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July 22, 2022 - August 5, 2022

 

This contest period's winners were Donna L., Lisa A. and Susan C., who each received a copy of THE LAST TO VANISH by Megan Miranda and THE MANY DAUGHTERS OF AFONG MOY by Jamie Ford.

 

Sandra K.
Closing Time by Brenda Chapman

4
The final installment in the outstanding Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series, CLOSING TIME by Brenda Chapman is an engrossing mystery with a terrific setting in northern Ontario.

Laura
The Unknown Beloved by Amy Harmon

4
The love story of Dani and Michael was heartwarming. I love historical fiction. I didn't give this five stars as I felt the blending of Dani, Michael and the "good" characters didn't quite mess with the The Butcher. The villain just seem to appear. What was the large man with one good arm all about? There seem to be a some red herrings that never were explained. The writing was smooth and the story kept me going. I want more about Dani and Michael!!

Francisca
Atomic Love by Jennie Fields

4
This work of historical fiction captured my attention from the beginning, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me turning pages. Set in 1950 Chicago, it focuses on Rosalind Porter, previously the only woman physicist working on the Manhattan Project, but now selling jewelry at Marshall Fields. It’s a fast-paced espionage thriller with a romantic triangle. It held my attention and I found it hard to put down at times.

Liz
What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

5
Even though this author has published many books, this is the first I've read by her. I found it on Reading Group Guides. It was absolutely fantastic! The premise, the character development, the red herrings and twists to the story made it completely compelling. Just when you think you know what's happening, along comes another twist to keep you on your toes. I will be reading many more books by Scottoline.

Karen
Hello, Molly! by Molly Shannon

5
I had no idea that Molly had such a difficult life. It’s a heart-wrenching story. I loved every page. I have a newfound admiration for her. A must-read!!!

Christine
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

4
The story was good and the writing style was very mysterious.

Sally-Jo
Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

3
For a romance novel, it was decent. It's not what I normally read. I can do without the detailed bodice ripping. I did like the Daphne character. The brother's were funny, although Anthony was a bit over-the-top.

Michelle
The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger

5
Excellent climate fiction. I enjoyed the different character storylines. This was well researched and very realistic.

Darlene
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

5
Good.

Susan
The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

5
This book was so well written with a three-part time frame, characterization I just loved and I learned so much about the women in the RAF.

Sallyann
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

4
I initially had some difficulty getting into the story. Once I did, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Laurie
Metropolis by B. A. Shapiro

5
Excellent author, Barbara Shapiro has written another creative literary thriller mysterious story! Six people, six secrets, six different backgrounds, all such unique colorful characters. Read METROPOLIS - taut and emotional, I found it difficult to put this novel down! Brava!

Jeanne
On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster

5
ON GIN LANE by Brooke Lea Foster is a fantastic, captivating, well-written historical fiction novel set in the 1950s. Without writing a synopsis and giving away any spoilers, the storyline has all the glamor and glitz of high society during the 1950-era in Manhattan and the Hamptons. It was intriguing, full of secrets, drama and romance. The author did a great job in creating and crafting the characters who fit perfectly with the storyline. It was entertaining and easy to read; I read it cover to cover and highly recommend reading it. I received a copy of this book from the author and Simon & Schuster through Goodreads.

Marilyn
Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz

4
Started reading by accident but ended up enjoying the writing and flow of the novel.

Jeanne
The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery

5
THE BOARDWALK BOOKSHOP by Susan Mallery is a well-written, perfect summer beach read that has the right amount of romance which adds to the enchanting, magical storyline. Three women are each interested in renting a building close to the beach. They discover the building is not only too large for their business, it is also too expensive. They meet and decide to share the lease, share the space and open their own businesses. Bree opens The Boardwalk Bookshop; Ashley opens Muffins to the Max; and Mikki opens The Gift Shop and a strong bond and friendship is formed. Without giving away any spoilers, this is an entertaining, heartwarming, delightful and charming story. The author has a talent for zoning in and creating great characters.

Karen
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

4
Very interesting characters and a storyline that kept me reading until the end. A missing brother, a cast of characters in his apartment building filled with secrets and a sister who won’t give up make for an interesting read, plus, it’s in Paris! A good mystery of sorts with a satisfying ending.

sandy
Outfox by sandra brown

5
Excellent author, very good plot, kept you going.

PJ
Empty Vows by Mary Monroe

4
This is a new author for me and I really enjoyed the book and will most certainly be reading more books by Mary Monroe, the first being MRS. WIGGINS as EMPTY VOWS is a follow-up to it. Reading EMPTY VOWS, I could hear in my mind the voices of Hubert and Jessie and their friends and families. The book takes place in Lexington, Alabama in the Jim Crowe South. Hubert loses his wife and son to separate incidents as well as his lover breaking up with him at the same time. As one would well imagine, he sinks into a deep depression but is helped out of it by his wife's best friend. There are too many half-truths and untruths...

Alice
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry

5
Great book club book - lots of discussion questions.

Michelle
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

4
Just when you thought you’ve read ALL the WWII novels…Washington DC, Lisbon Portugal and Lyon France are the settings in this well-crafted historical fiction gem. And any book featuring librarians and purveyors of the written word will hook me! Can’t wait to discuss with other readers

Amy
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

5
One of my favorite reads of the year! Endearing characters and a sweet ending. I’m now a big fan of octopuses.

Muriel
Desolation Mountain by William Kent Krueger

5
With this book being #17 in the Cork O’Connor series, Cork and his family seem like old friends. I like that Cork’s family members continue playing a greater role in the stories, in this case son Stephen and his visions of an eagle falling from the sky at about the same time as a mysterious planet crash. As usual, Krueger’s descriptions of characters and setting put one easily into the story. The wisdom of midi Henry Meloux is present and the “good guys” are people I can easily care about. The presence of a power greater than us and the importance of family are aspects of Kent Krueger’s writing I find especially appealing. I look forward to each book he writes and have now read all but his latest.

MH
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave

3
I admit to being disappointed in this book. It had the same old trite plot - adult daughter returns home after a traumatic event in her life. There she reconnects with family and finds what she values. In this book, she also runs into trauma at home, starting with her mother in a compromising situation. After a little time (and less reason), she reconciles with both her mother and the old fiancé. The ending was predictable but the explanation for it wasn’t.

Maryanne
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

5
I loved it! Great plot and especially wonderful character development.

Terry
Midnight Chicken by Ella Risbridger

5
Part memoir, part cookbook...will make you hungry!

Cindy
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

5
Talk about feeling a place and the hardships of just surviving. The setting being a huge garbage dump in Cambodia where Sang Ly, a wife and a mother, and her husband Ki, are garbage pickers. They have a sick baby they love very much. It is their rent collector who finally can’t escape the friendship of this couple as she teaches Sang Ly to read, and the big secrets drip out after their befriending. It is so very real, so very raw and so very touching.

Sherri
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

4
Addie wants a life outside her small French town, so when her parents arrange a marriage, she runs away and makes a bargain with a stranger in the night and wonders if she has made a mistake. Fantasy told with a time-travel narrative. Not my normal genre, but I thought it was well written and kept me reading. I listened to it as an audiobook, so some parts were more confusing. I think this would make an interesting book club read as there are many "what if?" thoughts and historical tidbits.

Rosa
The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

5
This was epic. The story spans decades, from 1920 to the present, and is about Domenica Cabrelli, a feisty and independent young girl who becomes a nurse in pre-WWII Italy. Jump to the present and the story continues to Domenica's great-granddaughter Anina, who is preparing to get married. The novel goes back and forth in time as the author tells the story of generations of Cabrellis and their friends and family. The plot is engaging, the characters are colorful and interesting, and I learned a bit about history that I wasn't aware of: the story and plight of Italian immigrants in Scotland and how they were affected by fascism. This story is also a celebration of mothers, which made me celebrate my own.

Sheree
Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore

3
I was hoping for a fabulous beach read and was disappointed. I didn't like the characters in the book and the storyline just wasn't that interesting!

Pat
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

5
Backman never disappoints and BEARTOWN is a wonderful story that draws you in immediately!

Janice
I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart

4
Be sure to also watch the Netflix documentary that inspired the book, "Winter on Fire".

Betty
Joe Country by Mick Herron

4
The sixth (and last, so far) in this series that started with SLOW HORSES. Lots of great characters and dark humor in these books. I hope Herron continues with more books.

Alexandra
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tommorow by Gabrielle Zevin

5
I adored this book. Beautiful story of friendship and loyalty. Wonderful characters with great writing!

Donna
Dragonfly by Leila Meacham

5
Great read. Unforgettable characters. Historical fiction.

Joan
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

5
What a beautiful story! You will fall in love with the characters and the events that bind them together one summer in 1961. The narrator, Frank, is a teenager who is learning and trying to understand the ways of the world. Told from his perspective, the events that shape him will tear at your heart. ORDINARY GRACE is no ordinary read. Beautifully written!

Kathy
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

4
I found the beginning of this book slow-moving, but as I got into it I began to really enjoy! It is certainly different but the more I read, the more I liked it, at times poignant, quite often hilariously funny. “Zott” is an unforgettable character and this is certainly a book which will not be forgotten easily! Very enjoyable.

Dana
Razorblade Tears by S. A.Cosby

5
Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins are ex-cons whose sons are married to each other. The only things Ike and Buddy Lee have in common are their criminal pasts and their shame of their sons’ lifestyle. When their sons are murdered, everything changes. Ike and Buddy Lee form an uneasy alliance to avenge their murdered sons and that is the catalyst for all of the violence and action in this story. What I really enjoyed was the interaction between Ike and Buddy Lee. They both suffer remorse over the broken relationships with their sons and seek not only revenge, but redemption. Along the way, they develop respect for each other and a deep understanding of unconditional love.

Caitlyn
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

4
I loved this book on audio and was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happened at Camp Nightingale fifteen years ago and what exactly is going on now. The history woven in to the story along with the flash backs were super entertaining.

Marilyn
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

5
Fun read. Good story. Good writing.

Kathy
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

4
A very different book for Jennifer Weiner. Not the easy beach read I was hoping for on a 4-day vacation! Story of young woman and her trials as a teenager that haunted her and how she eventually faced the fears and people who harmed her many years earlier. Bottom line: good for the author to spread her wings and pursue a different path!

Linda
The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

4
A historical novel/thriller that focuses on the civil rights movement in 1965, specifically in a rural NC town. The ugly past then resurfaces in 1910 with an unexpected ending. A good book club pick.

Marilyn
Dangerous Witness by Katie Reus

4
This romantic thriller from Katie's Redemption Harbor series is another excellent action-filled read with a hunky hero who saves his one true love from a dangerous criminal. A great summer read for the backyard or the beach.

Barbara
Remarked Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

5
This is a first novel of Shelby Van Pelt. I was attracted to the book because of the title and description. I read an excerpt and I knew this one is a winner. Marcellus is a octopus with little time left to survive. His daily routines of finding more food and going from place to place without being seen can be really fun to read. I never knew I could fall in love with this octopus but I did from reading the first paragraph. To elaborate on the story will give away much and there is so little time left. Shelby Van Pelt has written a story of danger, fun and love. Her next novel will be on my reading list.

Simonne
As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs

5
Another great one by Ms. Isaacs! Her heroine, Susan B Anthony Geretz, is hilarious and brave. I love how she expresses her inner, often inappropriate, thoughts. They are scattered and ring oh-so-true.

Janet
2 Sisters Detective Agency by James Patterson and Candice Fox

5
Hoping this becomes a series.

Ann
The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

5
Have you put your wants and desires aside for a husband and children? Feel like you are taken for granted? Ever wonder what it would have been like with your first love? The main character in this book is feeling this way and decides to do something about it. Enjoy the low country setting. Totally relatable story. Fun summer beach read for sure, but truly it would be good any time!

Kathie
The Queen's Fortune by Allison Pataki

5
I loved this book! What an amazing life she lived.

Rose
The Whispers by Heidi Perks

3
When Grace moves back to her hometown, she hopes to reunite with her childhood best friend, Anna, only to find that Anna has moved on with three new friends and doesn't have a place for Grace. Just when you think you know what is happening, wham, party two comes along and upends everything. This is a psychological thriller about friendships, secrets, and control.

Rose
The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

4
Alice Ogilvie has a fascination with Agatha Christie and actually copied Christie's disappearance last summer after her best friend and Alice's boyfriend got together. Now her former best friend, Brooke Donovan, heiress to the Levy fortune is missing after a fight with the boyfriend, witnessed by many. Iris Adams, a fellow student, is tutoring Alice, and saw Brooke running from the fight before disappearing, seemingly into thin air. Now Iris and Aice team up to solve the mystery. This is a YA novel that includes domestic abuse, loneliness, and date violence along with the fun amateur sleuth theme. I really liked Alice and Iris and hope we hear more from them - the ending makes it seem as if a sequel is possible.

Rose
Our Little World by Karen Winn

3
This is a book about two sisters in small town Hammend, NJ, a fictional town. When a neighbor disappears, both sisters withhold info. One year later, the younger sister dies. A very sad story. Bee (Borka) always felt a bit jealous of her younger sister, Audrina, because Drina was slim, pretty, and popular. When a tragedy shatters their small town, their family fractures in different ways. Young Sally, 4 years old, disappears when Bee's family and the neighbors head to the lake. Bee and Drina don't tell everything to the police (but it would it have mattered?) This becomes a defining moment, and from then on the sisters have a strained relationship.

Therese
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

5
Great. My book group will be discussing it on August 10.

Becky
Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare

4
4.5 stars. Ambition, revenge, poison, murder.

Becky
The It Girl by Ruth Ware

4
4.5 stars. Secrets, murder, doubts, innocent?

Jean
Broken Harbor by Tana French

4
The fourth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, BROKEN HARBOR is another excellent exploration of how the personalities of the detectives affect how they work together to solve the crime. Who killed the victims is not obvious and several credible suspects are considered. This is a sad story about how believing you've achieved your dreams can ruin your life when you realize your life has failed.

Jill
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

4
Reid's novel about a famous movie star told through her marriages to seven husbands and about the true love of her life captures so much about fame and its costs. Evelyn Hugo is an "IT" glamour girl who rises to dizzying acting heights in the Hollywood of the 1960s - 80s. She picks Monique, a low-level magazine writer, to chronicle her life story, complete with its scandals and controversies, for reasons that become clear over the course of the novel. Evelyn is a compelling character who made dubious choices at times, but the story inspiring in that a woman made such a life for herself. A great read into what Hollywood is all about and the price of fame as well as its rewards.

Rose
Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill

4
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. YA novel about a runaway who lies. The runaway is in a shelter and is being turned in by them, so he takes on the ID of Daniel Tate, a boy kidnapped 6 years earlier who never returned. However, something doesn't seem quite right. Why doesn't Daniel's mother realize this young man isn't her son? Why are the family members so careful about protecting Daniel? What secrets are they hiding? This book had several surprises and twists. There were clues throughout the book, but still the end held a good twist.

Rose
Hotel Portofino by J. P. O'Connell

3
Bella and Cecil open a hotel and various people's lives and romantic dalliances are detailed in this novel. There is also an art heist. I didn't care about any of the characters in this story.

Rose
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

4
A child, Lulu/Lauren, goes missing. Her sister, now grown, decides to search for her. Dee rents a home across from Ted who was questioned in the disappearance. In Ted's house, there is Ted, Lauren (his "daughter'), and Olivia the cat. The story is told by all of these characters, but it isn't what you might think. This is a sad story about a family and how abuse can change everything. This is a psychological thriller/horror story with several mind-bending twists. I didn't have a good clue as to what was happening until the store where Lauren was trying on tights. That was my first hint that things were probably not what I was originally thinking. The story and its conclusion were a surprise, but well plotted.

Lana
Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl

3
While in grade school, I was fascinated with a children's book in our school library about the Kon-Tiki voyage. I can still see some the wonderfully illustrated pages in my mind's eye. I'd been wanting to read the adult version as part of my goal to read as many books on James Mustich's 1000 Books to Read Before You Die, but finding a copy was difficult. Luckily a nearby small-town library still had a 1950 first edition copy! It was rebound in the lovely orange binding and even that copy had a lot of wear, but it was great to be able to read the same edition as an excited 1950 armchair explorer in the middle of dry, flat, landlocked Kansas. Parts of the book were totally enjoyable and other parts were "flat", thus the 3-star rating.

Rose
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner

4
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Helen Thorpe is excited that she and her sister-in-law are both pregnant. She schedules prenatal classes, but when Helen's husband, Daniel, nor Serena or Rory attend, Helen's life changes. A young woman in the class, Rachel, befriends Helen and starts showing up everywhere. Helen starts finding notes to RRH, her brother's initials, and she begins to suspect something. When Rachel disappears, events from 10 years earlier, when the two couples were both attending Cambridge together, come to light. You feel that something sinister is happening, especially with the notes, the Greenwich Park scenes, the money, the current court case that Katie reports, but you aren't quite sure what, and then the confession happens.

Rose
The Choice by Gillian McAllister

3
When Jo believes she is followed home from a bar, she pushes a man away from her. He falls and is unconscious. Now Jo has to make a choice, does she reveal or conceal what happened? This book is cleverly written to show what Jo's life would be if she follows each path, and how it affects her, and the lives of her husband and friends. It is an interesting concept to write the same story based on making one choice or another.

Rose
The Truth About Ben and June by Alex Kiester

4
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. June and Ben have just had a baby a few months earlier, named Mikey. So when Ben wakes to find June gone, he tries to understand why. Told in both the current day and the past, we hear from June how she feels her life as a dancer was never realized, how her mother died before seeing June become a mother or a dancer on Broadway. June has postpartum depression. This is a story of a woman's deep depression and the husband who won't give up on her.

Rose
Dare Me by Megan Abbott

2
Beth and Addy are best friends and cheerleaders at their high school. Then, they get a new cheer coach and the dynamics of their friendship change. Beth is no longer captain is jealous of the sway the coach has over the team. When someone dies, Addy wonders about Beth's role in things. This book is a nasty look at teenage girls, presenting them as drugged, drunk, and sleazy. The relationship with their coach is inappropriate. I was not a fan of this book.

Rose
Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone

4
This is a cleverly-crafted thriller which may take you completely by surprise. When Ariel accompanies her husband, John, on a business trip to Lisbon, she is shocked to awaken to find him missing. He has been kidnapped and the ransom is three million Euros. Ariel contacts her former husband and also the candidate for US VP, who took something from Ariel 14 years earlier. As the police, CIA, and journalists become involved, the story is revealed. There were some tense moments as Ariel navigates through Portugal and all the authorities. I was completely surprised by the reveal. Well done!

Rose
The Good Sister by Gillian McAllister

3
Martha hires her sister Becky to be the nanny for her newborn daughter, Layla. Martha and Scott, her husband, both leave on work trips when Layla is only 8 weeks. Layla cries all the time, and when Becky awakens to find Layla dead, Becky is accused of murder - and smothering Layla. Now on trial, Martha struggles to believe her sister is capable of this crime. Told in witness testimony and memories of what actually happened, this is a parents' and sibling's worst nightmare.

Rose
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby

4
S. A. Cosby always writes gritty, gut-wrenching novels. In this one, two ex-cons get together to avenge the murders of their sons. While admitting they weren't the best fathers to their gay sons, not acknowledging/accepting the relationship while the sons were alive, Ike (Black) and Buddy Lee (White) search to bring their sons' murderer to justice. They uncover secrets of the community in some very powerful places, and involving some powerful men. You feel the desperation and the anger in the words that S. A. Cosby writes - always a good read!

Rose
Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

4
Yinka is an Oxford-educated British Nigerian woman in her 30s. When her cousin becomes engaged, Yinka's family asks -- Yinka, where is your huzband? Yinka finds out that her ex-boyfriend will be at the wedding, so she plans Operation Wedding Date to get a date so that she can show her ex that she is dating. However, she begins to compromise herself. Her family and friends are concerned that she is changing. Many of the parts of this book are laugh-out-loud funny, while other parts are sad, as you recognize that Yinka is trying to adjust to fit someone else's ideals. Ultimately, Yinka takes stock of what she is doing. I really enjoyed this novel.

Rose
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

3
Casey Fletcher is a recent widow after her husband drowned in the lake last summer. She drowns her loneliness and the end of her career by drinking all day and watching her neighbors with her husband's binoculars. When she rescues Katherine from the lake, she becomes involved with the couple. Then, Katherine disappears, and Casey suspects Katherine's husband, Tom, of foul play. As Casey investigates the disappearance, she has to face some secrets and truths about her husband. You have to suspend disbelief as you read this book. When things become ridiculous and implausible, the book loses its luster.

Rose
The Perfect Roommate by Minka Kent

3
Meadow is homeless, living out of her car. She is a college student but can't afford to live on her own. When an ad for a roommate is posted, she can't believe her luck. The house is perfect, her roommate Lauren takes her in as a friend, shares her clothing with Meadow and even has her guy cut Meadow's hair. Meadow becomes entrenched in Lauren's life. So, when Meadow sees Lauren and a professor getting cozy, Meadow is upset, because Meadow cleans the house of the professor and his wife, who is expecting their child. Meadow has become a great roommate to Lauren, but when things start getting desperate for Meadow, she wonders if everything was real or fake. Who is really the perfect roommate. Super quick read.

Rose
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

3
Cute story about a weather girl and the sportscaster at the TV station. Ari and Russell work together and are concerned that their bosses (who are exes) make the station a difficult place to work as the exes are constantly fighting. Ari and Russ concoct a plan to get the bosses back together, hoping that the station working environment will also improve. What they didn't expect was that by working together on this plan, they would fall for each other. However, Ari has depression issues which make it difficult for her to be completely open and honest with Russ. Also, Russ has a child from a previous relationship, and he isn't sure how to be both a father and a boyfriend. This is a rom-com with a serious side, but I liked The Ex-Talk more.

Richard N B
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

3
First in the space-opera series Vorkosigan Saga introduces the reader to this family. We have a kick-ass heroine, Commander (later Captain) Cordelia Naismith and the leader of the enemy forces, Captain Aral Vorkosigan. Lots of intrigue, adventure, drama, danger, politics and plot twists to keep the reader turning pages. And witty banter to show the attraction between these two. I doubt I’ll continue the series (just not my preferred genre), but I was entertained and enjoyed it.

Susan
Here We Go Again: My Life In Television by Betty White

5
What's not to love about Betty White! This book is such an interesting look inside her life in television from the beginning. Betty's personality comes through in her stories of working with many famous friends. This book is such a joy to read!

Teresa
The Hotel by Pamela Kelley

4
A good summer read about a family business - a classy hotel on Nantucket.

Kathie
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

4
If you love his show Searching for Italy, pick up this gem. Appreciated his honesty in talking about his life. His love of family, food, and Italy shines through. The recipes included were a bonus treat for me. Like a good meal, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Beth
A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardsson

3
The story was divided into three parts - it describes the family life surrounding a 18-year-old named Stella and her parents and their involvement in the murder of a man from the perspective of the girl, her father and her mother. I liked the part that was written from the girl's point of view but not so much the parents. I found the plot unrealistic but was fascinated to learn about the Swedish legal and penal system, which is so different from ours.

Sherri
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

4
Wildly creative. Gaiman really thinks outside the box.

Renee
Gloryland by Shelton Johnson

5
Beautiful, painful, compelling American story. A little history of hate healed by Yosemite. Poetic truth telling. A must read for Americans in the 2020s.

Rose
The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake

4
I read this as part of The Big Library Read in July 2022. This book details medicine and surgery in the 19th century. It was very interesting to read about how women were not allowed to practice medicine, how there were to be no surgeries on the abdomen, and how they amputated many limbs once there was an infection. It also detailed the beginning of anesthesia. Very interesting historical fiction.

Michelle
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

4
Remarkable story of Malala, a smart, heroic, and compassionate heroine of education for girls. The first third was a little slow and could probably have been trimmed down, but the core message is so important and worthwhile to keep reading.

Kay
A Sunlit Weapon by Jacqueline Winspear

5
Maisie is pulled into a very complicated plot to assassinate Eleanor Roosevelt on her trip to England. It's a race to uncover who and where they are hiding before they can carry out the deed. Thanks to a woman ferry pilot who hires Maisie to find out how a fellow pilot was killed, why an American is bound and gagged in a local farmer's barn and an American soldier is missing. Maisie works with her American husband to foil the plot.

Laura
The Measure by Nikki Erlick

4
One morning every 22+ year old in the world gets a box. In that box is a string that represents the length of the person's life. The book follows several characters as they traverse their lives knowing or not knowing their string length. While some of the repercussions are obvious, the author hit some points that I did not even think about. A fun and thought-provoking read.

Sandra K.
In a Midnight Wood by Ellen Hart

3
This is the latest in a long-running series. I have enjoyed all of the series that I have read and look forward to reading those that I have missed.

Rose
Notes On Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach

3
This novel is told by Sally, the younger sister of Kathy. It begins in the 1990s, and Kathy and Sally share stories and secrets. Both of them are in love with Billy, the local high school sports star. When Billy saves Sally at the pool, he is invited to join the family for dinner. Kathy and Billy begin dating and Sally basks in their relationship. When Kathy is killed, this ties Billy and Sally together in their shared trauma experience. As the family tries to deal with Kathy's death, Sally enters into some destructive behavior, but always pines for Billy. Now, at age 28 and engaged, Sally must confront her feelings again. This is a sad tale of a sisterhood cut short, and a love that begins as a crush but is cemented over the years.

Sean
Angels Flight by Michael Connelly

5
Michael Connelly is back with another look into the life of LAPD detective, Harry Bosch. He and his team are assigned the unenviable task of solving the murder of a lawyer that has sued the police department, and won, multiple times. The story takes a ton of twists, all very dark. Again, the police work and how Bosch works a case is on display. You get to see the political side that is frankly terrible and even more so given the racial injustice at the time (sadly, currently as well). The book had me hooked from the very beginning and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, bang. Overall, a novel that's isn't uplifting in any way but had me enthralled.

Amy
The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

4
Fantastic book! This book had the perfect combination of wit, steam, and romance. Fake dating is a top tier trope and I will not apologize for the opinion.

Rose
First Born by Will Dean

4
This book surprised me in multiple places. I was completely taken in by the author! Molly was born a few minutes behind her twin, Katie (KT). She has always felt inferior to her socially exciting sister, so when Katie left to go to NY and attend Columbia with a special award, Molly stays behind in London. Then, Molly receives a phone call from her parents notifying her that Katie is dead. Shocked, Molly flies to NY to be there for her parents and to investigate the murder. Then, everything becomes very mysterious. As Molly digs into Katie's activities in NY, she finds out about her boyfriend, her professor, her close friend, and the man who gave her the award to attend Columbia. And, nothing, NOTHING is what you think!

Francisca
Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz

4
In this memoir, Díaz relates her childhood and teen years with brutal honesty. She grows up in Puerto Rico and Miami, with a mentally ill and drug-addicted mother and looks to her friends for the love and support she does not get at home. I found her writing gripping and enthralling. There were times when I wanted to turn away, because the scenes were so painful, but her writing kept me going. My heart went out to the young girl and struggling teenager. I applauded the woman she became.

Felice
Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany's Wealthiest Dynasties by David de Jong

5
Nonfiction. Disturbing factual informative work of investigative journalism which documents the atrocities of the wealthy German families that supported the Nazi regime and employed slave labor from the concentration camps. This disturbing book brings to light the horrific truths of major companies such as Porshe, Krupps, Daimler-Benz and Quandt and how they became part of the Nazi machine. How their grandchildren now live in castles and estates that were essentially stolen from Jews, many of whom ended up in concentration camps. These are truths that need to be known.

Adrien
The Girl Who Survived by Lisa Jackson

4
I thoroughly enjoyed reading THE GIRL WHO SURVIVED. It is a fantastic, suspenseful novel. I had chills reading the last few chapters.

Susan
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

4
Great writing! Had me from page 1.

Dale
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura

2
There was no real point or storyline that made sense to me. It was poor writing in my opinion. Was hoping the ending would bring me some satisfaction, but sadly it did not.

Trezeline
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

4
Very detailed analysis of the death penalty in America in story form.

Dianne
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby

4
A gay bi-racial couple is killed. Their fathers, frustrated with police progress, decide to find out who was responsible for their sons' deaths. What ensues is violence worthy of a Die Hard movie.

miranda
Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan by Liz Michalski

5
I had heard about this and seen it around but really didn’t think it was for me. Then it came in my Once Upon A Book Club box and I was like, "Well, okay." I am BLOWN AWAY by how much I absolutely loved this! I was resistant because I am a true crime, murder, mystery, psycho thriller-type person, so the thought of magic and fairy tales just wasn’t appealing, but this this is like the dark side of fairy tales and reality related/based - I was "hooked" (see what I did there...) immediately!

Margaret
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

4
This is an older novel of Tyler's which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1983. It deals with family life, is set in Baltimore during 1950s and 1960s. It's told from alternating points-of-view from members of a dysfunctional family. I felt love existed in this family even though the fractures in their relationships were evident. Tyler creates and develops characters in a way that brings them to life. She writes about world-wide subjects: forgiving and loving each other, being kind and accepting, and the moral obligations of parents to their children and children to their parents.

Tessa
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

4
For this work of historical fiction, Wingate was inspired by actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, wherein newly freed slaves search for family members from whom they’d been separated. She uses the ubiquitous dual timeline for this story, and while I’ve come to really dislike this device, I thought Wingate did a marvelous job in this case. I was interested and engaged from beginning to end, and I really appreciated learning about the “Lost Friends” advertisements.

Sandra K.
The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths

4
I've been hooked on this series since the first book, THE ZIG ZAG GIRL, and this, the fourth in the series, is probably the most engrossing and thrilling yet.

Debbie
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

3
I am slowly reading Agatha Christie and really enjoy this adventure. Yes, many of the books contain the same characters and plot, but variations do exist. In this yarn, an old man summons his relatives for a Christmas celebration. Before the festivities begin, Simeon Lee is murdered. Who is the culprit? Enter Hercule Poirot and his little gray cells to expose the murderer. I love the description of characters! The setting shows the thoroughness of Agatha Christie. Christie does not employ the gruesome details of death that many writers fall heavily upon. I enjoy Christie’s exploring the multiple reasons for murder among the family. The sins of the past always catch up with an individual.

Anna
The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

5
I love the many books Trigiani wrote - I relate a lot with her reminiscing about her Italian heritage as I'm a first generation born in America. I have read 8 of her books. The last one, THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE was recommended by your Bookreporter.com newsletter. I am now reading, THE MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE BIBLE SPEAK given to me for Mother's Day this year. I must add this -- I just turned to the ripe age of a hundred and one years old this past weekend!! PS: I enjoy Bookreporter very much!

Debbie
That Summer by Jennifer Weimer

3
THAT SUMMER by Jennifer Weimer did not interest me at first and I almost did not finish reading. The book discloses strong women devoid of a college degree fighting for equality. A fifteen-year-old girl goes to Cape Cod as a mother’s helper. The summer ends with Diana, the mother’s helper, being raped by an entitled boy that she loved and trusted. Many years later, Diana tracks her tormentors and seeks revenge. Enter Daisy/Diana, Beatrice, and Hal as the ideal family. Daisy centers all her love and energy on home. Her teen-age daughter, Beatrice, rebels against all the comforts of an ideal life. I like the method that Weiner utilizes to show that education and corporate jobs are not the measure of success.

Margaret
Beneath the Bending Skies by Jane Kirkpatrick

4
Historical fiction about Mary "Mollie" Sheehan Ronan, in Montana in mid-1800s. Novel follows her thru the years as a young girl who loses her mother but then gets a loving stepmother, finding courage to stand up to her father, then on to her marriage & family life on Flathead Reservation where spouse is a Federal agent. Many interesting side stories about Mollie's education, family life as they moved from place to place, what life was like in Montana during that era, & the various family relationships. I enjoyed reading about her positive dealings with the Salish, Kootenai, & Pend d' Oreille tribes. She was a strong, positive, Christian woman who struggled to find her place in the world. Thanks to Revell Books, via LibraryThing, for an ARC.

Rose
The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs

4
Caroline Shelby has always had an eye for fashion, eschewing working at her family's restaurant in favor of spending hours sewing. So, when her friend, fashion model Angelique is killed, and designer Mick Taylor steals Caroline's designs, Caroline flees back to Oysterville with Angelique's children, Flick and Addie, to rebuild her life. She left years earlier after the man she adored since she was a teen, Will Jensen, married her best friend, Sierra. Now, back in Oysterville, Caroline must come to terms with her love for Will and being a mother to these two children, while trying to recreate her dream of being a fashion designer. This is a sweet story of love, family, and friendship, along with following your heart and your dream.

Rose
All the Dirty Secrets by Aggie Blum Thompson

4
I enjoyed this book mainly due to its location - set in DC, suburban MD, and the beaches of DE - all areas familiar to me. 25 years earlier, Liza Gold and her prep school friends went to the beach for Senior Week (Beach week). Her friend, Nikki, went missing after they all went swimming late at night, after drinking. Their friend, Whitney, withdrew from the friend group after Beach Week, and now just Shelby and Liza, along with friends Archer and Todd, still get together. Liza's teen daughter, Zoe, and Liza butt heads constantly, but when Zoe's best friend, Emery is murdered, Zoe is in danger, and Liza realizes that there are many similarities to Nikki's death years earlier. Chilling story of protecting your status at all costs.

Rose
Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton

4
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This book went on a bit long for me, but ultimately it was an interesting story that took a while to unravel the why and what of the mystery. When Charlie goes missing, the detectives determine that people are hiding things. Charlie's wife, those who went out with him, and others. This was an elaborate story that had its roots in an event that happened years earlier when Charlie's daughter was attacked during a robbery. I would have liked this more had the story not taken so long to get to the solution and the reveal.

Rose
Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering

4
Molly and Jake meet when they are both in their 20s. They feel an immediate connection. While Molly is finishing her MFA, Jake is trying to make it big with his band. Jake swears to Molly that he has broken up with his girlfriend Sese, and is in love with Molly. However, the touring and Jake's selfishness regarding his music take a toll on their relationship. Now, several years after their breakup, Sabrina befriends Molly. She is out to get Molly because she believes Molly stole Jake from her. Sabrina is actually Sese, and is now married to Jake, but she is out to extract revenge on Molly. While Molly is happily married to Hunter, with a daughter, Stella, Sabrina wants to destroy Molly. Obsession, love, revenge, jealousy.

Donna
The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

5
I am a fan of Trigiani and this multi-generational saga did not disappoint. Matilda Cabrelli faces the end of her life and wants to share a long-held secret with her family about her own mother’s great love story: with her childhood friend, Silvio, and with Scottish sea captain John Lawrie McVicars, the father Matelda never knew. She experienced love, loss, and grief and finds that her family is facing those same issues. No family is perfect and the story shares those family situations. the message here about how important it is to share our family stories. As Matelda says, “A family is only as strong as its stories.” A great read for historical fiction fans.

Richard N B
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

4
Subtitle: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. This is the memoir of an extraordinary young man, the son of a Malawian farmer, struggling in poverty and through famine and drought, but following the spark of inspiration, his own thirst for knowledge, and a desire to help his family and community. William saw a need and thought, “What if?” As he explained to a TED conference, “I tried, and I made it.” It’s not the best-written book I’ve read, but his story is inspiring and uplifting. Bravo!

Claire
A Dagger in the Winds by Brendan Noble

3
I normally try to avoid comparing books to other author's works in case that book is not to the author's taste, but in this case I have to compare this work to one of the major high fantasy pillars: WHEEL OF TIME. Like that classic, this book has AMAZING world building, an incredibly timeless tone that makes it both magical and relatable, and a cast of super realistic - flawed but loveable - characters. Otylia really spoke to me from the very beginning and drew me into both the mythology and culture of this world. I loved her refusal to let past hurts stop current friendships and promises she made from being her top priority. Full of twists and turns, and an ending that will leave you satisfied that this joinery has come to an end.

Elizabeth
The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland

3
If you enjoy a book where you will be thrown off track, and if you enjoy books about the CIA and FBI, this book should be a good one for you.

Beth
The Sewing Girl's Tale by John Wood Sweet

5
How could I give THE SEWING GIRL'S TALE less than five stars even if I found it tedious at times? Every bit of it, down to the smallest detail, is provably true, even though the facts took place during the 18th century, most the 1790s. And it is all so interesting I found myself reading the appendix just to learn how he could be so sure. Yes, this story begins with the rape of a 17-year-old girl, Lanah Sawyer. But, although descriptions of THE SEWING GIRL'S TALE give the impression the entire book is about that and its aftermath, I would argue that it’s more.

Amy
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

4
While I preferred the first book in the series to this one, it was still a great read. I sometimes had trouble keeping all of the characters straight, but the twists at the end were better than the first book. I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy to come out in 2023!

Elizabeth
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

5
Two brave women, two countries, and WWII. You have to read this book to experience the hope and determination within.

Cora
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

5
I haven’t read a novel of Chevy Stevens that I haven’t liked so far; STILL MISSING is my favorite. The twists in this novel kept me on edge and were unexpected. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys thrillers and crime.

Margaret
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

2
Debut novel. Started off fine but novel is too long. Too many social issues: gambling, discrimination toward gays and Blacks, parental abandonment, workplace harassment and rape, domestic abuse, forced adoption, and protection of the oceans. I probably forgot some, there were so many. Siblings gather an audio left by their dead mother telling them all about her secretive life. Too many timeline shifts, too many locations, way too many characters and their POVs. Confusing and some super-short chapters made it seem choppy. BLACK CAKE in the Caribbean is a rum-soaked fruit cake which was a family recipe handed down through generations. Mother left one in the freezer for the siblings to enjoy when the time was right for them to do so.

Margaret
Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips

4
Suspense, takes place over three hours, from 4:55 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. Mother and son visit the zoo. Closing time and as they near the exit, they hear shooting. They run back into the zoo to find a place to hide. Hiding was intense as they try to think of ways to hide. They team up with two women as they all try to stay alive. Novel is thought-provoking and I asked myself what I would do in a situation like this. The instances of animal abuse (not by mother and son) were hard to read. I would have given this novel 5 stars but there were some unanswered questions at the end.

Claire
Leaping Beauty by Gregory Maguire

3
I'm not really an anthology person, but if I had to pick one, it would be this one. It's often times laugh-out-loud funny with its fractured fairytales starring animal replacements for the main cast. As a chicken owner, I think my favorite story was Goldiefox and the Three Chickens since all three chickens behaved very much like real chickens would. I also thought that Little Red Robin Hood was a nice combination of both stories. Though at times Maguire could be a bit too silly, he made sure to add something unique to every story so that he wasn't just rehashing the old stories.

Laura
Metropolis by B. A. Shapiro

5
B. A. Shapiro is a fantastic writer. I've enjoyed everything she's written. She had me right to the end with this one. If you want a book with a surprise ending this is the one ! Loved it.

Peri
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

4
This book is very good. It’s premise is a woman with a difficult little boy who wants to give him expensive speech lessons. Her cheating husband doesn’t want to pay for these lessons. A college friend comes along with a monetary answer to her problems. The scheme involves trading counterfeit designer handbags for real ones at department stores and then reselling them as real ones. What could go wrong?

Susan
The Amur River: Between Russia and China by Colin Thubron

5
Very interesting book. Thubron is a British travel writer and is excellent at describing the people, landscape, the waterways, politics and culture. This is history about the Amur River and the Chinese and Russian people that live along the river. I highly recommend.

Donna
Purrfect Murder (The Mysteries of Max) by Nic Saint

4
This is the first mystery of Max the cat and his friends who help Odelia, the local reporter, solve the local murder mysteries. How do they help? Because Odelia can speak to them. They get the scoop and share the news with her. They make quite the team. It was totally enjoyable and my favorite read before bed. Enjoy.

Donna
Purrfectly Deadly (The Mysteries of Max, Book 2) by Nic Saint

4
This is the second book in the series. There is a new cop in town and his cat creates Max and friends some real challenges when trying to help Odelia with a new local murder of a famous music star involving drugs. The series is a funny and adorable cat murder solving series based in Hampton Cove. What would Odelia do without her crime solving partners? Thoroughly enjoyable.

Karen
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

5
We received copies of this book from WYBCR. Our book club enjoyed it and we had an excellent discussion. I would highly recommend it.

Rebecca
A Family Affair by Robyn Carr

5
Robyn Carr, one of my favorite authors, has written another amazing book! A FAMILY AFFAIR has many ups and downs in a great story of a family in turmoil after the husband dies suddenly. His will produces a mystery that causes dysfunction in the family and sure keeps a reader wondering what happens next. Robyn Carr sure has a way of weaving a great storyline well worth your time reading!

Teresa
The Guncle by Steven Rowley

4
Snarky, sarcastic, a loner - but loving and caring and thoughtful. THE GUNGLE is one interesting guy.

Rose
The Hidden One by Linda Castillo

4
In the latest installment of the Kate Burkholder series, a young former Amish woman, Rachael Schwartz, is found bludgeoned to death in a motel room. The vicious attack is so horrendous and terrible, and made worse since Kate knew the woman when she was a rebellious child. Kate knows that Rachael continued her wild ways as an adult, and asks Loretta, Rachael's childhood friend, for help. Loretta tells Kate about an attack on Rachael when they were 17. To Kate's horror, she knows the person, but she doesn't realize until too late all the consequences. This was another solid Burkholder story. I enjoyed the camaraderie of Kate and her staff and her relationship with Tomasetti. My one issue was that there was a few repetitive phrases.

Susan
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

5
Loved the book and now reading with my book club.

Darlene
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue

4
Good.

Jeanne
Gilt by Jamie Brenner

5
GILT by Jamie Brenner was an absolutely delightful book and I loved reading it. It is well written, with a captivating storyline about the three Pavlin sisters, members of the world famous Pavlin & Co. jewelry company and is centered around a magnificent thirty carat pink diamond ring, the Electric Rose. Without writing a synopsis and giving away any spoilers, in my opinion, the author knocked it out of the park with this book. It is the story of family drama, estrangements, loss, heartbreak, secrets, romance, a crumbling, broken family dynasty, second chances and most importantly, family coming together. The characters were brilliantly created and crafted and fit perfectly with the storyline. I highly recommend reading this!

Laurie
The Great Passion by James Runcie

5
THE GREAT PASSION is a meditation on grief and music, told through the story of Bach’s writing of the St. Matthew Passion. Bravo to author James Runcie.

Jayme
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

4
A little far-fetched, but I still got teary eyed at the end. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Dona
Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

4
Easy, fun read. Country music, trying to be a star, escaping the past, but surviving with the help of her new friends, AnnieLee becomes a star! I enjoyed it!

Judith
The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

4
What a lovely storyteller this author is. Her people of Italy and their lives and loves are painted richly with the written word. A family history of the Cabrelli family leads to a banishment to Scotland to nurse and the finding of a lost love. But, due to WWII, the sea captain goes down with the ship and after the war, a return to home in Italy with a daughter in tow leads to a lifelong legacy of family love.

Daryl
Nightwork by Nora Roberts

5
I wasn’t sure in the beginning of the book if I wanted to keep reading it, but I stuck with it and before long I couldn’t put it down. It has a predictable ending, but it was an enjoyable read, as are most of her books.

Sally-Jo
Lightening Strike by William Kent Krueger

5
This was an excellent mystery. The characters were good. I enjoyed the cultural aspect of the book.

Paula
Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara

3
This book was a little slow for me. The characters were okay, but I thought they could’ve been developed better, at least the main ones. Finished the book but wouldn’t necessarily recommend.

Cynthia
It All Comes Down to This by Theresa Anne Fowler

3
I enjoyed the book but at times it felt a little slow.

Lori
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

5
I loved it! It was just twist after twist! And the ending?! Blew me away!

Sue
West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

5
This was such a warm, wonderful read based on a true event. I fell in love with the characters and cried at the end. It’s been a long time since a book brought me to tears.

Betty
The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

4
The 14th in the Ruth Galloway series. Griffiths develops her characters well throughout the series. I will stick with Ruth and Nelson.

Susan
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

4
I needed a positive book and this definitely filled the bill. It certainly takes one back to the days of 9/11 and the feelings experienced. A joy to find such kind, caring people in the world.

carol
The Vinyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

5
Our book club loved this book. An easy, lazy-days-of-summer read.

Elizabeth
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

5
I listened to the audiobook, which Grohl reads. It was absolutely terrific, both the story and the reader. I loved every minute and was sorry it had to end.

Mary
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

5
Favorite book of the summer! Despite not enjoying video games, I loved this story! Character development was fantastic and writing was on point.

Jeane
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

5
I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audio and it was very well done. I liked every character in the story, even the bratty daughter Bailey. She was real. Not so much a thriller as a domestic mystery.

Sherry
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

4
Zevin created characters and a beautifully-woven story that resonate long after the book is finished.

Rose
Wildcat by Amelia Morris

2
WILDCAT is about a young mother questioning her parenting skills and her friendships. Leanne is an aspiring writer but she wonders about how to care for her son, and whether her friend Regina is truly a friend. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I were in my 30s. Reviews said this was delightful and funny, but I didn't laugh once.

ARLENE
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

5
Two books in one! The first talks about the community of swimmers and the second part is about a particular swimmer, Alice. I like the sparse writing and the rhythm of the prose that still deliver an indelibly evocative emotional impact. The POVs are deftly captured. It was an inviting, unsettling, heartbreaking, and a quietly reflective and memorializing read for me.

Harriet
Fellowship Point by Alice Eliott Dark

4
Two lifelong friends, now in their 80s, have a falling out. A long lost neighbor is recovered and reunited. An old woman learns that her values and beliefs can change. An engaging read!

Linda
Find You First by Linwood Barclay

4
I couldn't put down this entertaining, twists and turns thriller. My first Barclay read but not my last!

Lisa
Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra

4
I absolutely loved reading LITTLE WOMEN when I was growing up. This book is based on the two oldest March sisters and is set in modern times. I don't always like when stories are retold, but I enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, as is the plot. There is a sequel that focuses on the two younger March sisters, Beth & Amy. Think that I will read that as well.

Beth
The Night Before by Wendy Walker

2
I really didn’t like most of the characters - the sister Rosie was particularly annoying as she acted like the stereotypical hysterical woman. The story did keep me reading, but all the discussion of Laura’s psyche felt contrived and a little boring.

SHIRLEY
The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman

4
This psychological thriller centered around a reporter who researched for three years to write about a publishing tycoon who sexually assaulted numerous women. It includes the wife/widow of the publisher and brings into play a little paranormal twist which blends nicely with the story. The characters were well written, and told their stories via alternating POVs.

Ivy
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

5
Olga's life is anything but boring as she lives on her own terms. Yet she can not get away from who she is and the strong roots from which she comes. OLGA DIES DREAMING has everything - humor, sadness, history, love and reconciliation.

Barbara
22 Seconds (Women Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

3
Latest in the Women's Murder Club series. While I kind of admire the protagonist police sergeant Lindsay Boxer and her cronies who "solve" crimes, thus boosting the morale of females in the workforce, this series is getting a little long in the tooth. The plot this time eventually pulls together some seemingly unrelated murders but what a convoluted bunch of chapters to slog through to get there. Also, the activities of the three other women are either minimal or "stretched" to have them involved. Mostly it's Lindsay and her husband Joe in action in San Francisco. Readers would be wise to begin at the beginning of this series; otherwise, the characterizations will be confusing.

Dianne
The Bangalore Detective Club by Harini Nagendra

4
Newlyweds Kaveri and Ramu join forces with a neighbor, Uma auntie, to prove Manju did not commit murder. Great settings and look inside British India in the 1920s prior to independence. Woman's place was in the home, caste divided society and there were clear societal separation between natives and colonist.

April
The Time in Between by Maria Duenas

5
Captivating historical that is memorable and beautifully written.

Laini
The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell

5
A novel that tugs at your heartstrings and is a real treasure. Meaningful and extraordinary with compelling characters.

Kim
Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf

4
This is a creepy mystery. The reader follows three middle school girls and the adults in their lives from a small town. As this thriller unfolds, it keeps the reader guessing. Given the questionable school assignment to research local folklore, the young girls subsequently choose to research a local missing persons and murder story. Their search becomes too real.

Rose
A Day Like This by Kelley McNeil

3
I was intrigued at the beginning of this book, thinking this was going to be a thriller or a mystery. Why was everyone being so secretive around Ann and the circumstances surrounding the car crash? But, then as the book progressed, it turned out to be something completely different. No spoilers here, but WHAT??? This was just too bizarre. I did like McNeil's writing style, but the concept was too out there for me.

Nadine
Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts

4
Nora Roberts never fails to make her characters vivid. The characters in the book were all strong, both the females and males. The twist was that modern day woman fell in love with heroes from the mid century. The circle prepares for battle, and another two pair up and fall in love. Lilith, the evil vampire, gets darker if that is possible in this one, and you really dislike her - she is truly the evil villain and makes you fear the circle just might not make it. Onto the final book to read as the circle enters into the final battle to save Earth and all the worlds from the vampire rule. I highly recommend this book.

Linda
Meant To Be by Emily Giffin

5
First off, I really enjoyed reading this book. Each chapter went back and forth between the two main characters, Cait and Joe. This gives the reader insight to what they are feeling and thinking at any moment in the story. It also helps the reader see just how close parts of their lives are the same just different in many ways. In the mix of the story are bits of history and the tragedies one may or not remember. The story touches on verbal abuse and domestic violence within Cait's home. Joe, on the other hand was raised in a much more privileged home setting. It's 345 pages long and I read on a Saturday.

Diane
Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone

4
It's a page-turner!!!

Elizabeth
The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman

5
Not only is the story marvelous, but each chapter had a sewing term with its definition as a lead-in to the chapter. Loved the button trivia and learning how Michigan was the Button Capital. This is Wade’s best yet. Don’t miss it.

shelly
It Started with a Royal Kiss by Jennifer Faye

5
Indigo Castellanos is doing caricatures of people staying at the Ludus Resort to earn some extra money. What she did not expect was to see Prince Istvan or Rydiania ask her to do one of himself. Although she could never remember her heart beating so fast when he came over, she quickly had to remind herself that it was the cause of his family that they had to flee Rydiania. Indigo remembers when she was a young child how her family moved to Greece. It was a place she did not know, and the people there were strangers to her. Having to move is the cause of her father getting ill and dying of a broken heart. After his death, her mother had taken ill and now was at the point where she could not live alone.

Sean
Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen

4
Carl Hiaasen's absurdist eco-novel was a fun and crazy Floridian adventure. A writer turned private eye gets himself embroiled in a mysterious terrorist plot that is just crazy enough to work. The story is laugh-out-loud funny at times. While the antagonist was obvious as well as their motives, the story was still well-developed and insane. Overall, Hiaasen does what he does best: makes me laugh and feel like I'm in Florida.

Rose
Darkness Lane by Thomas Kies

4
When Caroline, Geneva's ward, loses out a part in a prestigious play, she is jealous of her best friend. When that best friend, Bobbi, goes missing, Geneva follows a storyline that could lead to finding Bobbi. While investigating some crimes in the area, including the burning of an abusive husband, Genie realizes that some of this is leading back to Bobbi's disappearance. Genie also runs afoul of the Tolbonov brothers who she suspects are the Russian mob. She wonders if this is all tied together. This book has a lot - mob, abuse, S&M, trafficking, murder, and more. Geneva is again struggling with her alcoholism, and managing a 15-year-old teen, as well as her own up and down love life. I really like Genie and her investigative work.

Rose
Graveyard Bay by Thomas Kies

4
Book 3 really continues much of what happened in Book 2 (DARKNESS LANE), so be sure to read that first! The notebook that Genie received has her trying to decipher the codes in the book. This leads to her following a drug dealer, and that sets a slew of things in motion. Genie is still in the sights of the Tolbonov brothers, the newspaper may get sold due to lost advertising dollars, and Genie is investigating some ruthless murders as well as some drug deaths. She continues to rely on Shana Neese and John Singleton for help (from Book 2). Of course, Mike Dillon, police is also a great confidant. Genie may be on to a new adventure, but she is still digging deep into the scary world of murder!

Joan
Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

4
A wonderful prequel to the Cork O’Connor series by this terrific author! We learn how Cork gets started in the “biz” in a story respectful to family and culture.

Lisa
The Favor by Nora Murphy

5
I really enjoyed this book! A fast-paced, page-turner, it's a great debut by Nora Murphy!

Michelle
Finding Me by Viola Davis

5
So much love and respect for Viola Davis. What a story of perseverance. Growing up in such poverty, enduring a dysfunctional childhood with alcoholism, witnessing and experiencing abuse, Davis is a true survivor. The audio is read by Davis and really dives deep into your heart and soul making every word real and powerful. It’s not the most perfectly written book and the timeline jumped around a bit for me, but Davis' story is so meaningful that none of that matters. Her memories and introspection about everything from trauma, growing up black and female, to the acting industry she broke into, all make the book one you won’t want to stop listening to, no matter how hard it is to hear at times. I must watch everything she has filmed now.

Sandra K.
The Absolution by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

4
Being an aficionado of Icelandic Noir, I’ve been keen to get my hands on this third installment of the Freya and Huldar series. I’ve read a fair few of Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s books and really enjoy her fast-paced and edgy style.

Katrina
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

5
I finished this book in two days. Twist after twist. She is an excellent author and writer. I recommend all of her books if you love thrillers with a twist.

Kimberley
Lost in Paris by Elizabeth Thompson

5
Fans of Hemingway, Paris, family drama and love will enjoy this beautiful story. The reader meets Hannah and Marla, an estranged mother-daughter duo, who discover they have inherited a beautiful Parisian apartment. The apartment appears to be locked in time as no one has been there since WWII. Hannah comes upon a diary in the apartment detailing her great-grandmother’s secret past. Authors like Hemingway and Fitzgerald plus famous Americans fill the diary. It is an amazing journey.

Kelley
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

5
Has surprises, good for book club discussion.

Sherri
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

4
Fabulously inventive. Definately thinks outside the box!

Sherri
A Song for the Road by Kathleen Basi

5
A year after the deaths of her husbands and twins, Miriam finds a video describing a road trip planned by her children for her and her husband once the children head off to college. She decides to leave her work as a choir director and set off on the adventure her twins set up for her. Along the way she returns to life again and learns what secrets to keep and to share and how to start to move forward. This debut novel speaks to many important themes: grief, secrets we keep and share, regrets, how love is given and received, and how we help each other along the way. The end made me cry, which hasn't happened for me in a while with a book. I recommend it.

Lori
Alias Emma by Ava Glass

5
What a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am so happy that I had the opportunity to read an advance copy thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I found this the perfect spy thriller with great characters and a unique scenario. It would make a great vacation read and I think it would appeal to both men and women. It was very cinematic, and I can imagine it becoming a great movie. I couldn't put it down, finding it very exciting and intense. I hope there will be a sequel; I would love to see the story continue. I enthusiastically recommend this book.

Linda
To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

3
Lady Violet Grey is in her first season and is caught on the balcony with Lord James Audley when her mother comes and catches them. They are married within the month and everything is fine until James overhears Violet and his father, the Duke of Dovington, speaking. Her mother and his father plotted to get the two together and he hears Violet say she knew about it. Her mother had told her the day before but James believes she was in on the plot. He can’t trust her and their marriage turns into icy disdain. They can’t stand to be in the same room together. This goes on for four years until their friends get involved and they realize the attraction both feel.

Linda
To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters

3
Diana, Lady Templeton, and Jeremy Overington, Marquess of Willingham, had an adversarial relationship ever since Jeremy came home from school with her brother Penvale. Everyone but them could see the attraction between them but mention remarriage to Diana and No Way! She married her late husband for security and relishes her freedom as a widow to do as she wishes. She and Jeremy agree to have a relationship for a two-week period but neither wants to end it. What can he do since she refuses to even think of marriage? A cute story although Diana’s cunning and smugness ruined it.

Linda
To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters

4
Lady Emily Turner agrees to marry Lord Julian Belfry in a business arrangement. He owns a theater and wants to be respectable and have society members come to plays instead of just men and their mistresses. She is one of the most respectable ladies in society. She wants to break free of the restrictions put on her by her parents and to avoid being squired to functions by the odious Mr. Cortham. She just asked Julian to never lie to her and asks him to kiss her. Their marriage turns into love between the two.

Linda
It's Better This Way by Debbie Macomber

4
Julia Jones was devastated when her husband Eddie asked for a divorce after thirty-one years of marriage and learns he has been seeing another woman. Julia asked for six months and tried to get Eddie to change his mind but the other woman (Laura) pressured him to get the divorce. Julia moved into a condominium and met Heath Wilson in the building’s exercise room. Their friendship develops into love but their grown children are not happy. It seems like Heath is the ex-husband of Laura, the woman who married Eddie.

Linda
Blossom Street Brides by Debbie Macomber

4
Lauren Elliott has been dating Todd Hampton for three years and wants to marry but he keeps putting her off so she ends it. When she meets John “Rooster” Wayne, something clicks between them. He is partner with Max Scranton in the wine distribution business in California. Max has been going back and forth about deciding to base the business in Seattle or San Jose. Now that he’s met Lauren, Rooster is for moving the business to Seattle. But no one knows what the future will hold.

Linda
Much Ado About You by Samantha Young

4
Evangeline (Evie) Starling has had it with men and takes a job managing a bookshop in England for three months. Everyone thought she would be bored in a small English village but she loves it. She met Roane Robson, sexy farmer, when she saved his dog from being run over by an ignorant tourist. Their friendship turns into sexy fun between them. Soon it is time for Evie to return to Chicago and Roane turns silent. He surprises her when he gets on his knee and asks her to marry him. She says yes but learns he has omitted some truths about himself. Although she loves him, she now has doubts and returns to Chicago. Did she do the right thing?

Karen
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

3
The novel has two timelines - one in the present with Caroline and the other around the 1790s with Nella and Eliza, who is 12. Caroline is alone in London to sort out her life. She was supposed to be there with her husband to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Her husband's infidelity got in the way. He shows up unexpectedly in London and makes her investigation complicated. Caroline happens upon a vial while searching the shore of the Thames. She begins to explore, and this takes her to an old abandoned shop hidden behind a storage area. Nella had concocted medicines that women used to kill their unfaithful or abusive husbands or boyfriends. Caroline connects the vial to the past with the help of a librarian. The search begins.

Kimberley
The Girl in a Swing by Richard Adams

4
A lyrical, evocatively written, slow build-up of a novel set in 1970s England. It is about a staid, clairvoyant young Englishman who deals in ceramics and who meets, falls in love with, and marries a stunning, mysterious German woman after a brief whirlwind romance. Her haunted past eventually catches up to them and intrudes upon their marital bliss. A romantic, philosophical, ghost story that lingers long after you have read it by the author of WATERSHIP DOWN.

Linda
The Honeymoon Cottage by Lori Foster

4
I won this fun beach read in the Summer Reading Contest. (Thank you Bookreporter.com!!) It had humor, kindness, some romance, healing and hope. It made for an enjoyable read that I found myself picking up every chance I got. The characters were very likable and very well developed. The ending was tied up nicely and didn't leave me wondering. I will be sharing it with some friends that I think will enjoy it as much as I did and then put it in my Free Little Library that my son built me for Christmas. A fun read that needs to be shared!!!

Deby
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

4
It kept me guessing as to whether the husband was still alive or not so I wanted to keep reading. Obviously there was a love interest that was also intriguing, but it wasn't too much of the story like sometimes seems to happen.

Tessa
The Cat Who Turned On and Off by Lilian Jackson Braun

3
Book Three in Braun’s popular “The Cat Who…” cozy mystery series, starring Jim Qwilleran (known simply at Qwill), and his two Siamese: Koko and Yum Yum. I really like this cozy series. As a journalist for the local newspaper, Qwill has every reason to search out the story. There isn’t a lot of graphic violence, and Qwill is a gentleman when it comes to romantic interludes.

Sandra
The Underground Railroad by Colton Whitehead

5
This is a difficult book to read with the horrific treatment and gruesome punishments of African American slaves so much a part of the narrative, but it is essential that we read this and other books like it.

Richard N B
The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman

4
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man’s Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945. Szpilman was a Jewish pianist who managed – by luck, courage, tenacity, and the kindness of others – to stay hidden and survive in the bombed and war-torn city. I found it engaging and gripping. Even though I knew he survived, I simply could not stop reading.

Debra
The Second Husband by Kate White

5
I enjoyed THE SECOND HUSBAND because it is a thriller whose characters play head games, which caused me to question their intentions. I enjoyed the many unexpected twists and turns in this book. The events in one chapter would have me convinced that I knew who the villain and the victim were, but the next chapter would change my mind. I kept questioning who was the innocent character and who was the manipulative, malicious, conniving character through the entire book. I really liked the psychological thrills here. Excellent!

Christine
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

1
This could have been a pretty good story if it was written better. I found the writing to be amateurish, with mostly short sentences (eg: Anne walked into the kitchen. Her parents were there. Anne got a glass of water. She sat down at the table) and too much of what people were thinking. Most of the book was inner thoughts, with not much action. The ending was supposed to be a scary twist, I think, but it just seemed tacked on.