Review: Good People

Good People
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an unusual way to tell a story. This was a very thought-provoking story. Even though in its root I don’t think the story was really novel, the way the author told the story was really compelling and kept me interested. I did have to give up worrying about keeping track since that was really hard in the beginning. Totally worth the read and would make a great discussion.

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Review: The Top of the World

The Top of the World
The Top of the World by Ethan Joella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ethan Joella writes the exact kind of stories that I love to read. His stories are character-driven, quiet and deep. I always end up falling in love with his characters and thinking about them well after I’m done with the book because they are so real and so well developed.

This is the story of Maggie and Chip who work at the same hotel for a summer a year apart. Maggie’s brother Chip has since died from cancer and she’s trying to learn about Chip and how he spent his last summer. The chapters alternate between Maggie and Chip at the same place, a year apart.

It’s wonderful, life-affirming and exactly the type of stories I want to be reading right now. Thank you Ethan Joella for making life more beautiful with your stories.

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

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Review: The Midnight Train

The Midnight Train
The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thing with Matt Haig is that he knows how to weave a story that gets to the heart of the matter and knows how to remind us what actually matters. In this story of Wilbur getting to visit the major moments of his life after he passes away, he (and we) gets to see where he made the wrong choices that lead to outcome of a life he wasn’t happy with in the end. A reminder that we can say what we value but unless we actively choose what we value and make those choices intentional, what we say doesn’t matter. And next thing we know, we’ve lost the thing we value the most and end up with a life we didn’t actually want.

Alas.

For those of us who are still living, it’s not too late to change the choices we make.

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

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Review: It Should Have Been You

It Should Have Been You
It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

i liked this one, it’s a bit of a different story in that it shows you how something seemingly inconsequential can cause unexpected amounts of harm

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Review: What Happened to Nina?

What Happened to Nina?
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

interesting story where it’s less about who did it but more about the impact on the two families.

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Review: Head Cases

Head Cases
Head Cases by John McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed the main characters in this one. Looking forward to more of the series!

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Review: It’s Not Her

It's Not Her
It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. Good mystery that kept my interest. If you’re a Kubica fan, you will like this fine!

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Review: The Burning Side

The Burning Side
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Damoff is a truly truly excellent writer. Her characters are the true definition of three-dimensional. They are all flawed and working so hard to become better versions of themselves and jump off the page so well that you find yourself rooting for each of them and missing them so so much when the story is over.

This story is filled with so much trauma and grief. How broken we each are regardless of our upbringing (and sometimes because of our upbringing) and how we internalize so much grief and self-blame/shame even when the things that happen to us aren’t because of us and how much harder that makes it for us to then be in healthy relationships of our own. How do we save ourselves and our families and how to we form healthy marriages and families when we have so much of our own work to do?

I enjoyed every single second I spent with this book. I felt sad, laughed out loud, full of love and full of frustration but most of all I just cheered them on and on hoping for them to get the healing and happy ending they deserved. What a gift when a book can make you cheer for the main characters so much.

with gratitude to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

not sure why i waited so long to read this book. Maybe because I didn’t love Miller’s previous one. But this one was fun and quick even if it was maybe a little too on the nose 🙂

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Review: Mad Mabel

Mad Mabel
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh Man.

I’ve always been a fan of Hepworth’s novels but this one stands out amongst the others.

There’s no way to finish this book and not to fall completely in love with Mabel and not to find yourself cheering for her, wanting to hug her and apologize to her on behalf of the world and truly cruel people that ruin it.

It’s hard to say that I loved reading this book because so much of it is so sad. So much of it was spent with me trying to jump into the pages of the book and protect Mabel. And also it’s such a sweet, dear, at times funny, and mostly devastating book.

The audio is truly fantastic and brings both of the mabels to life so well. A true gem from Hepsworth.

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

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Review: How to Get Away with Murder

How to Get Away with Murder
How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had mixed feelings about this book.

Even though the book in book format was interesting, I really hated the book inside the book and wanted those chapters to end as quickly as possible. And I really loved Samantha’s chapters so for a long time, her chapters are what sustained me.

But then towards the end it all started coming together and loved all of it and found myself admiring how the author brought it into a full circle. I am confident most people will enjoy this one. And the narration was absolutely perfect.

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

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Review: Last One Out

Last One Out
Last One Out by Jane Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With any Jane Harper book you’re guaranteed to read a story seeped in atmosphere and deep in character development. That’s where this author shines and where her novels stand out. In Last One Out, Carralon Ridge, the town, is so atmospheric that it’s a character of its own. The town people’s relationship with the town is a major part of the story.

And so are each of the characters, their history, their connection, their sense of loyalty and betrayal.

On its face this story is not as twisty and interesting as many of Harper’s other novels. But it still has all of her characteristic style so if you go in with the right expectation you will enjoy this story a lot.

And the audio is absolutely excellent, transporting the reader to Australia adding just the right texture to the story.

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

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