This is a somewhat slow burn historical fiction that follows five characters and spans three different time periods. The stories languidly work together, woven around a story within the story that they all share in some way. However, each story and POV is really well crafted on its own. There can be a bit of confusion in the construction, as the time periods and POVs do randomly switch from chapter to chapter, but the writing style is just beautiful and there is a lot of atmosphere tied into the narrative.

I was wholly immersed in this story and could not tear myself away from it. The writing evoked a lot of strong emotions from me and I felt very connected to the characters. Their stories were all so gripping and interesting. There is so much kindness and humanity tied up in these characters and I just loved them.

This is perfect for readers who love a blend of historical and literary fiction and who enjoy a complex story. It's a long read, but well worth the investment.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Unprotected is a stunningly fantastic memoir written by a very charismatic and strong individual. I picked this book up why? Because I saw Billy Porter in his show-stopping 2019 Oscar's tuxedo dress singing in a clip on Sesame Street. I was automatically intrigued to see someone with such bravery and strong conviction in their own being. I had to know who he was. I'm now a steadfast fan. His presence comes through in everything he does and I am just consistently in awe of his character.

Billy Porter has been through so much and has persevered so many times through challenging (and occasionally intensely racist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory) circumstances. I was so incredibly impressed by his resilience. His devotion to his mother is also just absolutely heart-warming and I loved the way he spoke about the lessons she has taught him.

Porter's struggles and challenges have been innumerable, and he certainly continues to face obstacles that shouldn't exist (people can be awful & judgmental when they should be supportive & inclusive), but he persists with grace and a vocal, demonstrative exposition of all the things that make him unique and should make him celebrated.

If you don't know who Billy Porter is (like I didn't a year ago), you owe it to yourself to find out. He is an absolutely inspiring individual and his memoir is a must read.

The audiobook was also particularly fantastic, as his personality absolutely shines through his narration.

4.5 stars.

The Paris Apartment is a gripping, page-turner of a read. I was hooked and didn't want to put it down. Fast-paced, with a narration style that reveals only limited information, it's an edge-of-your-seat read.

The construction is really well done. The chapters are short, with quick vacillation between POVs. The characters are clear and easy to keep track of. There are a lot of good twists and turns and everyone is a suspect. They're all a bit neurotic, some more bothersome than others, and the atmosphere is fantastic for upping the tension.

There was a lot more that could have been done with the second to last big twist, so I was a bit disappointed in how quickly it was more or less brushed over, but as a whole the book was a lot of fun to read.

The Resting Place is a good psychological thriller with some decent twists and turns, but where it really delivers is on the atmosphere. This was my second read from Camilla Sten and I really enjoy her work. Her writing is very atmospheric and the creepy, isolated house in winter trope was totally nailed for me. The intrigue was well done and the overall feel was very haunting, mildly claustrophobic, and edgy.

I loved the dual timeline and was close on figuring out the twists, but not quite. Still...I found the read gripping and I loved the way things fell into place. This was my second thriller read using the prosopasgnosia trope (face blindness), so the ingenuity of that was a little lost on me, but it will be great for some readers as it isn't a frequently used plot device.

For those looking for a wintery, gothic feel with a creepy estate/house vibe, this will be an excellent, quick-paced read. Camilla Sten can write a chilly scene and set quite the edgy tone.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

A solid historical fiction novel built around an interrupted road trip and the potential for wealth. The story is told in a multiple POV approach with several moments of reminiscence to establish backstories for the various characters. The title is somewhat misleading, as the majority of the story does not take part on the Lincoln Highway, though it is a large part of the conversation along the way and the motivation for some characters.

The story is told in a somewhat languid pace, but features some interesting experiences and really does create an interesting snapshot of life in the United States during the 1950s. There were a lot of clever Easter eggs built into the plot around a fictional book that is carried around by the primary protagonist's younger brother. I'm sure I missed some of the references, but it was fun to consider the ones that I did pick up on. In this way it was a little bit like a version of O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

A very enjoyable read with characters that felt real. Towles really does have a mastery over his craft, though his approach may not be appreciated by all readers. After such a long journey (the book is over 500 pages), I was a bit disappointed at where the novel ended. Despite it's already hefty length, I wish the story would have been continued to a more satisfying conclusion.

4.5 stars.

I did NOT expect to like this as much as I did. Part humor, part philosophy, Greenlights is an interesting memoir that caught me terribly off guard. McConaughey is humble and honest in a way that surprised me. He has often felt cocky to me in his acting, but his book revealed something different. There are life lessons in this memoir that I would never expected to have come from a Hollywood A-lister...especially not one known most for things like his portrayal of stoner Wooderson in Dazed and Confused and being arrested for playing bongos loudly in the nude.

Listening to the audiobook is 100% the way to go. His delivery is flawless and the warm, throaty cadence of his voice is ridiculously soothing. The narrative is constructed in small vignettes that follow his life and his career with blatant realism and introspective commentary. He is at once funny and sage. There are some absolutely crazy moments, as one would expect from aforementioned bongo player, but there are also a lot of journeys. McConaughey is a fantastic storyteller and this is well worth the read.

Another middle grade adventure read win. I really enjoyed this story of Miyax and her struggle for survival on the frozen tundra of northern Alaska.

There is admittedly some problematic language in the novel, as the 1972 publication did use the term "Eskimo" to refer to Miyax and her language. This term is now considered derogatory. Additionally, I have discovered that some of the historical information is inaccurate and there was some blurring of lines with regard to tribal information in the novel. Some of the language and culture mentioned was not part of the Iñupiaq tribe's history (the tribe that Miyax is stated to be a part of), but rather the Yupik. As a result of these issues, I have deducted a star from my rating. Had it been written in a more recent time, I would have taken an even larger deduction. A reading of this book needs to be undertaken with the understanding that the cultural information is not entirely accurate.

As far as appropriateness for the intended audience, there is a need to be careful. There are some dark moments in this book that may not be appropriate for younger readers. Though a lot of the writing and word choice is appropriate for the 8-9 age set, the content is more appropriate for the 11-12 age set (and even then, there needs to be parental awareness of book content as some can be mildly traumatic).

Beyond the aforementioned issues, I felt like this story was a good tale of survival and resilience. I do wish that there had been greater accuracy, but it is an entertaining read. There is a good discussion of nature in the narrative, as well as a great continuing conversation regarding the "assimilation" of Inuit peoples into American society. Forced schooling, loss of language, and diminishing resources and cultural practices are all mentioned. Though not thoroughly explored, these inclusions do give a good early introduction to American history with regard to the treatment of indigenous peoples. These passages could help to stimulate a conversation regarding cultural mistreatment.

Though there are inaccuracies and the book was not written by an OwnVoices source, I still found it to be an endearing and entertaining read. It is unfortunately a product of it's era and does have some issues, but the emotional journey is a good one.

4.5 stars.

A dark & magical Hunger Games. I needed this book as soon as I knew it was available. A pile of teenage magicians, most of them wealthy and privileged, vying to be the one left standing in a mass duel to the death.

There was a bit of a slow start to this one as the history of the people was established, but once things got rolling, I was chomping at the bit. Aaaaand once again I went into a read without recognizing/remembering that it is part of a series. So things really got rolling, I was deep in a reading groove, and then I realized that it was going to end without ending. So...I'm going to need the sequel like...now.

This was such a fun read. I loved the grit of it and the different personalities of the characters. I loved the tension and the ruthlessness of the tournament. There were admittedly a lot of characters to keep track of in the beginning and I do admit to mixing a few of them up every once in a while, but I think I have a good handle on it now. I also admit to consistently comparing these characters to those in The Hunger Games as I read, but I can't be blamed here. There are definitely pieces of these characters who resemble Finnick, Johanna, and Peeta among others. There are some fantastic character interactions and relationships and yes...they are all villains. It's fabulous.

The magic system is interesting, especially as it relies on a combination of innate skill and purchased spells. I found that a bit quirky, but it works. High stakes, lots of betrayal, and some pretty dark atmosphere rounded this baby out and I am a fan. I'm looking forward to seeing where things go from here.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

3.5 stars.

The premise for this novel was extremely interesting, but the execution just didn't live up to my expectations. Rather than being the gripping thriller that I was looking for, Lock the Doors was instead just an okay YA thriller that started off strong and had some good twists and a good ending, but lacked a realistic feel.

The writing for the story was fine. It wasn't overly descriptive, but it did the job. The characters...also okay. Tom's character was explored the best, but I still felt like there was more there to learn and a lot of his character was left unaddressed. He had a lot of historical trauma and mental illness struggles that were touched one, but somehow he still felt like there was a lot more to explore. He didn't feel fully real to me.

Some of the supporting characters, particularly the adults, were almost executed in hyperbole and this over the top tendency left them a bit unbelievable (along with occasionally being frustrating and/or annoying). In fact, the decisions and actions of the adults were awkward and they felt like completely unreliable individuals who had no grasp on reality or the ability to act responsibly. I can't say more without introducing spoilers, but Tom's mother was kind of a waste of a character and didn't do nearly what I would have expected her to have done. I was angry at her for a good majority of the read and felt she really needed a slap.

The twists and turns were fun and I did enjoy the ride, but there were also a lot of unanswered questions and some fairly unbelievable circumstances. It was a fun & quick read, but not a realistic one.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *