October Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (Contemporary Fiction) - This was an interesting story about a complicated friendship between Riley and Jen.  The book deals with multiple contemporary issues, and I would say that it dealt with them sensitively.  I think it really tackles well the complexities behind a close interracial friendship, and how miscommunications can arise in that relationship, since each person is coming from a different background and perspective.  The story was emotional, compelling, and readable.  I read the majority during a long car ride.  I think some of the most poignant part of points were scenes with Tamara, a mother who had lost her son.  Seeing her grief on the page really rounded out the story.

2. Shoutin' in the Fire by Dante Stewart (Memoir) - Stewart is a great writer, and this is a powerful memoir.  The book is a mix of personal stories about his life, and him sharing a message.  This story focuses on faith, race, and being American.  The author has a lot to say about these topics.  He is very raw and honest in his writing.  He confronts things he did or said in the past that he no longer agrees with.  Stewart's story is complex.

3. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (Literary Fiction) - This is a masterful work of literature, topping out at almost 800 pages, that deserves to be read widely.  I spent several weeks with this book, giving it its due time, and not rushing through it.  This story covers a wide scope of history, and takes the time to deeply delve fully into every character.  I would say I was most invested in the present day storyline of Ailey, and really enjoyed the detours in her mom and her sister's lives as well.  Some of the historical sections had me fully invested and some of them would drag occasionally.  But I think they were all worthy of being in the book.  Overall, I loved this story, and I think it deserved to make it onto the National Book Award shortlist this year, though it did not.

4. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca (Romance) - This was another enjoyable read in the Renaissance Faire romance series.  Mitch and April have great chemistry, and I enjoyed the fake dating trope in the story as well.  Like many romances, there were some miscommunications, but I enjoyed the journey.  I also really liked reading April's relationships with her sister, Emily (from Well Met), and her daughter, Caitlin, as she sends her off to college.

5. Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper (Fantasy) - This was a fun, Halloween-themed read, perfect for this time of the year.  The story was mostly light and fun, with some serious parts relating to commitment to relationships and finding what you want in life.  The book centers around a magical competition.  I've seen comparisons to the tournament from the Goblet of Fire and I would say that those comparisons fit.  I enjoyed the relationships and the small-town cast of characters.

September Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. Dear Child by Romy Hausmann (tr. by Jamie Bulloch) (Mystery) - This was a slow-burn mystery and character study, translated from its original German.  I found it to be an interesting book, and a sad story.  This dealt with the aftermath of trauma and different interpretations by different characters.  I'm curious about how life would turn out for Jonathan and Hannah (two children) after the events of this novel.  

2. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (Romance) - This was a cute story that plays with romance tropes, including fake dating.  The ending is obvious from the beginning, but the journey is the important part.  I enjoyed how kind Adam was to Olive, while having a reputation for being a tough professor.  I like that this book also showed important issues in the STEM field and academia.  I am a high school science teacher, so I enjoyed reading the science and lab references in the book.  This book also dealt realistically with some of Olive's fears and anxieties in academia, including being able to public-speak about her research.

3. The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a thoroughly enjoyable read!  I loved getting to see Hannah explore her Nigerian culture and get to know her half-siblings.  While there was a strong romance in the book, I think the book was also a lot about family and Hannah's personal growth.  I liked the love interest, Lawrence, but I do think the book confessed to potentially falling in love too quickly given the timeline of the story.  The story dealt realistically with the family issues.  I also liked that this book explored a side of Africa that I don't see as much in stories. 

4. The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura (tr. by Lucy North) (Contemporary Fiction) - While this is advertised as a thriller, I saw it as more of a contemporary with suspenseful elements.  As the narrator follows the "woman in the purple skirt," the reader will wonder what is going on with her and why she is doing this.  It was a quiet story, but a quick read with some suspense as to what would eventually happen that kept me turning the pages.  The ending was surprising and took an unexpected turn.

5. Hao by Ye Chun (Short Story Collection) - This was a really great collection of stories.  Most of these were pretty short, in the 10-15 page range.  This collection has some stories about people in China and some about immigrants to the United States.  Some stories are contemporary, while some are historical.  Many of the stories touched on themes of motherhood, told from the perspective of the mothers.  I liked how I learned some things I didn't know about the history of China from this collection.  I was drawn to Google some history after reading a story about the Cultural Revolution.  A well-written collection!

6. Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang (Memoir) - This was a moving memoir about a childhood as an immigrant from China living in poverty in New York.  I am sad for what Qian went through as a young girl, but am happy that she is in a good place now.  Her love for her family shines through in the pages of this book.

7. Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha (Contemporary Fiction) - I wasn't really sure what genre to categorize this as, because there is a mystery in the book, but it is really more about the characters and relationships.  I guessed the answer to the mystery portion before it was revealed in the book.  This story is based around a true story from the 1990s.  This explores race relations between Black and Korean Americans in LA.  This book follows two families, whose lives intersect through multiple tragedies.  There are no easy answers in this novel.  I felt that it was an excellent and compelling read, exploring moral complexity.

8.  How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa (Short Story Collection) - I gradually read these stories throughout the summer and just finished the last few this month.  This collection focused on immigrants to Canada from Laos.  I have never read any book by a Laotian author before, so I think this was a worthwhile perspective to read.  The stories are a mix of narration by adults and children.  Many of them are adults reflecting back on their childhood from the child's perspective.

9. Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn (Contemporary Fiction) - This started as a slow-burn of a novel, and gradually, I became fully invested in the characters.  Once invested, I could not put this story down.  The characters are complex and imperfect, especially Margot.  She was a complicated character, because she cares about her sister, Thandi, yet she doesn't always want what Thandi wants for herself.  She does some questionable things morally.  I enjoyed the exploration of the Jamaican culture in the story.

August Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (Romance) - I have read all three books in this companion series, and I think this one was my favorite.  I think this was in part because this book was very personal to the author, so the emotions rang true.  I loved Quan as a romantic male lead, and how he connected with Anna so quickly and showed her how she could be loved.  I also loved the exploration of Anna coming to terms with her autism diagnosis, and how this allowed her to understand herself more than ever before.  Parts of this book were a difficult read, as it confronted head-on what it is like to be a caretaker.  I think that storyline is important, and not something I've read often, so it was good to read it here.  I was sad a bit about the resolution of Anna's relationship with her sister, Priscilla.  I highly recommend this book!

2. The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a good book, alternating between the perspectives of Anvar and Azza.  I would say that this story focuses more on Anvar overall, though.  I liked Anvar.  He struggled with the expectations from his family and had a good sense of humor.  I liked the book's focus on characters who I haven't read as much about (immigrants from Pakistan and Iraq).  The story went in some directions that I was not expecting and was compelling.

3. House of Sticks by Ly Tran (Memoir) - I am glad that Ly Tran wrote this story of her struggles and resilience.  This story spans from her immigration from Vietnam at age 3 in 1993 through her college years.  She writes very lovingly about the people in her life, even when the relationships were complicated.  She struggled from 3rd grade on with poor vision and a need for glasses, but her father believed glasses were a government conspiracy.  Ly is angry that her parents won't get her the glasses that she needs, but she also understands that her father had been through a lot in "re-education camps" after the Vietnam War ended, and this has affected the same he saw things in the world.  Throughout her childhood, Ly's family faces poverty.  They eventually become owners of a nail salon, though they never thrive there financially.  There are some scenes in the book depicting terrible treatment by customers at the salon, especially directed at Ly's mom.  The book also shows Ly's struggles with depression in college which were not easy to read, but I'm glad she has gotten to a good place and been able to be successful now.

4. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo (tr. by Jamie Chang) (Contemporary Fiction) - This was translated from Korean, and was a perfect read for Women in Translation month.  The story read quickly, as it was only about 150 pages.  The book traced Jiyoung's life from birth through the early childhood of her own child.  The story focuses on instances of sexism through her life, from the treatment of boys at school to her experience getting a job and then her experiences with marriage.  The story doesn't delve as deeply into her emotions, but the book has a logical reason for this.  This was a worthwhile read.  While it is set in Korea, the story feels applicable to many countries other than that as well, though the author cites specific statistics from her country.

5. The Hunting Wives by May Cobb (Thriller) - This was a quick and easy read, but not one that I would revisit.  The characters are all unlikeable and I didn't really care about or feel connected to any of them.  This is definitely a book to read if you don't mind watching characters make many terrible decisions.  There were many times when I wanted to be able to tell Sophie to stop before she got inot the new group too deeply.  I felt bad for her husband, Graham, who seemed like a nice guy.  This book is advertised as a thriller, but the thriller aspect doesn't really start until page 200.  The story really picks up at that point, and I was more invested in finding about what happened to one of the characters.

6. If They Come For Us by Fatimah Asghar (Poetry Collection) - These were interesting poems that I would definitely consider rereading.  There were some cultural aspects to them that I didn't fully understand on the first read, so revisiting some of the poems at a later date would help deepen the experience of reading them.

7. Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta (Short Story Collection) - While called a short story collection, this read more like a novel that was told over the years.  All the stories focused on Kara, a Canadian of Jamaican heritage, and spanned the time from elementary school into college.  This was a strong collection that gave insight into Kara's culture, and how that affected her relationships with family and friends.  This story delves into Kara's mother and grandparents, and the complicated relationships with each of them.  I also liked how the dialect of the grandmother was included in the writing of this book.

8. Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine (Short Story Collection) - I actually read most of this collection back in March, but I didn't read the final two stories until this month.  I'm not sure why I waited so long to finish it, as this was a strong collection, focusing on indigenous Latina characters in the southwest.  The setting was central to the story and felt vivid.  A lot of the stories had some dark undertones.  I could see myself revisiting some of the stories in the future.

9. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi (Literary Fiction) - This was a wonderful and captivating novel! I liked it even more than I expected to, especially since it is much more of a quiet and introspective novel.  This novel is a deep dive into Gifty's mind and life, with flashbacks to her past.  I have seen some readers say that it read like a memoir, and that description makes sense to me.  This book is about many things, from science to faith to addiction.  It tackles all of the topics in the story with sensitivity and compassion for the characters.  I have a copy of Gyasi's first novel, Homegoing, so I definitely need to move that up on my list to read soon.

10. Colorful by Eto Mori (tr. by Jocelyne Allen) (Contemporary Fiction) - I wasn't sure at first how this could end in a happy way.  I won't mention the ending, because it is better to experience it, but I will say that I was satisfied with the ending.  This story delves into mental health for teenagers.  While it was originally published in Japanese in the late 1990s, I think it is just as relevant in the United States today.

11. The Ones Who Don't Say They Love You by Maurice Carlos Ruffin (Short Story Collection) - It only took me a couple days to read this collection of stories.  Many of them were very short (only 1-2 pages), while others were a bit longer.  These painted an atmospheric picture of the people in New Orleans.  Some of the stories included COVID, though none mentioned it by name.  This was a great collection, that I enjoyed reading!  I definitely want to check out Ruffin's novel, We Cast a Shadow, soon.

12. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (tr. by Philip Gabriel) (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a sweet story about a man named Satoru who takes his cat, Nana, on a trip to look for someone to care for said cat, as he will no longer be able to.  We don't find out why he won't be able to until close to the end of the book, but the reason is fairly predictable.  The story traces his friendship with each person that Satoru stops to visit.  This was a quiet story, with some sadness, and a good read.  I think this book is especially good for anyone who has loved a cat.

July Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. Survive the Night by Riley Sager (Thriller) - This book was interesting, a quick read, and held my attention throughout, but it is not my favorite Sager novel (my favorite is still either Lock Every Door or The Last Time I Lied).  My main issue with this one is how Charlie (our main character) made a lot of questionable choices.  I definitely would not get in a car with someone I didn't know if there was a serial killer on my campus.  That being said, it was twisty and the second half was especially action-packed, giving it a similar feel to No Exit by Taylor Adams.  There were some unexpected twists throughout, including the last chapter.  If you're a Sager fan, I would say it's definitely worth checking out his latest, even if it isn't my favorite of his work.

2. Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson (Historical Fiction) - I haven't read much WWII historical fiction, though I know there are a lot of books featuring this time period.  I think this book is a worthy addition to the genre, as it talks about a specific group of Black female soldiers that I did not know anything about (6888th battalion - in charge of mail sorting and delivery).  I liked the two central characters, Eliza and Grace.  They were both strong characters and great military officers.  They both cared a lot about their jobs there and were hard-workers.  I enjoyed seeing their complex relationship with each other from when they first met in New York, which started very rocky but over time developed into a mutual respect and even friendship.

3. That Weekend by Kara Thomas (YA Thriller) - This is a fast read, with a lot of twists and turns.  I was surprised by how everything played out.  I liked the main character, Claire, and felt bad for her.  I can't imagine being in her situation, and waking up with no memory of how you ended up injured and what happened to the friends she was camping with.  A lot of the other characters in the book were not good people.  Overall, this was a good thriller.  It alternates between the present and past, gradually unveiling what happened to Claire.  I always have liked all the books by this author that I have read.

4. The People We Keep by Allison Larkin (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a story about April, spanning her life from ages 16-19 in the mid-90s.  She was a character who needed to learn how to let people into her life to stay, and I felt for her.  She was left by both parents, and lived a nomadic life during her teenage years.  When she met people who cared about her, it was hard for her to believe that they would be there to stay.  I loved seeing the development of her finding the people that she could keep (as the title says).

5. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (tr. by Neil Smith) (Contemporary Fiction) - I really liked this follow-up to Backman's novel, Beartown.  A lot of tough topics were touched upon in Beartown and that continued in this book.  The story focuses a lot on Benji and his character arc, and I enjoyed that a lot.  My heart sometimes broke for what he was going through.

6. How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith (History) - This is a phenomenal and well-researched history book.  I loved how Smith visited different tours at "living history" locations, as someone who has taken several trips to these type of locations.  I found the information in the book to be very informative and enlightening.  I read most of this in June, but took my time not to rush through the book too quickly to make sure that I could really absorb the content.  Definitely a worthwhile read!

7. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford (Memoir) - I was more invested in some parts of this memoir than others, but it was a powerful story overall.  Ford went through a lot at a young age, and had a complex relationship with her family, especially her mother.  Her father was in prison throughout her childhood and college years, and she had to wrestle with what that meant to her.  She had complicated feelings on him, as she loved him, yet he had done something terrible.  In this book, she finds herself and grows as a young adult.

8. The Guncle by Steven Rowley (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a sweet story focusing on Patrick, who is a former TV star, and his relationship with his niece and nephew.  Patrick doesn't really have a clue of how to raise or talk to children, so it was enjoyable throughout the book to see him realize how much he does love his niece (Maisie) and nephew (Grant).  This book is set in a hot location in California, and is a great summer read, with descriptions of days at the pool.  The story does have some heavier moments as Patrick and the kids are both dealing with grief from the loss of their mother, who was good friends with Patrick.  A sweet story!

9. A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Petrantonio (tr. by Ann Goldstein) (Contemporary Fiction) - This was my first recent Italian read, though I read the English translation.  This was a somewhat melancholy, quiet story that focused on the characters and their life in the Italian countryside.  The narrator is unnamed, and the story starts when she is "returned" from her adopted family to her biological parents at the age of 13.  This of course leads to many feelings for her of where she really belongs and if anyone wants her.  She develops a close relationship with her younger sister, Adriana, which was nice to see.

10. Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu (Memoir) - I found this to be one of my new favorite memoirs.  This was well structured, shifting seamlessly between the present and the past.  I enjoyed the structure of seeing moments in her life as aftershocks of the earthquake.  Nadia struggles with her sense of her identity and home, due to moving around regularly and losing both parents at a young age (her mother to divorce and her father dying when she was 12).  The memoir feels very genuine and honest, and Nadia is vulnerable and shows the reader her struggles with her mental health.

11. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano (Thriller) - This was a story about a mom going through a divorce with her cheating ex-husband who is struggling to write her next mystery novel.  She is mistaken for a killer by a woman who overhears a conversation about her book with her agent.  This was a fun ride, though not necessarily particularly realistic.  I tore through it quickly to figure out what would happen to Finlay, and if she would make it out of the messes that she inadvertently ended up entangled in.  I am interested in checking out the next Finlay book to see what situations she gets herself into next.

12. Counting Descent by Clint Smith (Poetry Collection) - I have not really read any poetry in a long time (probably since high school English).  I picked this book up after reading Smith's How the Word is Passed.  I enjoyed the poems in this collection.  They covered a handful of important current topics.  I am interested in checking out some more recent poetry collections.  I don't know if I fully "got"/understood all the poems, but I enjoyed the overall experience of reading these. 

13. Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was a fun and quick read.  It was overall a light YA story about relationships, though a bit angsty and drama-filled at times.  We got to know some characters better than others in the story, but overall, there were no characters that I found unlikeable in the book.  I especially enjoyed Larissa's perspective, as she figured out what she wanted for her future.  I think this is a worthwhile addition to Adler's books.  

14. Parachutes by Kelly Yang (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was an awesome YA novel! While it was almost 500 pages, the chapters were short and the pages went quickly.  The chapters alternated between Dani and Claire.  Dani was a scholarship student at a prep school, and Claire was an exchange student from China that her family was hosting.  The story deals with some serious issues, regarding sexual harassment and assault.  I really liked both Dani and Claire, and enjoyed seeing their journeys through the book.

15. Stolen by Elizabeth Gilpin (Memoir) - This was a phenomenal book, and one of the best memoirs that I have read so far, but I am sad for Elizabeth that this book exists.  No one deserves to go through what she experienced in the book.  As shown in the book, Carlbrook seems to have been a terrible place, and not helpful to a struggling teenager, and I am very glad that it finally shut down in 2015.  It is sad that so many people have had their lives affected by this place, many of them not surviving long after graduating.  I think Elizabeth's experiences at Carlbrook led to more of her issues after leaving.  The time in the woods before Carlbrook was awful as well.  There are so many adults who were complicit in perpetuating these harmful programs, from the counselors in the woods to almost every staff member at the boarding school.  Hopefully this book sheds light so that if any programs like these remain, they can be shut down, and also so that parents can truly be informed and not choose to send their children to these places.  As an educator, there is no place in education ever to tell a student that they are worthless or to make their peers express these sentiments to them.  This is cruel and unacceptable.  I loved the book and appreciate Elizabeth's bravery in sharing her story, as saddening as it is.  I think everyone should read this book!

16. Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli (YA Contemporary Fiction) - I have been enjoying the contemporary YA that I've been reading this month, and this book was no exception!  I loved the romance that Kate ends up in.  It was someone I hadn't initially expected, but I really enjoyed their interactions.  This was also a very theater-y book, which I liked, as someone who enjoys going to musiclas and used to be in the musical in high school.  This was a fun, sweet read.

17. Humiliation by Paulina Flores (tr. by Megan McDowell) (Short Story Collection) - Overall, this was not my favorite short story collection that I have read.  I liked some stories, and some not as much.  This collection took place in Chile, and many of the stories were told from a child's perspective and dealt with poverty.  I am currently working on a reading challenge to read 2 books set in each continent, so I read this one as one of my books for South America.

18. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (Memoir) - Madden is a phenomenal writer, and this was a lovely, well-written memoir.  She weaves her story together masterfully, dipping in and out of various timelines.  This book feels very honest about her struggles with her family, while also showing how much she loves both parents, despite their mistakes.  Part of this story is Madden finding herself as a teenager.  Her journey is at parts sad, but at other parts heartwarming.  I loved the part of the story with Marjorie.  

19. She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was a quick and mostly light read that I really enjoyed.  It involved fake dating and a good amount of drama.  I liked the characters and their relationships.  The author did a good job at putting in the right emotion at the right moments.  This was a great mix of friendship, romance, and family relationship.  I really liked Scottie's parents and sisters, and how much they cared.

Rereads:

1. Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein (Romance) - I reread this book due to the Olympics starting, and enjoyed reading it again!

June Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (Romance) - I devoured this sweet romance in under 24 hours.  I loved both Jess and River.  I liked the inclusion of Jess' daughter, Juno, and how important she is to her.  I enjoyed the DNA match aspect of the story.  Jess and River had a lot of chemistry (or biology) from early on in the book.  This was a light and quick read, with some good emotional parts as well.

2. Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen (Literary Fiction) - Overall, this was a good read.  It took a while for me to be fully invested in the characters.  Around Part 3, I became more invested and read the last few parts of the book much quicker than the beginning.  I think this book offers a good perspective on the life of immigrants coming from Vietnam after the war there.  I enjoyed the perspectives of Huong, Tuan, and Ben.  This book jumps around in timeline so we get to experience the story of these characters over many years.

3. Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian (Fantasy) - I am not super familiar with the details of Arthurian mythology, other than a few of the main characters and the sword in the stone story.  I had not actually heard of Elaine, our main character here.  This was an enjoyable read, and once I reached the last 100-ish pages, I couldn't put it down because I had to know how the story would end.  This story weaves together the present day, prophecies of the future, and flashbacks to the past.  The format was always very clear on what timeline we were reading.  I liked the complex friendships and love shown between Elaine, Morgana, Gwen, Lancelot, and Arthur.

4. Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie (Contemporary Fiction) - I think the best way to describe this story would be heart-warming.  Skye is a character that can be described as a mess.  She has complicated relationships with her family and friends, and doesn't like to let herself get too close to people, because she's afraid of getting hurt.  I enjoyed reading about her getting to know, Vicky, the result of her egg donation, and Vicky's aunt, Faye.  This story overall was more about character development than plot, and I liked it that way.  Skye grew significantly from the beginning of the book, which was good to see.  

5. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Contemporary Fiction) - I enjoyed most of this book, especially the relationships and dynamics between Nella, Hazel, and others at the publishing house.  The only thing I did not like about the story was the ending, because it felt way too far-fetched for my taste.  I would have preferred the book stay more focused on the interrelationships at the office.  Overall, though, this was a great story, page-turning, and hit on a lot of interesting topics.  This felt like a very realistic dive into the challenges of the publishing industry.

6. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Fiction) - This was a good, quick read.  I found it very gripping, and enjoyed the format of the 24-hour story, with backstory interspersed throughout.  I liked all four of the Riva kids, especially Nina, who had been through a lot for someone her age.  The story of their mother, June, and Mick was sad.  Mick was not a very sympathetic character.  I think this story was so compelling for me because I cared about the characters and had to know how everything would turn out for them.

7. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (tr. by Ginny Tapley Takemori) (Contemporary Fiction) - I have recently made it a reading goal of mine to read more books that were translated to English, and this is the first Japanese novel that I have read.  This was a short, quick read.  It was basically a character study of Keiko, a character who didn't fit in with the "norms" of society.  I felt for her and did not like some of what her so-called "friends" said.  I think the story had an interesting message and was a worthwhile read.

8. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (Contemporary Fiction) - When I was about 4 chapters into this book, I wasn't super comfortable with it, and put it down a bit while reading some other books.  I picked it back up on a whim and continued where I had left off and flew through the rest in under 24 hours.  I'm glad I came back to this story.  Queenie is a mess at the beginning of the story, and I enjoyed seeing her path to recovery.  I liked the strong support system that she found in her friends and family.

9. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (Romance) - I enjoyed the relationship between Eva and Shane in this book and felt the emotions in the story were well done.  I liked reading about Eva's relationship with her daughter, Audre, as well.  This book dealt with some serious topics, including Eva's chronic pain from her migraines.  

10. Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher (Romance) - This is not as light of a romantic comedy as it appears to be on the cover, but I was prepared for this from reading reviews.  Much of this was a good sister story.  A good portion of the story was sad as well.  I won't give the details of why, but there was definitely a heartbreaking portion of the novel.  I liked overly responsible Marin and her risk-taking younger sister, Sadie.  I loved reading how much the two sisters cared about each other.  I also enjoyed reading about Lucas Tsai, who could shows Marin around the island of Saba, and could potentially be her match.

11. God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (Literary Fiction) - I devoured most of this book in a span of a few hours.  I enjoyed getting to know Abigail and Caroline.  Their relationship as sisters read as complex and well-drawn.  I felt sad for them as they dealt with the repercussions of their father's affair.  This story is about family, love, faith, and consequences.  I do not know how I feel about the ending.  It was a complicated one, and a bit of an open ending.  I would have liked some more pages after it to continue the story.

12. The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer (Thriller) - This was a very twisty and surprising book.  There were multiple things that happened near the end that I did not expect at all, up through the last chapter.  The chapters were short, which kept me hooked and turning pages quickly to know how everything would resolve.  The characters in here were complicated.  The book deals a bit with what the right thing is morally in certain situations.

13. Shoko's Smile by Choi Eunyoung (tr. by Sung Ryu) (Short Story Collection) - This was a lovely short story collection, translated from the original Korean.  These stories were mostly about relationships that had been fragmented.  Some of them had more open endings, and I would have loved to see some of them expanded into longer stories or novellas.  My favorites were the longest two stories, "Shoko's Smile" and "Hanji and Youngju."  The characters in these stories felt developed and complex.

I also have a couple of books that I started in June that are almost finished but not quite, so those books should make it into my July wrap-up.

May Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (Thriller) - This was a good thriller, but the best part of the story was the developing relationship between Hannah and Bailey, stepmother and stepdaughter who didn't want a relationship with the stepmother.  As they searched for their husband/father, it was powerful to watch them get closer and watch Bailey gradually open up and trust Hannah more.  There were twists in this story, but I love when stories have strong characters more than when they are twisty and this one had great characters.

2. Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (Literary Fiction) - This was a literary story with a mystery at its core.  The book was essentially a novel-in-stories, where each chapter focused on a new character but were interconnected.  Characters reappeared between stories but many of the connections from chapter-to-chapter were looser.  This story focuses on characters in the Kamchatka Russian peninsula, which is not a setting I had read about before.  They were a mix of Russian characters and indigenous Natives to the peninsula.  I found this to be an interesting and unique read.  As with any book with many characters, I was more invested in some than others.

3. Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was a powerful story about two sisters, Jayne and June.  They had a very complex relationship and I enjoyed reading about the developments in their relationship.  While this is officially marketed as Young Adult, a lot of the situations read as more adult, as June was no longer in college and Jayne was college-aged, but the book didn't focus much on college at all.  Both sisters are dealing with difficult things.  Jayne struggles with body image and eating disorders, while June struggles with uterine cancer.  They are both dealing with a lot and I liked how they were gradually able to lean on each other more and more over the course of the story.  I like when books make me feel a range of emotions, and this book did that well.

4. Shipped by Angie Hockman (Romance) - This was a fun, light, and cute read.  I enjoyed the tropical settings, and as a biology teacher, I enjoyed the mentions of Darwin and the Galapagos.  The hate-to-love romance and banter were cute.  Henley and Graeme had a lot of chemistry early on, and I liked watching them figure out their relationship.  I also liked reading about Henley's relationship with her younger sister, Walsh, who was struggling figuring out some things on her own.  This would be a great summer read!

5. How Lucky by Will Leitch (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a sweet, quick read! I thought it had a very strong voice from the beginning, and enjoyed getting to be in Daniel's head.  This book offered a perspective that I hadn't read before - that of a man with spinal muscular atrophy.  It was interesting to read his positive outlook on his life, despite his condition and that he likely would have a shorter life than average.  There was a mystery aspect to the story as well, as Daniel may have been the only witness to a kidnapping.  I enjoyed getting to see how this mystery played out, and was not sure of the results.  

6. Impostor Syndrome by Kathy Wang (Thriller) - This was an interesting novel that was mostly a quick read.  There were some parts where I wished the perspective had stayed more focused on Alice and Julia, rather than jumping around to some other characters.  I can see why some of the side perspectives needed to be included though.  I think this book was better in the beginning/middle, when it was more character-driven, and I wasn't as interested in the end, probably because spy stories are less my thing.  Overall, it was still a good read.

7. Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur (Romance) - This was a thoroughly cute story.  I loved Annie and Brendon together.  At times, the romance moved a bit too fast, but that is understandable in a romance book.  I also enjoyed the focus on Annie's friendships in Seattle as well.  I liked getting to revisit Darcy, Elle, and Margot.  I look forward to getting to read Margot's story next year!

Rereads:

1. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers (Contemporary Fiction) - I enjoyed this book just as much the 2nd time!

April Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. Under the Rainbow by Celia Laskey (Literary Fiction) - I read most of this in March, but finished it up at the beginning of April.  This was a quick read that can best be described as a novel told in stories.  Each chapter was a new character, some that we had heard of previously, some that were new.  This helped really develop the small-town vibe of the novel, and get us into the head of a kaleidoscope of characters that live there.  There were a few shocking moments in the story.  Some of the characters were likable, and some were not, but they all felt real, with realistic flaws.

2. Kept Animals by Kate Milliken (Literary Fiction) - This was a good, slow-burn story (no pun intended, as the story involved a forest fire).  It had a literary feel and strong character development.  I really liked Rory and Vivian and their stories and felt for them.  This had a coming-of-age feel, with most of the characters in their upper teen years.  I also liked the aspects of Rory's daughter learning about the past in the present timeline.  This was not a major part of the story, as most of it was in the past timeline, but I liked both sections.

3. What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins (Contemporary Fiction) - I loved this book! This was a super quick read for me despite being over 400 pages.  The biggest compliment I can say about a book is that I am so invested in it that I want there to be more pages, and that was absolutely true for this book.  At the end, I didn't want to say goodbye to Isaac and Evangeline.  There is a minor mystery at the center of the book, but we learn what happened pretty early on and it is not the focus of the story.  The focus is very character-driven, and I felt connection to the people in the story quickly.  I loved the emotions and love showcased between characters, even in unexpected relationships.  Isaac becoming like a father to Evangeline was one of the most heartfelt parts of the story.  I felt a lot for Evangeline and her being left by her mother and pregnant at 16.  This is definitely one of the best books that I have read so far this year, and this story and characters will stay with me.  I am sure I will revisit this one sometime in the future.

4. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Mystery) - A cozy mystery isn't a genre I've read much of.  I have read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, but usually darker.  I enjoyed this light-hearted read with a strong focus on family and friendship.  I would definitely like to check out the next book and read more about Lila and crew.  There were some surprises in the end, and I didn't figure out who the culprit would be and how everything would play out.  I also enjoyed getting to read about Lila's Filipino culture and all of the food at the various restaurants.

5. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (Romance) - This was a great romance! I loved Alex and Poppy as individuals, and also as friends and a couple.  I enjoyed how on paper they were opposites that didn't necessarily make sense together, but they actually made a lot of sense in reality.  I did like that this book was only told from Poppy's perspective, because that increased the tension by not knowing what Alex was thinking.  I enjoyed the vacations and various locations traveled to in the book.  We got to see vacations from the past as well as their current trip.  While I really enjoyed Beach Read last year, I think I liked this one even better than that.

6. When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (Mystery) - I really liked this book! Anna Hart was a strong character with some tragedy in her background.  I was impressed by how McLain made me care a lot about Cameron (the missing girl) without having actually ever met her on page.  I felt invested in her safety and had to read the book quickly to see if she ended up being okay.  I liked Cameron's mom, Emily, a former famous actress who cared a lot about her daughter.

7. Caul Baby by Morgan Jerkins (Literary Fiction) - This is such an interesting novel.  The themes included a strong feature on motherhood.  It took a bit for me to be fully invested in the book.  I got fully invested when Hallow and Amara's storylines began to collide in the present day.  For a while, the reader knows their relationship without them knowing it and we are waiting for the moment that the discovery will be made.  I felt for Hallow's relationship with the Melancons (her adoptive family) and the Melancon complicated relationships with each other.  Definitely a good, worthwhile read!

8. The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (YA Thriller) - Overall, I liked this book, though there were a few times where it was slower and I felt it was a bit long for the story.  I enjoyed learning about the Native American culture of Daunis' tribe.  I did not understand the words in their language, but that was not necessary to understand the story.  I thought there were some aspects that were especially well-explored.  I was sad about the murder that occurred early on in the story, and wish that I could have gotten to know that character more.

March Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction) - Despite being 450 pages, this was a quick read.  I read The Grapes of Wrath in high school, but I found myself more invested in this story about the same period in history.  It was so sad to see what people from this time period went through.  So many people lost everything in the Dust Bowl and struggled to find a living wage and feed their families.  Many went west to California, and there were so many parts in this book that angered me to see how those in California treated the people that they called "Okies."  They looked down on them for being poor and struggling.  I loved Elsa and her complex relationship with her daughter Loreda.  The story was powerful and moving, and the end was heartbreaking.  So far, this is my second favorite Kristin Hannah book, with Firefly Lane edging it out for first place, since I generally prefer contemporary to historical.

2. In a Book Club Far Away by Tif Marcelo (Contemporary Fiction) - This book was a sweet, fast read about friendship and family.  I enjoyed the story of the friendship (as complicated as it was) between these three military wives.  They definitely had their share of drama, and I think blame was definitely misplaced in the misunderstanding that had ruined the friendship between Sophie and Regina.  I think a lot of the problems could have been resolved with better communication, but I still enjoyed the story and relationships a lot.  This book dealt with some serious issues, while also being a fun and heartwarming read.

3. We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (Mystery) - This was a slow burn mystery that focused deeply on the characters and their complex relationships.  There were several twists that I definitely did not see coming.  I felt sad for Duchess and Robin, two kids dealt a tough hand in life.  I especially felt sad for Duchess having to be so grown up at only 13, and not getting to be a kid.  She deeply cared about her brother and just wanted to protect him.  Walk, the other main character, was a police chief who had been best friends with Vincent King when they were children.  King had spent 30 years in prison.  He believed strongly in Vincent's innocence in the present and would do what it took to protect him in trial.  This was a powerful story, sad at many turns throughout.

4. You Have a Match by Emma Lord (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was a cute and quick read with some heavier topics as well.  The book reminded me a bit of The Names They Gave Us (which I love), and interestingly enough, the authors have very similar names (Emery Lord/Emma Lord).  This book was a bit lighter though, but they both took place at a summer camp, focused heavily on friendships, and dealt with some family secrets.  My favorite part of the book was the budding friendship between Abby and Savvy as they dealt with the fact that they were sisters who had not known each other previously.  There is a romance in the book, but it is background to the rest of the plot.  I liked this story a lot.  It was sweet and fun.

5. What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster (Literary Fiction) - I really liked this book at the beginning and through about halfway through, and then I feel like it took too many tangents from the storylines that I was most invested in and took me longer to read.  I was interested in Noelle and Gee's storylines the most, as well as some of their family history.  This book deals with a lot of tough topics, and I think there are a lot of worthy parts of it.  It was just not a favorite personally.  I will still recommend checking it out if the description sounds interesting.  I also will say that I really did not like Lacey May and her attitudes at the school, though I was glad she at least underwent some growth.

6. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen (Memoir) - This memoir was not one that I personally was a fan of, though I know many people like it, based on the reviews.  I read the whole thing because it was pretty short, and there were some interesting parts.  As a whole, though, in a memoir, I like to feel emotionally connected to the author and this book gave me a level of emotional detachment.  I felt like the story was holding me at arms-length from really being connected.  I imagine this memoir would be more impactful for someone with similar experiences to Kaysen.

7. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton (Historical Fiction) - This book was overall good, though I was most invested up until the Rivington Showcase, since I knew something big happened there.  I also was invested in the ending.  I preferred the parts written in standard format, because I feel that the parts written as an oral history held me at more of an emotional distance from the characters because it was them telling Sunny what had happened, rather than the author putting me in Opal's head and feeling what she felt.  I think this was mostly Opal's story, and she was a strong character.  Sunny was also a well-developed character, not just a device for the story to take place through, which was good.  Overall, I enjoyed this story, and it dealt with a lot of serious themes and topics.

8. Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (Literary Fiction) - This was a moving story that read quickly with sparse yet beautiful writing.  The story seamlessly weaves between characters and timelines giving us the stories of several generations in one family.  This was not a happy story, but was a strong, powerful, and well-written one.  I felt for the various characters and their struggles.  I think this is one that would be worthy of a reread later with full knowledge of how the book unfolded.

February Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers (Contemporary Fiction) - I was happy to be able to get a hardcover copy of this book from BOTM for February, and this book was so incredibly good.  This was a contemporary story that strongly focused on Grace Porter finding herself after years of schooling and getting her PhD in her field of astronomy.  Grace had complicated relationships with both parents, especially her father who demanded a lot and was an ex-military Colonel, but didn't realize how much her pushing herself constantly was affecting her mentally.  I enjoyed Grace's friendships and how supportive everyone in them was of each other and how much they all loved each other.  I loved Grace's separate relationships with Ximena, Agnes, and Yuki, and how each relationship was different but all very strong.  This was a great book, with some tough parts but many heartwarming parts as well.  

2. The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a good story that was mostly about family and some secrets from the past coming to light.  The impetus is Ruth's husband wanting to start having children with her, while she has not yet told him about the baby that she gave birth to in high school.  This leads to some issues between her and the husband, Xavier, who I do think is a good guy that cares about her.  I enjoyed the perspectives of both Ruth and Midnight.  I felt for what Midnight was going through with the struggles in his life, even if he did some questionable things that I did not agree with.  I liked the unexpected connection that Ruth had with him.  I like how as a reader I could figure out fairly early on who Ruth's son was, but there was the tension of waiting for her to come to that same realization.

3. Girl A by Abigail Dean (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a powerful and dark story of the various impacts that trauma has on different people.  Lex and her siblings grew up with parents who gradually became harmful to them.  Lex was "Girl A" in the papers, the one who had escaped and brought the police to her house.  She was a strong character, and had complicated relationships with all of her siblings in the present day.  Lex has some good friends in the present, especially Olivia, who doesn't get a lot of page time in the scheme of this entire story, but who was part of one of my favorite scenes in the book, which was when Lex hadn't told her friend yet about the past and saw people dressed as her Mother and Father at a Halloween party.  This novel was well-written, and easily switched between the past and present.  There were multiple scenes in the past where I wished someone like a teacher or a friend from school would have found out the truth, as you could tell that they sensed something a bit off about Lex, but had no idea what was really going on in her house.  This book also deals with the ideas of forgiveness, with the siblings having various relationships with Mother once she was convicted and imprisoned.

4. Infinite Country by Patricia Engel (Literary Fiction) - Not all literary fiction is my cup of tea, often because I get bogged down in the writing, but this one definitely was my cup of tea.  It was a short book (only 191 pages) but a lot was packed into these pages.  I took my time with this one because it felt like a story that needed to be savored more slowly to get the full impact.  This was a story about family separated in different countries, and the challenges this caused for them.  It was told in many perspectives over a span of more than 15 years.  I think my favorite character to read about was Talia, though I also liked the others as well.  Talia had done something that had landed in her a juvenile detention center, but the morality of what she did was debatable since that person had done something very bad as well.  I liked to see her development as she traveled to be reunited with her mom and siblings.  This had a lot of powerful themes and messages and many good lines.

5. Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour (Literary Fiction) - This was such an interesting, page-turning story.  It is written as a bit of a satire, with some situations becoming exaggerated, and the story went to some truly wild places.  The character development was fantastic, with Darren starting out likeable then becoming less likeable as he took on the "Buck" personality, and then becoming more likeable again.  The book kept me flying through as I had to know what would happen next and how the story ended.  There were some strong secondary characters, from Rhett to Clyde to Rose to Brian and others.  Not all of these characters were likeable but many were.  I do not agree with all of the decisions made by the characters but found them all intriguing.

6. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner (Historical Mystery) - I read this book in about a day.  It took a little time to get into at the beginning, but once the story picked up, I couldn't put it down until I found out what had happened.  The book was one part historical and one part contemporary, and both timelines were compelling.  I liked Eliza, Nella, and Caroline.  It was interesting to read about Nella and the questionable morality of her actions.  Her relationship with Eliza was enjoyable to read about.  There's a lot I can't say about the plot without giving too much away, but I will say it was a delightful book to read.  One of my favorite things about the book was that it explored a topic/time in history that I don't know much about.  I feel like one of the great parts about historical fiction is getting to explore a new time period, so this book was definitely good for that.

January Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

These are listed in chronological order of when I read them, not in ranking order.  I read 10 books in January and liked all of them, so I would consider this a good reading month.  I read a good mix of genres.

1. The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton (Memoir) - This was a great book to start the year on and one that I will continue to think about.  It is thought-provoking and powerful.  Ray Hinton's story is a testament to a strong spirit and faith.  I cannot imagine being wrongfully imprisoned for 30 years due to an unfair trial and false evidence.  I look forward to also reading Bryan Stevenson's book, as he was the lawyer who worked tirelessly for Ray.  This is not an easy book to read due to the difficulty of the subject, but it reads very quickly and the story is conveyed well.

2. The Dating Plan by Sara Desai (Romance) - This book doesn't officially release until March, but BOTM had it as an early release.  I read this book in under 24 hours and loved both Daisy and Liam.  This was a sweet romance and Liam was a really good guy and a worthy romantic hero.  He was kind and supportive of Daisy.  Daisy's family was funny and very involved in her life, and Liam had some past family issues and struggles that he worked through in the book.  The book was mostly light and balanced some heavier, serious topics within that.  This was a thoroughly enjoyable story to read.

3. The Survivors by Jane Harper (Mystery) - As many reviews that I've read have said, this was a slow burn mystery.  It takes its time to develop the characters and give significant important backstory.  There was a mystery in both the past and the present.  This book dealt with complex emotions relating to guilt.  Kieran was a layered character, with strong, complicated relationships with his family and his girlfriend, Mia.  His friends from childhood featured in the story prominently as well.  I also loved how atmospheric the small town coastal setting was and how that was almost a character in this story as well.

4. The Push by Ashley Audrain (Contemporary Fiction) - This story was a dark, complex, and layered book.  The writing style of being written in second person to Blythe's ex-husband was not my favorite, but I didn't have any difficulty following it.  There were some very serious and sad topics in here, and I felt for Blythe, while also not always being sure that her narration was reliable.  I never knew whether she was seeing Violet correctly, or if her gut instincts about her were wrong.  I would have liked a couple more chapters at the end for some more closure after the last line.  This is definitely a book that makes you think.  The interweaving chapters with the story of Blythe's mother were interesting and showed a bit of insight into what she was like as a mother.

5. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang (Fantasy) - At the beginning of this book, I wasn't sure how I would feel about the book being centered around Weylyn but being told from the perspectives of only people other than Weylyn.  I ended up loving this book, though.  I enjoyed every side character's perspective and the different people that Weylyn met.  This book was a light fantasy, with magical elements that weren't really explained, in an otherwise normal world.  This was a sweet story about an amazing man who changed the lives of many.  The love story was sweet as well. 

6. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (Contemporary Fiction) - I don't cry often or really ever at books, but this one got me.  The main heart of this story was the friendship between Tully and Kate, but it was also a poignant story about love, family, and loss.  I loved both Tully and Kate, though Tully tended to make more mistakes and hurt Kate more and struggled with apologizing, due to her broken relationship with her own mother.  This story was heartwarming and showcased many forms of love through Kate's family that Tully found a family with as well.  I loved how we got to follow the girls through many years from them being teenagers all the way through Kate raising her own teenager.  This was my first Kristin Hannah book, but it will certainly not be my last. 

7. Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans (Short Story Collection) - This is the second short story collection by this author that I've read, and she is a talented story writer.  Since this is a short story collection, I did like some more than others, with standouts being "Snakes", "Someone Ought to Tell Her There's Nowhere to Go," and "Robert E. Lee is Dead."  Overall, this was an enjoyable and insightful collection.  One of my reading goals of 2021 will be to read one short story collection a month, or 12 total this year, since I didn't really dive into many collections in the past, but there are a lot out there that sound good that I would like to read.

8. The Mothers by Brit Bennett (Literary Fiction) - This book was just as good, if not better, than The Vanishing Half.  It focused within a smaller scope of characters than Bennett's sophomore novel.  The three main characters were Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke and the story plays with the many ways that their lives intertwine through a period of about 10 or so years.  The story deals with heavy topics, including loss, grief, infidelity, and abortion.  All of these impact the lives of these 3 characters.  I did not agree with every choice that the characters made, yet I loved them anyway.  I don't believe that Bennett intended every choice to be one that readers would agree with, as these characters read as very complicated and real people.  I loved this story and would definitely recommend it.  I look forward to reading more of Bennett's future novels after enjoying both this novel and The Vanishing Half.  

9. The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe (YA Thriller) - I have been a fan of Tess Sharpe since Far From You released in 2014.  Luckily, this one held up to her debut and was a strong story as well.  I adore Nora, Iris, Wes, and Lee, and how deeply they cared for each other.  Lee was an amazing sister and strong.  Nora went through a lot in her childhood and I can't imagine all of what she experienced.  Part of this story is told in the past and I really liked some of those chapters, especially the one with Nora and her sister when she was 12.  There was a lot of suspense with the hostage situation, and I had to keep turning the pages to see how everything would resolve and to hope all of the wonderful characters would make it out okay.

10. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (Short Story Collection) - When I bought this book after making the goal to read a short story collection each month, I intended to read this in February.  I ended up being excited to read it and finished the whole thing in January.  This book was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2020, and I believe it was certainly deserving of the award.  This was a strong collection of stories.  To me, the standouts were "Snowfall" and "Peach Cobbler," but the others were good as well.  Despite only having limited pages to develop them, these characters were developed and complex, and there are many that I would read a full novel about if written.  I will definitely want to check out whatever Philyaw writes next.

New Books Read in 2020

This is the breakdown of all the new books that I read in 2020.  This is broken down by genre for adult books (any YA books that I read this year are all grouped together).  Rereads are not included in this breakdown.

Mystery/Thriller:
1. The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
2. The Other People by CJ Tudor
3. The Holdout by Graham Moore
4. Good Girls Lie by JT Ellison
5. You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
6. Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk
7. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
8. The Widow by Fiona Barton
9. The Child by Fiona Barton
10. The Whisper Man by Alex North
11. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
12. Next Girl to Die by Dea Poirier
13. A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
14. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
15. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
16. Derailed by Mary Keliikoa
17. Beneath the Ashes by Dea Poirier
18. This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf
19. The Guest List by Lucy Foley
20. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
21. The Last Flight by Julie Clark
22. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
23. The Shadows by Alex North
24. Once You Go This Far by Kristen Lepionka
25. The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

26. Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

27. Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

28. The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle

29. Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

30. Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

31. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

32. People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd

Contemporary Fiction:
1. The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood
2. Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes by Kathleen West
3. A Good Neighborhood by Therese Ann Fowler
4. The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare
5. When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
8. Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin
9. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
10. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
11. 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
12. You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer
13. What You Wish For by Katherine Center
14. The Comeback by Ella Berman
15. The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan

16. Beartown by Fredrik Backman

17. Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
18. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

19. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

20. This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

Romance:
1. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
2. Beach Read by Emily Henry
3. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4. The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
5. One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
6. Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein
7. Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

8. Well Played by Jen DeLuca

9. Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo

10. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

11. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

12. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Literary Fiction:
1. Ask Again Yes by Mary Beth Keane
2. The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe
3. A Burning by Megha Majumdar

Historical Fiction:
1. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
2. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

3. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Fantasy/Sci-Fi:
1. Recursion by Blake Crouch
2. The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

3. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab

Memoir:
1. Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford
2. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
3. I Have the Right To by Chessy Prout
4. Forever Liesl by Charmian Carr
5. The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

6. The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya

7. The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper

Other Nonfiction:
1. The Girls by Abigail Pesta
2. Unbelievable by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong
3. What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan
4. She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
5. Missoula by Jon Krakauer

6. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Young Adult:
1. The Map From Here to There by Emery Lord
2. One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus
3. What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter

4. All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

5. The Summer of Impossibilities by Rachael Allen

6. The Cousins by Karen McManus

Short Story Collections:

1. The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

December Wrap-Up and Mini Reviews

 1. This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith - This was a lovely book.  I would say it is a "quieter" story overall, focusing more closely on characters and relationships than on a plot.  I do not mean that as a negative, because I enjoy books like this if the characters are strong, and in this book they were definitely strong characters.  The characters were good, kind people who cared deeply about each other and about their mental health.  This was ultimately a powerful and hopeful story with good messages, though there were sad parts throughout as well.

2. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur - This was a light and fun romance that I was able to read almost all in one sitting.  I was connected and attached to the characters, which made the story more emotional and kept me turning the pages wanting to know how everything would turn out for them.

3. The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans - I took my time reading this one gradually, as it was a short story and novella collection.  I would say that the standouts from this one to me were the "Boys Go to Jupiter" story and the title novella.  The ending to that novella was shocking.  While some stories were stronger than others, this was overall a strong collection.  This was the first short story collection that I have read, and the first short stories I've really read since high school, and I would like to read more.

4. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren - This was a cute and fun holiday romance.  I think it did exactly what it was trying to do.  While it wasn't super deep and I didn't feel very emotionally connected to the characters as I have in some other romances, I still enjoyed the read as it was light and happy.

5. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins - This was a quick and twisty read.  I enjoyed the characters and the development, even if many of them ended up being terrible people.  This book was at least partially a retelling of Jane Eyre, which I have never read, so I would definitely be interested in reading it and seeing how the books relate.

6. The Summer of Impossibilities by Rachael Allen - This was a cute and fun read with a strong focus on friendship.  The girls in the book were dealing with a lot of serious issues and it was fun to see them grow in their relationships to each other.

7. The Cousins by Karen McManus - This author is one of the few young adult authors that I have consistently kept up with.  I prefer One of Us is Next to this book, but I still enjoyed the characters.  I did put this book down partway through to read some other books, but I liked it when I picked it back up again.

8. People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd - This book had characters that were such terrible people in the influencer world.  I ended up putting down the book for a while partway through.  I finished it because I wanted to know how it would end, but I wouldn't really say that I liked this book particularly much.

9. The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper - I think it is better to think of this book as being short stories about different patients in the author's life.  As a whole, I wasn't a big fan of this, but I enjoyed some parts/patients/stories.  I think Dr. Harper is a great doctor and cares a lot about people, but I didn't enjoy all of how she wrote this book.  I found the spiritual aspects to be a bit too "New Age-y" for my taste, and the book was a bit preachy.  The connections between her patients and her own life were too much of a stretch sometimes.  Overall, I have mixed feelings on this book.  I enjoyed some parts more than others.

10. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab - This was a magical and unique read.  I loved Addie and Henry and their relationship.  I was hoping for a different ending than how this book actually ended, but I can't say that much about that due to potential spoilers.  I liked the present timeline more than the historical portions of the story, but they were still interesting as well.  While I really liked this one a lot and flew through it pretty quickly, I don't think I loved it quite as much as the hype about it.