Reading is one of the few things helping me get me through social isolation. I haven’t shared my recent reads in a while, so I have a lot of new reviews for you! There are some great books on this list, and I hope they bring you some peace at this crazy time. For more book love, follow me on Goodreads!
Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly: If you read Lilac Girls (which I reviewed here), you’ll like this one too. This is a prequel, which takes place during WWI, and follows Eliza Ferriday (mother of Lilac Girls’ main character, Caroline). There are two other primary characters, Sofya Streshnayva, a good friend of Eliza’s and cousin of the Romanov’s, and Varinka, who works for Sofya’s family. It’s a tumultuous time for all of them, but they’re all willing to do what is necessary to survive. Rating: 4/5
The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams: Lulu is a journalist who arrives in the Bahamas in 1941 to investigate the Governor and his wife for a New York society magazine. She becomes part of their social circle, but everything gets more complicated when Nassau’s wealthiest man is murdered in one of the most notorious cases of the century. I liked this one, but it wasn’t my favorite of her books. Rating: 4/5
Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel: Kate Pearson’s life kind of sucks, but after a bad break-up and a job interview that she thought she bombed, she somehow ends up working in admissions at a private school. She’s introduced to a new world of wealth and privilege, which gives her some perspective on her life. A light, quick read. Rating: 3/5
The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren: I love the way their books tackle complicated relationships & awkward life moments in a lighthearted way, that’s smart and clever too. This book follows a longtime relationship going through a rough patch (to say the least), and a new relationship just starting to blossom. This was another cute rom-com from my favorite writing duo! Thanks to Gallery Books for giving me a chance to read this one before it came out! Rating: 4/5
I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan: Main character Penelope is forced to reevaluate her life and relationships after a tragic loss, and she realizes that everyone is fighting their own battles and there is more to most people than meets the eye. This book, although fictional, was a good reminder not to judge people too quickly and assume that their life is perfect based on what they share on the internet. It wasn’t the most engaging story, but definitely an honest look at the depth of our relationships and the power of perception. Rating: 4/5
You Me Everything by Catherine Issac: How do you make the most of your life when you know there’s a good chance you’ll get the same debilitating disease that has taken control of your mother’s body? It’s a challenge that the main character Jess is facing as she also confronts the reality of her past. There were parts of this book that I liked, but it was sad, and I felt like some of the storyline wasn’t really necessary. It was interesting to see how different relationships formed and evolved over the course of the story. Rating: 4/5
Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman: This book was fairly well written, but troubling. It’s about a group of college friends and their complicated relationships with one another. The main character Malin is always trying to appear “normal.” It’s clear that certain events in her childhood messed with her, but although they’re alluded to throughout, we don’t find out the details until much later. Honestly, the whole story creeped me out. Rating: 3/5
The Song of Jade Lily by Kirsty Manning: Surprisingly, I didn’t know much about the Jewish refugees in Shanghai during WWII. I’ve learned and read so much about what went on in Europe, so it was really interesting to get this perspective. The descriptions of scenes are so vivid and detailed that you feel like you’re seeing them unfold in front of your eyes. All of the characters went through significant hardship, and although their stories are fiction, they are based on history. Also, I thought I had figured out a particular twist, but there ended up being another layer to it. Definitely worth a read! Rating: 5/5
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover: Morgan and her teenage daughter Clara don’t have the smoothest relationship. But, something happens that turns their world upside down and makes them reconsider everything they ever knew. Mother and daughter get caught up in a web of secrets and resentment, wondering if they will ever find their way back to each other. I really enjoyed this one. It was heavy, but relatable, just like her other book, It Ends With Us. Rating: 5/5
One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus: A cleverly written twisted story about a group of high schoolers who get caught up in a bad situation. Some of it was a little fluffy, but I liked all of the interpersonal stuff alongside the mystery. The perfect mindless read for a little escape. I’m currently reading the sequel and it’s just as enjoyable! Rating: 4/5
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout: I forgot from the first book (Olive Kitteridge) that what makes Olive such a compelling character is that she is unabashedly her weird, quirky self. This book tells the stories of people somehow connected to Olive and/or her hometown in Maine. While I liked parts of them, it was a little too much awkwardness for my empathic heart. Rating: 3.5/5
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb: Really enjoyed this honest look at mental health. Lori shares insight from her work as a therapist, but also what she learned as a patient going through therapy itself. There were so many things that resonated with me, and I found myself highlighting passage after passage. Highly recommend this one, whether you’ve been to therapy or not. Rating: 5/5
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett: Maeve and Danny have an unhealthy attachment to their childhood house that they hold onto for decades. They continue to visit it and simultaneously revisit the issues they associate with it, which impacts the course of their lives and their relationships. Honestly, it was sad, and they could have used some counseling. Rating: 3.5/5
