The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon

 

I did not like this.

The Franchise by Thomas Elrod

 

On the one hand, this was a lot of fun. On the other hand, given the set up, it seems like it actually could have been a lot better.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Like This, but Funnier by Hallie Cantor

 

So funny.

The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr

 

We Burned So Bright by TJ Clune

 

Meh.

Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

 

This was SO dumb.

The Hill by Harriet Clark

 

I just don't understand why this book is getting so much buzz. It was totally vanilla.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Great Houses of Pill Hill by Diane Josefowicz

 

This was so close to being really good -- interesting premise and fun details. However, like so many mysteries, there was just one too many extraordinary events.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Absence by Andres Dana Hudson

 

I enjoyed this: it was an interesting premise, the pacing was great, and the resolution was not predictable.

Review copy provided by publisher.

I, Spy by L.M. Kemp

 

This was all sorts of fun -- very engaging and entertaining.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

 

I suspect that this will be a huge seller even if no one actually likes it, as Stockett's first book since The Help.

But I adored it. It's definitely commercial fiction and not great literature, but it was completely engaging and, even at 640 pages, seemed to fly by. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

There are a lot of family dramas out there, but Laurie Frankel writes books that are more interesting than virtually all of the others.

(And the fact that it was set in Austin was fun -- although there was not a lot of local color.)

This would be a great choice for book groups.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Olivia

 

Meh.