World of Wonders, which I read for a book club, is a book of nature-themed, memoir-esque, stand-alone essays that are beautifully-written by a poet. They inspire you to be observant in nature. I read it with my phone in hand to search pictures and videos of everything mentioned. If you are looking for plot or a chronological telling, you'll be frustrated. It's not my kind of book, but I enjoyed it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 30

I listened to The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. after my son read it. When Aidan returns from being missing for six days, only his brother, Lucas, believes his outlandish tale. Because the novel doesnt delve deep into the disappearance, the intriguing set-up ultimately leads to disappointment. It's a quick-read with a simple story and sweet, underdeveloped characters. Overall, unreached potential is an apt description. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 29

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain is an intriguing, easy-to-listen-to novel. Riley returns home after her father's death to empty out and sell his house and learns he kept familial secrets. The characters aren't equally fleshed-out, but most of them are worthy of compassion. The story's engaging but ephemeral. 3.75 ⭐️s

Book 28

Our Missing Hearts is an unsettlingly-identifiable, dystopian-type novel in which, in the name of the preservation of "American" ideals, freedom of speech is curtailed, fear of "other" is heightened, and kids are taken from parents whom are deemed traitorous.

Book 27

The It Girl is a very engaging listen. Hannah is instrumental in convicting the man charged with the murder of her college roommate, though he claims he's innocent. Ten years later she sets out to determine the truth. The pace is quick; the characters are diverse. It's a little repetitive and her ability to overlook major character flaws was grating, but it's surprising and enjoyable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 26

I read it for a book club, the 1st in a series of mysteries w/ Inspector Gamache, the antithesis of the stereotypical detective.There are an overwhelming amount of mostly-dimensional characters, and the whodunit is surprising. However, there are so many red herrings and plot points left unfinished that I felt confused.Apparently these issues will be elucidated in succeeding novels, but I'm uncertain I want to expend the energy. 3.75 ⭐️s

Book 25

I listened to Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver, read by the author. It was interesting to learn about the world under ours, the technological advances of its exploration, and the many dangers of cave diving. It didn't live up to all the hype, and it could have been more approachable and engaging. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 24

I listened to Five Survive with reservation, as I'd been disappointed by the only other Holly Jackson novel I've read. Six teens borrow an rv and head out for Spring break. When they stop, lost, with a flat tire, they find they're not alone; a sniper has them in in his cross hairs and demands for one of them to give up their secret. It was fast-paced and engaging, with a dynamic protagonist and surprises. I really enjoyed it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 23

The Whalebone Theatre began as a very charming read. Cristabel is a vivacious three-year-old who runs around a grand estate in London with very little supervision. When her dad dies suddenly, her stepmom and uncle get married, and Cristabel becomes even more invisible. She gains two younger siblings, and, together, they make their own happiness in their imaginary, creative world. I wish this novel would have continued.

Book 22

I listened to Ghost 19, which I had no idea was a novella until it ended! St. James is an iconic author of compelling and chilling ghost stories. Ginette moves to the suburbs, in hopes of improving her mental health, and spends her days watching her neighbors and hearing scary noises from her own house. Too short to delve deeply into the characters, but well-done. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 21

I listened to All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda. Nicolette returns home after ten years to prepare her childhood home for market. While there, a girl goes missing, just as had happened when she last lived there. It wasn't the story I had expected, and the characters weren't likable. However it was very fast, engaging listen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 20

I listened to Stay Awake by Megan Goldin, a thriller with an intriguing setup. Every time Liv awakes, she has zero memory of the last two years and can't locate her boyfriend and best friend. The story is told in an arbitrary order, amplifying the suspense and increasing the reader's ability to identify with Liv's experience, while also being needlessly frustrating. Solidly entertaining, overall. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 19

I listened to Lessons in Chemistry, a fun novel with feminist themes. Set in the 1960s, chemist Elizabeth Zott finds herself as a single mother hosting a cooking show. The characters are endearing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 18

A secretive owner buys and remodels the Hotel Nantucket, a rundown, allegedly haunted, island landmark, setting the staff to chasing a perfect review from an elusive, undercover hotel critic. The Hotel novel is a slow-burn that comes together satisfyingly-well. With time, the plethora of characters, including the ghost, become dynamic and endearing. I would read season two if Hilderbrand were to make it a series. 3.75 ⭐️s

Book 17

The Plum Tree is a WWII novel focused on the experience of Christine, a young German woman who loves a Jewish man. Experiencing the war from the perspective of a German victim was unique. It was slow t0 get going, picked up about halfway, and felt rushed at the end. 3.5 stars

Book 16

I listened to Carrie Soto is Back. While I have enjoyed many of Jenkins Reid's books, I wasn't a fan of Daisy Jones and The Six. Neither am I a sports fan whatsoever, which made this novel less appealing. The audio production is over-the-top; I felt like I was listening to ESPN. The protagonist was unlikable. This will be a win for many, but it was not for me. ⭐️⭐️

Book 15

I listened to The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas. A young woman inherits her grandmother's cabin and, when adding an extension, discovers bodies buried in the yard. The relationships between characters were authentic, but the set-up of the overall plot was better than the execution. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 14
I listened to Wrong Place Wrong Time. An intriguing premise--a mother watches her 18-year-old son kill a man; when she wakes up the next day, it's actually the day before the incident. Surmising she must prevent the murder, she continuously wakes up on earlier and earlier days. I wish it would have been executed better and the characters had been more charismatic. I didn't love where the story went, but overall, it was a good listen. 3.75

Book 13

Demon Copperhead is a novel that's an in-depth character analysis of the title character, written by him. Demon grows up in Appalachia with a mother who's an addict and eventually overdoses; he spends the rest of his childhood in foster care, unwanted by the only people he knows. It's extremely well-written, clever, and witty, but it's lengthy. His voice doesn't retain the same level of charm into adulthood.
4.5

Book 12

I listened to The Stranger Diaries. Clare is a high school English teacher who loves Gothic murder mysteries, including a short story written by a deceased alumnus of her school. When her colleagues are murdered, Clare, an avid journaler, begins receiving messages in her diary from the killer. The novel, interspersed with the short story, is an innovative and enjoyable murder mystery. I will read more by Elly Griffiths. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book 11

The Music of Bees, which I read for a book club, is a solid novel with dynamic, charismatic characters. Alice, Jake, and Harry, all struggling with their familial relationships, form an unlikely bond over Alice's beehives. While there is nothing extraordinary, it's a well-done, uplifting book, written, in-part from the author's experiences as a beekeeper. I'm curious to read her memoir about a sister with autism. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 10

I listened to Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, a novel about a family taking a weekend retreat that turns out to be anything but relaxing. The storylines are numerous and unexpected, with an entire portion as a red herring. Disappointingly, it wasn't the book I expected, but it isn't without merit. 3.5 stars

Book 9

I listened to I'm Glad My Mom Died, a memoir read by the author. It's a well-written, engaging look into the complicated relationship McCurdy had with her mother. I was intrigued by McCurdy's Mormon upbringing. Overall, though, I don't feel the book lived up to its hype. 3.5

Book 8

I listened to All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews. Growing up in a strict Mennonite community, sisters, Yoli and Elf, grow up to grapple with different challenges: Elf, the depression that claimed their father, and Yoli, the inability to maintain romantic relationships. A melancholic story of sisterhood and love, All My Puny Sorrows is beautifully-written and worth the read. TW: suicide. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 7

I listened to The Overnight Guest. Wylie, a true crime author, finds a child and, eventually, the child's mother outside during a snowstorm. Interwoven between this story is the narrative of a girl whose family was murdered while her best friend was sleeping over; her best friend has been missing since that night. Both stories are gripping and surprising. I will read more by the author.

Book 5

I read this for a book club. I was drawn in by the first sentence but disappointed by the pace and lack of focus. The novel is about Nuri's family's experience fleeing war in Syria.The story isn't told linearly, and that wasn't obvious initially. The end saved the book: everything came together and had some surprises. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 6

I listened to The Best Friend by Jessica Fellowes. Bella and Kate are best friends growing up. After having a falling, they reconnect in midlife. It's a terrible depiction of friendship with unlikable characters. 2.5 stars

Book 4

I listened to The Sun Down Motel, a ghost story/mystery, by Simone St. James. In hopes of uncovering what happened to her aunt, 20-year-old Carly travels to the small town from which her aunt disappeared 35 years earlier. She gets hired as a night clerk at the seedy motel at which her aunt had worked.

Book 3

I listened to Hag-Seed, a novel written as part of a project to modernize Shakespeare. Her approach to The Tempest is incredibly interesting. Felix, a director wronged by his assistant and depressed by his daughter's death, eventually takes a job teaching literature in a prison. He has the men read, rewrite, and act out a play a year. He uses The Tempest to seek retribution against his enemy and to find peace. It was really engaging. 4⭐️s

Black Sunday is a well-written novel about how twin sisters, separated because of familial financial distress, take control of their lives. The characters are dynamic and distinctive, but I never felt invested in them. Nor did I feel motivated to read. 3.5⭐️s

Book 2

Solito is a memoir about the author's childhood journey from El Salvador to the United States, without family. The emotional, dangerous trek is intense, yet filled with love and hope. It's well-written and a must-read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 173

I listened to Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler, part of a project to modernize Shakespeare stories. Kate, a young, college dropout who takes care of her dad and sister after the death of her mom, gets her life disrupted when Pyotor, her dad's resesrch assistant, faces deportation. The characters, while not lovable, are strong and unique. Well-written and short, it was a good read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 172

I listened to Fight Night by Miriam Toews, the author of Women Talking. The commendable voice acting, done by the author and her sister, gave the dynamic characters more life and enhanced the humor.The "slice of life" story is of three generations of women: one nearing the end of her life, one about to have a new baby, and a teenager, Swiv. Cont'd in comments.

Book 171

Memphis is the story, spanning over 70 years, of 3 generations of black women.They face familial violence, police brutality, the cycle of poverty, and setting aside personal ambitions for motherhood.The novel jumps between time periods; the family tree in the initial pages is helpful. Not feeling invested until past the halfway mark, the novel is a slow-burn.The characters are all different but not equally dynamic.

Book 170

I listened to Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney; trapped in a house until low-tide, members of the Darker family disappear one-by-one. An overused set-up devoid of anything compelling with mostly predictable twists. The familial dynamic was mildly intriguing and one final curveball redeemed the novel. 3.5 🌟s

Book 168

The prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy is the backstory of Snow, a student mentor during the tenth Hunger Games. It's difficult to experience moments of empathy for him. Most of the story is set outside of the games, but, the part that is during the games is told from Snow's perspective, outside of the arena. The novel was lackluster, not compelling, and had flat characters. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 169

I listened to Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates, the story of Nicole discovering her mom, murdered in her home, and grieving the first year of life without her. Oates writes dynamic characters with emotional precision. That being said, Nicole isn't likable and the grieving, though arguably authentic feels protracted. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 155

I listened to Golden Girl, a light thriller with supernatural elements. Vivian, author and mother, gets killed in a hit and run while on her jog. Her storyline doesn't end there, though; in heaven she's granted not only the ability to watch over her family for three months but can also nudge them in the right direction three times. It's mildly entertaining and easy to listen to. The characters are flat and forgettable, though. 3.5 ⭐️s

Book 154 The Reading List is exactly the book you'd expect. Mukesh, a nonreader who's lonely since his wife's death, embarks on a journey through literature after finding a list of books titled "In Case You Need It". It starts out slow and is gimmicky, a book for book lovers, but the characters become dynamic and so lovable. It's really beautiful and sweet! I recommend it and will watch for more by the author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 145

I listened to His and Hers, a serial killer novel by Alice Feeney. It was compulsively listenable and had good pacing. As usual, the outcome was difficult to predict, despite the limited number of characters. 3.5 ⭐️s

Book 144

I read Dusk Night Dawn for a book club. Lamott's stream of consciousness writing (about Covid and global warming) comes across pretentious and slightly whiney and isn't my cup of tea. Book club discussion promoted a more positive outlook, however. I realized that humans throughout history must have felt the hopelessness of night, though, from a distance, we can see the eventuality of morning.

Book 142

I listened to Pretty Girls, another dark and disturbing novel by Karin Slaughter about abduction and violent rape and murder. It's elaborate and lengthy, but, overall, it's a well-done suspense with some surprises. Enjoyable but not for the sensitive reader. 3.5

Book 141

In The Surgeon's Daughter, Audrey' Blake's second in her series, Nora is at medical school in Italy in the 1800s, trying to complete her studies in record time, annoyingly, so she can return to her love. I really enjoy this series, and I am sad that the next one isn't available yet. However, it felt like this was just following the next chapter of Nora's life with inadequate plot, tension, or character development. 3.5 stars

Book 140

Book 140 I listened to A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, a story about music with a plethora of intersecting, presumptuous characters. I understand it won a pulitzer because of it's formatting, so I need to see the book. There was a random chapter near the end with a lot of rewinding noises. Odd. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 139

3.5

I listened to Hazards of Time Travel, a mildly-engaging version of a familiar dystopian story. Adriana is sent back to the past when she questions the status quo during her valedictorian speech. It is not long-lastingly memorable, but is like to try another novel by Joyce Carol Oates.

Book 132

The Violin Conspiracy is an excellent debut novel! Ray is preparing for a prestigious competition when his valuable violin disappears. Brendan Slocumb, a black violinist, writes with heart from experience, making it a compelling read. I predicted "whodunit", but I can't wait for another by the author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 134

Down Among the Sticks and Bones is part of McGuire's Wayward Children series. It's the story of Jack and Jill's life, both before and during their time in the Moors. McGuire is witty, and the novel, which could stand alone, is a simple and enjoyable read. As in other fairy tales, the characters and story are a bit shallow. Something about the book, though, makes writing feel compelling & attainable. I'll continue reading the series.4⭐️s

Book 129

Set in a boarding school for kids who unwillingly returned to the world after traveling through unique doors to live in other dimensions. It's weird, simple, and complex with diverse characters. Can't wait to read the next one and to look into more by the author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 128

I listened to A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner, a story about an old Southern plantation house filled with history, curses, and ghosts. Characters could have been more dimensional. Nothing memorable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Books 126 & 127

I learned about Mrs. Harris from the movie that recently came out based on the 1950's books by Paul Gallico. The novels are short, but I took too long reading them. Since I'd waited for them on hold at the library, I felt obligated to finish, which slowed down my reading. Mrs. Harris has a lot of potential, but, ultimately, flat and disappointing. ⭐️⭐️