Review: Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead

Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead
Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ok this book’s cover is VERY misleading. This book was VERY VERY depressing. It was not dark humor. It was depressing. Once I got over how depressing it would be, I loved it but do NOT be fooled by the cover. It’s not cute and light, it’s heavy and depressing.

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Review: That’s Not How It Happened

That's Not How It Happened
That’s Not How It Happened by Craig Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel delivered what it promised. It was big hearted and for fans of Kevin Wilson. A family that’s struggling through good news and bad news as the balance of power changes and fame and potential fortune wreak havoc. I loved it.

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Review: Strangers in the Villa

Strangers in the Villa
Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

also interesting. her books are compulsively readable for me. her endings always seem to fall short.

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Review: The Drowning Woman

The Drowning Woman
The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

interesting and twisty but i somehow kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. and it never did. kept me reading, though.

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Review: The Parisian Heist

The Parisian Heist
The Parisian Heist by Jo Piazza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars.

I loved this story about two women in alternating timelines. Jo van Gogh working hard to preserve the legacy of her husband’s brother and make him to be the famous and recognizable artist he never was in his lifetime with the helps of an old friend of her husband’s. Emma, a struggling artist, who cleans the home of Stella Swanson, the widow to an art empire who can’t get a penny to her name thanks to the kids of her new deceased husband. The storylines alternate until they inevitably intersect.

As with all Piazza novels, this story is about strong women doing hard things. Being underestimated and overcoming odds. I love art so this was an extra special one for me. I loved every minute I spent with it.

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

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Review: The House of Doors

The House of Doors
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

what a beautiful beautiful story. I have always been a fan of Somerset Maugham and this book made me get (albeit a tiny) glimpse into him. I loved the writing and the story. Loved it.

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Review: Dissection of a Murder

Dissection of a Murder
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was good but maybe because I went in with high expectations I didn’t end up either being as shocked or loving it as much as others seem to have.

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Review: Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online

Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online
Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online by Fortesa Latifi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read. It was more nuanced and balanced than I had thought. The part that was most interesting to me was about the Mormon church and the role they play in backing influencers and also explanations around why there are more Mormon influencers.

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Review: Five

Five
Five by Ilona Bannister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My friend Lauren recommended this to me and I read it in one swallow. It was an excellent mystery because it was about character development and each of these characters are so very flawed. The author does a great job making you both really dislike them and also feel for them. The voice is also very difference since she breaks the fourth wall regularly. I loved it.

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Review: Heartburn

Heartburn
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am so sad to say that I was disappointed by this. I love Nora Ephron’s movies. I love her sense of humor. But this book, it didn’t feel like it went anywhere. It almost felt incomplete to me.

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Review: Whistler

Whistler
Whistler by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve loved many of Ann Patchett’s books but this once might be one of my favorites. I find that her recent books seem to be a bit lighter, not in that they are less literary but they are more uplifting and feel more full of joy. This story was so beautiful and the characters so real that even though I took forever to read it, to savor it, I still wish I hadn’t finished it. I loved every single moment I spent with this one.

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Review: The Butcher’s Boy

The Butcher's Boy
The Butcher’s Boy by Thomas Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My friend Jess recommended this to me and despite not loving the audio, I really enjoyed the characters, the story and the pacing. I wish there were other or more recent audios of Perry’s work.

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