The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
This novel has exceptional narration. The story has so much life, so much history, so much political education for me as a reader. I really enjoyed each of the characters in their own unique way. I felt like there were parts that dragged and pulled me out of the story and characters at times (especially when the writer was narrating what was going on) but that’s only because the other characters were so rich and so deep that the difference was noticeable. It’s a great book that is both relevant and richly told with unforgettable characters.
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Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
I really had fun reading this sweet story of a woman who basically has put her whole life on hold, living in a routine life and dead-end job that comes with an expiration date. She then meets a man who slowly but deeply starts to wake her up and change her life. And, of course, she changes his, too. Sweet, fun, lovely.
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When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
This is a beautifully told character-driven story of a detective who goes back home to recover from her own tragedy and then is recruited to help with an ongoing case. It’s not your typical twisty thriller that goes at a breakneck pace. It’s slow, intentional, deep and well-written. I enjoyed my time with it.
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When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
This was a heart-wrenching portrait of Gigi who loses her brother during 9/11 and then moves to London ten years later to be with the man who helped her on that fateful day. Even though the story starts with 9/11 and the grief and shock of losing her brother, almost all of this story is about post-partum depression. She is far away from her family, her culture, her support system, her husband is working all the time and she is coming undone.
One day, she decides to walk out and check herself into a hotel which is where the story is told from as it unwinds back to the steps that make the story unfold. It was angry, devastating, and a raw portrait of life.
Powerful.
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The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
” Alan Carver was what Tim had needed in his life. And he could have had his father back. If only his father had tried harder. Or if Tim had been able to forgive. Amy felt a wave of forgiveness wash over her like Roberta’s soap. If she had a second chance with the people she’d lost, she wouldn’t waste it. She’d forgive them and at the very least have her friends again.”
I loved this book from the moment I started it. I loved the author’s voice, I loved Amy. I was rooting for her from the beginning and didn’t stop for a moment. I loved how she loved all these flawed people around her and could see the magic in them and how she supported who they were.
“She didn’t have the heart to tell them that really, it was not the plants that mattered to her. It seemed strange that some people could be so kind while others destroyed beautiful objects for no reason.”
This is the story of Amy, whose best friend and boyfriend disappeared eleven years ago and she’s not heard from them since. She started hanging on to things and never let go so her house is a full-on hoarder house now and she still works at the company where she was doing an internship at 11 years ago. Her whole life is stuck.
‘Richard appeared at Amy’s gate. “We all have baggage,” replied Amy. She glanced back into her house. “No one travels lightly anymore.”’
But then a new family moves in next door and slowly little things start happening that unravels her life. I loved all the characters and how they were each flawed in their own way but none of them were perfect good or perfect bad. Even the tangential characters weren’t caricaturish.
but most of all i loved the voice this novel was written with. I felt drawn to it and found so much joy reading it.
with gratitude to Gallery Books and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This book was an absolute waste of time. It’s an incredibly fast read. Almost like watching a movie but then it gets completely unraveled at the end and you’re like WTF, totally stupid and I want my hours back thank you very much. I know writing books are an effort and I would never belittle that. I am sure many others loved this book and this author can clearly write. I just really really disliked this particular book.
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Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
I read this whole book in one sitting. It was fun, sweet and a thoughtful YA story about a girl who’s giving everyone advice (secretly) and sort of makes a mess of things. I loved the characters and even though it was predictable for me, i still enjoyed its diverse characters.
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Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars.
A friend of mine recommended this book to me and said it would get me out of my reading slump. It sort of did. What an unusual coming-of-age story about an Indian American boy, Neil, and his next door neighbor. I really liked the magical realism in this story that was woven into the story. I also loved how it started when he was a teen but then picked up again when he was in his twenties. It was a lovely story. (but did not really get me out of my slump!)
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The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connections and Courage by Brené Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve listened to this series before. I will listen to it again. Brene’s lessons are ones I have to hear again and again in my life.
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The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have really enjoyed both of Rosie Danan’s books in this series. I was very much looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. If you’re into romance novels, you will love this series which has strong, 3-dimensional, and interesting characters with fun dialogue. I can’t wait to read more in the series.
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A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an interesting story about a woman who finds out she has a step-sister through a DNA test and the sister is sick and might need her to make a major sacrifice. This starts a rolling series of unraveling in the sisters’ lives and their parents’ lives, too. It brings up questions around what family is, when and for whom should you sacrifice and take chances. And secrets we bury for a long time. It was an interesting read.
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Revival Season by Monica West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the story of Miriam, the daughter of a Baptist preacher, who witness her dad doing something that fundamentally shifts what she thinks of him and starts unraveling their whole family slowly.
It’s the story of what pride can do to a man, to a family. The story of what loss feels like and how we carry our thoughts, beliefs, wishes and dreams of who we are, who we can be and who we were inside ourselves. It’s the story of what happens when you revere a person and come to find out they are human. It’s the story of unspoken truths and how the weight of them can break a family. It’s the story of how things can look one way from the outside and be completely different from the inside (as they often are.)
It’s the story of what happens when you can no longer hide your own truth, your own potential and choose to step into your own sunshine even a little bit.
This is a wonderfully written, terribly sad story of a broken family and a strong heroine that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
with gratitude to Simon & Schuster and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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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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