I love Wilson‘s dysfunctional family stories. This one has newly discovered siblings on a cross country road trip trying to track down their absent father. It‘s amusing and odd and just what I‘ve come to expect and appreciate about Wilson‘s characters. Loved the audiobook.

Emily Henry is a must read author for me, and this is the first book of hers that I did not love. Henry totally deserves to write what she wants and try new things, but maybe this one is just not for me. It felt like straight up historical fiction with a romance thrown on top, but both pieces felt shortchanged and underdeveloped. Not my favorite.

Another thoroughly enjoyable book from Holmes. And great on audio. Insider podcast info, a cute waiter, a Great Dane inspired meet-cute. What‘s not to like?!

Happy Pride Month to all who celebrate! 🌈 I am President of PFLAG Franklin in Tennessee and host an LGBTQ+ book club for our chapter! I am a long time ally and mom to a lesbian daughter and a nonbinary/trans kid. Just a shout out to all the queer folks and the people that love them! Happy Pride reading!!!

Rooney gives us two brothers - Ivan, a brilliant but socially awkward chess prodigy, and his older brother Peter, a seemingly confident civil rights lawyer. The story explores the brothers‘ fragile bond as they navigate the months following the death of their father and the complex relationships to the women in their lives. It beautifully walks you through the intricacies of grief, love, identity, and family. The ending just broke me open.

This was delightful and real and messy and sweet. Just loved it. A one night stand leads to an unplanned pregnancy, leaving our young heroine to navigate a new path with a man she barely knows and shifting all her other relationships as well. The audiobook was top notch - narrator Alex Finley is terrific. This is my first book by this author and I‘ll definitely read another.

Typical Hendrix weirdness. Horror, but not too scary. (Unless of course you have a puppet/doll phobia. If so, this one will do you in.) A wacky, entertaining, spooky book.

Reading a bunch of plays for a play reading committee. Several of them are aggressively mediocre. Some are truly awful. Kate Hamill‘s brilliant adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is the shining star of this pile. If you are a theater person, get ahold of any adaptation by Kate Hamill. They‘re fresh. They‘re inventive. They are a dream for a great director and a group of talented actors.

Finley is a not terribly successful writer and a recently minted single mom. It‘s not going well. But then she unwittingly gets a job as a contract killer and things get a whole lot crazier. This is funny, quick moving, and very entertaining. Definitely reading the rest of the series.

Dominic and his three children have lived on a small isolated island near Antarctica. They are finishing up some work and await the boat that will come for them in 6 weeks. But then a mysterious woman is found near their shore. As she is rescued and begins to heal, she discovers that the family may be keeping some secrets. Atmospheric and haunting, this story takes some unexpected turns and keeps the reader on edge. Engrossing reading.

Bass reflects on the many facets of Jesus as she shares bits from her own spiritual life. Sort of a combination of memoir, theology, and mysticism. It focuses on those experiential ways that Jesus interacts with us and guides us, leading to a more encompassing view of Jesus.

This book examines the lives of four interconnected but vastly different African women. Adichie is a master of language, and her social and cultural insights are incisive as always. So it was an interesting, if a bit too long, book. But I didn‘t quite connect with it like her previous novels.

The premise seemed so good - a man and his daughter have lived alone in the woods for 8 years until his past comes calling. The actual story, however, was just so-so. So I was about finished with a mediocre book, oh well. And then at the very last moment, the author slaps a ridiculous ending on it, and tops that off with an asinine epilogue. So now I‘m sort of pissed. Not a fan.

This was interesting and had some lovely thoughts about the interconnectedness of humanity and beyond. It‘s just too woo-woo for me and a tad long-winded. Not my thing, but I imagine there are others who would really love it.

A quick little happy book about a lively middle aged lady that sets out on an adventure in a horse-drawn bookmobile. Lovely tale, written in 1917, for book lovers.

Not my favorite of hers, but Patchett is always reliably good. The audiobook was well done. A story of two families broken by divorce and the ways they get stitched back together. The 6 children, the products of poor parenting, manage to create a bond in the midst of their parents‘ dysfunction.

Nelson‘s The Red Parts is a compelling book about watching the trial of the man who murdered her Aunt Jane. The murder took place in 1969 before Nelson was born, but the murderer was not discovered until 2004. Nelson had just written this book as the trial was announced. In it she pieces together a portrait of Jane using snippets of Jane‘s journals, then reflecting on her life and murder in verse. It‘s a fascinating pairing and an affecting read.

I am such an Emily Austin fan. Her books often feature smart, quirky, emotionally wounded, interesting lesbians. While this tackles mental health issues, it never feels too dark or overwhelming. It feels real, compassionate, and even absurdly funny at times. This book is about Sigrid and her sister Margit. They are each struggling in different ways that are discovered as you read their thoughts in the book. Austin treats her characters so kindly.

This an exceptionally deep dive into the NASA shuttle program, culminating in the devastating - and tragically preventable - explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. Gives me a new respect for the bravery of the astronauts. But it was a great disappointment to learn how NASA was run and the disservice done in failing to protect the lives of those willing to risk their lives to venture into space.

From Bewitched in the 1960s through the recent Modern Family, the book takes you through decades of TV, highlighting the growing presence of LGBT representation. I am of an age to have seen most all of it and could appreciate the impact of queer visibility in changing cultural attitudes. Baume recounts key moments of TV history and the changing society it represented. Thoroughly entertaining and informative. Also, one of the best book titles ever!

Patch is 13, a poor, bullied boy who unwittingly becomes the center of tragic incident in his small town. The book follows Patch and his best friend Saint through the following 25 years as the impact of that event ripples through their lives. It really is best to come to the story blind. Whitaker crafts a mesmerizing, slowly unraveling tale, full of complex characters so compelling that I just had to keep reading. Absolutely fantastic book.

Logan and Rosemary were best friends growing up, but they parted ways. 10 years later they‘re both teachers back in their small hometown school and don‘t like each other much. But then their favorite former teacher Joe, ill with cancer, asks them to take him on a road trip so he can die in peace in Maine. Together on the road, the women have the opportunity to start anew. Lots of humor, some heavy moments too. Definitely too long, but pretty good.

Poppy and her family have been on the run for all of her 17 years. But she has no idea why. Her parents are loving but they insist on living by a very strict set of rules. Feeling constrained and longing for more, Poppy bends the rules and sees a world of opportunity. But can she risk her family‘s safety for her own freedom? This was excellent. Really enjoyed it.

The boys are diving into deeper waters here - taking their physical relationship further, Nick is looking at universities, and they are trying to find themselves as individuals outside their identity as a couple. Oseman is so good at allowing the boys to blossom and question and learn, all surrounded by supportive family and friends. Looking forward to #6 to see what‘s next for Charlie and Nick as the step into adulthood.

Set in 15th century China, this is the story of Tan Yunxian, a remarkable woman who was schooled by her grandparents from a young age as a doctor. She loses her mother when she is a girl, marries into a successful family at 15, and grows in medical knowledge and skill throughout her life. We follow the seasons of her life, through difficulty and success, as she builds relationships with the women around her. Very interesting historical fiction.

Charlie and Nick are out at school, and the next steps are deciding when to come out to Nick‘s dad and how to have the courage to say I love you. But this installment also deals with Charlie getting help for some significant mental health issues while Nick learns how to best support him. It is wonderful how Oseman shows teens navigating this with sensitivity and care. And also how the boys‘ friends and families are crucial in the process.

Happy, feminist, love yourself poems. An enjoyable little collection.

Lucy was present at her best friend‘s murder five years ago, but she does not remember anything of that night. Because of a lack of evidence, she was never charged, but her whole small Texas town thinks she did it. A new true crime podcast brings renewed interest in the case just as Lucy goes back to visit. It‘s a good audiobook with the podcast set up.

Arlo, who is DeafBlind, is 23, but has lived a very sheltered life in a strict religious community under the care of his uncle. But when he has the chance to take a college class, Arlo‘s life explodes with new opportunities and people. There‘s a new (and gay) interpreter, a free spirited Belgian nursing student, and a brilliant professor. Arlo begins to deal with past trauma, dream of a bigger future, and hopes to rekindle a lost love. LOVED IT!

The three “disorderly men” of the title are detained in a police raid of a gay bar, charged with disorderly conduct. It is pre-Stonewall, early 1960s NYC when being gay meant a lot of shame, rejection, secrets, and ostracism. We follow the personal stories of each man as their lives eventually intersect. It is a sobering reminder of the cumulative emotional damage that occurs when gay people shoulder the burden of a forced closeted existence.

Three sisters are drawn together around the first anniversary of the death of their fourth sister. They are all in various states of emotional disrepair, having struggled unsuccessfully to manage their grief. Their reunion is complicated by the unresolved wreckage of an unstable childhood. It‘s a compulsively readable book. Much of the sisterly connection lands true, but there were times it felt a bit contrived.The ending tied up a tad too neatly.

Keru is Chinese American with immigrant parents. Her white husband Nate has a working class, conservative family. In Part 1, they vacation with both sets of parents in Cape Cod. In Part 2, Nate‘s brother and his girlfriend show up as they vacation in the Catskills. These occasions illustrate the vast cultural, political, and social differences between the families and raise questions about whether or not that gap can be bridged in their marriage.

This was terrific. And it was all about perspective. It is a fictionalized story based on the Ted Bundy murders. But the killer was only ever spoken of as “the defendant.” The book is wholly focused on the bright young women‘s lives that were ended and damaged by a murderer. It completely flips the script of the handsome, intelligent killer and instead tells a different, and much more interesting story about the women he targeted.

Structured around the evening prayer of Compline, this book focuses on clinging to spiritual practices as a lifeline when we are in seasons of darkness and suffering. The author shares some of her own trials as she illustrates the ways we can find meaning and comfort in suffering. That in fact, sometimes it is in the darkest moments that we truly learn of God‘s boundless love for us. She discusses the most ordinary events in such beautiful prose.

The subject matter is important and riveting. I learned a lot about women‘s unheralded service in Vietnam. It is absolutely a story worth reading. The combat nursing events in Vietnam field hospitals were the most compelling by far. The romantic elements came off too cheesy and the general tone was a tad too melodramatic for me. I think Hannah‘s style is just not quite my vibe. Julia Whelan‘s narration is top notch. I‘m glad I listened to it.

This was a reread for book club. Writer and storyteller Ivan Coyote has spent many years on the road, sharing about their experience as a nonbinary person. During Covid all that went away. So they spent that time answering letters that have come their way, later compiled in this book. At a time when trans and nonbinary people are under such fierce attack, it was a welcome balm. Coyote‘s missives are so kind, compassionate, and vulnerable. Lovely.

In light of the executive order made by our uninformed new president, declaring that there are only two genders, I would like to help fellow readers become better educated. Here are six books written by and/or centering on the experiences of non-binary and transgender people. I wish I had a recommendation with some intersex representation, but I can‘t think of anything at the moment. Feel free to suggest other great books in the comments below.

Ahhhhh, I love these books! Charlie and Nick start to come out as a couple to friends and family. Their parents are so great - it is lovely to see supportive adults for these kids. But this book also introduces some weightier issues for the boys to work through. Oseman tackles it all with such sensitivity. So good.

Nick and Charlie embark on their relationship and it is a delight to watch the enchantment and nervousness of first love. Nick is acknowledging his feelings for Charlie and coming to understand himself better. The boys are navigating friendships and how and when to come out as a couple. It‘s such a fantastic series. So glad that it exists, especially for gay teens out there who need to see themselves in these stories.

In 1969, Maggie Nelson‘s aunt, Jane Mixer was killed. Over 30 years later Nelson is about to publish a book of poetry about Jane when they hear that Jane‘s murder case has been reopened. There is DNA evidence now that has led police to her killer and there will be a trial. This book considers how Jane‘s death, and now this trial, have affected their family. It‘s fascinating. Now I plan to read Nelson‘s book about Jane.

So late in the game getting to this series. So wonderful. True and real and honest. Can‘t wait for the rest.

Set in a dystopian American future, Rainey and his wife are tucked away from the more severely affected areas of crumbling society in a small coastal town. But when a stranger comes to stay, the wider world follows, causing an event that sends Rainy to escape by boat. Enger is a fantastic writer, but his epic storytelling took precedence over building some of the relationships between characters. All the same, I was swept away and enjoyed it.

Interesting series of essays on the darker histories of beautiful things-silk, marble, make up, perfume, and more. The author is a confessed lover and collector of beautiful objects. For each chapter Kelleher shares a history of an item along with her own thoughts on the nature of desire, beauty, consumption, and the ethics of how these valued items came to be. This book is for folks that are fascinated by deep dives into the minutiae of stuff.

Crosley experiences loss upon loss within the same few months, the most devastating being the death of her best friend. Crosley‘s dexterity with language and phrasing is remarkable. She writes with wit and precision and depth about grief in a way that makes it more tangible, easier to grasp where she finds herself emotionally. She‘s honest, angry, isolated, and trying to piece together what brought her to such a standstill. It‘s riveting reading.

This novel is aimed at middle grade readers, but held me captive for sure. Jake charts his challenges with anorexia and OCD in this heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful novel in verse. Jake and his grandmother share a love of musical theatre and reading. But he struggles to connect with friends his own age and fights off a very controlling voice in his head that is causing him great suffering. This beautiful book shares Jake's journey to healing.

2024 Recap!

I read 105 books. 22 nonfiction, 83 fiction. 43 audiobooks and 62 on Kindle or book. North Woods, Hope This finds You Well, and Maybe You Should Talk to Someone were standouts. I also fell in love with Martha Wells‘ Murderbot Diaries this year, which was a surprise, because 1) I don‘t usually love a series and 2) I am not a big sci-fi reader. My Top 15 Books for 2024 are below.

I‘d love to hear some of your favorites!

An author takes a break from her father‘s death bed and her husband‘s chronic illness to stay in a Best Western and write. What follows is a bizarre and thoroughly amusing fever dream of self examination and anticipatory grief in Death Valley. So, so weird. Really liked it.

This novel follows a couple, a painter and a writer, with two kids trying to pursue their creative endeavors in Los Angeles. Jane has spent 10 years writing a massive follow up to her first novel but things are not going to plan. Their life is spiraling out of control and desperation drives her to make some terrible decisions. The humor is dark, the issues surrounding race and class are interesting, and the characters are a hot mess.

Annie is an AI “Cuddle Bunny” robot that is virtually indistinguishable from a human, made to her owner‘s specifications. But as Annie learns more and asserts more autonomy, Doug is less pleased. And so is Annie. This book pissed me off a lot—as intended— and was an interesting look at gender roles, self determination, controlling relationships, and personal freedom. Very satisfying ending.

Such a fun gathering with my #NashvilleLittens! One of my favorite holiday traditions. 🎄🎅🏼 Thanks to Amber for my extravagant and lovely gifts!