This contest period's winners were Jeanne K., Marilyn G. and Nancy A., who each received a copy of GOLDEN GIRL by Elin Hilderbrand and MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Richard N B
A Stab in the Dark by Lawrence Block
Matthew Scudder series, number four. Block writes a tight, fast-moving, noire police procedural. Scudder is something of a mystery himself. Oh, we know why he left the force and we’re privy to his demons, but he plays his cards close to the vest. Watching him ferret out the truth is engaging and fascinating.
Trez
Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
Intriguing thriller.
Rose
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
This was a delightful novel about a 14-year old girl, Mary Jane, coming into her own over the summer of 1975 in Baltimore’s refined neighborhood of Roland Park. Mary Jane is hired to be a nanny for 5-year old Izzy Cone. Mary Jane’s parents are conservative Christians and their home is picture perfect. They attend Sunday mass together and are members of the exclusive Elkridge Club. The Cones, in contrast, are free-spirited and their home is chaotic. Mrs. Cone is not a housekeeper nor a cook, and Mary Jane is shocked at the differences between the two homes. Dr. Cone is a psychiatrist and his patient for the summer is a famous rock star, Jimmy, and his movie star wife, Sheba. Dr. Cone needs to help Jimmy overcome his heroin addiction.
shelly
The Brides of the Big Valley by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Ms. Brunstetter along with other members of her family has written a collection of three short stories. Wilma's Wish: Wilma and Israel Zook have been courting for the last year and now with less than six months till their wedding, she can hardly wait. When Israel gets a call that his sister has died leaving five boys between the ages of three to twelve he has no choice but to go and get them. When he brings them home he realizes he must be responsible for them as they are his family. Wilma although shocked had offered to help till he could find someone to watch the boys. The boys resent her and are afraid they might be looking at their new mother.
Michelle
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
I can understand why SHUGGIE BAIN was a 2020 Booker Prize winner. From the very beginning, this book tore my heart out and stomped on it over and over until the end. This was a sad but realistic glimpse into the life of a child growing up with an alcoholic mother in the 80s and early 90s in a poor area of Scotland. What an amazing debut novel by Douglas Stuart, who sadly used much of his childhood to base this novel on. It can certainly be a tough book to get through as the subject matter is heavy and graphic at times, but the writing is magnificent. And the thread that can be felt throughout that keeps you always hopeful is the unwavering love that Shuggie has for his mother.
Angela
One Good Deed by David Baldacci
Baldacci knows how to write great characters who catch you from the first page. His new character Archer is caught between right and wrong and often on the wrong side. You can’t help but root for him.
S
The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club, Book One by Ann Warner
This is a mystery with a difference, it takes place in a retirement community! There are thefts occurring in the complex and a small group of card-playing friends start their own investigation. They may be older but they are far from done living. Along the way secrets are shared and various schemes to catch the culprit are hatched. Each chapter is written from the perspective of one member of "The Naked Poker Club" and the style reminded me of a cozy mystery (without a murder). It is a fun and easy read. Fans of the novels THE 100-YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW, THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN, or A MAN CALLED OVE or those who love the sitcoms Waiting For God, The Golden Girls, or Grace and Frankie should enjoy this book.
Lynn
Hush Little Girl by Lisa Regan
This was an excellent book and is a great series. A definite must-read. Detective Josie Quinn is a very likable character and this is Book 11 in the series. Lots of action right from page one. A very fast-paced read. I didn't want to put it down. I definitely look forward to the next book in this series.
Tracy
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This book follows twin sisters and their daughters over 40 years. It is well crafted and not written chronologically so be ready for quick shifts in time. The story is rarely happy or funny; the characters have heavy scars that leave them joyless. Duplicity and truth are two themes that keep coming up. Who are we? Can we be someone different than who we started out as? Is there a cost?
Karen
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Hooks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let go. I didn’t want to lose the characters by finishing the book. So easy to read. Loved it.
Andrew
The Throne of Ice and Ash by J.D.L. Rosell
I loved everything about this first installment! The Nordic Fantasy genre is a new one for me and Josiah completely blew me away with his writing style and plot development. The world of Enea - The Middle Land - is spectacular and the way J.D.L. brought it to fruition was great! I am 100% a fan of Josiah's writing and I am excited to read his earlier works. New to fantasy or already love the genre, I think you will enjoy this; it was a great introductory novel for me! Family and greed, heartbreak and betrayal, power and STRENGTH! This book was incredible with its societal development as well as the foundation of mythology and folklore.
Sheila
The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan
Eighty-year-old Kathleen craves adventure. Martha is twenty-four and going through issues with an ex-husband and the fact that she is back living with her parents. When she sees Kathleen's ad for a driver and companion for an epic road trip across America following Route 66 she immediately applies and gets the job. I loved this book! Great characters and a wonderfully-written story. As you join Martha and Kathleen on their journey you'll wish you could go along for the ride! I highly recommend this book!
Rose
Murder on the Naval Base by Behcet Kaya
Enjoyable, quick read about a murder on a naval base and the court martial trial of the accused.
Lieutenant Anderson Belguzar has a difficulty life. His stepfather died when he was a young boy, and his mother died when he was 14. He was then sent to foster homes before receiving an appointment to the Naval Academy and becoming a fighter pilot. Along the way, he became friends with Charles McPhearson, son of an admiral. Charles’s girlfriend was the beautiful and wealthy Elizabeth, but Elizabeth had her sights on Anderson. However, Anderson was loyal to his friend, and turned Elizabeth down. Meanwhile, Charles meets Bevin, a sultry and sexy model and falls deeply in love. However, his mother nixes it. Good courtroom drama.
Teresa
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
World War II home front stories are right up my alley.
Teresa
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Very sweet story that’s just right if you’re exhausted by dark or heavy books combined with the real world of virus, violence, and vitriol we’re living in. Likable characters, a little predictable, but that’s okay with me in these unpredictable times.
Teresa
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
A timely story on an important topic, but even though that topic is a dark one, the book is not a heavy, dark one. The characters are believable and likeable. Jennifer Weiner writes characters and stories I wish I could be part of.
Jane
Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel
I'm a big Danielle Steel fan and I've loved all of her books so far that I've read. It's predictable but enjoyed the many things there were happening with Melissa, her sister Hattie, who’s a nun, who she reconnected with after years and the people involved in their lives, especially Melissa and her lonely life in the Berkshires. Everyone has decisions to be made in life, and Melissa gets her life back after losing her 10-year-old son to a brain tumor, losing her husband to divorce. Too many things to describe and I don't want to repeat the plot. A good read overall from Danielle Steel.
Susan
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Such a creatively written book!!!
Jayme
The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin
This was a good historical fiction story, if you like more fiction than history. For a riveting account of The Children's Blizzard of 1888 read THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD by David Laskin. His nonfiction account of the storm is factual and heart-wrenching. Benjamin used information from Laskin's book for her story.
Jayme
The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey
The first few chapters didn't win me over, but after staying with it I ended up enjoying this sad and sweet story about friendship, forgiveness and doggie love.
Jeanne
The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray
THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE by Stephanie Dray totally captivated me and in my opinion, readers of historical fiction are going to fall in love with this book that covers the French Revolution, World War I and World War II. It is centered around three extremely strong, brave and courageous women, Adrienne Lafayette, Beatrice Astor Chandler, and Marthe Simon. The author is to be commended for the outstanding research that went into writing this novel. She is one of my favorite authors and this book is amazing. These opinions are solely my own; I highly recommend reading it.
Jeanne
On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe
ON OCEAN BOULEVARD by Mary Alice Monroe was an absolutely wonderful summer beach read. The characters were charming, realistic and likable. I learned a lot about the history an culture of Charleston, SC. What enchanted me the most was the history of sea turtles. This is a story of illness, struggle, love and most of all family and friends who become family. In my opinion, it was very well written.
Pat
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I was totally engaged with this book from page one. I admit that I loved his previous books and I am a space geek so reading this was a pleasure. It was so believable that such a mission would be necessary to save our planet while experiencing a world-wide pandemic.
Wendellyn
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
This is a wonderful historical fiction story about an earthquake in San Francisco, but it’s more intriguing because of the intense mystery involved. I loved it.
Madeleine
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I absolutely loved this book! My friend let me borrow her copy and I read it in two days!
Karen
Whisper Network by Chandler Baker
Fictional story of sexual harassment in the workplace in the legal department at a company. Some parts are thought-provoking.
Amy
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
Fast read, feels a little like YA.
Barbara
Lilac Girls by Mary Hall Kelly
One of the best books I have ever read. My mom came from Poland to the United States when all of this was happening. She was eighteen years old. Reading this book made me feel that she could have been one of these girls had she not come here.
Nancy
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Pulled me right in from page one. We don’t know where we are, who we are and you need to find out! But soon enough you know we are all going to die if Ryland doesn’t figure out who he is.
Rosa
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
This is an incredible novel (I can't believe it's a debut) that is written in alternating chapters like a compilation of short stories about several female characters in late 1970s Odessa, Texas. The story revolves around the rape of 14-year-old Gloria Ramirez and the aftermath of this brutal crime, how it affects Mary Rose, at whose doorstep Gloria appears immediately after the attack, Mary Rose's neighbor Corrine, a recent widow grieving the death of her beloved Potter, Suzanne, a young mother determined to better her life, young Debra Ann, who appears to have been abandoned by her mother, Ginny. Elizabeth Wetmore's writing is beautiful and poetic, achingly so. I savored all of her words and was sad when I finished the book.
Michele
An Amish Surprise by Shelley Shepard Gray
Looking at things through your spouse's eyes can open up a new road in your marriage. The eyes do tell all. Even for foster child, Miles, his eyes shuttered closed or wide open. Great book, can't wait for the next one in the series!
June
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
Such a talented person and such a good author!! The book keeps moving and is very engrossing.
Michele
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The relationship between Dr. Ryland Grace and Rocky is heartening. (Who would have thought I'd care about an extraterrestrial?) Ryland was smart and funny. The book kept my interest the whole way through. Not my normal story topic but I'm glad I read this one!
Suzanne
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
Loved this book as I was always an Agatha Christie fan but had no idea the back story of her personal life. This book gave me some insight about the issues she was suffering in her personal life. What an interesting outcome. Agatha was definitely a very strong woman and definitely ahead of her time. Reading this book wants me to reread some of her novels again. It has been many many years since I read them; perhaps I will see them in a different light.
Linda
The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear
I've read all 16 "Maisie Dobbs" novels from WWI to WWII England with pleasure. I'm captivated as much by her personal journey as by the mysteries she solves.
Thomas
Ocean Prey by John Sandford
Very good read. It was an enjoyable book.
Sheree
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Fabulous book! There were some very disturbing things in the book but it was so well written. I couldn't put it down! No wonder it took so long to get it from the library!
Lynnsey
The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
Just an excellent debut novel. If you liked WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING you'll love this book.
Lois
The Dive From Clauson's Pier by Ann Packer
Interesting inter-relations among the characters. They are clearly defined and react sometimes strangely to situations. I enjoyed the book although the beginning is a bit slow-moving.
Deb
Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera
Remarkable, heartfelt, deeply nuanced characters, strong sassy women, emotionally resonant, honest, colorful South Carolina scenery, fantastic writing in a well-crafted story. This book should get as much hype as WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. It should be a limited Netflix series. It deserves more exposure.
Shade
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Amazing book. It has an amazing retelling of the great hero Achilles and his lover Patroclus. I was very impressed with the book overall - great plot, world-building and character development was phenomenal, a bit of romance, and the end had me sobbing. I don't usually cry over books, but this one did it for me!
Elizabeth
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
I listened to this book. It was short but had a lot of complex issues about family and how far one goes to protect family and whether loyalty to family should come before truth or right.
Ann Marie
One Two Three by Laurie Frankel
What an interesting book. A nice change from books I've been reading.
Ann Marie
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
I loved this book about a Korean family. I never knew how hard it was for Korean people and NEVER knew about Pachinko, which are pinball machines.
Chris
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Great book with amazing characters.
Laura
The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
Kept my interest. Easy read. Thought-provoking. I enjoyed the interaction between the three characters. Gave insight on how your views change as you get older.
Dorothy
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
A truly absorbing tale with a granddaughter tracing her grandmother's background in order to solve a mystery and learn about her own family.
Donna
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
This is basically a murder mystery but the characters are so well done! I fell in love with them and can't recommend the book highly enough. This story would make a terrific movie if they do it right.
Alyssa
The Girls by Emma Cline
I put off reading this because I read a review highlighting some of the odder writing decisions. It was only a few instances, though, and the rest of the book had great writing and was overall super enjoyable!
Sophie
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS is a very good psychological thriller. It is told from three perspectives: Henry, Lucy, and Libby's. Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite suspense authors. I read four of her other books and enjoyed them all. I’ve heard that there will be a sequel to this book - I can’t wait to read it.
Rose
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn is a crotchety justice who goes into a coma, but not before delivering a message via his nurse, Mrs. Lewis, to his law clerk, Avery Keene. Avery doesn't understand why she has been entrusted to this message. Later, when she discovers Nurse Lewis dead, she realizes she in danger. Additionally, Avery needs to deal with accusations from the FBI about her honesty. She also struggles to care for her drug addict mother, Rita.
Avery's quest to unravel the mysterious message left by Wynn uncovers ties to a genetics company in India and their experimental testing. The company has been proposed merger with an American biotech company, and it is currently a controversial case before the Supreme Court. Entertaining!
Kimberley
A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber
A very disturbing murder mystery during the mid 1800s where the author has captured the high English as well as the Scottish accents of the locals. The terminologies and nuances keeps the reader researching terminology. I also had to research the reference to the “London Burkers”. Readers will enjoy this mystery very much.
Jennifer
Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
Christina Lauren never disappoints! Such a great, feel good story! Loved it!
Jennifer
Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews
Really enjoyed this MKA read! Nice easy read about family and old friendship and love.
Jennifer
The Last Night in London by Karen White
Loved that this book was set in London in both present day and pre-WWII/blitz era. A lot of history along with a little bit of mystery.
Jennifer
Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
I really enjoyed this book told from several points of view that takes place in the South. Old friends and the boy next store make for a great story!
Jennifer
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
Absolutely loved this book! Such a sweet story with an unexpected ending.
Rose
Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering
When something is too good to be true, it usually is, so watch out! Skye Starling is deeply in love with Burke Michaels and after just six mos, they become engaged. Her friends warn her that she doesn't know enough about Burke, and to please wait. But, Skye is convinced this is real.
Burke is hiding something from Skye -- he is married with 3 children, and has targeted Skye because she is wealthy, and he needs her financial assistance. Heather is Burke's wife, who Burke married when they were teenagers. According to his journal, he's desperately in love with Heather. The story is told from multiple perspectives: Skye, Burke, Heather. There are several twists in the novel which are a surprise when they are revealed. I enjoyed this thriller!
Sherri
Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam
Interesting plot - "light" read. Received as ARC so quite a few grammatical errors that were distracting. Finished it, but not what I expected when I entered the contest to receive the book - lots of use of the F word. The story could have easily been developed without it, even with (or especially with) the main character selling sex toys.
Gerry
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
ETERNAL takes place in Rome during the rise of Mussolini and the early years of World War II. It focuses primarily on three young people in their late teens.The story is narrated by several different characters in their own short chapters, and starts off as a gentle story of family and young love, easy to read, and quite enjoyable. But gradually, the tension builds as the political situation in Rome changes and the Fascists join with the German Nazis in war across Europe and North Africa. By the last third of the book, I didn't want to put it down, riveted by the story, and anxious to reach its conclusion, which though not what I expected, was quite satisfying.
Gerry
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad
This beautifully-written memoir focuses on the author's diagnosis with and treatment for leukemia in her twenties, and on her journey back to "real" life after achieving remission. Dealing with serious, potentially fatal, illness is never easy, but for a young woman just beginning her adult life after college, the diagnosis was devastating. Jaouad very openly shares not only the painful details of her treatment, but also her emotional reactions and the changes in her outlook and personal relationships over the course of her disease. Not an easy read, but one that I found very worthwhile.
Gerry
A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe
A WOMAN OF INTELLIGENCE is the story of a woman in 1950s New York, constrained by her role as a wife and mother to a wealthy physician. The characters are well developed, and I certainly felt a great deal of empathy for Rina, who had left behind an exciting life as a translator at the United Nations when she was required to resign due to pregnancy. Her physician husband, oblivious to her boredom and loneliness during her long days at home with two challenging little boys, basks in the adoration he receives for his "heroic" surgical feats and his fund-raising efforts for his hospital. When Rina is approached by a stranger and asked to work for the FBI in an anti-Communist sting effort, she seizes the opportunity.
Gerry
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Four stars for an interesting mystery in a genre (Southern Gothic) that's not one I typically favor. Silas and Larry were boyhood friends, but their paths diverged when Silas left for college and Larry was rumored to have killed a local girl who had disappeared after a date with him. Years later, they were reunited after the disappearance of another girl resurrected accusations from the past.
Gerry
We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels
This debut novel has all the ingredients needed for good historical fiction: well-developed characters, an interesting plot, and just enough mystery to keep the reader engaged. When Elizabeth is approached by a stranger with an unusual request, she initially blows it off. But after losing her job as a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, she realizes that the requested favor may be her ticket to resurrecting her career. Visiting an elderly great aunt of whom she’d been completely unaware, Elizabeth begins to unroll the fascinating history of a Civil War era house and the strong women who made their lives within it.
Gerry
The Sanitorium by Sarah Pearse
Totally plot-driven, with characters who never really came to life for me, THE SANATORIUM is a fast-paced, frenetic tale of murder and intrigue set high in the Swiss Alps, in a former tuberculosis hospital that has been converted into an exclusive hotel.
Gerry
Beautiful Things: A Memoir by Hunter Biden
After reading and hearing so much about Hunter Biden during the 2020 election campaign, it was interesting to learn about him from his own memoir. I particularly enjoyed the early chapters about his childhood in Delaware with the extended family that rallied together to support Joe Biden and his sons after the car accident that took Neila Biden and their infant daughter. Hunter poignantly described his close relationship with his brother Beau, and the painful circumstances of Beau's final illness and death, and the toll that took on him, on his father, and on the rest of the Biden family. I'll admit to finding the details of Hunter's struggles with addiction a bit tedious, but that, too, was an important part of his story. A good read.
Gerry
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
Perhaps I'd have enjoyed this book more if I hadn't waited until seven years after its publication to read it. At this point, Kolbert's broad themes are more than familiar, but I found the enormous amount of detail in her book a bit overwhelming, and for me, unnecessary to convince me of the impact humans have had on our planet. Rather than belaboring the fact that biodiversity is dwindling as one species after another becomes extinct, Kolbert could have engaged me more readily if she'd focused more on just what steps individuals, groups, nations, and/or humanity as a whole could take to stem the tide. Or perhaps, in likening this sixth extinction to those that have preceded it, she's telling us it's inevitable.
Gerry
Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration by Reuben Jonathan Miller
Miller is a black man who grew up in poverty on Chicago's South Side. His father, whom he barely knew, was imprisoned, as were his brothers and many extended family members and neighbors. A professor at the UChicago's School of Social Work, Miller knows the prison system deeply, both from his own family's experiences and from the several hundred former prisoners who shared their lives with him in his research into life after incarceration. "Former prisoners" is actually a misnomer; most convicts remain prisoners even after their release, bound by a web of laws and policies that regulate where they can live, work, travel; with whom they can associate; and in what activities they can engage. HALFWAY HOME is an eye-opening exposition.
Gerry
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
I'd forgotten how enjoyable Philippa Gregory's novels are! This story of Elizabeth Woodville, whose marriage to England's Edward IV put her in the midst of the War of the Roses, with all its intrigue and brutality, was engaging throughout, and as far as I can tell, is generally consistent with the historical record of that era. Since it's part of a series, it ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger, and though I know some of the events that followed, I will likely continue and see how Gregory describes them.
Gerry
Talk to Me by T. C. Boyle
This is the story of Sam, a chimpanzee who was taken from his mother as an infant in the wild, and raised by a junior professor and his wife as part of a research study into language acquisition in chimpanzees. The story is narrated in part by Sam himself, allowing the reader to see the events of the novel from Sam's unique perspective in addition to that of his human companions and keepers. It's also the story of Aimee, a painfully shy college student who sees Sam and his professor on a TV show and impulsively decides to join the group of researchers working with him. I read the last half of the novel in one sitting, eager to see how it ended. I'm sure I won't be the last reader to be heartbroken by its conclusion.
Gerry
The Trigger: Hunting the Assassin Who Brought the World to War by Tim Butcher
In 2012, the author traveled through Bosnia and Serbia, retracing the path taken by Gavrilo Princip from his natal village of Obljaj in Bosnia to Serbia, where he received much of his education, and on to Sarajevo, where he assassinated Grand Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia on June 28, 1914, setting off the conflict that became World War I. Years earlier, the author had seen Princip's desecrated grave in Bosnia, and his curiosity about the lack of veneration in his homeland of this man who had had such an enormous impact on the modern world prompted him to explore further the roots of Princip's actions. His book is a combination of history, biography, and travelogue, and taught me a great deal I did not know about this area.
Gerry
Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella
4-1/2 stars for an amazing debut novel set on and around the Harvard campus. Cady has always idolized her big brother, and applied to Harvard, where her brother had attended for two years, hoping to continue their close connection and share the college experience with him. But the spring before her freshman year, Eric committed suicide, leaving Cady and their parents devastated. Cady decides to enroll at Harvard anyway, partly in an effort to better understand her brother's life and the progress of his mental illness prior to his death. What she discovers there is far different than she anticipated, and leaves her struggling with questions about her own sanity.
cynthia
The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditelson
Well-written, moving and interesting memoir by a Danish poet (in three parts).
Becky
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
Andrews is a master of the light Southern romance with a full-on mystery. This outing is one of her best yet. Letty, with a four-year-old niece in tow, has been accused of murdering her sister and is on the run. Her sister always said if anything bad happened to her it would be Evan’s fault. Letty grabs Tanya’s go-bag (full of cash), her niece and runs. She ends up in a motel inhabited by retirees in Treasure Island, Florida where she attempts to avoid the owner’s son who just happens to be a police detective while trying to unravel her sister’s kinky past. Lots of fun with fully realized characters, a winner of a plot and warming romance. Lots to love here.
Jan
Kings of Midnight by Wallace Stroby
This is my second Stroby book and I loved it. I think it can stand alone but it follows the first book about Crissa Stone. Stone is a thief, feels no sympathy for her foes, joins with losers for projects, usually grabs the money and gets out but there is always a problem, somebody lived that she thought was dead or somebody who got killed has powerful friends. These are quick moving books - fast in and out, Crissa is always saving for the big retirement with her loser boyfriend - but she lives well in the meantime. I love these mysteries, plan to read them all. There is a little sweet taste in both books - Crissa has a child, now being raised by a relative as her own, but the author tries to make Crissa a little more human. It fails.
Jennifer
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Sweet story of second chances at love as well as life. Loved the fact that one of the characters is a pro baseball player.
Sean
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
The classic locked room mystery at its finest. Agatha Christie knew how to write a mystery and this is such a good one. When I read her work I try to solve the crime and give up halfway through knowing I won't be able to solve. I wished the writing style here was more organic and less formulaic but Hercule Poirot didn't disappoint. Overall, a very good mystery.
Jan
Shooting Midnight Cowboy by Glenn Frankel
This is a book for people who loved the movie or the book. Otherwise, I think it could be quite boring. There is a great deal of detail, about the director, especially his first US film and his anxiety or nervousness. There are bits and pieces about the various characters, such as the clause in Brenda Vaccaro's contract that her breasts or nipples could not be seen (I can't remember which it was) and they used pasties, which were sticky. [What a love scene - sticky pasties on you]. Neither Hoffman or Voight were the intended stars but got the roles as second-best; there was a special relationship between them when they were acting. Some of the scenes are extemporaneous, such as Hoffman kicking the cab in the middle of the street. Touched me
Ellen
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
This is an absolutely riveting story of the Dust Bowl, the dire straits of those families who made their way to California for a better life, the cruelty and greed of some people, as well as the love and compassion of others. I still feel the grit of the dust storms and heartbreak of life in the camps. I also feel the strength of those who faced incredible obstacles and persevered. There is so much in this story that is relatable to today in the way people who are perceived as different or outsiders or threatening to a way of life are regarded and described and treated. History does indeed repeat itself.
Dianne
Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens
Tedious fairy tale. Every time one of our heroines faces a disaster you think will do her in, someone turns up to save the day. The storyline is unrealistic and unbelievable. Way too long to keep the reader's interest. This is a book club read. There are too many good books to read to spend a lot of time on this one.
Rose
Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding
Frances Metcalfe is insecure, a few pounds overweight, with a son who is a bit of a handful. After an incident at the private school involving her son, she feels like an outcast. Also, Frances is harboring a secret from her childhood that she has not told her husband, Jason. Enter Kate, the stylish, slim, and put-together mom of two. Kate notices how the other moms treat Frances and befriends Frances, standing up to the mean moms. Frances instantly bonds with Kate. But, does Frances really know her friend? Kate’s daughter, Daisy, is rebellious and doesn’t have a good relationship with her mom. When Daisy puts her trust in an older man, she needs to reach out to Frances for help. In doing so, Frances discovers something bad about Kate.
Rose
Teenager’s War by Michael F. Zboray
I was a young girl during the Vietnam War era, approximately 10 years younger than the author. I remember a lot about that time, mainly how the country was divided, and how many brothers of people I knew were being sent to fight the war. This account of a young man’s experience is vivid, and puts the reader into the war. The author makes you experience his fear, his loneliness, his frustration at the unfairness of treatment, his recognition of heroes. I feel that I gained a better understanding of the plight of the men stationed overseas. I really thought the author did a great job portraying his feelings. I also liked all of the pictures as well as the poems included. I appreciated all the mentions of the men who served with him.
Sue
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
One of the biggest secrets of WWII was what happened at a Bletchley Park, a one-time mental institution. A motley crew of Oxford dons and women toiled under tremendous pressure and long hours to decrypt Axis messages while managing to hide the fact they had access to a German Enigma machine. After the war, those women went back to their daily lives without ever letting anyone know what they had accomplished during the war. Kate Quinn shines a light on the unknown heroics of these women.
John
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Female survivors of horrible events find themselves having to survive again.
Summer
Whisper by Mark Batterson
Page after page of thought-provoking ideas. Going to read a second time in summertime book club.
Jane
The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit by Krista Davis
I highly enjoyed this story. Hard to stop reading each chapter. Figuring out who done was interesting. Pets, stolen jewelry, a festival, neighbors bonding together to support each other. A tour of Portugal by several neighbors. On their return people start being murdered. Going to have to read more of Diva mystery books.
Francisca
The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman
3.5 stars. In 1968 in rural Australia, Tom Hope runs his farm, milks his cows, tends his sheep and tries to find a new purpose in his life after his wife, Trudy, leaves him and takes her son, Peter, with her. Then he meets Hannah Babel, a survivor of Auschwitz and some 15 years his senior, who hires him to build bookcases for her new bookshop. I really liked how Hillman drew these brokenhearted people, how he revealed their pain and their efforts to heal and move forward. Yet, I wasn’t sure I understood Hannah all that well.
Jennifer
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Can't put it down book. The things you do for love...
Beth
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
DEAR EDWARD refers to a boy who used to go by “Eddie.” He was Eddie before he was the lone survivor out of 191 passengers on a jet that crashed in Colorado. While he is in the hospital and after he comes to live with his aunt and uncle, he decides to go by ”Edward" instead. The accident is the dividing line: one life before, another after. Ann Napolitano does a fabulous job describing how Edward deals with his new life. But I don’t think of this as a single story. Rather, this as many stories, all Edward’s.
Rose
Girl A by Abigail Dean
GIRL A is about the survivor of a “ House of Horrors”. The story is told by Lex Gracie aka ‘Girl A’ in alternating timelines. The story begins when Lex’s mother dies in prison and Lex is named executor and heir to the mother’s estate. Lex, along with her little sister, Evie, decides that they should turn the family home, the “House of Horrors” into a place for good. Lex needs to get approval from her other siblings to do this. As Lex meets with her various siblings, she relieves the horror of their youth, when her domineering “Christian” father abuses the children, keeping them in chains and starving them and punishing them. Lex escapes and frees her siblings and spends years in therapy, trying to make sense of what happened.
Ivy
The Moroccan Girl by Charles Cumming
A thriller from the first page, that just can't be put down. THE MOROCCAN GIRL has started me on a quest to read all of Cumming's books.
Dana
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Enjoyable.
Dana
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
Did not like some of the characters, but overall enjoyed it.
Richard N B
The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow
Wow, what a ride! The action is fast and furious, and deadly. Retired mob hit-man Frank Machianno (aka Frankie Machine) is really on his own, with no one to trust. And the reader is pretty much on his own as well. There are more potential suspects than Carter has pills. The action is non-stop and there are surprises right up to the ending. This is the first book by Winslow that I’ve read. It won’t be the last.
Jennifer
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
I loved BEACH READ, the author’s first book. 10 years and 10 trips with your best friend. It was fun to hear where Alex and Poppy went on the trips and live a little vicariously through them. This was a quick and easy read that I just loved!
Pat
Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey
This book has many relational twists and turns...keeps you guessing. I loved the grandmother relationship...so special (and missing in most families today).
Pat
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
Mary Kay did it again! I loved the relational interactions with the characters in this book...as well as protective love of mother. I didn’t want to put it down.
Pat
Italian for Beginners by Kristin Harmel
A delightful book of young adult wanting to capture again the love she had experienced earlier...and how things can’t be repeated! A very interesting and fun, fun book - loved it. Kristen only gets better with each book she writes. Her latest historical novels knock it out of the ball park!!
Mindy Ehrlich
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
I am not a fast reader and read this book in only two days!! Well-written and thought-provoking book about an important part of history.
Lynn
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
“A warrior believes in an end she can’t see and fights for it. A warrior never gives up. A warrior fights for those weaker than herself. It sounds like motherhood to me.” I greatly enjoyed this historical fiction and highly recommend it. Who knows - it might be the encouragement you need to be your own warrior.
Alyssa
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
Fantastic historical fiction with wonderful writing and deeply empathetic characters. This was the first book I read by Allende; looking forward to reading more!
Rose
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding
Nat Murphy is a 21-year-old poor art student living in NYC. She has a failed relationship with an old boyfriend, she is late paying rent, and she leaves the apartment she shares with her roommates messy. She is at her wit's end, when her friend and classmates tells her about being a "sugar baby". Nat is initially horrified, and later intrigued when she realizes she could pay her bills, have nicer clothes, and be exposed to finer things. She agrees to do it, telling herself she will only do it until she has earned enough to get out of debt. Her first date is with Gabe, a 50-year-old successful attorney with an 18-year-old daughter. Nat is a messy drunk that night, but Gabe likes her. After a few more dates, they become involved.
Trezeline
Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah
A story of love.
Laura
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Interesting to learn how long it took to publish the first Oxford Dictionary. I think the book could have been about 100 pages shorter. Dragged in places.
Helen
The Book Shop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser
A fun chick lit! A fun romance set in Northern Scotland. The plot involves a woman named Thea who has just lost her marriage, job, house, etc. She ventures to a new town where she has inherited a cottage and an antique book collection. This leads to her meeting Edward, a bookshop owner and she finds a job and new love. The story is predictable but still a very enjoyable read..
Kimberly
Dear Child by Romy Hausmann
If I had to sum up this book with one word it would be "chilling". It was a solidly good thriller. Told in three voices, the author excelled at the voices of the little girl and the adult victim. However, I thought the voice of the father was rather weak and detracted from the book a little. This was one of those books where your thoughts about who is good and who is bad kept going back and forth. I am definitely looking forward to the author's next book.
Marsha
The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey
I read all three of the Peachtree Bluff novels. Each book focuses on one of the three sisters who gather in this small town with their mom and a collection of other interesting characters. There's a Southern flavor to these stories. Book 3 was a perfect ending to the series.
Hedwig
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
This would have been 3-1/2 stars if the chapters in the present Hollywood were eliminated. The story of Marion should have been her own and not include what I thought were very present-day shallow characters. It really took away from the enjoyment of the book.
Becky
Code Orange by Carolyn B. Cooney
Mitty is a typical slacker high schooler with a crush on the school brainiac. Mitty and Olivia need to research a biology paper. Olivia chooses typhoid fever, Mitty chooses smallpox. In his research Mitty happens on old envelope that says it contains smallpox scabs. Mitty, of course, opens and then smells and crumbles the scabs. Is he infected? Will he infect others? Who else is interested in smallpox, a disease that no longer exists – or does it? Mitty is well developed as is Olivia. The other characters are less well developed and are incidental to the plot. The plot is intricate and after a slow start is heart-poundingly detailed. Good information on smallpox is given and is necessary for plot development.
Becky
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Patrick, or GUP, or gay Uncle Patrick, becomes guardian to Masie, his 9-year-old niece, and Grant, his 6-year-old nephew, when their mother dies and their father enters rehab. This laugh-out-loud funny novel has great depth of empathy for grief and loss. In between the laughs you will find serious takes on family, love, neighbors, friends, enemies, hate, love, success, and a host of other life situations. Well written and empathetic but never preachy, this is a good novel for book groups with a wealth of topics for discussion.
Laura
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Maybe it's me. Maybe I've just read too many WWII books. I found this book flat and uninteresting until the end when they had escaped, the author's notes and their son's story.
Ann Marie
The Starless Crown by James Collins
Very long but I loved the story!
Ann Marie
One Two Three by Laurie Frankel
A little tedious but still enjoyable!
Ann Marie
The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter
I absolutely loved this book. What an amazing plot. It kept me enthralled til the end; I read it in one sitting. Bravo!
Lillian
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
Another extraordinary book from her. I knew three "chapters" in the book would be a joy to read. I can't wait until we get another full-length novel from her.
Jill
All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willing, and Susan Wiggs
Excellent WWI and WWII story centering around the fates of two female spies operating in France. As Babs Langford investigates the meaning of a letter from her now-deceased husband from his lover during WWII, past secrets emerge changing the lives of these three formidable women. People do say goodbye in varying ways ranging from the tragic to more peaceful over time. I highly recommend it if you are a fan of historical fiction set in France during the war years.
Angie
Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver
The book had an interesting premise - a husband and wife in their mid fifties decide after watching their own parents live years in a tortuous dementia-riddled state to end their own lives together at the age of 80 to save their children from going through what they did and not be a burden on the health care system. When death came really early in the book I wondered where the author was going to go from there. What follows is a dozen different scenarios of how their lives could have ended. I got bored after the first 5 or 6 scenarios as they became more outlandish and long. I was ready to off the couple myself just to get it over with!
Sandie
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I enjoyed this book but not as much as DAISY JONES AND THE SIX.
Dawn
Steel Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann
It's rough seas aboard Steel Fear! Navy Seal Finn doesn't remember much of his last mission, and is being sent home aboard the naval ship USS Abraham Lincoln with an uncertain future. But at the moment that's the least of his problems! Finn immediately senses the mood on the 6,000 crew ship is more prison-like than naval due to command dysfunction. Already mourning the loss of four flight members to an accident, the crew is shocked when two other members commit suicide. And even more distraught when they realize the suicides may have actually been murders. When crew members continue to disappear, Finn becomes the prime suspect. STEEL FEAR has characters you will care about and characters you will loathe.
Dawn
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz will be one of my favorite books of 2021! After his first book lands on the New York Times New and Noteworthy list, Jacob (Jake) Finch Bonner has failed write to anything worth mentioning. He considers himself a failure and has turned to teaching as a means to support himself. It's while teaching at a MFA program, he encounters an arrogant and egotistical student who, even Jake has to admit, has the plot for an overwhelming successful novel. Years after continued professional disappointment, Jake discovers that his former student has died and with him, Jake assumes, his story. It's a story to good to let go! THE PLOT, which incorporates a story within the story, is intriguing, suspenseful and I recommend!
Jayme
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Stephen Brusatte
This was a really good book - part nonfiction, part narrative memoir. The author is a noted paleontologist who has discovered several new dinosaurs. You can tell he really loves his job and is a fanboy groupie for leading famous paleontologists. Who would have thought that a book about dinosaurs would be well - joyful. Not only is it readable, but it is also interesting and I learned a bit. Did you know that T-rex had feathers? Highly recommend.
Wendellyn
Thursday Night Murder Club by Richard Osman
Light easy and witty read.
Pat
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
Suspense fills the air when Abigail, a newlywed on her honeymoon in a remote resort in Maine, sees a guy appear with whom she had a one night stand on her bachelor party. Really creepy...
Teresa
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
Combine diverse personalities and back stories, mix with the interesting historical information about the home front in WWII England, and you get a novel that’s different and compelling. I really enjoyed this one, although most of the recipes sound dreadful due to their use of make-do ingredients in a deprived England of that period.
Teresa
Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
This story of stepsisters in a southern Alabama town (and all the stereotypes that setting evokes) kept me reading. One sister is so perfect, it’s a wonder she never won Miss America, while the other sister is her antithesis: a comic book writer and illustrator who proclaims herself a super nerd. Oh, and then there’s that box of human bones found in grandmother’s attic. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Jeanne
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN CUBA by Chanel Cleeton is historical fiction at its best. I automatically know when I pick up a book by this author that I am going to love it and she never disappoints. I was captivated by the story of the fight and struggle and horrific abuse the Cubans experienced as they fought to gain their freedom from Spain. I was intrigued by the newspaper world’s rivalry between William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. This book was excellent and I rated it a high five.
Jeanne
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig
BAND OF SISTERS by Lauren Willig is, in my opinion, historical fiction at its best. I was captivated from the very beginning by the group of courageous, resourceful women from Smith College who go to France to help starving women and children in villages during World War I as they face the dangers of the Germans advancing closer to the front lines. The author did a fantastic job on research and the characters were expertly developed. I felt as though I knew each of these women, and admired and respected their tenacity to getting the job they came to France to do done. I rated it a high five.
Nancy
The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts
Fact is stranger than fiction. Consider the story of a woman who was given a diagnosis of four years to live, who decides to mount a horse for the first time in thirty years and ride across the entirety of America. Annie wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. She bought a sturdy Maine Morgan horse named Tarzan and had a perky dachshund mix named Depeche Toi. Along the way she was gifted Rex, a Tennessee Walker. Annie found a country filled with people who believed in hospitality to strangers, people willing to care for her and her animals. Annie also found a country on the cusp of huge changes. Elizabeth Letts’ new book is a much needed inspiration in an America that has lost its sense of community. It was a joy to read.
Susan
Autumn by Ali Smith
It’s an older book, chosen by a member of our book club based on reviews as one of the best books of 2017. However, for me, the experimental format, the dream sequences, and jumps in time ruined what should have been a terrific read. The premise of a friendship between a much older man and a young girl whose mother was in crisis was intriguing. The novel takes place in the older man's mind while asleep in a nursing home and the memory of the young girl who faithfully visits him and recalls various important moments as their lives intersect. I prefer a more straightforward story told without rhyming words, or odd twists of thinking you’re dead. I will avoid the other three books in the quartet.
Laurie
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
Fictional history family drama at its best as talented author, Pam Jenoff takes us, once again, to the horrendous World War II, 1942 Krakow Ghetto. THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR is an amazing tale of surviving, friendships and bravery!
Michele
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Full of relationship challenges, determination and suspense, I loved this book so much that I devoured it on a plane ride. Can’t wait to see it as a series and to read her next book! Pick it up now, you will be glad you did!
Elly
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Engaging and well written.
Barbara
The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe
Another wonderful book in The Beach House series. But if you haven't read the others, you may definitely read this as a standalone. Written during the summer of 2020, there is so much we can all relate to living through the pandemic. Loved it!
Whitney
The Siren by Katherine St. John
The story was fun and very engaging but a bit long. I personally think it could have been 100
pages shorter. I loved the social media/magazine articles breaking up the chapters.
Barbara
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
Another idea of where Agatha Christie was when she disappeared.
Maryanne
Dancing with the Octopus by Debora Harding
Good character development and very interesting main story. However, there is too much bouncing around between the time frames.
Linda
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
A very moving story about a forgotten time in our not-so-distant history about the Dust Bowl and extreme poverty and discrimination against the people moving to California for a chance at a better life.
Amy
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
This recent selection by my book club was a fast read. For me, it was just okay and almost felt like it came from the YA section. Definitely not my favorite from this author, but I will enjoy discussing it with my friends.
Michele
The End of the Day by Bill Clegg
I liked hearing the story from each character's viewpoint. The story leads you one way, you think, but it turns out that isn't the story at all. Friendships that are guarded at best; are they really friendships at all?
Kimberley
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
It is difficult to imagine what high school as look for the 16 and 17 year old boys in 1943. Eager to join the war effort, age held them back. This story follows those boys at a private, upscale East Coast all-male high school during summer and winter sessions. The storyteller is returning to campus after 15 years to share his account. It is unimaginable that many school districts banned the novel, finding the friendships among the schoolmates questionable.
Trude
A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor
Janna MacGregor is one of my favorite romance authors. She writes Regency romance with smart, independent heroines and has put the romance back into the love scenes. Katherine is a successful business woman thanks in part to her late husband's title but mostly to her hard work. She finds out at the reading of her late husband's will that there are two additional wives! She also meets his brother, Christian, who has reluctantly inherited the title and problems of his brother. Katherine takes the other wives under her wing and tries to fight her attraction to Christian, all the while fighting to keep her past from coming to light. Christian's and Katherine's relationship is engaging and, dare I say, swoon worthy. Sit back and enjoy!
Lynnsey
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
A San Diego zookeeper escorts two giraffes, who have already survived the 1938 Great East Coast Hurricane, on a 12-day cross-country trek. If WATER FOR ELEPHANTS was a favorite of yours, you'll love this story of Wild Girl and Boy!
Marilyn
Send for Me by Lauren Fox
A generational novel based on two stories. We see Annelise and her family with daily struggles of their life in Germany during the aftermath after Hitler. There is heartbreak, love for family and Lauren ties this all together with the love between mothers and daughters. Our book club enjoyed discussing this at our first post-pandemic, in-person book club evening outdoors! It was so wonderful not to be Zooming anymore!
Jessica
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
This was a great feel-good read. A page-turner that involves a bank robbery, hostage situation, a rabbit, pizza, and the endearing connections made between people who are complete opposites. Plenty of humorous moments and a neatly tied up ending...if you like that sort of thing!
Julia
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
Not only a wonderful novel but a look into the history of Fascism in Italy during the Second World War and its effects on three families, one of which is Jewish.
Deb
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
What a revelation about how and which words got into the Oxford English Dictionary, which got left out, why, and where some of the ‘lost words’ ended up. And with men driving the culture, some words had different meanings to men than to women. Although ‘historical fiction’, Pip Williams' research offers an insightful look at the culture of the turn of 19th century when WWI as well as women’s suffrage were gearing up. Likeable protagonists (Esme, her father and her maid), propelled me through a somewhat slow beginning. It was well worth continuing to its conclusion. A great debut effort by Pip Williams.
Linda
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Is it okay to write an original novel based on another (dead) writer's brilliant plot or is it unethical? What happens if someone knows and is very angry with the "plagiarist?" The book is slow at first; but then the pace picks up and is suspenseful. Watch Carol's podcast with Korelitz.
sandy
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this! I loved how each year started with a recap of important happenings, many of which I said, 'That long ago?' The main characters were very believable, many we all know, some like our best friends.
Margaret
Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
I wanted to love this book, but it just never grabbed me. The characters were never fully developed and the story was not fleshed out and too predictable. I loved Sweeney’s THE NEST, but this did not reach that level.
Sheree
Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Lisa Genova
Now I know I am not forgetting; I am just not paying attention. I am so focused on remembering what the next question I want to ask is that I am not paying attention to what they are telling me and that is why I am not remembering things. I need to stay more engaged. She was very good explaining things in words you can understand!
Marylyn
The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey
When siblings find a wounded boy, each of the three begin thinking about life in new ways. The book, not exactly a mystery, took me on a journey that brought up memories of my own teen years and how I faced situations in my own life. The author told the story in convincing and easy to follow segments as these siblings, each quite different, work through their memories and decide how to try to make sense of it all.
Vickie
The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin
Good easy read. Some parts a little far-fetched and some you see coming but it still kept me reading.
Vickie
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Those Bridgerton boys are something else. Made me laugh out loud several times. Very easy, enjoyable read and an on going series that I will continue to read.
Betty
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith
I've grown to like the Isabel Dalhousie series very much. A novel that follows the way a philosopher thinks is a wonderful revelation. The mysteries are engaging; I've wanted to follow each one to the end. Everything in these books is not predictable. Very enjoyable read.
Susan
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer has taken a subject rape and put it into how women feel years after it happens when they keep it to themselves. Two women, one who is raped and one who married the rapist, fight through their feelings.
Myrna
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann
I loved this novel about a family (atypical? dysfunctional?) in small town Texas. I had heard that it somewhat channeled stories from Greek mythology, some of which I could spot, but I was hooked on the saga of the family itself. After looking further into Greek mythology, though, I have an even greater appreciation for the art that went into crafting this story: so many parallels, so neatly worked in! Stacey Swann is a master at crafting plot, characters, and sentence structure. I can't wait till she writes her next book!
Barbara
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
My first read of Elin Hilderbrand - I loved it! Loved the setting, characters, and same time next year premise. A great read!
Patricia
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
I loved this story! A quiet story of twins (brother and sister) after their mother has passed.They live poorly and are kicked out of their home. Then even worse things start to happen to them. Very moving.
Patricia
Wishing for Wonderful by Bette Lee Crosby
Lovely story of love later in life. A man and woman from very different lives fall in love!
Mindy
The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel
This was my first book by Kristen Harmel. I absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful story. A woman who has been running her family’s bakery is asked by her ailing grandmother to go to Paris and track down the truth about her family history. She learns that everything she thought she knew was totally different from the truth and that love does overcome everything. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
LouAnn
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could! I loved Mr. Sullivan’s last book BENEATH A SCARLET SKY and was so pleased that this book was as good as the last. Part of the story took place during the Holodomor in Ukraine during the 1930s. I had never heard of this so I learned something new. The characters were very developed and I felt like I knew them personally. Best part is that like his previous novel it is based on a true story.
Marilyn
Unfollow by Meghan Phelps-Roper
My biggest criticism is the writing. It was clumsy at times. The story was somewhat interesting if offensive.
Janet
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange
I received this book as an ARC from Celadon Books and was really looking forward to reading it. I love the cover of the book and thought the author, Tracey Lange has a lot of promise as a debut author. The characters are well defined with chapters told from the character’s point of view. With that being said, I did find the story to be slow going at times and some of the characters to be annoying.
June
Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger
Such a fun read!! I loved it. It talks about what is really important in life, but it’s done in such an enjoyable, gossipy way.
Nancy
The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
This book takes place in India. Bhima is an elderly woman living in the slums. She works at many jobs trying to get her granddaughter though college so she can have a better life. Things start to turn around when she helps her neighbor, whose husband has died, and she meets another woman who sells at a stall in the market. They join forces to improve their lives. This book is so interesting. I enjoyed reading it and learned so much about India.
Jennifer
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
I listened to this audiobook and initially wasn’t sure I was going to be interested in it. However, after just a few chapters, I was hooked. It’s part small-town drama, part mystery, part family saga, with a lot of tangled webs of storylines. I found myself rooting for young Duchess, whose foul-mouth provided some chuckles throughout the book, and her sweet little brother, Robin. This is one of those books that lingers in your mind after you finish.
nancy
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by By Kim Michele Richardson
Fabulous book. So interesting!
Donna
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
I love her writing and she did not fail in this book either. This book keeps your interest high from beginning to end.
Tessa
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
3.5 stars. Letts mines history to go “behind the scenes” on the making of the 1938 movie that launched Judy Garland’s star – “The Wizard of Oz” - and, more importantly, the story of how L. Frank Baum came to write the series that captured the imaginations of millions of readers. I was engaged and interested from the beginning and felt that I learned much about both the making of the movie and about the people Maud and Frank Baum were.
Elizabeth
Shakespeare in Swahililand by Edward Wilson-Lee
The author's verbose style gives the book a slow start, but he presents a wealth of fascinating material. While Wilson-Lee is generally sensitive, his perspective as a Kenya-raised White Briton makes the narrative flirt with the colonialism he tries to eschew. I don't insist on #OwnVoices authorship in general, but here I think it would have made the tale more dynamic and informative. (At the very least, I wish he hadn't inserted himself into the story so much.)
Liz
The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
Ada is a poor white girl living in the Trace. She runs away from home vowing never to return. However, a year later she has no choice but to return to the swamp and her abusive father.
Matilda is a poor sharecropper's daughter also living in the Trace, with a dream of moving north and making a better life for herself and her family. Horrible circumstances bring these two girls together and they form an unlikely friendship where they must depend on each other for survival.
This is a great and wonderfully-written story where you will feel their heartbreak and also cheer for them with each and every of their achievements, no matter how small.
Jan
Shoot the Woman First by Wallace Stroby
This is the third Crissa Stone book and the best so far. Crissa Stone is a full-time professional thief. She joins with friends when one of them gets a tip. She carefully plans out the theft and has plans for where each member is to be and what he is to do. This theft is a search for monies that were taken from the famous Pan-Am heist 20 years before. Very little was recovered and when someone comes to Crissy with intimate knowledge of the organizer of the robbery (who has just now died in prison), she begins investigation of the old robbery and discovers where the money could be. As usual, her partners are killed, turned out to be bad or are seriously injured. Crissa goes looking for the wife and child of a partner to give them money.
Tracy
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I am actually finishing the trilogy of this series which follows the life of lovable Louisa Clark.
Jan
Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
Warning: If you love/like Donald Trump, do not pick up this book. This book has a U.S. president who visits his Florida palace sometimes. He rents it out otherwise and makes lots of money when the Palm Beach elite are holding fundraisers for their various charities. Kiki Pew was one of the "POTUS Pussies, a group of Palm beach women who proclaimed brassy loyalty to the new, crude-spoken commander-in-chief." Eventually they changed their name to Potussies. At a major fund raiser, Kiki Pew goes outside to catch a breath of fresh air and meets her lover, the tennis pro, who gives her something white to take. She is never seen again. Eventually the manager has to call in a wildlife specialist to remove a Python - 900 guests are expected.
Lana
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
I very much enjoyed the book. Having had little exposure to mythology (through my own choice, sad to say) it was a fresh experience for me and one that I really enjoyed. The book is well written; the story flows easily, the characters are fleshed out and believable, and the ending definitely took me by surprise. Because I had no knowledge of any of the mythical characters, I was constantly having to look at a reference in order to have better understanding. Thus, my only suggestion is that perhaps a glossary of names and a small amount of background on each would be helpful. But I would not give the novel a lower rating on a scale because of this.
Lana
The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman
The author detailed the circumstances facing Pia Lange, a 12-year-old German immigrant girl whose father is serving in the U.S. Army in World War I France, when her mother suddenly dies of the influenza. Living in the Philadelphia tenements, Pia is left to care for her infant twin brothers with absolutely no support system whatsoever. The decisions she is forced to make lead consequences causing her years of guilt and searching. I found it to be a fast, informative read, especially if someone knew little or nothing about the 1918 influenza pandemic.
Kay
The Searcher by Tana French
I really enjoyed this story which takes place in Ireland. The feel of the countryside comes through to the reader.
Janet
Twenty by James Grippando
This is the first book I have read in this series, which starts with a school shooting. Twisty path to the resolution. Fast-paced and very topical to today's headlines.
Janet
The Triangle by Jennifer Victores
Fun story. This is a takeoff on the stories of people who disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle. Involves some time travel. Well-written science fiction/fantasy.
Janet
The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf
Retelling of the Donner Party tragedy in poetic format.
Laura
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Loved this book. Very interesting and timely since we will be traveling to Oahu next month.
Helen
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Another fabulous beach read! Summer reading would not be summer without a Jennifer Weiner book ! The story of women friendships and the topic of rape and assault that involves the main characters is mesmerizing and I could not put it down! Add this to your summer reading list.
Kimberley
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
I did not see that coming. A beautiful beach-side East Coast resort town has a horrifying past and it seems history may have repeated itself. The reader meets Rachel, the star of a podcast on trials. I enjoyed this premise for sharing the story. Rachel inadvertently opens up a closed case and discovers this town and the tightly knit community have many secrets. It is a great beach read and a good length. I hope to come across the Rachel character in future reads.
Dianne
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
This book is over 10 years old, I believe, but the story still resonates. Sage, a baker with both physical and emotional scars, is befriended by an elderly gentleman in her grief support group. He asks her to kill him. His background as a Nazi and her grandmother's experience as a Jew in Poland during WWII unfold. Enter an FBI agent whose job is to track down ex-Nazis among other criminals.
Arlene
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was very atmospheric, suspenseful, moving, evocative, and lyrical. The intimate tenderness as well as deep tension and human emotionality in the storytelling will hauntingly linger for me.
Christine
Christine by Stephen King
Most people are familiar with the possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine who has a mind of her own, and can repair herself. This book is one of the better of Mr. King's earlier work. The character development is well done, and the story develops nicely, with quite a few horrifying scenes throughout. The only problem is it does drag a little towards the end.
Elizabeth
In Times of Rain and War by Camron Wright
Secrets, letters, love, and war. Audrey Stocking had secrets...she wasn’t British but German and Jewish. IN TIMES OF RAIN AND WAR is beautifully written and has heartfelt moments that will require tissues. I enjoyed this book that is based on a real person.
Sherri
The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
Another fun installment in the Outlander series.
Deby
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
I found it to be boring. I read to the end, thinking there was going to be some sort of great epiphany. If there was, I missed it.
Elizabeth
Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells
SISTERS OF THE RESISTANCE is a fascinating account that keeps you on edge. Ms. Wells’ writing keeps the reader interested with the tension of the war and the opportunity to hear about the fashions of Christian Dior.
Brenda
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
I enjoyed this book very much. It was the tale of fraternal twins and their dependent relationship with one another. It was compelling and definitely a page-turner with very interesting characters and plot twists. While I could see where the story was headed, I enjoyed the intrigue!
Jane
Profiling a Killer by Nichole Severn
First book of Nichole's I've read but it won't be last. Nicolas James is a profiler of killers. Aubrey is a medical examiner of victims. There are times when both Nicolas and Aubrey save each other's lives. Also the survival instinct shows the strength to survive. There are murders, romance and lots of danger. But clean read. I definitely recommend if you like crime suspense.
Lori
The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter
Very clever and slightly creepy story about a photographer who inserts herself into the lives of a family. I'm not sure I'll ever believe photographic evidence again! A good psychological thriller - easy to blast through the book.
Gretchen
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
A great beach (or patio read).
Alyson
Palace of the Drowned by Christian Mangan
With the Venice, Italy setting, this story moves you from page one. You can learn a bit of Italian with words sprinkled across the page. I loved every moment and did not see the ending coming. I received an ARC from Goodreads.
Felice
I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust: A Memoir of Autism and Hope by Valerie Gilpeer and Emily Grodin
An extraordinary story of devoted parents and their gifted autistic daughter who was unable to communicate using language until the age of 25. They insisted on exposing their daughter to a rich, inclusive life of art, music, culture, and nature and other people. Using a technique called facilitated communication, their daughter began to type - incredible rich prose and beautiful poetry. Emily had absorbed everything that her parents had taught her! This is a story of resilience. It is a story of family and love and hope and inspiration.
Anne
The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle
THE SHELL COLLECTOR is a cozy book about a woman, Amanda, widowed in the early years of her marriage, her two children (who are terrific), and the life they are trying to make on their own. They move to a seaside town, buy a small house near the beach, and commence meeting their neighbors. The relationship between Amanda and her neighbor Maeve is so comforting, and the acceptance by an older person of the two small children is delightful. Of course, there's a little bit of romance, too!
Fran
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
5 stars is not enough for this book.
Aly
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
This book made me smile, laugh, and cry all at the same time! Such a heartwarmingly pure read. The message is beautiful, the characters are undeniably lovable, and the writing is simply outstanding. Klune's novel will make you want to curl up in front of the fire with a cozy blanket and a warm cup of tea! THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA is empowering as Klune articulates the necessity of inclusion and equality through the voices of his characters. My heart ached at the hatred cast toward the characters, a mirror of our own society. But that ache was soon tended by the love and positively real affirmations from the leading characters. Klune emphasizes that there is a home and family for everyone.
Francisca
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
3.5 stars. Tyler excels at writing character-driven works that give us a glimpse of their lives in all their messy complexity and banal ordinariness. I love the scenes she creates that reveal so much of family dynamics; the Thanksgiving dinner is priceless, as is Rose’s wedding, and Christmas at Muriel’s mother’s house.
Ann Marie
The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
I was recommended to read this from a co-worker at Bergen Regional Library Association and I liked it a lot. It was on my TBR list for so long!
Ann Marie
The Hive by Gregg Olsen
Very good. I like books about cults. Another recommend from Bookreporter.com. Thank you!
Jennifer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
I really enjoyed this sci-fi book. The world building was very good and felt tangible.
Laura
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
I recommend this to everybody!! One of the best books of the year and I've read over 50 so far. How often it is said a book could have been shorter, a chapter could have been removed. Not THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS. Every chapter was full. Loved it!
Ann Marie
Filthy Animals: Stories by Brandon Taylor
My favorite genre is short stories, and FILTHY ANIMALS does not disappoint! I loved it.
Jennifer
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
I didn't really know what I was getting myself into with THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT. I went into it thinking the book would be one thing: two people having a friendship that lasts 100 years and what would that look like.....and in a way it kind of was, but in another it was so much more. Ultimately it is a beautiful story about love and friendship. I laughed and I cried while reading it. This is one that I easily be able to recommend to my friends. It is Marianne Cronin's debut novel, and I already can't wait to see what she writes next.
Jennifer
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Part romance, part mystery, part literary fiction, ONE LAST STOP has it all! I loved the fantastic LGBTQ representation. Casey McQuiston's writing is just so good. A lot of the dialogue was witty, snarky and fun...it reminded me of how I chat with my own friends. The character development is on point. I enjoyed all of the bits with August's found family, aka her roommates (Wes, Niko and Myla), and definitely want to be friends with their neighbor, Annie/Isaiah! I really enjoyed the exploration of August's feelings of being stuck in her own life as set against Jane literally being stuck on the train. It was perfect. I'd recommend this one.
Jennifer
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
This story was adorable --- think The Princess Diaries meets the YA version of The Bodyguard. Izumi is an average Asian American high school senior in Mount Shasta, California, who discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan. Soon thereafter, she is whisked away to Japan to meet her father and learn about her Japanese heritage. Izzy never felt like she fit in as an Asian in America and had high hopes to feel more like herself in Japan, but realizes during her time there that she doesn't fit in as an American Asian in Japan either. Over the course of the book, she comes into her own and realizes that the two parts of her are interwoven together like a braid.
Rose
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
A sweet story set in London in WWII. Gas masks, air raids and bombings change the way of life for Grace and her best friend, Viv. The girls live in London with Mrs. Weatherford, Grace's deceased mother's dear friend. When Grace doesn't receive a recommendation to be a sales agent at Harrods from her former employer, she relies on Mrs. Weatherford's connections to get her a position at Mr. Evans' Primrose Hill Books. Mr. Evans is initially grumpy, but over time, he and Grace form a wonderful partnership. Grace meets George, who ignites a love of books in her. Through the war, Grace begins a series of book readings. Her kindness extends to other booksellers, and it is wonderful to read how the community comes together.
Rose
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
This is a beautifully written book about families that were torn apart in the time of slavery and the aftermath of the Civil War. The novel is told in alternating voices, by Hannie in 1875 and Benny in 1987. Hannie is a former slave who still lives with her former owners, the Gossetts. She goes with Missy Lavinia Gossett and Juneau Jane (the child of Mr. Gossett and his mistress) from LA to find Mr. Gossett who has gone missing in TX. On their journey, they discover newspaper articles requesting help finding members of the family. Meanwhile, in 1987, Benny is a new teacher struggling to get the students interested in learning. Along with one of her students, she uncovers a treasure trove of books leading her to help bring history alive.
