We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

 

 Nicely suspenseful, but the ending was disappointing.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave

 

 A bit disappointing for Dave, who I really like.

Bitter Remedy by Alis Hawkins

 

 A really solid mystery -- with nice historical touches.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand

 

 This story didn't make much sense to me -- basics of a narrative arc were missing.

Review copy provided by publisher.

I Dream of Falling by Julia Dahl

 

I read enough mysteries that they tend to seem very formulaic. But this one wasn't. I thought it was really well done and quite clever.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

 

Fun.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

 

Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors, but I was a bit disappointed by Nine Perfect Strangers. So I was nervous going in to this, and the nods toward pseudo-magical realism were making me nervous. But ohmygosh, she knocked this one out of the park. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

 

I feel like I didn't get this 

Guide Me Home by Attica Locke

 

 meh

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

 

 So disappointing.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

 

 Solid.

The Guilty One by Kiersten Modglin

 

 This one fell flat for me -- probably because I didn't think it's portrayal of characters with particular conditions (sorry to be vague, but trying to avoid spoilers) was within the realm of reason. That said, there was an interesting twist.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton

 

Solid 

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

 

This was so, so bad.

Silver Girl by Erin Hilderbrand

 

 meh

Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter

 

 meh

God of the Woods by Liz Moore

 

Decent 

The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley by Shelley Wood

 

I loved this: not only a great story but also presented in juxtaposition to interesting social and historical issues.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Under the Surface by Diana Urban

 

Meh.

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin

 

Fun.

Worst Case Scenario by T. J. Newman

 

I thought this would be cheesy and I was not disappointed.

Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer

 

I really liked this 

Wordhunter by Stella Sands

 

Disappointing.

Hum by Helen Phillips

 

 Disappointing.

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

 

 Disappointing.

A Good House for Children by Kate Collins

 

Decent.

Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur

 

So, so good.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

 

Fun.

The Clementine Complex by Bob Mortimer

 

Fun.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

 

Very good.

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

 

Meh.

Bodies to Die For by Lori Brand

 

I like this idea of wrapping up a critique of diet culture with a mystery and an interesting peek at a subculture, but this just didn't come together.

Review copy provided by publisher.

When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

 

Decent.

Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore

 

Sounds like a painfully dull premise ('how US economic policy contributed to WWII strategy'), but this is one of the best books I've ever read.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

 

This is one of the best things I've read in a long time. I loved the dark humor, the characters development, and the quirky plot.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Lost Man's Lane by Scoot Carson

 

This was weird, but I think I liked it.

New Nigeria County by Clare Brown

 

Fun.

Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

 

Meh.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

 

Kind of over the top, but fun.

The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher

 

I feel like this was right on the edge between clever and formulaic.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

 

Solid.

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood

 

Meh 

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

 

Interesting, but dragged in the middle.

Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore

 

Uneven.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

 

I really wanted to like this, but it was just didactic and predictable and, honestly, kind of annoying.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

 

Solid.

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Solid.

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

 

I don't know about this one.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

 

Decent.

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

 

Meh.