
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O’Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It took me a while to get into this story and follow all the characters. but once I did, I could not let it go. O’Farrell really is an excellent excellent writer. This book finally helped me make the decision that I have to read all of her stories now. How lucky am i?
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King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For reasons I don’t know, I kept postponing reading this novel. But when i was in a slump this week i finally picked it up and i am so so glad I did. It’s excellent. Grimy like crosby tends to do but also excellent, well-developed characters, fantastic writing and a great story.
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The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a lovely ode to books, mysteries, and cozy books! This lovely story is about Rainy March who can hop into books and solve mysteries that save them. She follows strict rules and can’t stay in the books. Until the book her mom left her goes missing and so does her grandfather.
Now all bets are off and Rainy does whatever she needs to, to find them.
This is a super fun, super sweet story. If you love books, romance, mystery, classics, and like curling up with a book, you will absolutely love this one.
with gratitude to netgalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Go Gentle by Maria Semple
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh my goodness this book. This book.
Semple has put in everything into one book and has woven it together so it’s hilarious, tender, sweet and also a whodunnit. I have no idea how she’s managed to do all this in one book but she’s just a star.
This book starts with a hilarious aging-single-woman coven story. Which would have been hilarious on its own. But then it covers divorce, marriage, parenthood, sexism, comedy, international mystery, rich people, crazy lives in NYC and so much more.
I don’t want to give any of it away because it’s just so much fun to uncover it all yourself. Trust me, this one is awesome.
with gratitude to netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rainbow Rowell writes the most beautiful stories. Her characters are so real, they jump off the page. They are honest, raw, lovable, and you can’t help but fall in love with them. I am so glad she’s writing adult novels now because I love every single one of them and this is no exception.
This is the story of Cherry whose marriage is falling apart and then she reconnects with a college crush. And it’s about Cherry figuring out what she wants her life to look like. It’s about love and forgiveness and family and marriage and taking care of things and people we love and also neglecting them both intentionally and unintentionally. It’s tender and sweet and funny and sad.
This book is spicier than her others in case that matters to you either way.
also I will say that this book should come with a trigger warning for those who have body issues. They are discussed very heavily here, to the extent that if you’re triggered by that kind of content, it might make you uneasy since it’s such a major focus for the main character. It’s more about the volume rather than one specific part.
I loved every moment I spent with this story and can’t wait to read more of her beautiful words.
with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Every Version of You by Natalie Messier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a story about Joey who dies too soon and at the end of a life that she’s not fulfilled in. So she gets another chance. She gets to go back, and chooses to go back to college so she can actually do it right this time and be with the man she’s pined over for years.
And, of course, things don’t go as planned. The story is really sweet and even though I guessed some of the twists, this book is not about that. IT’s about love and second chances and the life we think we want vs the one that we really could have.
it’s beautiful and sweet and joyful. I read it in one sitting.
with gratitude to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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A Good Animal by Sara Maurer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a quiet and sad story beautifully told. It’s about farming and family and sacrifice and lives that we have and lives that we wish we had. The writing is beautiful and the characters are well-developed. The farming is also so vividly portrayed and almost a character of its own in this incredible debut.
It’s also a glimpse in life so if you’re waiting for some major revelation or big ending, it will leave you disappointed. It’s quiet and sad and deep all at once. The narration is also beautiful and really true to the spirit of the story.
with gratitude to netgalley and macmillian audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Dead Money by Jakob Kerr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars.
even though it was fun and twisty, this novel took me forever to read. at some point i had to take a break and then come back to it. glad i finished it but it was too long.
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Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve loved Elizabeth Berg’s books for a long time.
But this one has stood out for me maybe because as some of my favorite writers age, their novels get deeper, more reflective, and this is no exception. I loved the tidbits of life that jump out of the pages. I love the moments that stand out to us. The items that are seemingly so ordinary but have a whole lifetime of memories behind them. Items that are turning points in a life. People who will never be the same because you lived.
The difference we make in others’ lives and the difference they make in ours can come from the least expected experiences. And a life is both so long and so very short. Can go by in the blink of an eye.
This beautiful novel will be a balm for your soul.
with gratitude to Random House and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don’t think I will ever get bored of Eddie Flynn.
I love the twisty plots, I love the crazy lawyer who always finds a way to twist things in favor of his clients and who always finds a way to Robin Hood justice.
But the best part of these books for me are the secondary characters. They are so full of life. They are not there as an aside. I grow to love them and I mourn every one of them are they have terrible things happen to them. Sign of a great writer, in my opinion, is putting as much energy into your secondary characters as to your primary ones.
with gratitude to netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
i love otsuka’s language. her writing has rhythm and depth.
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monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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