Book #60:

Slow Horses by Mick Herron (Length: 336 pages). This is book 1 of 8 in a series and this first book has already been adapted into a TV series on Apple TV. I started that series and quickly grew confused so I decided to switch to the book instead as I had heard it’s very well-written. This is a bit of a backlist book, with a 2010 publication date, so it’s easily available at the library. The premise is that washed up M15 spies in Britain are relegated to the Slough House in hopes that they’ll grow so bored they will quit (in lieu of being fired). They all do boring, tedious work, and bits and pieces of some of their individual back stories are slowly revealed throughout this first novel. The character development here is excellent, and I enjoyed the spy “slang” and terms of art. I found (just as with the TV show) it’s a bit tricky to tell all of them apart at first, but it gets easier as it progresses. The central plot point (a Pakistani young man’s impending beheading is throwing all the spies into a tizzy) is very clever and an excellent through line for the novel. Five stars from me!

Book #61:

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (Length: 586 pages). This long novel is blowing up several Best of 2024 book lists so far and I agree! This fantastic novel will absolutely be in my top 3 of this year. The main characters here are Patch and Saint, two kids who live in a small town in Missouri in the 1970s when girls are going missing. One girl is snatched, Patch intervenes and then goes missing himself. His best friend Saint becomes obsessed with trying to find him. This is a sweeping saga of these two characters and their families and the inhabitants of this small town. There are definitely a few triggers here (abduction details are minimal however as these happen off the page) but nothing is exploitative and this novel is beautifully written. The middle section of this novel is about 200 pages too long in my opinion, so it’s 4.5 stars for that reason only. I will always remember this book!

Book #62:

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (Length: 415 pages). I finally have read this book that’s been EVERYWHERE in the book universe. It’s magic realism, set in our modern world, and I am a fan of magic realism and quirky novels–you need to be a fan of both to enjoy this one. The premise here is that the husband of a newlywed couple is diagnosed with a great white shark mutation, which causes him to transform into a shark the first year or so of their marriage. I enjoyed the unique writing style here (random lines of verse and essays are sprinkled throughout), the interesting premise, the fast pace of the plot and there’s just a lot of heart and deeper meaning here. I adore this book! 5 stars from me.

Book #63:

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley (Length: 362 pages). I wish I enjoyed this sweet novel more. The premise is a young woman, Piper, loses her husband, Tom, at sea during a storm, very early in their marriage, but still “sees” him and the islanders go along with it. Anders, a podcaster who is looking to make his podcaster “Serial” big, is sent to the island by his small newspaper to write an unrelated story and latches on to this Tom phenomenon for his newest batch of podcasts. This conflicts with Anders’ growing feelings for Piper as the islanders are not aware of the subject matter of his podcasts and are understandably protective of her. The first half of this is VERY slow, but I kept going because I was curious how this storyline was going to resolve. The second half is better but then it almost felt a bit rushed. This could have used a better editor. 3.5 stars.

Book #64:

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (Length: 302 pages). This is one of the “it” novels of the summer so I was excited to get it from the library. Margo is a 20 year old community college student and she’s impregnated by her married English professor. With no familial support and no way to pay for childcare and work her waitressing job, Margo decides to start an OnlyFans account. Margo’s father, Jinx, a retired pro wrestler shows back up in her life and moves in to her apartment, ultimately helping Margo with the baby, and sharing the parallels on how to create a story in wrestling translates to making her OnlyFans account a viable business. This is very funny, well-written, fast-paced and truly hard to put down. It’s one of those rare novels that you think about when you aren’t reading it. (Obviously if you find Only Fans and its ilk offensive, skip this one. I think it really works here, and I enjoyed this entire novel.)

Book #56:

The Push by Tommy Caldwell (Length: 344 pages). This is a memoir written by the world’s best free climber. There isn’t a ghost writer listed but he does mention receiving help from friends in writing this very well-written (for a sports memoir) book. The last quarter of this book details the first (and last) free ascent of the Dawn Wall in Yosemite’s El Capitan, and his account is equal parts riveting and inspirational. The first portion of the memoir is relatively interesting, especially when he recounts being held hostage by militants in Kyrgyzstan. I could’ve done without the back and forth on his relationships and marriages, but it IS a memoir. All in all, this would make an excellent gift for any athlete or adventure lover in your life.

Book #57:

Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville (Length: 257 pages). This short novel has been nominated for a few book awards, so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, even though it’s a historical fiction novel (my least favorite genre). This book is about a real woman born in the late 1800s in North South Wales, Australia, and the author is Dolly Maunder’s granddaughter. Obviously very well-researched and well-written, this is essentially an account of Dolly’s life, from birth to death. The author deftly illustrates how frustrating it must have been to be a strong-willed and intelligent woman living during this time period. I really wanted to like her, but I just couldn’t (based on several decisions she made). I do respect her though, and her resilience and hard work are admirable, and the writing here is top-notch. 4 stars for sure.

Book #58:

The Stowaway by James Murray and Darren Wearmouth (Length: 318 pages). If you are in the market for a fun, frothy palate-cleanser, look no further. This was a FUN read! One of the authors is an actor and producer on a few TV shows so that’s why this thriller has been receiving some buzz. The premise here is a juror on a trial of a child serial killer (which ends in a hung jury) goes on a cruise with her new boyfriend and her 2 children to essentially escape the media hubbub over which juror voted not guilty, letting a “predator” off the hook. While on the cruise ship, similar crimes to the serial killers occur and the juror decides to hunt down the killer (or his copycat). This is fast-paced, well-written and gruesome in a sense (but not too many gratuitous details to dampen your enjoyment). 4 stars here!

Book #59:

Let’s Pretend This Will Work by Maddie Dawson (Length: 347 pages). I loved this author’s Matchmaking for Beginners (and I still remember the premise of that novel, which is remarkable given how much I read) so I was excited to find this romance has the same vibe. Which is, a quirky protagonist who is full of heart, with fun side characters and a unique setting bringing disparate characters together. Here, it’s a co-op daycare which occupies the first floor of a building she’s found herself renting an apartment in, after following her lover to his ex-wife’s town. Her lover is caring for his ex-wife after an accident, so the protagonist is in a holding pattern through much of the novel. This was slow to start, but halfway through I couldn’t put it down and I will absolutely continue to read more from this author. 4 stars for another memorable romance.

Book #52:

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (Length: 316 pages). This rom-com features a plus-size shoe designer who goes on a Bachelor style reality TV show as a contestant (thanks to her stepmother creator). The writing is solid here, the chemistry is believable, and the shoe angle is fun (as a HUGE shoe lover here). I enjoyed the descriptions of the shoes she designed and wore as well as the insight into what goes into the design of a shoe. This is a frothy, fun summer read. Closed door too if that’s important to you.

Book #53:

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (Length: 238 pages). I’ve been hearing about this book everywhere, and it’s got a very unusual premise (and narrator) so I was excited to grab it from the library. The narrator is Annie who is a Cuddle Bunny, a sex robot whose owner has switched her to autodidactic mode (meaning she can learn from her environment and build on that with her programming). This is a perfect commentary about the growing incel culture plus AI in pop-culture and media. It’s an easy, very quick read, very open door and has a faster moving plot than you’d think. There are a few twists and turns I didn’t predict, and there are some deeper themes throughout that are worth examining (and discussing–this would be a fun book club book).

Book #54:

The Fury by Alex Michaelides (Length: 295 pages). I chose this book as one of my Book-of-the-Month options but then put it aside after hearing it’s very polarizing amongst readers. I enjoyed his book The Silent Patient, unlike many others, so ultimately, I decided to pick it up and give it a try for the first 25 pages. I was instantly sucked in. This is a slow-build thriller focused on a former movie star, Lana, and her entourage, who all gather on her tiny Greek island. A murder occurs right away, and the middle part of the novel contains flashback sequences. The resolution of the murder occupies the last part of the book. There is an unreliable narrator, and NO ONE is likeable here. I found the second half to be much faster paced (and more enjoyable) than the first half. I enjoyed this overall. 3.25 stars.

Book #55:

Lovers & Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward (Length: 277 pages). I thought this was a combination of women’s fiction and rom-com (ie, a rom-com with more depth). It got off to a SLOW start for me, but I gave it some time/pages and I’m glad I did. The focus is on the 3 Peacock sisters: Emma, who is happily married but in secret debt due to a MLM; Cleo, an unhappy NYC lawyer with an unemployed boy-toy boyfriend; and Sylvie, who is a widow living in Miami, and is getting remarried to a man named Simon, at his ancestral castle, Mumberton. I really enjoyed learning about the castle and its history and there are some cute side characters. The depth in this novel is due to the semi-traumatic childhood, due to the sisters’ narcissistic mom, Donna. Overall, I enjoyed this perfect beach read and would give it a solid 4 stars.

Book #47:

What Could Be Saved by Liese O’Halloran Schwarz (Length: 460 pages). This is one of my favorite kinds of novels: expansive family saga where the author dives deep into the family’s history to find out why and how their pasts have shaped who they are today. The majority of this novel takes place in Bangkok in the 1970s, where a family of expats experiences a sudden loss when the young son (8 years old) disappears one day. The circumstances of his disappearance aren’t revealed until the last few chapters of the book so the focus of the book is on the other family members. The writing here is fantastic and I didn’t care for any of the family members here but it really didn’t matter as I was sucked in and wanted to keep reading to find out what really happened. I will say it is a SLOW start and doesn’t start picking up until chapter 5, so hang on until then. 4.5 stars from me for this one.

Book #48:

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (Length: 354 pages). This is book 1 in the Veronica Speedwell mystery series; there are 9 so far. Set in the late 1880s Victorian London, Veronica is a 20ish year-old orphan who has been supporting herself as a butterfly hunter/scientist when she stumbles into a murder. Capers ensue with the help of a dashing natural historian named Stoker. I found this novel a bit slow to start and it really didn’t pick up until a third of the way through, but once there, I got the appeal of this very popular series and I couldn’t put the book down. The writing is strong, the action scenes are well done and I did enjoy the chemistry between Veronica and Stoker. I absolutely intend to read further into the series and give this installment a solid 4 stars.

Book #49:

How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key (Length: 317 pages). I first learned about this memoir in a list of “best on audio” books so I listened to this one. I agree–it’s fantastic on audio as it’s narrated by the author, a notable humorist. Essentially his wife cheated on him and this is the entire story, mostly from his perspective but his wife, Lauren, gives her “side” in one chapter that she also narrates. This memoir discusses how therapy, their church, friends and family all helped (and hindered) their marriage, and this book details their fight to try to save it. I’m not crazy about either the author or his wife, but I couldn’t stop listening to this and I totally get the hype. Would be a great road trip book.

Book #50:

Funny Story by Emily Henry (Length: 395 pages). This author ties with Abby Jiminez as my favorite rom-com author, thanks to her consistently witty dialogue and always-believable chemistry between the romantic leads. Emily, however, isn’t as consistent as Abby is, in my humble opinion, so I was relieved that this latest read is a good one in her canon and is much better than last year’s novel Happy Place. Here, Daphne and Miles are thrown together as roommates when their respective partners take off to be together. I love that Daphne is a children’s librarian and the library and readathon scenes are some of my favorites here. The duo’s chemistry is very believable, and I enjoyed their banter and the build up to their romantic relationship. This is the quintessential beach read so be sure to pick this one up this summer.

Book #51:

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig (Length: 481 pages). I LOVE this book! This is the second book in the Shepherd King duology, and it is even better than the first one (which I reviewed last month). The pacing is absolutely perfect, characters from the first book are more fully developed here with a new love story (but this is not a true romantasy–it’s pretty closed door). ALL of the loose ends from the first book are tied up here with excellent, descriptive writing. The action scenes are so well-constructed, and I absolutely adore this little series. I will say it is a tiny bit gory in parts, so HSPs may want to steer clear. 5 stars from me!

Book #43:

Wellness by Nathan Hill (Length: 690 pages). This MONSTER of a novel was picked by my best friend for our shared book club, and I snagged her copy six days before our book club met. I actually was able to start and finish this doorstop of a book in that time, even with a crazy-busy week at work, and that’s a testament to how much I ended up enjoying it. Ultimately, it’s a story of the marriage between Jack and Elizabeth, including looks back at their individual childhoods and how their upbringing affected their union. This novel is unusual because spliced throughout are the author’s examinations of examples of social engineering in modern society (from algorithms used in social media to the placebo effect found in modern medicine) and these examples a are a bit wordy, but I found them to be super-fascinating and added to my overall enjoyment of this novel. I give this a solid 4 stars (subtracting one star for its absurd length).

Book #44:

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (Length: 382 pages). This rom-com has been HYPED (and blurbed) everywhere so I was a bit hesitant to pick this one up, and honestly, I was right to be hesitant. This novel features Grant and Helen who had a connection based on a tragedy that occurred in high school involving Grant and Helen’s sister, and are thrown back together years later in a writers’ room in L.A. where Grant is tasked with writing the screen adaptation of the first of Helen’s popular YA novels. The chemistry here is believable but I didn’t care for either of the two lead characters, and that’s tough (and a bit unusual) in a rom-com. Maybe you’ll like them more than I did and think the hype is real. If you do, let me know what I’m missing here.

Book #45:

Too Good To Be True by Carola Lovering (Length: 354 pages). I heard about this mystery on a book podcast and finally picked it up. I don’t think I’ve read anything else from this popular author, but I enjoyed this novel. It’s a standard mystery with a few twists built in and it’s essentially a “love story about 2 marriages with 3 versions of the truth”. Well-written and an easy, fast read; I did figure out the first plot twist fairly early on (as most readers will) but as long as you suspend disbelief with this one, you’ll enjoy it as I did. This is a solid 3.5 star read from me. A library checkout versus a buy, for sure.

Book #46:

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi (Length: 268 pages). FUN! This book is just straight-up fun! I’ve heard it’s fantastic on audio but I wasn’t able to find an audio copy via my public library so I read it as an e-book and it was still great. Labeled as science fiction and fantasy, I’d agree with that but don’t worry about esoteric world-building or complicated science and just jump into this one feet first. Think Jurassic Park metaverse set during COVID and you’ve got the plot. This is not high-brow sci-fi–more popcorn thrilleresque, which is fine with me! This is very witty (I chuckled out loud at a few lines of dialogue), very well-written and fast-paced. I LOVED this so much and it’s the perfect summertime or beach read. I urged my dad to pick this one up as it definitely appeals to everyone. 5 stars from me!