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 August.

Country People (Daniel Mason): This was my first Daniel Mason book, and it was very funny. It was a book that I liked and then I loved. The last 10th was so fantastic, infused with hope. Every single character in this book felt like someone I had encountered in Western MA. So in a word, it made me feel like walking into a hug at times.

Fortune Favours the Grave (E.S. Drake): There should be a word for the comfort that comes from spending time with characters you love in a world that you love. This is the second in a series, and I adored everything about it. The mystery, once again, wasn’t a mystery. You’ll guess the murderer super early on, but it doesn’t matter. Forget the mystery. Stay for the great world building.

Shrink Solves Murder (Philippa Perry): It’s hard to put into words just how much I loved this book. If there were the ability to give it extra stars, I would shower it with extra stars. As I was reading it, I said, “I like her writing as much as I like Janice Hallett.” If you know me, there is no higher compliment I can give another human being. I loved the setting, the characters (yes, evenly the thinly disguised Richard Coles), the plot. I didn’t guess the ending AT ALL. I was wrong wrong wrong, and I loved being wrong. Thank you for the most absolutely perfect book.

Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice (Meredith Walker): The title says for teen girls, but I would argue that this book is a yearly must-read for kids AND adults. As in everyone. The yearly part? People change. Maybe not drastically, but we should always be changing and growing, and this book is about getting to know yourself again and again. She doesn’t just tell you to be self-aware. She tells you HOW to be self-aware. The questions you should ask yourself. The way you figure out what is important to you. And she does it with personal stories and funny asides and interesting facts. Extremely well done.

It Could Have Been Her (Lisa Jewell): 3.5 rounded up. Not my favourite of her books. The writing itself is still great. You fly through the pages. But the coincidences strain credulity. And the clown stuff was a distraction. It took me a while to get through, and then I just wanted to be done even though I normally love her books.

Esther Is Now Following You (Tanya Sweeney): This is a funny book to review. It’s well written but uncomfortable. Thought provoking but maybe not the right book for me at this moment. It’s heavy. And a bit devastating. Tread carefully with this one if you’ve been through pregnancy loss.

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 July.

Chosen Family (Madeleine Gray): I’ll start by saying that I related to this book A LOT. It dredged up a lot of feelings, in a good way. There is catharsis, but if I have a complaint about the book, it’s that she takes you past the point where you need the catharsis. Which means you read a big section of the book feeling unease instead of release. And when you get to the moment of catharsis, you take with you feelings that I don’t think she intended you to have about the characters. I am glad I read this book. I am glad I own this book and can read it again. But I wish it had been less “hurt people hurt people” and more cycle breaking.

The Shampoo Effect (Jenny Jackson): 4.5 stars rounded up. The writing is great, and I wanted to spend time with all the characters. There is not really a plot. But maybe look at it as hanging out with friends at the beach more than a cohesive story. Totally enjoyable, whether you’re reading it at home or on a beach yourself.

The Artful Anna Harris (Tracy Maton): The first half was a nice thriller but I didn’t get the big deal. People were raving about this book, but it felt pretty standard. And then the switch. The second half was a wild ride, and I totally understood the praise. Very well done.

Ungodly Rich (Katharine McGee): Fun and fluffy with all the usual Katharine McGee characters — it was Thousandth Floor or American Royals but with Greek gods. It ends with a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping there’s another book in the future. It’s a good vacation read, fast-moving and easy to keep the pantheon in your head.

Pagans (James Alistair Henry): What a great story and world. I am so bummed that it will be a year until book two, but this one was so good that I’ll pre-order it. The world took work to sort out in my brain, but I enjoyed doing that work. Entertaining, educating, and thought provoking.

Alan Opts Out (Courtney Maum): This was a joyful ride, and the ending was superb. (Lenny, obviously, but I’m talking about those last few lines.) My heart hurt sometimes for Vivian, but I loved how she grew and changed AND stayed the same. 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 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?