Master Class by Christina Dalcher

 

Great concept, but the execution was a bit off.

The Farm by Joanne Ramos

 

Excellent elements, but it didn't quite come together.

True Believers by Kurt Andersen

 

Exceptionally good, on so many levels.

If, Then by Kate Hope Day

 

meh

Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

 

Unusual. Decent.

One Day by Gene Weingarten

 

This was really well done.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

 

meh

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

 

This was clever.

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

meh

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus

 

Decent.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

 

Some interesting moves, but ultimately kind of weak plotting.

Something to Live For by Richard Roper

 

Delightful: super funny prose, clever story.

The Cousins by Karen McManus

This was fun.

The Appeal by John Grisham

 

meh

The Three by Sarah Lotz

 

meh

The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz

 

I loved this so, so much.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

 

Surprisingly good.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

 

I'm embarrassed by how much I liked this.

The Forever Witness by Edward Humes

 

Interesting.

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

 

The ending was a bit over-the-top.

Winterland by Rae Meadows

 

Solid. Not spectacular, but solid.

Review copy provided by publisher.

A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer

 

Kinda dumb.

Careful What You Wish For by Hallie Ephron

 

This was fun.

Tell Me An Ending by Jo Harkin

 

I think I liked this?

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

 

This was almost really good.

After the End by Clare Mackintosh

 

Very interesting narrative device here -- still not sure how I feel about it.

I'm Wearing Tunics Now by Wendi Aarons

 

Easily the funniest book I have ever read -- I cried more than once from laughing so hard. It didn't hurt that the author is about my age, lives in the same area, and comments on life experiences I have been thinking about a lot.

Review copy provided by publisher.

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?