Sourdough by Robin Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't think I would like this book after reading the synopsis the first time. A lady moves to a new city, receive a sourdough starter from some mysterious brothers, and the bread she receives leads her on an unexpected, life changing adventure. I'm not a foodie and I don't enjoy magical realism too much. But all of that didn't matter. This was a book that I easily got lost in.

Before you read this book make sure you have some food nearby. I have never had so many cravings while reading a book! Lois is a character I really liked. I could relate to her. She's solitary, a little panicky, but she was a character who was pleasant to read about, a character who changed in some good ways.

The end of the book began to drag a little bit for me. This is when most of the so called magical realism kicks in. It's light but will require readers to suspend disbelief. Still, I'm looking forward to the next novel from Robin Sloan.

View all my reviews

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I listened to the audio version of the sweet, young adult romance.

Dimple and Rishi are likeable characters who are both children of Indian parents. Rishi is traditional while Dimple fights hard to live her life as an American teenager. When they meet at a summer camp preceding their freshman years of college free he believes he's meeting the woman his parents have arranged for him to marry, and she has no idea about her family's plans of matrimony for her.

The story is sappy and predictable in parts but it is a nice love story with a satisfying ending. My favorite part of the story was getting to know the Indian culture a little bit better.

View all my reviews

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was hysterical! Do yourself a favor and get a copy of the audio book of Furiously Happy.

The subtitle tells readers exactly what this book is - a funny book about horrible things. In this memoir Jenny Lawson holds nothing back about her daily struggles with a myriad of mental health problems. I laughed out loud and would enjoy reading anything else Jenny writes.

There are some scenes in this book that are heartbreaking to read through. Some readers may be sensitive to this story but most will find something to love about it.

View all my reviews

Just Another Week in Suburbia by Les Zig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantera Press for the opportunity to read this book. Below is my honest opinion.

Casper Gray lives with his wife, Jane, in the suburbs of Australia. He’s a teacher and she does, well, Casper’s not quite sure what she does at work. They’ve been married for six years, can’t get pregnant, and have a dog instead of a baby. They’re a little bit boring but they’re happy. One sleepless night Casper stumbles over his wife’s purse, causing the discovery of something that takes the young couple to a turning point in their relationship. In the week that follows Casper will learn a lot about his wife, his neighbors, his best friends, his co-workers, and himself. This engaging book allows readers to follow Casper’s first person narrative of his eventful week.

Casper and his wife will have other twenty and thirty-somethings saying, “Same.” From the struggles of saving from IVF to the neighbors that aren’t quite ideal, this book is honest and relatable. It was difficult to put down because the story was so compelling. I just had to know what happened next. At one point my heart was pounding, and I couldn’t read fast enough. It’s not a suspenseful story, but it is certainly captivating.

At times Casper isn’t the most exciting narrator. Despite his life suddenly falling down around him he must still go through the motions of his somewhat mundane life. This enhanced the truth of this book, however. Because the book covers a full week of Casper’s life the time of day is given frequently, almost obsessively, in this book. There are some graphic sex scenes that young or sensitive readers may want to avoid. For the rest of us these scenes, like everything else in this book, lend themselves to the authenticity of life in suburbia.


This book will be published September 1, 2017. Make sure you add it to your TRB list!

View all my reviews

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leading man, Silver, is kind of a loser. He's lost his wife, his daughter doesn't talk to him, he was a one hit wonder once upon a time, and has very little to look forward to in his life. His daughter comes back into his life to let him know she's pregnant (and also on her way to start college). Then when Silver learns that he needs a life saving to fix his faulty heart he decides to skip the operation.

What happens during this terminal part of Silver's life fills the pages of this book. There is a lot of humor, and a cast of characters that are a lot of fun to read about in a dysfunctional sort of way. This book is also crude. It's mean for mature readers (but not if you're easily offended).

I had hoped for a little more from this book (though I don't know why my expectations were so high). The humor was great, the story's concept was fine, but these aren't characters or a story that I will remember much of a few months from now. Also, if you want a nice, happily ever after ending, steer clear of this book.

What is your favorite humor writer? Comment below!

View all my reviews

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a short, sweet book about a grown woman returning home and reconnecting with her dad. Ruth is 30, still recuperating from her fiance dumping her, and her dad, Howard, is beginning to lose his memory. During Christmas her mother asks her to stay, just for the year. Ruth leaves her job and moves back to her family home to spend the year with her father and mother.

This story is told in snippets. I've read some other books that take this approach (Dept. of Speculation, for example) and they're typically pretentious. You won't find that here. Rachel Khong's story is very honest but still filled with humor and wit. There is some sadness, but this felt more like a celebration of Ruth and her father rather than a mourning of the man that once was.

I was not overly wowed by this book. It was pleasurable, and I'd look for other novels by Khong. It just didn't knock my socks off. Recommended for anyone who has a loved one experiencing dementia. This may be a reminder that even though it's scary and sad watching your loved one lose their memory and identity, there is still humor and love to be found.

Could you move back home for a year to care for an ailing parent? Comment below!

View all my reviews

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Into The Water is another book by Paula Hawkins. You've all heard of The Girl on the Train, right? Same author.

This book dives into the mystery surrounding the recent deaths of two women, a single mother and a teen girl, who are both found in a small town's river within a month's time. They're not the first women to meet their demise in this river, and it seems that everyone in this small town has some opinion about the deaths of the various women in this river.

There are a lot of characters to get to know, and it was difficult to warm up to any of them. Regardless, if you can keep the characters straight, each of them adds something different to this story. There's not a lot of happy, uplifting moments, but the short chapters kept the story moving rapidly.

There are several twist in this book. I thought I had the story figured out many times before I reached the end and found out what actually happened. (And I do mean the very end!) As a little bonus: I really liked the dedication in this book. It fit well with the story.

What's your favorite thriller? Comment below!

View all my reviews

A Strange Companion by Lisa Manterfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kat is a student at university but she doesn't get back home much. Her boyfriend, Gabe, died unexpectedly nearly two years ago so it's hard for her to go back and face all of the memories that come from being where the two of them shared their lives together. When her brother brings home his adopted daughter Kat finds herself back home for a few weeks. The strange thing is she feels a connection to her new niece, Mai, and thinks she could be Gabe reincarnated.

Yes, I said reincarnated but don't give up yet!

This is a story of a young girl learning to handle her grief rather than a paranormal adventure story. Readers who have lost anyone in their lives should find some comfort in Kat's story. There's more than one way to handle the death of a loved one and Lisa Manterfield shows that it's not always going to be graceful.

I enjoyed the characters in this story. Kat's family were interesting and added depth to this story. I may have teared up a time or two, but this won't be a book to sob over.

My reading of this book was really enhanced by Once Upon A Book Club. If you've never heard of them be sure to check them out here. They include gifts (but don't open them until the correct page number!) that really make the story come to life. It's such a cool, unique reading experience and I recommend you give it a whirl!

View all my reviews

The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Graeme Simsion wrote The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect. I loved both of these book and was looking for more of the same. Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. Three stars is a bit much, but there were some parts that I liked and I do enjoy Simsion's writing, so I'm rounding up.

In this new book Adam meets Angelina while he's traveling the for work. He winds up spending a lustful six weeks with her and manages to fall madly in love. As he must continue his work abroad they separate and twenty years pass. Adam has spent a long time in a loving partnership with Claire when suddenly Angelina contacts Adam. The past comes rushing back to him and the books is about what happens.

Adam and Angelina's relationship seems to be nothing more than passion, alcohol, and hormones. I didn't really enjoy either of these two characters nor did I see the deep love they had for each other. True, they are flawed and fairly believable characters. However, I had trouble caring about their story. The second half of this book is disturbing at best. It was tough to read and enjoy.

One element of this story that stood out was the great music throughout the story. There's even a complete playlist on Spotify that readers can enjoy while they're following this story. The music choices were pretty great and has a little something for everyone.

I hope to find another installment of Rosie's story soon, but I won't be revisiting Adam and Angelina's tale again.

What's the best love story you've read recently? Comment below!

View all my reviews

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chick lit is not always my first choice, but I always (nearly always) get such enjoyment out of Sophie Kinsella's books. This was a really fun book to read.

Each of her characters are goofy, big-hearted, and easy to root for. In this book Katie Brenner has left the country and moved to London. She's got a glamorous life and works in branding. Well - she wants a glamorous life anyway. What she's got is a really long commute, a tiny apartment, and a tight budget. Still, she has a positive attitude as things at work begin to go a little off course.

Kinsella's writing had me laughing out loud. Katie finds herself in more than one Lucy and Ethel type of moment. This is a great book if you're looking for something light and fun. A perfect book to take to the beach this summer!

What's your favorite Sophie Kinsella book? Comment below!

View all my reviews

I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I knew I'd get hooked as soon as I read the first line.

I found the perfect wife for my husband.

It turns out that Maddy has died, and she is now able to watch over her husband, Brady, and teenage daughter, Eve, who are grief-stricken after her sudden death and unexplained suicide. The point of view switches among each of the family members, and readers will watch each person deal with death in their own way.

The characters are all ones to root for. The different perspectives made me believe the author is quite empathetic. Eve is full of anger and guilt. Brady is starting to realize that he was an absent husband and father. Maddy is searching for a replacement wife and mother for her family. There's a little mystery in these pages, as well as an unpredictable and fitting ending.

Since Maddy's point of view is "from beyond" I worried about this being cheesy or too unbelievable. It wasn't. It'd be a great book for anyone needing a little help coping with their grief. This was a debut novel, and I'm excited to read more by this author in the future.

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

View all my reviews

Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dennis Lehane has written other books you’ve probably heard of (Mystic River; Shutter Island). Since We Fell is Lehan’es latest thriller. Rachel Childs has a mental breakdown which happens to go viral. The first half of the book readers will get to know Rachel and what her life had been like growing up. Various readers may find this part of the book slow; however, if you enjoy character development you’ll enjoy getting to know Rachel’s less than normal mom and absent dad.

When Rachel’s eventual husband comes into her life, readers will follow the story through her mental breakdown and descent into a chaotic life. The story builds slowly but it gains momentum as each page flips by. There were enough twists to keep me guessing through the last few pages.

I probably won’t remember specifics about this book a year from now, but it put me on the edge of my seat for a couple of days. When it’s difficult to put a book down, it must be because it’s a good one.


Tell me what you thought of this ending in the comments!

4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This book found its way to my TBR list because of the concept. A boy, Archie Ferguson, is born but what happens in his life depends on which version of Ferguson's story is being read. This book follows what happens to four versions of Ferguson, an idea that was very intriguing for me.

I've never read any work by Paul Auster, and I enjoyed his writing from the beginning. His sentences are long but detailed, something that I both admire and found to be a drawback to this book. I loved the all-encompassing nature of this story. I generally want more, more, more about characters I like and this book delivered. However, the amount of reading time this book commanded was overwhelming, bordering on arrogance.

The one other part of the book I could have done without was the inclusion of all of the Vietnam era politics. This was by no means a main part of the book and very much of the times covered in this hefty novel, but it's not content that I enjoy as a reader. Some readers may, however, find this appealing.

Read this book for the great stories (and satisfying ending) but know that it is a long, dense time investment.

View all my reviews