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.

The Compound (Aisling Rawle): Like a new season of Traitors, it was hard to get into it until the numbers dwindled down and you knew the contestants better. And then I was all in. A character asks a question in the book that I’ve always wondered – why would anyone be a participant? It is so far from what I would choose that I would just love to hear why someone chooses to go on a show. In any case, it is a reality television competition in book form.

Vera, or Faith (Gary Shteyngart): I wanted to read this book so badly, but I didn’t enjoy it when I started it. But then I kept reading and it took awhile but it grew on me. So I ended it happy that I stuck with it. There are some gorgeous thoughts and phrasing in the book, and Vera is delectable, as she would say. So happy I read it, even though I was a little sad through the whole thing.

Mean Moms (Emma Rosenblum): A mindlessly fun book with a strange structure. You know the person behind everything halfway through the book but the characters don’t. It took a little of the tension out of the end of the book. But still a good summer read about terrible people.

The Collectors (Philip Pullman): A brilliant short story from the world of His Dark Materials. You can read it without reading the books, but you’ll get more out of it if you’ve read at least The Golden Compass. I’m rereading the books before the publication of The Rose Field. Love being in this world – it stays with you long after you close each story.

The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman): A second reading of this book in the same year. Or maybe last year? It is so nice to back in Lyra’s company. It’s like entering Narnia or falling into Wonderland. And I probably related to the story, especially the pain of separation, in a different way than I did so many years ago. Again, part of the re-reading before The Rose Field is released this fall.

The Marble Hall Murders (Anthony Horowitz): There is no such thing as a bad Anthony Horowitz book. I save Anthony Horowitz books for when I need a solid, perfect book — think of it as literary rainy days. And I needed to end summer on a high note. This one did it. I guessed a few things correctly but didn’t care. I just liked being along for the ride with Susan.

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.

Can You Solve the Murder? (Antony Johnston): Let me start by saying that I read this when I got my shingles vaccine, so my enjoyment may have been tempered by the fact that I felt terrible. It was also high-involvement: You track the clues and what you’ve learned. It got a little tedious near the end – two hours of reading time would have been the perfect amount because you’d be more inclined to try again if you didn’t solve the crime. But very clever format and a fun read.

A Novel Murder (E.C. Nevin): Another possible literary victim of my shingles-vaccine induced mood. I thought this was going to be more of a quirky cozy (Richard Osman) but it was a solid cozy cozy. So if you’re looking for a cozy mystery, this is a good one. Lots of drinking in the pub, friends helping friends, police who include writers in solving the crime.

Bitter Sweet (Hattie Williams): This was amazing. I immediately handed it off to ChickieNob who agreed. This book will stay with me for a long time. I started crying trying to talk about it. It is a book that will profoundly impact your heart and brain, a similar effect to All Our Wrong Today’s or The Other Side of Night, but with the familiar growing pains of The Rachel Incident. So achingly beautiful and infuriating and moving. It is quite literally bitter sweet.

What a Way To Go (Bella Mackie): No one writes terrible people as well as Bella Mackie, and these are the worst. Is it a little rough in places? Yes. There were a few times that whole paragraphs repeated on two different pages (e.g., look at p. 131 and 338, and the description of Tanners), which I noted because I thought it was a clue. And there were chapters that came out of order near the end. (That was weird and also not a clue.) But even with those things, it’s a 5-star read. You’ll snicker through the book trying to figure out the ending.

Culpability (Bruce Holsinger): A solid story that asks a lot of questions. It feels like it would be a great book club book, lending itself to discussion. I’m a little surprised that the environmental impact of AI never comes up, especially because the majority of the book takes place on an enormous body of water. But it is less a story about AI and more a story about family dynamics.

The Sentence Is Death (Anthony Horowitz): This was a re-read. I love this series so much, and slipping into a re-read of it is like hanging out with old friends.

Bring the House Down (Charlotte Runcie): An amazing five star read about art and our relationship to it and to each other. About awful behaviour and the way we thoughtlessly and purposefully impact each other’s lives. I was blown away by how much this book made me think. How much the complex characters got under my skin. Cannot wait to see what else this author writes in the future. I loved every messy page.

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.

Consider Yourself Kissed (Jessica Stanley): This book was so good that she made me want to go lock myself somewhere and do nothing else but read her book. The writing is gorgeous. The story is relatable. Every character is lovely (except her dad). This book is like getting a hug. Go read it. Immediately.

Skipshock (Caroline O’Donoghue): Do you recognize the author’s name? Did you read The Rachel Incident? Same author, compleeeeeeeeeeetely different book. But if you liked her writing in that, you may like it in this, which I’m declaring is the new Hunger Games. No, they’re not making kids fight to the death, but it’s that kind of world building that makes you lose yourself in the story. This is brilliant. And I can’t wait for part two.

10 Marchfield Square (Nicola Whyte): If you liked The Maid by Nita Prose, you may also like this book. They felt very similar. And sweet. It’s a cozy mystery that feels like it operates outside a time period, if that makes sense.

The Matchmaker (Aisha Saeed): I’ve known Aisha since the BlogHer years, so I was thrilled to hear that she had written a book for adults because she is known for her middle grade fiction. This book is wonderful. A cozy thriller – as in more than a cozy mystery but less scary than a thriller, so perfect beach read because you’ll keep wanting one more chapter to figure the whole thing out. Plus there’s a little romance in there and plenty of weddings. Loved this book.

Death at the White Hart (Chris Chibnall): A new book by the creator of the television show Broadchurch, that feels very… Broadchurch-y. I didn’t love it in the beginning, but I’m glad I stuck with it because I really loved it by the end. I hope this becomes a series.

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.

The Impossible Thing (Belinda Bauer): This book was a slow burn that sucked you in until it was all you could think or talk about. It is very clever, not only in how everything came together but in how the author makes you care deeply about these eggs, even if you entered reading the story thinking you didn’t really care about eggs. She makes you care. It’s a great story, masterfully written.

Probably Nothing (Lauren Bravo): A perfect, hopeful, kind, heartwarming book. It literally made me feel good while reading it. I loved every character and wished I could get to Ann’s kitchen, too. She would annoy me in the moment but I would be grateful to feel her love. This book is like being squished in the best kind of hug.

A Game of Lies (Clare Mackintosh): This is the second book in a series (third book coming out soon), and you probably need to read the first book to like the second. You cannot go wrong with a Clare Mackintosh book. She writes a solid, page-turning thriller. Not scary. Packed with fun Welsh terms and scenery. This one stretched some believability, but it was still enjoyable and I heard the next book in the series is excellent, so I didn’t want to skip a book.

Count My Lies (Sophie Stava): 3.5 rounded up. I liked the writing, but this book fell into the pit that many thrillers fall into, where the character knows what the reader knows. In other words, they get to conclusions that the reader could get to with their knowledge but which the character could never possibly get to with the character’s knowledge. It’s an enjoyable read but so far-fetched.

The Keeper of Lost Causes (Jussi Adler-Olsen): This is the first Department Q book — I wanted to read them before I heard spoilers from the tv show. Every so often you find a series where you instantly love all of the characters and setting, and your heart fills up with joy for days as you think about how many good books you have ahead of you. This was one of those series. I love Carl. Love Assad. I even love Vigga. It was intense, especially the end, but wonderful. Amazing book. Think Three Pines but more surliness and in Denmark.

The Absent One (Jussi Adler-Olsen): This is the second Department Q book. This one was 4.5 rounded up. I didn’t love the translation style as much as the last one, but it was still an intriguing (and disturbing) plot. And I love these characters so much.

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.

The Word Is Murder (Anthony Horowitz): I’m rereading the series because it makes me happy. The books are so clever, and I love them so much that I don’t read the next one until there is another on the horizon. I just can’t stand the idea of not having an Anthony Horowitz book in my back pocket whenever I need a book that I know is going to be really really good.

Sunrise on the Reaping (Suzanne Collins): This book is chilling and troubling, maybe more so reading it right now against the current news. I didn’t love the last prequel, but this one feels as familiar as the original Hunger Games and is equally as devastating. I had so many “wow” moments as things came together.

This Is Not a Game (Kelly Mullen): A sweet, easy to read and enjoyable murder mystery with a gaming theme. It made me want to visit Mackinac Island. It was a book that was the perfect read when I needed something a little lighter.

Fair Play (Louise Hegarty): I think the people who are not giving this book 4 or 5 stars just don’t “get” the book. Because once you “get” the book — and you will understand the book if you pay attention to the middle — there is no possible way to read this book without your heart in your throat. I will think about this book for a long time. You will be blown away by the cleverness and emotion and beauty. Amazing job.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King (Harry Trevaldwyn): This book wins for absolute fun. There were so many times that I laughed aloud. I switched to the audio, which was read by the author, and it was even better hearing the story spoken. The most interesting thing was that I would listen to the book when I was feeding Beorn (while he was sick), and his body would relax when he heard the author‘s voice. So strange. But it brought both of us joy, so I will be forever grateful. If you loved Heartstopper, but sometimes wished those kids were a little less earnest and a little more realistic, run to this book. These are the nicest kids and the funniest kids without being unrealistic kids.

What did you read last month?