The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand - I mostly read this because it seemed to be very controversial - either you loved it or hated it. I didn't hate it but I can see how people might. I also didn't love it, I just thought it was entertaining and totally far-fetched. And I'm a smidge annoyed that I have to read the sequel in order to find out the twist!
Heart the Lover by Lily King - This was on a lot of "best" lists this year and I can see why - a truly wonderful emotional rollercoaster of a book. It took me a little bit to "get it" and then wow. I basically read this in one sitting because I couldn't stop.
James by Percival Everett - With deep apologies to my beloved high school English teachers, I will admit that I had to go and read a summary of Huck Finn as I started this book. But once I did, I felt a flood of memories of high school class and tried to channel that as I read. What a wonderful companion and retelling with our modern eyes of this story.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall - Loved this one, the characters and the story - and I wasn't sure where it was going, but I liked how we got there.
Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland - A dual timeline book - one side a piece of history that is a terrible shameful eugenics case (Buck v Bell) - I thought this part was so interesting and well-told. I was less taken by the modern timeline, not because the message was less important but because the main character was so annoying to me.
Backslide by Nora Dahlia - I bascially forgot this book as soon as I was done with it. A second-chance/enemies-to-lovers combo romance.
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai - Okay, Mr. Obama and the NYT Book Editors, I tried. I really did. I slogged all the way through this one so I could seem erudite and well-read. It actually started out well with the two main characters' stories, but I felt like the many digressions and clutter (what was the whole mafia part!?) lost me.
Merry Little Bookshop by Ali Brady - this was the perfect palate cleanser after the last book and it didn't disappoint. Loved the Jewish representation and the sweet relationship.
We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein - So many characters and I definitely saw the ending coming, but I really liked how we got there. The characters were flawed but their flaws made sense and helped to drive the story. Some of it was a little trite but overall a really good read.
Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar - Really enjoyed this look at the Syrian-Jewish community in Brooklyn. It was a classic sister story, all of them very different but ultimately a team. I was a little confused by the teenager and her much-older beau and I'm glad it went well since I was a little worried.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - A sweet found-family kind of tale, with a suprise twist at the end that I had an inkling was coming.
Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Q Sutanto - a really lovely emotional book. I must admit that I expected a more standard romance novel and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story and the characters. Plus I love the intergenerational aspect.
Where I've Been....
November Books
October Books
September Books
August Books
July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February 2025 Books
January 2025 Books
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