It’s a miracle but, so far, I’m ahead on my Goodreads reading challenge. Of course, that’s thanks to being able to listen to books as well as physically read them, but still. I’ll take any victory I can. Below is a list of everything I’ve read since January 2023, along with brief reviews. Perhaps you’ll find something you’d like to try reading this summer on here.
I started reading this last year. Due to a whole bunch of crippling family circumstances, it took me a while but I finally finished reading it in January. And boy, how I loved this book! The way the author painted her characters was achingly relatable. A wondrous tale of immigrant friends looking for their identities. Highly recommend.
This was different from what I usually read and it was refreshing in its departure. A long, multi-generational family saga, it was a bit like reading a soap opera but I learned so much. I did not watch the Netflix adaptation and I hear that much was changed in it.
The Cabin at the End of the World
Spooky and so thought provoking. Not a long read so even if thrillers are not your jam, I highly recommend it for all the ethical dilemmas the author brings up.
I was afraid this would be a lot like Defending Jacob but it wasn’t at all. The book was cowritten by Jodi Picout and Jennifer Finney Boylan, and it’s incredible how seamlessly their voices blend. There is a tremendous revelation about half way in and it’d be a spoiler for me to reveal it here, but again, I learned so much more than I could’ve expected to from a fiction novel. Highly recommend.
My first Isabel Allende novel! Much like The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, this one is also a familial saga. The language is beautiful, as are the characters.
This one was a let down. It was a fun read, with some unexpected twists, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I’m getting bored with this sort of genre tropes: rich families are mysterious and crazy, not rich families are innocent and fluffy. An engaging read, nevertheless.
The description was intriguing but the book was a bit too much for me. Much of it is magical realism and I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief. Again, it was well written, but I just picked the wrong genre for myself.
Now this was a real psychological thriller, especially for anyone out there struggling with sleep disorders. A very short read, I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this sort of scaries.
I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while, and I’m so glad I finally did. It was so lovely. I listened to it on Audible, and I have to say-the narrator did such justice to it. For me, her voice made the book. Recommend this one to those interested in family type sagas and/or Jewish American history.
I haven’t been this surprised since Gone Girl. What a twist! I did not see it coming. Like, AT ALL! Highly recommend to those who like reading psychological suspense type novels.
A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka
Needless to say, I have a soft spot for immigration stories, especially those of Soviet-Jewish refugees. This is a wonderfully crafted story, told primarily from the perspective of a child. We have very much different stories but the author’s is relatable, anyway. Highly recommend.
What a joy! Just a lovely, lovely story, full of multi-dimensional, fascinating characters. If you like Agatha Christie, for some reason, I think you’d enjoy this.
This is book two in the Thursday Murder Club series, and it’s just as enjoyable as book one. The characters keep developing and you fall more and more in love with them. It’s wonderful to have a popular series where central characters are those in their 70s and living active lives. I wish this retirement community were real because, though I’m too young for it, I’d love to buy in!
This book came with such glorious reviews, I was excited to read it. The cover is so pretty, too! But, again, this is a case of mismatched expectations. It aims at depth but still comes across superficial. It’s a good beach read, but I wasn’t too crazy about the characters and their development, and the writing seems a bit too episodic. Not one I’d eagerly recommend.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these so we can compare notes!