My 2024 Reading Challenge Selections: Every Book I Read

As a seven-year-old, Sam adores her absent father and all she wants to do is climb trees. As Sam matures, she struggles to fit in and be noticed while shying away from attention. Wanting to forge her own path, she is caught between her mother’s plans, her father’s disappointment, and her climbing coach’s attention.

Goodman’s coming-of-age novel describes the struggles of always feeling like an outsider. Sam’s voice provides a powerful narration of the pain balancing her desires with the weight of others’ expectations. Full of well-developed characters, Sam does an excellent job painting Sam’s troubled home life through subtext, adding convincing realism to the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 January 2023
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In 2019, Kate flees London and her abusive partner to settle in the broken-down Weyward cottage. Inherited from an aunt, Weyward cottage seems to be hiding secrets that go back centuries. In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft; her extensive knowledge of the natural world has the villagers on edge. In 1942, Violet feels trapped in her family’s crumbling estate, searching for any clues to better know her deceased mother. Weaving three stories together, Weyward tells of the transformative power of female resilience.

Reminding me of Kate Morton and The Lost Apothecary, I can see why Weyward won the Goodreads award for best historical fiction. Hart beautifully weaves together three generations of Weyward women; adding witchy vibes and a gorgeous connection to the natural world in each timeline. Each story holds a unique atmosphere but all add to the feminist tone of the novel, showcasing the fierce determination each woman must hold through her adversities caused by the fear and limitations placed on them by men.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 7 March 2023
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With her divorce about to be finalized, Dr. Brianna Ortiz’s life seems to have been sidetracked. Not only is her brother running out of time for a kidney transplant but also the new annoying doctor, Jacob Maddox, is likely going to steal her promotion. But after Jacob sends her a letter, she finds he is quite the opposite of what she thought. When he volunteers to be a kidney donor for her brother, she finds she can’t resist him, especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

Abby Jimenez’s charmingly funny romance weaves together a ton of romance tropes: mental health and trauma from past relationships, coworkers fake dating, a little pen pal action, surprise pregnancy, and a whole lot of miscommunication. Technically a sequel to Part of Your World, you don’t have to have read the first book (I didn’t)  since the main character is just a side character, and vice versa. If you enjoy romance books, you’ll likely love Yours Truly, though it is steamy in only a few spots. I really enjoyed the novel until about the 90% mark, and then the miscommunication trope got old, as it generally does for me.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 11 April 2023
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Growing up in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian will not let his family’s doubts or inherent racism against Blacks stop him from becoming the world’s best classical violinist. Which is why it’s a dream come true when he realizes his grandfather’s old fiddle is really a priceless Stradivarius. On the eve of the most prestigious music competition, his violin is stolen and replaced with a ransom note. Ray must do everything he can to get it back, all while the descendants of his ancestor’s former slave owner claim the violin is rightfully theirs.

Brendan Slocumb has penned an intriguing mystery that packs a double punch with its powerful story of a Black man navigating the predominantly white field of classical music. I love it when a book can connect me with the characters and The Violin Conspiracy had me fully emotionally invested in Ray’s journey; I was prickling at the actions of Ray’s family, furious at the racist instances Ray faces, and heartbroken at the loss of his beloved violin. From start to finish, I was completely captivated by The Violin Conspiracy and if you can, I recommend listening to the audiobook with its compelling narration and snippets of violin music.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 1 February 2022
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Even though Maggie and her husband have been together since they were teens, they find themselves divorcing less than two years after their wedding. Although she pretends everything is fine, Maggie is a hot mess. With observant sarcasm, Heisey narrates Maggie’s self-destruction thoughts and cringeworthy choices as she painfully learns to take care of herself.

Although Heisey’s clever observations made me laugh at times, Really, Good Actually wasn’t really that good. As a protagonist, Maggie is hard to love; she’s an over-the-top hot mess who has no concept of how the world actually works. Her constant poor decision-making gets a bit old and the plot rambled so much that I didn’t even notice when my audiobook skipped a chapter or two in the middle. The only saving grace was Heisey’s witty writing and hilarious one-liners.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 17 January 2023
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In 1950s San Francisco, Vivian is ecstatic when her three daughters begin to make a name for themselves as the singing girl group, The Salvations. Although Vivian has arranged a once-in-a-lifetime chance for The Salvations, her daughters have begun to grow up and have desires of their own. As the Black neighborhood begins gentrifying, Vivian struggles to maintain control even as new avenues open for her own desires.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 September 2022
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Nicky Hunter has corresponded with reclusive mystery writer Sebastian Trapp for years but is shocked when he invites her to his mansion to help him write his life story. Twenty years earlier on New Year’s Eve, Sebastian’s first wife and son disappeared from different locations. Did Sebastian commit the perfect crime? Why is he willing to start talking about it now?

A. J. Finn’s follow-up to The Woman in the Window didn’t have the tension I was expecting, leaning more toward cozy mystery than psychological thriller. Although not an edge-of-your-seat read, End of Story kept my interest piqued throughout the slow-burn mystery. If you can make it through the slower narrative, the ending twist was particularly unexpected.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 20 February 2024
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When an extremist Russian billionaire runs for president, he promises he will recover the Amber Room, a priceless piece of Russian art looted by the Nazis and lost during World War II. To stop his political ascent, CIA spymaster Frances Coffrey is tasked with finding the Amber Room first and finds the perfect man in Aubrey Argylle, a lonely man with a unsavory family history. Argylle must train and integrate into an already formed CIA team that is recovering from a disastrous mission. Can they find the Amber Room first? And is there a reason why so many things are going disastrously wrong?

Argylle is the most overhyped book of 2024, largely due to its marketing tactics. No, it was not written by Taylor Swift, which should have been obvious from the start based on its hideous cover. Instead, Argylle is ghostwritten by Terry Hayes and Tammy Cohen to kick off Matthew Vaughn’s new film, Argylle, which showcases the author Elly Conway finding out her spy novels are actually real.

Setting preconceived notions aside, Argylle is an okay thriller combing a spy plot with a treasure hunt. The book is not particularly memorable or original but it’s a quick action-packed read. Besides the marketing setting up flawed expectations, Argylle‘s biggest flaw is that the premise leaves you with nagging questions because the overarching plot makes no sense. Why exactly is the CIA even doing this mission? What do they hope to achieve by finding the Amber Room first? If they do find it first, what exactly is the plan?

To make things more meta, in the movie, writer Elly Conway discovers her spy novels are hitting a little too close to the truth and she and her cat find themselves in a covert world she thought she was just inventing. The movie was silly yet engaging with tons of twists, some of which were rather clever. After the halfway mark, the twists (and the movie) become more and more ridiculous and outlandish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 9 January 2024
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Fox spirits are known to be cunning and clever creatures who lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful humans. In 1908, Snow leaves her den in the grasslands to seek vengeance for her lost child, a trail that will lead her from China to Japan. Meanwhile, Bao, a detective, investigates the death of an unknown courtesan found frozen in the snow. As Bao follows Snow’s trail, they both meet friends and foes and navigate the truths and myths about fox spirits. 

Yangsze Choo presents an enchanting premise with gorgeous magical realism rooted in Chinese mythology regarding foxes. Yet, the story itself felt lacking. Choo’s narrative is slow to develop, which would be fine except the plot is also anticlimactic. The combo leaves you wanting more: more development, more emotional connection, and more resolution.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Henry Holt and Co. through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 13 February 2024
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After moving to her fiancé Peter’s lakeside Michigan hometown, Daphne finds her life upended when Peter decides to leave her days before the wedding for his childhood best friend Petra. Needing a place to stay, Daphne moves in with Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles, who is completely Daphne’s opposite. And no big deal if they happen to post misleading photos to make their exes jealous, because there’s no way they would ever actually fall in love.

Emily Henry has become known for her cute romances that give a therapeutic look at how past traumas affect our current relationships. Funny Story had all the witty banter and a decently realistic fake dating trope that would normally hook me in. Yet, although the story was cute, I didn’t particularly enjoy Daphne or Miles, individually or together. 

My Rating:
Publication Date: 23 April 2024
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We all know that person who is able to connect deeply with anyone they meet; a skill that anyone can learn. All conversations can be categorized as practical, emotional, or social. Charles Duhigg argues that these supercommunicators can identify and match each type of conversation while also hearing complex emotions, subtle negotiations, and understanding possible biases. Using the power of storytelling, Duhigg promises to help you become more adept at recognizing and navigating any conversation you find yourself in.

Although I’ve loved Charles Duhigg’s previous books (The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better), Supercommunicators is my new favorite. Duhigg has always been great at presenting interesting anecdotes and food for thought. However, Supercommunicators shines because it feels so much more doable. I could instantly see how to practically apply his advice into my life. Yet, I forced myself to read the book slowly so I could ponder each section, not wanting to miss anything. It’s not a quick fix self-help book, but I feel that, if you took the time to contemplate and analyze your conversations, you would become a much better communicator.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 20 February 2024
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With the gods fighting again after centuries of sleep, eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to keep her family safe. Her mother is fighting addiction, her brother has disappeared from the front lines, and Iris hopes a promotion as a columnist at the Oath Gazette will help. When Iris sparks up a magical correspondence with a stranger, she never imagined her secret pen pal would turn out to be Roman Kitt, her archrival at the paper. But she can’t deny the connection she feels, even when Iris enlists to be a war correspondent on the front lines.

Rebecca Ross presents an adorably fun young adult fantasy duology that mixes Greek mythology and World War 1 that hooked me from the start. The enemies-to-lovers story was rather obvious yet still so rewarding. For the most part, Divine Rivals reads like a historical fiction book, so it took me a bit to get the feel of the fantasy world. The cliffhanger ending was so compelling that I immediately went out and bought the second audiobook, Ruthless Vows, which shifts much more into the fantasy side of the story.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 4 April 2023
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In July 1962, a Mi’kmaq family travels to Maine to pick blueberries for the summer when four-year-old Ruthie disappears one day after lunch. For decades, Ruthie’s disappearance haunts her family, especially her six-year-old brother Joe who was the last to see her. Meanwhile, Norma grows up as the only child to an overbearingly protective affluent white couple. Although she dreams of another life and another mother, she takes decades to trust her instincts and uncover her family’s secret.

I can’t believe I didn’t read this gorgeous novel last year. The Berry Pickers alternates between a dying Joe reminiscing about his life and Norma as she grows up. Though I took longer to get into Joe’s chapters, both were incredibly powerful stories describing the impact of Ruthie’s kidnapping on both Norma and her family. If you are looking for a book club pick, I would highly recommend this emotionally charged family drama.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 4 April 2023
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Britt-Marie cannot stand clutter or disorganization and she doesn’t mean for her helpful suggestions to come off as criticism. After walking out on her cheating husband, Britt-Marie takes a job as the caretaker of the local recreation center. Soon, she is heavily involved in helping a colorful collection of local characters and coaching the youth soccer team. Can Britt-Marie finally find a place where she belongs?

I have a soft spot for novels about misunderstood socially awkward adults trying to find connection. Sadly, Britt-Marie Was Here fell flat for me. It didn’t help that the plot was hard to follow, jumping ahead of an important and then explaining what you missed. The lovable cast of secondary characters was as expected but much of the story hinges on whether Britt-Marie will take her idiot husband back; a hell no to any reader, making it difficult to sit even sit through the possibility. 

My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 October 2014
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Stella Hudson works as an attorney in child custody cases, appointed to look after the rights of the child. Because of her own childhood trauma, she doesn’t take on young clients but makes an exception for Rose Barclay. Amidst her parents’ bitter divorce, Rose witnessed her nanny fall to her death and is the only one who can confirm if it was murder but refuses to speak. As Stella digs into the wealthy Barclay family, she quickly learns they are hiding deep secrets in their house that is surprisingly absent of any glass.

I’ve read all of the thrillers Sarah Pekkanen has written with Greer Hendricks so it was interesting to see what she can do on her own. House of Glass is a domestic thriller that perfectly paints the unsettling feeling of a creepy child like Rose. The plot felt more realistic than many psychological thrillers and ended with plenty of action. Yet, I didn’t love the narrator and felt her backstory and personal life was a distraction, pulling you away from the incredible tension with the Barclay family.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 August 2024
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From the author of Code Name Hélène, comes a new novel based on the true story of a fearless midwife determined to find justice. In 1789, Martha Ballard is asked to determine the cause of death of a man found buried in the ice. As a local midwife, Martha knows all the town’s secrets, including that this man was one of the men accused of a heinous rape four months ago. As the rape trial nears, Martha believes the two cases are connected and her detailed diary ends up as pivotal evidence that might tear the whole town, and her family, apart.

A delightful historical mystery featuring a strong heroine, The Frozen River is an excellent choice for any book club. Lawhon helps you feel not only the powerlessness and inequality women faced at the time, especially in the court of law. Sadly, the rape trial was an actual event which was even more horrific in reality than in the novel. Yet, Martha’s capable and compassionate work as a midwife and as a wife and mother was inspiring and informative.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 5 December 2023
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After massive upheaval in the third book of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, The War of the Five Kings has ended with an uneasy truce. Queen Cersei rules as Queen Regent in King’s Landing but her fears lead to choices that threaten the alliances that hold her in power. Meanwhile, new competitors willing to play the game of thrones vie to fill the empty vacuum of power left behind.

Having shaken everything up in A Storm of Swords, Martin is forced to reset the story in A Feast for Crows. Martin made the unusual choice to have book four and five ( A Dance with Dragons) cover the same timeline but for different characters, with the story converging in the end of book five. Yet, I felt like this was a poor choice since A Feast for Crows as all the weaker storylines and almost no big twists to throw at you. The split format leaves you with an excess of Cersei and Jaime Lannister, a few token chapters about the Stark sisters, the addition of several storylines, and a desperate desire to hear more about your favorite characters.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 17 October 2005
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Although he will miss his son’s baseball game, Captain Bill Hoffmann can’t refuse when his boss asks him last minute to pilot a flight from LAX to JFK. Once he’s in the air, Bill is informed that terrorists have kidnapped his wife and son. Their demands: Bill must crash the plane or his family will be killed. Now Bill and his cabin crew have only a few hours to figure out how to save the plane and his family in this page-turning thriller.

Falling is a pure action thriller with constant twists and turns that keep you glued to the page. It was just what I needed to survive a long layover at JFK. The terrorist motivation was on the thin side and there wasn’t much character development. Yet, Newman’s experience as a flight attendant gave refreshing authenticity to the crew interactions. Sometimes a high-action plot is all you really want and Falling definitely delivers that.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 July 2021
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In 1976, Dana, a young African-American writer, finds herself inexplicably sent back through time to a pre-Civil War plantation in Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy, she finds herself back in Los Angeles. Over and over, Dana finds herself returning to the plantation whenever the boy is in trouble, which she realizes is where her ancestors lived. As her stays in the past become longer, Dana becomes entangled in the plantation and is forced to make harder and harder choices to survive. Octavia Butler’s genre-bending novel is a must-read among time travel books.

I can see why Octavia Butler is considered one of the best writers of her generation. A genre-bending novel, Kindred combines the “what if”s of the best science fiction with deeply-researched historical fiction. Kindred is brilliant top to bottom: a gripping premise, compelling narrative, memorable characters, and nuanced themes. Butler thought-provokingly dives into the complexity of slavery’s dynamics, leaving the reader plenty to ponder on racism, both historically and today.

My Rating:
Publication Date: June 1979
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Hiding from her past, Cass has made a home for herself among the expats at Koh Sang Resort in Thailand. When Cass starts getting threatening notes, she fears her past is coming back to haunt her. A recently arrived travel influencer, Brooke has gotten close to Cass and her friends but she has her own secret agenda for being on the island. After two accidental deaths on the island, Cass and Brooke begin to wonder if the two cases are connected.

Ochs’ debut novel is a run-of-the-mill vacation thriller, a slow-burn mystery that ends with plenty of action and some unexpected twists. Although Cass and Brooke were decent narrators with an intriguing connection between them, neither were particularly likeable. The other expats, on the other hand, felt underdeveloped and forced. However, the hot topic of conversation about The Resort is the controversial epilogue. You’ll either love it or hate it. Personally, I thought it detracted from the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Sourcebooks through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 February 2024
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At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl grieving her father is sent by boat to meet her 40-year-old husband. Eventually, she becomes known as Big Ammachi, the matriarch of a family particularly cursed to have one member of each generation die by drowning. From 1900-1977, Big Ammachi and her family see unimaginable changes to her Christian community on South India’s Malabar coast.

What a beautiful book! The Covenant of Water is a modern classic that reads like an epic Dickens’ novel. This gripping multigenerational story brings the characters and settings and history alive so you feel like you experience their sliver of the world. I really liked that the family curse turned out to just be a genetic condition. In true Dickensian fashion, the whole story comes full circle at the end in a touching conclusion that makes an excellent book even better. I can’t recommend it enough.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 2 May 2023
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Every time Daphne dates a new man, she receives a piece of paper telling exactly how long the relationship will last. Until before a blind date at her favorite LA restaurant, Daphne’s paper just says “Jake” with no end date. As Daphne and Jake date, she begins to question whether this relationship really doesn’t have an expiration date. For Daphne knows something that, if she told Jake, it could ruin everything.

Rebecca Serle has been a hit-and-miss author for me and I am glad to say that Expiration Dates was a hit. Similar to In Five Years, Serle delivers a lighthearted romance with an intriguing dash of magical realism that side swipes you halfway through. With a clever twist, Expiration Dates introduces more complex themes that make you feel, make you think, and make you want the story to never end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 19 March 2024
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For a thousand years, the Lord Ruler has enslaved the Skaa with no hope that his despotic rule will ever end. From a hellish prison, Kelsier snaps and develops the powers of a Mistborn. As a brilliant thief, Kelsier instigates the ultimate heist to overthrow the Lord Ruler with a crew of the underworld’s elite. But adding in Vin, a ragged orphan girl, might just be what they need to succeed, if they can teach her to use her powers and to learn to trust others.

My college bestie told me this was her favorite book and since I didn’t read it when my entire family did a few years ago, I felt like this was the summer to finally try the Mistborn series. Fantasy isn’t my usual genre but Sanderson quickly hooked me with his rich world-building and fascinating characters. The detailed explanation of the magical system wasn’t really my thing, though I know people like my husband love reading about such things. However, the compelling narrative was complex enough to keep you guessing and perfectly set up the rest of the series.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 16 July 2006
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Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are the luckiest girls, or so they are told. After family tragedies, each was given a second chance at a happy family, living on a peaceful farm with a loving foster mom. Yet, the foster sisters’ childhood was far from idyllic, though no one ever believed them. When a body is found buried on the farm, they soon find themselves prime witnesses and possibly prime suspects.

As usual, Sally Hepworth delivers a well-plotted page turner. Miss Fairchild proved to be a perfectly aggravating villain, fully despicable in her child abuse but clever enough to conceal everything at first glance. I was thrown by several of the revelations and loved the push-and-pull of the then and now timelines. Although the thriller obviously shows the worst scenario of foster care, Hepworth balances that out with a wonderful portrayal of Alicia as a social worker.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 23 April 2024
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After her father dies, Hazel Sharp returns to her hometown and is shocked to discover that she, and not her brothers, has inherited their family home. With a drought plaguing the region, the low water level reveals two cars long hidden in the lake – one belonging to her mother who ran away when she was a teenager. As Hazel starts questioning what happened to her mother, her childhood best friend (who is now her brother’s wife) also disappears. With long buried secrets coming to light, Hazel isn’t sure who she can trust anymore.

Megan Miranda has penned yet another atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing since everyone is covering for someone else. I loved the complicated family dynamic between Hazel and her brothers and the generational secrets inherent in their small town. With plenty of tension and suspense throughout, you’ll be hooked by this psychological thriller.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 9 April 2024
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Martha Hall Kelly’s debut novel follows three different women as their lives are set on a collision course. Caroline Ferriday is an American socialite working at the French consulate in New York when Germany invades Poland and sets its sights on France. Polish teenager Kasia Kuzmerick is terrified one wrong move will spell her doom as she works with the resistance movement. Ambitious young German doctor Herta Oberheuser is thrilled to get a new job at the Ravensbrück concentration camp for women and is eager to prove her worth.

Kelly’s WWII novelization of the story of the Ravensbrück Rabbits, a group of Polish women horribly experimented on during the war was educational if not exactly emotional. Since Caroline and Herta were real individuals, Lilac Girls you don’t get the satisfying wrap up you could if the novel was completely fictional. Instead, you just learn another horrible thing that happened during WWII which, while interesting, doesn’t captivate the attention since Kelly doesn’t play on your emotions.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 5 April 2016
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The three Blue sisters are each exceptional in her own way: Avery, a former heroin addict turned London lawyer; Bonnie, a former boxer turned bouncer in LA; Lucky, a former party girl turned model in Paris. But the death of their sister Nicky left the family reeling. A year after Nicky’s death, the estranged sisters gather to stop the sale of the apartment they grew up in and are forced to reckon with their childhood disappointments and their grief.

I completely fell in love with this family drama about addiction and grief. Mellors does a fabulous job showing the complicated and messy connections between sisters and yet also highlighting the enduring love running underneath. I enjoyed how each sister had a different way of coping with their chaotic childhood and the death of their sister, but each showed addictive tendencies in her own way.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 September 2024
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While promoting her latest movie, actress India Allwood sparks a media firestorm when she complains that the project only shows the tragic side of adoption. India knows the blessings adoption can bring as both an adoptive mom and a teenage mom who placed a child for adoption. Now that child is sixteen, excited to meet her birth mother and willing to help – only to make the media firestorm worse. Family Family takes on adoption in a nuanced way, reminding us that, no matter how it was formed, every family is complicated.

The world likes to make issues black and white when reality is much more shaded. Which is why I quite enjoyed Frankel’s nuanced look at adoption. Frankel tackles the stereotypes of adoption head-on, neither glorifying it nor vilifying it, reminding us that just because something is often the case doesn’t mean it’s always the case. India Allwood’s backstory provided an interesting and unique perspective and the entire story had a heartwarming tone that made it a quick read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Henry Holt & Co. through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 23 January 2024
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In August 1975, Barbara Van Laar is discovered missing from her summer camp bed. A tragedy for any child, but Barbara is the daughter of the wealthy owner of the camp and the nearby estate. Fourteen years ago, Barbara’s older brother also went missing without a trace. Tying together the wealthy Van Laar family with the working class community that supports the camp and estate, The God of the Woods is a multi-layered drama about secrets that refuse to be forgotten.

I’d been hearing great things about The God of the Woods since it came out last summer and I immediately snagged a copy. Which proceeded to sit on my shelf for months, intimidated by its large size (almost 500 pages). I’m so glad I finally picked it up because I was completely engrossed staying up way too late to finish it. Moore does the slow build of suspense perfectly, gradually unwinding the past and present in an atmospheric story with rich characters.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 2 July 2024
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Stella doesn’t mind leaving her jetsetter life as a flight attendant behind when she marries Adam, a nice normal guy. While vacationing in Paris, Adam goes missing after a bomb explodes in a public square. Now the police are telling Stella that Adam is a known dealer of stolen antiquities. Refusing to leave Paris until she learns the truth, Stella must discover if Adam was a random victim or a target of the explosion.

The Paris Widow starts off with a bang, literally, which had me geared up for a high-action thriller. Instead, the action slowed to a crawl as Stella processes her grief and confused feelings before settling into a slow-burn mystery. I know this is more realistic pacing but it wasn’t a ton of fun to read about and I struggled to stay engaged. While the action picked up near the end, it was over-the-top and rather anticlimactic. Other than the fun setting, The Paris Widow is a rather forgettable summer thriller.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Park Row through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 11 June 2024
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After taking a wrong turn on their honeymoon, April and Eddie stumble across a lone hitchhiker on a deserted road. Soon they realize that she’s bleeding and as they drive to the hospital, a truck barrels after them. After the hitchhiker dies, April and Eddie find themselves the only witnesses, and prime suspects, in a series of murders along that deserted stretch of road. As they try to clear their names, they realize something supernatural is taking place in this town full of dark secrets.

Simone St. James is known for her creepy thrillers full of ghost vibes and Murder Road fit has a similar premise but with lackluster results. St. James hooks you early with a gripping beginning but wasn’t able to finish strong. Sadly, the book faded into an underwhelming read. Although the characters were extremely likable, the scenario felt clunky and a bit cliché.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 5 March 2024
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On Thanksgiving weekend, an elderly woman is killed by an arrow in the sleepy town of Three Pines, outside of Quebec. Why did Jane Neal never let people into her house? Could her newly released painting of the local inhabitants be connected to her murder? Called in to investigate, Inspector Armand Gamache quietly observes the secrets of the small town in the first book of the Three Pines series.

Readers have been raving about Louise Penny’s latest Inspector Armand books, so I though it was time I checked out the hype. Although I was warned that the series takes a few books to get into, I was hooked right away by this cozy mystery. Expecting an action-hero style detective, I was delighted by Inspector Gamache, a wholesomely polite yet observant older investigator. The quirky small town was full of charming characters. I’m not sure how such a small town could produce enough murders to sustain the series, but I guess I’ll have to keep reading to find out.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 October 2004
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At the Three Pines’ annual curling tournament, CC de Poitiers is electrocuted in the middle of the frozen lake. The whole town was there but no one seems to have seen anything. Just days after Christmas and a year after his first visit, Inspector Armand Gamache returns to the sleepy Quebec town to investigate the murder of the one woman everyone seemed to hate.

I took longer to get into the second book of the Inspector Gamache series. A Fatal Grace gets off to a slow start, introducing new characters and immersing you back into life at Three Pines. Once the murder occurs and Inspector Gamache arrives, the story settled into the familiar feeling of the first book, a charming cozy mystery set in a small town. A small town that apparently attracts a lot of murder.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 30 September 2006
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As Easter approaches in the tiny forgotten Quebec village of Three Pines, a group of villagers decide to hold a séance after a spiritualist comes to town. What starts as a lark quickly turns deadly serious when someone dies at a second séance at the Hadley House. Inspector Gamache and his trusty sidekick Jean-Guy Beauvoir must find the murderer while also finally dealing with the fallout of the Arnot case.

Three Pines must have the highest murder rate in the country the way this series is going. Sadly, the books are losing some of their charm for me. The novels are starting to feel a little predictable. Instead of building characters each novel. You keep the same core villagers and then add a new group, of which one is a victim and one is a murderer. I did like that The Cruelest Month heavily included the Arnot Case storyline that has building between books. I promised myself I would read at least the first five books, but I must say, I am quickly losing enthusiasm.

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Publication Date: 1 January 2007
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During a summer heat wave, Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Reine-Marie visit a luxurious inn in the countryside for their customary anniversary visit. This year, a contentious family is also staying at the inn, which Gamache is shocked to learn are Peter Morrow’s relatives. After a statue dedicated to their late father is unveiled, one of the family members is murdered and Gamache must use his investigative skills to solve the case, even if one of his friends is a prime suspect.

The fourth entry into the Inspector Gamache series was just okay. I still think Inspector Gamache is a great character and I adore his wife. Moving the story out of Three Pines was a nice change and allowed the novel to focus more deeply on Peter and Clara Morrow. Though the case itself was intriguing, thought the action-packed ending felt a bit rushed. Everyone keeps telling me to hang on until books five and six, so I guess I’ll give Penny a few more tries to see if she can reel me back into the series.

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Publication Date: 1 January 2008
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Florence Day is a ghostwriter for one of the most popular romance writers of the day. But after a bad breakup, a disillusioned Florence struggles to write about love. With a new book due and her editor refusing an extension, Florence’s career is all but over. When her father dies, Florence returns to her sleepy Southern hometown only to be shocked to find the ghost of her editor, whose unfinished business has her second-guessing everything she knows about love stories.

Upon hearing “ghost romance,” I opted to skip this 2022 bestseller but, after loving Poston’s time-travel romance The Seven Year Slip, I knew I needed to circle back. Poston charmingly pens a story about finding love while grieving death. The supernatural premise was delightfully done, adding heartwarming levity while exploring grief and loss. An all-around joy of a read, The Dead Romantics is the perfect cute romance you didn’t realize you needed.

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Publication Date: 28 June 2022
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After the massive upheaval in book three, the fifth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series focuses on the journeys of several fan-favorite characters in the final days before winter arrives. With her dragons growing, Daenerys Targaryen struggles to rule in Meereen while Jon Snow also finds difficulty managing politics as Lord Commander on the Wall. With a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister still wants to be player in the game of thrones in exile.

A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons are best read back-to-back since they cover the same timeline but for different characters, with the story converging in the end of book five. Martin uses these two books to rebuild the series, ending A Dance with Dragons on various cliffhangers for most of the characters. Which would make for an epic book six except since Martin never wrote book six and probably never will. And now I’ve joined the legion of readers who moan anytime Martin announces he’s doing another project that is not The Winds of Winter. 

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Publication Date: 12 July 2011
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Six years ago, the entire Blackwood family was poisoned by arsenic in their sugar. Even though Constance, who prepared the meal, was acquitted, the villagers shun her and the family. Now Constance hides away with her uncle, disabled from the arsenic, and her younger sister Merricat. When an estranged cousin arrives, he upsets the balance between the sisters and threatens to bring to light hidden secrets.

If you want a trippy Gothic classic, you cannot pass on Shirley Jackson’s short novel. Merricat is the perfect unreliable narrator, an odd childlike woman whom Constance coddles. Is Merricat’s mental state a cause or a result of events?  The book’s ambiguous nature leaves the story wide open for interpretation. You never learn why the Blackwood family was poisoned, so you are left to guess in this thought-provoking read.

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Publication Date: 21 September 1962
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Legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart tells of his life, from his humbling beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to his rise to fame in Hollywood. Along the way, he shares a portrait of an artist who has become famous for his Shakespearean roles, as Captain Picard in the Star Trek series, and as Professor Xavier in the X-Men series.

Memoirs show you how a person views themself and Patrick Stewart is a Shakespearean actor through and through. Despite the obvious Star Trek reference in the title, Making It So is a play-by-play guide to all the Shakespeare plays Stewart has performed in. Other than a look at his childhood, Stewart’s memoir offers little introspection and reads like a resume of his career. He barely mentions his ex-wives (whom he cheated on) and kids. Sadly, the more you learn about his personal life, the less you admire him.

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Publication Date: 3 October 2023
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In 1906 San Francisco, Gemma arrives in San Francisco to sing in the opera chorus. When she meets Henry Thornton, a rich tycoon willing to be her patron, her dreams of becoming an opera star seem within reach. Meanwhile, Suling lives in San Francisco’s Chinatown, desperate to escape an impending arranged marriage. When she picks up embroidery work for Thornton, she finds she has a connection with Gemma. After an earthquake tears the town apart, Henry disappears and the girls eventually track him to Paris to finally find justice.

I love it when historical fiction transports you to an interesting time in history and The Phoenix Crown‘s best attribute was its setting: The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. I especially enjoyed seeing Chinatown through Suling’s eye and feeling the rampant racial discrimination against Chinese. Although the story was charming and the alternating chapters between Gemma and Suling worked well, the story wasn’t particularly deep or emotional. Unfortunately, the post-earthquake revenge plot that ended the book fell flat and ruined the pacing of the novel. 

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Publication Date: 13 February 2023
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In The Last Mrs. Parrish, Amber was able to claw her way to become Jackson Parrish’s wife. While Jackson has been serving time for tax evasion, Amber has enjoyed being the queen bee of Bishops Harbor. With Jackson’s release from prison imminent, Amber’s time and money is running out. Meanwhile, Daphne has never looked back after divorcing Jackson. But when her daughter runs away desperate to see Jackson, Daphne must return to Bishops Harbor and reenter a vicious cat-and-mouse game.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Last Mrs. Parrish and wasn’t sure if it really needed a sequel. Now I can soundly proclaim that it didn’t. The Next Mrs. Parrish was an unnecessary return to Bishops Harbor whose premise hinged on Daphne making the most idiotic decision to voluntarily return to Jackson’s life. Having escaped Jackson and Amber’s psychotic behavior, I cannot believe she would ever go back. From there, the current book felt much like the last one, though all the villains get a proper comeuppance this time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 18 June 2024
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When a government minister is accused of rape, a courtroom drama ensues. Sophie Whitehouse knows her charming successful husband James isn’t perfect. While she’s disappointed in his affair, she doesn’t think he’s capable of rape. On the flip side, Kate, the lawyer in charge of prosecuting the crime, is convinced beyond out a shadow of a doubt that James is guilty. 

Sarah Vaughan drops you into an intense courtroom drama with complicated female characters. Kate’s drive for justice made her an excellent character. However, I found Sophie most fascinating as she had to decide whether to stick by her husband or not. Though I would not have made the choices Sophie did, I liked how Vaughan showed her history to help you see why she did. With a great conclusion, Anatomy of a Scandal was a great legal thriller to read, however, I almost hate to admit it but I enjoyed the miniseries even more than the book.

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Publication Date: 11 January 2018
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In a sequel to Divine Rivals, Iris Winnow returns from the front bruised and battered. With Roman missing, Iris and Attie head west to report on Dacre’s movements. Meanwhile, Roman awakes in Dacre’s realm with his memory wiped clean. Thankful to the god who healed him, Roman agrees to write articles for Dacre, until mysterious letters appear under his wardrobe that make him question where his loyalties lie in the war between the gods.

Divine Rivals hooked me with its historical fiction feel, adorable enemies-to-lovers story, and hints of fantasy. Instead of building on readers’ expectations, Ross overdelivers the world-building fantasy and underdelivers the romance. Although a main focus of the book, the war between the gods wasn’t particularly interesting. While I still enjoyed the characters, Iris and Roman’s letter writing dragged on too long, feeling like a repeat of the first book without the same charm.

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Publication Date: 26 December 2023
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Struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh receives the chance of a lifetime when Jeremy Crawford hires her to complete the bestselling book series written by his wife, Verity. Just months after their daughters’ deaths, Verity was left in a catatonic state after a car accident. Going through Verity’s study, Lowen stumbles upon an unpublished autobiography full of erotic obsessions and dark confessions. Now Lowen can’t stop thinking about how Verity’s sexy husband deserves better, debating whether to show him Verity’s writings.

Whenever Verity is mentioned (and it seems to be mentioned a lot), readers are either shocked I haven’t read it yet or they warn me it’s a complete piece of trash. Honestly, I can see both viewpoints. Colleen Hoover expertly blends erotic romance with a dark thriller. Switching between Lowen’s perspective and Verity’s manuscript added plenty of suspense and stunning revelations to keep you turning pages. Personally, it wasn’t really the book for me. The book got uncomfortably dark for me, and, holy hell, there was a lot of sex! However, the memorable narrative and the dark corners of Hoover’s mind will make this one pretty hard to forget, and I can understand why it’s a favorite.

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Publication Date: 7 December 2018
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Hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos’s memoir shows palliative care teaches as much about how to live your life as how to die. Vlahos recounts the most memorable patients she’s worked with and how they each affected her life: a woman who never questioned her faith until death, a man seeing visions of his late daughter, and a young patient regretting how much she cared about others’ opinions.

Although hospice is a major theme, don’t expect an informative look at hospice care. If you don’t know much about hospice, Vlahos does a good job explaining the purpose of hospice and correcting the false impression that hospice is just the last few days of life. However, The In-Between is firmly a memoir centered on Vlahos herself, focusing on how her encounters with patients changed her own life. More spiritual than religious, Vlahos recalls the coincidences she can’t explain, believing there is a thin line between this world and the next. Though I wish the author had gone a bit deeper, I found The In-Between to be an enjoyable and uplifting read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 10 January 2023
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Every time an assignment comes in from the mysterious Mr. Smith, Evie takes a new identity and learns everything she can about the town and its people. Her newest mark: Ryan Sumner. But Evie connects with Ryan in a way she hasn’t in a long time. When a woman shows up using Evie real name, Evie must do everything she can to stay one step ahead of her boss and complete her mission. Especially after what happened last time.

After being mostly disappointed with 2023’s selection of thrillers, First Lie Wins was exactly the great thriller I needed. Elston throws you into a delicious cat-and-mouse game between Evie and Mr. Smith. With relatable characters and plenty of twists, First Lie Wins keeps you on your toes from the very first page to its clever ending. 

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Publication Date: 2 January 2024
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When a whale washes up on an English beach in 1928, twelve-year-old orphan Cristabel Seagrave and her household build a theater from the whale’s ribcage. In the Whalebone theatre, Cristabel is able to escape the stress of her stepparents and their disfunction. Using their acting skills, Cristabel and her brother eventually become British secret agents during WWII, navigating a war that changes everything around them.

Is it as WWII drama? A family epic? A long slog without much point? The Whalebone Theatre was a very mixed bag for me. Quinn takes her time wandering through different periods in Cristabel’s life. The writing was enchanting and unhurried, delving into the lives of the unusual Seagrave family and exploring character motivation along the way. Yet, the incongruity between the WWII spy action I was expecting from the publisher’s description and the character-driven literary piece was completely distracting.

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Publication Date: 4 October 2022
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Having grown up in a loveless home, teacher’s aide Lucy Hart would never wish that upon a child. That’s why she would desperately love to adopt Christopher, a seven-year-old orphan in her class, if only she had the means. When her favorite author holds a contest, Lucy finds she is one of four finalists given the chance to win the only copy of his last book. Fighting off book collectors and dealing with the handsome but grumpy illustrator, Lucy’s dreams might just come true. But the author has one final twist that might make Lucy regret her wish.

The Wishing Game was so good that I literally could not put it down once I cracked it open. Meg Shaffer offers a heartwarming and sentimental read with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibes, but more grounded in reality. While keeping it light, The Wishing Game still touches on trauma, especially childhood trauma, and overcoming grief and reminds you that you can still pursue your dreams even as an adult.

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Publication Date: 30 May 2023
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Jonathan Haidt explains why moving from a play-based childhood to a screen-based childhood has changed the neurological development children, making them more anxious, along with other mental health problems. Haidt shows why this causes them to withdraw further into a digital world, and then proposes a solution that he says will reduce the incidence of mental illness in the rising generations.

Jonathan Haidt paints an enlightening (and terrifying) picture of the damage screen-based childhood has done on a generation of children. He perfectly expressed in data the feelings I already had about my kids and phones. While Haidt mostly focuses on the dangers of social media and smartphones, he also focuses on the solutions, especially a greater need for connections, independence and in-person interaction. I will definitely be making some changes to my parenting after reading this one and I absolutely recommend it to everyone.

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Publication Date: 26 March 2024
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During the pandemic, Lara’s three grown daughters are all living at the family’s orchard in Michigan. To pass the time, they beg Lara to tell them about the summer she dated current movie star Peter Duke while they performed at the Tom Lake Theater Company. Slowly, Lara tells them about her earlier life as an actress, pondering on the joys and folly of youth and making her daughters consider their own choices.

Everyone should listen to the audiobook version of Tom Lake narrated by Meryl Streep. Streep perfectly embodied Lara, delivering an outstanding performance where you can hear the wistful reflection and the amused nostalgia in every line. Tom Lake’s beautiful narrative proceeded slowly by steadily through Lara’s life, reminding you that the most exciting parts, at least to Lara’s daughters, ended up mattering very little to Lara in the long run.

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Publication Date: 1 August 2023
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After a fight at school that will surely have her expelled, Karigan G’ladheon sets off through the forest on a long journey home. When she comes across a dying Green Rider, one of the king’s elite messengers, he begs Karigan to carry his urgent message to King Zachary. Suddenly her life is changed forever as she battles deadly danger and complex magic and is stalked by a dark being intent on keeping the message from the king at any cost. If you want page turners that will hook you from the start, this high fantasy series full of gripping action and fun characters is a must-read.

I devoured the Green Rider books when my third child was born; they were the only thing that kept me sane during those last few miserable days before his birth. So I was curious to see if my opinion of them would hold up on a re-read. I’m glad to say that I am devouring them once again. Green Rider is more of a standard young adult fantasy: heavy on the travelogue as Karigan completes a death-defying mission. It hits all the regular tropes of the genre (and has horses) and is so much fun to read.

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Publication Date: 1 November 1998
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