Reading Lately: March 2024 Book Reviews

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 women 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 January 1918, recovering war nurse Laura Iven is reeling from the death of her parents in a local disaster when she learns her brother is missing in action. Months earlier, Freddie finds himself trapped in a bunker in No Man’s Land with a German soldier. Forging a lasting bond from the near-death experience, Freddie and Winter can’t bear to be separated until they find a man who promises to take them out of this hellscape. Searching for answers, Laura volunteers at a private hospital in Belgium, where she hears whispers of a fiddler who can make soldiers forget in this historical fantasy novel.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is five-star historical fiction dragged down by a three-star fantasy. Katherine Arden’s impeccable World War 1 research shines throughout the novel. She beautifully describes the horrors of the war while also sharing interesting historical events I didn’t know. Even better, I loved Laura and Freddie and wanted even more of most of the supporting characters. Unfortunately, the “Devil Went Down to Georgia” fantasy story didn’t hold much force for me. I would have preferred a straight historical fiction novel instead.

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

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Publication Date: 13 February 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.

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Publication Date: 20 February 2024
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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.

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Publication Date: 20 February 2024
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For Lucy, the night five years ago still remains a blank though their entire Texas town knows that Lucy killed her best friend Savvy. When a popular true crime podcaster chooses to investigate Savvy’s murder, Lucy finally returns home at her grandmother’s insistence. Now Lucy must face her ex-husband and her distrustful family while trying to find out the truth about Savvy’s death, even if it ends up pointing to herself.

Listen for the Lie had me hooked from the very first page. After ordering a physical copy, I found out I had received a free copy of the audiobook from the publisher which turned out well for me since the audiobook was fantastic. Lucy’s cynical sarcasm kept making me laugh and the podcast chapters sounded so realistic in audio format. Although Lucy’s personality was the highlight of the book for me, I also found myself fully invested in the mystery and was satisfied with Tintera’s many twists.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 5 March 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.

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Publication Date: 5 March 2024
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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.

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Publication Date: 19 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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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.

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Publication Date: 4 April 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.

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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.

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Publication Date: 1 February 2022
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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 between novels, 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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