pickBook 129
Set in a boarding school for kids who unwillingly returned to the world after traveling through unique doors to live in other dimensions. It's weird, simple, and complex with diverse characters. Can't wait to read the next one and to look into more by the author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
so-soBook 128
I listened to A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner, a story about an old Southern plantation house filled with history, curses, and ghosts. Characters could have been more dimensional. Nothing memorable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
panBooks 126 & 127
I learned about Mrs. Harris from the movie that recently came out based on the 1950's books by Paul Gallico. The novels are short, but I took too long reading them. Since I'd waited for them on hold at the library, I felt obligated to finish, which slowed down my reading. Mrs. Harris has a lot of potential, but, ultimately, flat and disappointing. ⭐️⭐️
pickBook 125
I listened to Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up by Selma Blair. I love memoirs! I love listening to memoirs read by the authors (especially celebrity authors), and getting to know their minds, personalities, and lived experiences. Blair talks about her love for horses, her penchant for mediums, her career and struggles with MS, and motherhood. A great listen. 4 ⭐️s
pickBook 124
I listened to When the Sky Fell on Splendor by Emily Henry, a Stranger Things type of story very different from Henry's typical rom-coms. A group of teens films ghostlike happenings in the small town of Splendor. Is it other-worldly or related to problems with the steel plant? A pure story with heart but not my fav. 3.5 ⭐️s
so-soHow to be Eaten is an intriguing premise; it's a modern-day support group of the women that needed rescuing from classic fables, like Red Riding Hood and Gretel. Each chapter is one character's telling of their story, some more gripping than others. I was disappointed; the characters weren't dynamic and the twist is obvious. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickBook 122
I listened to The Giver of Stars about the pack horse library in Kentucky--a great book for book lovers. A love and friendship story, with strong, a feminist characters. Highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickBook 118
I listened to The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. A 20-something woman with a checkered past moves to a rich area and becomes the neighborhood dog-walker. Soon she's engaged to a recent widower, whose wife's death is suspicious. The twist, though it seems obvious, is s surprise. An enjoyable listen. 3.5 ⭐️s
so-soBook 119
Faithful Place is a detective mystery about an 18-year-old female who goes missing on the night she's planning to run away with her boyfriend. Years later her body is found and her murderer has to be found. It was a little longer than necessary and slightly dry. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickBook 120
Bewilderment is a great book for a book club discussion. Well-written, it's an almost-realistic, sci-fi/apocalyptic story about autism and medication culture. There aren't easy answers but the book is a great impetus to asking valid questions. Beautiful characters and relationships. Not for everyone, but worth the read.
pickBook 121
I listened to Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry. Two high school seniors in toxic families leave to make a better lives for themselves. Entertaining but not a lot of depth. 3.5 stars
pickBook 99
The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake was an excellent listen. Set in London in the 1800's, Nora, who lost her parents in a pandemic, is raised and trained in medicine by a doctor, in a time when a female practicing medicine was illegal. The characters are strong, and I will read more by the author. 4 stars
pickBook 101
I listened to The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James. It's a mystery/thriller set during the 1920s about two mediums, one who was killed at a seance and another who's unwillingly drawn in to solve the murder. The author writes unique, dark characters and plots. The settings quintessential and eerie. 4 stars
pickBook 112
The Measure, by Nikki Erlick, is a dystopian novel in which every adult unexplainably receives a box holding a measure of string that correlates with the length of the owner's life. Some choose to look at their string, others are forced to look, and some never look. The eight characters' lives all intertwine, in far-fetched ways. A great impetus for discussion about mortality, but the characters and book could have been stronger. 3.5
pickBook 111
I listened to Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. A suspense thriller about 20-somethings long-term traveling via boat who end up at a creepy, uninhabited island. The twists seem obvious but go farther than anticipated. A decent listen but not memorable. 3.5 stars
pickBook 102
I listened to The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman. It's set in the Ukraine when there was a nuclear explosion in a plant. Two girls must flee to one of their grandmother's houses. It's a beautiful and simple story about friendship. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickBook 110
I listened to Ellen Marie Wiseman's The Life She Was Given, an engaging story about a girl with a skin condition whose mother sells to a circus. Initially the twist seems apparent, but it's more complex than expected. The characters are strong, but their internal dialogues are repetitive and overly simple. 3.5 🌟s
pickBook 109
The Third Daughter is about the historically-accurate human trafficking of Jewish girls from Russia to Argentina in the late 1800s. Facing anti-Semitic attacks, Batya and her family leave their home in search of safety. Having no food, Batya's parents feel their prayers are answered when a wealthy man approaches them about marrying Batya. The characters are compelling, and the story is very engaging. I will read more by Carner. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
panBook 108
I listened to The Turnout by Megan Abbot. It's a twisty, disturbing thriller about adult sisters that now own and run the ballet studio their mom started. It's dark and has unexpected turns. The characters were flat, and I didn't feel invested in them or their story. 2.5 stars
pickBook 100
I picked up Us Against You at the library because, though I was confident I HAD read it, it wasn't marked it as read on my Goodreads. Expecting to recognize it soon, I began reading. I finished without ever recognizing the book.
pickBook 107
Listening to Count the Ways, my first Joyce Maynard novel, left me surprisingly despondent. The author writes motherhood with clarity and such relatability. Eleanor, an only child of parents that didn't want to be parents, grew up, bought a farm, and created the family she'd always hoped for.
pickBook 106
The Orphan Collector is a fictional novel set in Philadelphia in the early 1900s during the flu pandemic. Pia, a young child whose dad is fighting in the war, becomes the sole caretaker of her infant twin brothers after her mom dies from the virus. Berniece, a distraught neighbor of Pia's, struggles with the death of her husband from the war and her baby from the virus.
pickBook 103
I listened to These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany, a compelling, religious-themed story about three Muslim, young adult, best friends. Raised with expectations to work hard and marry in their faith, they must decide how to balance the expectations of their culture and families with the desires of their hearts. A well-written novel, I hope the author will write more. 4 ⭐️s
pickBook 105
I listened to A Million Junes, a rom-com-esque, coming-of-age, realistic fantasy story about June, an 18 year-old living in her magical, ancestral home. Being raised on stories about how her neighbors have ruined the lives of generations of her family, she has been forbidden to interact with them.
pickBook 104
I love Anne Tyler's distinct, interesting characters and complex family relationships. A Spool of Blue Thread is about the Whitshanks, a family with four grown children, living in a home in Baltimore built by their ancestors. True to Tyler's typical writing, the story doesn't stick with a single generation and jumps to explore previous generations of the family. It is so well-written, but I was left unsatisfied; I wanted more! 4 🌟s
pickBook 94
Northern Spy was a book club pick that I am so happy to have read! It is set in Ireland during a time of lengthy political unrest, when safety isn't an expectation. Tessa, single mother to a newborn and CNN producer, shockingly learns that her sister, Marian, is a spy.
pickBook 98
It's post-Covid, and the world is in the midst of a new pandemic: the infected black out and kill anyone nearby. Chelsea and her daughters, though, have been living with a man who has always been violent. The story is unique and interesting but could have been told in less pages. The characters are dynamic but not all equally fleshed out. 3.5 stars
pickBook 97
I listened to The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. Mariana's a therapist and recent widow. When her niece's best friend is murdered, Mariana rushes to Cambridge to help. A lot of characters seemed fishy, and I didn't predict the ending. With ritualistic killings, this thriller is unique. Four stars
so-soBook 95
I listened to In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead. When they return to their alma mater for a ten-year reunion, friends face each other and the unsolved murder of their peer, Heather. The story shifts between two timelines as the reader learns everyone has something to hide. None of the characters are likable. It was interesting but not stellar. Three stars
pickBook 96
I had such a book hangover after reading French Braid! Tyler's writing is powerful because it's clear and succinct. Her characters and their relationships are rich. She makes astute observations that are so simplistic and relatable that they should be mundane.
so-soBook 93
Sara Grayson's mother, the author of four books in a five-book series, dies and leaves Sara, an aspiring, unpublished author, to finish her series. This is a book for writers; Joani Elliot begins each chapter with a quote from a famous author about writing. That was my favorite part! The characters aren't dynamic; the relationships don't feel authentic. It has unreached potential. 3 stars
pickBook 92
I listened to Bright Side by Kim Holden. Kate, despite having a hard life, is an optimist. She is starting college with a different end goal than traditional freshmen. This novel is a slice of life (albeit an unrealistic life)/love story. The characters are dynamic, and the relationships feel real. It was incredibly engaging. 4.5 stars
pickBook 90
I listened to After I Do. After seven years of marriage, Lauren and Ryan separate for a year in hopes of rekindling their love. It was engaging but straightforward--not twisty, as other novels by Jenkins Reid. 3.5 stars
pickBook 89
Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets is a quick, YA read. Savannah works to uncover the mystery of how her sister ended up in a coma; was it attempted suicide or murder? Everyone is suspicious. All the elements of a good, light thriller are present, but the the characters are shallow. I would read more by Ichaso, but there are more substantial options. 3.5 stars
so-soBook 73
I listened to Let My Lie. Anna struggles to be a mother so soon after the deaths of her parents. As all of Mackintosh's thrillers, the novel is full of twists. It was good but not my favorite. Three stars
panBook 74
I wasn't the right reader for The Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship. A memoir about Catherine Raven's abusive upbringing, early emancipation, and solace found as a biologist living off-the-grid is appealing. What she wrote lacked the human element. Two stars
panBook 88
After the death of his police chief mom, Noah is left with vague clues hinting at a nefarious miscarriage of justice surrounding her ex-partner's death. Slow-pace with a cast of uncharismatic characters, Keep Her Safe was an unappealing read. The twists are predictable. My least favorite book by Tucker. ★★
panBook 87
I listened to Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult. Paige grew up without a mom and marries Nicholas without his parents' approval. She supports him through medical school. *TW: Explicit heart surgery descriptions. (Hearts creep me out!!!)* When she has a child, she realizes she doesn't know herself. The story moves very slowly! The characters aren't likable! There's nothing to recommend this book. Picoult has written a lot better!
pickBook 83
I listened to I Let You Go, another epic thriller with unanticipated twists, by Clare Mackintosh. A young boy dies when he runs into the road after his mother lets go of his hand. A mother hopes to evade her trauma by starting over. The suspense and unexpected extend throughout the novel. Mackintosh is excellent author of her genre. 4 stars
pickBook 86
Clara, immigrated to the US from Ireland in the 1860s, obtains a job as a lady's maid to Mrs. Carnegie, mother of the railroad tycoon. From the house library and Andrew
Carnegie himself, Clara learns business and becomes a confidant and adviser to Andrew. Though the novel is somewhat historically accurate, Clara is a fictional character. Of course, a self-made businessman would never seek counsel from a woman.
pickBook 75
I listened to A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins; it's a mystery about the death of a young man on a boat. With his complicated past and multiple suspects, it isn't easy to ascertain who did it. It was enjoyable enough to listen to and had a twist, but overall forgetful. 3.5 stars
pickBook 76
The Confessions of Frannie Langton is an atypical novel about slavery. Frannie, the daughter of a white English master and a black Jamaican slave, is accused of murder and tells her story, a dark story that includes forced medical experimentation to prove faulty science about skin color--something that legitimately happened. It's complex and compelling, even without likable characters. 4 🌟s
pickBook 84
The Lioness, set in the 1960s, is about a group of Hollywood stars on a safari in the Serengeti. Instead of the anticipated adventure observing wildlife, the stars are kidnapped by a group of Russian mercenaries.
pickBook 85
Poppy is on the cusp of her eighteenth birthday, and she's spent her entire childhood on the run with her family. She doesn't know her parents' real names, what they are running from, and who provides them with safe houses, new ids, and money every time they have to abandon another city.
pickBook 82
I listened to The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner. Lauren, a college student, is hired by Abigail, a retired librarian, to transcribe the diary of her ancestor, Mercy, a woman accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. The story is engaging from the beginning and the characters are diverse and dimensional. I did occasionally feel frustrated by Lauren's decisions, which means I was invested in the story. I recommend! 4 🌟s
pickBook 78
I listened to Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I wasn't a fan of her interview-style books, but this was very engaging. Hannah moves back to LA and has dinner with friends. At the end of the night, she has to choose between going home with her best friend or her ex-boyfriend. The book proceeds with alternating chapters of two storylines, following the effects of each path. It was an enjoyable listen. 4 🌟s
pickBook 81
I listened to The Haunting of Maddy Clare, a ghost story/mystery featuring World War I vets turned ghost hunters. I love books about hauntings! Even as a child they were some of my favorites. This novel is more focused on the mystery of the ghost, Maddy, as well as the ghost hunters themselves. Though it was well-done, it could have been more engaging with more likable, dynamic characters. 3.5 stars
pickBook 79
Reminders of Him is a compelling, light romance about Kenna, a mid-20's woman, who's recently-released from prison for the involuntary manslaughter of her daughter's father. Kenna returns to her boyfriend's hometown in hopes of meeting her young daughter, who's being raised by paternal grandparents. It's a sad and fun, guilty-pleasure read. 4 🌟s
panBook 80
2.5 ?s
I happened upon 4321 while browsing in the library. "A rare find", the GoodReads description, intrigued me. Reading it was, initially, very satiating; the writing is meaty, the observations stimulating, and the endless-references to books and authors is titillating. *Review finished in comments.
pickBook 58
A dystopian, pandemic, end-of-earth novel. 9-year-old Billy survives the pandemic and now has a voice in his head, telling him what to do. Bites off more than it can chew. 3.5 🌟 s
