1. Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane - This was a really quick read and it kept me turning pages to know how it would all unfold. I'm glad I was able to get this as an early release from Book of the Month. Lila was a character with flaws but I still liked her and felt for her situation.
2. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens - This was a cute, feel-good romance. It was light and fun, with emotion as well. I liked both main characters, Minnie and Quinn, and rooted for them to be together. The premise of them being born on the same day at the same hospital was intriguing. They both had complicated family relationships that developed throughout the book. I liked Minnie's friends, such as Leila, and the rest of her bakery crew.
3. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman - This was a fun, atmospheric read in Italy, with some family secrets in the forefront. While there were some romantic aspects to the story, this was more of a book about Emilia "finding herself." Poppy was a wonderful character, with an interesting back story. She was a kind and caring person. I also liked the character that Lucy developed into as the book progressed.
4. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson - I started this book in September and read it gradually over a couple of months. I found it to be an interesting book, but as it was a meaty nonfiction packed with history and information, it took time to read it. Wilkerson had a very readable writing style that flowed well and kept the story interesting without feeling bogged down in details, while still providing many enlightening details. She interweaved both personal stories and historical stories into the narrative. Her history ranged from recent history that I remember from the news to much less recent history that I hadn't heard of. Her thesis is interesting, and I don't agree with all parts of it and everything in the book, but I think it is a worthwhile read.
5. Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy - This was a quick thriller with engaging twists and interesting characters. I flew through this book in a couple of days. It definitely had a surprising and a bit misleading turn that it took after Part 1.
