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?
January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
