Four Squares by Bobby Finger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book. I love the idea of this book and I loved some of the characters but in the end the pacing wasn’t right for me and I couldn’t get myself to read it even as I was halfway through. It’s also sad, and my life is tough right now so it could easily be a case of the wrong book at the wrong time. I can see that my review is an outlier so please make sure you read others’ thoughts as well.

with gratitude to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Burn by Peter Heller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m a really big Heller fan. I’ve read and loved every one of his books. I love his writing. I love his quiet novels. I love his characters. I love the atmosphere of his books.

And Burn has so much of Heller in it.

It’s about two men who come out of the woods, returning from a hunting trip to find that the world has completely changed while they were in the woods. The town is completely burned to the ground and everyone is dead.

The book is basically their journey into understanding what happened. It’s political in its nature but it’s no in any way didactic. It’s about male friendship. It’s about parenting. It’s about government. It’s about human nature. And it’s quiet and scary and meaningful like all of his novels are.

I found this one to be a little slower than usual but i am still glad I read it.

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

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The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m a fan of McQuinston’s writing and characters and this book is no exception. The story of Theo and Kit is filled with electricity and bold sexuality even if they are picking the carnal over the emotional. They are hoping that if they stay on the surface, they don’t have to revisit the hurt. But of course life doesn’t work like that. The only way out is always through.

If wine and baked goods is your thing and spicy scenes are also your thing, you will love this book. Even though I was rooting for both of them the whole time, it seems I slightly prefer my novels from the inside out vs the outside in so this wasn’t my super favorite of the McQuinston’s novels. But I will continue to read every single thing this author writes!

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

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How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sorry this was not a winner for me. So obvious and so plain. I don’t understand what I am missing.

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Real Americans by Rachel Khong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this generational book. It says so much about family, immigration, parenthood. It has some unexpected twists too. I liked the first and last story the most.

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One Year Ago in Spain by Evelyn Skye
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There’s something special about Skye’s writing that makes all her books magical for me. The descriptions are so visual and so whimsical in all the ways that make me feel like the book comes alive when I read it.

This beautiful story between Mattias and Claire is no exception. I loved every description of his paintings. I loved seeing Spain through Skye’s eyes. I loved how all of my senses come alive when I read her stories. And how they stay with me. The peacock in the park, the delicious food, the angry sibling. I can visualize and imagine every one of them.

I love the premise of this story. How do you get your love who doesn’t remember you to fall back in love with you so he can wake up from his coma? How do you make it so he can find his way back to you? These characters will all stay with you long, long after you finish the last page.

with gratitude to netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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