I wanted to love this book. I enjoy true stories of travel and adventure. The problem with this book is that the writing was a bit juvenile. I thought this couple was incredibly lucky in how their story turned out. They had a lot of bad luck and were truly fortunate to have both survived. I do wonder if some of their observations about privilege was something they realized then (as depicted in the book) or realized as they aged.

If you are looking for a police procedural series, stop and put the book down bc you will be disappointed. Set aside expectations and you will discover a slow burn of a book, filled with a character driven mystery that gives you a true sense of place and displacement. The plot confronts privilege, both male and class, family ties, lies, bonds and loyalties as well as the fallout of ptsd. But be patient and it will pay off.

Another enjoyable entry with Max and the St. Mary‘s crew. I thought the medieval life from Max‘s viewpoint interesting and amusing (since it wasn‘t me). As well as the development and evolution of Max and Leon‘s marriage. I wish there was more about matthew. And, I do think the Clive Ronan storyline has run its course. I hope it get wrapped up in the next book or 2.

I‘m really enjoying this series and can‘t wait for the next installment. I‘m really interested to see what Lana decides to do with her career. And, what detective Adam‘s background is. Such an appealing series where I can relate to much of the family and friend dynamics.

Quite a clever book in a small package. A satirical look at millenials‘ lives both before and after a zombie disease strikes the world. And, is the Millenial routine so different after the world as we know it ends? The flashbacks to Candace‘s past, some were especially poignant, as she struggles to come into her own and really own her future.

An enjoyable read. I found the behind the scenes of the matchmaking industry fascinating. And, some of the clients, I'm sure, are based on real life experiences. I wish there was a bit more development with the main character and her parents since their marriage and her childhood really shaped her. Fun and frothy which is what I needed for this latest heat wave.

This book is so heartwarming and important. At first, I didn't think I would be able to read it bc it's written for younger kids but I was swept up in Melissa's/George's feelings. I LOVED the sibling relationship and how older brothers can be a pain but ultimately have your back. And, I also really loved Melissa's/George's relationship with his BFF. Kids just accept unless taught otherwise. I do wish that the story contd, but maybe in the future.

3.5 stars.

I love this series and watching the adventures of Max and the crew of St. Mary's. I usually enjoy the time traveling aspect where the historians go to a certain place in history to document and observe. But in this adventure, the history didn't grab me. But, what really propelled this one, was situation with Max and her family. It was a bit heartbreaking and I'm looking forward to see how things shake out in the future.

Another solid police procedural with Sharon McCone. Sometimes I take for granted how long Marcia Muller has been writing this character but each book reminds me of how Sharon and her friends, family, co-workers have grown. I enjoy how today‘s Sharon is so different from the Sharon 15 years ago. This is why Muller remains on my must reads list.

It‘s a middle grade version of Vicious and they are going to love it. I really hope this series advances with more friendship development between Cass and Lara and more back story on Jacob. Scotland was the perfect setting for this book and I especially loved the Harry Potter references.

A departure from the typical Maggie Hope mystery that illustrates a little known incident during WWII. This is a well done Agatha Christie locked room type plot but set on an island that holds Maggie and other government agents as prisoners. Although the book dragged in the beginning, the characters were interesting enough to make up for it. Plus, the reason why these murders were happening gave the whole concept a nice twist.

Well drawn characters and the difficulties of marriage. Also, sharp observations about people living in a town filled with privilege. I did get confused with some of the towns people and one of the threads wasn‘t necessary, mostly bc it tied part of the ending too neatly. But overall, there should be a lot to discuss.

Overall, listening to this audio book was a waste of my time. There were so many issues. The first is that the narrator does a terrible job with the women characters. It's so bad, that it was distracting. Also, the use of potential ghosts in a thriller, is just a lazy plot device. But, the biggest flaw was that it was neither suspenseful nor thrilling. It was utterly predictable. I would skip this one since it adds nothing to the genre.

Sly and witty, this book has subtle humor and love interwoven within the plot. Mother‘s love and abuse all come together for survival in the Soviet Union and towards Europe. We take for granted how life is easier in a non totalitarian society where one has to fight for everything in order to live.

This dystopian love story is both timely and relevant. Polly time travels to become an indentured servant in the future to save her boyfriend's life. When she arrives years later then expected, she is alone&confused by her new time and the never ending bureaucracy. Because of her lack of status in this new world, she is constantly struggling to pay off her debts and to find her place in the unfamiliar world.

Very cute and touching ya rom com. Some of the pre wedding mishaps could have been edited out because it was just a bit too much. But I really liked how Charlie started to see her family and friends for who they really were instead of romanticized versions of themselves. This would make an excellent movie and I‘m now curious about the author‘s backlist.

Bridge book as the series gets darker. I love how all the minute and what seems to be nonsensical details have relevance as the series progresses. And, the social commentary on rumors, reputation, class, status and bigotry is so on point.

I had a harder time connecting with the plot and characters. But once I did, I became completely engaged. There was a bit too much jumping povs and time frames. That said, I‘m looking forward to the release of book 2.

This was just fascinating. The natural history (and destruction of species), feather fashion evolution, fly fishing, Edwin Rist, the theft, the recovery, the closing of ranks, the sales, the diagnosis, the author‘s obsession and the overall fallout and conclusion. It‘s really a book about obsession, to capture and skin the birds, to collecting, to fly fishing, to fly tying, to buying rare feathers and to investigating.

This was a hard one to rate. I listened to it and the narrator is excellent. But, I can't say I enjoyed it even though I appreciated the author's craft. The big issue for me was the teenage lack of logic. BUT, the author did a fantastic job in portraying the teenage voice & brain. And, she did an excellent job in how different people handle grief when tragedy strikes not only a family but the community at large.

Overall, this was a disappointment. It's going to get a lot of comparisons to Pachinko but I think it's unfair to both books. While both books are set in Korea, Pachinko is a broader family epic that encompasses more events and time. This book, doesn't get there. And, part of it is my tastes: I'm not into the love triangle trope and this book revolves around that.

But, if you enjoy love triangles, you will love this book.

This was an excellent police procedural. DS Alex Cupidi is such an interesting and complex character as well as relationships. She‘s not perfect and doesn‘t try to be so. But, she is persistent and cares about the cases. I also quite liked her new Constable as well. The plot line just worked and evolved with her family relationships.

Such a heartwarming book about a Korean Canadian middle grade girl. Loved how she bonded with her heritage and grandmother over food. And how she learned to balance friendships bw her bff and new friends. But the best part is when her mother emphasized that the western concept of beauty (double eyelids) is just that. A western concept. And it doesn‘t mean that there is anything wrong or less attractive with their Korean features.

Whoa. Such a fun read. I love all these diverse fantasy books featuring a strong woman. I especially love these demon hunters, first Buffy the vampires slayer, then Jane the zombie slayer (Dread Nation) and now, Maggie the monster hunter. Maggie, like the other demon hunters, is a complex woman with an equally complex background. And, Kai, her monster hunter partner, is just as interesting. Can‘t wait for the next book to see what happens next.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I really like Chief Kate Burkholder and her relationships with her staff, especially how she mentors her dispatcher, Mona. This mystery was slightly off for me though, maybe I predicted the ending too soon or how the pieces were almost forced together in some parts. Still, she'll remain on my must read list.

This quiet book has a lot of tension and a depth of issues within it. Three different women at three different stages in their lives, all living in a foreign country. It subtly explores the concepts of race, ethnicity, class, parenthood, grief, relationships, trauma, ptsd and so many more, all contained within these women's stories. There is so much to explore and discuss in this book and the characters were well drawn and depicted.

This book has been the buzz and it deserves every bit of it. At first, it reads as if they are interconnected short stories. But, as it progresses, the overlaps and connections become clearer until the pow wow at the end. These are various stories of various Native Americans, mostly in the Oakland area. A bit meta since one is a filmmaker filming a story corps type movie about different Native American experiences. A definite voice to watch.

This book was just banana pants. Although, to me, it‘s no surprise that a high school graduate with no medical or scientific background, didn‘t invent a miracle machine that could test a bunch of things with a few drops of blood. Seriously, if anything, this book shows what charisma, connections, and privilege can dupe people who want to be fooled.

This was enjoyable overall. While Riley has investigative instincts, I found her lack of journalistic instincts frustrating. But, I'll most likely continue the series bc they are fun reads.

I loved listening to this. While I disagreed with many of Beck's choices and decisions, I couldn't help rooting for her and wanting her to figure it ALL out. She's an engaging narrator as well as a talented writer. I especially loved President Obama's cameos and his warmth and dedication shown through. I am curious as to who some of the people are IRL since her descriptions definitely peaked my curiosity. I can't wait to see where she goes next.

This was a powerful and heartbreaking read. For such a short book, it packs a lot in less then 300 pages. To see one family's rise and fall over three generations is difficult to see, especially with events outside their control (Hurricane Katrina). The book also covers a wide range of issues that the family deals with, including, class, education, colorism, drugs, crime and poverty. This book should get more attention than its received.

I‘m loving these retreads with the illustrated versions.

A fun and gripping cat and mouse mystery set in Chengdu, China. Lots of twists and turns interspersed with flashbacks from many of the characters, including the vigilante killer. Looking forward to the next two installments.

I really enjoyed this story of Snow White's stepmother and her struggles to make a better life for herself. While she is the classic anti-heroine, this backstory gives more insight as to why Xifeng made the choices she did. As she reminds us, the men in her life, including her love, all try to control or own her. She has to fight for her own path and ambition.

A solid standalone and not nearly as dark as Slaughter‘s other works. But it‘s timely and I was hooked from the beginning. I went in not knowing a lot about the premise and I think it‘s a better read that way. There‘s a lot of introspection from the main character so it does bog down a bit with repetition. But the pieces come together nicely (with some surprises and some not) and this will gain Slaughter some more fans.

Fun thriller for a lazy summer day. Be sure to suspend all realities especially the parts where a new cia recruit would become involved at a high level. But the most interesting parts of the book were the North Korean aspects from Mrs. Moon‘s and Cho‘s perspectives. It‘s clear that the author did his research. I hope there is a second book bc this feels incomplete.

An ok read but the series shows promise. Slightly predictable and the alcoholic investigator schtick was overdone (and I‘ve over that trope). I‘ll read the next one and make the determination as to whether or not to continue the series.

I‘ve grown to appreciate Chamber of Secrets now that the series is completed. It‘s still my least favorite even though there are so many important details that lead to the end. Learned a new one in this reread, how the vanishing cabinet got broken. These illustrated versions are really fantastic and it does change the reading experience, despite knowing the story in its entirety.

I was skeptical when I started this read. Clara was such a narcissistic brat and just annoying to read. But I enjoy the enemies to friends trope and was curious enough to see how she and Rose would get along. The book became truly enjoyable as Clara began to mature and become self reflective as the summer progressed. Her budding romance with Hamlet was adorable as were some of the barbs traded between her and Rose. A fun, diverse read.

An unexpected read. It‘s a quiet book about childrens‘ grief, adult depression and yearning with a touch of magical realism and sci-fi. Just shows, be careful what you wish for and the grass isn‘t always greener on the other side.

Usually, I really enjoy the journey, here, it was a tad bumpier. I was surprised to see that the first half of the book was not set in Baltimore, but I enjoyed reading about Willa‘s background and how it shaped her. Tyler is a master of minute observations of daily life and building her characters. She did a really great job of creating many irritating people in these pages. While I appreciated the craft, the journey wasn‘t as enjoyable.

Reread for the 20th anniversary. This illustrated version is just gorgeous and really enhances the story.

Fun mystery featuring a half chinese, half white Lana Lee in her family‘s Chinese restaurant. I liked the cast of characters as well as her relationships with the other employees in the plaza where the restaurant is located. I would read the next book.

This was an irritating book to listen. The author inserting himself into the story is a difficult book to write. In this case, it didn't work. The entire time I was listening, I couldn't decide if Horowitz is a prat IRL or if he just wrote himself as one. Listening to him name drop constantly was just not that enjoyable. But, the narrator grew on me and I could follow the plot, despite long breaks of not listening and reading other books.

A tad overwritten and a bit predictable. An enjoyable read, nonetheless.

If you like the show Justified, you‘ll like this book. Overall I enjoyed it but I had issues with the lack of editing. Harley is a smart and strong woman who is underestimated by the men in her life. The plot unfolds through her pov but it‘s slightly repetitive. Harley is determined to triumph over her family‘s enemies and to protect those who need it. The lesson of the book isn‘t Don‘t underestimate the Mckennas, but don‘t underestimate a woman.

Gabrielle Union is smart, funny, articulate and honest. She's also an excellent reader. I think she should think about running for office. I loved hearing her takes on growing up in a mostly white town, her experiences in Hollywood, about being in the room where it happens (or not, as the case may be). And, about owning her faults. I would love to sit down and have a glass of wine (or two) with her.

This was an incredible book written by and about an incredible man. Stephenson is so calm, patient, empathetic, driven and despite all he‘s seen and done, optimistic. He highlights the cruel injustices and inhumane treatment of our fellow men and women. Despite their crimes (or lack thereof) its a basic human right to be treated with equality and dignity. A must read.

This was an intense and tense filled read. Despite initial skepticism at such a male dominated world, I was won over with the character and world building. And, the introduction of Shae and Wen and how they developed made this a gripping read. If you are a fan of family dynamics mixed in with power, magic, marital arts and loyalty, this is the read for you.

Quite an enjoyable read. I do wish that she had gone a different direction with Emily at the end, as well as Miriam. It would have been more interesting if both didn‘t fall under typical stereotypical tropes when it come to what supposedly make women happy and fulfilled. Nevertheless, a fun book to travel with.