Category — Book Reviews

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from June.

The Last Graduate (Naomi Novik): The second book in a (so far) great series. That ending. You kind of knew that was going to happen, but it’s still a gut punch. What a great story. It can be slow going at times because of the density. Dialogue speeds things along. But it’s still a perfect story.

The Magicians (Lev Grossman): Sometimes I’m in a continuous read of the three Magicians books. Sometimes I’m in a continuous listen. This time, I’m going through the audio books again. I love the narrator. I love how he captures the way Quentin changes (and sometimes stays the same) over time. These are my favourite books.

Acts of Cupidity (E.S. Drake): I adored this book! It has major Good Omens vibes, fantastic world building, lovable characters. The mystery is not much of a mystery, but who cares because the relationships are really the heart of the book. I ordered the second book in the series the moment I finished.

Close to Death (Anthony Horowitz): Mr. Horowitz always writes a fantastic book. This one was super clever, with great character development, to boot. I love that there are Horowitz books in the world, which never disappoint and leave you knowing you spent time with a great story.

What did you read last month?

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from May.

Mad Mabel (Sally Hepworth): 5 stars for characters. 3 stars for plot. She played up the big twist so much that I figured it out 24% of the way through the book. But even as a twistless mystery, the story moves at a good clip, and I think this would make a great beach read.

Look What You Made Me Do (John Lanchester): This was bonkers in the best possible way. The twists were amazing – I only saw one coming – and there was so much to mentally chew over in this story. It would make the perfect book club book because you immediately want to talk about it afterwards. I am still thinking about this book weeks later.

Dissection of a Murder (Jo Murray): I liked the first 3/4ths very much. The last 1/4th less so. It got a little far-fetched, and it didn’t feel like a twist but more like a random change. With mysteries, you should be able to look back and see everything you missed. The book will be on AppleTV soon (the second season of Presumed Innocent), and I could see it being a better show than book.

London Falling (Patrick Radden Keefe): Keefe is an incredible storyteller, and this is a very sad and very intriguing story. It felt like jigsaw pieces snapping together, which was both upsetting because you know the picture the puzzle will reveal (the death happens in the first page or two), but also provided structure for understanding how a lie can grow larger than you can imagine when you utter the first words.

What did you read last month?

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from April.

A Deadly Education (Naomi Novik): Wow wow wow. This was incredible. I immediately started reading the second book in the trilogy. It hit the same spot as Rainbow Rowell’s Simon Snow books. Absolutely loved this world and cannot believe I waited this long to read the series.

A Good Person (Kirsten King): 3.5 rounded up. I’ve noticed a literary trend that now I can stop participating in. I really don’t like the recent slew of books I’ve read with unlikeable characters. People who are just terrible people, not good people in bad situations making bad choices. If you like this sort of thing, and I know many people do, this is a well-written book. But I’ve realized I don’t. So it’s well-written and part of that genre. If you’re into that, this is a good one.

Yesteryear (Caro Claire Burke): I’ll start out by saying this is great writing. Great storytelling. I don’t think I was the right reader for this book. Meaning, I think another person would find this book mind blowing. I did not. But I could see how other people will really like it, and there were plenty of moments that made me think. Glad I read it.

Good People (Patmeena Sabit): This is the best sort of book because I couldn’t stop talking about it with people, and I’m still thinking about it weeks later. It will challenge you and move you. You will walk away understanding how little we all know about situations we think we know with your heart a little more open. What an incredible book.

Kutchinsky’s Egg (Serena Kutchinsky): While I admittedly started skimming toward the end, I found the first half fascinating. It’s about the egg, but it’s also about assimilation, family relationships, and making your own mark on the world. I bet it would make a good audio book.

The Tainted Cup (Robert Jackson Bennett): I liked this very much. I’m not normally a fan of fantasy, but this one grew on me until I had to devour the remaining 150 pages. It’s a complex world, but you quickly grasp how everything works, and the mystery part is great. But the heart is the characters. Loved them. I’m pausing a bit before I start the next book in the series.

Go Gentle (Maria Semple): I adored this book. A pleasure to read. A pleasure to think so deeply. To feel so deeply. Thank you, Semple, for writing a great story.

What did you read last month?

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from March.

Strangers (Belle Burden): I’m not normally a memoir person, but people were raving about this book. I am so glad I read it because at its heart, it is a story about a woman asking to be understood, known, seen. She is asking her experience to be seen through her eyes. She is a beautiful writer. I am so sorry this happened to her family, but I do think there is worth in using words to create bridges between people. And she has built bridges by sharing her story.

One of Us (Elizabeth Day): I waited a long time for this book, and it did not disappoint. You do not have to have read The Party to read this book. Any important plot points from that book are woven into this book. I liked every terrible character and got a sense that the author did, too. They stayed on the correct line of interesting/terrible without straying into the more common territory of pointless/terrible. It was such a good read.

How to Get Away with Murder (Rebecca Philipson): 5 stars for writing. 1 star for plot. I guessed the end by 8% through. I was certain by 12%. I continued reading, hoping I was wrong. I was correct. So. That was the mystery piece, which brings us to 3 stars. But the writing was good, and I was always interested to get back to the book. So an extra half star for holding my interest, and round the whole thing up to 4 stars.

The Pie & Mash Detective Agency (J.D. Brinkworth): On the show Taskmaster, Stevie Martin and Jason Mantzoukas named their team Javie Martzoukas. I think that every time I write J.D. Brinkworth because they are also a zany team of two writers. This book was delightful. In a world where the news seems to be awful 100% of the time, this book was a welcome break from reality. Loved all of the characters. Will definitely be on the lookout for future books from this duo.

Hot Young Royals (Katy Birchall): This one was a bit of a head scratcher. I normally think of Katy Birchall as “new adult” but this was definitely hard-drinking-cocaine-snorting-YA. It was sweet. And bubbly. It was teens behaving badly and then apologizing. It was mind candy — there will be zero surprises. But sometimes you need something safely sweet to read after the news. And this is it.

What did you read last month?

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from February.

Just Watch Me (Lior Torenberg): 4.5 rounded up. There is a great note on the acknowledgments page where the author admits they probably wouldn’t like the character Dell as a real person, and that is how I felt, too. They worked in the story, and I felt for them despite all of their terrible decisions and selfishness. It’s an addictive story, and I stayed up way too late trying to finish it. Excellent job.

My Husband’s Wife (Alice Feeney): Feeney can be hit or miss for me, and this one was a hit. This is one of those books where each twist makes you want to read another chapter, and you constantly have to rethink what you think you know. But there are also a bunch of plot holes that keep the whole story from knitting neatly together. Those “but wait… you said over here…” moments. But they are all holes that could have been patched. So let’s pretend they’re not there. If you like thrillers, you’ll probably like this one. It’s a good one.

Belgrave Road (Manish Chauhan): This story will stay with me for a long time. Mira and Tahliil made me think, and my heart hurt for each of them, even as they hurt other people’s hearts. There were many threads that I wish I could keep following and know where they led, but that is life. Sometimes the story ends and you don’t know.

Royal Spin (Omid Scobie and Robin Benway): Totally unrealistic and as enjoyable as The Royal We. I’m trying to think of something more profound to say, but that’s really my review in a nutshell. Sometimes you need to read a bit of solid, enjoyable fluff and this was solid, enjoyable fluff. Well done.

What did you read last month?