At first, no one gives a second thought about the death of ninety-year-old Peggy Smith. Until her bookshelves are found filled with crime thrillers all dedicated to Peggy. When a gunman breaks into the flat to steal a book and an author is murdered, Peggy's friends team up with Detective Kaur to investigate.

Although the second book in a series, I read it as a standalone and didn't feel the least bit lost. However, The Postscript Murders is about the kind of book you'd expect from its hideous cover - a cheesy cozy mystery about armchair detectives with little to no character development and a mystery that didn't make complete sense. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Largely forgotten and believed to be a work of fiction, historians in the 1980s finally proved that Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was Harriett Jacobs's memoir of her life as a slave. Told in a brilliantly clear and compelling narrative, Jacob shines the light on the hypocrisy and sexual abuse inherent in master-slave relationships. Eventually, Jacobs escapes, living in hiding in an attic for seven years before moving to the North. Written as a plea to Northern women against the ills of slavery, Jacobs's memoir is fascinating and a must-read classic.

Intersting Memoir Without a Memorable Message

A coming-of-age memoir about growing up a Black girl with an incarcerated father and the path to truly understand and overcome our origins. While Ashley idolized her father she barely knew, her life was shaped by her mother and grandmother. As she ages, she eventually learns why her father is in prison and must reconcile her own identity with her family's past.

Although the book is marketed as Ford's relation with her father, it's really about her relationship with her quick-tempered and emotionally detached mother. Ford is an excellent writer and she does an excellent job convey the emotions and thoughts that influenced her decisions. However, I would have loved for her to consider why her mother and grandmother made the decisions they made.

For me, Somebody's Daughter was just shy of being phenomenal. The pacing was a bit off: Ford delves so much on her experiences as a very young child, then rushes through her college years. Similarly, Ford fails to ponder how her experiences connected to what other women and girls, especially Black girls, face. In all, Somebody's Daughter is an interesting memoir without a memorable message.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Flatiron Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Gorgeous Historical Fantasy for Young Adults

Chloe Gong's debut young adult novel is a clever retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In 1920s Shanghai, a blood feud between two rival gangs causes chaos in the city. Eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai has returned home to embrace her place as heir to the Scarlet Gang. When a contagion starts sweeping the streets, Juliette must work with her first love, Roma Montagov from the rival gang, to solve the mystery.

Chloe Gong's historical fantasy was rich with detail, bringing 1920s Shanghai to life. I loved the richness of the characters, as they struggle between love and loyalty. My biggest qualm was that the story was so bloody. A contagion causes people to randomly claw out their own throats, which was a bit gory for my taste. Yet, the overall story was delightful entertaining new young adult series.

Poppy and Alex have been best friends forever even though she's a wild child full of wanderlust and he's an introverted bookworm. Although she lives in New York City and he still lives in their hometown, every year they take a week-long vacation together. Until two years ago, when their trip ended in a falling out. Now Poppy convinces Alex to take one final vacation with her in an attempt to fix their relationship ... and maybe even fall in love.

Emily Henry's latest release has been hailed as the summer's best beach read, so I decided to pick up a copy. Henry is a good writer, and I enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation despite my general lack of enthusiasm for romances. The "will they/won't they" aspect carries the novel forward and I loved seeing Poppy and Alex's relationship. However, the stunning lack of communication between the characters really started to grate on me by the end of the book.

During a whirlwind vacation, recent high school grad Tate Jones falls hard for her very first love, Sam Brandis only to have his betrayal shatter her world. Now a dozen years later, actress Tate is nervous for her first serious film role, only to unexpectedly find Sam is the screenwriter. Given that it's a romance, I wasn't expecting much, but I at least hoped for at least some character development like in some of their other books. Cheesy from start to finish, Twice in a Blue Moon is for romance fans who don't really want to think too much.

Fascinating Look at History Best Listened to as an Audiobook

In the years leading up to the second world war, a group of military strategists, nicknamed "The Bomber Mafia," wondered if precision bombing of strategic targets could make war less lethal. Gladwell ponders how technology and the best intentions collide in the heat of war while examining the firebombing of Tokyo. Weaving together stories of a Dutch genius, pyromaniacal chemists, and two competing generals, Gladwell makes you consider the incalculable costs of war.

The Bomber Mafia was created as an audiobook, which was obvious when reading the e-book. The book heavily quotes outside sources, which would be much more enjoyable in an audio version. Gladwell, as always, is a stunningly good writer, making you rethink everything you thought you knew and pointing out things you never even considered. My biggest complaint was that The Bomber Mafia was too short. I wanted him to go deeper into each topic and I think he could have easily doubled the length of the book without losing your interest.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After being kidnapped as a toddler and raised in isolation in the German woods by a mysterious Jewish woman with powerful foresight, a young woman is shocked to find out that the world is at war. When she stumbles upon a group of Jews trying to escape the Nazi regime, she teaches them the survival skills that have kept her alive. After she is betrayed, she ends up in a German-occupied town where her past comes back to haunt her.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is the type of historical fiction that makes you roll your eyes with how unrealistic it is. As a heroine, Yona was completely unbelievable, a girl with no character flaws but who was expertly taught in all matters - languages, medicine, religion, etc. - despite growing up in near isolation in the woods. In all, Harmel's latest is an over-the-top story that steals its best moments from inspiring real events without adding enough strength into her fictional narrative to bring it all together.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Brilliant Family Drama Perfect for Book Club Discussions

After a car accident caused by her drunk driving, Sunday Brennan returns to her large Irish family in New York. Five years earlier, she had abandoned them and her high school sweetheart with no explanation. Determined to rebuild her relationships, Sunday is startled when a man threatens the family's business and forces the family to confront painful mistakes.

We Are the Brennans is my new favorite book of 2021. Tracey Lange hit it out of the park with this family drama reminiscent of Ask Again, Yes. After reading it, I couldn't stop pondering the character's motivations and decisions, and debating how I would have my feelings would have changed if the author had tweaked different characters. Delving into the ways guilt and shame can affect our interactions, We Are the Brennans is a brilliant book club book that I know I will be recommended for years to come.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celadon Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Tired of being the only Black woman at Wagner Books, Nella Rogers is thrilled when Harlem-born Hazel moves into the cubicle next to her. When Hazel becomes the office darling, Nella starts receiving threatening notes. Could Hazel be trying to force out Nella, or is there much more going on in their workplace?

More office drama than thrilling read, The Other Black Girl suffers from poor pacing, taking forever for anything to happen and then rushing the ending. Inserted into the plot are other POV chapters which supposedly build up to the Twilight Zone twist, but in reality, just drag the text even more. I enjoyed the social commentary, as well as the interplay between Nella and Hazel, and thought the big reveal was a fascinating concept, though unsatisfactorily explained that the climax lost its potency.