The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird

 

This was so well done and interesting. It would be a great choice for book groups.

The Plot against America by Philip Roth

 

This was amazing. 

The Liar's Giel by Catherine Howard

 

I still can't decide if I think the ending was too far fetched.

No One Is Talking about This by Patricia Lockwood

 

This was amazing. And unusual. I was really moved by it, and I will be thinking about it for a long time.

8 1/2 Stone by Liz Jones

 

This wasn't as funny as it thought it was, and it almost seemed like it was fat shaming.

Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea

 

This was really well done -- I didn't see the plot twist(s) coming.

Review copy provided by publisher.

They May Not Mean To But They Do by Catherine Shine

 OK-ish.

Cyberstorm by Matthew Mather

 

A few good moments, but mostly blah.

The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan

 

This was really well done.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

 

meh

A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris

 

This was just . . . not that well done. It didn't feel as if it were breaking any new ground, and the social commentary didn't quite work.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Nomadland by Jessica Bruder

 

Fascinating. This was really well done, and very interesting.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

 

I'm thoroughly embarrassed by how much I loved this romance.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

 

For the first half of this, I thought it was very formulaic. Then: plot twist . . . and it became fascinating.

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

 

meh

The Third Twin by Ken Follett

 

This was objectively silly, and yet I liked it.

Oh What Fun by Chandler Baker

 

Oh, this really was fun. A great, quick, hilarious holiday read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

One Night New York by Lara Thompson

 

This was clever and interesting; I enjoyed reading it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Miracle and Wonder by Malcolm Gladwell

 

This was super-fun.

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin

 

This was an enjoyable read, but I don't think I liked the ending?

The Wife Between Use Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

 

I thought this was dumb.

In the Field by Rachel Pastan

 

meh

The Churchill Sisters by Rachel Trethewey

 

I enjoyed this. It's a unique take.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Hawthorne School by Sylvie Perry

 

So great concept, great characters. But the writing was a bit cliched, and the plot a bit over the top. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser

 

Heart-wrenching, fascinating, horrifying, and amazing.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

 

This was excellent, and I loved the local Austin references.

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao

 

This was engaging.

Never by Ken Follett

 

I feel almost guilty for how much I enjoyed this. It was just fantastic, if not great literature.

The Story of the Country House by Clive Aslet

 

Interesting, but also a bit frustrating because it tried to cover so much ground so quickly. But a nice overview.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Three Sisters by Heather Morris

 

As a novel, this doesn't really break any new ground if you have already read Holocaust accounts. However, knowing how closely it is based on real-life experiences, it is amazing.

Review copy provided by publisher.

A Face for Picasso by Ariel Henley

 

So an interesting story, and a great job incorporating a critical critique of beauty culture, but -- and maybe it was just the narrator -- this just didn't hold together as well as it should have.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge by Charlie Lovett

 

This was lame.

The Corpse Flower by Anne Mette Hancock

 

This was OK -- a few glimpses of clever writing, a decent plot -- but not outstanding.

Review copy provided by publisher.

No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson

 

Still can't decide if I liked this.

The Circle by David Eggers

This was just OK. 

Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons

 

I still can't decide if I liked this. I'm leaning towards no because the end was too neat.

An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Turnsten

 

It's hard to say anything about this without major spoilers, but . . . this was so intriguing and unusual. I think it would be a great choice for book groups. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden

 

I didn't like this. The plot was too byzantine and the writing was not great.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen

 

meh

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart

 

I did not like this.

The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum

 

Very interesting history -- it made me think about parallels to big tech today.

The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine

 

I really enjoyed this -- the plot was kind of different, the writing was clever. I'll be seeking out her other books.

The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve

 

I really liked this. It was a moving story.

Eat and Run by Scott Jurek

 

Decent.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

 

meh  (and, yes, I know everyone else loved this).

O Beautiful by Jung Yun

 

Usually when a book tries to explore several social issues, it irritates me. But this one worked really well. This would be a great title for book groups.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells

 

In some ways, this was a very predictable mystery, but in other ways, it was kind of innovative and interesting.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow

 

I had really been looking forward to this, and it did not disappoint. Basically, the Davids are challenging the assumption that societies evolve in a predictable and necessary way. I didn't agree with everything, but this book is fascinating.

Review copy provided by publisher.

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

 

This was amazing -- the perfect blend of thriller and social commentary. Highly recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

This was so, so funny. I had no idea she was so funny.

Ruined by Design by Mike Monteiro

 

This was amazing. No one should be allowed to design anything without reading this first. Also, his palpable anger in the narration was, honestly, fabulous.