I really enjoyed this modern take on Sense and Sensibility! Messy family drama and believable romance add a new flair to the reimagined classic.

Amelia and Eleanor are two half-Korean sisters living in a cancer retreat center after their family falls on hard times. A free spirit who isn't used to settling down, Amelia starts a romance with a local, while Eleanor deals with a lawsuit where a man from Seoul claims to be the family's long-lost half brother. While the legal and romantic dramas play out, the two sisters realize that leaning on each other is the key to handling their challenges and finding happiness.

I'm a sucker for an Austen retelling and this one didn't disappoint. Kim does a great job adding fun changes to modernize the classic story, while still adding an emotional depth and humor that makes it her own. If you love women's fiction--especially Austen retellings--give this one a try.

I adored Kamali’s The Stationary Shop, so I was thrilled to see she had a new book out. And this glorious one did not disappoint.

Ellie and Homa are two young girls who grow up in 1950s/1960s Tehran. Ellie comes from money yet, after the death of her father, ends up having to live in a less affluent part downtown, where she meets Homa. The two become friends and we follow their lives and friendship through the 1980s.

Unfortunately, as the two grow, so does the political turmoil in Iran. Homa gets involved in first the revolution against the Prime Minister, which eventually turns into a religious fundamentalist society under a shah. As things get worse, she reconnects with Ellie and asks for her help.

The life of each woman is told in vivid, emotional detail. When woven with a narrative of actual historical events, it becomes even more compelling. I especially loved how even “bad” peripheral characters are explained and studied as their full, human selves. The flow of the engaging plot keeps you on edge throughout, but it’s the strong, deep connection between the two women that makes this novel stand out.

If you’re a fan of fiction that touches on true events and the complexities of female friendship, this is a great choice. I’m putting it next to The Stationary Shop on my keeper shelf!

I both listened to the audiobook and read the hardcover. The narration is great! Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an eBook copy (which is what I started with!)

In the small, sparse town of Nashquitten, MA, a host of characters struggle with life as the town crumbles under the lies of its residents and a mystery. When a young high school girl dies at a house party, the murky tale of what happened starts to unravel. Through ten different female characters--each with a distinctive voice and personality--we slowly learn what happened.

At first I was a little frustrated with the switching narrators, but eventually I came to really like it. Grabowski does a wonderful job making each woman singular and complex. I will admit, at times I didn't like certain characters and the way they acted, but, eventually I realized it was real and true to the human experience. The mystery was engaging and the characters strong. My one complaint would be that at times the story dragged on, especially considering the mystery element. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat and, at too many moments, I wasn't.

If you're a fan of mysteries and complex, even at times unlikeable female characters, give this novel a try.

Thanks to Zando Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted eBook in exchange for a review.

Like her previous novel, Kaikeyi, Patel takes an Indian Sanskrit epic and uses it to create this intriguing novel. In this one, Ganga, Goddess of the River, gets put under a spell and becomes human, giving birth to a son. It follows her journey as a human and how her son's actions lead to war.

Patel's writing is as gorgeous as ever, but the narrative lost me in the second half. As compelling as Ganga was, her son's struggles weren't as fleshed out as I would have liked. The beginning of the book was more engaging than the end, but Ganga's struggles to navigate a human/God dichotomy were definitely compelling and worth the read.