booklistqueen's Reviews (634)

 In a sequel to her high-action spy thriller, Alias Emma, British spy Emma Makepeace returns with another Russian investigation. When an MI6 operative is assassinated, Emma determines to find the killer without becoming a victim herself. Before his death, he was investigating two Russian oligarchs he believed were spies with ties to a mysterious third man. But MI6 told him to drop it. As Emma goes undercover on a Russian oligarch's yacht, she finds the killer might be closer to home than she ever imagined.

Alias Emma was one of my favorite thrillers of 2022, so my expectations were high for The Traitor. Emma is just as brilliant a character this time around, a fearlessly competent spy unafraid to make bold moves to save the day. Although the tight quarters of the yacht made for excellent tension, the overarching mole hunt had hardly any complexity, leaving you disappointed in the big reveal.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

 Moving to New York to escape an abusive ex, Iris is charmed by a family-owned gelato shop in Little Italy that her mom visited decades ago and was given the secret recipe. When Gio, the handsome owner, admits to Iris that his uncle forgot the secret family recipe after a stroke, Iris doesn't have it in her to admit that she has the key. Not wanting to cause family drama, Iris agrees to help recreate the recipe, but secrets from the past threaten to ruin her new love.

A Winter in New York is a cute little love story that reminds you that honest communication would prevent a whole lot of unnecessary drama. The miscommunication trope among fully-grown adults never sits well with me and I was disappointed Silver didn't add a more nuanced message like she did in The Two Lives of Lydia Bird and One Day in December. Other than that, A Winter in New York was a pleasant romance with a little steam and mostly adorable characters that worked well as a quick light read.

 In 1958, Sheriff Brody Dern investigates the murder of a disliked wealthy landowner in a small Minnesota town. The rumor mill is quickly ablaze, accusing the murder on Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII vet who just returned to town with his new Japanese bride. As Brody tries to find the truth, the physical and emotional wounds from World War II bring up old grievances in the community.

Just as with his acclaimed coming-of-age dramas Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, Krueger presents a masterclass in developing complex nuanced characters in this beautifully written historical fiction novel. Sheriff Brody Dern and the citizens of Jewell, Minnesota, are complicated and messy and, for the most part, doing the best they can. Krueger makes the small town come alive while hitting on deep themes and expertly painting human nature in all its flaws. The River We Remember is a must-read for any fall reading list.

 After serving 18 months in prison on a drug conviction, Tara Connelly tries to rebuild her life. She moves back in with her siblings - a brother who's a single dad trying to overcome a brain injury and a sister struggling with an intense need for a sense of control. Just as Tara feels like she might find love again, the cop who arrested her begins to hassle her and the family's secrets threaten to unravel everything she has worked for.

Once I began The Connellys of County Down I could not put it down, staying up way too late to finish it. Lange builds a rich story about complicated sibling dynamics, each sibling damaged in their own way by their dysfunctional upbringing. Yet the unconditional love between them shines strong, bringing you to tears as they struggle to balance their desires with what is best for the family. With its emotional presence and deep themes, The Connellys of County Down would make an excellent book club book selection.

Successful plus-sized fashion blogger Bea Schumacher has everything in life but love. When her favorite Bachelorette-inspired reality show wants her to be the star, she says yes on one condition. She absolutely will not fall in love. Instead, Bea aims to inspire women by subverting the expected beauty standards and building her career. But the further along Bea gets, the more she wonders if happily-ever-after might actually be possible.

Mixing a charming romantic comedy with heartfelt commentary on harmful beauty standards, One to Watch was an excellent summer romance to read. Bea is a relatable heroine, independent and confident most of the time and yet she still struggles with those insecurities that are difficult to eradicate. A quick read, One to Watch would be the perfect uplifting beach read to pack for your next vacation. 

On her forty-fifth birthday, Alix Summers runs into Josie Fair, who happens to be her birthday twin. Soon Alix runs into Josie again, and Josie convinces Alix that Josie's life would be a great subject for Alix's podcast. As Josie manipulates her way into Josie's life Alix unexpectedly finds herself the subject of her own podcast and must uncover Josie's dark secrets to protect her family.

Despite its decent start, None of This is True lacked the tension I normally feel in Lisa Jewell's thrillers. Jewell does an excellent job mixing after-the-fact documentary and podcast interviews into the plotline to keep you wondering how much of Josie's story is true. Yet, I disliked Josie's character so much that I struggled to stay engaged. Combined with the anticlimactic ending, None of This is True just didn't work at all for me even though it's getting rave reviews from other readers.

The granddaughter of one of the only female doctors in China, Yunxian is taught all about women's illnesses, alongside her best friend Meiling, a midwife-in-training. When Yunxian becomes a wife in an arranged marriage, Yunxian is forbidden from speaking to Meiling or helping the household women. Determined to break away from tradition, Yunxian goes on to treat women from every level of society in this novel based on a true story from the Ming Dynasty.

A story about women supporting women, Lady Tan's Circle of Women excellent showcased the struggles women of all classes of society faced in ancient China. An enveloping read with deep themes, this fictional tale of a real doctor favors descriptive storytelling over emotional attachments. Thus, this slower story is perfect for readers who like to be fully immersed in historical fiction. 

Half-sisters Joanna and Esther Kalotay were raised among their father's collection of rare magic books that he spent his whole life protecting. While Esther fled to a remote Antarctic base, Joanna has isolate herself in the family home. When their father dies, the sisters reunite and discover that their parents have been keeping secrets from them. Secrets that could change everything.

I have mixed feelings about Emma Törzs's debut fantasy book. While the worldbuilding aspect of the magic was intriguing, the pacing was all over the place. The setup took too long; It's well past halfway through before the action finally begins and the three main storylines start to intertwine. Yet, the ending felt a little forced, rushing to a conclusion without letting the main characters develop realistic connections. 

 In a well-off neighborhood, four families gather together for a pleasant summer barbecue but are thrown when Whitney, the perfect hostess, explodes at her son Xavier. Months later, Xavier falls out a bedroom window in the middle of the night. While he lies critically injured in the hospital, Whitney refuses to speak and the other women begin to wonder what really happened that night, knowing they all have secrets to hide.

The Whispers was a page-turning family drama that I could not put down, reading it in one evening. Each account of motherhood was different but contained such power, showing the strain that comes from the choices each woman makes. Unafraid to tackle hard subjects, Audrain tackles the dark side of motherhood in this intense suburban thriller. 

 Although her life isn't fully together, Abby is excited to be newly engaged to her childhood best friend Mark, who she met at a weight-loss camp her mother forced her to attend. Yet, Abby still can't seem to shake the memories of Sebastian, a one-night stand from years ago. When Abby leads a group bike ride from New York City to Niagara Falls, she is shocked when both her mom and Sebastian are participants. Now Abby must navigate the group while avoiding Sebastian and dealing with her years of body insecurities which she blames on her mother.

If you want to read about shallow characters talked about in depth, The Breakaway is the book for you. Meet plus-size cyclist Abby who cheats on her perfectly nice boyfriend with the hot ladies' man Sebastian, who has slept his way through Brooklyn. All while she decides whether she should move in with that perfectly nice boyfriend who loves her. Add in the hot-topic issue of abortion rights for your side characters, for no other reason than Weiner wanted to make a statement, and you have a hot mess of a summer read.