This was my first Nora Roberts' book I have ever read and I will definitely be adding more of her work to my reading list. The Obsession had everything I want in a murder mystery - a main character with a tragic backstory, an eerie setting, and multiple chapters told from the murderer's point of view. I don't know why, but I always enjoy it when books contain the antagonist's narrative. The reveal of the murderer's identity was shocking, but that might have just been me being oblivious. I was kicking myself for not figuring it out myself because Roberts leaves her readers so many clues! Overall, if you are looking for a good murder mystery, this is definitely one you should consider.

Lawbreaking Ladies is made up of fifty short biographies of female criminals. While they got their spot in this book by breaking laws, a lot of them also broke the gender barriers of their time. Because of this, some of the women featured are actually pretty admirable today. One thing I really loved about this title is that Owen, the author, organized the biographies by similar offenses. For example, there the first section of the book highlights female pirates and the crimes they committed. Despite how much I enjoyed this one, I only gave it three out of five stars. This is because I wish the biographies had been longer! I would have loved to learn more about each one of the criminals highlighted and just felt that this book was too short!
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(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

While Patron Saints of Nothing is a fictional story, it does a great job highlighting President Duterte's "War on Drugs" and the human rights issues happening now in the Philippines. Jay, the protagonist, is a Filipino-American teenage boy who is determined to return to the country he was born in when he learns of his cousin's death. He travels to the Philippines during his spring break and stays with his aunts and uncles while he secretly tries to figure out what is actually happening in the country. The story is told from his point of view, which is important to note. As an American, Jay views the actions of the Philippines' government differently from the rest of his extended family. This creates the ethical issue of what is "wrong" and what is just "culturally different" when looking at a foreign crisis. Overall, I learned a lot from this story about the Philippines and would highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Norwegian by Night is a classic Scandanavian mystery novel with one big twist. The protagonist and the narrator of this story is a Jewish American Korean War Veteran who is living with his granddaughter after the death of his wife. There is nothing "classic" about that. With such a unique main character, Miller is able to craft a story, unlike anything I have ever read before. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time relating to the narrator because we do not have much in common (age, religion, experiences, etc.). I feel like those who do share similarities in identity with him will enjoy this book more than I did. The story itself was not bad (although there was some rambling) and I was satisfied with how it ended.

I feel tricked. I saw so many good reviews of this one. People called this book the "ultimate beach read" and "so quirky", but to be completely honest, I did not care for it in the slightest. All of the characters were insufferable and extremely flat. This was the first book that I have read from Straub and I am unsure I will pick up any more of her work in the future. Let me end this short review with one piece of advice: don't bother reading The Vacationers.

I needed some time to sit with my feelings before reviewing and posting about this book. The protagonist, Alaine, is one of the most unique and likable characters I have encountered through my reading this year. She is bold and is unapologetic for it. However, in the first part of the book - before she gets to Haiti - she comes across as a little younger than she actually is. I enjoyed reading her thoughts much more once she travels abroad and starts to mature. On another note, both of the authors did a fantastic job with creating the setting of this story (one that takes place mostly in Haiti) and I enjoyed "traveling" through their descriptions of the island. So why didn't this book blow me away if I liked the main character and the setting so much? The simple answer is the plot. I felt like this book could have been split into two separate books, as there was just so much action happening. There were family curses, young romance, political scandals, sickness of a family member, Haitian traditions, and much more covered in this story. Personally, I would have preferred if the authors had just focused on a few of these topics as I found myself overwhelmed with all of the plotlines that were occurring. This may be more of a "me" problem than a problem with the book itself and I did go back and forth between a three and four-star rating. If Goodreads did half stars, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine would definitely have gotten a 3.5-star rating and I encourage you to pick up this title and see if it works better for you. The representation and the message of this story is important and I do not want this review to dissuade you from reading this one.

I read a lot of John Green's books when I was in high school. I am not sure why I never picked up this title, but I am glad that I eventually got around to reading it. Turtles All the Way Down is a complex story. Aza, the main character, lives with mental illness (I don't want to do the whole armchair psychologist thing and diagnose her officially, so I will just say she definitely has OCD and general anxious tendencies). As someone who lives with anxiety, I saw myself in this book. No, I do not have the same fears as Aza, but the way those fears overwhelm her and those around her was relatable. A warning to those who read this title: make sure you are somewhere you feel comfortable when you read the end of this book. And buy lots of tissues. You will need them.

Twice In A Blue Moon is the third book I have read by Christina Lauren. On a likeability scale, it fell in between the two books that preceded it (one that I LOVED and one that I HATED). I did not have quite as intense feelings about this title. To be short, this one was just okay. I didn't really enjoy the first 100 pages as it felt like a YA romance book. The main characters, Tate and Sam, are young during this time, so it makes sense, but it just wasn't my favorite style of writing. However, the writing that is set in the present day, is good. If you are looking for a book that you don't have to think too hard about to understand or enjoy, this might be a good fit for you!

The author, Austin Channing Brown, challenges white readers' ideas about how they are antiracist. She calls out performative activism in the most direct way and details what the black community actually needs from white allies. Using her experiences as examples, Brown shares how black people continue to be discriminated against in the United States. There is structural and institutional racism in all different settings including workplaces, schools, and church communities. Religion is a prominent topic in this memoir, however as someone who does not have a religious affiliation, I can confidently say that it does not take anything away from the book. In fact, I believe it adds another layer of reasoning of why it is crucial for us to strive for racial equality. One point Brown makes in this story is that she does not think racial equality will be achieved in her lifetime. This is a bold, but accurate statement. It is important that we continue to work on achieving this goal, even if none of us will be around to see the outcome. What we do today, tomorrow, and the next day will only make the world a more just place for future generations.

I really enjoyed this title from the now-famous comedian, Trevor Noah. Noah has a story unlike any of his colleagues as he grew up in South Africa post-Apartheid. Not only did he grow up during this unique time in history, but he also is biracial, which was a crime in his home country during his childhood. What I liked most about this book was Noah's ability to balance serious moments with comical anecdotes. It made the story easier to read, as the Apartheid and the fallout from it are serious topics. One thing I learned about the author is the importance he places on his family. The relationship between him and his mother was especially prominent in this title. I would love Noah to write a second book highlighting how he started doing comedy and eventually became one of the most prominent comedian talk show hosts today. At only 36 years old, he has had such an interesting life and I believe there is definitely enough material for a second memoir.