November 2023 Books

 

All the Broken Places by John Boyne - I did not realize this was a "sequel" to the Boy in the Striped Pajamas and as I read it, I slowly realized it. And then I was annoyed. I did not like the main character and it all felt very contrived. 

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan - Summer nostalgia meets romance. It was sweet and fluffy and somewhat forgettable.

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes - this was like the grown up, romance version of Encanto. And therefore I liked it. 

The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach - okay, I'm still not sure what I think about this one. Have you read it? Can you please talk to me about it? It's a modern-day golem in modern-day America, and it can smell antisemitism...and wants to fight it. And there are so many questions here. Totally fascinating and strange. 

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair - a somewhat cozy mystery set in post-war England. A little like Maisie Dobbs but not quite as delicious. I didn't realize it was a whole series, and I liked it but I'm probably not going to read more of them unless one of you tells me that I must!

Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels - classic enemies-to-lovers story based on two sides of the political spectrum. Nice and fluffy romance. 

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith - what would you do if you won the lottery? And what if you felt that you were chronically unlucky? And how would you spend the money? And also, what are the expectations placed upon you by the rest of the world? All these questions...and some sweet answers too. I liked this YA novel and thought it was a really enjoyable read. 

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October 2023 Books

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride - Wow, what an incredible look at the way the Jewish and Black communities have been intertwined. The writing is wonderful and the characters are rich. My only real complaint is that nothing really happens in the story until it all suddenly gets wrapped up in the end. But it was an enjoyable read along the way!

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine - This was the perfect silly romance novel to get me through some of this terrible month. The title is the story, and, spoiler alert, they fall in love. Okay, now you've got the whole book. 

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - You've got to laugh that this is the fourth book in a trilogy. Seriously, though, I was happy to revisit the world of the Hawthorne brothers, I get a big kick out of them. It was also somewhat ridiculous but therefore enjoyable. 

B'nai Mitzvah Mistake by Stacey Agdern - This was a fun Jew-y romance novel and it followed the romance novel formula perfectly. 

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom - This book was an intriguing concept but I'm not sure if it worked for me as a book. I'm still thinking about it, though, so maybe that part was successful.

What are you reading? 

September 2023 Books

 

Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok - Not bad, but not my favorite Jewy romance novel. I wanted it to move faster! And I wanted to see how they'd "mix" their Jewishness. 

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood - Loved this science-themed romance! Especially since we're also watching the Big Bang Theory, so it dovetailed with some of that too. 

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross - Honestly, did not love this one. It has been all over the bestseller lists so I was excited for this fantasy enemies-to-lovers book, but I found it fairly forgettable. As in, I almost can't remember finishing it!

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova - I adore this Disney-themed romance series. This one was Little Mermaid inspired, and I was not disappointed. 

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley - Loved this author's first book, and I also really enjoyed this look into the Native community in Northern Michigan. I love the cultural and linguistic insights in the characters and the story of reclaiming stolen artifacts was intense and heartbreaking. 

What are you reading?

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August 2023 books #MyLifeInBooks

 

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - This has been on the top of the best seller lists and I haven't read a lot of fantasty lately. This one was great - it reminded me of the Dragonriders of Pern books (loved those) with a nice dose of romance. The world-building was interesting but a little uneven (it bothered me that they used our swear words - I like when a fantasy book comes up with swear words that fit with the culture) but overall, I look forward to the sequel!

Hotel Cuba by Aaron Hamburger - A good twist on the immigrant tale, featuring a pair of sisters who end up going to Cuba instead of the USA when leaving Russia. The way that Cuba imprints differently on them, and how the Jewish community in both Cuba and the US help them to land with their older sister - a well-told and interesting read. 

Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton - A ridiculous and fun fantasy-historical romance. If that sentence piques your interest, this book is for you. It was both silly and delightful. 

Weyward by Emilia Hart - Slightly magical tale of three generations of women and the way that they each survive abusive relationships. A powerful story, but it was a hard book to read because of the subject matter.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley - I wanted to love this book but I just found it a little confusing and disjointed. I didn't quite get how all the pieces came together and ultimately, it didn't work for me. 

The Donut Fix by Jesse Janowitz - A sweet middle-grade story about a kid who moves from NYC to a small town and decides to start a donut business. Enjoyable, but could someone please explain to me why this was a PJ Our Way selection? I missed any Jewish content in this book.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter - This book didn't quite know what it wanted to be - it was a mashup of a spy novel with a romance novel, and I'm not sure that either story really held up. But I did keep reading and I didn't hate it. 

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer - I loved this one. Such a fun read, the story of a kosher bakery and its cross-the-street rival; enemies-to-lovers with a few interesting twists relating to chronic illness. And the rabbi! Oy! I couldn't stop reading and I giggled with all the Jewish and baking puns. (We won't talk about the one glaring "full moon on Rosh Chodesh" gaffe though, right?)

What are you reading?

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The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder - I really wanted to love this, it's magic and a Bat Mitzvah put together into a book. I didn't feel like it quite hit the mark with me. I did appreciate that the rabbi wasn't terrible.

Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb - really liked this author's first book and I really liked this one too! A musical mystery uncovering a secret about a (fictional) "great American composer." Even though the story is all fiction, it feels like it could have been totally true. 

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton - I strongly disliked this book. Not because of the potential environmental nightmares it left me with, but because I just didn't understand the magical element and felt like it actually took away from the story. (I usually really like magical realism, I was just confused by this one.) Extra props for a character named Phyllis, though. 

Diary of a Lonely Girl, or the Battle Against Free Love by Miriam Karpilove (translated by Jessica Kirzane) - The Yiddish version of Bridge Jones' Diary....published serially in 1916ish in Yiddish and brought together into a book. It wasn't a "fast" read and I think it was a little draggy because it was originally published serially. But I was fascinated by the idea of an "independent woman" in this particular era, and her arguments against "free love" were pretty compelling (it's really only beneficial to the men, she says). 

The Collector by Daniel Silva - My yearly date with Gabriel Allon was perfect. It did not disappoint. It followed the usual formula and it's like slipping on a favorite sweater. 

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabelle Allende - I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've read by this author. It was very readable, but I was disappointed that it felt a little too preachy instead of story.

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim - A sweet book of magical realism. I commented that it felt like an early Sarah Addison Allen, but set it in the Chinese community of San Francisco. Plus it made me very hungry for Chinese food!

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal - I liked the Minnesota folksiness, but I didn't connect with all of the characters and found some of them mystifying. I liked the author's earlier book better.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon - I mean, I didn't hate it. But it was just sorta meh. A sweet romance between two casual Jews. My favorite thing about her books is the casual Jewishness. It's just there, which I appreciate.

Happy Place by Emily Henry - I think this is my favorite of her books so far. It's a romance, yes, but it's also a lovesong to friendship and I thought that part was especially lovely.

What are you reading?

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June 2023 Books #MyLifeInBooks

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley - This is in the "found family" genre of stories and I am all here for this. I love sweet, heartwarming books where people step out of their regular lives and create magical found family communities. (Other books in this genre include The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot...)

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs - A readable and engaging story about a particular kind of magic. A little slow in places, but I was compelled to read to the end.

The Postcard by Anne Berest - A novel based on the author's family story. The various narrative styles were a little confusing to read (perhaps this was a function of reading on the kindle) and I felt that the "mystery" wasn't as compelling as the story itself. Overall, however, I think this was a good addition to the story of French Jews during the Holocaust, especially as it traced the modern survivors. 

The Change by Kirsten Miller - Oof, this was a powerful and gut-punching one. I love magical realism (if you don't, you may hate this one) and it packed a strong message about how the world views women of all ages. Many reviews said it was too long, but I didn't notice.

Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon: New Jewish Stories by Rabbi Zoe Klein - such a fun set of original Jewish stories. A few didn't quite work for me, but overall I really love the way they felt new and also ancient. (And I bookmarked a few to work out a telling...)

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune - I liked her first book better, but this was a solid romance read that I enjoyed!

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - Wow, this is definitely going to make it into the top 10 for the year. A gorgeous story with just the right mix of joy and sorrow. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end, although I found the ending to be just right.  

Kantika by Elizabeth Graver - I really appreciated this family saga of a Sephardic clan, and the paths they took throughout history. Based on the author's family, it had real family photos even though the story was fictionalized, which I appreciated.

What are you reading?

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May Books #MyLifeInBooks

 

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld - Loved this romcom that took off on the idea of the writers' room at SNL (well, a fictionalized SNL) and then moved over into those first scary days of covid isolation. Couldn't put it down!

All of Us Villains by Foody and Herman - a YA novel similar to Hunger Games, with a magical element. Did not love that it is a "duology" because I'm not sure that I need to read the next book! A little gory for me. 

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes - If you watched the show, this is SO boring. If you haven't watched the show, skip the read and just watch! There was almost no new information gleaned here that wasn't in the show. 

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Mejia - This was on my holds list forever! It's a dystopian-type novel about a Handmaid's Tale-like society with strict roles and rules. I wanted to love this but it was a little too...simplistic in some of its telling. (Also this is YA)

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson - One of the best books I've read all year. WOW. What an incredible back-and-forth telling of a family secret - I loved every minute of this book. 

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Henry - I really liked this story of two sisters evacuated from London during the Blitz, and the family mystery that it left behind. I liked the plot twist!

The Red Balcony by Jonathan Wilson - 1933 Palestine doesn't have a lot of fiction written about it! The plot was a little tricky to follow but I loved the historical setting and the writing was compelling.

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