The Choosing
It challenges you to reflect on where you have your identity and what lies you are believing. And on top of all of that, it was a great story! It has a lot of elements similar to her dad’s writing but…
Orphan Train
My initial reflection on reading this book was anger and sadness. There's enough resources out there to know that immigrants and children in foster care are not always treated like human beings. It sickens me to think about the experiences families immigrating into the US or the children riding the orphan train had to endure. I can't fathom what…
Talking as Fast as I Can
Oh the memories! This was a fun read. There wasn’t a whole lot of 'behind the scenes' info about either Gilmore Girls or Parenthood but it was still fun to get in Lauren's head a little bit.
The Progeny/Firstborn
A great, fast-paced duology!
When I’m Gone
My review in one sentence: It was a complex unraveling of a compelling story while still preserving mystery until the very last page. I read this book…
Operation Bonnet
I heard this author speak in person and thought she was really funny. So I decided to try one of her books. It's not typically my go-to genre, so I guess I don't have a lot to compare it to, but it was a nice change of pace for me and did not disappoint.
Ignite Me
I don't understand how Juliette is all of a sudden the person who gets to make all the decisions and plans. Just because she decided she cared? Why would Castle, or anyone else, say 'Yeah. I think she has the best expertise. She knows…
Shatter Me
The Camel Club
Not my favorite but I’ve liked other Baldacci books. I think I’ll still give book two a chance. It’s a group of unlikely friends working together under the direction of a mysterious man (think Person of Interest) to infiltrate government operations, solve crimes…
The Dry
This was a page turner. The author strung the story together well, gradually revealing clues. I found myself going back and forth on who I thought was the killer.
Five Presidents
This one is a long one, but I really enjoyed it! It helped put different historical events in order and made connections I hadn't thought of before. I know I learned a lot of it in school, but you don't really try to remember it that much and once you're an adult, you realize more why remembering is so important.
Truly Madly Guilty
I liked Big Little Lies better than this one but it was still a decent read. The whole “ever since the bbq” suspense line got old after awhile and based on their present lives I started to wonder if it was even going to be a ‘big’ event that occurred.
The Mountain Between Us
I'm not always keen on survival stories because I feel like they all seem similar, and who really has hunting and gathering skills anyway, right?
At least this one was less about the details on skinning a rabbit and more about the slow and sweet reveal of Ben and his wife's relationship.
The Nightingale
This book infuriated me. Well. Because Nazis. Ugh. I've read several historical fiction books on WWII this year and I'm still surprised how each book finds its own niche. This one…
A Man Called Ove
"He was a man of black and white. And she was color. All the color he had."
The Night Bird
Fast-paced thriller that I read in two days. Well-written and kept me guessing. The author unraveled…
Little Boy Lost
It was a pretty fast read. I enjoyed the storyline and the progression through the book. It was interesting and enlightening for me to explore the issue of race in the setting of St. Louis.
The Book Thief
“The words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like the rain.”
Singularity
What I love about Steven James' books is how he wrestles with morality, ethics, belief, etc. He likes to ask questions. And a lot of times it's the questions everyone is thinking but no one wants to ask. I appreciate that about his writing.
The Atlantis World
It's shorter than the previous two. I was happy with how they ended it and wrapped things up.