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.
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