The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

 

Kind of funny, kind of dumb.

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

 

I have mixed feelings about this: on the one hand, the story was interesting. On the other hand, I am so tired of historical novels that inject present concerns into the past.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

 

This was compelling. I almost wanted it to end differently, but I still really enjoyed it.

The Imperfects by Amy Meyerson

 

I really liked this. When you read as much as I do, a lot of plots become redundant -- this one was not. (I also liked the Vienna angle, having just been there.)

The Resemblance by Lauren Nossett

 

This was just OK. It had some promising elements, but ultimately just didn't shine.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Never Name the Dead by D. M. Rowell

 

Not perfect, but really well done and super-interesting, especially the cultural insights.

Review copy provided by publisher.

True Biz by Sara Novic

 

Super interesting -- I feel like I learned a lot about the deaf community.

Livid by Patricia Cornwall

 

meh

The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi

Really interesting.

Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan

 This was super-enjoyable -- a good mystery on top of social commentary on top of fascinating glimpses into another culture.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

 

Not bad.

Here's to Us by Elin Hilderbrand

 

meh

Under the Whispering Door by T. J. Klune

 

meh

Downton Shabby by Hopwood DePree

 

This was fantastic -- such an interesting story.

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin

 

The mystery was decent and the west Texas setting was fun, but the romance aspect was just ham-fisted.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Aurora by David Koepp

 

This was excellent -- it would be great for book groups. It's not just a dystopian disaster novel, although it does a good job at that.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

 

This was OK.

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

 

meh

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

 

This was so much fun. I don't usually do fantasy, but this was just delightful.

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

 

I enjoy Hilderbrand's books while simultaneously acknowledging that they are ridiculous fluff. 

Secret Lives by Mark de Castrique

 

This was really fun.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

 

This was outstanding -- kind of devastating, but amazing. Recommended, especially for book groups.

The Old Place by Bobby Finger

 The local(ish) setting was fun; the plot was interesting. I'm still not sure it all came together? But maybe? 

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

 

I thought this was amazing. It would be great for book groups.

The House in the Orchard by Elizabeth Brooks

 

This was a fantastic read -- the narrator was . . . well, I don't want to say too much, but . . . this one is worth reading.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman

 

Decent.

The Puzzler by A. J. Jacobs

 

I didn't love this as much as I did some of his previous books, but it was still fun.

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

 

This was super fun. (And no, it isn't about polygamy.)

Disappearance of Trudy Solomon by Marcy McCreary

I can't decide if I liked this or not. It fell victim to what a lot of mysteries do: way too weird situations. But at least it owned up to them?

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Sleepless by Victor Manibo

 

This was clever, and I enjoyed listening to it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander

 

I just thought this was so much fun -- I really liked the protagonist and the Agatha Christie vibe.

Review copy provided by publisher.

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

 

This was fun. I'll probably read the entire series.

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

 

This was fantastic.

Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson

 

I read this because I liked Stephenson's other book. (Turns out that was quite different.) This was still good, but the narrator was kind of annoying.

A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton

 

Without giving too many spoilers, I just want to say: I am so done with insipid plot points in mysteries. This was a fun read until that happened, and then I was just really annoyed.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra

 

Nearly every sentence of this book was gold.

Limelight by Amy Poeppel

 

This was funny.

Sometimes People Die by Simon Stephenson

 

Surprisingly good -- several plot twists that I didn't see coming, and more complexity than might have been expected.

Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel

 

This was just delightful -- really funny.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

This was a lovely read, but then the ending was silly.

The Hostage by A. F. Carter

 

This was really well done. I liked that it was a departure from the usual tropes. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Suspect by Scott Turow

 

Decent story, with one of the best protagonists ever. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Gospel of Wellness by Rina Raphael

 

This was fantastic. It's a really important cultural critique and one of those books everyone should read. Also, it was just a lot of fun. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Club by Ellery Lloyd

 

This was lame. 

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

 

This was amazing -- so, so funny. Definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time. Highly recommended.

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde

 

Very quirky, very funny.

Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke

This was fantastic -- a great combination of mystery, social commentary, and excellent writing. Recommended.

The Net Beneath Us by Carol Dunbar

 

I didn't like this -- it felt kind of emotionally manipulative as well as unresolved.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott

 

meh

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

Honestly, this was disappointing.

Pleasantville by Attica Locke

 

 Attica Locke is one of my favorites. As usual, an excellent combo of mystery and social commentary. Highly recommended.

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson

 

This worked on so many levels. Why have I never read Robinson before?

American Demon: Eliot Ness and the Hunt for America's Jack the Ripper by Daniel Stashtower

 

This was solid. Lots of interesting details.

Review copy provided by publisher.