopped talking completely. Kristine knew in her heart that she had to make a change. Against the advice of her husband, Michael, and the developmental specialists, Kristine followed her instincts, pulled Jake out of special ed, and began preparing him for mainstream kindergarten on her own.

Relying on the insights she developed at the daycare center she runs out of the garage in her home, Kristine resolved to follow Jacob’s “spark”—his passionate interests. Why concentrate on what he couldn’t do? Why not focus on what he could?  This basic philosophy, along with her belief in the power of ordinary childhood experiences (softball, picnics, s’mores around the campfire) and the importance of play, helped Kristine overcome huge odds.

The Barnetts were not wealthy people, and in addition to financial hardship, Kristine herself faced serious health issues. But through hard work and determination on behalf of Jake and his two younger brothers, as well as an undying faith in their community, friends, and family, Kristine and Michael prevailed. The results were beyond anything anyone could have imagined.

Book #2: 

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (Length: 280 pages).  I have had the physical copy of this book for awhile, and picked it up because this won the author the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.  I knew going into it that it’s a polarizing book–people either love it or they don’t.  I fall somewhere in the middle.  Set in a small town in Maine, these short stories feature (at times just tangentially) Olive a middle-school math teacher.  Olive is not a likeable character, by any stretch of the imagination, but by the end of the book, the reader will at least empathize with her.  The writing here is absolutely excellent, and I enjoyed the author’s in-depth character portrayals as well as how the stories interconnect in small ways . . . for example, two characters who appear well in the background in one story are later mentioned in a more fleshed-out way a few chapters later.  The stories are mostly depressing and sad, but I do think the writing style and quality make this book a worthy read.  

From the publisher:

In a voice more powerful and compassionate than ever before, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout binds together thirteen rich, luminous narratives into a book with the heft of a novel, through the presence of one larger-than-life, unforgettable character: Olive Kitteridge.

At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer’s eyes, it’s in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama–desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love.

At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance: a former student who has lost the will to live: Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.

As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life–sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition–its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires.

Book #3:  

The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin  (Length: 258 pages).  In preparation for an upcoming Grand Canyon hike, I picked up this “must read” first-hand account of the first person to walk the length of Grand Canyon National Park, in 1965.  The author’s writing is beautiful, and his narration is very descriptive and give the reader the sense of actually being there in the Canyon.  He describes the geology, flora and fauna of the Canyon in great detail, but the writing is not dry at all.  He made me appreciate the length of time that it took the Grand Canyon to evolve (Creationists may disagree with the half a billion years that geologists have determined the Canyon took to form).  I will say this book will not be relevant reading to you unless you’re also planning on hiking the Canyon.  

From the publisher:

The remarkable classic of nature writing by the first man ever to have walked the entire length of the Grand Canyon.

Book #4:  

Night Road by Kristin Hannah (Length: 396 pages).  This apparently is a “must read” according to fans of Kristin Hannah.  I enjoyed The Great Alone so I picked this one up with great anticipation.  I was disappointed that I figured out the plot “twist” immediately, and I was not a fan of the main characters (Lexi and Jude).  I especially was not keen on how they both reacted to the major plot development.  The second half of the book (after the plot change) dragged to me, and to add insult to injury, the ending was entirely too pat and way too abrupt.  I will say that I enjoy Hannah’s writing style, so that was the redeeming factor in this altogether disappointing read to me.  I do see how this could be a good choice for book clubs, however, as there is plenty to discuss here.  

From the publisher:

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close-knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids out of harm’s way. But senior year of high school tests them all. It’s a dangerous, explosive season of drinking, driving, parties, and kids who want to let loose. And then on a hot summer’s night, one bad decision is made. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.

Thank you for joining me here.    (Reminder: 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:

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Length: 369 pages).  I’m VERY late to the party on this one, but I’m really glad I finally picked it up.  This is such a FUN book to read as it’s about the formation and evolution of a band in the 1960s and 1970s, including all of the details about the rock and roll lifestyle and drug use (but it’s not gratuitous which I appreciate).  The format is a bit unique . . .it’s in interview form, but I found I actually enjoyed how it kept the various characters’ storylines separate.  The plot is a bit predictable but there is a little bit of a twist at the end (which I always like).  I’d say this is much more about the characters and less about the plot.  Having said that, this novel is totally movie-ready, complete with all of the song lyrics at the end.  Not deep enough to permit discussion as a book club book, in my opinion, but a poolside, weekend read for sure.   

From the publisher:

Everyone knows DAISY JONES & THE SIX, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ’n’ roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

Book #2: 

What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (Length: 337 pages).  Ugh.  I gave in and I hate myself for falling for this author’s little game.  😉  Part 2 of the trilogy (I reviewed Part 1 earlier this month), and the main plot point in the central “mystery” is STILL not resolved.  I’m a total sucker.  I still dislike the main characters as they are still self-absorbed and shallow, if not even MORE so.  The best part of this book is the scenery and setting of St John, but I’d rather read a travel guide than this book.  Let it be known that I will NOT read the final book of the trilogy when it’s released.  

From the publisher:

A year ago, Irene Steele had the shock of her life: her loving husband, father to their grown sons and successful businessman, was killed in a helicopter crash. But that wasn’t Irene’s only shattering news: he’d also been leading a double life on the island of St. John, where another woman loved him, too.

Now Irene and her sons are back on St. John, determined to learn the truth about the mysterious life — and death — of a man they thought they knew. Along the way, they’re about to learn some surprising truths about their own lives, and their futures.

Lush with the tropical details, romance, and drama that made Winter in Paradise a national bestseller, What Happens in Paradise is another immensely satisfying page-turner from one of America’s most beloved and engaging storytellers.

Book #3: 

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (Length: 352 pages).  I’m not sure why but I haven’t yet read anything by Ann Patchett.  (Bel Canto has been on my TBR list forever, and I have it lined up to read later this year).  I adore a sweeping family saga, and this one fits the bill.  The writing is excellent, and the setting is an old, beautiful house in Pennsylvania, built by a Dutch family.  The focus is on a modern-day family who lived in the house, specifically the brother and sister of the new owners.  The author explores the relationship of the siblings, specifically how the pair navigate their mother leaving them (and their father) as young children.  The mother has a “saint” personality and feels called to care for other people.  This book is VERY long and very detailed, but it’s worth the journey if you enjoy character-based novels as I do.  This one is too long for a typical book club read (members may revolt!) but this is a fantastic vacation read.  I’d love to read it en route to Europe.  

From the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth and State of Wonder, comes Ann Patchett’s most powerful novel to date: a richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go. The Dutch House is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and of who we really are.

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

Book #4: 

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson (Length: 378 pages).  I freaking ADORE this book!!  This is a “chick lit” book that’s incredibly well-written, with fantastic characters who are deeply-drawn.  The plot is compulsively readable, making this a very fast read.  I enjoyed the magic and spells/witchcraft angle and how the author explores the idea that energy connects all of us.  The main character Blix (who is totally Kathy Bates in our minds as we read, per my mother) has a mantra which I love:  “Whatever happens, love that.”  This is probably the best romance novel I’ve ever read.  Please read this and let me know if you agree.  

From the publisher:

“A delightful, light-as-air romance that successfully straddles the line between sweet and smart without ever being silly…The novel is simply captivating from beginning to end.” —Associated Press

Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s irascible matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying, and everything changes—just as Blix told her it would.

When her marriage ends after two miserable weeks, Marnie is understandably shocked. She’s even more astonished to find that she’s inherited Blix’s Brooklyn brownstone along with all of Blix’s unfinished “projects”: the heartbroken, oddball friends and neighbors running from happiness. Marnie doesn’t believe she’s anything special, but Blix somehow knew she was the perfect person to follow in her matchmaker footsteps.

And Blix was also right about some things Marnie must learn the hard way: love is hard to recognize, and the ones who push love away often are the ones who need it most.

Book #5: 

Little Fortress by Laisha Rosnau (Length: 322 written pages).  This is an interesting Canadian novel (making it difficult to locate locally) based on a true story of an Italian “duchess”, her personal secretary/companion and her daughter who lived in total seclusion in a home in British Columbia for 25 years.  Think Canadian Grey Gardens.  The novel focuses mostly on Miss Juul, the personal secretary, and her life, which jumps around a lot in her service from Denmark, Italy, Egypt then Canada.  The writing is excellent, and the backstory is fascinating, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read this.  I’m much more interested in reading the diaries of the daughter which were just opened (as she forbade anyone from opening them until 25 years after her death).  

From the publisher:

In this captivating and intricate novel Laisha Rosnau introduces us to three women, each of whom is storied enough to have their own novel and who, together, make for an unforgettable tale. Based on the true story of the Caetanis, Italian nobility driven out of their home by the rise in fascism who chose exile in Vernon, BC, Rosnau brings to life Ofelia Caetani, her daughter Sveva Caetani and their personal secretary, Miss Juul. Miss Juul is the voice of the novel, a diminutive Danish woman who enters into employment with the Caetani family in Italy before the birth of Sveva, stays with them through twenty-five years of seclusion at their home in Vernon, and past the death of Ofelia. Little Fortress is a story of a shifting world, with the death of its age-old nobility, and of the intricacies of the lives of women caught up in these grand changes. It is a story of friendship, class, betrayal and love.