Hide by Tracy Clark

 

 meh

The Winner by Teddy Wayne

 

 I read this because it was on so many best of 2024 lists, but it wasn't very good.

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

 Decent.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

Thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm so glad there are eight more in this series!

Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

 

Decent.

Havoc by Christopher Bollen

 

This was unusual and compelling. I usually either anticipate twists or think they are dumb, but this one really worked.

Assume Nothing by Joshua Corin

 

Decent, but some of the characterization did not ring true.

Review copy provided by publisher.

A Very Bad Thing by J. T. Ellison

 

 Decent.

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson

 

This was a bit predictable.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

 

 meh

Sweet Vidalia by Lisa Sandlin

 

You know, I don't usually like this kind of thing. (What kind of thing? Well, historical fiction, coming of [middle] age, slow burn, kind of thing.) But this really worked. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Boundaries We Cross by Brad Parks

 

Decent until it jumped the shark.

Drop Dead Sisters by Amelia Coombs

 

So much fun.

Blackout by Erin Flanagan

 

Solid.

The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs

 

meh

Queen Bess by Maria Vetrano

 

Not happy with the election results? Want something that takes on that reality, but doesn't make you feel worse? And is funny? And hopeful? And has time travel? And really fun call outs to women's tech culture?

Have I got a recommendation for you! Needless to say, I loved this.

Review copy provided by publisher.

A Quiet Teacher by Adam Oyebanji

 

 I liked this.

The Blu Hour by Paula Hawkins

 

Meh

Undercurrent by Sarah Sawyer

 Probably the best book I've read this year. Gorgeous writing, stellar plot with twists that aren't just silly, and excellent social commentary. And: not just set in Austin but in a neighborhood I lived in.

Sally Brady's Italian Adventure by Christina Lynch

 

Meh.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble

 

 Great premise, dull execution.

Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney

 

Some of the characterization was really well done, but ultimately the theory of criminality left me disappointed.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

 

Wow, this was stunning. I can't describe it in a way that won't sound stupid, but this is the best thing I've read in a long time.

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

 

 Good until the very end, when there was one twist too many.

The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas

 

Clever.

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams

 

 Good.

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French

 

Solid.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

 

 Fun.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

 

 Fun.

The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson

 

 Lame.

Family Man by Elinor Lipman

 

 Fun.

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

 

This did not age particularly well.

Blood Test by Charles Baxter

 

meh

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

 

So, so good.

Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall

 

Fun.

What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella

 

 Not sad itself, but sad given how autobiographical it is.

Camino Ghosts by John Grishman

 

Solid.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

 

Things I don't like: magical realism, anachronistic feminists, sappy love stories, the trend of elderly protagonists, historical fiction, narratives split between past and present.

This book had all of the above -- and I loved it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

 

I'm kind of surprised to see all of the positive buzz about this one -- the plot was a bit too far, and the characterization seemed unnuanced.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson

 

Very solid -- sometimes these northern European works are a bit too dark for me, but this was very enjoyable.

Review copy provided by publisher.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

 

Solid, but weighty for a beach read,

Entitlement by Rumaan Alam

 

meh

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

 

Clever and interesting.

In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros

 

A decent romance, except that I am not sure whether setting it against the fall of Afghanistan is a great way to bring some big issues to new readers or just tacky.

Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

 

Unusually good character development for a mystery novel.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

 

 I was pre-disposed to love this because Korelitz is one of my favorite authors, and this was narrated by Julia Whelan. But this was very disappointing. It just didn't work.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White

 

 Solid.

I'm Starting to Worry about This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin

 

Possibly the funniest book I've ever read. I've already made plans to buy several copies as gifts for several people who I think will appreciate it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Playground by Richard Powers

  

 I came into this with high expectations because I loved Overstory. Usually, that means the stage is set for disappointment. In this case, I was just completely charmed. It was everything I loved about Overstory.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker

 

 So, so good.