The Resting Place is a slow paced mystery based thriller set in Sweden. There is a current timeline with our MC going to a family home she didn’t know existed until a death in the family. Oh and she has face blindness. We also read chapters from Anushka, a maid at the same house in the 1960s. 

Ultimately the plot bored me until the final quarter, and then I could not put it down. If you like family based thrillers, this may appeal to you. 

How can I rate non-fiction that is truly letters from the 1940s and 1950s between several people, mainly two, about the quest to find rare books at an affordable price? I don't think a star rating necessarily belongs on nonfiction of this variety, but I will say the audiobook is very well narrated and brings to life the humor and emotion of these original letters. 

As someone born in the 80s, much of the style of life described in these letters is something I have never experienced. But in some way, there is a corollary here between old fashioned letters and the magic of written conversation when you are getting to know someone, be it letters, emails, text messages, or another format. 

I think this epistolary collection is a joyful slice of life in which all of us who love reading can find something to relate to.  

An interesting twist on the Groundhog Day trope, this is the story of a woman who witnesses her son killing a man and then begins her experience in a time loop. 

As she travels back, she learns that solving this mystery and keeping her son from killing a man is a much bigger puzzle than she originally thought. And soon even the time loop does not behave as it originally did. 

This isn't a standout book in my opinion, but it did something fun in an unusual way. Some might find the scientific character who researches time loops a bit trite, but I thought this information added a layer to the story. If you're looking for a short thriller that will keep you guessing with some magical realism in the form of time travel, this isn't a bad choice. 

Beneath Cruel Waters is an incredibly compelling of one small family and their hidden secrets that drove them apart many years ago. Told in alternating timelines (1984 and 2018), we learn the story of Holt Davidson. Holt has returned to a small Colorado town where he grew up because his devout mother has committed suicide. His older sister has also been in a mental institution or halfway house since he was young. 

As Holt learns the truth about his family's past, we learn piecemeal bits about each of the family members. Told in sparse but beautiful prose, the character development here is superb. I was amazing at how real each character felt, even when information was revealed that seemed tantamount to their essence. Even the side characters felt so real, so fully formed and just so in my mind. 

This is a heart crushing story of familial trauma, of secrets hidden to protect each other that do more harm than good. It flies by and the pages turn quickly, despite the heaviness. The pacing is also just perfect and even, we learn just enough through each chapter to keep the story moving forward. 

It is not often I consider rereading a book, but I think this will be a wonderful one to revisit in the future. This is an excellent example of how rich writing can be without being verbose and overdone. If you are a fan of family dramas, thrillers, or sad mysteries, please, please pick this up. 

Invisible Women presents a plethora of data on the lack of data about women in various fields and across a wide range of topics. As someone who consumes a fair number of books each year, I was very pleased to find this book full of information that was new to me. Read by the author, this audiobook is an enjoyable way to read this book. It listens like a well researched podcast and her chapter organization blends well while also giving distinctness to each topic. 

I think this is a must read for all. There are so many ways that women and female presenting people are discriminated against in our world- both intentionally and unintentionally. Each of us cannot change all of these issues, but perhaps we can each find something that we are passionate about to share with those around us and try to make a difference. From the way car safety standards center only the average male to the numerous ways we are held down in more known ways such as the pink tax and menstruation taboos, this book will help you find a data driven voice to speak about what women need to push further towards equality in our world. 

Not as fast as book one, but when it picks up around the halfway point it is a compelling YA mystery/adventure story. 

A witchy found family story with a side of romance? Yes, please. 

This novel did everything I wanted it to; it was a light and fun read with a heartwarming story of young witches who find themselves and community with Mika- a witch who has grown up isolated and alone for her 31 years. Called to help three young girls learn to control their power, Mika has to fight against a society of witches that has relied on living in solitude amongst unmagical humans for their survival. In this task, she discovers how powerful community and found family can be. And the love is pretty steamy too. 

If you were a fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea (notable issues there, I acknowledge), this is a book for you! Also, don't discount this book since Halloween has already passed. It is set in the time between Halloween and the Winter Solstice so it is just perfect to pick up right now!  

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy has a fascinating premise, how are traumatic memories of our ancestors part of our genetic heritage? In this novel, Jaime Ford tackles this scientifically real and not yet strongly understood topic of epigenetics using the lens of Afong Moy- the first Chinese woman to live in the United States. We read from numerous perspectives, all of whom are the female descendants of Afong. 

I thought this novel had tremendous possibility that was squandered with heavy handedness and flat characters. By halfway, it became clear to me as a reader that the characters were making unlikely choices and experiencing every possible trauma in a way that felt unrealistic and upsetting without sufficient character growth. 

I am a fan of novels with multiple perspectives but I think Ford added a few too many for this narrative. By the time we circled back to another chapter from a character, it was hard to remember their story arc. Eventually the stories come together in a highly unbelievable and corny way. I would have loved to see this handled in a more subtle way, and unfortunately the characters I most enjoyed had perhaps the least time on page. 

I can't recommend this book, but I do respect the historical and scientific research that went into its writing and publication. 

If you read and loved Chunky (and how could you read it and not love it?) then you must read this sequel. Chunky Goes to Camp is told in as a trial in which Hudi stands accused of misbehavior at summer camp. 

In this sequel, we meet a new character- Pepe- straight out of author Hudi's actual past. Pepe is fictionalized, as is Hudi, but it is clear that these characters come from the genuine experiences of two Hispanic Jewish boys growing up in Texas just trying to fit in and be hilarious at the same time. 

I think this was a great twist on the common summer camp trope in children's and middle grades literature. You'll have to read it to see if Hudi is found innocent or guilty. I am 100% guilty of loving everything Hudi Mercado writes!

Like many, I am a fan of Bob Odenkirk because of Better Call Saul. You may know him from Breaking Bad, or maybe even Mr. Show. Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama is a title that reflects his career arc and I enjoyed it immensely. 

Odenkirk takes us on a deep dive through his starting years as a comedian, his not so fun years on SNL, and the strange course through niche comedy that led him yo Breaking Bad. Through all of his stories, it’s clear he’s funny and a genuine person. He shows regret for things he’s written that lacked diverse and female representation. He’s humble and honest about how incredibly hard he’s worked to do his dramatic roles justice. And to top it off, he speaks about his wife and kids in a way that shows his love and respect for them so clearly. 

I would have liked a little more emotional honesty, not that this didn’t have some of those heartfelt moments. But who am I to criticize how someone tells their story? Really, I left this book wishing I could have a drink and a chat with Bob, because he just feels like the funny guy in the neighborhood that will crack you up when the party is a little too much.