This contest period's winners were Debbie M., Gerry D. and Karen M., who each received a copy of THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray and SURVIVE THE NIGHT by Riley Sager.
Francisca
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
A family epic covering six decades of history from 1930s Spanish Civil War to 1990s in Chile. This is the kind of historical fiction at which Allende excels. She seamlessly weaves the real historical events into the storyline while giving the reader characters that come alive on the page and about which we come to care. Central to this work, as to all of Allende’s novels, are the strong women. Roser and Ofelia certainly take center stage. But the older women – Carme, Laura and Juana – are equally strong, resilient, intelligent and determined.
Karen
The Bridge Ladies by Betsy Lerner
THE BRIDGE LADIES follows Betsy as she adjusts to living with her mother and being with her mother's bridge-playing friends, all a generation older. They have played bridge for 50 years and share only limited information, but they are avid card players. So obviously, "bridge" becomes a word with multiple meanings for Betsy and her mother. I am not a card player, but if you are a bridge player you will love the many descriptions of the game.
Elisa
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Excellent novel regarding assimilation of Muslims in London and whether two people, one assimilated (and whose father is gearing up to be prime monster) and one still observant (and who’s dad was deemed a terrorist and died at Bagram) can overcome societal judgement and be in love. Gripping and twisty ending.
Jean
Dead by Dawn by Paul Doiron
I could not put this book down. In Maine, an investigating warden is in a fight for his life after he starts asking questions about a closed case that had been ruled an accidental death. After his car plunges into an icy river, he battles the elements and his hunters in an edge-of-your-seat story.
Mickey
Fate of Storms by Meredith Wild and Angel Payne
Wow! This is Book Three of the Blood of Zeus trilogy and it did not disappoint! Max proves that the love he has for Kara has no limits and she discovers she is more than just a demon. The story pulls you in and leaves you wanting more. I do hope there is another book on the way, even though it is a trilogy. There are still unanswered questions, like what becomes of Kara’s siblings and her mom’s fate and if she’ll ever see her grandfather again. Meredith and Angel are brilliant in their storytelling.
Karen
The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly
Loved this book. This book takes places over three different periods of time. The plot seems like three separate pieces, but then is beautifully woven together. It is a very descriptive when it comes to the gardens.
Toni
The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
This book was unbelievable! Gruesome, scary, gritty and fantastic! It centers around DI Anjelica Henley and a serial killer named Peter Olivier, or The Jigsaw Man, because he cut up his victims and left the body parts all over London. He's in prison and now there's a copycat on the loose, killing again in the same manner. DI Henley has to figure everything out before he kills again. I really liked this book for the setting, the characters and the plot. Looking forward to Book Two!
Laurie
Remember by Lisa Genova
REMEMBER by Lisa Genova, subtitled The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, is a
nonfiction book that provides easy to follow advise on how to maximize your brain. Read it!
Susan
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
Kept me reading and reading.
Pat
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Wonderful story of a gentleman who reads the news to those in the isolated ares of Texas post-Civil War. He is hired to return a child to her relatives after she was taken by the Kiowa.
Lisa
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
I’ve heard a lot about this book and finally picked it up! it was very different than what I thought from the title. I raced through it in a day and half, wanting to know what happened to Claire and Eva. Enjoyed this book and I’ve been recommending it since finishing. Strong woman characters that you will care about, suspense and twists I didn’t see coming.
Lisa
What’s Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh
I love Laura McHugh books. I have read all of her previous novels so I was anxious to read her newest that was just released on June 22nd. It’s another great job by Laura, who transports you to Sarabeth’s world in the Missouri Ozarks. From the title, the great cover and the suspense within, this book will have you racing to find out what happens from the first incident to the last with all, and for all that Sarabeth cares about.
Teresa
The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat
Historical novels have taught me almost as much history as the courses I took in school, and this is no exception. Combining the fear of being a Jew in Europe in the WWII era with the dangers and difficulties of living in the occupied Channel Islands is an interesting premise. This is an intriguing story. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read another Holocaust-era book, as I have been avoiding heavy material during the upheaval of the pandemic, but I’m glad I stuck with this one.
Teresa
The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
A cute, lighthearted story about a widow who will reveal which of three men she is going to marry on a Christmas. Fun, easy to read, kind of perfect for these heavy pandemic times.
Susan
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Excellent - and I learned so much!
Michelle
Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers is Saving Ballet from Itself by Chloe Angyal
This meticulously researched book carefully and explicitly outlines the deeply concerning characteristics of the current dance world: where we are, how did we get here, and most importantly what’s next. Triggers abound: physical and mental abuse, racism, misogyny, and gender bias are among the many. This literal behind-the-curtain account unapologetically presents the reader with an acute understanding of what goes on behind the scenes in the effort to present an audience with a seemingly effortless presentation of grace, beauty and artistry.
Perhaps the most fascinating stories involve how two events, the Black Lives Matter Movement and the pandemic have changed the world dance inhabits. Hope does surface in the concluding chapters!
Elizabeth
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Great.
Sally-Jo
Still Life by Louise Penny
I loved the protagonist in the story.
Suzanne
Outsider by Linda Castillo
As always, Castillo and Kate Burkholder did not disappoint. This fast-paced thriller delves into the story of Mates former cop friend and the inner workings of corrupt cops. Another great read!
Suzanne
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
Another great read by Linwood Barclay. This book was suspenseful, with several red herrings. Just as you think you have figured out what is going on, a wrench is thrown in. Having read all Barclay's books, I have to say this is his best yet!!!!
Cheri
Nemesis by Agatha Christie
I'm doing the Read Christie 2021 challenge and reading a different Christie book every month. Each month there is a theme. June's theme is a story featuring a garden.
Beth
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
I found this book too disjointed. The first half takes place at a performing arts high school in the 80s in an unnamed town which sounds like some place in Texas. There’s a lot of angst about the on again off again relationship between Sarah and David and hints of sexual abuse from a revered gay teacher. The second half of the book shifts to the perspective of a minor character from the first part of the book and we learn the first part is Sarah’s fictionalized recounting of their high school years. There’s a lot of therapy speak in the second half that I found annoying.
Michele
Open Book by Jessica Simpson
I listened to the audio which Jessica narrated and found it extremely interesting. I love the raw emotion she gave us talking about the good and bad times in her life. I especially loved hearing about her career, relationships and children.
Debbie
The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
I loved this book -- Book 2 in THE GOLOM AND THE JINNI series. I hope there is a Book 3! If you like fables, you will love this book. It is very layered -- what does it mean to be different? What does it mean to be a friend? And, of course, there is the underlying fable of the Golom and the Jenni, which is amazing.
Deb
A Time for Swords by Matthew Harffy
First in a new series about a Dark Ages monk turned warrior, defending his home against vicious Norse raiders. Excellent fast-paced story for fans of Bernard Cornwall’s THE LAST KINGDOM/SAXON CHRONICLES. Second book slated for release in March 2021.
Becky
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
I liked reading the relationship developed between the captain and Joanna. He is delivering a girl held captive by Kiowa back to remaining family. Lots of adventures! I wish now I had seen the movie made from this book.
Jeanine
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
I typically avoid short story and essay collections, but immediately wanted to read Green’s first foray into nonfiction. I absolutely loved everything about his essays as a whole and individually. His personal and insightful reflections remind us that even seemingly mundane things have depth as well as we are interconnected with nature and each other. I laughed. I cried. I re-read passages. (Sometimes all in the same short essay.) One of the few books I don’t want to return to the library.
Dorothy
Hillbilly Elergy by J. D. Vance
Not my favorite but it was a good book.
Lisa
Your Inner Hedgehog by Alexander McCall Smith
As always, Alexander McCall Smith provides a delightful story with charming and quirky characters. A great summer read that is light, quick and makes you smile.
Linda
Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages
Revisited GREEN SEA GLASS after a year of all new books (good, great and awful). Was again 'hooked' by the fictional story, but also by the history. Sent it along to grandchildren (teenagers) and one ended doing a project on the Manhattan Project. A quick, very readable pleasant break in the traumas of today!
Kendra
Duma Key by Stephen King
Even though it's one of King's earlier books, it still remains one of his best!
Sherri
Lulu's Cafe by T. I. Lowe
Enjoyable, clean read. Sad but inspirational and hopeful. Makes you wonder how your kindness/unkindness could impact someone's life. I picked it up based on an on-line presentation by the author and Francine Rivers done with their publisher.
Michele
The Family Reunion by Nancy Thayer
Wish I had a Gram like Eleanor. A story of love, emotional distance and trust. Set on a beautiful beach.
Brenda Ball
Lady Churchill by Marie Benedict
Having read three other books by Ms. Bennedict, I was anxious to read this, plus it is a book for our book club in August. I enjoyed it immensely. I didn’t know much about Clemetine. Realizing now that she guided Winston through his entire career was amazing. She was a driven woman, especially for the time in which she lived. She reminded me of Hillary Clinton is some ways in that she had a purpose and never gave up. The fact that she never seemed to have enough funds to live the life she was forced to life surprised me. Yet, she managed to pull off some extraordinary feats. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in women and historical times.
Margie
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
A page-turner. It spans from Chile to California and contains some interesting information about the California Gold Rush. Well written.
Kathleen
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Deeply moving, a little sad but also enlightening since I didn't know much about the Dust Bowl. The prose is exquisite, so rich.
Rosemary
Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner
A recovering alcoholic who is trying to make up for her past, Frankie Elkin researches cold-case missing persons cases, moves to the area where they occurred, finds a job and a place to live and starts investigating the case. While she'll work in coordination with the local police, she'll work without it if necessary. Why does she do it? How does she do it? And does it bring results? A fast-paced intriguing novel written by an excellent mystery writer, guaranteed to keep you reading!
Susan
Sidelines and Bloodlines by Ryan McGee
Tells the story of Ryan's dad's experiences as a college football official for 30 years.
Donna
The Overstory by Richard Powers
It's a story/breakthrough in ways we think about the world.
CAROL
Hostage by Claire Mackintosh
Ahh - I've finished the book - I can breathe again. I really felt like I was holding my breath the entire time I was reading HOSTAGE. This book played in my mind like a movie as I was reading it. (Premonition? I won't be surprised if it's made into a movie). Mina is a sympathetic character who is put in an impossible situation. Adam comes off as a jerk in the beginning but definitely redeems himself. There is nonstop action and tension here throughout the story and there are definitely some shocking moments. As the story concludes, it seems like it will be "happily ever after". Or will it? The author has another twist in store for us that I didn't see coming. But wait - there's more - and that one I REALLY didn't see coming.
Mary Ann
Malibu Raising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I could not put this book down!!! When to the bathroom at 3 a.m. picked it up and starting reading again. Even better than DAISY JONES AND THE SIX!!
Stephanie
Sunshine Girl by Julianna Margulies
Margulies details her peripatetic and chaotic childhood with a self-absorbed mother who flitted from man to man and a father, a successful ad executive, who was absent but did the best he could. She recites her early career highlights and a decade-long relationship with a verbally abusive television star who remains unnamed. Fans looking for gossip about George Clooney or Archie Panjambi will be disappointed as her costars barely register. Margulies’ memoir is not of the caliber of Andrew McCarthy’s witty and self-aware “Brat” or the spectacular literary memoir penned by Gabriel Byrne. I just didn’t find Margulies’ tales, about her upstate NY home where she entertains 20 guests each Thanksgiving with a fire in each hearth, absorbing.
Muriel
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
In this well-researched historical fiction, the reader finds out Agatha Christie did not live the fairy tale life of a writer with nothing to do but write. So much of her life was centered around her husband and catering to his needs that she was slowly losing herself. Much of the ten day disappearance of Ms. Christie that the book was centered around will remain a mystery. Marie Benedict has written a plausible account of what could have triggered the disappearance and where Agatha spent her time when the search for her took place. I liked the use of alternating chapters for different time periods and the use of first person for Christie when the manuscript was being discussed. I will want to read more about Agatha C. And her books.
Myrna
21st Birthday by James Patterson
I only read his women's murder club series. I find them enchanting. I especially enjoyed a quote on page 407: His ". . . writing career is characterized by a single mission to prove that there is no such thing as a person who 'doesn't like to read,' only people who haven't found the right book." It is hard for me to understand why his name is put on books written by others.
Deborah
Soulstar by C. L. Polk
This was the third in a trilogy and I enjoyed the fantasy and queer relationships.
Deborah
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
This is the first in her series and I look forward to continuing to read about the adventures of Ruth Galloway.
Deborah
The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel
I enjoyed the book and the mentions of things the author expands upon in her future works.
Melissa
Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell
When English professor Connor Nye comes across a manuscript that was written by one of his students who is missing and presumed dead, he does the only thing he can do for a story that’s too good and must be published - he passes it off as his own. Who will ever know? This story grabbed my interest right away and was a great weekend read. The story was intriguing, twisty, creative, and very suspenseful. Highly recommend.
Chris
The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe
It makes you laugh and makes you cry!
Rose
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Hannah Hall is happily married to Owen Michaels. Life is blissful, except for Owen's 16-year-old daughter, Bailey, who is a bit resentful of Hannah entering their lives. One day, a young girl shows up at Hannah's door with a note from Owen. It only has 2 words, but Hannah knows instantly that the note references Bailey. Owen goes missing. This sets off a fast-paced sequence of events involving U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and more. Owen's former firm is being investigated. Hannah is frantic to reach Owen, but her calls go unanswered. Hannah and Bailey need to work together to figure out a way forward and to find Owen. This was a very quick book and I enjoyed it.
Rose
Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner
Fast-paced thriller with an unexpected and flawed heroine. Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged woman, recovering alcoholic with an addiction to finding missing persons. This book will grab you from page one! When 15-year old Angelique, a Haitian immigrant, goes missing from her high school one Friday afternoon, and is still missing after 11 months, Frankie is drawn to the case. Frankie is running from her own demons, but is determined to solve the case. The police are not happy that she is jumping into their case, but when she starts making inroads, they begin to welcome her help. I enjoyed how Frankie worked through the case, I liked the various characters in the book and the complexity of the mystery.
Rose
The Clover Girls by Viola Shipman
I love Viola Shipman books! THE CLOVER GIRLS is the story of 4 girls who met at summer camp in Michigan. Years later, they have drifted apart and are drifting through life when they each receive a letter from Em. Em has asked them all to return to the camp of their youth to rekindle the friendships they developed as young teens. Told in flashbacks from the late 80s to present day, we are introduced to the Clover Girls, Elizabeth, Veronica, Em, and Rachel. We learn about their lives, their rivalries, their triumphs and failures, their relationships, and what caused the rifts between them. It is a look at women’s friendships and what they mean, how they can fall apart, and how they can be strengthened.
Rose
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
I really enjoyed this story set in the NY Public Library. In the story, in 1913, the Lyons family lives in the library. Jack, the superintendent of the library, is working on a manuscript. His wife, Laura, wants to become a journalist. She is accepted to Columbia Journalism School. However, Jack believes she needs to stay home with the children. Another storyline takes place in 1993, with Sadie Donovan being named interim curator of the Berg Collection, which houses rare books and artifacts at the NYPL. Interestingly, Sadie is a descendant of the Lyons. Rare books go missing, and the Lyons/Sadie are suspects. I enjoyed the parts of the story about the architecture of the NYPL and the work that goes on in libraries.
John
Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
This is a heartwarming story about the importance of institutions in our lives, and meeting up with old friends!
Sandi
Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
This was not a happy novel. I did not feel that it was written to the best of its potential. I felt that it was fragmented - both in timeline and in character development. I felt it started off well with Maria Isobel, but went down hill from there. Jeanette was the character that held the novel together, but she was just a pitiful character that you could not like. Maybe less characters and more fully outlining the ones left would have made for a better novel.
Lori
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
I'm delighted that I was able to read an advance copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I requested it on the basis of Picoult's previous books and didn't know much about the plot. I think it was one of her most clever books to date; I was stunned by events in the book, and that doesn't happen often. She truly brought her characters to life. Had I realized so much of the book was about COVID, I might not have chosen to read it, but I'm very glad I did. There are things in the book that I normally would have found unbelievable, but they worked in this particular scenario. The book is very powerful and thought-provoking, and I think it would make an excellent choice for book discussion groups. I highly recommend it.
Richard N B
A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines
A dead man. A running tractor. A white woman who claims she shot him. A gathering of old men with shotguns. A sheriff who knows everyone is lying. A father who needs revenge. What is so marvelous about this work is that Gaines tells it from a variety of viewpoints, as different characters narrate chapters. One by one they tell their stories simply but eloquently.
Noreen
Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra
I don't how I missed this when it came out in 2013. I thought THE GLASS CASTLE was bad but this book is a tough read. Sad and infuriating. It's about 5 siblings on Long Island with a mother from hell, where she deserves to be. The fact that I knew a lot of the places on Long Island that were mentioned made it even more interesting. I wished the book was fiction but it's not.
Sheila
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
What happens behind closed doors may not be what you see in public. Claire's husband is an ambitious man headed for a promising political career. Everyone loves him but what is he like when he's not out in public? Is he different at home? What is he doing that causes Claire to come up with a plan to disappear and start her life over free of her husband? Is it fate or just coincidence that Claire meets a woman at the airport who is also trying to start a new life? Switching tickets and identities seems like a good idea but is it? Who is the woman and what is she running away from? I had a hard time putting this book down! Excellent characters and the story is very well written. Definitely recommend!
Norene
On the House by John Boehner
Interesting insights.
Pauline
The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell
This historical fiction very realistically portrays the life of the people who live in Calumet Michigan whose lives were dominated by copper mining. In 1913 lives were very fragile and not valued as now. I really appreciated this portray of life of the immigrant. Very well written and thoughtful.
Sheree
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Very unrealistic. I didn't care for the characters and the whole story was just not believable. I would not recommend this book.
Donna
The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan
Excellent redemption story set in Europe during World War II. Really cared about the characters. Based on a real family.
Linda
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Historical fiction about the Dust Bowl in Texas, and the immigrant experience in California. Would highly recommend it.
Rose
I Don’t Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson
Should you be held accountable for things you did as a teenager? Yes, what Allie did years ago was stupid, but she thought she left that all behind. Now, living in an upscale neighborhood in Bethesda, with her lawyer husband and young son, Allie’s past life is coming back to haunt her. Harmless flirting at a party turns into something more sinister. Things are popping up on social media which are damaging to her reputation. Allie is now being framed for murder, but why? Her memory is failing her, her mother is hallucinating, her job is on the line, but she swears that she isn’t doing any of the terrible things. Who is trying to hurt Allie, and how far will they go? This will keep you guessing until the end.
Tara
The Trespasser by Tana French
The audio narrator was fantastic and really made the book.
Lindy Lou
The Exiles by Christina Kline Baker
Fantastic dive into historical account of Australian prison. Learned so much from this book and was unexpectedly taken down several trails throughout.
Gretchen
Win by Harlan Coben
I am still trying to like listening to a book rather than holding it in my hands. This was a really good story but I have to admit that this was the first time that I really enjoyed the reader.
Susan
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
If you love historical fiction, this is a must-read. The characters are strong women who made life-changing decisions during difficult times. A great book club selection.
Le
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Went in a lot of directions I wasn't anticipating, and I loved the wild ride! Weir gets back to his familiar narration from THE MARTIAN, and it works much better than ARTEMIS. Highly recommended.
Lois
Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky
Enjoyable book of how events affect our lives. It shows us how people can recreate themselves in order to fit in with society, but then they learn it doesn't work and they have to return to the life they were running from.
Kimberley
The Natural by Bernard Malamud
For the baseball lover, this novel is the perfect fit. First published in 1952, the vocabulary proves to be unique and older. It is classic and although centered around baseball, the story is full of life lessons. It follows a gifted player, the fans of baseball and the administrators. Although written decades ago, it feels like present-day athletics.
Dianne
Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King
Thurgood Marshall combats a judicial injustice in Lake County Florida.
Rose
The Wonder Bread Summer by Jessica Anya Blau
Allie is a broke college student at Berkeley. Foolishly, she let her boyfriend borrow $7000 which was her tuition and rent payments. When he doesn’t return the money and subsequently breaks up with her, she is desperate. She begs her employer, a dealer, to pay her what he owes, but he tries to convince her to do a few hits of coke first. When he gives her something which causes her to go a bit crazy, she grabs his Wonder bread bag of cocaine and runs off. So begins a wild story of crazy events involving Allie’s mom, dad, best friend Beth, a producer, surfers, and bad guys, as well as rocker Billy Idol. Fun and crazy story about drugs, family, and recklessness!
Becky
At the Chinese Table by Carolyn Phillips
This utterly delightful book combines memoir with recipes. The memoir portion consists of a fascinating account of the author’s years in Taiwan sparked by mouthwatering descriptions of the food she eats as she learns Mandarin and falls in love with the country, the cuisines of China and J H Huang. Along the way we are introduced to her imperious future mother-in-law who is won over with a time consuming, challenging recipe for a treat that hadn’t been tasted in 40 years by her now blissful MIL. Because I love to cook as much as I love to read and eat, I tried several of the recipes. Because I live in a city with a thriving Chinatown I was able to find most of the authentic ingredients.
Liz
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been best friends since they were teenagers. They are now adults and still very close. Tragedy strikes them one night and their lives are changed forever. Many secrets are revealed and Eve begins to wonder if they really knew each other after all. This book had a very slow start, but picked up about one third of the way in and the ending was quite an unexpected surprise.
Patricia
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Excellent story about the American Library in Paris prior to and during the German occupation. This book has everything - intrigue, love stories, friendship relationships and family relationships. Well written and very enjoyable.
Barbara
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
Cleeton's story is set in both Cuba and NYC, late 1890s. Three women's struggles to persevere and survive in a man's world are followed. First is a Nellie Bly wannabe, Grace, who works hard to become an accepted journalist, both for Pulitzer and Hearst. Second is Evangelina, the woman of the book's title, upper class Cuban, whose family is at odds with the Spanish oppressors in Havana. And Marina, another upper class Cuban woman who left her wealthy family to marry a farmer. She and her family are also victims of the rulers and eke out a living, awaiting news of her revolutionary husband. The three are eventually bound together as the Spanish-American War begins. The reader will definitely sympathize with the three. Well written.
Tessa
Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanne Elden
A year in the life of teachers at a struggling urban high school in a large Texas city. I’m not a teacher, but I have friends who have worked as teachers, and Elden includes scenarios that are familiar to anyone who has ever been required to attend yet another motivational speech or meeting to discuss implementation of a new process. There are moments of serious reflection, scenes of tenderness and of hilarity.
Barbara
Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly
Lizzie has received devastating news from her oncologist so she decides to accompany her best friend and his partner to Elba, for a luxury vacation. There she meets a new set of friends: a chef, his daughter, their mutt, and a movie makeup artist. And there she meets love. And peace. The story is not for those who don't like to read mild sex scenes. But if you enjoy reading about gorgeous sun and surf, exotic dining, and "yacht" people, this one will work for you. It helps to have either a wide familiarity with Shakespeare, various music choices and other "in" things, but these are not too off-putting. The focus is on the love and support these six characters give Lizzie and each other. Also, have a tissue close to hand.
Debbie
Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen
Thoroughly disgusted with the violent scenes that forced me to stop reading this saga of the Everglades. I have read Carl Hiaasen before this book, but my father gave me his collection of Hiaasen’s novels. TOURIST SEASON sickened me. Yes, this violence happens every day, but my reading must not be clouded with these disturbing visions. I feel like the story thunders from someone high on a pulpit like Jonathan Edwards discussing Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. The haunting image ruins the story and the plea for correcting the human errors of progress. Carl Hiaasen throws a little humor to soften the brutal reality, but the senselessness overshadows the message. Not my idea of an enlightening read.
Elizabeth
The Fiancee by Kate White
THE FIANCÉE is another heart-pounding read that will keep you guessing until the end. What a vacation this turned out to be. Do not miss reading this one!
Rose
The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau
Jamie is 14 in the summer of 1976. I am close to her age, but my summer was vastly different than hers! Jamie’s parents head off for a camping trip leaving Jamie home alone. Her two friends come over to keep her company, end up having boys come over, and Jamie nearly has her first sexual encounter. Jamie is nervous about everything, she worries all the time. Her parents are free spirits, having naked swim parties, leaving their children home alone for days, smoking pot, and drinking a lot. All of this makes Jamie very uncomfortable. When Jamie has her first boyfriend, and they progress from kissing to sex, her mother wants to talk to Jamie about Jamie’s sexual awakening. A coming-of-age story like no other!
Sean
The Secret Stealers by Jane Healey
THE SECRET STEALERS by Jane Healey is a wonderful spy novel based in WWII. Based on some real-life characters and situations it's very good historical fiction. While the many romances felt overly saccharine at times, I enjoyed the adventure and there were a few turns I didn't see coming. Healey's book is well researched and her plot is solid. Overall, a very solid spy novel I'd recommend.
Gerry
The Perfect Daughter by D. J. Palmer
A teenaged girl is found standing over the dead body of her birth-mother, covered in blood and holding a knife in her hands. Police have no doubt that they've caught the perpetrator, but the case is complicated by the girl's diagnosed mental illness -- dissociative identify disorder -- and by the fact that she professes to have no recollection of the events that occurred prior to her arrest. Could the murder actually have been committed by one of her alternate personalities, or is she lying, and feigning mental illness to cover up her murderous psychopathic characteristics?
An interesting but less than compelling novel with underdeveloped characters and an ending that felt somewhat forced.
Gerry
When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown
3-1/2 stars, rounded up. A sad but engaging story of 1930s Georgia, when the Klan was active, racial segregation and oppression were very open, and Black people lived in constant fear. This is also a coming-of-age story of Opal, a young girl being raised by her grandmother whose ambition is to follow in Granny's footsteps and work as a housekeeper for a white family. Approaching her eighteenth birthday, she's beginning to be more aware of the young men around her, and is torn between Jimmy Earl, the white son of her Granny's boss, who's been her friend and playmate since early childhood, and Cedric, the stubborn and angry son of the local Black preacher. I enjoyed getting to know these well-developed characters, and following their stories.
Gerry
Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner
I enjoyed learning about the events of the Cuban Revolution (1953-58), albeit largely from the perspective of Americans living and working in United Fruit’s company town. The large number of characters in the novel left me confused at times as to who was connected to whom, and most seemed flat stereotypes rather than fully rendered individuals. I had hoped to get a better sense of the reactions of the Cuban people themselves but will have to browse further to find a book that provides that.
Gerry
The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall
2-1/2 stars for a novel that started off strong but by the midpoint had become so mired down in crises, suspicions, and massive indecision that it was a challenge to continue. Populated by some of the most unlikable and irresponsible characters I've encountered in fiction, THE HONEYMOON was the story of a marriage that should never have happened.
Gerry
Still Life by Louise Penny
4-1/2 stars. Reading this novel almost ten years after I was first introduced to the writing of Louise Penny, I loved it even more than the first time. STILL LIFE is set in the tiny (fictional) village of Three Pines in Quebec Province, populated by wonderful characters whom I got to know better as the series progressed. In this first book in the series, Jane Neal, an elderly woman from the village, is found dead on a path in the woods, shot by a hunter's arrow. Initially thought to have been an accident, circumstances soon lead Gamache and his team to believe it was actually a murder. The progress of the investigation is so well plotted that even on this second reading I was unsure of the identify of the perpetrator right up to the reveal.
Gerry
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
This is a tough one to rate, and even harder to review without spoilers. I did enjoy it thoroughly, and my interest was sustained throughout. But so many things were left rather obscure and unexplained that by the end I felt just a tiny bit cheated. In a world of the future, genetic engineering is employed by parents to increase their children's abilities and enhance their future prospects. Artificial friends (AFs) are often purchased by such parents to guide their children through adolescence. Klara is one such AF, and is especially perceptive and observant, making her the ideal choice for Josie. But engineering isn't perfect and things sometimes go awry, as seems to have happened in Josie's family. Lots to think about and discuss!
Gerry
The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
This sequel to THE SPACE BETWEEN US, another five-star read, did not disappoint; in fact, I think I enjoyed it even more! Secrets focuses on the secrets women keep, from family, from friends, even from themselves, in an effort to keep the peace and meet the expectations of their prescriptive and highly stratified society. With themes of gender, friendship, loyalty, and second chances, THE SECRETS BETWEEN US is a powerful and very engaging story of the lives of three women in the slums of Mumbai, India.
Gerry
The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
After the death of their seven-year-old son Benny, Frank and Ellie attempt to build a new life in India, where Frank has taken a job with a drug company. Frank develops a strong attachment to the son of their housekeeper and cook, leading to conflict with the boy's parents who fear they are losing their son to these Americans. Umrigar has written another excellent novel that explores many different kinds of relationships: marital, parental, friendship, cross-cultural.
Gerry
The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr by Susan Holloway Scott
We are learning in recent years more and more about how many of our founding fathers kept slaves, and in many cases, had children with enslaved women. This novel is a fictionalized account of Mary Eamons, a slave owned by Aaron Burr's second wife, with whom he had two children while his wife was still alive, and whom he reportedly married after his wife's death. This novel relied heavily on the author's imagination and her research into the lives of eighteenth century women, both slaves and free, as almost no verifiable details about Mary Eamon Burr's life remain.
Gerry
The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Once again, Zafón captivates readers with his atmospheric writing, evoking the terror his characters feel as they are surrounded by mystery and diabolical magic. This is more novella than full novel, and not as engaging as his CEMETARY OF FORGOTTEN BOOKS series, but it's clear that the same writing talent is at work in this story of a family that moves to a beach-side house to escape war, only to encounter a more frightening danger.
Linda
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens
A psychological thriller that takes place in the Vancouver, Canada area, the protagonist discovers that her biological father is a serial killer. What does she do with that when the news is leaked to the media and the man contacts her??
Martha
The Disappearing Act by Catherine Seadman
Entertaining read, sort of a cross between a "chick" book and a thriller. An intricate plot of surprises.
Laura
How to Bury Your Brother by Lindsey Rogers Cook
W O W !! If ever there was a page-turner this is it. Wonderful development of characters. Little pieces of information to keep the secrets. Letting hints out a little at a time. Tying little lies together through the generations. A GREAT read! Highly recommend!
Marcia
The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen
Enjoyed the characters, the descriptions of Venice, and the way the two time periods came together.
Marcia
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Although it was very sad, I loved it. The way she made the reader feel the love between the two who met once a year, I felt I knew them and I was so sad at the end.
Marcia
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
Loved the information about the people in Rome during the war and especially the Jewish Italians. I loved all the characters and hated the way the people were treated.
Linda
Beauty Tempts the Beast by Lorraine Heath
Benedict Trewlove sees Althea Stanwick serving in a tavern and knows she doesn’t belong there. She has all the markings of Society and he wonders what brought her to the tavern. He owns a brothel but helps the girls find a better position in life and asks Althea if she would be willing to be their tutor. She accepts. Although everyone calls him Beast, she calls him Ben and they soon fall in love. She meets his siblings and mum and is accepted even though Society snubs her since her father was hanged as a traitor. She agrees to marry him. Then they learn Ben is the son of a Scottish duke. Althea does not want him snubbed and knows he would be if he married her. Although her heart was breaking, she tells him she cannot marry him.
Linda
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
Wow! Lots of suspense toward the end of this book with an unimaginable plot. Abigail Baskin thinks she has found the perfect man in Bruce Lamb but is she in for a shock. A millionaire, Bruce comes on to Abigail when he spies her at a coffee shop and asks her to dinner. After a quick courtship, he asks her to marry him and even pays for a bachelorette party. There she has too much to drink and has sex with a stranger. Bruce asks her how the party went but she doesn't tell him about the stranger. For the honeymoon, he takes her to an island resort where there is only one other female guest besides herself but many men are present which seems odd. Then the stranger she had sex with at the bachelorette party shows up.
Linda
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Jacob Bonner had one bestseller, the second not so good, and nothing else. He is helping out at a writer's workshop for up-and-coming writers when Evan Parker tells him the plot of a book he is writing. Jacob is stunned. The book will be a bestseller. Evan dies shortly thereafter and Jacob takes the plot and writes the bestseller. But someone knows he did not have the original idea and threats are made. He meets Anna Williams on a talk show and they hit it off. She moves to New York to be with him. The more he hears from "Talented Tom", he is determined to find out who it is, but Anna tells him to let it alone. He won't listen and soon it is too late. Great book with an unexpected ending that will grab you.
Linda
Skeleton’s Key by Stacy Green
Cage Foster grew up in Roselea, MS and loved all the antebellum homes. Besides being a deputy with the police department, he is also the caretaker of Ironwood, the last home to be restored. A skeleton is found in the basement and thought to be from the 1800s, but who is it? Two recently buried bodies are found and Cage is a suspect. The new owner Dani Evans arrives right in the middle of the murder investigation. She has heard the stories of a hidden room in the old houses and Ironwood is supposed to have a cache hidden in the house. The two bodies are thought to be looters who were looking for the treasure.
Linda
The Path to Sunshine Cove by RaeAnne Thayne
Such a heartwarming story! Jess and Rachel are two sisters who grew up being best of friends, but that changed after a tragedy sent Jess to a group home and Rachel to a foster home. Jess feels betrayed and joins the Army when Rachel decides to stay with the foster family. After the Army, she has a housecleaning business and meets Nate Whitaker, the son of her client. They fall in love and he wants her to give them a chance. She doesn’t know what to do as she has always been a loner and has never let anyone get close to her. She realizes she doesn't want to be alone anymore.
Linda
21st Birthday by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
An upset woman comes up to Cindy Thomas and swears that her son-in-law has done something to her daughter. Cindy calls Sergeant Lindsay Boxer and gets her involved. Things really heat up when the body of toddler Lorrie Burke washes up on a local beach. Police bring in Lucas Burke for questioning. Lindsay thinks he is guilty and then has doubts. Tara Burke's car washes up with her belted in. Her throat had been slashed. Lucas was arrested and ADA Yuki Castellano is bound and determined to see him found guilty. Seems to be a lot of conflict of interest between the ADA and her husband, Chief of Homicide and Cindy and her detective husband. Cindy gets info off husband's phone. This could throw case out.
Wendy
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I loved his very readable style and fast-moving story. Weir makes science cool! I could not put this down until I found out how it ended.
Rose
Good as Gone by Amy Gentry
Julie Whitaker, 13, is taken from her bedroom at knifepoint as her younger sister, Jane, watches, terrified. Anna and Tom, their parents, have been trying to cope for 8 years with the disappearance of their daughter. When a young woman shows up at their home claiming to be Julie, they are overjoyed, until some things don’t seem quite right. Told through several voices, this story examines what happens to a young mind when it is manipulated. Is it really Julie, or someone claiming to be Julie? Quite sad. However, I think the book was a bit confusing, and I didn’t like the Charlie/John David storyline at all.
Kaytlyn
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Yadriel is a transgender Latinx on a mission to prove he is a true brujo to his family. After attempting to raise the spirit of a recently deceased loved one, he instead brings back the spirit of a boy from his school—one with a sort of “bad boy” reputation, Julian. Yadriel is determined to figure out what has happened to a cousin that died of mysterious causes, and is willing to use Julian to do so.
This is one of my new all-time favorite books. I thought it was such a sweet story and I couldn’t put it down after starting.
Francisca
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Subtitle: An Indian History of the American West. Brown’s interest in the history of the American West took him to many resources that were previously ignored in crafting the official textbooks from which millions were taught American history. This work is one attempt to correct the information so many thought they knew. Brown relates the systemic plunder of Native lands region by region, tribe by tribe, battle by battle, broken treaty by broken treaty. It is a very personal account. And it is heartbreaking.
Rebecca
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
HIS BLOODY PROJECT is an actual account of three brutal murders in the north of Scotland in the year 1869. Some questioned that the murderer himself would be intelligent enough to have recorded the history of his admitted deeds, while others attested to the fact that he was an excellent pupil who could have easily written his memoir while incarcerated in Inverness Castle for a month. The McRae family was allotted a small, miserable plot of land on which to grow crops, and coming to grips with the family's hardships is detailed. Roderick McCrae's case is an actual happening, and the author has recounted the memoir and the outcome of Roddy's actions.
Laura
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
Great book about how Muslim women are treated within their own families compared to men. Very sad but enlightening.
Mamie
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
A fantastic novel that follows the triumphs and disappointments of a small family that immigrates to the U.S. to make a better life for their son. Their fate becomes entwined with a Wall Street family that is subject to the whims of the stock market in 2008. I listened to the book and the reader was excellent. With such a well-written novel of love, family, personal challenges, and immigrants, the narrator only made the best even better.
Mamie
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
A fascinating story of a young girl's first exposure to the fascinating world of flying. Marian Graves, while growing up semi-feral with her twin brother in Montana after their mother's drowning death and their father's imprisonment for abandoning his ship, sees an early air show. From then her desire is to fly. Her will and wiles to fly expose her to adventures from bakery delivery "boy," to flying Depression-era bootleg liquor in from Canada, to a marriage most ill-advised, to service in WWII, to finally her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world from pole to pole. Bolstering this story is the life of her twin brother, a talented artist, and a young Hollywood actress preparing to play Marian in modern-day Hollywood. Masterful!
Jan
Red Knife by William Kent Krueger
What a wonderful book. Of course, that is what I write about most of Kreuger's books. This is his 8th Cork O'Connor book but it will stand alone. Cork is a law-enforcement person, just like his father. His father is killed on the job. Cork leaves Chicago and goes back to his hometown in the upper levels of Minnesota. Cork is part native American and part plain American. This often gets him in a dilemma. The non-native Americans are often in disagreement with the Native Americans. Which side will he choose? This book has that dilemma. While Cork is no longer sheriff he is often called on to do work for each side. He calls himself a private detective. His wife, an attorney, and his children complete the family.
Rose
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
Ruthie works at a retirement home, but secretly wants to be a vet. She dresses like an older woman, although she is only 25. By chance, she meets Teddy, a long-haired, tattooed Adonis at a gas station, where he can’t find his wallet to pay. Later, he turns up at the retirement home for a job, and Ruthie finds that Teddy’s father owns the place. Although she tries to avoid it, she falls for Teddy. But knowing his reputation for wooing women and leaving them, she is cautious. It’s a romance, so you know what happens! Along the way, you meet other quirky characters, like the two elderly women who hire Teddy as their errand boy. Cute story, a lot of fluff, especially in the beginning.
Rose
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter
Dove Jarrod has a gift, enabling her to heal people. Or so the story is - and that her family has perpetuated to keep donations to the foundation flowing. But, her granddaughter, Eve, doesn’t believe it, or believe that she also has a gift. When someone attacks Eve, and threatens to expose a terrible secret about her grandmother unless Eve gives him a valuable coin, Eve struggles to protect her grandmother’s legacy. Told in alternating timelines, from the 1930s to present day, this is an interesting story with a mystery and the sinister dealings of false evangelists using religion for personal gain.
Beth
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Jane Harper’s THE LOST MAN is one of the best mystery/suspense novels I have ever read. If you read and loved THE DRY, one of her previous books, you’ll love THE LOST MAN. If you haven’t read THE DRY, you’ll want to after you read THE LOST MAN. Nathan, the eldest of three brothers, discovers the body of Cameron, another one of the brothers, in the outback desert. There begins the mystery: How did he end up in this predicament when his car is loaded with supplies to sustain him? Was this suicide or was it murder? If murder, who had cause to hate him this much?
Aimee
One by One by Ruth Ware
I think this was my favorite Ruth Ware book. Not that the others weren't good - this one just kept me listening and wanting to know the ending!
Terry
When the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This is one of my favorite books. It is well written and moves very quickly. An A+ for Owens.
Sandra
The Hot Pink Farmhouse by David Handler
I love this light-hearted mystery series. The characters are unique and the plot moves fast.
Beckie
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
I have never read a whole book in one day...until THE GOOD SISTER! This novel is about twin sisters, Fern and Rose. The names of the girls and the visual of the two flowers, one wispy and fragile the other thorny and strong, is part of the drama of the story. I couldn’t stop reading, only dinner interfered!
Lynn
The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey
Realistic and hopeful at the end after a sad beginning.
Lisa
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
I was fortunate to read an advanced copy and just finished it. I loved it. Hard to believe this is the author’s debut. It’s setting is a character in itself. I always enjoy when an author is able to make the setting so rich you feel you are there. THE PAPER PALACE is the family lake cabin on the Cape that they return to each summer. The story is told of one day there, with flashbacks to past times, which the author transitioned very well. There are deep loves, hard losses, humor and great characters. Elle, Anna, Peter and Jonas and more will stay with you. I’m still thinking of them and their families. Hard times and good times. Good choices and bad decisions. Loves, old and new - what does Elle do? A family’s saga well done.
Rose
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu, CA, once a beach town of summer cottages, is now a hot spot of mansions and the wealthy. Home to the Riva family, Malibu is the location of an epic end of summer party at Nina Riva’s house in 1983. The novel covers a 24-hour time period the day of the party, with flashbacks detailing the start of the Riva's family fame. Nina, a famous model, is reeling from the news that her tennis star husband has left her. She just wants to escape the life she never wanted - being a parent to her siblings, being a model. She just wants to escape to a beach and surf, anonymously. Her brothers, Jay and Hud, are fighting since Hud has fallen for Jay’s ex-girlfriend, Ashley. Kit, the youngest, is struggling with who she is. Family saga.
Laurie
Sooley by John Grisham
Another gripping, smart novel filled with south Sudanese history, war, family drama and survival. Basketball fans will love this new novel and main character, Samuel Sooleymon! Read it!
Kris
The Other Emily by Dean Koontz
This is a thought-provoking thriller that you won't be able to put down until it's finished!
Susan
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
Twin sisters with two different personalities - which one is the good one? Read it and find out.
Crystal
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
I know I'm one of many who gives this high marks. Loved the story and the well-defined characters. I've recommended it to several people who have enjoyed it and just a couple hours ago a friend of mine texted me to say she had just read the prologue and said, "I'm hooked!" So much fun to share a good book. I thought I was burned out over "women in WWII" stories but this is a cut above.
Mindy
The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel
Great book. Loved the story. A woman who has been running her family’s bakery is asked by her grandmother to go to Paris and track down the truth about her family history. She learns that everything she thought she knew is totally different from the truth and that love does overcome everything. I highly recommend this book.
Maryanne
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Loved the character development. Such extreme opposites and such forever friends. Covers so many life experiences.
Beth
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
The premise of the story is interesting, with dual narratives from the late 1700s and present day. The two stories dovetail closely (almost too closely) which keeps you reading. I learned a lot about the art of creating poisonous concoctions. However, I felt the ending was too neatly tied up and forced.
Judie
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Who knew the details of the making of the Oxford English Dictionary took over 40 years compiling 12 volumes? This fictional account through the voice of Esme focuses on her collection of feminine words not used by the male editors. Women’s suffrage becomes a major player in this well-written story.
Marilyn
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Good education on living in Africa during apartheid.
Donna
The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray
Lafayette castle is a fortress to liberty and safeguard twenty-five thousand sick and orphaned refugee children.
Sheree
The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer
I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting I didn't want to put it down and wanted to finish immediately. I would highly recommend this book.
Laura
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson
It started a bit slow. I highly recommend you stay with it. What a fabulous story of family, lies, forgiveness and what really makes a family.
Michelle
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
Historical fiction is not always my favorite, but the one thing I really appreciated about this novel was all of the details and historical research that went into the New York City Public Library setting. It was a beautiful, fascinating setting for both time periods covered. Any book lover will likely appreciate that alone. The story itself was a bit far reaching though and the writing was very basic. The average reader may find it entertaining enough but for our book group it didn’t hit the mark. I did appreciate some of what I took away as the deeper meanings Davis was trying to make a point on. Women’s roles in society, particularly working women trying to balance the role of motherhood was interesting me.
Beth
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The basic story about the search for Dracula was okay but there were far too many obscure details that read like a very dry academic dissertation.
Cecil
The World Beneath by Rebecca Cantrell
A new and interesting take on the semi-classic thriller, with the flawed protagonist racing against the clock to keep humanity safe. Only this all takes place underground! The characters were interesting, well fleshed out, and resourceful without being over the top. The lead character, Joe Tesla, was quite believable. Great story that kept me enthralled for the duration, enough to keep me up late to finish the last quarter of the book! I look forward to reading the next two in this series. Would love to see that house!
Dale
Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
I struggled at times reading this novel, at times confusing details. Characters' actions sometimes unbelievable.
Rose
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
This book is the first historical fiction book written by Lisa Scottoline. It takes place in Italy during World War II. Three friends grow up together. One of them is Jewish. When the war breaks out they have to make unthinkable choices. This is a very good historical fiction book. It is told from the perspective of each of the three friends. I find when I read historical fiction that I always learn something new about the time period. I would recommend reading this book.
Rose
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
This is a story of two families in business together. They all have their problems and have definite opinions about each other. All families fight and make up. This is a story of the past and the future.
I really enjoyed reading about the old days of the hotel and how the world has change since its heyday. This is a good summer read. It will make you remember places you visited when you were a child and make you think about visiting them today. Nostalgic.
Paige
We Are Watching Eliza Bright by A. E. Osworth
It’s a shame, I really wanted to love this book. The concept/plot had so much promise, and with the glowing reviews I thought I would really enjoy this read. But the writing style is just painful to get through and completely ruined the book for me. It was, unfortunately, like pulling teeth to finish this book.
Amy
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
Suspenseful page-turner!
Nancy
The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
Hard to believe it's been 20 years since 9/11. My book club chose this book to read as a lead-in to our discussion about where we were when we heard the news, and what our reaction was. It's a factual story told by a journalist about a horrible event and time, and yet it shows the resilience and humanity of people. It is a great choice for book clubs, not so much for the writing or background, but as a starting point for a discussion on so many different levels.
Jeanine
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
I'm always in the mood for a good thriller, but the genre is crowded and it's difficult to achieve balance between character and plot elements, even when I'm fully willing to suspend plausible reality. Michaelides's second novel has some issues with realism at the end, but certainly an entertaining ride throughout. The Greek mythology elements blended well and added to the atmosphere.
Jean
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
This laugh-out-loud memoir tells the story of Firoozeh's life in America as an Iranian Muslim after moving here as a child and how she assimilated without losing her heritage. Her parents make frequent appearances. It is a warm and charming story.
Rose
Problems at the Pub by Kirsten Fullmer
PROBLEMS AT THE PUB is the 4th installment of the Sugar Mountain series and continues the crazy adventures of the town ladies. Monique Brewer owns the local pub, and is dealing with her mom, Kim, and her attraction to the new assistant to the mayor, Anthony Tidwell. The mayor is rewriting the tax code, but the ladies think (correctly) that he is up to no good. The ladies continue their typical adventures, including masquerading and other wild actions. Should they trust Anthony, what is he doing with the mayor? Should Monique follow her heart? If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a lot of humor, you will enjoy this latest installment.
Marilyn
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
I chose this for my 4th of July in the mountains book. Sitting in a rocker on the deck in the tree tops, with my dog at my side, and totally immersed in this thrilling book I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. Before I realized it, I had been reading five hours straight! This story absorbed me.
Thomas
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
This was an excellent book to read. A lot of action.
Debrah
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
I loved all the twists and turns. Highly recommend this book.
diane
The Great Influenza by John M. Barry
Very informative book, especially to learn about the 1918-1920 influenza epidemic. Good information on public health in America and how it started and some of the pioneers.
Jan
The Second Law by L. A. Starks
This is really not my sort of book. It is heavy action oriented. No development of characters. Fast-paced. A quick mystery.
Lynn
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McClain
I listened to this book and the narrator was excellent. Suspenseful, moving story about child abduction with a beautiful setting and great characters.
Rose
The Push by Ashley Audrain
This is a tense, terrifying novel of a mother and her daughter. The daughter, Violet, despises her mother and has not bonded with her from the moment Violet was born. Blythe, the mom, and her husband, Fox, have a wonderful marriage before Violet came along. While Fox has an outstanding relationship with Violet, he tells Blythe she just needs to try harder. Blythe comes from a line of mothers who don’t bond with their daughters. When something terrible happens, Blythe begs Fox to understand, but he turns a blind eye. Things get progressively worse. You will find yourself reading this novel waiting for the worst to happen. Eerie.
Tessa
Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
This work of historical fiction takes us to early 20th century China and the unique position of the women who worked in the silk factories in lieu of marriage. I loved the unexpected strength and determination of these young women as they made their own way in a culture that restricted opportunities for women. The independence they gained, though initially forced on them, became their most prized attribute.
Deby
The Removed by Brandon Hobson
It was just okay.
Anita
The Berlin Girl by Mandy Robotham
This is an excellent story of a young woman (Georgie) from England who is a reporter and is stationed in Berlin prior to the beginning of WWII. There she meets another reporter, Max, and together they work to save some people as they are starting to send them to concentration camps.
It is a beautifully-written historical novel.
Rona
The Heart of a Distant Forest by Philip Lee Williams
Imagine your college professor asked you to write a book, an essay, even a page about death and dying, and what you imagine your death and the process of your dying would be were you given a year to live. Imagine further that you are at the end of a long life of experience, of love, and family, and loss, and that you face the journey alone, just you and your journal. Skip the parts about doctors and disease and instead discover how you are to live out your days and make the most of the time given you. And, yes, make the story not one of dying but one of dying with dignity and purpose. And make the language you choose sing and paint the sights and play the sounds of the world around so that your readers can join you on your journey.
Betty
Castle Shade by Laurie R. King
A good outing for Russell and Holmes -- in Transylvania to stem attempts to discredit Queen Marie of Roumania and drive her out of Castle Bran.
Linda
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
A story of two lonely, elderly people looking for an intimate relationship in a small town of "wagging tongues." Very simply written but with messages.
Dee
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
The premise of the book is unusual, but it all comes together in the end. A young girl from outer space changes the lives of everyone she meets.
Kimberley
Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
Laugh out loud! Moriarty once again entertains, provokes and pleases her readers! I fell in love with the three main characters and the mystery behind triplets. The author shares that at any age one can change direction, follow a passion and discard the trappings. Family is strong in this novel but in a fun way. Those who have read will understand: Vive Teletubbies! Hilarious!
sherry
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This book hooks you from the very start! This is a great psychological suspense book. Hard to put down.
Karen
This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Medical Resident by Adam Kay
I really enjoyed this as an audiobook with the author as the narrator. The smaller stories made natural and easy stopping points along the way. They were many very amusing times very and I would be laughing out loud on my daily walks!
Richard N B
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
3.5 stars. Subtitle: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. This is a great memoir, as well as a bit of a tutorial, a travelogue, and a warning of what NOT to do. Bourdain is honest, profane, funny, and informative. As a plus, he narrated the audio version himself. I sure do miss his CNN show.
Rose
Burn It All Down by Nicolas DiDomizio
I decided to read this book based on James Patterson‘s recommendation. I didn’t care for it at all. An Italian mother, Gia, and her son, Joey, decide to take revenge on their boyfriends after they have been dumped. Their revenge is to destroy Luke’s (Joey’s ex) car, and burning some things in Richard‘s (Gia’s ex) house. Unfortunately, Richard‘s house burns down. Following this is a series of missteps by the mother and son. I just cannot recommend this book at all.
Doreen
The Break Up Book Club by Wendy Wax
Even if your life isn't going as you planned, this book give you something to think about. The book club provides a safe space to make and share friendships, to realize you are not alone with your problems and to enjoy, of course, reading books.
Dianne
Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King
Detailed accounting of the Groveland Buys (the Groveland Four), the Klan, race and law enforcement in Florida post-WWII. Having grown up in Florida during this time period, I find the incidents of racism horrifying. Most important is where was I and how did I miss this travesty of justice.
Jan
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
This book is well worth the read. And the read can be tedious at times. Poor writer - now professor - looking for any job that pays - gets a short term job as writing advisor to a group - has a horror of a student who knows everything - know-it-all student tells him the plot of his future best seller and never returns. Sad, mournful, the non-prof drags around for years - mourns some more - I am warning you about pages of his doing nothing because he is so sad - he writes a couple of novels and they are blah! Nothing - finally he is at the front desk of a sad old hotel which hosts writing seminars to stay alive. But, wait! He finds that the student with the story is dead. He writes the story and it is a hit. A HIT!!! He gets lots of money.
Lynnsey
Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera
Southern women (1920s) finding their super powers!
Rose
Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
Just when you think you have everything figured out, Lisa Unger surprises you over and over again. This novel is a con game with a mix of Strangers on the Train thrown in. Selena is in love with her husband, Graham, and is happy with her nanny, Geneva, for her two sons. But, when she catches them together, and when a stranger on the 7:45 train (Martha) tells her a big secret, Selena shares her secret to Martha. When Geneva disappears, Selena wonders what her husband is capable of doing. Anna is having an affair with her married boss, but his wife gives Anna an ultimatum. This novel has many women wronged by men, women conning men to get revenge, and the timelines don't have dates, so some confusion and intentional misdirection!
Elizabeth
The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine
A well-crafted psychological thriller with lots of surprises and a twist you can’t imagine happening.
Betty
Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell
What a roller coaster ride! Twists and turns, the slow acceleration until you reach the peak and then the thrilling dive. When the ride is over you still feel a bit shaky.
Rose
The Wedding Night by Harriet Walker
Lizzie and Dan call off their wedding in France just days before the event. Her long-time best friends, Effie and Anna, are completely surprised by this. Instead of canceling their planned vacation, they convince Lizzie to come with them to France and enjoy some time away. However, when Lizzie arrives, she finds that it is not only her two girlfriends, but their dates, and another couple. What is worse, someone is making out seem as if the wedding is still on, tormenting Lizzie. Things continue to happen, until finally, the truth about why the wedding was cancelled comes out. I enjoyed this novel, and will look for more from this author.
Laura
When the Stars go Dark by Paula McLain
WOW! Fantastic mystery.
Marsha
Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner
Fast-moving story of Frankie, a recovering alcoholic, who searches for missing young women. When the police go on to other cases she starts from the beginning to find these people. Lots of suspense and good characters.
Kathy
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
An epic novel about three families living in Rome in early WWII. When Mussolini and his Fascists join forces with Hitler's Nazis, antisemitism becomes the law and life for these families will never be the same. A real page-turner! One of the best books I have read in quite a while.
Elizabeth
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
This book is a beautiful tribute to the human spirit, to perseverance, and to finding the qualities a person possesses for empathy, kindness, and making choices. Another FIVE star but very heartbreaking gem from Kristin Harmel.
Allison
The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer
My last read was THE DAMAGE by Caitlin Wahrer and it was amazing. The book was so well done, I was surprised to see that it was the author’s debut. I stayed up until 3 a.m. because it was impossible to put down. Definitely the book of the year!
Cindee
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery
Sweet story of a woman who married into an established vineyard and upon divorce, she loses everything and everyone only to start again on her own vineyard on her own terms.
Valerie
First Course by Jenn Bouchard
The PERFECT beach read!! FIRST COURSE has fun characters and reads quickly as the plot twists and turns while the main characters find love and figure out how to reinvent their lives after tragedy. The backdrop of Maine in the summer and mouth-watering food descriptions make this book all the more delicious!
Lauren
First Course by Jenn Bouchard
Terrific read!! Such a delicious debut; I gobbled it up in two short days and now I’m sorry I didn’t savor it.
Stephanie
First Course by Jenn Bouchard
Fun, quick read that's perfect for foodies and real-life drama lovers. I enjoyed Janie's tough, pragmatic approach to having her life collapse around her. I've spent almost no time in Maine, but the descriptions of it made me want to visit!
Rose
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
Sweet romance about Birdy (Elizabeth Finch) and her best friend, Heather, both 31. Heather, an accomplished sommelier, has been offered a job at a hotel in Scotland, but she decides to run off to Italy with her boyfriend, Cristian. This leaves Birdy with no place to stay as Heather plans to rent out her London flat as an Airbnb. When Birdy attends a wine dinner that Heather misses, she is mistaken for Heather, because she is wearing Heather’s name tag. The woman, Irene, is from the Scotland hotel and tells Birdy how excited they are that she (Heather) is taking the job. So Birdy does, thinking it will give her a place to live for the summer. She doesn’t tell Heather that she is taking the job! Now how can she get out from under the lies?
Francisca
Friends Like Us by Lauren Fox
I really enjoyed this exploration of friendship and the choices one makes as one matures. I remember close friends I had in my twenties. I have witnessed (and been part of) break-ups that hurt so badly you wondered how you would ever survive. And I recognized how a best friend can say just the right thing to help you through what you believe to be the darkest moments. So, the relationships between these people and their emotions were completely relatable to me.
Elizabeth
Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell
Mr. Bell simply has a way of creating books that have exceptionally real and unique, pulse-pounding storylines. He has outdone himself with KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS. Don’t miss this one.
Christine
The Eacape Room by Megan Goldin
This novel draws you in quickly. It is about four Wall Street executives who are very greedy. They are ruthless in their actions and dealings, and someone seeks revenge in an elaborate escape room exercise.
Katie
First Course by Jenn Bouchard
I couldn’t put it down! I loved the characters and miss them now that I’m done. The connections between the characters — across decades and generations — are so well developed. The book is primarily set in Maine and, as a local, I loved the references to real places and things. The food theme throughout was great — be prepared to want to run to the kitchen and make a delicious snack to enjoy with the book! An excellent debut novel from Jenn Bouchard - I look forward to more!
Rebecca
Budda in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Japanese "picture brides" arrive in San Francisco in the early 1900s to meet their husbands who have sent pictures depicting how handsome they are, and telling of their wonderful occupations and riches. Surprise! The tale is told by the unsuspecting women and of the realities they face once they have arrived.
Betty
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
I love Ms. Harmel’s books and think this may be her best so far. Her newest book is a story of hope, courage, bravery, survival, and love. It is also a story of determining who we are inside and how to become that person.
Jan
The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara
I tried for six weeks to find the good in this book. The story was boring, tiring and not up to the standards of A LITTLE LIFE. I could not finish it. I urge you to read A LITTLE LIFE.
Jeanne
Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
GOLDEN GIRL by Elin Hilderbrand is captivating, sad, heartbreaking, heartwarming and, in my opinion, the author’s best book to date. For me personally, I wanted to shout out as I was reading GOLDEN GIRL to eat the dessert, buy the shoes, and always, always be there for your family and those you love because life is short and we never know what’s right around the corner. The author is to be commended for the way she created and wrote this story, along with the brilliant way she carefully and expertly created the characters. I found myself tearing up, crying, smiling at times and laughing as I read this wonderful novel. Thank you to the Hatchette Book Group and Elin Hilderbrand for sending me this novel.
Jeanne
The President’s Daughter by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER by former President Clinton and outstanding thriller author James Patterson is absolutely outstanding. Simply put, WOW, they knocked it out of the park with this captivating thriller. Without giving away any spoilers, I found this book to be a riveting, nail-biting, chilling, extremely well-written action-packed, suspense-filled novel. I cannot recommend reading it highly enough and rated it a high five.
