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.