In Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Do I have over 400 unread books on the shelves in my living room? Yes.

Do I go out and buy a new book because the movie just landed on Netflix and - even though I'm late to the party - want to see what all the hype is about? Also yes.

Did I read this 367-page book in three days? Another yes.

Lily Bloom, a child from an unfortunate home, has since grown, gone to college, works in Marketing and has a dream of one day having her own flower shop. Only 12-hours since eulogizing her father, she sits atop a rooftop in Boston when handsome, passionate, promising Neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid bursts out the door and begins taking his frustrations out on an unfortunate patio chair. What follows is a year of random run-ins until neither of them can deny the draw and begin a passionate and romantic relationship, despite Ryle claiming he was very much anti. Then her first, childhood love suddenly reappears and she's thrown back into the painful past she thought she had put behind her.

I knew the underlying premise of this novel, that the romance didn't really have anything to do with the underbelly of this story, but found it necessary to not only build up the suspense but to also put the reader into the mindset of not only the fictional characters, but into the real people who find themselves in such a situation. Hoover offers honest answers to the constant questions of, "Why do they stay," and forces us readers to consider the new perspective of, "Why do they abuse?" The fact that Hoover wrote this book based on her own experiences makes it even more compelling and contemplative.

It is definitely a character-driven page-turner, but can also be triggering, so this novel might not be for everyone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads profile.

I decided to read this book based solely on the reason that the movie landed on Netflix, and unless you live under a rock, you no doubt have been privy to the gossip and drama that shrouded its release. I don't care much about that, but I always make it a point to read the book before watching the movie because - as we all know - all good movies start out as good books; and that is where we find the disconnect in It Ends With Us. In a word, the movie is terrible. In another word, the movie is boring, and I can't believe that an author with as big a fan base as Colleen Hoover signed off on such trash. The producers, directors, screenwriters - whoever "they" are - dissected this story, cutting out the most pivotal parts and chose to focus most on the sex and romance, which are only catalysts for what this story is actually about. With those vital aspects missing, this movie is boring, one in which a lot of moody staring takes place. The best part about this movie is definitely the outfits. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Rarely do I purchase a brand-new book and start reading it immediately, thinking that my other 400-plus to-be-reads will somehow be jealous. But the internet has nothing but good things to say about Emily Henry's latest novel, Happy Place, and I had just cashed in $50 worth of coins, so I decided, why the heck not? A fluffy, heart-warming, story, that's a fun read, but one that I didn't enjoy as much as I do the two new outfits I also purchased with said coins.

Coming-of-age friends, Serena, Perth, Cleo, Kimmy, Wyn, and Harriet are coming together for their yearly trip to Maine for Lobster Fest, only this trip will be their last since Serena's father decided to sell their summer cottage. On top of that, Serena and Perth have decided this to be their wedding weekend, and the icing on this cake is that no one knows that five months prior, Wyn and Harriet decided to call it quits on their seemingly fairy-tale romance, and have yet to tell their closest friends. They'll need to fake it this week, for the sake of their friends, and for the sake of their memories.

Happy Place is a Hallmark movie - the best of friends, on their best behavior, eating the best food, with the best views, where even the conflict isn't even that conflicting -  a since-broken-up couple who clearly still want to be together. A frothy, fun book that epitomizes summer, I would have found Happy Place to be far more relatable had I read it some 20-years ago; I can't relate to the concept of having close, life-long friends, much less having close, life-long friends who I travel with. The book is a bit overly descriptive, sometimes losing track of where I actually was, and the book is quippy, but with way too many one-liners, everything comes off a bit contrived; forced; extra cheese to go with all of their wine. I caught the "twist" way too early, and the ending droned on, a beating of the dead horse of miscommunication and deep insecurities, which is also why I have a hard time relating to these characters; life takes on a new shade when you hit 40 with three kids and a divorce under your belt. But this story did make me fall even more in love with my boyfriend, so there's that. Many people will - and have - enjoyed Happy Place, I'm just not one of them. ⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

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Crazy Rich Asians, the title of which by Kevin Kwan, poignantly missing punctuation marks, which deftly turns this novel into being about two things: crazy-rich Asians, and crazy, rich, Asians.

Rachel and Nick, happily dating for two years and equally happily ensconced in their New York lives as University professors, are summoned back to Singapore for the wedding of the century of which Nick is the Best Man. Rachel - already understandably nervous to be meeting her boyfriend's entire extended family - is suddenly thrown into the lives of the rich and famous, the opulence of which making American society look like trailer trash, and sometimes bordering on the ridiculous. From the moment their private plane lands, Rachel and Nick both find themselves with targets on their backs as they navigate the complexities of family, wealth, prestige, power, and the ever-tumultuous love.

Not a whole lot happens throughout the book, except for the ending, of course, and the beginning is a bit long-winded. But you'll find yourself drawn to certain characters and their stories, deeming most - if not all - of them extremely unlikable. And the driving force of this novel - the unflinching racism that seems to power most life-altering decisions - is something I find incredibly fascinating; the opening scene an interesting dichotomy between what we inherently find acceptable and what we don't; racism is not ok for outsiders, but appears to be the lifeblood of ancient cultures. But as my trailer trash comment above proves, it's something we all find ourselves doing.

Written with an extremely intelligent air, Crazy Rich Asians is Mean Girls with real estate holdings and ancient Chinese dynasties. It is definitely absurd and dramatic in the way of Soap Operas, but about halfway through, I started looking at my bookshelves and thinking about what I should read next, and I'm not sure I'll ever find myself wanting to read the other two books in this trilogy. I mean, how much more attention do these (yes, I know, fictional) people need? ⭐⭐/5

A Game For All the Family by Sophie Hannah

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A Game For all the Family. What on earth could that even mean, and what could that game possibly entail? Your guess is as good as mine since Sophie Hannah, author of A Game For all the Family, decided to keep that little tidbit to herself, if she even knew it in the first place. Sure, she threw the line out there every once in a while, as good authors do, but never actually tied it in with the story, so now the title is just an awkward mouthful.

Justine is a wife, a mother of one - Ellen - and a former television executive who has just fled her career in favor of doing scandalously Nothing. After only having been in their stately, historically archived home for a few months, Ellen begins to withdraw and Justine starts receiving ominous-turn-threatening phone calls from a woman she doesn't know or recognize, but who is sure that her and Justine share a dangerous, life-threatening secret. This is Justine's game, though what exactly that is, is never actually revealed.

The book starts off sinister enough, with a very intriguing premise that I have never encountered before. The extremely intricate story is very much plot-driven, a mystery wrapped in a riddle where you're given all of the puzzle pieces but haven't the faintest idea of how to put them all together, which usually makes for a very good book. A Game For all the Family will keep you turning the pages, the writing is sharp and clever and witty, it's Where'd You Go, Bernadette meets the game of Clue. But while the premise is unique, it also becomes pretty far-fetched, and the ending - the Big Reveal - manages to be both overly-dramatic - no, unnecessarily dramatic - and a big let-down, and our heroin is the one who ends up looking like the whack-job.

A Game For all the Family. I still don't know what that means. ⭐⭐/5

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

There are many things that Ove does very well, being a grumpy curmudgeon chief among them. But of all the things that Ove is good at, he is, "quite clearly UTTERLY LOUSY at dying!"

At first sight, Ove is the grumpiest man you'll ever know. Reminiscent of Dwight Schrute, driven by staunch principles and strict routine, he has a mind for motors, but not much for human emotion (though he does seem to grasp the complexities of feline feelings, however). Ove suddenly finds himself without a place in the world, until one November morning when his new neighbors back their trailer over his mailbox. What unfolds is a story that is depressing at its surface, but is actually pure, unadulterated, joy; heart-breaking in its own right, but still a heart-melting love story, not only of Ove and his Motley Crue of new friends, but of everyone acting with a true and genuine heart.

In a word, A Man Called Ove, is brilliant. It is expertly plotted and cleverly detailed, the analogies and metaphors not only spot-on, but also hilarious and witty. The writing is poetic and charming, with seamless transitions to being powerful and emotional, and a hidden beauty that unexpectedly slaps you in the heart; Backman beautifully captures both the hardships and simple joys of what it means to not only be alive, but to live. Your heart will break and be put back together again with every chapter, making you laugh out loud and bringing tears to your eyes, and smiling the entire time.

Ove is, "the strangest superhero I've ever heard about," and reading any book after this would be like trading in a Saab for a Volvo. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 but it should be more.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

 

Like many of you, I don't even know where to begin with this book, unless you're a Goodreads reviewer, in which case, you have a lot to say and most of it consists of, "Are you kidding me?!" Verity, by Colleen Hoover - or CoHo, as she is so lovingly dubbed by her loyal and extensive fan-base - is...a book. Is it a good book? No, I definitely wouldn't call it a "good book." It's a...book...that you will...read. And then you'll go, "Huh." 

Lowen Ashleigh - let's just take in that name for a moment - is a struggling writer with zero money but has just been offered the job of a lifetime: completing the highly popular, and highly successful, series of novels for the now-incapacitated author, Verity Crawford. The only problem - or bonus - is that she will be doing most of her work in the home that Verity shares with her husband, Jeremy, who Lowen quickly develops feelings for (of course). Then Lowen stumbles upon a manuscript, an autobiography that was never meant to be read, and quickly gets sucked into a dark world of sex and manipulation and violence.

This book definitely gets you hooked right from the first sentence, and keeps you hooked so you're able to get through some truly triggering scenes. It's gripping and intense, an undeniable, character-driven, page-turner, with a hint of eroticism that has a tendency to lean towards the ridiculous, and can be kind of foul. Verity is a book you either love or you hate, with an ending that you will either think is genius or too easy, but it's definitely an ending worth reading the book for, a vast contrast from Behind Her Eyes. You will absolutely read to find out if your assumptions about Verity are true, and I spotted a new edition at Target that boasted a Bonus Chapter, so I am very intrigued as to what is in that.

There is one redeeming quality to Verity and that is the writing. It is rough and not at all elegant, and even brutal at times, which only adds to the sinister underbelly of this story. And although Lowen isn't the most popular of characters on Goodreads, I think she is a necessary catalyst to get the reader to form their suspicions. From Verity, I can see how "CoHo" is a true talent, I'm just not sure about this book. I honestly don't know how many stars to give it. Three, I guess? I don't even know.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

If there is one thing Eleanor Oliphant is, it's completely fine. And Gail Honeyman's novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is not just fine, it is phenomenal.

I believe that books come to us in magical ways, but perhaps none so much as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. A dear friend of mine from college, knowing I'm a bibliophile, and sharing some other similarities such as our mutual hatred for butterflies and love of spiders, one day sent me a message telling me that I absolutely needed to read this book and that she was going to send it to me (which also ended up including a TON of lipstick, lip exfoliant, and Chapstick samples, courtesy of the company she works for). I was so touched that I couldn't wait to dive into it, and so I did. And then I did again. And then one final time, and that was the time I got hooked. I kept getting distracted by other books, but I ended up reading this at the exact right time in my life.

Eleanor Oliphant is fiercely intelligent and sophisticated, though also blunt and socially awkward, and deeply entrenched in her routine: work, home, radio program, frozen pizza, vodka, and Wednesday chats with Mummy. She is, by every definition, completely fine, unapologetically navigating the world as best she knows how. Then she meets Raymond, the large man from IT with a penchant for t-shirts that are just a bit too small, and for chewing with his mouth open, who inadvertently enlightens Eleanor to the simple, often taken for granted, pleasures of life. Turns out that living is more than just existing.

The writing is heavy and wordy, but in a cheeky way, with a very much Eleanor-driven plot. She is awkwardly loveable, with a Seinfeldian take on the world, and the way she tells a story is charming and completely disarming; a certifiable scene-stealer, resulting in many pages of laugh-out-loud moments. Sure, there is the childhood trauma that she is suppressing with said vodka, and the social interactions that would make even Michael Scott squirm, but she is charmingly ridiculous, and this book is tragically hilarious. It feels wrong to call this book delightful, because it has its fair share of tragedy and trauma - the ending, in particular, is the cutest, yet most horrifying, ending ever - but you can't help a warm feeling that carries you through this book and Eleanor's story, proving just how important it is to have at least one good friend. Settle in with a nice big cuppa because you can read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine in one sitting. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach

Dead Letters, the debut novel by Caite Dolan-Leach, is very unique; unlike any other novels I've read so far, it is one that definitely utilizes every letter of the alphabet, and is a story that underscores the unity, and oftentimes unpleasantness, of the twin dynamic. Dead Letters - a very clever double entendre - has the emotional wordiness of Dawson's Creek and the dysfunctional family swiping of Yellowstone. Add a healthy dose of dementia and alcoholism and you've got something Netflix can't turn down!

Two years ago, Ava Antipova, fled the coop, and the family vineyard, running away to Paris to start a new graduate program, a new relationship, a new life. But now she must come back to her small hometown - her twin sister, Zelda, is dead, engulfed in the flames that destroyed the family barn. Or is that just what she wants everyone to think? Then Ava starts receiving emails from Zelda from beyond the grave - or...wherever... - directing her on a depressing scavenger hunt around their somewhat hickish town, unearthing a few - but not all - of their equally-depressing family secrets, though it's more a tour of their personal foibles as told through unfortunate bystanders.

Dead Letters is slightly difficult to get into due to what the author, herself, refers to as "excessive prose," though only saddling Zelda with this particularly astute accusation; someone wants us all to know how many words she knows! But then the plot begins to take over and accelerates this plot-driven story towards a pretty non-explosive ending. The premise is interesting and very intriguing, with near-meticulous plotting, but there are some unanswered questions, at least one that is alluded to throughout the book, but never actually explained, and considering the build-up, the ending just sort of fizzles out. The characters are rather unfortunate, and their bland personalities leave you not really caring what happens to them, but the story and writing is intense, fiercely intelligent, whip smart, and very clever. Just make sure to have a dictionary handy as you read Dolan-Leach's Dead Letters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE $5.00 LIKE NEW

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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Books are like boyfriends: every once in awhile you stumble across one that you wouldn't change anything about, in the places that you'd least expect. I found The Midnight Library by Matt Haig at the airport while in search of coffee for my mid-morning flight. Standing in line, I noticed a small, unattended, stack of books and upon closer inspection, noticed a Post It note on the top that declared "Free books!" Not only did I greatly appreciate this as a book-lover, but I took it as an excellent sign as a would-be traveler. Already weighed down by two other books, and not wanting to be selfish, I took only the one, and was instantly enthralled by the end of the first chapter. The Midnight Library is truly mesmerizing.

"Between life and death, there is the Midnight Library..." and suddenly Nora Seed finds herself there. She is an Everywoman, weighted down by the small - though many - disappointments in life: a confrontational encounter, the loss of a pet, an unfulfilling job and stalled career path, wandering through the world of what-ifs. Filled with regret, remorse, and heavying sadness, Nora - in the Midnight Library, and with the help of an old friend - finds herself able to undo these regrets; the chance to make different choices and try on - so-to-speak - the varying consequences. With cleverly witty writing, truly genuine characters, and imagery reminiscent of Harry Potter, I literally loved every page. It is one of those rare books in which you can't wait to power through it, but you also never want it to end, and I would love to see The Midnight Library on the big, or medium-sized, screen.

This book is pure magic, in the most brilliant of ways. What is at once a hypothesis of life and death is also very much a testament to what it means to truly live, with explanations for the magical that are purely scientific; impressive, though easily understandable by those of us who cheated in Physics class, and buoyed by an honest ebb and flow of emotions, like bobbing through the ocean of ideas, at times sad and lonely, at others funny and lighthearted, and sometimes incredibly intense. Ahh, such is life.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has recently lost a loved one, specifically by way of their own doing. But, regardless, the takeaways from this book are plentiful and deeply personal; everyone will have something different that they can glean from this story that not only spans time but universes. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

Lucky You by Erika Carter

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If you did not read Lucky You by Erika Carter, nor did you select it as part of your Book of the Month Club box, of which it was selected in January 2017, then lucky you.

I've managed to read about three Book of the Month Club picks over the years, mainly due to finding them at second-hand book stores, and they have all been very strange; like the Book Pickers are trying to prove to the world their maudlin intellect. Well Carter's debut novel, Lucky You, is not only a waste of a BOTM selection, but a waste of paper and a waste of time.

Rachel, Ellie, and Chloe are frenemies, each stuck in their own cycles of self-destruction; you know the drill: sex, bad relationships, too much booze. Then Rachel up and moves deep into the Ozark mountains with a man who is sure that he can change the world by learning, and writing about, and thus teaching, how to live off-grid and on the land. Ellie and Chloe are eventually convinced to join the couple at their remote house and work on The Project. What is an otherwise interesting and intriguing concept, not only fell short but will live forever in my mind as one of the worst books I've ever read. Not only do these insipid characters with a proclivity for claiming Chinese proverbs as their own, not "solve the conundrum of being alive," they struggle with getting their would-be cult off the ground in favor of depressive loafing.

The writing is slow and dispiriting, and grey and frigid, despite writing scenes that supposedly take place in intense heat. "She had to pee. Then she flushed," is the sort of riveting storyline that you can expect from this droll, much more lame, non-serial-killer, version of Emma Cline's The Girls. Lucky You is one big bad mood that is so nicely summed up by one paragraph: "they traded turns talking in stream of conscious monologues. After a while, they weren't even listening to each other, it was more about just filling the air with the comfortable lilts and turns of story." Lucky You is like reading Carter's disoriented, rough-draft of her own personal journal. There is no real point, prompting me to wonder, Why am I reading this book? Many books of this similar genre are bound to be far better, can I even give this one star?

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

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If you read any book this summer, make sure it's That Summer by Jennifer Weiner, a story that is both uplifting and unforgiving; heart-breaking but also heart-warming; compelling yet - unfortunately - a timeless story. But Weiner's is a tale that needs to be told.

Daisy is a seemingly contented housewife, but only because she tells herself that it must be so. She has a nice house, a kitchen with all of the frills, a husband who could be worse, and a daughter who can be difficult but is also brimming with confidence and intellect. Then Daisy starts receiving misdirected emails that are meant for Diana, which are mostly invites to fancy parties and events, tugging at Daisy's heart, wondering if settling so soon meant that she had missed out on her dreams. But Daisy didn't receive those emails on accident, Diana is not who she says she is, and what unfolds is a story that is poignant and relevant, a mystery reminiscent of Rosie Walsh's Ghosted, and a true testament to how the Universe works in mysterious ways.

Written with Weiner's trademark wit, That Summer unpacks all of the real dirty laundry that unfolds with every traumatic, life-changing event.  This book goes beyond what we think we know and understand about assault, cutting deep into what the real, long-lasting price of trauma is, for both the victim and the predator, and in being in the horrifying position of bystander. That Summer is about everything that happens afterwards, and comes at the question "What Would You Do If It Were You?" from every possible angle, a harsh though true exercise in empathy for even the most unfortunate of characters. But each of them is heartfully developed, and there are so many moving parts to this story that encompass what it truly means to be a human being, and what it means to have past selves, future selves, and how we reconcile those two in order to live in some form of peace.

I will admit, based on the cover and the synopsis - those on which we shall not judge - I was expecting That Summer to be frothy and fun, but what I got was so much more. It is mysterious and intelligent, thoughtful and relatable, and funny and unrelenting; just like every summer. I've read seven of Weiner's novels, and That Summer is another one of her wins for me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

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"That ending!"

"That ending!"

"That ending!"

And my personal favorite, the ever-eloquent: "that ending was fucked up," though I would describe it more as absurd, outlandish, and bullocks, to use in favor of the American version of "complete bullshit." Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough is like bad sex - interesting and cryptic, but a little confusing at first; a decent enough middle to keep you powering through, but then an ending that is a complete disappointment, leaving you wishing you had just watched 20/20 instead.

Louise is a single-mom and a part-time secretary who, one night, meets a man at a bar. They talk and flirt and spark a connection fueled by alcohol and excitement, only to discover the next day their boss-secretary relationship. Then Louise meets Adele; the beautiful, luminous, mysterious, Adele, wife of The Man from The Bar. And though Louise tries in vain to stay away, she is inexplicably drawn into the lives of David and Adele, and the extremely shaky foundation on which their marriage is built. As Louise peels back the pages of their lives, there are definitely way more questions than answers, and one that you will most undoubtedly have is, "What the fuck am I reading?"

The problem with there being so much hype about the ending is that I found myself reading for the ending, and it didn't help that the story is confusedly cryptic, the dream analysis and whole Second Door business going way over my head. It is sinister and haunting, if only for the choppy way in which it's written, and the transitions aren't at all seamless, which I suppose is the point. The beginning is a bit boring, but once things start to be explained, the pages flip much faster, and then, of course, there is the infamous ending, which you either love or hate. I find it to be a bit of a cop-out; a dumbing-down of an otherwise good story. And, yes, even though it is completely unpredictable and everything a shocking twist should be, it is also the strangest way to explain it all away, and the weirdest ending to a Domestic Noir that I could ever imagine. Now it's pretty much impossible not to read this book for the ending. ⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads.

The Lion's Den by Katherine St. John

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Awhile back, my friend and fellow book-lover asked me to recommend a good thriller, and I had nothin'. The thrillers I had read were mediocre at best, and there was one I couldn't even read at all, so definitely nothing I felt worthy of slapping my recommendation on. Now, allow me to invite you into - or rather, aboard - The Lion's Den, a completely addictive, very clever, novel from Katherine St. John, an author who proves to be a real talent of the thriller genre. You'll down this dazzling debut like free-flowing rose on a hot day, the perfect read for your very un-perfect vacation, or to make you glad you didn't take one at all.

The Lion's Den is In a Dark, Dark Wood meets The Woman in Cabin 10 but with a lot more glitz, glam, and daylight, though the level of intensity and heat is the same. Summer and Belle, friends since childhood, have drifted apart over the last few years as Belle works to forge her acting career, and Summer hones her proclivity for wealthy, older men. But for Summer's birthday, Belle - along with Wendy, Claire, Amethyst, and Summer's mother and sister - has been invited aboard The Lyon's Den, a luxury yacht owned by John, Summer's latest May-December romance. Though Belle has her doubts - things that sound too good to be true usually are - she accepts, and - of course - things aren't at all what they seem and are about to get all kinds of fishy up in this boat.

Written with wit and humor and intelligence, the story is brilliantly plotted, expertly spanning one week of vacation while also covering a decade of early adulthood. So well organized and detailed is this book that the two stories manage to run parallel to each other while also heading straight on a collision course, with a slow build-up in the beginning that lures you into a false sense of thinking you know what to expect. Though the set-up, combined with the synopsis, makes one major twist a bit too obvious, the Devil is still in the details, and is followed by a smattering of twists that you absolutely do not see coming. And the way in which Belle handles these turns and navigates her precarious position is both elegant and fierce, a character to truly appreciate.

The Lion's Den is a taut thriller and an entertaining read that also engages our brains to assemble the puzzle; St. John cleverly hands us all of the pieces, deftly making every last detail invaluable, and it's ultimately very satisfying as they begin clicking into place. These are the authors you want to keep coming back to, and this is definitely a book I would want to recommend to my friend. So, here you go, Franny. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads.

The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan

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I wasn't sure what I wanted to read. Sick of the suddenly-standard Psychological Thriller, and with the weather getting nicer, I was in the mood for a Spring-y read to break in my outdoor reading swing. And, if nothing else, the cover of The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan simply screams Spring.

William Sweeney, a seemingly larger-than-life literary icon, known and taught the world over, dies suddenly one June morning, leaving his three daughters - Liza, Maggie, and Tricia - to not only pick up the pieces, but to find them all first: revenues that are dwindling, memoires that can't be located, and one surprising piece of the puzzle - a half Sweeney Sister - Serena - the result of his affair with the woman across the street. An interesting take on something that has become pretty commonplace these days - DNA testing - The Sweeney Sisters gracefully bypasses the salacious details of DNA revelations in favor of the hearts and souls that are really at the core of these fallouts. This book is a more intimate perspective into this premise, and a thorough exercise in empathy.

Written with a true talent for the word, Dolan expertly tackles the difficulties of writing about a fictional literary icon - writing about his supposed works without having to actually write his supposed works. But what translates is centered more around everyone's reactions, leaving the reader feeling as if they are Serena, herself - walking into the middle of a conversation; or, in this case, a lifetime - between close siblings. We are the flies on the wall as these women traverse their father's legacy - both in public and in family - and reconcile their memories of him with the things they are just learning. So, where you would think twists and turns abound, the so-called shocking revelations - including the reveal of the fourth sister - is pretty anticlimactic and tame.

The Sweeney Sisters is a gentle, feel-good, novel, but certainly not the "belly laughs" as described. It is more of a walk down memory lane driven by the sudden inclusion of an outsider, as well as a story about death and everything that comes after, though the level of empathy makes the story somewhat unrelatable. It's a compassionate look at how we idolize public figures who are dicks in private, the pedestals we place people on, and how they almost always come crashing down upon their death. It's an easy read, though not too exciting, and the drama can be a bit contrived. But the characters are likable and humble, the writing is witty and intelligent, introducing me to a plethora of new words, and the ending is warm and fuzzy. Perfect for Spring. ⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

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Over the last decade, Psychological Thrillers have been the "it" book; ever since - ok I'll say it, but with a hefty eye-roll - Gone Girl hit the bookshelves. Suddenly us readers were addicted to being slightly fooled, the "Unreliable Narrator" was born, and we were trying to decide which author could do it better. For me, however, I tire of the genre kind of easily, all of them beginning to blend together at one point. Enter Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy, which introduces - or rather supports that of Hidden Bodies - the Unreliable Synopsis. "A handsome psychologist. A lonely wife. And in his home office, a vent in the ceiling. You'd listen, too, wouldn't you?"

Newlyweds Sam and Annie have just moved back to his quiet hometown in order to be near his ailing mother, and hopefully settle in with his private practice, "attending to his (mostly female) clientele." But, unbeknownst to Annie, things aren't going too well for Sam, he's finding this transition harder than he thought and with more obstacles than he anticipated. 

Goodnight Beautiful is a well thought-out, suspenseful and complex novel where Molloy does an excellent job of thinking of everything, though the twists and surprises - and there are plenty! - are slightly jarring and a wee bit confusing. It is an interesting and fascinating twist on stalking and obsession, which makes the characters' choices all the more intriguing.

Molloy definitely takes full advantage of the Unreliable Narrator, taking cues from Erin Kelly's The Burning Air before abruptly sending us into Stephen King territory, and I mean that literally. It feels as though Molloy had just read The Burning Air and Misery and smashed them together, suddenly I was in the only part of Stephen King's Misery that I could get through. Molloy obviously channeled King, but she did it better, taking on only a small portion of the physical exhaustion and alcoholism that come with his books, but having the appropriate amount of cheap psychotherapy.

The ending is not at all what I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. Goodnight Beautiful is a Psychological Thriller with heart. I read it in two days, you probably could too. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads profile.

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

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If you're the person who wrote the synopsis of Hidden Bodies on the book jacket, then consider yourself one of the lucky few who didn't actually read this novel by Caroline Kepnes, the follow-up to the darkly sexual You. Be thankful that you side-stepped this filthy poor excuse for a story (but still got paid).

The book jacket says that Joe Goldberg, Serial Stalker and Accidental Serial Killer, moves to Los Angeles for a fresh start, and to find love, but can't stop looking over his shoulder because "hidden bodies never stay hidden," when - in fact - Joe does not move to LA for a fresh start, he is most definitely not looking for love, and hidden bodies aren't actually a nuisance to Joe until the second-to-last chapter. This book - which is coated in a thin layer of ick - is a big fuck-you to Hollywood and everyone in the industry. It's a running list of rejected screenplays, and, yet, is somehow a tale of wildest dreams coming true, and it's the most unexpected representation of blatant sexism, Kepnes unabashedly portraying every male character as a simple-minded, blow-job obsessed, robot, including our hero, Joe. I'm not going to tell you the synopsis, and if you've watched the second season of You on Netflix, it's not that either.

The beginning is as you'd expect for the sequel to You - erotic and sinisterly sexy - but quickly turns dirty, raunchy, and just plain gross. As you power through the filth, and presumably shower several times, Joe is bitter, angry, and crass. OG Joe was our hero stalker, protecting Beck from Benji and Peach and herself, but LA Joe is on the hunt for revenge; a hunt for "Supercunts," the use of this word a little too prolific for my taste, but ultimately getting distracted by feeling compelled to murder everyone who irritates him. I've read trashy, grocery-store pseudo-romance novels, and I've watched porn, but this book is just foul; absolute garbage.

The only redeeming qualities of this book, if you can call them that, is that Joe has remarkably good luck and a remarkably fulfilling sex-life in spite of his penchant for killing people; he's moved on from simple stalking. And I agree with his sentiments about LA: it's claustrophobic, dirty, expensive, you spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about parking, you experience three different seasons in one day - mild spring in the morning, intense humidity in late morning, desert-like heat for the afternoon, and freezing nights - and although everything is literally leaning up against everything else, everyone drives everywhere even though everyone is worried about parking. Wow, I sounded like Joe there for a minute. But while a lot seems to happen to Joe, nothing actually happens; it's just the wanderings and bitter observations of a bitter man; hundreds of pages of Joe's melodramatic, narcissistic, bitching and moaning. I sped through it because, like bad sex, I was waiting for something interesting to happen, and when I eventually realized that that was never going to happen, I just wanted it to be over so I could move on to a good book, which is a true story involving the Holocaust, if that tells you anything about how much I enjoyed Hidden Bodies. ⭐/5 on my goodreads profile, and that's being generous. Will I continue to follow Joe's journey in You Love Me? Most likely no.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

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I specifically chose Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple to read during a two-hour flight because if I love anything, it's a good theme. I audibly chuckled my way through the first 90-pages for the duration of the two-hours, then 100 more on the flight back. This is a feisty, whip-smart book that you will no doubt want to know how it ends.

Bernadette is wife to Microsoft genius, Elgie, mother of gifted teen, Bee, and glamorous agoraphobe who is - to put it mildly - freaking out about a promised trip to Antarctica. But while that is definitely weighing heavily on her, most of Bernadette's annoyances come from every day life, as is documented by the trail of emails, faxes (apparently people still do that), and transcripts that piece together the last few months before Bernadette vanishes without a trace. Where'd You Go, Bernadette is an action-packed, hilariously tragic, intelligent, family "dramedy" that suddenly turns into an impossible mystery. It is one of those books that leaves me in awe of accomplished writers.

The writing, though a bit long-winded at times, is intelligent, thorough, and very funny, while the story and characters are expertly plotted. I enjoy a big-hearted tale of a good 'ole social misfit. I am Bernadette; we are all Bernadette. She is Becky Bloomwood with a razor's edge. And while I sing nothing but praises for the bulk of it, this was a potentially phenomenal book that quickly turned into a four-star read with one, non-existent ending. Is there (or going to be) some kind of sequel? Where'd your ending go, Bernadette? I enjoy Bernadette's character, it would be nice to see her story continue. 4/5 on my goodreads profile.

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

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If you've ever said, or even just thought to yourself, I wish something exciting would happen, Patricia Campbell is here to tell you that that's not a good idea. Grady Hendrix's The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a complete surprise, in all of the most brilliant ways, sucking me into the real-life hilarity of Patricia and her friends, then immediately horrified by some truly gruesome and frightening scenes.

Patricia is a stressed-out Southern wife and mom, caught up in the continuous rut that has become her life, with an even more stressful book club. After a particularly upsetting (though funny) meeting where it was revealed that no one actually read the book, Patricia and a few stragglers start their own club, devoted to the true crime genre, tempting Patricia with the idea that things would be better if they were just a little more exciting. Then into the neighborhood moves James Harris, an enigmatic, handsome stranger who not only does Patricia feel drawn, but also unnerved. What unfolds is a quirky, sometimes hilarious and sometimes horrifying, novel of friendships, coming of age, even as adults, and super natural monsters who not only scare the bajeezus out of us, but also make us realize that anything is possible, including us. 

This book is absolutely brilliant. So well does it capture the monotonous, though unpredictability, of motherhood and wifedome, I was actually surprised such relatability came from a man. In the author's note, he said he wanted, "...to pit Dracula against my mom," and it would appear that he has a great understanding and appreciation for that role. And the vast differences between how the wives behave versus the husbands is crafty and sharp. 

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a horrifyingly good time, with lots of humor, lots of heart - and not just the bleeding kind - it's quippiness reminiscent of Netflix's Dead Like Me and The San Clarita Diet. I definitely recommend this book, perfect for reading during this time of year, or if you're ever in the mood for a fun scare. And though My Best Friend's Exorcism is not the prequel, it did spawn this novel, making it another to-read.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads profile.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

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If you're looking for the perfect end-of-summer read, then look no further than Something in the Water. A brilliant debut by Catherine Steadman, it is a perfect book for when it's still hot outside, but you can feel the cooler shift in the weather, bringing out the subtle creepiness that constantly lurks just beneath the surface.

Erin is a documentary film maker, about to produce the film that will launch her career. Her fiancé, Mark, is an ambitious investment banker intent on coming back harder and stronger after the collapse of the financial markets, and they take a break from it all in order to enjoy a beautiful honeymoon in Bora Bora. Five Star hotels, amazing food, romantic bungalows, exciting activities, and fierce love-making all come to a halt when the couple goes scuba diving and finds...something in the water...

A subtly eerie story that sucks you under until you suddenly find yourself 200-pages deep, Something in the Water is not your usual Psychological Thriller. Though the story isn't all that shocking, the subject matter is surprisingly interesting, with a slow burn of suspense that, at times, leaves you breathless. Like a roller coaster, this book takes you on one wild ride until you're suddenly back to the beginning, which you had completely forgotten about. The final twist is one you knew was coming, but Steadman is still able to offer up some devilish details.

The writing is interesting, reading like your best friend is telling you all about her honeymoon over a bottle (or two) of wine, complete with random moments of levity and hilarity. But - also like sharing a story with your friend - there are moments of slight intensity where I had to consciously take a break so my brain could resurface back to reality.

Something in the Water is a definite page-burner, one that will swiftly carry you away with the summer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads profile.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

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Even those non-bookworms among us have heard of - and great things about - Delia Owens's beautiful debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, promoted by everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Instagram makeup Influencers to your good friend who enjoys fishing in places similar to the book's North Carolina setting. And I most definitely understand the hype and adoration for this lyrical tribute to things, people, and places we know little about.

"Kya" - also known as "Marsh Girl" by nearby villagers - has lived in solitude deep in the North Carolina marsh, learning everything nature has to teach her, since finding herself slowly abandoned by her family and ostracized by the community, surviving and living and loving among the birds. Kya is smart and strong and creative, and though she has accepted and swiftly navigates the life she lives, as she grows into a beautiful, young woman, she wonders how the opposite must feel; to be loved, touched, and kept sacred. Where the Crawdads Sing is a highly emotional, incredibly moving, coming-of-age story, pulled along by a vague murder mystery and frosted by an intelligent courtroom drama, though - ingeniously - the two are not stand-alone stories; one cannot exist without the other.

The writing is melodic and serene, delicately painting the lush swamp and marshland with lustrous talent and intellect for this incredible, mysterious, ecosystem. In her own right, and as a result of her surroundings, Kya is sad but strong, scared yet brave, secluded yet attractive, the story moving as slowly as the marsh waters it honors, not picking up any speed until it reaches the chaotic, open ocean that becomes the murder investigation of the local popular guy, Chase Andrews. The story then slows to a gentle ending that was surprising in the way that it wasn't. Owens leads you through the story as if she were Kya gliding through the still waters, which - as we all know - run deep.

As a nature-lover myself, and as someone who wants to wander into the wild, never to be found, to dwell amongst the deer and bears and bugs of the woods, to forget my unrequited love, I was drawn to Kya's story, her determination, and her knowing enough to believe in herself. This is definitely a great read for when you have the time and are in the mood for a good, hearty tale. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 on my goodreads profile.