Darlene

My experience with Ruth Ware books is so erratic. I really enjoy some of her works, yet really dislike others. This one falls in the enjoy category. I rated it 4 stars because I liked the ending. There was enough of an interesting twist to make the book memorable.

The first half of this book was slow for me. I was not as interested in the narrator's experience as I hoped I would be. I would have liked for the action to begin a little earlier. Once the strange things in the house started to increase, I became more invested in the plot and really enjoyed the reading.

Since the book ended on a positive note for me with an interesting twist, I can say that I would recommend it.

I am rating this book 4 stars because I appreciate how well-written it is. The narrative voice is so well done, and the story line weaves so many mythological stories together so seamlessly. Circe makes for a very intriguing character. I liked reading her story. It is refreshing to have her at the center of the tale with all the great “heroes” and gods as peripheral characters in her story.

That being said, I found several chapters of this book slow and boring. I feel that maybe it could have been shorter with some of Circe's life being less drawn out. I do not regret reading it, though. I enjoyed most of it and would recommend it to others.

Like most YA books I read, this book is just okay for me. There's really nothing wrong with it; it's just not my thing. Lara Jean is a cute character, and her family is very lovable. The plot is a bit frustrating for me because Lara Jean behaves way too much like a naive teenager for my liking. She also gets mad at Peter for things she is doing herself. It just felt like a very typical teen romance with nothing really original about it.

I decided to read this book because I love a good serial killer crime mystery. In this story, Reni must grapple with her guilt over being used as bait for her father's serial killing sprees. When he offers to reveal where the bodies are located, he adds the stipulation that Reni must be there. She throws herself back into that world, even though it threatens her emotional well-being.

I find this book enjoyable, but nothing about the plot feels very original or overly intriguing. It is not a bad read, but it just doesn't leave me wanting to know more about these characters. This is supposed to be the first in a series, so it's a shame the characters don't really grab me.

This is standard 3 star read for me. It's good, but not great.

This is my first book I have read by Sarah Vaughan, and I am now interested in reading more. This book is well-crafted and engaging. I had a hard time putting it down.

This is a story mostly about two mothers, both part of a friend group that bonded over childbirth. Liz is a doctor, and while on the job one evening, she must attend to Jess's baby, who has been brought in with a head injury. When Jess's explanation of how the injury occurs does not add up, Liz must report her friend to the authorities, which leads to an investigation and causes ripples in the relationships between the mothers.

I find the plot of this book to be very interesting. I found myself wondering how I would behave in the situation that Liz is in. Would I report my good friend to the authorities? It's quite a difficult situation in which to find oneself. I also find the relationship between Jess and her husband engaging. The husband finds himself questioning whether his wife could hurt their child. It's all rather intriguing.

While I would not describe this book as “action-packed,” I nonetheless struggled to put it down. I wanted to keep reading to see what really happened to this baby girl and what would happen to these families and friendships.

I highly recommend this book to fans of domestic thrillers that deal with motherhood. It's a solid 4 star read for me.

Beautiful, magical, whimsical, fantastical...Words to describe The Night Circus! I love this book! The reading experience was one of the best I've had in a while. The narrative style and the choice of language is perfection!

First and foremost, the world of this book is absolutely beautiful. Morgenstern does an amazing job of bringing this night circus to life so vividly. I enjoyed envisioning the sights and sounds. I wish I could attend this circus!

The word choice is spot on. It is so well-crafted and lyrical. I just lost myself in the words. And the fact that the audiobook is narrated by Jim Dale is absolutely perfect. His voice is a perfect complement to the author's language.

The characters in this story are all fascinating and well-developed. Even minor characters come to life so vividly. Celia and Marco's love affair is as magical as they are.

I feel like my review does not do this book justice. Do yourself a favor, and read it.

This book is much more than a romance. There is plenty of romance, but the book is mainly about a woman who learns how to love and support her family while also asserting herself.

Fixie Farr's name is appropriate. She feels compelled to fix things, whether it be a coke stain on a chess board or her family's financial issues. She just can't help herself. The only problem is she does not know how to stand her ground and say what really needs to be said to the people in her life. She's a bit of a “doormat.” However, through her interactions with a new man in her life, Seb, she begins to develop a backbone.

I really enjoyed some things about Fixie's character, while other aspects annoyed me. I love how much Fixie loves her family and how devoted she is to the family business. I also love her willingness help others. On the other hand, I found myself often frustrated by how easily she allows herself to be manipulated by those who supposedly love her. She is often ridiculously naive, and she tends to misread situations. As a reader, I was constantly wanting to knock some sense into her.

The romance in this book is okay. I don't particularly care for either of the love interests, to be honest. However, the other aspects of the story kept me engaged and satisfied.

Overall, I am giving this one 4 stars because I enjoyed the read and I found the main character interesting.

“He was my echo. Everything I do is quieter now,”

It's line like this one that make Frederick Backman a true artist. He is a master of words. Every time I read a book by him, I am impressed by his literary skill. Anxious People is brilliantly written with many other insightful lines that ring so true.

While this is not going to be my favorite Backman book, it still ranks as one of the better books I have read this year. It took me about a third of the book to adjust to the narrative technique. Backman goes back and forth in time and often writes in a second person point of view that takes some getting used to. Once I acclimated to it, it did not impede my enjoyment of the story. The characters also take some time to grow on you. They all seem quite unlikable at the start of the book, to the point of being annoying. I found myself wondering if any of them were going to have redeeming qualities. However, in true Backman style, he develops the characters slowly and exposes their true qualities gradually. In the end, I had changed my mind about most of them.

The plot is very intricate and sometimes to hard to follow, but it seems that is done on purpose. The author wants the reader to be confused along with the police officers. While it frustrated me at time, I appreciated it in the end when everything came together. Backman has a real talent for weaving his story elements together in a complex pattern that somehow, in the end, seems so simple when you look back on it.

Backman does not disappoint. I will continue to read anything he writes, and I feel that other readers should do the same.

Beth O'Leary has written another charming and lovable book. Although I did not enjoy this one as much as her debut, The Flatshare, it was quite an enjoyable read. The premise of the book is that a grandmother (Eileen) and her granddaughter (Leena) decide to trade lives for two months because they are both in need of a change that will hopefully put their lives back on track after the loss of a loved one. The switch turns out to be beneficial to both of them, and they learn new things about themselves and how they view the people in their lives.

I love the character of Eileen, the grandmother. She is so full of life and ready for adventure. She brings a sense of community to her granddaughter's apartment block that was desperately lacking. She is a sweet character whom everyone loves. Leena, the younger character, is less charming than her grandmother, but I liked her too. She has some moments when I found her to be very naive and overly trusting, especially in terms of her boyfriend. However, she learns a lot about herself during the switch, and I like how her character grows.

The small town charm and sense of community that is portrayed in this book is refreshing and very appropriate in our current climate. It made me wish for more of it my own life.

I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It is sweet and uplifting. Just the kind of read needed when real life is a bit chaotic.

I was looking forward to reading this book because I had really enjoyed a previous book I read by this author. I had high expectations, and I was a bit let down. I almost DNFed this at 35% because I was bored with it. It didn't seem like anything was ever going to happen. There was a lot of backstory and a lot stuff about motherhood. For those that enjoy reading about mothers and that experience, it would probably have been enjoyable, but I am not one of those people. I stuck with the book, though, and it definitely got better for me. I ended up liking the second half of the book.

In this story, the main character Rebecca is a widowed young mother who is also blind. One day after a fainting spell in the park, she becomes convinced that the baby boy she brought home that day is not her son. However, no one seems to believe her, and she has to fight just to get anyone to help her search for her missing child. This premise is quite intriguing, and after the incident actually happens (about 1/3 of the way into the book), it is very engaging. I felt sympathy for this blind woman who was doubted constantly because of her disability. On the other, I also found her frustrating because she never wanted to let people help her unless it was her idea.

Overall, the book is good. It moves a bit slower than I would like in the beginning, but by the second half it is more fast-paced and engaging.

What a charming, touching novel! It came into my life as a surprise, and it was just what I needed.

A.J. Fikrey is the kind of character to whom I immediately feel a kinship. He is a “book person,” which is my favorite kind of person. Most of what he believes and says resonates with me. In my favorite line of the book, Fikrey thinks, “They had only ever discussed books but what, in this life, is more personal than books?” My sentiment exactly!

Fikrey begins this novel as a cranky widower who seems not to have much hope that his life will ever hold any happiness for him again. Then, he finds a unexpected gift in his bookstore that changes his outlook and his life for the better. Fikrey gains a reason to go on and live again. His journey from this point on is enthralling and uplifting. I couldn't put the book down.

This book has claimed a place on my bookshelf among my favorites. I cannot wait to read it again in the future!

Ordinary Grace is one of the most well-written, beautifully tragic stories I have read in a while. Krueger is a brilliant writer who creates vivid characters, interesting settings, and perfectly constructed mysteries.

In this story, Frank and his brother Jake experience a tragic summer of death and loss that forms them into the men they will become. It is set in 1961, a time when childhood was supposed to be more innocent. These brothers experience situations that summer that force them to grow up quickly and realize the “awful grace of God.”

I love how this story shows both sides of religious faith. The father, a Methodist pastor, never waivers in his faith, but other members of the family and community do. Krueger portrays the struggle with faith so sensitively and so realistically. His portrait of these characters is also created skillfully. All of the characters have depth. They are developed in such a way that the reader feels connected to them and feels their pain. There were a few moments in the reading experience during which I may have shed a tear.

The mystery of this book somewhat takes a backburner to the family drama, but I am fine with that. The family dynamic makes this book what it is. Their struggle to cope with tragedy and still remain connected is heartbreaking, yet uplifting in the end. I think these characters will stick with me for a while to come.

I wish I was more articulate in my gushing over this book. I do not feel my review is doing it justice. Do yourself a favor, and read this book. You won't regret it!

Emily Henry's contemporary book about a young woman coming to terms with a family secret and finding love while doing it is a perfect summer read. It has themes of self-awareness, family bonds, and unexpected love. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The main character, January, has learned that her recently deceased father had a big secret. This knowledge leads her to struggle with her memories of him and her feelings about him now. In the midst of this family turmoil, she becomes the neighbor of a previous college rival, who she just so happens to have a bit of crush on. As the story unfolds, the reader witnesses January stepping outside her comfort zone as a writer and realizing that the imperfections in life are not necessarily destructive.

I find this story to be very satisfying. The characters are well-developed and very likable. The love interest, Gus, is just the right amount of damaged, yet romantic. He and January have great banter which adds some humor to the story. I am happy with the ending and the themes it illustrates. I would definitely recommend it.

What an enjoyable read! I wanted to read nonfiction, but I didn't want to read something dry or educational. I am so glad I found this gem!

This book, written by a book blogger, is an homage to her love affair with books. There is so much in this book that I can relate to as an avid reader. There were so many times while reading that I was nodding my head and thinking “Yep! I totally get that.” It is always enjoyable for me to learn that there are others in this world that feel the same way I do about the power of books and reading.

This book is an easy, quick, and thoroughly enjoyable read. If you love reading about books, you should definitely pick this one up.

Toni Morrison is a true artist. Her words never fail to move me. This book was my first Toni Morrison. I read it back in my 20's for course I was taking at the time. I loved it then, and I love it now upon rereading it. Pecola Breedlove is one of the most heartbreaking characters I have ever encountered. This child thinks she is ugly because society and her own family tell her so. She wishes for blue eyes thinking they will make her beautiful and bring her love. That by itself is heartbreaking, but when you add in the other horrible things that happen to her, it is almost unbearable.

This book makes the reader feel disgusted and outraged, but those feelings are sometimes necessary. Without that outrage, we might not seek to change things in the world. Toni Morrison does not shy away from the ugly side of humanity. She amplifies it so the reader will react. And react we do.

If you have never read a Toni Morrison book, you should. This one is a good one to start with. It is short, and it is not loaded with complex symbolism like many of her other books. I highly recommend it.

I read this book because I needed a book set in Louisiana to fulfill a challenge prompt. I had also watched a couple seasons of True Blood on HBO, so I was curious to see what the books are like. I found it to be good, but not great. It's what I expect from this kind of vampire story. It's easy to read and the plot line is easy to follow. Some of the characters are fun and entertaining, while some are just annoying. It's not a book that's going to stand out to me or that I will want to reread, but I do not regret reading it. I enjoyed it just fine.

This was my first Jo Nesbo book, and I am undecided if I want to read any more of his work. On one hand, I like the dark style and many of the characters. On the other hand, I find his writing unnecessarily complicated.

At the start of the book, I thought I was going to really enjoy it. I did enjoy several aspects of it. I like the character of Harry Hole. He is just damaged and complex enough to make him interesting. I also like a lot of the minor characters. Nesbo is good at creating well-developed characters. I also enjoyed the plot at first. The mystery of the Snowman killer was fascinating. I was highly engaged, but found myself eventually frustrated by the twists and turns of the case. By the third time they thought they had caught the killer, only to find out they were wrong, I began to lose interest. It was overly complicated. The story did not have to be as long as it was, in my opinion.

I gave the book 3 stars because there were many things I did like about it. It is not a bad read, just a frustrating one at times.

This graphic novel was cute. I read it because I enjoyed the author's other graphic novel, A Quiet Girl in a Noisy World. While I liked this one, it did not live up to the expectations I had based on how much I adored the other one.

This is the story of the character's first few years of marriages. Many of the topics and situations ring very true to my own experience of married life, while others are not relatable to me. The graphics themselves are quite cute. I enjoyed the depictions. I just didn't find this novel as engaging and entertaining as the previous one I read by this author.

This is my second Heidi Perks book that I have read, and I think she may be a new favorite author. This story of three women and their secrets is captivating and suspenseful. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The story begins as an advertising agency building is burning to the ground and a body is being removed from the scene. The story then flashes back in time to weeks before the fire when Laura, an ad executive, returns to work after maternity leave to find her temporary replacement, Mia, making herself a permanent fixture in Laura's workplace. Tensions brew, and the boss's wife, Janie, becomes involved in the drama that unfolds. Throughout the story, the reader is trying to figure out what these women are hiding and who started the fire that brings down the agency.

I found the characters interesting and complex. For a good bit of the story, I struggled to determine how each character connected to the others and why they seemed to have it in for each other. There was something in the past that was causing the tensions, and it was fun as a reader to try to decipher what that was. I was unable to guess the culprit until the reveal, which made me very happy. I do not like a thriller in which I can predict the outcome too early on.

The narrative devices used by the author help to create suspense and keep the reader engaged. While the point of view remains third person throughout, the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of each female character at different times in the book. This allows the reader to see each of their perspectives. The story also shifts from the past to present every few chapters. In the present, a detective is interviewing witnesses and suspects about the fire. I thought this was a great suspense building technique.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I like how the story unfolds, and I am satisfied with how it ends. I would definitely recommend this to readers that like a good mystery aspect to their thrillers.

This was my first Megan Miranda book, and I am glad I finally read her work. This story is compelling and engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.

The main character, Olivia, has changed her name and left her home town in order to escape the attention around a traumatic event in her past. She is the girl from Widow Hills, the girl who got washed away in a flash flood after a sleepwalking incident and got trapped in a storm drain for three days. She is a considered a miracle. Now, as an adult, her past catches up to her, and she begins sleepwalking again. She wakes up standing over a dead body, and that's where the mystery begins. Did she kill the man dead in her yard? Did someone else kill him and try to frame her? Those are the questions the reader searches to answer as the story progresses.

I found the pacing of this book satisfactory. I like a slow paced mystery that provides just enough kernels of evidence to keep me guessing and wanting to know more. This book does that. There are enough distracting characters and possible explanations to keep the mystery interesting. I did guess the big twist prior to its reveal, but I didn't find that upsetting. I was proud of myself for figuring it out.

The characters are decent. I like Olivia, even though she makes some poor choices. Some of the minor characters could have used more development, but overall I am happy with the way they are portrayed.

This mystery/thriller delivers. I am interested now in reading more books by this author.

I read this book based on the rave reviews of some friends in a book club. In general, I like the book. Unfortunately, I do not love it the way a lot of other readers do.

In this book, Carly learns in 1970 that her unborn daughter will not survive after birth due to a heart defect. Her brother in law then reveals to her that he is actually from the future, and offers to send her to 2001 so that she can get a surgery to save her child. The rest of the book follows Carly's journey through different time periods to save the life of her baby.

I really like the characters and their personal journeys. Carly has already lost her husband, and the reader can sympathize with her need to keep her baby alive. It seems so unfair that she should lose both of them. The brother in law, Hunter, is also a likable character. He is very compassionate and devoted to family.

What I do not care for is the time travel motif. I have different books with this story line, and I think I just have to accept the fact that I do not like it. It is too far-fetched. If it is in a fantasy novel, I can accept it better. I just find it too unbelievable when it's placed in a contemporary, real-world setting. That's not the author's fault, though. It's just a personal preference.

The writing in this novel is well done, and the characters are memorable and likable. It's a solid 4 stars!

I had high hopes for this book because I loved Center's previous book, Things You Save in a Fire. Unfortunately, this one was not as good. In fact, I almost stopped reading it in the beginning because I just did not like the main character and what, in my opinion, was her ridiculous behavior. However, the second half of the book is better, so I am glad I stuck with it.

In this book, Sam is a school librarian who was once obsessed with a fellow teacher, Duncan. So much so that she moved halfway across the country to avoid her crush. She finds out very early on that Duncan is now coming to her new school. When he arrives, he is not the same person he once was, and Sam struggles to come to terms with that and to save her precious school from his proposed changes.

The thing that makes this book a mere three stars for me is the character of Sam. She is just too silly and childish for me. I mean, is it really necessary to move out of state just to avoid seeing the guy you have a crush on? And then to decide you have to move again because he is now at your new school? It just seems a bit ridiculous to me. Duncan is a little more realistic a character, but he too annoys me at times. He has experienced something traumatizing, but his drastic change in character seems over the top.

I also found myself frustrated by the portrayal of the school itself. As an educator, I know that many of the things that happen in this book just don't happen in real schools. I won't go into detail due to spoilers.

All that being said, there are things I like about this book. I like the message that people need to choose joy and that joy helps to overcome difficult situations. I also like the emphasis placed on reading and education. There are some good themes in this story.

I wish I had liked this more than I did. I will still read more by Katherine Center because I know I like some of her other writing.

Part amateur sleuth story, part ghost story...all around entertaining. I liked this book a lot more than I expected to after reading some of the other reviews. The two timelines and the mystery aspects of the book kept my interest, so I read through this one really quickly.

In this story, 20 year old Carly has come to Fell, New York to uncover what happened to her Aunt Vivian, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down Motel in 1982. Fell is an odd town where young women tend to go missing or wind up dead. Both Viv and Carly get sucked into the mystery of the Sun Down Motel and all its secrets. I enjoyed reading about their amateur investigations, even if some of it seems a bit unrealistic. It was fun to watch them discover the details and play along with their sleuthing.

The ghost story aspect of this book is well done. It has just the right amount of creepiness without going over the top. The ghosts of the Sun Down Motel are injected into the story just often enough to make it interesting without consuming the whole story line.

Overall, I feel this story is well crafted and enjoyable to read. If you like a good mystery disappearance and a bit of creepiness, this book is for you.

A book about a girl who seeks guidance for navigating high school life from classic novels...Count me in!

In this adorable story, Mary begins a new school and gains a new set of friends who seek her advice on boys based on the knowledge she has gleaned from books the likes of Anna Karenina and Jane Eyre. Mary's take on several of the males at Millville High leads to the creation of the Scoundrel Survival Guide. But along the way, Mary finds herself actually enjoying the company of the main scoundrel, Alex. She has to face the fact that maybe the classic novels have led her down the wrong path. Maybe men aren't such scoundrels and cads.

I think the concept of this book is fun and entertaining. I love all of the references to the classic novels and their characters. There are many witty comments and fun banter between Mary and Alex. The characters are all very likable and sweet, even those that are thought originally to be terrible. If there was a Mary in my high school, I would have enjoyed being her friend.

As an educator in middle and high schools, I would definitely recommend this book to students. I also think that many adults, like myself, will enjoy this read. It is light and fun and makes the reader feel hopeful about life and love.

What a charming book! I really enjoyed this one. I had never heard of this author, but when the publisher sent me access to an early copy and I read the synopsis, I was excited to read it. The concept of a teenage girl releasing a balloon with a message and a boy in another country finding it and beginning a friendship is just lovely. It hooked me.

Most of the characters in the book are sweet and lovable. Emmie Blue had a difficult childhood, but her friendship with Lucas Moreau has carried her through her toughest times. Now, Lucas is getting married, and Emmie is conficted because she thinks she is in love with him. Through the course of the story, we see Emmie come to terms with several aspects of her life. She learns what love really is, and it isn't what she expected. I particularly enjoyed reading about her growing friendship with Eliot, Lucas' brother. Eliot is a great character because he is compassionate and genuine. He might just be my new book character crush! There are several other side characters in this book that add depth and enjoyment to the plot, especially Emmie's landlord Louise.

The plot has some moments that are frustrating because characters are completely misunderstanding each other. I get a bit tired of female characters getting so caught up in their own insecurities that they misread the motives of the men in their lives. However, that minor annoyance does not detract from the overall enjoyment of this book.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thoroughly enjoyed my time inside this story line. Emmie Blue is a character that is endearing and memorable.