Reading Lately: June 2022

After a very public breakdown, a recently widowed actress retreats to her family’s Vermont lake house. Casey passes the time spying on her neighbors across the lake: Tom the rich tech innovator and his gorgeous wife Katherine, a former model. When Casey and Katherine become friends, she realizes their marriage isn’t as idyllic as she assumed and becomes even more suspicious when Katherine disappears.

Although I have loved Riley Sager’s previous thrillers, I was severely disappointed with The House Across the Lake. Sager mistimed the suspense in this one, boring you with an over-explanation of the Rear Window concept. Casey’s excessive drinking makes her a very unlikable character, and then, out of nowhere, the “big twist” veers you into the supernatural that you are left perplexed at the bizarre turn of events.

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

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Publication Date: 21 June 2022
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On a bitterly cold day, Sam Masur runs into Sadie Green on a train platform and they renew their childhood friendship bonding over video games. Together, they create Ichigo, a blockbuster game that changes their lives. Over the next three decades, their friendship is tested as their success leads them to money, fame, love, and betrayal.

More a heartrending story about friendship than video games, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, is one of the best books I’ve read recently, and I can’t recommend it enough. I read it in one sitting, staying up until 3 am because I could not put it down. Although there are plenty of video game references, the story wasn’t overwhelming nerdy and the complexity of the character development particularly stood out to me. A brilliant read that I will be raving about for years to come.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Knopf Doubleday through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 12 July 2022
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As a female politician, Emma knows it only takes one slip-up to ruin your reputation. Using her position as an MP, Emma is determined to fight for female victims and pass a law against revenge porn, even though it brings a slew of threats, both online and in person. When her teenage daughter lashes out at a high school bully, the consequences could be disastrous as Emma is put on trial for the death of a reporter who threatened to publish the story. 

Reputation is like a good Law & Order episode – showcasing the lead-up to the crime and then diving into the court case. Not only did Vaughan write a compelling narrative but also she managed to really hit home on her main themes, violence against women and how our reputation affects our actions. The combination of a killer narrative (pun intended) and deeper underlying themes will make this a great book club choice this summer.

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

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Publication Date: 5 July 2022
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Even after a decade in her small North Carolina mountain town, Abby Lovett feels like an outsider. Known for its outdoor recreation, Cutter’s Pass also has a history of mysterious disappearances, seven in the last 25 years. When a man arrives looking for his missing brother, the town closes ranks and Abigail learns how much she doesn’t know about her friends and coworkers.

Megan Miranda’s latest thriller gets five stars for its setting, but only three for its story. Cutter’s Pass makes for an excellent atmospheric town but the supporting characters lack depth and complexity. A slow-build mystery, The Last to Vanish takes its time getting to the action, hoping the tension will keep you engaged. Which means you’ll either love this moody thriller or you will find that it drags too much for your mood.

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

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Publication Date: 26 July 2022
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For their Nana’s 80th birthday party, the entire Darker family reunites for the first time in years at Nana’s house on a remote island. At midnight, Nana is found dead. When another body follows and the tide traps them on the island, the family realizes they must confront their darkest secrets or risk all being killed off one by one.

Feeny returns with a And Then There Were None style locked room mystery where family members trapped on an island begin dying one by one. Daisy Darker shines with Feeney’s typical style in the backstory chapters. However, in the present-day narrative, Daisy made an odd protagonist and I struggled to feel committed to the book. Although I correctly guessed the twist early on, I kept discarding my theory since it didn’t really make sense and I was hoping for something less cliché.

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

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Publication Date: 30 August 2022
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In a sequel to the dark thriller, The Family Upstairs, the police have discovered Birdie’s remains and start to investigate what really happened in the house. With the police asking questions, Lucy is terrified they will find out that she killed her ex-husband, while at the same time we learn the backstory of Michael and his second wife. Meanwhile, Henry’s obsession with Finn continues as he tries to track Finn down in Chicago.

Confused? You need to read the first book (and probably refresh your memory with a summary) because Jewell jumps right in where the last book left off. Admittedly, it was fun to see what happened to all the characters from The Family Remains. Yet, on the whole, the sequel felt completely unnecessary. Far from adding much to the story, Jewell stripped out the darker elements that made The Family Upstairs so memorable and went with a slow-burn character study.

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

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Publication Date: 9 August 2022
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On one of her first assignments as a secret agent, Emma Makepeace has 12 hours to deliver the son of a Russian dissident into protective custody. When Russian assassins hack into the city’s widespread security camera network, Emma must use all her training and skill to deliver him across the most camera-ridden city in the world without being spotted.

Alias Emma is a fun summer read with a thrilling high-action plot that belongs on any summer reading list. Emma was a delightful protagonist, competent and strong but not over-the-top superhero level. Plus, Emma’s chemistry with Michael hit just the right tones, a natural camaraderie without a sappy falling head over heels in love. I fully expect to see a film adaptation soon.

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

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Publication Date: 2 August 2022
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In seventh-century Ireland, Artt has a dream to leave the world behind. He brings two monks with him and the three men search for an isolated place to build a monastery. After rowing down the River Shannon, they settle on a barren island where survival will take all of their faith and skill.

For some reason, I kept mistaking Haven for a psychological thriller like her bestseller Room, so medieval historical fiction was not quite what I was expecting. In all, the Robinson Crusoe-style story about three monks was okay. I find the details of how the men survived on almost nothing to be interesting, but I have no idea what the point of the story was. In case you were wondering, it’s not anti-religious, but wasn’t trying to win you over to religion either.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 23 August 2022
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Rejecting the capitalistic path of others, Brianna Madia always sought to take the road less traveled. So she bought a beat-up orange van named Bertha and set out to travel the deserts of the American West with two dogs and her husband. Madia’s journey – from married to single and from lost to found – is about more than #vanlife or minimalism or dogs; it’s a memoir that explores both the outer world and her inner self.

I absolutely loved Madia’s memoir. Even Madia will admit that she is a highly flawed person, which makes her a fascinating subject for a memoir. I loved how she dived into her own motivations, parsing out why she made the choices she did, which helps connect her story to life at large. Her discussion about gatekeeping in the van life community and the ridiculous rules we force upon ourselves (and others) to truly “belong” to any community was extremely thought-provoking.

If you know Madia’s story, she does frankly talk about the controversy surrounding her dog being hit by a car, though not enough that would satisfy her critics. I had never heard of Madia before this book, so I didn’t feel betrayed by her mistakes. Instead, I was caught up in her unique voice in describing the beauty of the Utah deserts.

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Publication Date: 5 April 2022
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Emery Blackwood’s life was shattered at her high school graduation when her boyfriend August was accused of murdering her best friend Lily and then he moved away without her. Still living in their small superstitious island town, August’s return sets the whole town atwitter. In town to bury his mother’s ashes, August must confront his high school sweetheart and a town that doesn’t want him back.

Adrienne Young’s new novel is a slow-burn mystery with hints of witchy magic. Honestly, there’s not much action in the story (or much magic), just an overhanging sense of dread and secrets running through the town. The atmospheric story was good enough to hold my interest, but I could easily see others being bored with the lack of character development.

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

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Publication Date: 27 September 2022
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In a North Carolina winter, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is enjoying the return of her daughter Katy. While Katy seems to be having trouble adjusting to civilian life, Tempe gets caught up in a case when an eyeball lands on her doorstep. Soon, Tempe realizes that a serial killer is trying to replicate her old cases.

If you’ve read one Temperance Brennan book, you’ve basically read them all. Kathy Reichs delivers the same formula as all her other books – Tempe has a case that nags at her, she figures it out but puts herself in a risky position, gets captured, and then is saved at the last moment. Yet, if you’ve managed to read this far into the series, you know what you are getting into. I will say, Cold, Cold Bones seemed to be a rather forgettable episode in the Temperance Brennan saga.

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

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Publication Date: 5 July 2022
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After showing the power of introverts in Quiet, Susan Cain uses the same mix of science and storytelling to explore what bittersweet feelings of sorrow and longing can teach us about creativity, compassionate leadership, and love. Cain shows that bittersweetness isn’t just a fleeting emotion but a powerful way of being that can lead to transcendence.

I have to confess, although I appreciated bittersweet things from time to time, it’s far from my go-to mood. Admittedly, bittersweetness is a really tough topic to discuss because it relies so much on feelings. To me, the book came off as boring, overly self-indulgent, and forgettable.

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Publication Date: 5 April 2022
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Explaining the roots of modern motherhood, Jessica Grose explains why our expectations of American motherhood today are unsustainable and harmful. Weaving her personal narrative of how pregnancy and motherhood affected her life and career, Grose points out the flaws in how the American culture perceives motherhood and what to do about it.

Lately, I have had a fascination with books about motherhood and gender equality, so Screaming on the Inside seemed right up my alley. Yet the book was only okay. Grose presents plenty of intriguing facts, but the book lacked the passion to really fire me up. In the end, I agreed with her premise, yet wasn’t left with any suggestions of what to do about any of it.

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

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Publication Date: 6 December 2022
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El and Orion have reached their senior year at the Scholomance, a deadly school of magic intent on killing its students. El is determined that she had her friends will survive graduation day and its lethal ceremony, but the school has other plans. Will she need to succumb to her destiny of destruction or can she find a way to unite all the different factions and rescue everyone? A solid sequel to A Deadly Education, I must say I can’t wait until The Golden Enclaves comes out this fall.

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Publication Date: 28 September 2021
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In the Australian Outback, when five women set out on a hike for a corporate retreat but only four return, Federal Police Investigator Aaron Falk is drawn into the case. The missing woman was to be a key witness against the company, giving her coworkers plenty of motive to want her dead.

After reading The Dry, I knew I had to pick up the second Aaron Falk mystery. Although the mystery itself was good, showcasing how quickly a team can fall apart when things go wrong, there was no reason this book needed to be a sequel. Falk himself added almost nothing to the plot and could have been easily removed. 

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Publication Date: 26 September 2017
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