9.29.2022 - We Spread

 

Many thanks to Gallery Books/Scout Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Iain Reid - 5 stars!

Penny lives by herself after her long-time partner died and has surrounded herself with the trappings of their lives, both artists.  She begins getting paranoid and hearing things from surrounding apartments, so after a fall, plans that her partner had set up before his death were put into motion.  Penny was swept away by the building landlord and taken to a long-term care residence.  Initially she thrives being with people her own age and being cared for, but soon begins wondering if something is wrong at the home.

I loved this book - it is creepy, suspenseful, and so beautifully written so that you will question things along with Penny.  It will make you think about things that we don't like to think about - aging, death, the human need for purpose, contact, touch, art, beauty.  Since as a society we don't seem to treasure our elderly like we should, this is a book that will make you pause.  Old age comes to the lucky and death comes to all.  Highly recommended!

9.28.2022 - Motherthing

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing/Vintage for gifting me a digital copy of Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth - 4.5 dark stars!

Ralph and Abby make the decision to move into Ralph's mother Laura's home to help care for her.  Abby had a horrible relationship with her own mother and is ripe for a mother figure in Laura.  But Laura is not interested in being close to Abby and does nothing but criticize her.  Abby becomes very close to one of her patients at the care center where she works, Mrs Bondy, When Laura dies by suicide, Ralph becomes very depressed and convinced that Laura's ghost remains in the house.  Then Mrs Bondy's daughter threatens to remove her from the care center.  

Oh my, this is quite the story.  If you love dark humor and don't mind some disturbing scenes, you need to read this book!  I felt for Abby's character - she was so unloved yet was so desperate for someone to love her.  Abby and Ralph seemed to have a good relationship but it was obvious that his mother came first.  There are so many scenes that will just have you laughing out loud at the things she says and does, again, if you humor tends to be on the dark side.  It's almost October - the perfect time to read some creep!

9.27.2022 - Tastes Better from Scratch

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for gifting me a digital copy of this wonderful cookbook by Lauren Allen - 5 stars!

I love cooking and cookbooks - especially ones like this one with beautiful pictures accompanying every recipe.  But I also love cooking from scratch, without relying on processed foods or ingredients.  This book fits the bill perfectly, plus the recipes use ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.  Most of these recipes are ones that are perfect for families - no weird ingredients, just her take on good, healthy meals.  I always wish that cookbooks could include nutrition labels, but that is my only gripe.  To counterbalance that gripe, however, many recipes include a QR code link to a YouTube video showing how to make it - how amazing is that?

I've flagged so many recipes that I've given up and will be ordering a hard copy of this book to have in my kitchen.  Highly recommended!

9.27.2022 - Secrets Between Friends

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller/mystery by Tracy Buchanan - 4 stars!

The prologue takes place 20 years ago at Lakewell Manor, where a young man has plunged into the sea to his death - that event split up best friends Liz and Tasmin.  In the present, Liz is back in her hometown, living with her two children and her abusive mother, as she is embroiled in a custody fight with her ex.  Liz had to give up her career as a journalist and is now working as a "postie" - delivering mail and packages in her neighborhood.  She keeps a notebook of all the comings and goings in the neighborhood and sees activity at Lakewell Manor, she encounters her old friend.  But on the next visit, Tasmin has changed and Liz knows something is terribly wrong.

The story plays out between past and present from different viewpoints.  This was a good mystery and Liz was a somewhat haphazard but fun character.  She was loyal to her friend and was desperate to find answers.  There were a few moments where credulity is stretched, but it doesn't detract too much from the storyline.  I've always enjoyed Buchanan's books and this one is another good read!

9.25.2022 - Lark Ascending

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this haunting book by Silas House - 4.5 stars!

Set in the future with fires ravaging North America, Lark and his family find passage on a boat headed to Ireland.  But it's a terrible journey with only Lark surviving.  He is desperate to keep his parents' dream alive of settling in Glendalough, so he sets out on his own.  He is soon joined by a dog, Seamus, and friend, Helen.  This unlikely trio journeys on and makes  a new family.

This is a haunting look at the possibilities of climate change and human behavior on our world in the future.  I fell in love with Seamus - he will break your heart in so many different ways.  This is a story of strength, perseverance and finding those who love us in the world, whatever that looks like.  Fans of Station Eleven will love this book!

9.24.2022 - The Frederick Sisters are Living the Dream

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful novel by Jeannie Zusy - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Maggie is living in Upstate NY, separated from her husband, one son in college and the other about to graduate high school.  She gets a call that her sister, Ginnie, who has intellectual disabilities, is in the hospital with severe diabetes issues.  Ginnie isn't able to return home yet so, against the wishes of their older sister, Bets, who lives in CA, Maggie brings her to NY.  There begins Maggie's new role as caretaker.

Since we moved my elderly mother into our small home last year, I could totally relate to this book and Maggie's struggles.  It's full of truth, dark humor, and so much heart.  I found myself laughing and crying and feeling like someone understood some of the complicated feelings involved in caretaking!  There's also things to ponder such as the rights of others in their daily decision making, even when it could be harmful.  Although I felt like I didn't really get Bets' character, I could also relate because in most families, there's a division in how these issues are handled and who ends up doing the hard work.  I loved these characters and can't wait to read more from this author!

9.23.2022 - The Ways We Hide

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, RB Media/Recorded Books for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest historical fiction book by Kristina McMorris, wonderfully narrated by Cassandra Campbell - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Fenna survived a disaster growing up in copper country in Upper Michigan, saved by her best friend, Arie.  Her love of magic took her to be the brains behind a magician show.  It was there where she was noticed by an MI9 agent and approached to help the war effort by creating devices to help those behind enemy lines during WWII.  However, her loyalty and subterfuge are tested when Arie could be in harm's way.  

This was yet another unheard story of brave Americans helping the war effort in ways we couldn't imagine.  It was so interesting to read and hear about all the devices that were created to hide things and people from the enemy as well as keep troops safe and in better spirits (hot soup!).  This was the beginnings of Q of James Bond fame.  As with so many historical fiction books, this one will educate you with disasters in our own country that may be unknown as well as events taking place across the world.  Fenna was such a loyal, strong, resilient character.  I felt this book was maybe a tad too long and it jumped  around a bit from current events to Fenna's past but was another winner from this author.  The audiobook even includes recipes!

9.21.2022 - Next of Kin

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 HQ for gifting me a digital ARC of the new legal thriller by Kia Abdullah - 5 amazing stars!

An almost ordinary day, Leila is getting ready to leave for her job in her architecture firm when she receives a call from her brother-in-law asking her to take Max, her 3-year-old nephew, to day care because he has a work emergency.  She agrees and heads over to her sister's house nearby.  Andrew straps Max into the rear-facing carseat in the back and Leila heads to the daycare.  But then she gets a call from her assistant with a work emergency that only she can handle and she heads there without thinking.  Hours later, Andrew calls Leila because he got a call that Max never showed up to daycare.  In the hot sun, the worst thing happened to Max.  When Leila is charged with manslaughter, the trial threatens to further destroy both families.  Leila has always been the responsible one and taken care of her sister, Yasmine, when their parents died.  She's helped her in every way, struggling in silent over her own issues.  With her family, marriage, and freedom on the line, Leila is devastated. 

My heart is still pounding hours after I finished this book!  This is another amazing legal thriller from this author that you must read.   And those twists - wow.  This is an absolute must read with lots to think about as well.  It's devastating because these accidents can happen all too easily and too frequently.  I couldn't put it down.  Highly recommended!

9.20.2022 - Lucy by the Sea

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Elizabeth Strout - 5 stars!

In the early days of Covid, William, Lucy Barton's ex-husband and still best friend, whisks her away to a home in a small town in Maine.  There she experiences what we all experienced during that time period - isolation, fear, but also a new-found peace in the quiet.  

I can't begin to express how much I love Strout's writings and getting to spend more time with Lucy and her family.  Reading these books (and, yes, you need to read them all!) feels like talking to that one friend who you can talk to about anything.  I love the style of writing that feels like a conversation, especially after getting to know these characters.  It was also a treat to meet characters from her other books - The Burgess Boys and Olive Kitteridge.  While some books about Covid can feel traumatic, this one didn't.  In Strout's capable hands, I was sent back to that scary time with a friend who was going through it with me.  It was the feeling that life as we had known it was gone - and it really was.  But with a friend like Lucy to guide us, there is also hope in grief, new friends, second chances.  A definite must read!

9.19.2022 - The Lucky One

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book from Jessica Payne - 4.5 thrilling stars!

Ten years ago, Norah and her best friend, August, left a school dance early only to be taken by a serial killer.  August was killed but Norah managed to get away.  She eventually left the area and moved to LA where she channeled her fear and rage into becoming a famous MMA coach.  But when her estranged father dies, she heads back to her hometown.  But she soon realizes that the serial killer hasn't given up on her.

This was a tense, fast-paced book that was tough to put down!  Norah is being pursued by two different journalists, there's a rumor about her father's real cause of death, and now her close friends are in danger as well.  Told in short chapters from the past and now, there are plenty of suspects to wonder about - even the police don't appear to be on Norah's side and wonder why a serial killer would ever let her go.  I really enjoyed this author's first book, Make Me Disappear, and this one cements her place as a must-read author!

9.11.2022 - Suspect

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest legal thriller by Scott Turow - a long time favorite - and wonderfully narrated by Helen Laser.  5 stars!

Lucia Gomez has always had a spotless reputation as police chief of Highland Isle near Kindle County.  But now 3 patrol officers have accused her of extorting them for sex in exchange for promotions.  Chief Gomez hires local attorney Rik Dudek to help fight the charges.  Rik is a small town guy, with the shabby office and clients to prove it.  His PI is Pinky Granum, Sandy Stern's granddaughter.  Pinky flunked out of the police academy and relishes her new role in helping to prove the Chief's innocence.  She's also intrigued with her mysterious next-door neighbor and his nighttime activities, which leads her to investigate a former police officer turned real estate magnate.  

I loved the latest edition to the Kindle County legal series, although if you haven't read any of them, they are all stand alones as well.  Pinky is a great character and I hope we get more of her in the future.  Turow is the master at the legal thriller genre and this one is no exception.  There's a lot going on in this book but everything comes to a great conclusion.  I switched between the audio and digital versions and the narration was wonderful as well.  Highly recommended!

9.19.2022 - Uncultured

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this amazing memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young - 5 stars!

Daniella was born into the religious cult, The Children of God, and her family were high-ranking members.  The Family, as it is sometimes known, is a thinly-disguised sexual cult, and Danielle lived with constant abuse - mental, physical, and sexual.  The family lived in different countries and Daniella had no format education.  When she was 15, she fled to Texas, enrolled herself in high school and, against all odds, excelled.  She went on to college and was valedictorian before joining the Army to train as an intelligence officer.

In the vein of Educated and The Glass Castle, this is an amazing story of resilience in the face of evil, taking back your power, and owning your body and mind.  To be able to accomplish what Daniella has done is nothing short of amazing.  She knew early on that what was happening to her wasn't right or normal and kept her brain from succumbing totally to the cult mentality.  It was also a powerful connection made to other group mentality issues, such as the military and more traditional religions.  The concept that the military breaks you down in order to build you up the way they want also describes cult brainwashing.   It also explores the female role in combat and the military, and Daniella was a trailblazer in this arena.  This is a story that should be required reading by the powers that be in the military.  I mostly listened to the audiobook, because it was narrated by the author, making it even more powerful.  Highly recommended!

9.18.2022 - Her Perfect Twin

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut psychological thriller by Sarah Bonner and wonderfully narrated by Daphne Kouma, David Morley Hale and George Weightman - 5 stars!

Twins Megan and Leah may be identical but they are very different.  Megan is married to Christopher and lives a tightly controlled life, while Leah is famous and rich.  When Megan discovers pictures of Leah on her husband's phone, she confronts Leah at a remote cabin and it ends in murder.  The only way to hide the murder is to become Leah.

Wow.  I have read a ton of twisty thrillers but this one kept my head spinning until the very last page!  The book's timeline begins at the start of Covid and while it adds to the isolation and plot of the story, it's not a major player - just very well done.  The less said about this one the better - this book must be on your radar and it deserves all the hype.  Hard to believe it's a debut novel - can't wait to see what the author has in store next!

9.15.2022 - A Very Typical Family

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Sierra Godfrey - 5 stars!

Fifteen years ago, Natalie made a phone call to the police that shattered her family and sent her two older siblings to jail.  She fled to Boston to go to college and has a job researching the history of homes for an architect firm.  She's primed for a promotion, has a boyfriend who wants to marry her, and his sister is her best friend.  Then she gets a call that her mom has died and their family home is to be jointly inherited by all three siblings, with the caveat that they all have to be together in person to claim it.  So she heads out in her car with her cat to drive to Santa Cruz CA to hopefully get it all situated and return home asap.  Her sister, Lynn, shows up from NY with her son, Kit, but their brother Jake is nowhere to be found.

I loved this family/sibling drama - it is full of humor, heart, family and forgiveness with a dash of romance on the side.  Plus, all of the characters have interesting jobs that you've never thought about and the city of Santa Cruz shines brightly.  I really liked Natalie and felt quite protective of her - she lived with crushing grief and estrangement for something she did when she was a teenager.  Definitely a book about second chances and living your truth.  Can't wait to read more from this author!

9.14.2022 - The Most Likely Club

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of the latest novel by Elyssa Friedland - 4.5 stars!

High school can be tough.  But it's easier when you find your group, those friends who will be there for you.  Tara, Suki, Melissa, and Priya found each other and the world was their oyster.  They were all voted the best senior superlatives in the yearbook and set out to change the world.  But then life happens.  Fast forward to their 25th class reunion when an unremarkable classmate steps up to donate a huge sum to their school.  The friends start thinking it's not too late to be their best selves and form the Most Likely Girls group.

This was a very entertaining book - I enjoyed all the 1990s nostalgia and enjoyed the relatable characters and their interactions.  It's also a good reminder that it's never too late to change course and be better, as well as the fact that having it all isn't necessarily the goal.  Life is definitely a journey!

9.13.2022 - The Millionaire's Wife

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for gifting me the audio ARC of this thriller by Shalini Boland and wonderfully narrated by Katie Villa - 4 stars!

Anna is happily married to Will, living the life she never dreamed she would.  Then she opens a text and her past comes crashing into her life.  Anna knows she must tell Will all her secrets but she knows that will destroy her life as well.  Who can she trust?  

Shalini Boland always writes an intriguing thriller that grips you until the last page.  There were plenty of twists and turns plus an interesting plot.  Told through both past and present timelines, we see how Anna's ex, Finn, manipulated her and how it's all coming back to haunt her.  Some of the story strained the bounds of reality but I was still all in.  I believe this is a rerelease of an earlier Boland novel - she is definitely on my must-read author list!

9.12.2022 - All That's Left Unsaid

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Book Club Girl and Harper Collins William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Tracey Lien - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Ky Tran is Vietnamese-Australian and working as a journalist in Melbourne when she learns that her younger brother, Denny, was beaten and died while at a restaurant celebrating the end of school.  Both Ky and Denny were hard workers, rule followers, under pressure from their immigrant parents to do well.  So Ky doesn't understand what happened.  When she returns home to Cabramatta for Denny's funeral, she learns that her parents refused an autopsy and the police interviews of those in the restaurant went nowhere.  The Constable does give Ky a list of those in the restaurant who swore they didn't see anything, and Ky begins interviewing them to find out what happened to her brother.

This was such a wonderful book - tragic, beautifully written, a mystery inside a family saga.  The book is told from Ky's point of view, in past and present, as well as from other characters.  There is so much here to unravel besides what happened to Ky - family trauma passed on, societal expectations, growing in up a depressed region, guilt, shame - and it all feels very real.  This is the type of book to really think about and would be a great book club pick.  Can't wait to read more from this author.

9.9.2022 - All the Lonely People

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of this wonderful book by Mike Gayle - 5 stars!

Hubert Bird is lonely.  But when is daughter, Rose, calls him from Australia once a week, he knows she worries that he's alone.  So he tells her about all the friends he has and all the activities he does.  But it's all a lie.  So when Rose tells him that she's coming for a visit, he panics and needs to find friends he can show to her.  But how is he going to do that when it's hard for him to even leave the house?

What a wonderful, heartwarming, heart wrenching story!  The story is told in two timelines - starting from the 1950s in the past and "now" chapters.  It's a great way to be introduced to Hubert's story and how it relates to his present life. There's a lot to digest in here as well - racism, grief - but mostly the personal bits.  How we are all so "busy" that no one knows their neighbors, how small acts of kindness can mean so much, and how everyone has a story.  Covid showed the world how much we need each other and spotlighted how hard loneliness can be.  Highly recommended read!

9.6.2022 - Has Anyone Seen My Toes?

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Christopher Buckley - 3 stars!

During the COVID pandemic, a screenwriter is living in a coastal SC town with his second wife, Peaches.  He's overweight because he can't stop driving through the fast-food chain, Hippo King.  His concierge doctor gives him speed to help with his appetite, although it doesn't work.  He's writing a new screenplay about a Nazi plot to kidnap FDR.  He becomes obsessed with a local election for coroner and begins imagining both candidates have nefarious activities.  Then a psychiatrist thinks he may have dementia.  It's all too much for him.

It was all a bit too much for me as well.  I really liked some of the humorous/satirical portions but I lost interest in the screenplay he was trying to write and found myself skimming those portions.  The humor got overshadowed by the rambling stream of consciousness thoughts.  

9.5.2022 - The Fall Girl

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media/Recorded Books for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest legal thriller by Marcia Clark - 4.5 stars!

Charlie Blair was forced to leave her life in Chicago as Lauren Claybourne behind as she feared for her life.  Now working in the Santa Cruz DA's office, she hides from the press and is constantly scared that someone is following her.  When she is tasked to be second chair on a high-profile murder case behind prosecutor, Erika Lorman, she knows staying out of the spotlight will be hard.  Lorman is fresh off a successful prosecution of Blake Steers when a teenager is accused of killing her bail bondsman mother, Shelly Hansen.  As the investigation ramps up, both Charlie and Erika's pasts threaten to expose them and wreck their case.

I really enjoy Marcia Clark's legal thrillers - because she definitely knows her stuff and writes wonderfully!  The book was filled with multiple storylines with each main character, so I was anxious to get back to each viewpoint with the next chapter.  Fingers crossed that Marcia will use this as a start to a new series!  I thought it was a treat to listen to the author voice Charlie's character - she has such a distinctive voice it made things come alive for me.  Cathy Lepard voiced Erika well too, although there seemed to be a different volume for each.  

9.4.2022 - The Niece

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest psychological thriller by a favorite, Georgina Cross - 4.5 stars!

Tara and Beth are sisters and have been estranged for years.  When Beth is killed in a suspicious house fire, Tara learns that Beth had named her to take care of her daughter, Hannah, in her will.  Tara is already a single mom to Cassie but they quickly make room in their house and hearts for Hannah.  But Tara becomes concerned that whoever set Beth's house on fire is now after her and her family.  

This was a book that was tough to put down!  It is told in both the past and present timelines as we learn the backstory of the estrangement of the sisters and the secrets they held between them.  The suspense is palpable and there's a surprising twist as well.  Another great thriller by Georgina Cross!

9.3.2022 - The Means

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut novel by Amy Fusselman - 4.5 stars!

Shelly Means is a stay-at-home mom of two, married to George, a voice-over actor, who live an upper middle class life in NYC.  They have a second home, but are forced to sell it and Shelly dreams of a beach house in the Hamptons.  But as George's jobs dry up and their budget goes down, the house Shelly envisions must change.

This is just an entertaining, humorous read that I really enjoyed.  While it's definitely a book about keeping up with the Jones' and lots of First World problems, it made me laugh out loud more times than I can mention.  And sometimes a book like this is just the escapism I need - this is the perfect beach read!  It has short chapters that beg for just one more, quirky characters, and even talking dogs.  

9.1.2022 - Killers of a Certain Age

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this thriller by Deanna Raybourn - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are on an all-expense paid cruise to celebrate their retirement.  After 40 years working for The Museum as assassins, they are ready to relax and enjoy each other's company.  But when Billie spots a colleague masquerading as a crew person, the friends realize that their own lives are in danger.  They now have to work against The Museum to try and save their lives.

This was a wonderfully entertaining thriller - the perfect mix of humor, action, intrigue, and mystery along with great female roles.  These women have hit that age where they become invisible to society, but they won't go down fighting.  Being of a certain age myself, I really enjoyed the practical realism they had about aging but also that they were more powerful than people expected them to be.  Never underestimate the power of a woman scorned!  I raced through this one to see how it would all turn out - great read!