The sign of a good nonfiction book for me is when I get the urge to share all the facts I learned with my husband. Here are just a few of the interestThe sign of a good nonfiction book for me is when I get the urge to share all the facts I learned with my husband. Here are just a few of the interesting tidbits of info I discussed during our evening walks:
- The White House had poor living conditions for many years. Rats scurrying all over the place, and the fear a giant chandelier crashing down on guests. President Harry Truman moved out for awhile during the extensive renovations.
- An indoor pool was installed during FDR’s presidency as it gave him the opportunity to exercise. Pres. Lyndon Johnson liked to swim naked and insisted others do as well.
- The Situation Room came to be because of the Bay of Pigs and lack of good communication.
- A female private detective garnered intel that prevented an assassination attempt on Lincoln in the days before his inauguration.
A fascinating read that covers not just the historic building but the issues presidents faced during their terms.
Thank you William Morrow for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I’ve decided not to give Please Stop Trying to Leave Me a star rating because bad timing played a role in why I didn’t completely click with the writiI’ve decided not to give Please Stop Trying to Leave Me a star rating because bad timing played a role in why I didn’t completely click with the writing style. It’s very stream of consciousness and I just didn’t have the patience for it right now. Maybe it’s because I’m a bundle of nerves at the moment and getting inside this character’s head was more than I could take on. Norma is in therapy and it can be challenging at times to make sense of what she is truly saying. While there were stretches where I was engaged in the writing, as a whole it was a detached reading experience.
There are many early positive reviews for this one so don’t let me discourage you from reading it. An original debut novel for sure.
Thank you Vintage for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Someone Like Us features Mamush who after finding success as a journalist moves to Paris where he lives with his wife and young son. Feeling lost is aSomeone Like Us features Mamush who after finding success as a journalist moves to Paris where he lives with his wife and young son. Feeling lost is a decent way to describe where he’s at in his life at this moment. He has planner a trip to visit Washington DC where he grew up in an Ethiopian immigrant community. On the day he arrives, his father figure, Samuel, is found dead. Mamush is on a path of discovery. Maybe uncovering the past will lead to a better future.
This novel is quiet and slow moving but I felt invested in Mamush. With a character driven book you are hoping the build up will lead to something great or profound. Unfortunately, it did not pack as much of an emotional punch as I had anticipated. Some of the depth probably went right over my head though. I have a feeling I could appreciate this book more if I had insight to the author and what he was going for with his writing. Or even a book club discussion peeling away layer by layer the complexities of the story and characters would help me understand more. That’s the beauty of reading, you don’t always pick up on everything the first time around.
Not a bad read as learning more about the experiences of the Ethiopian community in the US was enlightening.
Thank you Knopf for providing a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Tom Selleck’s memoir is more career based so not a ton of talk about his personal life although you do get a good sense of he is as a human being. GivTom Selleck’s memoir is more career based so not a ton of talk about his personal life although you do get a good sense of he is as a human being. Given he’s been a working actor for over 50 years the book is a fascinating read. It’s very detailed starting with his early days as he managed to nab some bit parts in tv and movies and thru his entire run of starring on the hit tv show, Magnum P.I. My only criticism is not much is written about his career post Magnum, a few pages devoted to Blue Bloods but that’s about it. I was surprised he didn’t discuss his guest appearances on Friends. Still though it was an enjoyable read as I love learning about the tv and film industry.
Thank you Dey Street Books for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
A Talent for Murder is the 3rd book in The Kind Worth Killing series. While it could be read as a standalone thriller, I highly recommend reading the A Talent for Murder is the 3rd book in The Kind Worth Killing series. While it could be read as a standalone thriller, I highly recommend reading the books in order so you can fully appreciate the characters and storyline arcs.
The Kind Worth Killing is one of my all time favorite thrillers. I love it so much I even did a reread a year or two ago and enjoyed it just as much the second time around. Somehow Peter Swanson has managed to continue with this wild but entertaining story and A Talent for Murder was a good read. For anyone who hasn’t read the series, I’m going to avoid discussing the plot or characters, but I will say the third book feels like a natural continuation of the series. It might not have as many shocking moments as previous books but I binged it. I really enjoy the crazy popcorn thriller vibe of this series.
Is a 4th book in the works? I don’t know, but I’d like to be first in line to read it or any new books by Peter Swanson.
Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for providing a free digital copy! All thoughts are my honest opinion....more
We Were the Universe is a contemporary novel about a stay at home mother, Kit, dealing with the challenges of raising a toddler on top of the grief shWe Were the Universe is a contemporary novel about a stay at home mother, Kit, dealing with the challenges of raising a toddler on top of the grief she is experiencing after the loss of her sister. While there’s uneasiness and sadness as the character is processing everything, but bits of humor are present throughout.
I’ll freely admit the full scope of what the author was going for went over my head but there was enough here for me to appreciate the originality. I think it’s a case of you either quickly latch on to Kit or you don’t feel a connection at all. Unfortunately it was a disjointed reading experience as a whole but there were some highlights along the way.
Worth taking a chance on as there are quite a few positive review and it’s definitely a unique read.
Thank you Knopf for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Troubled Waters is a book worth reading. The author drew inspiration from her family and background to create this story. It’s really what ga4.5 stars
Troubled Waters is a book worth reading. The author drew inspiration from her family and background to create this story. It’s really what gave the characters so much depth. Raw and heartbreaking but if you look hard enough you’ll see some light amongst the darkness. There are some beautiful moments that left me a puddle of tears.
In 2013, Corrine’s brother, Cameron, died while working on an oil boat on the Mississippi River. A year later and continuing her education at predominantly white Oberlin College, she is passionate about environmental causes and wants to hold the oil industry accountable for both her brother’s death and the continued destruction of the planet. Corrine’s activism will put her at odds with her grandmother, Cora who as a child in the 1950s was one of the first Black students to be integrated into a Nashville school. Cora’s son and Corrine’s uncle, Harold, plays the role of peacekeeper trying to keep his family together.
The story alternates between the 3 family members and you get key moments of their past as well as what’s going on the year or so after the death of Cameron. Cora’s story hit me the hardest as she really had the weight of the world on her shoulders as a little girl. It’s understandable why she never wanted to discuss her childhood. As you read about her experiences as a Black girl in an all white school, your heart breaks both for Cora the child and Cora the adult who carried all that with her. She’s the driving force in this novel that really brings everything together.
Don’t sleep on this one. It’s a powerful read.
Thank you Harper Muse for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
A tragedy on prom night changed the lives of best friends Melody, Liz, and Bri. Melody fled her hometown of Trove Isle about ten years ago, 3.25 stars
A tragedy on prom night changed the lives of best friends Melody, Liz, and Bri. Melody fled her hometown of Trove Isle about ten years ago, leaving everyone and everything behind. She’s now come back for a brief stay to sell the thrift store she inherited from her great aunt who just passed away. Small town, so Melody is bound to run into people from her past, including her former friend Liz.
At the core, this is a story about friendship but it also delves into romance and things like grief and mental health issues. I liked the characters’ storyline arcs but the endings were rushed. Just because you have a strong hunch where things are headed, as a reader you still want it to play out and not glossed over. A rather big question remains in my mind about the thrift store and its driving me nuts that no explanation was provided as to what I assume would be an interesting legal issue.
I won a few advance copy in a Goodreads giveaway. I hope more edits are made prior to publication because there are some inconsistencies regarding Liz’s parents and the timeline of their trip.
A decent read but I didn’t love it as much as the author’s Somerset Lake series.
I enjoyed the author’s previous novel, The Love Proof, which was a contemporary fiction read. Switching over to the mystery/thriller realm is4.5 stars
I enjoyed the author’s previous novel, The Love Proof, which was a contemporary fiction read. Switching over to the mystery/thriller realm is not the easiest thing to pull off but she managed to knock it out of the park. It was a clever and crazy ride and I loved every minute of it.
Best selling writer Claire Ross disappeared on her wedding day. The police investigation has stalled so Claire’s mother has hired private detective Nina Travers to take a look at the case.
The plot of Claire’s book is brought up throughout this story and brings this twisted tale some depth. I’m impressed so much of what I liked about The Love Proof was also present in My Favorite Terrible Thing given the drastically different genres.
A page turner with some surprises along the way. It’s currently an Amazon First Reads selection for the month of April and I highly recommend picking it up.
Thank you Madeleine Henry for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion ...more
Susan Seidelman paved the way for female directors. While even now it’s still a male-dominated field, imagine how much more of challenge it was for heSusan Seidelman paved the way for female directors. While even now it’s still a male-dominated field, imagine how much more of challenge it was for her back in the late 70s and early 80s at the start of her career. Her “I’ll show them” attitude and sheer talent have been assets as she navigated the tough showbiz industry. Desperately Seeking Susan, which featured Madonna in her first film role, is the movie that really put Susan on the map with the general viewing public. (Her previous film, Smithereens, was screened at the prestigious Cannes film festival.) Susan continued to direct feature films as well as a few episodes of Sex and the City, including the pilot. A well-written memoir about the life and career of a trailblazer.
I won a free advance copy in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Love You, Mean It was a cute romance. Normally, I’m not a big fan of the fake dating trope but it worked well on this story. A few bumps alon3.5 stars
Love You, Mean It was a cute romance. Normally, I’m not a big fan of the fake dating trope but it worked well on this story. A few bumps along the way, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
After Ellie’s father died five years ago, she gave up her dream of designing theater costumes to move back to her hometown and run the family’s deli. Word on the street is a fancy gourmet food store is in development in the area which could put Ellie’s shop out of business. So she sets up a meeting with Theo Taylor who works for his dad’s property management firm and is handling the project. She hopes to change his mind and eventually they come up with plan that could be mutually beneficial.
My synopsis makes the fake dating scheme sound creepy but trust me, it’s not and it’s one of the few times I’ll say it logically makes sense for them to pretend they are in love. It helps that I liked both characters and they had some chemistry. I appreciate how the author chose a better path for Theo’s ex than the stereotypical route.
My only slight criticism is things got a bit messy in the last quarter or so of the book. Some fine tuning and more development were needed to take this book to the next level. A good romance with some heart and humor but it didn’t reach its full potential. That said, I’d be interested in checking out another book by this author.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Susan Lieu’s family were refugees from the Vietnam War and escaped to California in the 1980s. Her mother opened up nail salons, employing most of theSusan Lieu’s family were refugees from the Vietnam War and escaped to California in the 1980s. Her mother opened up nail salons, employing most of the family, including a grade school age Susan. Sadly when Susan was 11 years old her mother died from a botched tummy tuck. Talk about her mother and what happened was forbidden. Understandably, that’s something Susan struggled with as there were so many unanswered questions. The Manicurist’s Daughter is about Susan’s journey navigating all these complex feelings that will hopefully put her on the road to healing.
Wow, this memoir really blew me away. My heart broke for Susan as a young girl but also Susan as an adult. She was able to channel her emotions surrounding the loss of her mother into this book and the result is something that is quite uplifting and heartfelt. Such a worthwhile read about strength and determination and finding your way.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a book that explores grief and complicated parent-child relationships.
Thank you Celadon for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Death in the Air is a slow burn mystery set at a luxury spa in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. It’s a debut novel and while the aim might have Death in the Air is a slow burn mystery set at a luxury spa in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. It’s a debut novel and while the aim might have been for a Knives Out type vibe, it kinda missed the mark. The characters weren’t that interesting and the humor was sporadic or didn’t land at all.
The health and wellness aspects of the story were fascinating to me as well as the bits of history and culture info about India. Unfortunately the mystery took too long to develop. Once the murder gets the ball rolling my curiosity was piqued for a long stretch. But then it drags on and even though the action picks up in the final portion of the story, I wasn’t wowed by how everything was wrapped up. It’s not a bad conclusion but it needed to be stellar in order to make up for the overall slow pace.
The writing showed promise but the story needed to be trimmed in length and reworked in order to reach its full potential.
Thank you Harper for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. It’s set in the art world, and art was not a subject I excelled atI was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. It’s set in the art world, and art was not a subject I excelled at in school. But the story hooked me from the beginning and held my interest throughout.
In 1938, Juliette Willoughby and her married lover die in a fire alongside her Surrealist masterpiece, Self-Portrait as Sphinx. In 1991 two Cambridge art history students become interested in learning about Juliette and start to believe the fire might not have been accidental. Fast forward to the present day and Juliette’s name is popping up in the headlines again.
Not sure if this book technically qualifies as historical fiction or not. The main artists featured are fictional characters but others mentioned are real figures. Regardless, it’s a fascinating story and has a nice balance of info about the Surrealist movement and a plot revolving around more than one mystery. Now I wouldn’t say all the mystery elements were shocking but there was just something about the writing that made me want to see everything play out. That’s a sign of good storytelling right there.
Don’t sleep on this one, it’s a worthwhile read!
Thank you Harper for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
The premise of this contemporary fiction novel caught my attention as the main character works as a "rental stranger". Basically you can hire3.5 stars
The premise of this contemporary fiction novel caught my attention as the main character works as a "rental stranger". Basically you can hire one of the people featured on the app and they will play a part. Some examples of that are a wingman at a bar, a date for the opera, a mourner at a funeral, or even someone posing as a family member. The character in this story has an excellent rating on the app and has been booked for various types of roles over the years.
Alright, the whole concept is fascinating in regards to the work especially the dilemma he has with one of his long-term gigs. It's fairly light in tone for much of the story ,but you get a sense as you learn more about the character, things will shift to a more serious note. The last quarter or so of the book is the weak spot in my opinion. I kinda get what the author was going for but the ending is rushed and not fully developed.
Not a perfect read, but it still held my interest even though the wheels fell off by the end.
Thank you to Scribner for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
The Next Mrs. Parrish is the sequel to the bestselling thriller, The Last Mrs. Parrish. While the latest novel could be read as a standalone,3.5 stars
The Next Mrs. Parrish is the sequel to the bestselling thriller, The Last Mrs. Parrish. While the latest novel could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order. There was a prequel novella released in between the publications of the books, but I haven’t read it. I actually think that worked in my favor as it came off as a twist when I found out how a new character was connected to the story.
I’m going to avoid talking about spoilers so my apologies that this review is pretty vague. Now the good news is if you loved the first book, odds are you’ll enjoy the sequel as it’s fast-paced and a natural progression of the story. Unfortunately for me, I’ve had mixed feelings about both books. They are written to be entertaining popcorn thrillers but something about the tone is just off. Thrillers often contain disturbing content and to be frank, I usually don’t have a problem with it. But for some reason, I’m not able to fully enjoy the crazy ride when it comes to these two books. I guess in the back of my mind I keep thinking this ugly side of domestic life isn’t so detached from reality for some people and it leaves me uneasy.
I also struggled with one character’s consistently poor decisions. Sometimes you really do need to take the advice of experts instead of thinking you know best.
I didn’t dislike the book. I just wish I could have fully leaned into the sinister vibe of the story.
Thank you Bantam for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
The Same Bright Stars was a cozy read and by that I mean I enjoyed it but wouldn’t put it in the memorable category. While there are some he3.75 stars
The Same Bright Stars was a cozy read and by that I mean I enjoyed it but wouldn’t put it in the memorable category. While there are some heavy subjects popping up throughout the story, it still maintains a light and easy vibe. Basically a book that isn’t taxing on your brain but should hold your interest. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate these type of reads when life is feeling extra stressful and chaotic.
Three generations of a family have run a Delaware beachfront restaurant for decades. Current owner, Jack, has watched life pass him by as his focus has always been on the restaurant and its staff. A management group has offered to buy the eatery and now Jack is faced with a tough decision.
It was interesting following Jack on his journey. I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t a predictable path at times. Like I could just sit back and watch it all unfold rather than knowing exactly what was in store for him.
While the author touched on some serious topics, it wasn’t developed enough to leave much of an emotional impact. That’s the weak area of the novel for me. I wanted to feel something for Jack and other characters but it was more of a detached reading experience in that regard.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked the book, but there was some potential left on the table.
Thank you Scribner for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
After I finished reading Lulu Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books I had the urge to give the book a hug because it was full of important messages. IAfter I finished reading Lulu Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books I had the urge to give the book a hug because it was full of important messages. I know the book community is going to love this one as much as I did. There’s been a rise in efforts to ban certain books from schools and libraries across the US and this novel really drives home why it’s vital to fight against these campaigns. Taking books out of the hands of readers never leads to anything good.
Lulu Dean is determined to remove “unsafe” books from her town’s libraries. She sets up her own little lending library in her front yard and stocks it with only “wholesome” reads. A teenager who is not happy with Lulu’s book banning crusade secretly restocks Lulu’s library with banned books hidden under the dust jackets of the books Lulu deemed worthy. Sit back and watch what happens as people from the town start borrowing books from Lulu’s lending library.
The story follows many, many characters in the town and you really get a sense of the community, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Along the same lines as Frederik Backman’s Beartown series. While it was difficult at times to keep track of everyone’s name, their individual stories did stick in my mind. Everything is connected to the big picture story. Maybe too easy and convenient but the messaging is so strong. A book doesn’t need to be perfect in order for me to find value in it.
Out of the 100 or so books I’ll read this year, this one will easily rank in my top 5.
Thank you William Morrow for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
The Briar Club is a historical fiction novel taking place in the 1950s during the McCarthy era. Briarwood House is a boarding house in Washin4.5 stars
The Briar Club is a historical fiction novel taking place in the 1950s during the McCarthy era. Briarwood House is a boarding house in Washington D.C. and the story follows the different residents living there. There’s a bit of a mystery as you find out early on that police are investigating a murder at Briarwood House in 1954. The bulk of the story is what was taking place in the years before the crime but developments regarding the case are also included throughout the book.
I really enjoyed this one as it featuring some strong and fascinating female characters. After reading the book and then the Author’s Note at the end, I appreciate the historical content that was incorporated into the story. Having said that, the story does lean more to the creative side of historical fiction rather than being strictly fact based. However, Kate Quinn did a great job capturing this era and it’s a book worth reading if you are a fan of the author and the genre.
Thank you William Morrow for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Love, Lies, And Cherry Pie had a rocky start with an insufferable, jump to conclusions female lead, and a fake dating relationship with a du2.75 stars
Love, Lies, And Cherry Pie had a rocky start with an insufferable, jump to conclusions female lead, and a fake dating relationship with a dull as dishwater male character. Throw in a meddling mother and I almost threw in the towel. I stuck with the book because I had read some positive reviews stating it takes a while for the story to find its groove. After 150 or so pages, things got better but the pair still lacked great chemistry other than maybe when they were in the bedroom. Mark eventually got a backstory but it was too little, too late at that point.
On a positive note, I did enjoy the final chapters as there was some beautiful, heartfelt writing. While the book missed the mark for me in other ways, at least it ended on an upswing.
I won a free advance copy in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
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