I really loved Sally Hepworth's new book, Darling Girls.

I just read The Wish by Nicolas Sparks. I needed something light and heartwarming and thought he'd be a safe choice, but that was the most depressing read. I wont spoil it, but every crappy thing that could happen did. "I Wish" that I'd chosen a different book.

Just finished The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner. I listened to the audiobook and also read the book book, both from the library. This is the first book by her that I've read, and I enjoyed it as a change of pace from mysteries/thrillers. It's similar to Elin Hilderbrand or Nancy Thayer, with family relationships and the setting in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

I'll definitely read more by Brenner.

Anonymous wrote:This thread is reminding me that I put down Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad after getting about halfway, and apparently have not picked it up for two weeks. The writing itself is reasonably compelling, but the story/stories circle around the music industry/ musicians, which, in perhaps an unpopular opinion, I just find incredibly tiresome as a subject for fiction. The characters are predictably eff'd up and self-regarding. 50-50 on whether I continue.

But put me in the pro-Tom Lake camp, 8/10, though probably at least 1 point is due to Meryl Streep since (I did it on audiobook).

Also about halfway through Haidt's Anxious Generation (why online childhood is so bad for mental health). It's fine, and I think the minor political controversy around the book is basically all beside the point (of the book). It is just that Hari's Stolen Focus already did the subject and did it (much) better...

Goodness- A Visit from the Goon Squad is one of my all-time favorites. If you like that, I recommend Modern Lovers. Also Jennifer Egans other books are good but not as good as goon squad.

“Lethal White”, book 4 of JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith’s CB Strike mysteries. I’m hooked on this series. Got it from Overdrive. .

This thread is reminding me that I put down Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad after getting about halfway, and apparently have not picked it up for two weeks. The writing itself is reasonably compelling, but the story/stories circle around the music industry/ musicians, which, in perhaps an unpopular opinion, I just find incredibly tiresome as a subject for fiction. The characters are predictably eff'd up and self-regarding. 50-50 on whether I continue.

But put me in the pro-Tom Lake camp, 8/10, though probably at least 1 point is due to Meryl Streep since (I did it on audiobook).

Also about halfway through Haidt's Anxious Generation (why online childhood is so bad for mental health). It's fine, and I think the minor political controversy around the book is basically all beside the point (of the book). It is just that Hari's Stolen Focus already did the subject and did it (much) better...

I just finished Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. It was an easy read. If you like SNL, this book is for you.

We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib, a queer Muslim memoir - read for a book club, didn't like. No real personality coming out of pages and author seems not to have processed and trauma. Book felt like things ended just as repressed as when it started, but with a few new labels. Her photography is beautiful though. I wish that level of attunement could have come into her words and her story.

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett - liked it quite a bit - it's a wicked witch magic filled spin-off on Anne of Green Gables. Enjoyable and interesting book geared at 8-12 but good for all ages especially if you are fond of Anne.

Anonymous wrote:I’m reading The Fraud by Zadie Smith and I’m finding it really hard to get in to. I’m more than half way through.

DNF!

I give books 100 pages and if I'm not into it, I move on. My want-to-read list is too long to spend them on something that isn't working.

I’m reading The Fraud by Zadie Smith and I’m finding it really hard to get in to. I’m more than half way through.

Anonymous wrote:I finished “Grendel” and think I may need to take a philosophy class to fully appreciate it.

I’ve started “How High We Go in the Dark” and am feeling skeptical.

I read “How High” about a year ago. Curious to hear your thoughts after you’re done reading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m still plugging through Spare. I am listening to it (I don’t do audiobooks often - but I occasionally do it when it’s a famous person reading their autobio). Anyway, I’m going to plow through it to get it over with but I’m not sure how much more of his whining I can take!

I want to read The Women when I finish this.

I hated The Women. And I loved some of her other books like The Great Alone. Hated Firefly Lane. I'm hit or miss with her.

I have read 3 of her books. I liked The Four Winds (read first) and the Nightingale (read second) a lot. I gave those 4 stars each. For the Great Alone (read 3rd) - I loved the AK scenery but with the ending, I was kind of like - come on now - and gave it 3 stars. So we will see what I think of The Women. I am really not sure - maybe I’m over her schtick - not sure yet!!

Me again - I gave the women 4 stars. It was probably 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I mainly gave the high review because I don’t read books about the Vietnam war often, so it was interesting to read about it.

Anonymous wrote:I finished “Grendel” and think I may need to take a philosophy class to fully appreciate it.

I’ve started “How High We Go in the Dark” and am feeling skeptical.

I don't really understand reading books that aren't rewarding or making you happy. DNF and move on to something you'll actually like! There are no points for reading something you don't enjoy.

I finished “Grendel” and think I may need to take a philosophy class to fully appreciate it.

I’ve started “How High We Go in the Dark” and am feeling skeptical.

Friendly neighborhood ARC reviewer here with the books I read that have release dates this month...

Funny Story by Emily Henry - (out tomorrow, 4/23) I was slow to warm to Emily Henry, as I thought her early books used the miscommunication trope without purpose, but she gets better and better. This most recent book is my favorite of all. Woman moves to be with her partner, just to have him drop her for his childhood best friend. She's a librarian and can't afford to live alone and becomes roommates with the childhood best friend's ex. The predictable happens, but it's an entertaining story.

A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge - (out tomorrow) Sequel to a book about a Franco-American in Paris post-WW2. She's living with a grandfather and his partner, both of whom were French Resistance. The main character goes to a public demonstration at the Cordon Bleu with her neighbor (Julia Child!) and they witness a poisoning. I remember the first book as being entertaining and this one was as well. Julia Child is not a main character, but appears regularly.

What Cannot Be Said by CS Harris - (already out) The 19th book in a series about an aristocrat/veteran of the peninsular war fighting crime in London. There's a larger story about what will happen to Napoleon after Waterloo happening at the same time as the main character investigates a murder that seems like a copy cat of one that happened years ago. Kept me guessing until the end.

The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacor - (already out) A woman establishes a gambling club for women during the regency period. The man who was courting her proposed to her cousin instead, then was killed in a shipwreck. He shows up alive, the cousin has already married, and the main character wants nothing to do with him. Turns out he got involved with the A bit of a second chance romance. Different and fun.