Many thanks to my friends at @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook.

 

An absolute delight!  I was lost in a haze of dreamy swoons and deep belly laughs.  

 

Here’s the rundown: 
💞Sharp and witty examination of the messiness of dating

💞GREAT banter

💞A dreamboat of a main man

💞A smart female mc who is (mostly) confident in her talents

💞Emotionally smart

💞Open communication 

 

The story is told in three parts, each of which worked well in creating the full scope of this relationship: 

 

💟Part one:  This is where we get the SNL-type weeklong show prep.  I am a big fan of SNL, so I loved this behind the scenes look.  It was accentuated by those first signs of banter and interest between Noah and Sally.  

 

💟Part two:  My FAVORITE.  This section is a homerun, 5⭐️ in epistolary format.  The reconnecting and playful flirting.  I had a bad case of butterflies and longed for Noah and Sally to take this thing from paper to reality.  

 

💟Part three:  Learning to be together.  This is where the relationship is put to the test as it develops and matures with some bumps along the way.  I was sold on Noah and Sally by this point and desperately hoped for an HEA for them.   

 

This was just the feel good book I needed!  I blushed.  I cackled.  I was giddy with delight.  One of my favorite rom-coms of the year.    

 

🎧 I could not listen to this book fast enough.  Kristen Sieh is a phenomenal narrator, and she did not disappoint in this narration.  Her portrayal was enthusiastic and engaging.  You’ll finish the book before you even realize how much time has passed.  I’d wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook for this one.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @gallerybooks and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies.

 

“Under these stars, fate will guide you home.”

 

Heartbreaking and emotional. 

 

Two mothers.  Two daughters.  As tensions escalate in war torn France, hard decisions can’t be avoided. 

 

The backdrop of WW2 is deeply felt throughout this narrative, but it isn’t the focal point.  This is a story of sacrifice and hard choices.  It’s a look at motherhood in the most trying times.   

 

Well researched and full of heart, Harmel paints a heart-rending picture of resilience that took me through the full range of emotions: tenderness, sadness, rage, and hope.  There’s also an important reminder about the dangers of allowing grief and anger to take root.  Harmel knows how to pull at the heartstrings and create timeless messaging.

 

The author’s note is a must read.  It gave me a greater appreciation of this story, steeped in facts and created with thoughtful purpose.  

“If we know more about the past, we are better prepared to face the future and whatever comes our way.” 

 

This made for another great discussion with my friends @andrea.c.lowry and @thebookclubmom

 

🎧 The audiobook, narrated by Madeline Mabry, brought the story to life, creating nuance to each POV and accentuating the gamut of emotion portrayed throughout the plot.  

Many thanks to my friends at @avidreaderpress and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.

 

Claustrophobic.  Pulse pounding.  An action-packed race against time.  This is THE must-read thriller of the year. 

 

For 6 minutes Flight 1421 was like any other airplane in the sky.  Then suddenly, it catapulted through the air and into the water, becoming more akin to a submarine and creating a rescue situation unlike any before.   

 

I’m not being dramatic when I say this book should’ve been accompanied with its own oxygen mask.  Newman’s experience in the airline industry shines through in her fully immersive writing. 

 

But immersive writing in a book about drowning hits a little different.  I could not catch my breath.  That intensity!!  It was the perfect blend of heart racing, hyperventilating, can’t look away, HAVE TO KNOW.  

 

Yet amid those adrenaline-soaked moments, there is a heartwarming story of comradery, teamwork, and the power in human connection.  The full-bodied portrayal of these characters as they fought for survival had me rooting for them, wishing I could go through the pages to help in some way.  There’s an emotional depth to Drowning that is unique.  Newman deftly balances the tension with the sentiment.  

 

Drowning broke me out of the *worst* thriller slump.  I had begun to think none would dazzle me ever again.  Boy was I wrong.  Not only did Drowning dazzle, but it also reminded me why thrillers are one of my favorite genres.  

 

I devoured Newman’s debut novel, Falling.  But I think she’s really hit her stride with Drowning, which I loved even more.  

 

Her airline expertise combined with her sharp, compulsive storytelling prove she has found her niche with airline thrillers, and I’ll be on board for each one she writes.  (I might avoid the actual flights she’s on though….)

 

🎧 Newman’s last book, Falling, was spectacularly narrated by @actuallystevenweber, a longtime favorite of mine.  So when I saw he would be back in the narrator seat for Newman’s new novel, I was immediately on board (for the narration, not the sinking plane).  He’s joined this time by Tony award winning actress, Laura Benanti.  Could there be a more perfect narration duo?  Not for this book.  They impeccably executed the tense, anxiety ridden atmosphere and held me spellbound as the book unfolded.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Highly entertaining yet deeply disturbing.  Leede’s debut proves she is one to watch (and maybe be a little afraid of?).

 

This book begs the question:  princess or villain?  Maeve, our female protagonist, has a fervent answer: BOTH! 

 

By day, Maeve is everything society expects.  She’s pretty.  She’s polished.  She dotes on little children.  But as day turns to night, she puts aside the crowns and pixie dust to embrace her depraved nature.

 

Trolling smoky dive bars, often covered in blood {Happy Halloween!}, she can’t quite understand why it is that men are allowed inner demons while women must answer for their darkness. 

 

“Men have always been permitted in fiction and in life to simply be what they are, no matter how dark or terrifying that might be. But with a woman, we expect an answer, a reason.” 

I loved the dichotomy found in Maeve.  A murderous princess.  It’s a smart, irreverent social commentary worth exploration.    

 

There’s also a love story.  (Is romantic horror a thing?)  Oh to be fully seen and fully loved.  The way Gideon looked at Maeve!  The way he expressed himself to her!  Alas there are no HEAs in horror.  Sometimes love just isn’t enough.  

 

Gross or engrossing?  Unequivocally, both.  Even with such a debauched narrative, I found myself captivated.  It’s a provocative, fresh, and compelling tale. 

 

BUT.  It spares no details.  It’s a vivid picture of gore and violence.  The content is explicit and gruesome.  It’s erotic and obscene.  Trigger warnings abound and should be heeded as this isn’t for everyone.  (I’m still wondering if it was for me!)

 

This made for a great buddy read and discussion with @bookmarked.by.becky @thats.one.for.the.books and @its_liz_reading

 

🎧 @sosiebackon has narrating chops!  I utilized both print and audio for this read, but I found myself grabbing for my earbuds.  Bacon’s narration amplifies the rage within Maeve while showcasing her softer sides too.  It’s a full-bodied portrayal that I highly recommend.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @pameladormanbooks and @prhaudio for the #gifted books. 

Uncomfortable. Shocking. Twisted. Audrain hasn’t just found her niche in mom-noir, she excels at it. 

When tragedy strikes Harlow Lane, a tangled web of truth, lies, and that gray area where secrets abound is slowly unwoven, leaving an often disturbing picture of motherhood, friendship, and marriage. 

This book had me on the edge of my seat. It was wholly addictive, and I couldn’t put it down. Those short chapters and the propulsive plot consumed me. 

But it was Audrain’s writing… sharp, bold, and daring… that allowed this storyline to really shine. This is a book that will be talked about. A lot. Some, like me, are going to love the uncensored look into those often unexplored, taboo places. Some are going to find it intrusive and uncomfortable. Either way, this is a book that will elicit a strong response. 

Audrain is unapologetic in her exploration of motherhood. Each configuration, including infertility, gets a raw and honest unpacking. It’s explicit and unnerving. The longings. The insecurities. The fear. The jealousy. The sacrifices. Audrain pulled me in, allowing me to feel the very essence of each character, even the ones I didn’t like. And most shocking, she made them, as provocative as they were, relatable. 

Warning: As someone who dealt with infertility and miscarriage, I found this portrayal both brutal and real. Those scenes of loss were visceral. While I found them to be an honest representation, they were also very triggering. 

Just like in The Push, that last sentence of this book packed wallop. After feeling a bit let down by some of the reveals in the last 10%, that final statement was the gasp-worthy finale I expected, solidifying Audrain as an auto-buy author for me. 

🎧 Because I *had* to read this book as fast as possible, I utilized every format. I listened to the audiobook on the go. I read the physical copy when home. And sometimes, I had both paired together. Jill Winternitz’ narration of the audiobook breathed life into each of the four distinct women, giving the sense that I was an interloper in their most private thoughts. 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @getredprbooks for the #gifted copy of this book. 

I don’t remember much about my art history classes in college. But I vividly recall one professor’s zeal for Georgia O’Keefe and the impact she made as a groundbreaking female artist. 

As a young, naïve student, that enthusiasm was a bit lost on me. It’s funny how time changes perspective because now I completely understand why impactful women from history through today deserve such accolades. 

In The Friday Night Club, we are introduced to now renowned artist Hilma af Klint. This Swedish painter, who for decades went unnoticed, found inspiration within her circle of friends and the seances they held to connect with long lost artistic greats. 

The present-day timeline follows Eben Elliot, a junior curator at the Guggenheim, as he brings the never before seen collection of af Klint’s painting to the museum. 

This leads to an exploration, both past and present, of this group of friends and the groundbreaking compilation of work that had previously been overlooked. 

I love reading about little know women from history. And it appears these women are ones worth knowing about. However, the disjointed writing and flat storytelling didn’t create a dynamic with which I could fashion a lasting connection. 

This book is for people who love:
🎨 Art and art history
🎨 Brazen women ahead of their time
🎨 How museum exhibitions are put together
🎨 The Guggenheim
🎨 Seeing impactful women given the accolades they’ve long deserved. 

It’s worth noting that today:
🖼️ Females make up 55% of artists
🖼️ The collections of the 18 major US art museums are 87% male artists
🖼️ The most expensive work sold by a female artist (Georgia O’Keefe’s Jumson Weed) fetched $44.4 million while the most expensive work sold by a male (Davinci’s Salvator Mundi) brought in $450.3 million.
🖼️ 99% of all art sold at auctions are by male artists.
🖼️ In the top 20 most popular art exhibitions around the world in 2018, only one was headlined by a woman: Joana Vasconcelos at the Guggenheim Bilbao

Many thanks to my friends at @aaknopf and @prhaudio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Packed with humor and heart.  Tom Hanks and his charismatic storytelling FULLY charmed me.  

 

I could listen to Hanks ramble on ad nauseum, regaling me with stories, fact or fiction.  He’s one of my favorite entertainers to watch in off-the-cuff moments or interviews.  There’s an energy and quirkiness to him that always draws me in.  

 

The brevity required of his short story collection, Uncommon Type, didn’t allow room for his signature style to shine through.  

 

But in this book, his immense storytelling skills are fully showcased, and this book oozes the quintessential essence of Hanks. 

 

The process of shooting a movie is referred to as “The Blur,” due to the overwhelming nature of details and constant moving parts.  At times this narrative felt the same.  A depth of plot.  A large cast.   A wealth of details.  

 

But the movie director’s motto in Making Another, “Solve more problems than you create,” is apropos of Hanks execution here.     

 

Once I let myself relax into Hanks’ style (a storyteller rather than writer), I found myself lost in the pages, devoted to the Vietnam vet who inspired a comic strip and the subsequent movie the comic strip became.  

 

It’s apparent in his acting that Hanks is an astute observer of life.  But it comes across in his writing even more so.  

 

This immersive story with full bodied characters feels genuine and warm, most especially in those heart wrenching moments.   It’s raw and real and all encompassing.  It’s sentimental and empathetic.   For me, this was a masterpiece of storytelling.  

 

Much like the feeling you get at the end of a truly great movie, I was sad to say goodbye to this story after it had dazzled me so.  For days after finishing, I genuinely missed the comradery Hanks created.  And I’d say that’s a total win. 

 

🎧 TMOAMMPM is narrated by Hanks and a full supporting cast.  The book already exuded his essence, but the audio solidified that.  I combined the print and audio, a fully immersive experience.  Hanks’ performance skills brought the words to life, but the physical book included the comics in which the movie is based.  I’d recommend combing the two formats for a complete experience.  

Many thanks to my friends at @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook.  

 

Oh those bygone days of the early aughts.  I love a good trip back in time, and The Daydreams was exactly the drama-filled binge read to yesteryear that I didn’t know I needed.  

 

Betrayal.  Jealousy.  Redemption. Forgiveness.   

 

Stars from the popular teen show of the early aughts reunite for a reunion show thirteen years after the scandalous live finale imploded.  

 

The storyline hooked me from the very beginning.  This is bingeworthy drama at its best.  The plot is juicy and filled with secrets, making it an all-around entertaining read.  

 

The characters, particularly Kat, were authentic, flawed, and relatable.  But it was their arc and growth that kept me rooting for them.  

 

And while this was a totally fun read, it also carries important messaging regarding the abuse of power and putting young people into the spotlight.  It’s a cautionary tale about the entertainment industry that has broad relevancy to regular life as well.  

 

This is an addictive read that has depth and left me cheering at the end.   

 
🎧 I listened to this one and couldn’t plow through it quickly enough.  There is one main narrator, Laura Hankin (the author), with a full cast for character excerpts.  It’s apparent that Hankin is multitalented from the first notes of this performance.  Her depiction exudes the energy of the book.  The cast snippets didn’t feel necessary because I was enjoying Hankin’s delivery but were great additions.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @randomhouse and @prhaudio for these #gifted copies. 

 

Slow-burn popcorn thriller.  Is that such a thing?  

 

After the tragic deaths of their spouses, Sloane and Whit find comfort with each other.  Just as life seems to come together, Sloane’s health takes a turn, and everything begins to unravel.  

 

Washington DC… known for backroom deals, secrets, betrayals, and high stakes games… makes the perfect backdrop for this book, and Constantine nails the execution. Sloane’s life looks perfect.  The perfect house.  The perfect husband(s).  The perfect friends.  The perfect philanthropic career.  But that outside appearance is tainted with lies and betrayals… ones she’s oblivious to and that just might get her killed.  

 

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me.  It started off strong, totally grabbing my attention.  It had a dishy soap opera vibe full of suspicion that hooked me.  

 

But somewhere along the way, the drama and energy faded, leaving it to feel repetitive and predictable.  Lupus.  Degrading health.  Suspicion.  Add in a few over-the-top details.  Rinse and repeat. 

 

While I totally predicted the end twist, I did appreciate the unfolding of the last scene.  

 

My favorite by this writing duo remains The Last Mrs. Parrish.  But I think many will find this domestic thriller enjoyable.  I’ll be looking forward to seeing what this duo comes up with next.  

 

🎧 I alternated between the print and the audio versions of this one but found I preferred my print copy.  The narration by Kirsten Potter was much like the plot, a bit over the top at times.  

 

(4.5⭐️) Wholly consuming. 

 

I dabble in fantasy, but it’s not a genre I grab for often.  So, I was ambivalent when I saw the initial hype for this book.  Obviously the FOMO won out though, and I’m glad it did.    

 

This isn’t a book you go into for the lyrical prose or depth of character development.  And while there is quality messaging that is very apropos for the time we live, that’s not the draw to this book either.  

 

This is a book to get lost within, fully absorbed into another world.  It’s a book that reminds of that initial love for reading, immersed in the magic of words.  

 

What’s to love?

🐉It’s dark and cutthroat.  Kill or be killed.  

🐉It’s fast paced and propulsive.  I could not look away.  There was NO waiting to find out what happened.  

🐉It’s also HOT and spicy.  That tension had me sweating. 🥵

🐉 Violet:  Female heroine with chronic illness and a love of books.  She knows her own mind and forges her own path.  👏🏻

🐉 The DRAGONS:  Specifically, 2 dragons. 💞

🐉 That ending!!!!!!  

 

There’s a reason this book is THE book of the moment.  It gave me the exact escape I needed and would be a perfect poolside read (as long as you plan to stay at the pool all day).  I’m now counting down until November.  

 

🎧 I combined the audio and print formats for this read.  I think I preferred the print, but both formats worked equally well.  I’ve heard some discussion about the narrator sounding nasally, but I didn’t have that experience at the speed I listened (2.1x).