A bit darker, in the nature of the crime, than the first. I think I will switch from audio on the next one. The narrator make him seem much older than he is.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley

A delightful book. I can't wait to read more in the series. While the synopsis talks about Sarah Dove and her magic with books, she is more of a secondary character. This book mostly focuses on Grace, and what it means to call a place home.
After the death of her sister, Grace becomes her niece's caregiver. This is coupled with caring for her foster mother who has Alzheimers. They move to Dove Pond, where Mama G grew up, hoping the familiar will slow down the progression of the Alzheimers.

Planning to only stay for a year, Grace is reluctant (almost defiantly so) to make friends. But slowly, as time goes on, she does. She also comes to realize what HOME means and that being happy and successful does not necessarily come from climbing a corporate ladder.

Wow. Gripping and horrendous at the same time. And now I am suspicious of random people walking by my house.

I had to keep reminding myself that t hmm is was a novel. It readsike a documentary I highly recommend it on audio. There is a full cast to lend voices to each if the members. I don't think I would have rated it as high otherwise. It seems like a format that wouldn't work as well on the page.

While on the surface this book is about the rise and fall of a rock band in the 70's. It is also about marriage. Not just love, but the commitment and faith and trust that two people put into a marriage. It's a little about addiction, but not entirely.

Wow. So much to contemplate in here. I had a hard time following the story in the beginning. It seemed to bounce back in forth, but then it settled down and she unpacked so much.
How parents shape our viewpoints. The undying trust and support we give to our parents even when what they give us is not the best. Mental illness. Cult like behavior. Religious extremism. Fighting against your past to become a better person. How the ties of family are so dsmn strong that you cant walk away from them even when it's what you should do.

What truly amazes me though, is that the author has gotten to a level where she still lives her family and understands their motivations even when she has every right to block them completely out of her life. She has come to terms with her past and is setting boundaries on how to move forward.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley.

This is one that will have me ponder for a while.

It is a portrayal of a man, Nuri, and his wife, Afra, as they escape war torn Syria and seek asylum in the UK. We travel with them through refugee camps, witnessing the thin thread of existence and hope in the camps. And how at times those both fade in and out.

But more than that, we are given a glimpse into how trauma affects them both, as Afra has gone blind at witnessing her son's death. And Nuri, who we believe is strong and helping his wife, is actually suffering in his own ways from trauma.

Throughout there is the theme of bees and regeneration and hope.

At first, I felt that there was a lack in the depth of emotion that I would have expected for this type of journey. However, upon reflection I wonder if that is intentional. Both in portraying a numbness that I imagine would come from facing countless trauma and endless suffering and the numbness of trying not to feel the pain of loss.