Into the Blue by Emma Brodie - I enjoyed this messy novel that was a little all over the place but also felt just right as a love story and also just a good story...
Always Carry Salt by Samantha Ellis - I keep telling people about this one, since there were so many interesting pieces in this book! I was fascinated by the Iraqi-Jewish historical elements, and I liked the exploration of how language is carried forward into future generations.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune - Although not my favorite of her books, I did really like this one and I really want to visit this magical Canadian place in British Columbia!
The Anatomy of Exile by Zeeva Bukai - a wonderful book about how to define identity, and even though it's set right after the Six Day War in Israel, it feels deeply relevant to today.
A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat - Recommended to me by a Bat Mitzvah student, this was a powerful story about how our past can define us, even if we don't want it to.
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden - I read this one just before the scandal seems to have broken that some of what she shares is untrue. It does raise the interesting question of how "factual" does a memoir need to be?
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood - Ooh, I loved this "found family" story about the power of reading and the importance of second chances. I couldn't put this book down, highly recommend it.
Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose by Jennfier Breheny Wallace - An intereting look at how we help to create meaning in our lives. I look forward to exploring these ideas with others this year!
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel - I love her books and this one was no exception. She took on the question of fertility and personal autonomy, while also thinking about how family is defined. So much to think about here and a great read!
Where the Girls Were by Kate Schatz - this was such an interesting follow up to Enormous Wings, since it dealt with the same questions of personal bodily autonomy...but in 1968 instead of 2026. I'd like to think we've come a long way but I'm not so sure. This was a good book about a dark period of history that I hope we don't return to.
The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst - I like this author's books but didn't realize this one was YA, which does have an impact on how I read it! I liked this one but it was a little more simplistic than her adult fiction (obviously).
Where I've been...
April 2026 Books
March 2026 Books
February 2026 Books
January 2026 books
