booksread « karenika

Review: Little One

Little One by Olivia Muenter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On my goodness Helen Laser does an incredible job with the audio of this book. From the moment I started listening to it, her voice took a hold on me and would not let me go. I could not stop listening. I felt completely wrapped up in the story and in the trance of Catharine’s world. This is an excellent, excellent audio.

Catharine’s life looks ordinary. She’s worked incredibly hard to make it appear so. And, of course, with a single email from a journalist, it starts unraveling. It turns out Catherine grew up in a cult. Her dad was the leader. It turns out there are a lot of unanswered questions. It turns out this journalist is interested in finding out the answers.

And Catharine may not be able to stop her life and all her secrets from unraveling. I listened to this in one swallow.

with gratitude to netgalley and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Shippers

The Shippers by Katherine Center
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

you can always always always count on Katherine Center to give us a story that makes us laugh and makes our heart full. This story was no exception. I thought the dialogue was even funnier than usual. Even though it also felt like the main character took a bit longer to get with the program that she should.

But it’s impossible to read a Center book and not smile your way through it. It’s impossible to not have her books heal you a little (or a lot) bit!

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Now That I Know You by Heart: A Novel

Now That I Know You by Heart: A Novel by Amy Hagstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a lovely story that will ease your heart. It’s like a cozy cup of tea. It’s about Shelby who buys an inn to fulfill her husband’s dying wish, only to find out the inn is in dire state and rumored to be haunted. Shelby is in the process of coming to terms with who she is and how she’s been trying to come back to herself finally after living a full life in denial. She’s new in town. She has no idea how to fix or rescue the inn. She is trying to honor her husband and also step into her own. Can she do both at the same time? Is it possible to look back and look forward? Is it possible to do something for others and also yourself at the same time? Loved this sweet story.

the audio was phenomenal. highly recommended.

with gratitude to netgalley and Brilliance Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Lost Lambs

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars for me.

I think people like watching others unravel more than I do. I don’t find it as interesting. This is about a family that’s unraveling. The mom decides she wants to have an open marriage and literally couldn’t give two shits about the kids. The dad is upset about the mom but also not really stepping it up, just too busy being upset and thinking about what this means for him. And the kids, well each kid is also in their own unraveling journey. Going so far that it’s ridiculous and melodramatic in service of trying not to be gritty.

Crazy.

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Review: Wait for Me

Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Amy Jo Burns’ books and Wait for Me was no exception. This is the story of Marijohn who was left in a gas station as a baby, raised by the owner Gus, who is obsessed with and swears that famous folk singer Elle Harlow who has been missing for twenty years, was last seen at his gas station and left Marijohn there.

But then a meteor crashes into the earth and unearths things that had been buried for twenty years. And nothing is the same again.

I loved reading the story of these two women even though the story felt a little too slow for me at times and I didn’t connect with all the music lyrics. I bet this one will be incredible on audio.

With gratitude to netgalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Theo of Golden

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unlike most of the reviews that appear to be in one extreme or another, I have mixed feelings about this book. I think it is touching and meaningful. I think it needed an editor. I think it reminds us that people are each suffering in their own ways. I think it was preachier than it needed to be. I think it has religious undertones that appear to be a bit more opinionated around choices we make than it maybe comes across at first. I also think it was too long.

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Review: Meet the Newmans

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

I thought this was interesting but also it felt familiar and sort of predictable I think. I love Niven and her writing is light and easy. It was a good January book!

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Review: Caller Unknown

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m a big fan of McAllister. I find that her stories are always different and keep me interested the whole time and this one is no exception. This is the story of a mom who is in Texas to pick up her daughter from camp. They are spending a night together at an AirBnB until they are scheduled to go camping for a few days.

The next morning, her daughter is gone. The kidnappers ask for her to put herself at risk and break the law in exchange for getting her daughter back.

There were many parts of this where others might feel it’s unbelievable or too much or too coincidental. But I didn’t care. The ending felt a bit too neat, but I didn’t care. I just enjoyed being lost inside the world McAllister built. Even if this one was way way too scary to this mom of teenagers.

with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Anniversary

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book!

I’ve read many books by Finlay but this one stands out for me. It’s a mystery, there are twists and turns, but also there’s slow-brewing love. There are two main characters that are interesting and stay with you and that you find yourself rooting for.

If you’re just looking for dislikable main characters and unreliable narrators and crazy insane twists, this might not be the book for you (though it has plenty of those). I think this book was more interesting, and I found myself getting more and more invested each year on the next anniversary.

Loved it.

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: June Baby

June Baby by Shannon Garvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My favorite novels are the quiet novels where it’s a slice of life moment and the characters are just driving the story. June Baby, is the story of Ruth who lost her mom at 17 and is consumed by grief. Unable to help her, her dad ships her to stay with an artist, Diana, on Block Island for the summer. Ruth and Diana and her nephew Charlie spend every summer together for many years.

It’s ten years later, and Ruth still spends her summers on Block Island. She’s drifting and struggling. She and Charlie haven’t seen each other in a while and Diana passes away. She leaves behind items and a letter for Ruth. Secrets that change Ruth’s life and shift her perspective.

This is a novel about found family, love, secrets, sacrifices and how and if we can ever pick up the pieces of our life after a monumental loss. It’s beautiful and touching.

with gratitude to netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Lack of Light

The Lack of Light by Nino Haratischwili
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I usually don’t like books that are compared to other popular books. it feels like a recipe to be disappointed. But in this case I think the comparison to Ferrante is apt. This story of four friends in Georgia whose lives intersected and wrapped themselves around each other is beautiful, heart-wrenching and deeply truthful with some really tough moments.

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