Known as "The Father of Stealth," Ben Rich was the second director of Lockheed's Skunk Works and crucial in the development of the F-117, the first stealth airplane. Rich's memoir gives you a fascinating look at one of the aerospace industry's elite companies and an inside peek into the development of such renowned airplanes as the U-2 and SR-71. With segments from pilots, military members, and other individuals involved in the programs, Skunk Works is a captivating read for any aviation enthusiast. 

As COO of the hottest tech company in America, Julia Lerner has it all and hides a lethal secret: she's also a Russian spy. One afternoon while performing a server check, Alice notices something off about the company's privacy settings and begins to suspect Julia. Impostor Syndrome truly shines when it describes the nature of high-powered women in Silicon Valley, as cutthroat Julia must walk on a knife-edge of how she is perceived. Yet, as a spy novel, the plot was completely forgettable and too many tangents really killed the pace.

When it comes to developing habits, BJ Fogg urges you to go small. Think flossing one tooth or doing two pushups. While these don't seem like much, Fogg explains how motivation and ability are key to successful habits and teaches tried and true methods to form desirable habits and break undesirable books. I found the book succinct, inspirational, and extremely helpful. I even started flossing my teeth regularly.

Adam Grant reminds us that just like we refresh our wardrobe from time to time, we need to routinely reexamine our beliefs and ways of thinking. Often our beliefs become habits, and Grant argues that being too attached to one identity and thought process can kill our creativity. Instead, we need to start spending as much time rethinking as we do thinking. Grant is an excellent writer and he does an excellent job keeping you engaged as he discusses thought-provoking concepts. However, I felt his stories tended toward the why without much how, limited its usability in real life.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

In 1908, Sara Harrison Shea was found brutally murdered in the cornfield behind her house just months after her daughter's tragic death. In the present day living in Sara's former farmhouse, nineteen-year-old Ruthie comes home one night to find her mother has vanished. Now Ruthie finds she might be the only one capable of keeping history from repeating itself. McMahon's modern-day ghost story is a chilling reminder that the dead never truly leave us. A fun atmospheric read for any fan of spooky ghost stories.

As her wedding approaches, Addison isn't sure if it's the right thing to do. Years ago, she was discovered on the side of the road with amnesia, and she worries that her past could come back to haunt her. Meanwhile, Julian has never given up searching for his wife who mysteriously vanished. As the two storylines converge, Constantine's psychological thriller takes some twists that, while completely unbelievable, are at least unpredictable. A quick and easy summer read that didn't particularly stand out but was still enjoyable.

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

In 1929, three brides are married to three brothers in a single ceremony in rural Punjab. As Mehar tries to discover which of the three brothers is her husband, a misunderstanding causes lasting consequences. Years later, Mehar's great-grandson returns to India hoping to recover from his drug addiction.

As the two main characters struggle to find freedom in two different time periods, Sahota's novel (based somewhat on his family's history) uses sparse descriptions and limited glances, letting the reader fill in the gaps. This literary style is gorgeous in its own way but is not the lush detailed writing typical to historical fiction. Often the fragmentation as the perspective changed confused me, and I wish transitions had been smoother.

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

A new memoir from the owner and chef of an acclaimed restaurant in Maine tells of the challenges of finding your voice and rebuilding a life.

Growing up in rural Maine, Erin French fell in love with food while working at her father's diner. After dropping out of college when she got pregnant, French eventually established her own successful restaurant. When a crumbling marriage and addiction cause her to lose it all, French manages to slowly rebuild her personal and culinary life and find solace in the food she loves.

A stunning memoir, French's down-to-earth writing of her experience will cut straight to anyone's heart while foodies her will love her luscious culinary descriptions.

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

After Shay Miller witnesses a suicide in the New York City subway, she ends up connecting with the woman's glamorous friends. But Shay doesn't realize is that they might be just as interested in her as she is in them. As Shay friendship with the Moore sisters helps her find the confidence she lacked, they are slowly using her for their own purposes. You Are Not Alone is a forgettable little psychological thriller with a far-fetched premise and flat writing that provides an entertaining, though not compelling, read.

When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a body buried in her backyard, it sends her on a journey of self-discovery based on a 100-year-old murder. In 1921, Will Tillman lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a town segregated by Jim Crow laws and pervaded by racial violence. A misunderstanding prompts a single violent outburst, propelling Will into the midst of the Tulsa Race Riots. I found Dreamland Burning to be a solid young adult novel that will resonate with modern teens, helping them understand how history connects with the present day.