Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was charmed by Lillian Boxfish. I couldn't put the book down. One of the best books I've read in a while.

Lillian begins her walk in New York at age 85 on New Year's Eve of 1984. She guides readers through the streets of New York, a city I'm not familiar with. The setting may appeal more to readers who have been to, or lived in, New York. On her walk she reflects on her life.

Lillian is sharp, witty, and brave. A memorable character. A history of New York and Lillian wrapped up in one good book.

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The Sisters Chase by Sarah Healy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Chase sisters, Mary and Hannah, live with their mother Diane. They don't have much but they get by. When Diane dies suddenly, 18-year-old Mary is left to take care of her much younger sister. This story of survival and love is hard to put down.

Mary is a tough character. She loves her sister fiercely and guards the love she gives to others. She's not above manipulating people and situations so she and her sister have what they need to get by. At times it was tough to know if I should cheer for or hate Mary. This story goes back and forth through time (late 70s through the early 90s) and follows the girls on their travels as they move from place to place.

I couldn't stop reading this story. There are several secrets in this book - some that were easy to uncover and others that came as a surprise as the story unraveled. Readers will likely require a few Kleenex in order to finish this book up. This is a great pick if you're looking for a beach read this summer!

What's your favorite beach read this summer? Comment below!

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The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing this copy to me. The following is my honest review.

Good book for gamers, young adult fans, readers nostalgic for the 80s, or readers looking for an easy read that's hard to put down. There are quite a few laughs along the way.

I could be critical of a few things in the book, but the story sucked me in and let me forget any minor complaint that may have come up. There were a couple of twists that I wasn't expecting. The characters are memorable, and I would like to read about them in a sequel.

I wanted to pass this book on to my young teenager, since the main characters are close to his age (and I'm fairly sure he'd love it). I hesitate because of some of the language, discussions of sex, and certain actions of the characters. It's not awful for the right young reader, but parents should be aware of what's in here before giving it to an impressionable kid.

What did you think? Would you let your teen read this book? Add your comments below!

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Excavation: A Memoir by Wendy C. Ortiz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was tough for me to read. Wendy is 13 years old when she first meets Mr. Ivers, her English teacher. He's more than twice her age. And it doesn't take long for them to begin a relationship. An unhealthy relationship.

Wendy was a wild child growing up during the late 80s. Her parents divorced, her mom drank, and it would seem she was able to take any risk that could possibly be presented to a young person. I'm certain my preteen years were sheltered compared to Wendy's which may not make me the best reader for this memoir. This entire book (view spoiler)[ (sex with a teacher, drugs, drunken driving, cheating, lies, verbally abusive relationship) (hide spoiler)] was far from informative, enjoyable, or halfway pleasant to read.

It seems Wendy Ortiz is a talented writing. Unfortunately I didn't care much for her subject matter. A relationship, particularly one that isn't very loving, is often only interesting for the two people in the relationship. I had trouble finding any interest in the relationship that was presented in these pages.

What did you think of this book? Add your comments below!

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