The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 stars.
I had never heard of Julie Clark but the plot of this story looked compelling and many, many people raved about her previous book so I decided to give it a chance and I am so glad I did.
This is the story of Meg Williams who has been on the run and a con artist for more than a decade and Kat Roberts who has been trying to find her and expose her for equally long.
Both of the women are well-developed, complex characters. As a reader, it’s hard not to root for both of them. Unlike the latest trends with unreliable narrators or drunk women, both of these women are strong, complex and flawed but real.
The pacing of the story is just right, giving you enough hints along the way but not so obvious that you want to roll your eyes.
I find it hard to find smart, engaging and enjoyable mystery novels lately and this one stands out. I highly recommend it. In fact, I loved it so much that the minute I finished it, I went back and read her previous book, which was also as good as everyone said it was!
with gratitude to Sourcebooks Landmark and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I read the first Finlay Donovan book, I adored it. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I hadn’t heard much about it so it was a wonderful surprise and when I saw the sequel coming, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it as quickly as I could.
It did not disappoint.
In this story the mystery is about a listing Finlay sees on the online forum (disguised as a mom’s forum but we all know it’s a place you go when you want to get rid of people) about someone posting to get rid of her ex-husband.
So, of course, Finlay feels compelled to figure out who wants her ex gone and she jumps with both feet in.
As with the first book, havoc ensues.
Everything about these books are funny and light and joyful. It’s not possible to laugh at the characters and to also root for them the whole time. These books are fantastic on audio and a really great read when you want something light and joyful.
I hope there will be more.
with gratitude to Macmillan Audio and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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The High House by Jessie Greengrass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not sure why I thought a disaster book would be a good idea to read right now but I am glad I did. This an excellent story about four people who live in a sheltered house during a disaster that’s making the sea levels rise. Told in three alternating viewpoints, the story is personal, touching and well-written.
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These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There are not enough words for how much I loved this essay collection. I am already an ardent fan of both Patchett’s fiction and her nonfiction but she has outdone herself with this collection. I loved the audiobook which is narrated by her and she has done an exceptional job. This will undoubtedly be at the top of my favorites for 2022.
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Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Yet another excellent addition to this exceptional series centered around girls and how it’s okay to be exactly who you are. I love this series and even though the last one wasn’t a big winner for me, I loved reading this one and I love McGuire’s imagination and her ability to take us into these magical worlds while continually reinforcing the message around being who you are and writing your own destiny.
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Ways the World Could End by Kim Hooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
I have read and loved Hooper’s books before and this was no exception.
This is the story of Cleo and Dave. They alternate telling their story. Cleo is a teenager and Dave is her dad with aspergers. Something terrible happened to them and they are working on moving forward and finding how to live their life, now.
The story is told in bits and pieces and it’s not possible to not fall in love with both of these characters. You feel for them, you root for them, you want the very best for them. There are some serious topics tackled in this story so trigger warnings for violence. But it will stay with me for a long, long time.
with gratitude to edelweiss and Keylight BooksIngram for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
This was an excellent excellent book. Emma Straub took a tired concept (time travel) and put a new and fresh spin on it. I loved every minute I spent with her characters, even the smaller ones. The story is both cute and serious, it’s both endearing and enjoyable to read. As a child of the 80s and 90s, I loved the references to times of my teenage years and as a book-lover, I loved the peek into her dad’s writer-life.
highly recommended.
with gratitude to edelweiss and riverhead books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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The Sign for Home by Blair Fell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved this book. I studied sign language many, many years ago and have always dreamt of being an interpreter (I am nowhere as good as I would need to be but it always looks so amazing when I watch interpreters.) so I loved reading a book centered around an interpreter and a deafblind main character.
There was so much depth and also levity to this book. A colorful list of characters. Definitely many important and triggering subjects were discussed and I also felt connected to each of the characters. I felt there was depth and dimensionality in each of them.
with gratitude to edelweiss and atria books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
Well not sure what it means that the last book I’m reading for 2021 is one that has me stumped. This book is hard to explain and has multiple genres and there are things I really liked about it and things I really didn’t. So I’m a bit all over the place about it. Glad I read it, though I do think it could have used a better editor.
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Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
I liked this sweet novel about an aunt whose nieces come to stay with her for the summer as a way to give her sister and husband to recover from the loss of their third child. It’s sweet and there’s a romance but there are also some major issues in this book around death, loss, abandonment, and belonging. All of them are explored and taken seriously but still handled lightly. It was a fun read.
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The Girl I Was by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sweet story about how it’s never too late to save yourself.
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Confess by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I might have read too many Hoover stories. I can tell where they will go, I can tell what will happen and I just don’t think the characters are as well developed or complex as I wish they were. I liked the idea of confessions and the paintings but the evil characters are too evil and the good are too good.
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projects for twenty twenty-two
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projects for twenty nineteen
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projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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