The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am officially an Ethan Joella fan. I will read anything he writes at this point because he simply doesn’t disappoint. His writing makes me think of Anne Tyler with real characters in small towns living beautiful, ordinary lives.

People whom you can’t help but connect to and grow to love. People whom you root for and who end up feeling like family. People you remember long after the story is finished.

Jack is no exception. He stays with the reader long long after the book is over. So do all the other characters from the diner.

Joella’s books make me feel less alone in the world. They are the best of what fiction can do which is give you a whole world to get lost in, remind you of the beauty of community and of the extraordinary in our ordinary lives. I love every moment I get to spend with his books. I hope there are many, many more to come.

with gratitude to netgalley and Scribner for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. Twisty. You know something is wrong. You’re not sure what it is. You keep changing your mind. Until the end 🙂

View all my reviews

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book on audio. Others said it was too cute or too romancy. I didn’t care. I love Waxman’s writing and this one was no exception. Fun, light, and sweet.

View all my reviews

Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lamott truly never disappoints. She’s kind, generous, true and makes you feel less alone in the world by not only existing alongside all of us but sharing her stories so we can feel a deeper sense of belonging.

View all my reviews

Long Island by Colm Tóibín
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an extraordinary writer Colm Tóibín is.

A few years ago, I read The Magician and that was my first novel by him. Even though I had heard of Brooklyn, I have never read it so when I saw this sequel I wasn’t sure if it would stand alone but I decided to request it anyway.

I am so glad I did.

This is such a quiet novel. I loved Eilis as the main character. In fact, I loved all the characters and I loved how real this book felt to me. All that repressed sorrow. All the repressed dreams. Loneliness and desire and loss.

The story of a mother torn between her own principles and support of her children and going after her own happiness. The story of a mother trying to save her future. The story of widows learning to make do. The story of a family trying to find a way out of a tough situation. So much said and so much not said.

I loved reading this story and now I am going to have to go back and read every single book this author has written.

with gratitude to netgalley and Scribner for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews