⭐️⭐️⭐️ The premise of the book seemed similar to one of my favorites - Never Let Me Go. Unfortunately I read the back cover which in my opinion ruined a big twist in this book. I enjoyed this well enough but I think knowing what was coming took away some of the creepy suspense that makes a book like this so much fun. My advice: if you‘re going to read this, don‘t read anything about it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For some reason I‘ve always liked Sally Field and this book solidified it for me. She reflects back on her life with enough distance from most of the circumstances that she‘s not trapped in bitterness but her raw honesty still comes through. I feel like the book, which talks about her life from childhood to almost present day, is really a love letter to her mother. I‘m glad I listened to her read it on audio.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Like all essay collections it‘s tough to like every essay. Some of the oversharing felt a bit icky - especially when some of the people she talks about are still walking the earth. I did really appreciate her reflections on race. If I‘d read just those stories it may have been a 5 star read for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 I had a few issues with this one but overall I enjoyed it. I think it brings up some important issues but there were a couple things that were a little cringe-y. I think she really is a good writer and the audiobook flowed well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is the first book I can recall reading about the Rwandan genocide. Clementine‘s relationship with her sister is real and raw. So much feels unresolved and messy, but that‘s real life. It‘s a heartbreaking and important book that I‘m so grateful to have read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one had a slow start. Definitely a few twists and turns that saved it from being completely mediocre.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 I flew through this book - one of the best I‘ve read this year. The dynamics of this dysfunctional family were so interesting. I think it would be a good book club read. I definitely recommend this and want to pick up more of her books.

A morning fireside read with a good cup of coffee. It‘s hard to beat that. I‘m really enjoying this book! So much so that it‘s hard to put down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 This was my first Jacqueline Woodson read and I definitely want to read more. It‘s just under 200 pages but it packs a punch. The book rotates perspectives within a family and creates a beautiful picture of 3 generations and how their decisions have impacted themselves and their family. I finished and immediately wanted to reread it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book is incredibly researched. It‘s so packed with info that I‘m not sure I even absorbed half of it. My favorite parts were the few times the author discussed his own patients and experiences. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator‘s voice was nice to listen to but I found myself zoning out pretty often and I‘d need to rewind. 😬 I‘m definitely more interested in Mukherjee‘s book on genes now!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed the inclusion of three different perspectives but I felt this book was a bit long. A couple things I found slightly unbelievable and at times I thought: why was that included? I think the author tried to dig into too many characters and it left some feeling flat. I hate to compare to Big Little Lies but this book just didn‘t give me the “I can‘t stop reading” feeling. Thankfully it‘s enjoyable enough and easy to read.

Reading this for book club. I‘m about 40% through this book and I‘m enjoying it so far - but I‘m not sure it‘ll be better than Big Little Lies for me.. I also think the blurb on the back may have done it a disservice because it‘s about so much more than that. (Note: I‘m a black coffee drinker but my sister got me hooked on Starbucks pumpkin spice latte creamer and it‘s delicious 😋)

⭐️⭐️1/2 This book is hard to review. Her writing style is good, but I don‘t think it‘s my favorite. With some sections in first person and others third, it was difficult to really sink into. I was also frustrated that the book jacket told so much of the story. I did appreciate the exploration of losing and/or gaining faith. Ultimately it left me feeling sad and unsatisfied. Maybe that was the author‘s intension?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Gosh this book squeezed my heart but it was so worth it. Am I the only one a little in love with Yale Tishman? The story is so moving and the characters so well fleshed out. The book flipped back and forth between 1980s Yale and 2015 Fiona which created great momentum and I enjoyed both timelines equally. As the book progresses more pieces come together. Beautifully executed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 I finally read this book and it was so good! So much happens but the book is overall well paced with a few slower parts. There were definitely times when I couldn‘t put this book down. Such a great story, wonderful imagery, and beautifully written. I‘ll definitely pick up what Madeline Miller writes next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 I just finished listening to this and now I want to immediately listen to her other books. I wasn‘t a follower of the magazine she discusses (Gourmet) but I found her descriptions of the inner workings of her job as editor in chief fascinating. I could listen to her describe food all day, and loved the inclusion of recipes. I highly recommend on audio!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 This book is beautifully written - I can tell the author is a poet. The timeline bounces back and forth from her lying in her driveway bleeding, to her memories of racism and reflections of how she ended up where she is. It‘s heartbreaking and unflinching.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 Beautifully written. I really like the format - it‘s split into five sections. The main character gives a toast to one person per section that has meant a lot to him. I wanted to absolutely love this book, but I found it so incredibly sad and somewhat frustrating. Still, it will definitely be a book I ruminate on.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 The story follows several people, and the author did I nice job moving the story forward through each perspective without repeating much. I did feel it dragged a bit at some points, and I enjoyed some perspectives more than others. Overall a pretty good read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed this thriller! It‘s slower paced and more character driven than some thrillers I‘ve read. I‘m definitely going to read her first book Unraveling Oliver.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ There‘s no doubt to me that Sally Rooney is a great writer. Not a lot really happens during the book, but the characters felt like real people. It‘s more a character study - less plot-driven so it may not be for everyone. It‘s about things the characters leave unspoken and what happens as a result, so it was kind of painful at times. I enjoyed it and will pick up whatever she writes next, because her writing itself is just that good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 This book follows the opioid epidemic and it was incredibly eye-opening for me. I heard the author say in an interview that she hoped to inspire empathy for those impacted by this epidemic and she certainly did for me. I listened to this on audiobook. The author narrates it and does a wonderful job. This book is heartbreaking but so important.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is such a hyped book but I see why. This was my first book my Taylor Jenkins Reid and I loved reading it. She created such real characters and I was completely sucked into the story. I‘m definitely moving on to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

I‘m finding this book difficult to review. Its beautifully written and drew me in but it‘s unsettling. I like how the author used different points of view so intentionally. It‘s definitely felt spooky, but by the end I felt like it was overall just ok. 😕

Her writing is beautiful, but the book is a bit hard to follow at first. It took me about 100 pages to finally get it (maybe it‘s just me!). I wish I hadn‘t known the myth this is based on - that would have made what happens less predictable which I probably would have enjoyed more. It‘s definitely a bit of a tragedy so be ready for it!

4/5 stars
This is beautifully written and I enjoyed the story and characters. The author shows the complexities of family relationships really well. It switched perspectives but I enjoyed reading each perspective as much as the last. I felt it was well paced at the beginning and end but lagged slightly in the middle for me. Still a pretty absorbing read. This cover 🥰

I reached page 128 and decided to bail. This is my first Jasper Fforde book and the premise sounded really interesting. There‘s a lot of world-building and I don‘t think that‘s my kind of book. It reminds me a little of Ready Player One, and I didn‘t get along great with that one either. So bummed. 😖

I really enjoyed this book! This was another one where the blurb about an adventure didn‘t sound like my kind of book, but I was wrong. I loved the writing and I think it has some very relevant implications about racism. I did feel like I read a 600 page book instead of a 300 page book by the end - in a good way. So much happens! I also read Kindred finally for a book club and I think it‘s so fantastic. I‘d highly recommend both of these!

I really enjoyed this one. It‘s beautifully written and an intriguing story. It fell apart for me slightly towards the end, but I still really felt for the main character and I learned some things about Brazil‘s history. I‘m sad the author is no longer around to write another book because he was so obviously talented. 😣

The writing is beautiful and it made for a rich reading experience. I liked the imaginings of the second wife as she‘s tried to figure out what happened. The author really rounded out the characters - even giving minor characters a brief part from their point of view. It started so well but I did feel like it slowed down in the middle so much I had to push myself to finish. I‘ll be interested in what she writes next.

I thought this was good, not great. I think something about the writing made me feel detached? The narrator irritated me for the most part. I liked Frank, but I found his mother so interesting and I wish she had been focused on more. I enjoyed the humor in this book - it‘s definitely charming. I think it‘d be a good book for book clubs. 📚

I finished the audiobook a couple weeks ago and I‘ve been avoiding posting yet another disgruntled review. I don‘t think I‘m always opposed to reading about dislikable characters, but I really didn‘t enjoy being stuck in the narrator‘s head. I didn‘t understand the decisions being made and I found some parts too unbelievable.

This book hooked me from the start, and I found myself avoiding picking it up because I didn‘t want it to end. There is a mystery to the book that comes to light at the end, but for me it was less about the mystery and more about the characters and relational dynamics that made this book fascinating. I enjoyed every moment leading up to the finale. This is a phenomenal debut and I can‘t wait to see what she writes next.

This book hit me in the gut so many times (in a good way). Starr is so relatable and the author does a good job of balancing the perspectives. This book is so important and I‘m so glad I read it.

The blurb I read said this is about a girl‘s search for information about her father, so I wasn‘t sure it‘d be my cup of tea. Wow was I wrong! Usually when a story bounces back and forth in time and place I like some sections more than others, but I loved all parts of this book. I felt invested in the characters and couldn‘t believe how much I read in one sitting. Definitely one of my favorites so far this year! ❤️

This book was just ok. I felt it dragged too much in parts and could‘ve been cut down a bit. I did find the characters and their relationships - especially the marriages - felt real and had moments they were relatable. Overall, a bit fluffy and long-winded, unfortunately. 😕

I‘m just not sure YA fantasy is my thing, unfortunately. I enjoyed parts of this, but found myself often distracted and thinking of other things while my eyes scanned the pages 😬

I really wanted to like this and was so disappointed. I‘ve read several memoirs of holocaust survivors and maybe that‘s made me a tough critic. The twins in the story had a shared telepathy. Being a twin myself and not believing in telepathy, I found these parts distracting. There were also coincidences I thought were too good to be true and I thought the ending was very slow and I really had to push myself to finish the book. So bummed.

A friend gave this book to me and I‘m almost halfway through. I‘m enjoying her interesting story and voice. (As an added bonus the pink shade of this book cover is fantastic!)

This book is so well written and paced that I had a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed this even more than her first novel and I can‘t wait to read what she writes next!