This contest period's winners were Donna H., Marilyn S. and Susan C., who each received a copy of BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN by Jessica Knoll and HAPPINESS FALLS by Angie Kim.
Janet
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
Twisty page-turner with elements of different mother-daughter relationships and multiple crimes.
Suzanne
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
This is a mashup of The Golden Girls and James Bond, where four women of a certain age finally retire after 40 years as trained assassins for the government, but on their retirement cruise discover that THEY are the targets now. Good story, fun characters, just not a lot to sink your teeth into. I enjoyed it though and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if someone were looking for a light read. Very different from the unusual types of stories Deanna Raybourn is known for.
Elizabeth
Naked in Death by J. D. Robb
My aunt recommended this book by J. D. Robb (also called Nora Roberts). The book is set in the 2050s when we can go to planet colonies and have flying cars. The main character is named Eve Dallas who works as a lieutenant in the homicide department of the New York police. A lot of the plots of the "In Death" books have Eve solving murder mysteries while also juggling a relationship with a criminal billionaire called Roarke (who is also Irish). Sometimes the murder mysteries and her personal life are mixed, making it very difficult for Eve. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries but also romantic suspense. I am gonna warn you that this book has a lot of triggering topics and is very mature; reader discretion is advised.
Anastasia
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
I loved the banter in this book! It made the story enjoyable. It was also a deep book with lots of meaning behind it. It shattered my heart in the best way.
Rose
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson
I absolutely loved THE KIND WORTH KILLING, so I was excited when I saw this new title featuring some of the same characters. While I didn't think it was as good as the first book, I still enjoyed this devious novel. In this one, one of Henry's former students, Joan, hires Henry to track her husband and catch him having an affair. But Joan has something else she is planning and Henry is in the way. Henry confides in Lily and tries to determine the real reason Joan hired Henry.
Connie
My Magnolia Summer by Victoria Benton Frank
Enjoyed this novel by Dorothea Benton Frank’s daughter, which immerses you into the low country life that we came to know and love from her mother. The characters and plot were well developed.
Peg
The Creep by Michael LaPointe
An engaging mystery/horror story about a journalist, with questionable ethics, taking on the story of her career about an innovative medical process.
sherry
Sorry, Sorry, Sorry by Marjorie Ingall
This book was more of a self-help book about how and when to say you are sorry. This book, also, was most informative, allows the reader to think about past errors in judgment and how to make one say you are sorry to anyone. It was an in interesting book and makes you think for the better.
Carol
Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard
Another memoir with recipes. I look to cook. This author did another excellent job with this second memoir mixing her family’s story and recipes.
Judy
Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Once again, the author puts Nora Kelly in the middle of a strange mystery. Nine bodies scatter across a mountain range in various stages of undress. With FBI agent Corrie Swanson and against the wishes of the local sheriff, they question all the reasons why these deaths happen. As always the reader is kept riveted until the last sentence.
Susan
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
I learned so much about this famous horse “Lexington” and all the details of his life. I lived in Louisville to the closer side of Versailles (near Lexington) and loved passing the horse farms and seeing these beautiful creatures, not knowing how the farms they spoke about - and they did exist. I learned so much about horse racing as well.
Elizabeth
The Hike by Lucy Clarke
Enjoyed it as I like to hike. Norway sounds stunning.
Michelle
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
3.5 stars for me. The Chinese culture in the 1400s, particularly for women, was fascinating to learn about. Lisa See does not hold back on the graphic descriptions of foot binding, labor, smallpox, and other medical things that the Chinese endured. At times I was horrified and cringing for sure as some of it was grotesque! I enjoy the subjects and themes of See’s books a lot. One of my favorite ever books is THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE. For LADY TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN though, I felt the plot was a little too all over the place and a little too unrealistic. Reading the Acknowledgments at the end gave me a deeper respect for the story and her research, as it was inspired by the true story of Tan Yunxian.
Sharon
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Great book, although long, very much an epic saga. Loved the characters and the 77-year span of the book, not to mention India. This would make a great movie!
Darlene
The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
Twisty turns, a good read.
Carol
Seven Seasons in Siena by Robert Rodi
You must be a horse lover or a fan of all things Italy to read this memoir. A very different journey than most memoirs. The author has some humorous phrases that keep one reading to the end. Siena and all things about the Palio are covered in an intimate fashion.
Jayme
Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles
I really enjoyed NEWS OF THE WORLD and was excited to read this book about Simon the Fiddler who is mentioned in the book. I found the history of Texas after the Civil War interesting, but the story was very slow.
Jayme
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
This is a tough one to review. There are a few nuggets of wisdom, but overall, it is more of a memoir of Attia's road to health and well-being. If you want in-depth advice on longevity this is probably not your book.
Sally-Jo
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
It took a little while for me to get into it, but it grabbed my attention as the story evolved. I would recommend this book to my friends.
Chris
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
One of the best books I've read this year; strongly recommend reading this one - great potential for book club discussion.
Wanda
Verity by Colleen Hoover
This book was page-turner from the start!! Every chapter held my attention and was suspenseful front to back!! Fast read, keeps your interest as the drama is most captivating!! A must-read!
Lori
Honor by Thrity Umrigar
Compelling story of the intense religious divides in India and how people are groomed into intolerance for anyone or anything that's not part of what they are familiar with. A heartbreaking story of what this intolerance did to multiple families.
Rosa
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
This is an impressive debut thriller that had me reading into the night. I couldn't put it down. Greenwich Park is the wealthy neighborhood where Helen and her husband Daniel live. Helen inherited their Victorian home from her father, a famous architect. After many miscarriages, Helen is pregnant again, and she prays that this time the pregnancy will go full-term. She enrolls in a prenatal class, where she meets Rachel, a single mom. What ensues is fast-paced, thrilling, and had me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading Faulkner's next book!
Cheryl
The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs
We are going to Turks and Caicos in December, so I was interested in her depiction of the islands. And we still have Montreal on out to do list, so reading about the city was great. But, this book in her series about Dr. Temperance Brennan seems a little more formulaic than previous mysteries.
Elaine
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
The author is using the technique of moving back and forth between different years, and characters. This seems to be more common in recent years by other authors. I find it somewhat confusing with the various characters, and does not seem helpful in writing about this location.
PJ
Vulgarian Rhapsody by Alvin Orloff
What a great read!! Harris is one of those people that you may or may not want around you. He's mostly disagreeable and hardly ever has a good word for anyone. He's sharing an apartment with Maxine, a vocal and theatrical performance artist, and they have a huge argument over the rent not being paid. The undercurrent of money issues is always there as these colorful individuals go through there days. The multiple storylines mesh very well to create an engaging read. I highly recommend this book for anyone that would like a read that is a bit out of the norm.
dorothy
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
The story of the family was compared to the life of honey bees.
Marianne
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
Good, but definitely not the best.
Tessa
The Burglar in the Closet by Lawrence Block
In this second episode of the series, Bernie Rhodenbarr gets roped into stealing from his dentist’s ex-wife. It seems like an easy score, until he gets locked into the lady’s closet. When he comes out, the lady is dead and the jewels are gone. There are plenty of suspects, including the World’s Greatest Dentist, but Bernie really needs to solve the case before the police turn on him as the most likely suspect. Gosh but I love Bernie! He’s a burglar with standards and ethics. And he’s a gentleman when it comes to the ladies.
Lorraine
Rivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration by Alejandra Oliva
Highly recommend. A personal memoir embedded in the stories of asylum seekers at our southern borders, based on bilingual volunteering experiences of Oliva as a translator/interpreter/and more in 2016-2019. Important, razor-sharp rebuke of unjust immigration system beautifully and achingly rendered. Exceeds expectations.
Maryanne
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Engrossing story plus fascinating characters.
Marilyn
All the Broken Places by John Boyne
This is a sequel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS. It’s about the holocaust from the perspective of a 91-year-old German woman reliving her experience during World War II and her life after the war. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book but found I couldn’t put it down. It tells the story of a young girl whose father was a ruthless officer during the war and how her and her mother had to cope in the aftermath. Great book!
Susan
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
This book was recommended to me by my daughter and not one I would normally pick to read. However, I did find it interesting. I'm a grandmother of an adopted grandchild so this story tugged at my heartstrings. The story is not about adoption; it is about a girl whose child is taken away from her while in prison for being convicted for the death of the babies father, and the child is raised by the paternal grandparents. When released from prison, she returns to her hometown in hopes of seeing her child but faces many barriers. The story is heartbreaking for all involved. The ending did lead to a more uplifting feeling. It is a book to be read with a box of tissues.
Agnes
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams
As the title says, this is the story of three people and their relationship with each other. The characters are young Brits of Nigerian descent, wealthy and well educated. The story unfolds over the course of one day with them all drinking a lot of wine. It’s split into three chapters, each told from the perspective of one of them - the wife, her husband, and her childhood best friend. Just when you think you understand the dynamic between them, something else is revealed. This was a very interesting debut novel which I enjoyed very much. It’s very tightly written and reads like a one-act play.
Sheila
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
It was fun to read. Murder, mystery, feminism and Indian culture were all wrapped up in a delightful story.
Laura Beth
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
I love that Seth is discussed. So much is ignored, gone around or covered up. The main character is a death doula, which was new for me. I was engrossed in the discussion and emotion. Plus it’s an amazingly well written debut! I highly recommend the audiobook - new narrator for me but highly recommend - she gives me Marin Ireland vibes.
Norene
Honorable Profession by Arthur Y. Webb
Must-read for civil servants.
Marilyn
Zero Days by Ruth Ware
Interesting murder thriller with plot threads leading up to surprises.
Linda
Violeta by Isabel Allende
My first but not last Allende historical novel that weaves a strong, passionate woman's life along with Latin American politics. At 100 years, Violeta tells her life story through a memoir to her grandson.
Cynthia
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
I loved the well-developed characters and the intriguing storyline. Surprise plot twists made this book especially interesting and memorable.
Shelley
Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline
This was not a compelling read in my view. I forced myself to finish.
Simonne
A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay
Truly gripping spy novel told in two different eras.
Judy
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Story about a woman who is best friends with her mother. Her mother passes away from cancer and in her grief the daughter decides to go to Italy, which was a trip that she and her mother had planned but never got to take. When she gets to the Amalfi coast in Italy she checks into the Hotel Posiedon, goes out to eat. When she returns she meets her mother, who is 30 years younger than when she died. The story is wonderful and gives you lots to think about.
Donna
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
A disfunctional, yet loving family and family secrets. A scientific father with bipolar disorder raised his two children on Cape Cod. Brodeur's descriptions of Cape Cod alone make the book worth reading, but I loved how she dealt with the different members of the family.
Rebecca
The Clockmaker's Secret by Jack Benton
An expert clockmaker walks away from his family and takes with him an unfinished clock. Walking along the moor decades later, a detective discovers something in the peat - a wrapped clock! It has sustained water damage, but amazingly the clock continues to tick. People in the Cornish village of Penleven would rather the clock had remained hidden. The detective would rather bring the story of the hidden clock into the light.
.
Anastasia
The Nanny by Lana Ferguson
It was a very spicy book. It was a cute story. However, I feel as though if they went deeper into the storyline I would have given it the extra star.
Susan
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Having lived through this era including having a brother who died in Vietnam in 1969 and one my best friends from high school serving two tours of duty as an army nurse in-country, I came to this book with very high prerequisites. I can report the actions, hypotheses and interpretations in the book all felt true-to-life. The story was incredibly emotional and while I tried to stay distanced from that sadness and anger, the ending did me in. Hannah is an incredible writer. She also did her research. There is a very good example of U.S. government indoctrination in favor of the war in the mid-60s. There is also a great reflection of women's "place" in the U.S. at the time. Expectations more than met!
Noreen
The Eighty Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts
If I was a real horse fan this would be 5 stars. For my 80th one son gave me books with 80 in the title, so I felt obligated to read them. This was a complete surprise. I really enjoyed the true story of an immigrant and what he and his family went through. It had a Long Island connection, too, which was nice. Despite knowing nothing about horses, their care and training, I found it very interesting.
Beth
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
A well-told story that captures the reader from page one with interesting and unforgettable characters in a small town settings. As the plot/action unfolds we learn the back stories and history of the people who have learned to live together despite their many differences.
Stephanie
Above Ground by Clint Smith
Excellent collection of poems written about his wife's pregnancy, the birth of his children and the joys and difficulties of fatherhood. While examining these issues, the author also touches on American societal issues - the Pandemic, racism, violence, political discord. It was difficult to pick a favorite poem, so many were applicable and well-written.
Suzanne
The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
Terrific heartbreaking bittersweet novel about the hardest choices one can make. Facts were spot-on, researched and developed thoroughly!
Abby
Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff
A World War II based story, but most of it takes place in Belgium. The main character, after witnessing her fiancé murdered in Germany, tries to flee to America but winds up in Belgium. In trying to secure passage to America from Belgium, she gets involved in the resistance efforts. In doing so, she puts herself and her cousin’s family (who took her in) in danger. This book was well researched and explained many interesting things about the resistance and their attempts in also saving people from the concentration camps. Best Pam Jenoff book I have read so far.
Maureen
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria C. Murray
I have read all of her books. Loved them!
Elizabeth
Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls
This was a great family saga and Prohibition tale, but the sheer number of characters had me confused at times. It needed a list of characters at the beginning so I could refer to it!
Kelley
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD
Long and extremely thorough, but one can focus on chapters that have significance. Detailed, interesting, could be a resource manual in many ways.
Kristine
All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
I was worried my expectations would be too high between my love of his last book and quite honestly the hype! Well, I’m excited to say that this is his best yet in my opinion!! So many twists and turns with layers upon layers of onions peeled on Cosby’s character development! I was right alongside Sheriff Titus on his journey to figure out what is going on in Charon! Very timely book showing the racial tensions and long history that goes with it. Highly recommend this book and this author!
Myrna
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard
This book kept me reading all day and part of my nights! It's the story of making a new life for oneself after a tragedy that seems insurmountable. In a small "hotel" in Central America, a young woman finds a mentor and people she comes to think of as family. The story is thoroughly engaging as it follows her life through four decades. It makes the reader think about what constitutes a meaningful life. Once you enter the world of La Llorona (the hotel) you won't want to put this book down. Joyce Maynard is a masterful writer!
Mary Ann
Welcome to Beach Town by Susan Wiggs
Loved the main character in this book.
Mary
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Quick read. Didn’t find it fascinating. Fictional memoir?
Wendy
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
This psychological thriller is a great summer or beach read.
Liz
The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore
In 1926 Hollywood, Mirielle is living the life married to a movie star, living in a gorgeous home with two beautiful daughters. The unthinkable happens. A visit to the doctor reveals she has a spot of leprosy on her hand. She is whisked away to Carrville in Louisiana where there is a leper colony. She believes she will be there for only a few short weeks, but things do not work out that way. This is a very good historical fiction book, which will open your eyes to this terrible disease.
Debbie
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
A very clever quest. The characters are thoughtful, although I didn't like Duchess because of his conniving ways. Sally is not in every chapter, but plays a key role in the journey. The idea is creative. Well done Mr. Towles.
Kay
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
We're introduced to Constance Kopp who defends her two sisters against a gang of thugs run by the town's silk factory owner. She dares to stand against him and wins! A real American feminist story.
Kay
Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
Constance Kopp has become a police detective, the first woman to hold the job. She forges relationships with a woman journalist and a lawyer to bring the fraudulent doctor to answer for his crimes. She's determined to prove herself!
KAY
Deep River by Karl Marlantes
This story spans a era at the end of the 19th century in Finland into the 20th century America of Astoria, a city on the Columbia River. The Koski siblings settle in southwestern Washington for logging jobs and land grants for farming. Ainu, the daughter, is always actively embroiled in fighting for workers in the union movement.
KAY
Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan DiLallo, Susan Patterson and James Patterson
This story really resonated with me as I really regret not having traveled to Paris with my mother before her death. The mother and daughter in the story had a strained relationship, which kept me reading and then, of course, a surprise ending!
KAY
The Jeweler of Stolen Dreams by M. J. Rose
I liked the format of the book, which switched back and forth between today and the time during the war. This window to the past makes the story so vivid.
KAY
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin
This is one of the best books I've read this year. So many layers to the story and the characters are so intriguing, unexpected. It takes place with the main character tending a French town cemetery which, on the face of it, would be creepy, but it's not! She has a history that follows through the story and a surprise ending that answers a puzzle of an event in her past.
Ann Marie
The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay
I really love short stories and anthologies, even though some stories are misses rather than hits. In Paul Tremblay's case I can say no different, but he did bring back some short stories from his book HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS and that was really cool for me.
Jill
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
This is a fictionalized story of what actually happened in those 11 days that Agatha Christie, the world-renowned mystery writer, disappeared and gives a plausible explanation for why she did this. I thought it was an empowering story of a woman who wrote her own rules for a career at a time when women just did not do that - in England of the 1920s (or anywhere else for that matter). I found Agatha’s solution to the problem of her pending divorce creative, but it was sad that she had to go to such elaborate lengths for it to work. I was happy to find out that she married again later on in her life. A good, quick read.
Sandra K
Greenwood by Michael Christie
A saga through the generations, of families, trees, the earth and our fragile dependence on each other. I like the structure of this sprawling novel which winds back through the history of the intertwined characters, Harris, Willow, Liam and Jake, and reveals how each generation affects the next. A great novel by a Canadian writer.
Sandra K
Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
I have loved every book written by these two authors. The Nora Kelley series is the best.
Sandi
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
I really enjoyed this book and now wonder why no one else has presented this format earlier. I mean I have read this format when it comes to a house or a town or even a necklace, but not attached to a single book. But it works well. Including the author we get the perspective of ten different people. And it is an original and cleverly contrived group of readers. A great format and a book not to miss.
Vickie
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Best book I have read in a long time. Grabs you from the very beginning until the last page. It should be required reading for high school students.
Jeanne
Lion & Lamb by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski
LION & LAMB by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski is fast-paced murder mystery centered around a Super Bowl champion and quarterback back Philadelphia Eagles superstar, Archie Hughes. The prime suspect is his wife, Emmy award winning singer and Philadelphia’s sweetheart, Francine Pearl Hughes. Lion works for the DA to prove her guilty and Lamb is hired by the attorney for the accused to prove her innocence. When Lion & Lamb put their heads together to learn the truth, another murder is committed and their lives are in danger.
Katrina
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
This book was so very cozy and adorable. It filled my heart with joy to read. Cannot wait to read the sequels.
Leslie
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Breezy, heartfelt, warm and nostalgic family tale.
Aaron
Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R. F. Kuang
As an amateur linguist who loves learning about the fun quirks of language as well the histories and connections between one language and another, and as a lover of the sci-fi/fantasy genres, I knew I had to read this book the instant I heard about it. It did not disappoint. The world-building is intricate and thought out, the magic system unique and fascinating, and the characters all engaging and mysterious.
Susan
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
A very long but riveting read. Covering three generations of families in India from colonialism into the 20th century. Though a novel, the history of India is factual, as well as the medical descriptions. I highly recommend this book.
Laurie
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Beautifully-written complex story. I loved it!
Claire
Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
I'm drawn in by the premise and historical fantasy that really makes use of a specific culture and time period interplaying with the fantasy aspect is always interesting. The main character, Vera, seems like she will have an interesting perspective too, being inhuman but imbued with human memories and being Ezra's creation, but not quite his daughter.
Julie
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Lovely fiction based on Thorton Wilder's OUR TOWN.
Debbie
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
THE LIGHT PIRATE opens with a storm named Wanda creating mayhem and destruction for Kirby Lowe, his wife Frida, and Kirby’s two young sons. This section focuses on power: the power of the storm, the loss of electrical power, and the loss of power against nature. The reader learns that storms reign supreme against man and that the country remains powerless to the severity of each storm. The power section ends with the death of Frida and the younger son, Flip, and the untimely birth of Wanda. The second section describes water and follows the childhood of Wanda, his brother Lucas, and her father Kirby. The flow of words has fallen and the book plummets into ennui. Nothing salvages the flowery language of the opening section.
Debbie
The Golden Calf by Helene Tursten
Helene Tursten’s books centering on Maude cause laughter and remorse, the THE GOLDEN CALF following Irene Huss, fails to live-up to the Maude series. Irene Huss and her chef husband, Krister, and their twin daughters live a hum-drum existence. Krister cooks fabulous meals for his family, especially when Irene must work long hours to solve a murder investigation. This story involves too many extra unimportant characters that drag the story. Who is the Golden Calf? The answer arrives much later in the novel and centers on the true father of Sanna’s baby. A New York Mafia family and money laundering figures heavily in the murders. Too many red herrings in this sea of family obligations. Give me more Maud and less Irene Huss.
Rose
The Trade Off by Sandie Jones
Jess is excited to move to The Globe as a reporter. However, when she is given assignments, she is taken aback by the methods that the paper uses to get a story. She goes to Max, the editor, and tells of her discomfort, especially after a tragedy involving one of their subjects. Stella, who wants to be the editor, works hard to uncover dirt on the subjects and write pieces. She is known as a tough reporter. When the publisher of the paper comes to her with a request, she starts to see things differently. She is also frightened that one of the people they exposed is being released from prison and will come after her. Things are not always what they seem, and some people expect that others will do whatever is necessary for the paper.
Rose
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
To hear Meryl Streep narrate this book - perfection! A mother's three children come home to help harvest the cherry orchard, and it is during Covid, so they stay together. When they hear about a movie star, Duke, their mother tells them the story of Tom Lake, summer stock, and her love affair with him. Her daughter, Emily, swears she is Duke's daughter, but the mother, Lara, says she is Joe's (her husband's) daughter. She tells the story as her three daughters also reveal secrets and hopes for their lives and their futures. It is a beautiful story of love, family, and hopes and dreams.
Rose
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
Simply beautiful story of a mother's love. In 1938, Rosie is orphaned, and taken in by the family who owns the vineyard. She has synesthesia, which means she sees colors when she hears things. Her parents told her to be careful with this secret, because it was misunderstood, and people felt that she was damaged. One night, Rosie is impregnated, and when Celine Calvert finds out, she sends her away to a hospital for the mentally ill. There, she delivers her child, but gets sterilized, as part of the eugenics program. Her baby is taken from her. In 1947, Helen (sister of Truman, Celine's husband) cares for a child with some deformities who is taken by Hitler's party and killed. She is appalled. She finds out about Rosie and her child.
Rose
A Wish for Winter by Viola Shipman
I loved this winter story of Christmas and love. Viola Shipman is back at the top of their game! Susan's parents and grandparents always had a special relationship with Christmas, the women meeting their husbands when they were wearing Santa suits. Susan is named after the child in Miracle on 34th Street. So, she is hoping for the same fairy tale of hope and joy that comes with the magic of Christmas. It is not happening and now she is turning 40, her friends and family try to help her find the Santa of her dreams. After multiple attempts she is ready to give up. Not until she can open her heart and forgive the man that caused the accident that killed her parents, does she start to heal - and is able to find love. Loved it! Bonus story!
Sean
Hannah's War by Jan Eliasberg
HANNAH'S WAR is both a typical and fresh look at the atomic arms race of World War II. First time novelist Jan Eliasberg gives us the story of Hannah, a brilliant and vital part of both sides of the war's efforts to develop the ability to end the war. Jack Delaney is searching for secrets while hiding his own. Who can be trusted? The gets flowery at times but the book didn't necessarily go the way I expected while being too obvious at other times. Eliasberg's prose is very good though and I was entertained throughout. Overall, an interesting and moving novel that's worth your time.
Richard N B
Red Knife by William Kent Krueger
3.5 stars. This is Book # 8 in the Cork O’Connor series. Cork is a marvelous central character, and I also like Sheriff Dross, a woman Cork originally hired back when HE was the sheriff. The plot deals with vigilantism, gun control, disaffected teens, drug cartels and family dynamics. Krueger writes a fast-paced, intricate mystery with plenty of suspects, and enough twists and turns to keep even the most diligent reader guessing.
Susan
Go As a River by Shelley Read
I loved this book so much. Victoria captured my heart with her courage and strength. The visual of the orchards was lovely. I could taste the peaches in my mouth. This would be a great book for a book club and should bring about a great discussion.
Kim
Hotel Cuba by Aaron Hamburger
This historical novel takes place at the WWI era and terror of the Russian Revolution. It follows Pearl and her young sister as they flee Europe heading to the USA. Borders closed to Jewish people, the girls are reputed to Cuba and here, the real story begins. With a cast of characters, the author recounts the plight of Jewish migrants. From Cuba, prohibition, sweatshops, turn if the century New York and Detroit, it is an amazing journey. It is a great read and the perfect length, leaving the reader wanting more.
Beth
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
THE SILENT WIFE is a book in Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series. But if you've read Slaughter's Grant County series, you will probably be glad to know that Jeffrey Tolliver, the chief of police in Grant County before he died, is back in THE SILENT WIFE. And, no, Chief Tolliver has not come back to life; rather, many flashbacks in this book pertain to a case worked and thought solved by Chief Tolliver. Now the case of a suspected serial killer has come to Atlanta. And perhaps it was not solved, after all. Now Will is working it with the rest of his team in Atlanta, including Sara. Of course, you can always count on Slaughter to produce an excellent thriller. Here with THE SILENT WIFE she does it again.
Linda
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Emily Parker comes to Willow Creek to care for her sister April and never dreamed she would meet the man of her dreams. Since her boyfriend of the past five years dumped her, Emily has been in the dumps. She goes with her niece Caitlyn to sign up for volunteering in the Renaissance Faire and meets Simon Graham, English teacher who acts as pirate Captain Blackthorne in the Faire. She doesn’t like him at first and thinks he doesn’t like her. He likes her but tries to hide it although the other Faire participants see the attraction blooming between the two. It’s not long before he makes his move, but is it Simon the English teacher or Captain Blackthorne who is flirting with Emily?
Linda
Well Played by Jen DeLuca
Stacey Lindholm has played a tavern wench in the Renaissance Faire for several years and had hooked up with kilt-wearing Dex MacLean for the past two years, but this year he's different. After reading her email to Dex, his cousin Daniel responds as if he's Dex. He finally admits to the truth but Stacey has fallen in love with the man who wrote the emails. All is going great until she hears Dex thank him for getting her off his back. Did Daniel do it for Dex or does he have feelings for her?
Linda
Well Matched by Jen DeLuca
April Parker has always planned to leave the small town of Willow Creek once her daughter Caitlin leaves for college, but that was before she fell in love with Mitch Malone. Mitch is a gym teacher and coach and also one of the founders of the Renaissance Faire. He asked her to be his fake girlfriend when he had to attend a family dinner. She agreed if he would help her paint her house and the deal was struck. The more they are around each other, the friendship turns to love but she doesn’t want to admit it. She is concerned about appearances as she is so much older than Mitch. He tells her she either loves him or not, age is irrelevant.
Linda
Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca
After realizing she would never make partner at the law firm, Louisa Malone told one of her bosses she quit and tossed her phone in a washtub. She is at a Renaissance Faire and enjoying the day. She met up with Stacey Lindholm, who she had met before. Stacey was with the Dueling Kilts and introduced Louisa who said she is now LuLu. She met Dex MacLean, guitar player for the group. Although she had heard the rumors about a girl in every town, the more she is around him and gets to know him, she sees his more serious side and they soon become a couple. What is going to happen to LuLu when she has to return to the corporate world?
Linda
The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak
Ivy, Ariana, and Cam were close friends who grew up on Mariners Island. When a young girl disappeared, Cam was a suspect. Twenty years later, her body is found. Ivy sees a photo of the victim's skull and the injury looks like it was made by a liquor bottle. She remembers Cam drinking that night the girl disappeared but she doesn't believe he's a killer. She and Ariana start digging in the sand looking for the bottle. What if it has Cam's prints on it?
Linda
Always in December by Emily Stone
Josie was on her way to mail a letter when she collided with Max and her life was forever changed. Her boyfriend had cheated on her and she was crying and bicycling too fast. To make it up to Max, she told him she would buy him a beer and he accepted. That was followed by dinner. Days were spent together until he could get a flight to New York and he left without waking her, leaving just a note. Although they were to meet several times over the next year, she thought he was with someone else, but she had never quit loving him. A beautiful love story although the ending is a tearjerker.
Linda
The Hallows by Victor Methos
Tatum Graham got fed up with being a defense attorney when a client committed a murder right after Tatum had his charges dismissed for another murder. He returned home to Utah where he joins his old friend Gates Barnes, who is now the county attorney. There was a recent murder and the two men responsible are locked up in jail. Gates does not have time to handle the trial and turns it over to Tatum. He has two recent law school graduates to help, Will and Jia. Reviewing work done by police and an inept medical examiner, he knows he has his work cut out for him, and the more he investigates the more corruption he uncovers.
Linda
Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
These guys really know how to write a great book! Fifteen years ago, nine mountaineers failed to return from a trip to the New Mexico mountains. Six bodies were found during the initial search. Now two more bodies have been found in a cave. One has defensive knife wounds while the other has a knife embedded in his chest. There is still one climber unaccounted for. Clay Sharp, FBI Agent, has been assigned as lead investigator on the team along with new agent Corrie Swanson. She calls in archaeologist Nora Kelly to research the two ancient skeletons found in the cave with the two hikers' bodies.
Rose
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer
This is a historical novel set in the Caribbean in the 1830s. Rachel is a slave, but when the king announces an end to slavery, she rejoices. However, the plantation owner says they must work for him for 6 years as an apprentice. This is just another form of slavery. Rachel runs, and escapes. But, she now must search for her children who were taken from her over the years. She watches as they live their lives and grow. It is a realistic look at slavery, race relations, and a mother's love.
Rose
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
Memoir about the influence her mother had over her life and her career, Jennette McCurdy tells how her mother wanted to be an actress, so she pushes her daughter into acting. Then, she controls her weight, so that Jenny's body looks more childlike. She has bulemia, is losing her teeth, and enters into poor sexual relationships with men. Her mother even holds her cancer over Jennette, and also withheld information about Jennette's father. She abandons therapy for a time. Finally, she finds a therapist that she sticks with and can see the way out to a more positive image, and take control of her mental health.
Adrien
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
I thought that YOU ARE NOT ALONE was both clever and entertaining. I liked how Shea had a "Data Book" and referenced stats often. I learned that "the average person will walk past sixteen killers in the person's lifetime." I hope that "the statistics are now in my favor".
Anita
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
This is a historical saga about a Korean family living in Japan. It starts with a young teenage girl becoming involved with a much older man. When she finds out she is pregnant she also discovers that he is married and has three daughters. Desperate, she meets a minister who is willing to marry her and raise her child as his own. This is a very interesting book. However, the only issue I had was trying to keep the Korean and Japanese names straight.
Rose
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
I have wanted to read this book for a long time, so when I was challenged to read something off a backlist, this was my choice! It is such a great psychological thriller, showing the guilt of a murderer, albeit a reluctant one. When two strangers, Guy Haines and Charles Bruno, meet on a train, and start talking about people they despise, Bruno plants a seed that they should each kill the other person's target. Who would suspect strangers of plotting such a thing? As the story develops, Guy can't deal with the guilt that he unwittingly triggered Bruno to kill Guy's wife, and now is in an untenable position. Eerie, twisted story!
Rebecca
Above the Salt by Katherine Vaz
After a slow start, due primarily to the detailed, short and apparently unconnected vignettes, I got into the rhythm of this detailed tale of one family persecuted for beliefs and forced to leave their homeland for America. John, the main character, starves with his mother for her religious beliefs when she is jailed. Although soon released, John is forever scarred by this episode. John continues to America where he continues to grow successful gardens (beautiful writing here), meet various people, including Abraham Lincoln, and reconnects with Mary, a former neighbor, in the enduring and endearing love story. Although a bit too long (where have all the editors gone?) this is a well written, engaging story.
Debbie
The Survivors by Jane Harper
An amazing story about friendship, loyalty, and secrets set in Evelyn Bay, Australia. The story gushes around water and the timing of tides and features the Elliott family and several other individuals living and working by the sea. The story revolves around a terrible storm twelve years ago in which three people died: two young men and a fourteen-year old girl. Kieran Elliott has always believed that he carries the guilt for the lost lives, and now events draw him to explore what really happened that fateful day. The language flows quietly and savagely like the waves. An iron statue of three survivors from the SS Mary Minerva gauges the severity of the tide among the caves. Bronte, a young woman, is found on the beach, dead.
Debbie
Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie
DEAD MAN'S FOLLY brings a story of death and mayhem. Poirot goes to Devon to aid a mystery writer in her Murder Game when the unexpected happens and a young girl is murdered. So many twists and turns in this delightful novel. Again, like a Shakespeare story, two characters pose as someone else. An old man knows the false identity and tells his granddaughter, Marlene. Someone murders Marlene during the Murder Game, and of course, no one understands why. As usual, Agatha Christie employs her usual characters: a rich man and his younger and beautiful wife, the faithful secretary in love with her boss, and a young couple having problems. Poirot, a romantic at heart, aids the couple in patching their relationship.
Rose
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
I loved this book as much the second time around as I did when I was a pre-teen! It reminded me a bit of West Side Story and the film, Breakaway, with the rival groups. Ponyboy and his brothers, Darry and Sodapop, are orphans, and considered greasers. Darry has dropped out of school to care for his brothers. One day, leaving the movie theater with his friend Johnny, his life changes. The socs (socials) see that Ponyboy and Johnny are talking to one of their girls. That ignites a fight, and leads to deaths. The social struggle between the groups, the needless killing, the love of family are all evident in this teen story. So hard to believe that S. E. Hinton wrote this when she was 15-16 years old!
Mary Anne
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
This may be the best book I have ever read. The characters are real even though the setting could not be more different from anything I have experienced. The story is compelling and I wish it could have gone on for hundreds of more pages. I liked his first book, CUTTING FOR STONE, but this one is spectacular. Enjoy!
dorothy
Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay
This book held my interest from beginning to end. It had so many interesting twists and turns that I couldn't put it down. Wonderful read and the ending really surprised me!
sherry
The Marriage Box by Corie Adjmi
Very enjoyable and informative book. I love my Jewish heritage and this book helped me to bring back memories. I recommend this book.
Susan
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
A very interesting historical fiction read.
Lucy
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
Thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully-written saga of friendship and a beloved town dealing with possible over-development.
Anastasia
Ice Breaker by Hannah Grace
This book was a cute romance filled with lots of smut. The story line was about a hockey boy who falls for a figure skater. I loved the grumpy girl troupe.
Virginia
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
I loved this memoir of a suburban wife and mother, addict and felon.She recalls her journey and how she finds redemption. Her story had me so enthralled, I read it in a day!
Sonnia
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Lots of humor, and (for me) a lot to learn. I had no idea!
Linda
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
This historical novel highlights two families, one from Barcelona, Spain and the other from Santiago, Chile, whose lives become connected. It starts with the Spanish Civil War in 1938, expressing loud and clear the horrors of war and exile. The political conflict in both countries struck a nerve, but the book also has plots of romantic, passionate love. I loved the ending!
Elizabeth
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
This is the third Amor Towles book I've read and I have loved them all! They are all so different but all captivating. This is the story of a young woman living and working in 1930s New York. Towles set the scene so effectively you feel like you are a fly on the wall watching these people's lives on the heels of the Great Depression and the cusp of WWII. It's told mostly from the perspective of Kate Kontent, an impressive young woman. All the characters are memorable and the dialog between them is delightful, memorable and revealing.
Ann Marie
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
I've read many of Alice Hoffman's books. This one was an odd mix of magical realism and family secrets with a focus on the feminine side.
Mary Lou
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Beautiful thriller that tells of a mother's grief at the loss of her young daughter during the desegregation of the schools in her bigoted Irish community near Boston, Mass. The quest for answers and finding the guilty ones responsible for her daughter's death is told in poignant and beautiful writing of the author. Perfect read.
Mary Lou
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
This book is a lovely read. The author tells of a young librarian who volunteers to help an elderly curmudgeon who is frail and in poor health by starting a book club that becomes important for each of the characters who join. Loneliness and isolation seem to be all they have in common at first, but their love of books and the bond they form becomes the most important part of their meetings. There are good discussions of the books they choose to read, too.
Donna
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
When I saw how long this book was I almost didn't read it just because I have a lot going on right now. But I'm so glad I stuck with it and actually didn't want it to end. Three generations of a family in India from 1900 to 1977. I fell in love with his characters and India. Such a good read!
Jeanne
Tough Justice by Tee O’Fallon
TOUGH JUSTICE by Tee O’Fallon is part of the K-9 Special Ops Series. It is well-written, fast-paced, full of twists and turns, danger and romance. The chemistry between Deck and Tori is undeniable as they are forced to work together to break the case. The author did a great job in creating and crafting the characters who fit perfectly with the storyline. I received a copy of this book from the author and these opinions are strictly my own.
Susan
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Makes you realize how different governments take care of their people.
MH
Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls
Although I liked this book better than the author’s previous books (and I loved THE GLASS CASTLE), I thought there were too many women getting pregnant by men (usually married) and too many babies who were being “hidden.” The story read like a soap opera. Lots of “shoot 'em ups” that gave the story a hillbilly flavor.
Rocky
The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs
This is my first book by Ms. Wiggs and I'm already reading a second just as soon as I finished the first. With a wonderful heroine, different from any I've read about before, we learn about the fashion design industry in detail, and along the way learn about helping others as well. A terrific family of five siblings, wonderful and supportive friends and new co-workers, and really great restauranteur parents help Caroline as she starts her own business and takes a late friend's children under her wing. A gorgeous and intelligent love interest, a locale that makes me want to visit, and lots of love in different ways made me not want the book to end. A great start to my quest to read the rest of Ms. Wiggs' books.
Tessa
An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor
On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, Dr O’Reilly’s unflappable housekeeper, welcomes a group of young carolers into the doctor’s house to warm up. While they enjoy a hot drink, Mrs Kincaid tells them a tale of her girlhood, and how she found her gift of “sight.” Taylor has written a very atmospheric book. I could practically feel the cold of a snowy day, smell the smoke of a welcoming fire, and hear the banshee’s wails or the eerie sounds of bagpipes.
Deby
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Everyone should read this. It's important to get another perspective.
Jolene
Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James
An absolute must-read!! Could not put this book down!!
Teresa
By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley
The story of Ann Lowe, a Black high fashion designer in the 1940s - 1970s, whose identity is kept quiet by her wealthy clients.
Julie
Thin Skin by Jenn Shapland
Excellent set of long essays. Shapland is a smart author. Her eloquent writing gives one a lot to think about.
Beth
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
In BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY, Ruta Sepetys describes how, even as the Soviet Union opposed Germany during World War II, they were ripping people from their homes, taking everything they owned, and exiling them to extreme hardship in Siberia. Her characters are fiction, but the book is based on fact. BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY begins in Lithuania when the Soviets took over in 1941 and erased it from the map. Lena is 15 and her brother is 10. Simply because their father is a university provost, they and their mother are sent to Siberia, and their father to prison. Sepetys describes the next two years of their lives.
Carol
Knitlandia by Clara Parkes
This is a most unique memoir. Author of Knitting Review has gone all over the world to see yarn, teach and take classes in yarn. Was great fun to read her path.
Rose
3 Days to Live by James Patterson
I really disliked this book. There are three separate stories, all co-written. The first is "3 Days to Live" about a couple on their honeymoon exposed to a nerve agent. The second is "Women and Children First" about a threat to commit a terrible deed on DC if demands aren't met (including killing his family). Finally, "The Housekeepers", about maids who are stealing from their employer and the doctor who is murdered while trying to protect them. All three were short stories/novellas, but none of them interested me.
Rose
The Lies You Told by Harriet Tyce
Sadie Roper's life is not going the way she expected. Her husband has left her and her nasty mother has died, but not before putting a caveat in her will. Sadie's daughter, Robin, will inherit the house in London, but only if she attends Ashams, an all-girls private school where Sadie attended (yet hated). Sadie needs a job, but had left her job as a solicitor when she married Andrew Spence and moved to the U.S. Now that she is back in London, Sadie's friend, Zora, helps her get a job defending a young man accused of improper relations with an underage girl. The team is convinced she is a liar. Additionally, Sadie is considered an outcast and an interloper at the school because her daughter was admitted mid-term. Chilling ending.
Rose
Things I Wish I Told My Mother by Susan Patterson
This is a realistic account of a potential mother/daughter delicate relationship. They are good times, tense times, and frank discussions. The two adult women take a trip to France and Norway after the mother suffers a heart attack. However, the entire trip is a series of discussions and back and forth between mother and daughter. Expectations and disappointments, stories of past loves and hopes for the future. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but really beautiful. It made perfect sense to me. Very enjoyable.
Liz
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Jo Kuan is a 17-year-old woman living in Atlanta in the 1890s. She has a job in a hat shop that she loves and is very good at what she does. When she unfortunately loses that job, she goes to work as a lady’s maid to a wealthy spoiled young woman. Unbeknownst to anyone, Jo lives in the cellar of the local print shop. As she becomes more sure of herself she begins writing an advice column for the local newspaper, but of course she is writing this anonymously, It becomes wildly successful. This is a story about Jo’s harsh upbringing and what she does to better herself. At times it is a bit confusing and some loose ends need to be tied up.
Rose
Last Rites by Sharon Sala
This is Book 2 in a series. I didn't read Book 1, but this is fine as a standalone. The Pope/Wallace family must flee Arkansas after the patriarch Clyde beat his wife Shirley and was imprisoned. The rest of the family was shunned by the community. But, Shirley gets an inheritance when her mother dies, leaving her property and land on Pope Mountain in Jubilee, KY. Shirley and sons Aaron, Wiley, Sean, and BJ move and establish new lives. Meanwhile, a man discovers a journal in the Library of Congress which talks of buried Confederate gold in Jubilee. He tries to find it, but shoots a young child accidentally. He goes on the run, fortunately, a woman-Dani-sees him flee and drops the journal. The journal hints of unsolved mystery.
Kimberley
Sleepless by Romy Hausmann
This thriller’s first chapter weave around past and present reality plus dream cycles. Characters are quickly introduced. Once the mystery unfolds, readers quickly learn adult children have been harmed by sins of the parent. Nadja, a young Polish woman, and her little brother have been raised by a single "mother". Nadja does all she can to assure the little boy had a better life then she. She never expected her life’s struggles to continue when she takes a job at a law firm. It’s a psychological, scary read.
Claire
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
I'm already drawn to these characters, especially Jude with this demon-induced chronic pain and rot. I'd like to know more about magic's role in this world - how well known it is, what can be done with it, what's the significance of using ancient languages. Sort of meh on the cover though. The characters look really young to me, like I might have assumed it was for a middle grade or younger audience. The design doesn't really stand out either.
Linda
The Jade Talisman by Alanna Mackenzie
It’s a futuristic book with humans and Artificial Intelligence robots.
Vesna
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar
I enjoyed Jill's honest writing about her experience growing up and the relationship with her parents. What I took away most at the end was that this is someone who has suffered so much trauma, that often times I had to stop myself throughout the book when I was thinking why not just leave, or why didn't you get a lawyer sooner, or why are you risking your family's safety? I circled back to that they have been brainwashed and traumatized that they did not have the tools to help or save themselves. I hope she has continued healing.
Geri
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Difficult start but what a message this book leaves the reader with! At times it could be triggering as it deals with death, but it is revelatory. Themes of missed opportunities and encouragement are prevalent. Very good book!
Tessa
Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira
2.5 stars. This is a YA novel full of teenage angst, sex, drinking, one-upsmanship, family drama, frustrated dreams - all happening in a sultry Miami summer. All I can say is I’m glad I never let my mom give me a quinceañera party!
Rose
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann
I struggled through this book. This is the 3rd series where older people are trying to solve a crime. In this one, a few people have been found dead, and the housemates of Sunset Hill, along with a tortoise, attempt to find the killer. The group falters in many ways, kidnapping a police officer, pulling off wigs of people and accusing them of crimes, and more. One of the residents has a mental health issue, and the murderer turns out to be someone that may surprise you. I thought it was longer than it needed to be, and I am not sure I will read more in this series.
Kimberly
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
This is Lisa Jewell's best book yet. I loved it!
Rose
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
Rachel is a college student, and her best friend is James Devlin. When she meets another James, she tells him she already has a James in her life, so she calls him Carey (his last name). The story follows Rachel and her relationships with the two James. When Rachel falls for her married college professor, she is sad when he opts for her roommate instead. Rachel and Carey's relationship is good, but circumstances get in the way. The professor/roommate love affair leads to strange consequences in the life of Rachel --- one she uses to her benefit (if you can call it that). Rachel reflects on all of this a few years later, when she hears news of her professor and his situation. He's in a coma. She reflects on her life then and her life now.
Sean
The Good Samaritan by John Marrs
This was a thoroughly twisted novel. There were some amazing characters who were mostly terrible people. Full of shocking turns and an ending that I didn't expect, the book shows multiple mental illnesses and doesn't exactly portray them in a great light. Some won't like that, but this was a fictional betrayal of some very messed-up people. I thought John Marrs did a great job of not tipping his hand too much and making every moment matter. Overall, it's a thrilling read.
Liz
The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib
Anna is madly in love with her husband, Matthew. They are starting a new life, moving from Paris to the United States. Anna used to be a dancer, but an injury ended her career. She is lonely, having no friends, living in an unfamiliar country and working as a cashier in a supermarket. Anna also has issues with the way she thinks she looks. What started as a quest to lose a few pounds has turned into anorexia. In order to save herself and her marriage, Anna is admitted to a treatment facility. It is harder than she thought. This novel is well written and very thought provoking.
