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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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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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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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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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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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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Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm by Charlie Mackesy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
These books are my very favorite. Soft, gentle and loving. Beautiful images, wonderful messages. What more could you want to start the year?
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Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I started 2025 with an excellent book and I am so grateful to end it with another excellent book. Laurie Frankel’s writing is a treasure. Her characters always stay with me and this book is no exception.
She does not shy away from harder topics and I expect this one will be polarizing because there’s so much about abortion in this story. It’s about a 77-year old who gets pregnant and lives in Texas where a woman is not allowed to get an abortion. This is the kind of story I love the most, it’s not about the plot or settling, though both play a role, especially the old folk’s home where she lives, but it’s about the characters.
It’s about Pepper and Moth and her two new and good friends, her ex who lives in the same home, her three children who each process the news differently. Her grand-daughters. Even her doctor and the doctor’s team. There are a lot of unforgettable characters in this story. It’s hard not to fall in love with each of them.
Frankel’s writing is so strong. So funny. so insightful. so tender. so beautiful and so so heart wrenching all at once. A new book from her is the best gift and a perfect way to end this year.
with gratitude to Henry Holt and Co. and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It took me a while to get into this story but by the end, I loved every single character and just did not want the story to end. There’s so much goodness in this story. So much about humans and friendship and war and racism and greed. The world building is beautiful and so much attention is paid to every detail. One of the ways I gauge a book is how much time is spent building the side characters and this book does not disappoint. Every character you meet along the way, small or large, leaves something with you.
And the main characters, oh the main characters, there is so so much to love here. Every one of them is magical and multi-layered. Even though there’s a rich plot and rich setting in this novel, it’s the characters that are the most magical, in my opinion. They will stay with me for a long, long time.
Loved this one.
with gratitude to DAW and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my first Louise Penny. Even though it was hard to follow on audio with so many characters being introduced, I really enjoyed it and think it would make a great movie. Aha! just looked it up and there is a movie. Off to watch 🙂
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A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
Interesting story. I thought it had a great start and was thought provoking all the way but then the ending left me confused. It felt like it was unfinished somehow….
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Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
I picked this up earlier this year but wasn’t in the mood for it. This week, I kept looking for other books and finally decided to pick this up again. I’m glad I did. It was fun and entertaining.
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projects for twenty twenty-six
projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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