Sunburn is the first novel I've read from Laura Lippman, who has an extensive backlist. This book was published in 2018, but it is set in 1995 in Delaware. 

Polly is on vacation with her husband and three year old daughter when she abandons them. She makes a break for it and heads to a small town that is known for nothing except being on the way to the beach. Here she decides to lay low for the summer, get a waitressing gig for a little cash, and then she will be on her way to Reno. 

Soon we learn that Polly is Pauline, of several different last names, and this isn't the first time she's escaped a husband or abandoned a child. In the small Delaware town, she meets Adam- a charming man who is there specifically to find her. This is a cat and mouse story, made more interesting because they are both the mouse. 

This story moved at a good clip and the writing went down easy, but I had major issues with the frequent references to the FMC's weight changes over the years. I know it was to make her jump into a new life with a new appearance believable, but it was fat phobic and unnecessary. I stuck with the book because I was invested in seeing how the cat and mouse games shook out, but I can't ignore this fixation on the female body shape and size. 

In the end, I liked the ending fine but it didn't have the shock factor I hoped for. What it did bring is deeper, relatable character development to Polly who is cast the entire time as an unnatural failure of a mother and a man eater. This book was good enough to finish, but perhaps not good enough to recommend. 

After really loving Delilah Green Doesn't Care, I was excited to read Ashley Herring Blake's second book in the series- Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail. Set in the same charming small town with reprisals of many of the characters from book one, this is the story of Astrid. We find Astrid struggling with her interior design business, swimming through redesigns that all feel the same, unsure of what her style actually is. She's also trying to bounce back from breaking it off less than a year ago with her fiance. 

When Astrid gets the chance to work on an exciting project that will be televised, she meets Jordan. Jordan is strong, emotionally and physically, but it turns out she has recently been through a lot as well. Astrid feels a quick chemistry with Jordan but the build up to spice and romance is gradual. The second half of this book has plenty of spice, but there's also the complexity of Astrid realizing she is not straight- which she spent 30 years thinking she was. I loved how Blake commented on what its like to learn about yourself at any age and the story around Astrid coming out to herself and her mom was really thoughtful. 

I usually hate a third act breakup, but in this book it made sense. I won't say more than that to avoid spoilers; there is definitely believability, sincere apologies, and good communication in this romance. Those things together helped me not mind things that usually make me cringe, namely the third act breakup and a grand gesture. 

Overall, I think this is a romance that hits the mark. I'll keep reading from this author and I hope you'll try her books as well. 

Friends to enemies to friends to lovers, this book has got your tropes and it is YA romance done right. Camping, check. Funny and spunky friends, check. Challenging families and big decisions, check. You might not expect any steam in a YA novel, but there is a little bit! Check to that too! Most of all, you're showing up to this book for the great characters, diverse representation, and funny banter coming out of every page. 

This book had me smiling and laughing, just what I needed between heavier reads. If you liked Talia Hibbert's adult romances (and if you haven't read all of the Brown Sisters books- GO DO THAT NOW), you should definitely give this one a try because she knocks it out of the park. Last, the audiobook has two wonderful narrators for the FMC and MMC so if listening is your jam- it's a great way to read this one. 

Never Let Me Go is a very, very slow paced dystopian novel about a boarding school in England that is no longer in operation. The alumni are unique and in the slowest of slow drips, we learn what makes them so different from other students. 

This book was well narrated and kept me interested until about the mid point. By then I was frustrated with the lack of information and the intentionally vague storyline. I toughed it out to the end expecting a dramatic reveal about the school and an explanation of the dystopian world that was so unsatisfyingly built. No big reveal came and I can say with confidence that this wasn't the book for me. 

Cara Romero is in her fifties and unemployed after working at the same factory in NYC for decades. Hard hit by the big recession in 2008, she is living off of unemployment benefits and must attend sessions to help her find a job. This book is both the reflections that she shares in these sessions and information that is regurgitated to her from the government job counselor. Semi-equal parts tender, sad, and funny, Cara's story is one of poverty, gentrification, and loss from the perspective of a Dominican woman just trying to survive in the city. 

So many parts of this book struck me, but the one I recall the most is "Only a mother knows what a mother will do." Right after that statement, Cara describes nursing Fernando until he was four and what a dedication of love that way. (I love a positive reference to natural term weaning!) Through job coaching for an in home daycare, we learn about their difficult relationship and her confidence and fears around raising children. Cara was not the best mother to her son, and she is full of love and regret for that. This book also contains descriptions of awful mistakes she made with Fernando. He has not been in her life for several years and her heart feels that emptiness. I loved how the author showed that all of our parts are connected- looking for a job can bring up all kinds of emotions even though our jobs are not all of who we are. 

Throughout the book there are references to the title, how not to drown in a glass of water refers to how difficult it is to stay afloat when one small bad thing is just too much. In such a small package, this book says so much and really packs a punch. The audio is incredibly well narrated and well produced with sound effects and music. I recommend picking up this book as soon as you can in any format you prefer! 

Only This Beautiful Moment is an immersive and beautifully layered story of three young men finding their way through queerness and cultural expectations. This is the third book I have read by Abdi Nazemian, and I have loved each of them tremendously. This may even be my favorite. It is perfectly written, with deep character development and beautiful descriptions, and a pace that keeps you in the story every step of the way. 

In this book, we learn about Moud an out teenage boy in LA in 2019, Saeed in 1978 living in Tehran, and Bobby in 1939 who is in love with his tennis partner while under contract with MGM. Each young man is struggling to find their place in the world and with relationships with their family. It is unclear at the beginning how the stories are related, and I love how Nazemian gradually brought the timelines together and showed the interconnectedness of our humanity. 

I lost count of how many poignant statements I highlighted in this book, including many quotes from Persian poets. It is really one of the most beautiful family dramas I have read in any age category. This is YA, but don't let that deter you. This story of intergenerational trauma and sincere healing is heartfelt and just right- respectful of cultural differences and the universal truth that we are all worthy of love and deserve to love in any way we choose. I will be singing about this book for a long time to come and I'm begging you to put it on your TBR and read it as soon as you can! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Slip is a graphic novel about Jade who is spending a month at an intense and competitive art camp. Unfortunately, right before the trip her best friend attempts suicide. 

Jade has to balance her desire to create art successfully in a high pressure environment with the trauma of her friend’s self harm and the lack of resolution there. 

This book weaves in color to show Jade’s emotional state with a mix of fantasy. I wished for a little more character development, but overall I enjoyed the way it tackled big issues in a creative format. 

It Could Be Anyone is a fast moving, well paced thriller about a group of college friends reunited ten years later for a wedding. Fiona is marrying Trevor, an intelligent and condescending man who has taken her far from her friends yet demanded each of them encourage the engagement. 

Within the first few pages, Hendricks establishes that each of her characters have secrets and in the first 75 pages there are compelling reveals. This continues throughout. It is a thriller fueled by nasty secrets that each friend keeps from the others and a sudden murder at the wedding. 

This is perfect for fans of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and The Guest List. I loved the rich and juicy character development and the short chapters made it easy to read and hard to put down. This is one to add to your TBR for sure. 

Loving v. Virginia is a nonfiction book in verse about the famous Supreme Court case that established the right to interracial marriage. This book is full of lovely poems and beautiful illustrations, as well as news articles, press releases, legal documents, and photographs. It is an experience unlike any I've had before in literature, and it was a delight. 

If you do not know the story of Mildred and Richard, you simply have to read this book. The author interviewed the living children, family, and neighbors of the Lovings to write this story that goes all the way back to Mildred's childhood and when she met Richard. The insight into their personal experiences as the case made its way through the courts is touching and a testament to the evils of segregation laws and to their love for each other and their family. 

Go find this book as soon as you can and learn more about these two amazing people that changed the heart of the nation and gave a face to an injustice faced by countless couples. And let it encourage you to support equality in our society now- for all of those who are underrepresented and discriminated against. 

Pretty Dead Queens is an excellent YA thriller, written by one of my favorite authors in the genre- Alexa Donne. I discovered Donne a couple of years ago on YouTube and she is definitely worth a follow! This book is about Cecelia, a 17 year old thrust into a new and dangerous situation. 

When Cecelia's mother dies, she is suddenly sent to live with her grandmother who she hasn't spoken to in years. But Cecelia's grandmother is also a best selling murder mystery author who is highly focused on appearances and status. Seaview is a small and elite town, with a Mayor who is classist to match many of the citizens. In the 70s, the homecoming queen was killed an hour after being crowned and now there is a copycat murder. Can Cecelia solve the crime? Can she solve it before she is in danger herself? 

I loved what this book had to say about grief and how family isn't always the tie that binds (but sometimes it is!), it leaned on some familiar tropes in a fresh and fun way. The pacing of the story and reveals were great, and I stayed invested in the audiobook throughout. The final thirty minutes was very eventful, but not in a way that felt rushed. If you like a mystery, pick this up!