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Late June/Early July 2025 Reads

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Adolescent protagonist Junie’s got a lot going on. She’s a slave living on Ballerine Plantation. Her older sister, Minnie,  just passed away. Her mother passed away years ago. Her job on the plantation is to basically wait on the owner’s daughter. The two are best friends. Violet, the daughter, even taught Junie to read so that they could discuss books together. At night, Junie roams the woods of the property encountering Minnie’s ghost who wants her to take care of some unfinished business. Outside the spirit world, Violet’s father wants to marry her off to a man from New Orleans that doesn’t seem like the best match for Violet. If Violet moves, does this mean that Junie, too, must go to NOLA and leave the rest of her family?  This one had a slow start, but once it gained steam, it was quite enjoyable with some secrets being uncovered, characters I despised, and others I cheered on. If you’re a fan of this era of historical fiction, this is a good one. 4 stars. 

The Woman They Could Not Silence (One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear) by Kate Moore

Have you ever heard of Elizabeth Packard? Neither had I until I read this narrative nonfiction. And we should. We all should. She is amazing. To say her story is incredible might not even be enough praise for this remarkable woman. In 1860, Packard’s husband put her in an insane asylum. Was she insane? Of course not. Were any of the women there? For the most part, no.. But they were women. Who had their own thoughts, needs, wants of freedom. So shut them up and shut them away. But Packard wasn’t just going to sit back and take it. She had a mission to free herself and others. And she would not give up. This book looks daunting at over 500 pages, but it’s extremely accessible for nonfiction. If you’re looking for a read about a strong woman, this one’s for you. There are some very difficult parts to read. Like put it down for awhile to digest as the anger bubbles up knowing that this happened to so many women. Women like Elizabeth Packard need to be lifted up to the forefront of history instead of remaining unknown names. 5 stars. 

Falling Out of Time by Margaret Peterson-Haddix

This is the sequel to the 1996 middle grade book I read the last time I blogged. And it was good! Since it’s a sequel, I’m not going to divulge any details. If you are a middle grade teacher, check these out. They’d be good recommendations for students or for readalouds! 4 stars

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Way late to the party with this one. And I wasn’t a huge fan. I’ve not read and did not know the plot of David Copperfield, but when I read about it upon finishing, the connections are there. But this one was just too long for me, and I didn’t enjoy the way the story was told. The narrator told the story instead of the author showing what happened. The writing itself isn’t bad by any means. But lots of “telling” and little dialog. Any reader is going to cheer for the protagonist, but it was one bad thing after the next after the next. I’m not one for shiny, happy books, but this was just too much. At 560 pages, it felt like it went on forever. Want a better Kingsolver read? Go back in her catalog and read The Poisonwood Bible. That one’s a winner! 3 stars.

The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff

I bought a book at a discount story up in Ironwood that I realized upon going into Goodreads was the sequel to this. I may have been able to read it as a standalone but getting this on my Kindle first was the best bet. And I’m glad I did! The title character is Emma. She is newly married when the Nazis invade Poland. Her husband goes into the underground while she ends up in a Jewish ghetto with her parents until the underground gets her out and sends her to live with Jacob’s aunt taking on a new identity. The Kommandant takes a liking to her, and the resistance jumps on Emma (now Anna) using this relationship to gain information on the enemy. She takes on this dangerous role to help herself, the cause, and the Jewish community. Fast pace, good characters, well written. Another one with a bit of a slow start but once the pace picked up, a solid historical fiction read. 4 stars

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

Yay!  A new Kevin Wilson! Madeline Hill and her mother run a farm in Tennessee. Madeline’s been doing it since she was a teenager 20 years ago  when her father left. She feels stuck now. She can’t leave her mother to try and do it by herself. One day, a stranger named Reuben shows up claiming he is her half brother. Apparently, her father had a family before her and has had multiple families since. Reuben hired a PI to get information on said father and additional siblings. He wants to meet them and find their father. This gets Madeline out of her rut and on an unexpected road trip with this new brother. Loveable characters abound, as always occurs with Wilson’s work. Great dialog to prose ration. The end was a little rushed, but still a great book! 4 stars

Who is the Liar by Laure Lee Bahr

This was one of my free Prime Reads for the month. 1980s small town and the Satanic Panic is alive and well. There are more and more novels with this as a backdrop in the last few years.  In this small town, a child murderer is on the loose. Topaz, 10, has parents protecting her and her three older sisters. But her sister Ruby, 16, is giving them a run for their money. And they don’t even know about Ruby’s biggest secret; she brings Topaz to their basement to show her that she has who she believes the killer to be bloodied and tied up! Ruby tells lies, and Topaz doesn’t know what to believe and what to do. Things are a little unrealistic here, and it’s drawn out in that it’s a lot of Topaz deciding what to do and the consequences that come with her choice. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. Average suspense read. 3 stars

The Diplomat’s Wife by Pam Jenoff

This is the sequel to The Kommandant’s Girl. And if you like WWII fiction, I suggest both of these. Characters do move from one novel to the next, so I’m not going to share any details. However, this one was even better than its predecessor! 5 stars

A Dangerous Education by Megan Chance

I read a book by this author last month and stumbled upon this as a cheap ebook. And am I glad I did! Very good! The backdrop for this is the McCarthy era. Years prior, protagonist Rosemary met a boy with ideas radical compared to her parents. She fell in love and became pregnant. Her parents found out and forced her to give the baby up. Fast forward to when the book (mainly) takes place, and Rosemary is a teacher. Her mother is ill and wants Rosemary to take a job at a school nearby for “wayward girls.” Soon, she realizes her mother wants her to take on this role because one of the students is the baby Rosemary gave up. But who is it? As Rosemary tries to figure it out, she creates a relationship with the girls that spirals out of control. I loved this book. I loved the setting. I loved the plot. I LOVED the characters. Especially Rosemary. They all seemed so very real. Fast pace, great plot, great ending. 5 stars. Highly, highly recommended. 

El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott

Sisters Harper, Debra, and Pam are in dire straights. Debra’s husband is ill. Pam’s in the middle of a messy divorce. Harper is so far in debt she has to move in with Pam. But Pam thinks she finds the answer to all of their financial troubles: The Wheel. It seems like a pyramid scheme with some women in town. Needless to say, things go awry. This reminded me of the TV “Good Girls.” This one was just average. It moved pretty quickly overall, but I didn’t really love any of the characters. I liked it enough to keep going, but it wasn’t something I finished and was ready to recommend. This does seem like something that could be made into a TV series (like Abbott’s Dare Me was) 3 stars. 

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Late June/Early July 2025 Reads

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June 2025 Reads

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

I saw this book compared to Jodi Picoult. It definitely has that feel, but up until the end, things were pretty slow. Protagonist Marie is an anesthesiologist in a Seattle hospital. She’s one of the best at her job. However, that all changes with a disaster in the operating room and major fallout afterward. Strong start and end, but the middle was so wordy and slow moving, I could only give this one two stars. 

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

I was very excited for this one as I loved Vuong’s first novel: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. It was short and full of beautiful language and emotion. This one also had beautiful language, but, in my opinion, too much of it. With over 400 pages devoted mainly to character development, this was not the book for me. 

Hai is 19 and lives in Gladness, Connecticut. One summer evening he is about to jump off a bridge and end his life. That is until Grazina interrupts him. She’s a widow with dementia, and she convinces him to rethink his choice. With nowhere else to go, Hai becomes her caretaker. Hai does have family, and some of them do show up in the course of the novel; however, he doesn’t feel as though he can return to his mother after some lies he’s told. 

Tough to get through. 2 stars.

With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

Another one I was excited for! And though this one was better than his last release, it wasn’t one of his better efforts. 

This novel takes place on a train in the 1950s. The train is going from Philadelphia to Chicago. Protagonist Anna Matheson has brought six people onto this train who did something leading to the downfall of her family 12 years prior. She doesn’t hope to kill anyone. She wants them to admit what they did then deliver them to authorities in Chicago. However, death arrives on the train. We learn one-by-one how these characters wove their way into the disaster that occurred involving Anna’s family. 

I would imagine that this gives Murder on the Orient Express vibes, but I’ve never read that book. 

Different from Sager’s usual plots, which I give him credit for. 3 stars. 

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

I love Kelly’s Lilac Girls and the books that follow. This wasn’t quite as good as those, but overall, a solid historical fiction. 

The book opens with thirty-something Mari visiting the title destination in hopes of learning more about her recently deceased mother after finding the name of one of the residents on a piece of paper from her mother. Said resident begins a story that, as a reader, I forgot would eventually come back to Mari. 

The story focuses on the Smith sisters in 1942. Cadence was 19 and Briar 16.  Their brother is sent to war, their farm is failing, and the Army arrives on the shores of the Vineyard. Meanwhile, Briar is keeping a close eye on a German UBoat she believes she’s seeing in the ocean. Cadence and a friend begin the title book club. 

There’s a lot more intricacies that take place in this fairly short read, so I’ll stop sharing at that. 

Good characters, good prose-to-dialog ratio. 4 stars. My only beef was that original story not weaving its way in again until the end. 

The Harder I Fight the More I Love You: A Memoir by Neko Case

Neko Case is known mostly for her work as a solo artist, but I know her as one of the lead singers of one of my fave bands: The New Pornographers. So I was excited to read about her time with the band. That was exactly one paragraph of this book. Disappointment. BUT it was not a loss. Case is a brilliant writer. Powerful language with even the simplest of events. She had a rough childhood as she was the result of a teenage pregnancy with parents not ready to be parents. Obviously, she overcame many obstacles, and her musical talent brought her much success. Neko Case fan? Recommend it. This is not a long book, and it’s interesting to get a glimpse into her future even if more present-day events didn’t find their way into the book. 4 stars

Going Home in the Dark by Dean Koontz

I read a LOT of this author as a teenager and in college. I read ALL the horror back then. Upon reading the premise of this one, I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m not sure if Koontz was always this wordy, but this one didn’t have as much substance as I was hoping for. 

There are four main characters in this book who were outcasts as youths so became friends in their small town of Maple Grove. Only one of them remains living in town; the remaining three all leave for their arts-centered careers. But all three return when Ernie falls into a coma. They must force not only Ernie’s scary mother, but a scary figure lurking in town they were meant to forget.

Overall, I wasn’t thrilled, but I did enjoy the second -person narration that cropped up every now and again. That was well-written. 3 stars. 

Running Out of Time (#1) by Margaret Peterson-Haddix

My cousin’s daughter had this as a read aloud in her fifth grade class, and school was over before the teacher could finish reading. So she asked me to check it out for her. Of course, I had to read it first! The premise was intriguing, and I love this middle grade author. 

Jessie is the protagonist, and she lives in a frontier village in Indiana. Children of their town begin getting sick and dying. Jessie’s mother uses natural remedies to assist those in town who need medical help, but she can’t help what is happening. She sets Jessie out on a journey that she could never imagine it would take her. 

Well written. Fast pace. Good dialog. I’ve got the second book on hold! 4 stars. 

Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine

Most of you probably know this author from The Last Mrs. Parrish. If you liked that one, get this one!

Annabelle is married with two daughters. She’s married to a doctor and has a successful job in marketing herself. Her oldest daughter is a freshman in high school and pulling away from Annabelle a bit. But the bigger problem is that Annabelle is plagued by nightmares. Then, they start coming to fruition in real life. The nightmares involve her spouse and both of her children. And in the latter, one of her daughters is in danger. 

I stayed up til midnight reading this almost in one shot. Fast pace. Every time I thought I had it figured out: nope! Wrong! Kept me guessing throughout and had a solid ending. 5 stars!

Glamorous Notions  by Megan Chance

With the heat index in the hundreds, Nathan and I spent most of the weekend in the pool. So I needed a pool book. This was a free Prime novel, and it was a good one!

This one is pretty … mysterious for a lack of a better word. The protagonist kisses her small Ohio town goodbye to be a costume designer in 1955 Hollywood. Secrets are everywhere: both in Hollywood and the art academy in Rome that she takes part in. 

The mystery is what makes this book so good, and going in not knowing much at all made this 4 stars. Strong female lead and kept me guessing. 

Broken Country byClare Leslie Hall

This is quite a popular one as I was 79th on the hold list in the spring. My mom loved this book which, honestly, made me a little leary as we don’t always enjoy the same reads. However, this one was worthwhile. 

The book takes place in the UK in the 1960s. We meet Beth and Frank after they’ve lost their only child in an accident. Their marriage is already on the rocks when Gabriel, a former lover from Beth’s past returns to town with his own son. After another unfortunate incident, Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life. 

In the meantime, due to chapters in the past and a little in the present, we know that the family is involved in a court trial. This slowly works its way out as the book progresses. It takes over in the end. Which I needed. Because I didn’t want this to just be a story about a woman who didn’t know which man she wanted. 

Quick, kept me interested, and I didn’t see the end coming. 4 stars.

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June 2025 Reads

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Late May - Early June Reads

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

Very unique concept as readers follow Sara who is returning home from a conference when she’s swept away at LAX by RAA agents. RAA is the Risk Assessment Administration. This group’s algorithm has predicted that Sara will likely cause harm to her husband so must stay in their care for 21 days, away from her husband and children. Sara joins a number of other women with their own stories who have yet to commit any crime. Her stay at the center gets longer and longer as the rules continue to change. 

I certainly could not help but cheer Sara and the other women in this book as they attempted to free themselves from detainment for something they did not even do. 

The premise is a scary thought. A plot like that used to seem unbelievable but doesn’t seem that way anymore. 4 stars

Into the Fall by Tamara L. Miller

In this read, Sarah Anderson and her two young children wake up one morning on a camping trip to find her husband gone. Of course, she is a suspect as police begin to look into his disappearance. Things from his past are revealed. But overall, this was not a win for me. Not worth the time. 2 stars

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

This book was originally published in 1995 and translated into English for re-release in 2022. And it’s a good one. 

The narrator lives deep underground in a cage with 39 other women. They are watched every second of every day by male guards. They have no memory of how they got there or when they got there. They have no concept of time. The narrator is the youngest, significantly, of all of the women. She does not converse as much with the other women, but when she starts to, they realize she may be the one who can lead the group to escape. 

This is another one that the plot used to seem unbelievable, but today…

4 stars for solid writing. Great plot. I didn’t love the end, but I can appreciate why the author ended it the way/when she did. 

Honey by Isabel Banta

This one focuses on the life of a teen pop star from her early success and tumult that follows as she strives to stay relevant. The writing was simple. Lots of dialog. Some good parts of the plot while some dragged. Certainly nothing to relate to! If you’re into the late 90s/early 2000s pop scene, you might want to give this one a read.

I did like the song lyrics and magazine interviews interwoven between some chapters. Those kinds of things are my jam. 3 stars

The Book of Records by Madeleine Thein 

I was not a fan of this. One star. 1 star. I don’t even know why I finished it. Here’s what Goodreads has to say:

A novel that leaps across centuries past and future, as if different eras were separated by only a door.

Lina and her father have arrived at an enclave called The Sea, a staging-post between migrations, with only a few possessions. In this mysterious and shape-shifting place, a building made of time, pasts and futures collide. Lina befriends her neighbors: Bento, a Jewish scholar in seventeenth-century Amsterdam; Blucher, a philosopher in 1930s Germany fleeing Nazi persecution; and Jupiter, a poet of Tang Dynasty China. Under the tutelage of these great thinkers, Lina equips herself to face her ailing father’s troubling admissions about his role in their family’s tragic past. Lina’s encounters with her intellectual and personal forebearers force her to reckon with difficult questions of guilt, responsibility, and the possibility of redemption.

Profound, exquisitely written and with extraordinary subtlety of thought, The Book of Records explores the role of fate in history, the migratory nature of humanity, our search for home, and the place of faith and humanity in our world.

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

To finish off my 24-25 school-year reading, I read this one recommended by a colleague: a YA fractured fairy tale. 

This novel opens with protagonist, Isabelle (aka one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters), cutting off her toes to fit into one of Cinderella’s shoes. It becomes easy to feel for this character as she has been trying to live up to unrealistic expectations. 

Strong start and strong finish but some slow parts in between. Solid dialog, though! 3 stars

And that made it 115 for the school year. Not bad while I didn’t read for all of the many weeks I was sick.

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Beauty Queens was my foray into this author. And this could not have been more different! 

I went into this pretty much blind. I knew there were three plotlines:

The first taking place in 1940s Germany focusing on two friends. The second taking place in 1980s East Berlin following an American teen who has moved to the city for her father’s work. The third is set  in spring 2020 in NYC while two teens are trying to survive lockdown.

Going into it knowing just this was perfect. So that’s where I will leave you. Great characters. Great pace to slowly weave together the three story lines. Well written. The first storyline was a little too slow-moving for me, but that’s my only criticism. 4.5 stars. A strong start to my summer reads.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

I have never read this author. After this one, I will not be diving into anymore of her work. So here’s what Goodreads has to say:

Laurel Gray Hawthorne needs to make things pretty. Coming from a family with a literal skeleton in their closet, she's developed this talent all her life, whether helping her willful mother to smooth over the reality of her family's ugly past, or elevating humble scraps of unwanted fabric into nationally acclaimed art quilts.

Her sister Thalia, an impoverished "Actress" with a capital A, is her opposite, and prides herself in exposing the lurid truth lurking behind life's everyday niceties. And while Laurel's life was neatly on track, a passionate marriage, a treasured daughter, and a lovely home in lovely suburban Victorianna, everything she holds dear is thrown into question the night she is visited by an apparition in her bedroom. The ghost appears to be her 14-year-old neighbor Molly Dufresne, and when Laurel follows this ghost , she finds the real Molly floating lifeless in her swimming pool. While the community writes the tragedy off as a suicide, Laurel can't. Reluctantly enlisting Thalia's aid, Laurel sets out on a life-altering investigation that triggers startling revelations about her own guarded past, the truth about her marriage, and the girl who stopped swimming.

Richer and more rewarding than any story from Joshilyn Jackson, THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING is destined both to delight Jackson's loyal fans and capture a whole new audience.

2 stars for simplistic writing, unlovable characters, and a boring plot overall. The very end had some good moments, but not one to put on your list. 

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

I was unaware, until the end, that this was inspired by a true literary mystery (which I’ll definitely be looking into). 

Clara Harrington was just 8 years old in 1927 when her mother disappeared. Her mother, Bronwyn, was the author of a very famous book she’d written at age 8 with her own created language. A genius, no doubt!

Flashforward to 1952. Clara now has her own 8-year-old daughter. She is divorced, teaches art, and illustrates children’s books. Out of the blue, a man from London calls and says that he has a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost created language. People have speculated for years whether this was something Bronwyn left behind as it would be the key to translating the sequel to her book. Needless to say, Clara’s not quite sure what to think. The dictionary is accompanied by a note addressed to Clara saying it and the dictionary must be put into her hands. So over to London she and her daughter sail. 

The last 100 pages of this one were extremely satisfying. Fast pace. Lovable characters. Solid ending. Just took a bit too long to get there.  4 stars. 

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

I started this one last night before I went to bed and got up and finished it this morning. This one’s definitely not for everyone, but it was for me! 

Eve and her girlfriend, Charlie, recently moved into a big, old house in the middle of nowhere. One night while Eve is waiting for Charlie to get home, a man and his family show up at the door. He says this was his childhood home, and he’d like to give his wife and three kids a quick tour. At first, Eve says no. Then she reconsiders. That was a big mistake. 

The quick tour turns into a longer stay. And odd things start happening. 

In between the fast-moving chapters are snippets of studies, TV show scripts, police reports, and the like. I’m always a sucker for this! These ones were mostly ambiguous as they emerged. How did they connect to the story? Things became more clear in the second half. But not completely clear. This is not an ending tied up with a neat little bow. Just like the tone from the first page, it leaves you feeling unsettled at best!

Great read! 5 stars

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Late May - Early June Reads

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April-Early May 2025 Reads

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

This is a book that Klune wrote before Cerulean Sea but was just released earlier this year. It reads differently than his other books. He compares it to an action movie. I agree. I don’t like action movies. However, I did like this book. Klune has a way of making you love unconventional characters that is second to none. 

The book is set in 1995. Protagonist Nate has just lost his parents. Since he and his older brother have no relationship to speak of, he is, essentially, alone. He takes a trip to his family’s summer cabin in Oregon where he comes upon a man named Alex and a little girl who has named herself Artemis Darth Vader. Who is this strange little girl? You’ll find out. It’ll take awhile, but you’ll find out. And you’ll love her no matter what. 

4 stars due to the taking awhile to find out, but if you’re a fan of Klune, don’t delay in picking this one up!

As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner 

My  mom actually bought me this historical fiction taking place in Philadelphia in the midst of the Spanish Flu. The Bright family - parents and three daughters - arrive in Philadelphia to start life fresh just as the pandemic arrives. The father works in a funeral home which makes him one of the busiest men in town. There are many subplots besides the pandemic. 

The mother and daughters all narrate the events, and the voices are well done. The daughters are unique and each lovable. Things got a little slow in the middle, but overall, it was engaging. 

4 stars. Well-written. Recommended for historical fiction fans who enjoy well-done multiple narrators. 

I was surprised to find at the end that this was written prior to Covid. I just figured that it was inspired by our own most recent pandemic, but alas, I was wrong! 

Old Habits Die Hard by Melissa Westemeier

Am I a cozy mystery fan? Not really. But when your friend starts a new series, and it piques your interest, you buy it! No questions asked! And I’m glad I did.

You won’t be able to deny an affection for the protagonist once you start reading. Sister Bernadette is a retired nun and former middle school teacher. She lives in a retirement community where the sudden death of a resident spices up the existence of all the other residents who Westemeier convincingly makes suspects. But not Sister Bernie of course. She’s helping out Detective and former student AJ Lewis (my fellow Star Wars aficionado) uncover the to the deceased. 

I have to call it a win when I love a book written in a genre that’s not my typical cup of tea. Great dialog,, fast pace, and solid whodunnit I cannot wait to see what is on tap for Sister Bernie in the next installment!  5 stars. 

Sandwich by Catherine Newman 

Best book of the year so far. If you’re a female reader in your 40s or older, read this book. You will relate to this top-notch narrator.

This book is about 250 pages. I read it in bed on the morning of Good Friday never closing it once. Rocky is on a summer vacation in Cape Cod with her husband, grown children, and her parents. They make this trip every summer. Recent events cause Rocky to remember some of the difficult times in her past. 

The premise is simple, but it’s the life of a lot of women. The trials and tribulations that make up your life and how (peri)menopause hits like a ton of bricks. And how no one in your family can understand that. Rocky’s thoughts and dialog made me laugh out loud about a dozen times and cry twice. 

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 5 huge stars

The Crash by Freida McFadden

This is better than McFadden’s other books that she cranks out at breakneck speed. 

Protagonist Tegan is eight months pregnant, and her life is a mess. As she nears her due date (from a one-night stand she barely remembers), she decides to spend some time with her brother. The weather has other ideas. She drives straight into a blizzard. Pregnancy brain? No surprise, she crashes. She’s consequently saved by a man who brings her to his home, but the longer she’s there, she’s not sure if she is safe after all. 

Like McFadden’s other books, we see the plot through the eyes of different characters, and events from the past crop up to complicate things.

If you’re a fan of thrillers, this is one is fast and satisfying. 5 stars.

Litani by Jess Lourey

Jess Lourey’s books all kind of feel the same, but they are good. If you’re a fan of her previous novels, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well.

Protagonist Frankie is 14. She’s not seen her mother in years as after her parents divorced, she lived with her father in California. But after her father passes, she returns to the small Minnesota town in the title to live with her busy mother who is the county prosecutor. Frankie learns soon after her arrival of something other children refer to as “The Game.” She can tell right away this is not a fun game. And that’s putting it mildly. 

Fast pace, lovable protagonist, and a satisfying end. 4 stars

Before You Found Me by Brook Beyfuss

Another 5-star read. The end of a solid stretch of books. 

Rowan leaves an abusive relationship. Her parents are long dead. She’s not spoken to her much-older sister in years, and she decides to visit her friend in New England. However, her friend isn’t there. But she does give Rowan permission to stay at her house. There she makes a shocking discovery: the neighbor, Lee, is keeping his eleven-year-old son prisoner in his basement. Rowan decides she must free Gabriel (son). They hatch a plan and set out for Oklahoma to meet up with Celia: Rowan’s estranged sister. But how long can they escape their pasts? 

Another read with lovable characters and an engaging plot. And I didn’t even mind the romance that crept in as much as I usually do! 5 stars

The Third Son by S.E. Green

I bought this cheap ebook since I loved the previous book I read by this author. But this one went way off the rails at the end, and I just felt uncomfortable by the culmination.

Carter Grady is married to his best friend’s widow. He is about to adopt her sons. Life is good. Until he receives a call informing him that a one-night stand from years ago has passed and listed him as the father of her ten-year-old son, Frances. 

To say Frances turns the family situation upside down in an understatement. You can’t possibly imagine the things he does. 

This one was a bit much for me.  2 stars.

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman

As soon as I finished Sandwich I put this book, its predecessor, on hold. It wasn’t as good.

In this short read, we meet Edi and Ash, friends since childhood, when Edi is in hospice for terminal cancer. The hospice is not as near to her family as Edi needs, but it is close to Ash; and Ash takes care of her friend until the end reliving the goods and bads from their nearly life-long friendship.

You know what is going to happen at the end. But that didn’t stop me from sobbing out on my deck on a Sunday afternoon upon finishing. 3 stars

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

I’d seen rave reviews for this one,but it was just average for me. This may have been that I started it one weekend, didn’t read much during the week, and finished the following weekend when I had a little trouble recalling some of the fine details from earlier in the plot. 

Evie Porter and her boyfriend, Ryan, seem to be living a pretty goodlife. But Evie Porter is not who she says she is. Evie’s boss (whom she does not know the identify of) is paying her large sums of money to gather every bit of information she can on Ryan. But now Evie is falling for Ryan. Things take an even more unexpected turn when one of Ryan’s old friends and said friend’s girlfriend show up: a twist, if you will. 

Lots of flashbacks with characters who come in and out of play throughout the course of the book. They were all needed for the plot to work, but it just wasn’t the most enjoyable. I did like the ending, but it wasn’t anything special overall. 3 stars

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

This author wrote Take My Hand which was a five-star read. This one fell a little short, but it was still good. 

Nikki has been estranged from her grandmother for many years, but her grandmother unexpectedly calls on her to visit. She’s hoping her grandmother is ready to tell her about the rift between her (grandmother) and Nikki’s mother, but she has some information for Nikki about their family that’s much longer ago than this fight. The title refers to a kingdom in the Carolinas of former slaves whose queen was Nikki’s ancestor. She has a little trouble believing this kingdom, Happy Land, was a real place. 

Family secrets are divulged the more Nikki learns that lead to more present day family history. 

Good writing, good characters, interesting plot. 4 stars

Three Mothers by Hannah Beckerman

At some points during this book, I liked it. Other points felt insanely cliche. 

The first of the three mothers is Abby. Abby lost her husband five years ago. She has two teenaged daughters - Isla and Clio - who could not be more different. Clio feels like she’s living in Isla’s shadows. Next is Abby’s best friend: Nicole. Nicole’s husband is a workaholic. She, too, has two teenagers: sons Jack and Nathaniel. Finally is Jenna. Jenna is a single mom struggling to raise her teenaged son, Callum. Callum is Isla’s boyfriend, and Nathaniel pines after Isla. 

At the beginning of the novel, Isla is killed. The plot jumps back and forth in time and between the three mothers who narrate to uncover what exactly happened with Isla’s untimely death.  Everyone seems like a suspect until the end. At first, the end seemed a little drawn out, but each mother had to say her piece, so to speak, on how the events played out. And all women, even those who are fictional, deserve to share their feelings! 3 stars

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April-early May 2025 Reads

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March 2025 Reads

As we close the door on the month of March, I thought I had dodged any other illness. Wrong! Covid came knocking. So my spring break was spent mainly in bed, but at least, I wasn't so sick I couldn't read.

Impossible Creatures (#1) by Katherine Rundell - 4 stars

     Fantasy is not my normal genre, but a recommendation from a friend got me out of my comfort zone. This is definitely a book that I can recommend to students. And I’ll love recommending it because there is a strong, female character. Mal, on the run, teams up with Christopher upon his arrival on an island full of magical creatures. Said creatures, however, are dying. Some of them at least. And the two are on an adventure to find out why. Fast moving, some illustrations, and a glossary of mythical creatures at the end which, I imagine, is helpful to young readers. 

Havoc by Christopher Bollen - 4 stars

  This book was crazy! A good crazy. Protagonist Maggie is eighty-one years old. She gets her joy, or entertainment,  by trying to “fix” what she views as problems in others’ lives. She has left her life in the United States, and post-Covid, is doing this at a luxury hotel on the shores of the Nile in Egypt.Things are going smoothly until she tries to fix Tess who is at the hotel with her eight-year-old son Otto. I’ll stop there because this is a short, fast read with an ending that was a bit too fast for me. But still a solid read!

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell - 3 stars

I like Rowell’s writing. A lot. I just wasn’t a fan of this plot. Not for me. I bought this one kind of on a whim as a cheap ebook. Shiloh and Cary were friends in high school. He left after graduation and joined the Navy. She stayed in their small Nebraska town, got married, had two kids, and is now divorced when Cary returns for a mutual friend’s wedding. Then it’s a will-they-or-won’t-they story. Character driven indeed which is not my favorite. But if you like a love story, this is probably a good one for you as the writing is very good.

Darkly by Marisah Pessl - 4 stars

I absolutely loved Pessl’s book Nightfilm. This is a YA effort which I wasn’t aware of when it showed up as a cheap ebook (it hasn’t been at the library), but it was still a good read. The title is a series of games designed by Louisiana Vede in the 80s. Dia is one of the cult-like followers, and she is one of few teens around the world to get an internship at the company which has gone … dark … since Veda’s death. Secrets abound as the kids arrive on site. This is another fairly fast-moving,well-written read with a high quality ending. This one would be for a more advanced YA reader. Definitely more YA than middle grade. The games Pessl created in this book are detailed and memorable. I look forward to more releases from her in the future. 

Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt - 5 stars

Speaking of young adult reads, Orbiting Jupiter is one of my favorite YA/middle grade books of all time. When I saw a student reading it a few weeks ago, I remembered I never read the sequel. So I checked it out and charged through its less-than-200 pages in an afternoon. If you like books, you should read Orbiting Jupiter and this one. Emotional. Succinct. Memorable characters. Believable narration and characters. Can’t recommend highly enough. 

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand - 4 stars

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is a classic. This book apparently takes place at said house. But it didn’t really use much of its inspiration in its plot which was disappointing. However, taking that out of consideration, this was an enjoyable thriller. Protagonist Holly rents said house to write a play based on the story of a woman accused of witchcraft. She invites the few other involved parties to rehearse her masterpiece. But everyone has their own secrets on top of odd things happening in the house and a creepy old neighbor. Satisfying gothic horror with all the hallmarks of the genre present. 

The Abolitionist’s Daughter by Diane C. McPhail - 2.5  stars

Considering the title, one would be led to believe that the abolitionist portion would play a big role in this book. It, sadly, does not. Yes, it does include some plot points regarding Southern abolitionists, but I was hoping for more of the independence of slaves and less of the story of a white woman whose father was an abolitionist. Much better books about the era than this one. 

The Family by S.E. Green - 5 stars

I had this one sitting on my Kindle for awhile. It was short. Really short. 156 pages short! I’ll just disclose that it’s about a mother whose twenty-something daughter returns to her after a five-year absence. The daughter’s actions cause the mother to question even more where she’s been during this time. It’s worse than she could imagine. Too short to say more aside from I loved it: the plot, the narration, the characters. 

Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire (Wicked #0) - 3 stars

Gregory Maguire…so smart! With all the hype around the release of the first film, he puts out this book. Genius! People are no doubt going to buy this. But this isn’t for the casual reader. None of Maguire’s books are. His works, though enjoyable, are difficult reads in that his language and sentence structure is advanced compared to most other novels. The book follows Elphaba through her childhood. Her trials and tribulations with her parents, brother, and sister. With the difficulties her skin color brings. And her first taste of the mistreatment of animals that sets her story in motion as she arrives at Shiz. I think my expectations were a little too high as I, too, was riding high on the Wicked movie. I do love most of the series and many of Maguire’s other books, but this one was just average for me. 

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson - 2 stars

I loved Wilkerson’s novel Black Cake. If you’ve not read it, I highly recommend it. So I was excited for this one. Especially since it has such high reviews on Goodreads. But I’m in the minority. This was so slow-moving. It started off quickly with protagonist Ebby being left at the altar. Then it moves between present, past, and way past. In the past, Ebby’s brother, Baz, is killed in a home invasion. In the way past, Ebby’s enslaved ancestor creates a vase that remains in their family until the invasion. The point of view in the chapters change on a whim. I’m not opposed to multiple narrators, but things were just moving from one character to the next from one time period to the next. But in the same breath, it seemed to drag. I enjoyed Ebby as a character, however, that’s about it.

Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins

It’s kind of unreal that The Hunger Games debuted 17 years ago, but here we are! I forgot about this one being released, and upon remembering, it was $10 off on Amazon. Sold! This installment tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy in the second Quarter Quell. It starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. It moves quite quickly with a mix of new and recurring characters. Readers saw a transformation in Haymitch from when he first appeared in the original trilogy until its end and see a transformation in this book as well. A must for Hunger Games fans!

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March 2025 Reads

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February 2025 Reads

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix - 5 stars

Hendrix is now an auto read for me. I’d been waiting for this book for so long and devoured it in less than 24 hours. I usually hate when men write female characters, but Hendrix does it successfully. I loved the characters in this book set in the summer of 1970 at a home for unwed, teenage mothers. 

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin - 3 stars Per the book jacket blurb: “A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future.” This one was an emotional ride though it had a slow start. Loved the child character. If you liked “The Last Letter”, this one reminded me of that. 

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali - 4 stars

The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is that I didn’t think it was long enough. It left me wanting more of said women at the end! Two girls of different social classes in 1950s Tehran forge a friendship that shatters prior to adulthood. But one needs the other in the 1980s as things in the country have turned upside down. 

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams - 3 stars

YA novel whose protagonist lives in the shadow of her professor mother who is trying to prove that one of their ancestors was the founder of the college she works at the The two move a home that is the former plantation where said ancestor worked. Noni, the daughter, eventually takes interest. 

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush - 3.5 stars

Too long and slow-moving to be the thriller that it was billed, but the ending was quite good. Cassie and Lenora are adult sisters who have cut themselves off from the world after a fire claimed the life of their father. When a teenage girl goes missing on the camping property they call home, their lives are turned upside down as they can no longer be left alone. 

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra - 4 stars

This one WAS a fast-paced thriller in which a woman and her two young children find themselves in their house with an intruder. The end was a little too fast, but overall, this one hit me at a good time!

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February 2025 Reads

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Late December 2024 and January 2025 Reads

After never really recovering from walking pneumonia around Thanksgiving, January held influenza A, and February completed the trifecta with a trip to the ER ending up in a diagnosis of pneumonia. And when I'm sick, I can't read. And the fatigue that set in with both of those was lasting. But, it's time to update!

Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker - 3 stars

Dystopian-esque YA following the literal trial and punishment of a teen for the accidental killing of her younger sister. Was hoping for a little faster pace. 

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post - 4 stars

The title character was the heir of the Post cereal company. This novel chronicles her story from childhood. Solid read. Well written. Fun fact - she is the original owner of Mar-A-Lago…how sad she must be, as an independent business woman, to see what is unfolding there now.

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft - 2 stars

This was my last book before the influenza diagnosis. It was not good. Too many characters to keep straight for a plot that wasn’t worthwhile. If you like vampire novels, find another.

Toto by A.J. Hackwith - 4 stars

Yes! That Toto! Best book cover ever! Toto narrates a modern-day retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Things got a bit slow in one part, but his voice makes up for it. Oz fans, read this book! Toto is a badass but also the most endearing.

Swift River by Essie J. Chambers - 2 stars

A girl with the cards stacked against her in many facets of life grows up in a small town in the late 80s. Slow moving. DIdn’t love the characters.

Model Home by Rivers Solomon - 2 stars

I was number two on the hold list for this one since October. It was a short read, but it was difficult. Different narrators written in different points of view. There are better haunted house books than this one.

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Late December 2024 and January 2025 Reads

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Late December 2024 Reads

I love Christmas break! I’ve read eight books so far and still have three and a half days to go!

Where Wild Peach Trees Grow by Cade Bentley 

This book tells the story of two sisters who grew up in Natchez, Mississippi. One day, their mother abandons them. Julia must act as a mother to Nona. But then, on the verge of adulthood, Nona leaves Natchez and never looks back. It’s been 15 years since the sisters have spoken, but their father’s sudden death forces them back together.

This book had potential, but it fell short. The plot moved between past and present with no clear indication as the chapter changed when it was set. The emotion could have run deep but remained surface level. It did have a good mix of prose and dialog, but while some of the prose was strong, some was a bit too simple. 3 stars for this one. 

The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson

Said murder is that of Emmett Till. This nonfiction is a tough read. Lots of information and lots of sadness.No spoilers there. 

The first half of the book provides information about many people who got the wheels turning in Emmett Till’s murder going back many years and generations. Some people were more important than others, but all had a role. Some of this was interesting but some slow. 

The second half focused on Emmett Till, his murder, and his legacy. This was easier to read, but the emotion is hard to overcome. 

Hard to recommend this heavy non-fiction. 3 stars.

The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas

This novel is based on real events in 1880s Paris. It is set at an asylum. I mentioned in my last blog entry that I’m a sucker for cult books. I’m a sucker for asylum books as well. 

The women in this asylum are treated like you’d expect women in an asylum to be treated. On top of the treatment, one of the doctors hypnotizes women in front of an audience. And during Lent, the title event occurs. The women get to dress up for a ball that the public is invited to watch. 

The book focuses on a new patient - Eugenie. She’s from a rich, well-to-do family. A nurse, Genevieve, gets highly involved in Eugenie’s case. Maybe too involved.

I loved almost everything about this book. I loved the characters. I loved the writing. I loved the plot. The only thing I didn’t love was that it was only 210 pages. I so, so wanted more of this book. 4.5 stars

This is How We End Things by R.J. Jacobs

Mystery/thriller with simple writing and way too many characters. 

The characters are mainly graduate students in psychology and their professor (save one ex-husband and one child). The book opens with an unnamed character giving an interview about a murder to an unnamed psychologist. Then we jump to the meat of the plot. The students/professor are running an experiment regarding stress. One of the subjects gets upset and attacks a student causing another student to attack him. That same night, the first student is murdered.. Who dunnit?

Everyone is a suspect in this fast-moving plot. Nothing amazing, not terrible. 3 stars.

Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

This book, though only 350 pages, felt insanely long. Lots of prose, lots of details. Not my favorites. 

Akofa and Selasi grew up in Ghana: cousins closer than sisters. After Selasi’s mother dies, she even moves in with Akofa’s family. The girls end up at the same high school when a number of circumstances drive them apart. Akorfa goes to college in the US while Selasi stays in Ghana.

The first half of the book is Akorfa’s point of view while the second is Selasi’s. Though they don’t see each other for many years, they are reunited near the end. 

I really liked some parts of the plot. But the book covers a lot of ground in the women’s lives, and I felt like some parts got skimmed over in favor of other parts getting more time than they deserved. The parts regarding discrimination due to race and gender and how the two women persevered did make it worth reading. 3 stars

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Late December 2024 Reads

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Late November into December 2024 Reads

For two weeks (Nov. 23 - Dec 7), I was so sick, I didn’t read. Aside from when my son was born, I don’t think I’ve ever gone two weeks without reading in my entire life. Sinus-infection-turned-walking-pnemonia got me good. But I’ve bounced back and just read three books in a little more than 24 hours! And a couple before that. 

Gaslight by Miles Joris-Peyafitte and Sara Shepard 

This is one from before my illness. I’d heard about it on the All the Books podcast but the library didn’t have it. As soon as it showed up as a reasonably priced ebook, I bought it as I am a sucker for a book about a cult. And this one did not disappoint! 

Protagonist Rebecca has distanced herself from the cult she was sucked into as a teen. She is married with a son and no ties to her former life. Until an old friend and ally from that time shows up distraught on her doorstep. 

This is about all you need to know going it. This moves at an insanely fast pace. The end was a tad bit much, but highly recommended. 4 stars

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books - by Kristen Miller 

Another pre-illness read. The title character is a stereotypical, conservative Republican on a mission: banning books from the local school and library. As she does this, she has a Free Little Library on her front lawn with more wholesome choices. That is until her arch enemy and school board member’s daughter gets a hold of these books and does a little switcheroo of sorts. Chaos ensues. 

  The reader meets some memorable characters in this quick read. There was a slow part or two, but overall this is a good one if the subject intrigues you. 4 stars. 

The Memory Dress by Jade Beer 

And this is the first read after my two-week “break” in which I watched a LOT of TV.

The title dress once belonged to Princess Diana and is now in possession of an elderly woman in Jayne’s building. Jayne is slowly getting to know Meredith (said neighbor), and she quickly learns that Meredith is suffering from Ahlzheimer’s. She doesn’t know how she came to possess the dress. She doesn’t even know where her husband is or when she last ate. Jayne and a few friends take on the task of finding Meredith’s beloved William and the story of the dress. 

The end of this was really good. But it was a slow start and pretty slow going most of the way. 3 stars.

Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens 

I got this short mystery from a coworker and sped through it last weekend. It’s set in the mid-70s which is not a setting I’ve read a lot about. Protagonist Boady is a freshman in high school at this time in a small Missouri town. His father died years ago. He is a student at a private, Catholic school where he doesn’t fit in. Therefore, he’s thrilled when a family with a son his age moves in next door. The family is black. And through their friendship, Boady realizes just how naive he’s been to how racist his town really is. 

 In addition to Boady’s story is the mysterious disappearance of Lida Poe. She’s the bookkeeper the town’s plastic factory which seems to employ the majority of the town in some form or another. She, too, is black and is said to have left town with a boatload of money from the company.

 Secrets spill out from all corners of the small Southern town in this short read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. 

All That is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay 

This one started off at a good clip. I was cruising through the first two of the four parts. Then, at the start of the third part - boom! No more quotation marks around the dialog. For the love of God! Why? So irritating!

The plot itself is a mix of past and present with the past being the disappearance and, likely death, of Jane Larkin. Her ten-year-old daughter returns home from school one day, and her mom is not there. This is unusual. Days go by. Weeks. Months. Years. Jane never returns. Jane was a loving mother, and at least two of her children don’t believe she just up and left. 

Years later, the detective on the case as well as a friend of the family both bring Jane Larkin’s disappearance back to light, and the three children are forced to pick sides. 

 3-star mystery. Nothing special. And annoying lack of punctuation. 

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Perfect follow-up to the last mediocre read! If you are a 80s/90s music fan, there are a TON of references in here. Good ones! The Pixies! Tori Amos! Kate Bush! 

The book opens on New Year’s Eve 1982. Oona is 19. Her whole life is ahead of her. She is the keyboardist in a band with her boyfriend, Dale, but also has a chance to go study economics in London. A big decision. When the clock strikes midnight and the calendar changes to 1983, it doesn’t exactly do that to Oona. She awakens thirty-two years into the future in the body of her 51-year-old self. 

A stranger explains to her she is not dreaming nor on drugs and is not suffering from a medical episode. Each year, starting in 1982, when the clock strikes midnight to the next year, Oona will wake up in a different part of her life. This stranger will be there many of the years Oona visits but other years she’ll be met with notes from herself.

 Very cool premise done well. 5 stars! Can’t recommend highly enough!

The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth 

I started this yesterday afternoon/early evening and finished before going to bed. The writing was pretty simple which made it quick, but the plot and characters were worthwhile. 

 It starts off with Neva. She is a third generation midwife. On the brink of 30 and single, she is pregnant. When she announces this to her mother and grandmother at 30 weeks, they are surprised as can be as Neva does not look pregnant. Neva has kept everything a secret and continues to keep the paternity a secret. She is not and has not been in a relationship. 

Neva’s mother, Grace, finds herself in some hot water with her midwifery practice. And the reader learns the history of grandmother, Floss, who came to America with Grace and nothing more than the clothes on their backs. 

As aforementioned, a more simple style, but I enjoyed the characters and the plotlines. 4 stars

The Booklover’s Library  by Madeline Martin 

I blew through most of this one at the AT&T store while Jason and Nathan got new phones after I started it in bed this morning. Well, except for the first chapter. When I pulled this library book off of my stack, I noticed a quote from the great Kate Quinn on the cover! So I had to read just a little bit before I went to bed. 

Emma is the protagonist. In the opening chapter, eight years before the events of the rest of the novel in WWII England, Emma’s father is pulling her out of the burning bookstore that they own. We learn quickly that her father has perished. Shortly thereafter, Emma becomes a wife and a mother. But soon after that, she also becomes a widow. She felt as though she had enough money, but five years after her husband’s death, money is tight, and Emma needs to get a job to support her daughter, Olivia. Jobs are few and far between for women who are mothers and don’t have husbands regardless of how they found themselves in that circumstance. 

Emma’s past and love of books leads her to a premier lending library where the librarians lend specific books to Class A and B clients. The owner is kind enough to give Emma a shot as long as she does not let on that she is a widower with a child. A elderly neighbor delights in helping care for Grace while Emma is not home and Grace is not at school. 

 With WWII as the backdrop, there are a lot of other things that begin to factor into the plot making life difficult for all. 

This one was very quick and had many, many literary allusions. Booklovers and WWII-genre-readers, put this one on your list! 4 stars