A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver

 

Fun and funny.

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

 

Solid.

How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson

 

This was quite solid -- I can by pretty critical of mysteries because I read so many of them that not much seems novel (ha!), but this was well done.

Review copy provided by publisher.

More than Enough by Anna Quindlen

 

On the one hand, I really enjoyed reading this. On the other hand, it felt like there was a little too much plot resolution at the end.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Unhinged by Sarah Graves

 

Decent.

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

 

Meh

Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

 

Meh.

The Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. Keys

 

Decent.

Sleeping Giants by Rene Denfeld

 

Meh

The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone

 

I really liked this.

A Better World by Sarah Langan

Disappointing .

Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler

 

Meh

How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley

 

I didn't like this.

The Distinctly Competent District Councillor by Jonas Jonasson

Quirky and fun. I initially had some concerns about, um, the ethics of it all, but those were (mostly) handled well by the end. So, overall, a really fun book.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Warning Light by David Ricciardi

 

Solid.

It's One of Us by J. T. Ellison

 Decent.

The Sopranos Sessions by Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall

 

A lot of fun.

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

 

This was very well done. I appreciated how subtle and complex it was.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane

 

Solid.

Read between the Lies by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 

So this was interesting. I'll be vague to avoid spoilers, but the main character is problematic -- but does that mean the book is? Definitely a lot here to talk and think about.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Editor by Steven Rowley

 

So much fun.

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

 

Meh 

Silver State by Gabriel Urza

 

Interesting.

Chemistry by Weike Wang

 

Trailbreaker by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

 

I hate to be mean, but: this book reads as if you asked an LLM to generate a mystery novel. All the boxes are checked, but there is nothing, well, novel here.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Great Shadow by Susan Wise Bauer

 

I have been a Susan Wise Bauer fangirl forever, but this book still completely exceeded by expectations. It was just so interesting. Highly recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

 

Rowley is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Woke Up This Morning by Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa

 

So much fun.

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum

 Decent.

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

 

meh

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

 

Fun to read mostly, but the facile resolution of social issues just didn't ring true.

City of Likes by Jenny Mollen

 

I'm getting tired of people mocking influencers. I see it as part of a larger trend of attacking anything women/girls like and/or ways that women have found to make money given social constraints.

Grave on Grand Avenue by Naomi Hirahara

 

One of my favorite mystery series.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

 

A fun read, but it should be illegal to end a book with zero resolution and just teeing up the sequel.

Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse

 

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read -- it was an excellent send-up of wellness culture as well as hyperparenting.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

This was basically pretty good, but as is often the case, there was just one too many coincidences. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

 

Disappointing.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Super funny. 

Godfall by Van Jensen

 

I really liked this -- it was a good mix of science fiction and mystery. My one quibble would be a plot point that is quickly becoming overdone (avoiding more detail to avoid spoilers).

Review copy provided by publisher.

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

 

First, the cover suggests a cozy mystery, but this was not that. It's much darker. Second, any book narrated by Joanne Froggatt is +1. And, overall, this was very clever and well worth reading.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Edge of Sleep by Jake Emanuel, Willie Block, and Jason Gurley

 

Super weird and kind of funny.

Murder on Bamboo Lane by Naomi Hirahara

 I really liked this.

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

Normally, I like Rachel Hawkins, but this was not good. Inexplicable characters, way too many coincidences, etc.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Good Morning, Monster by Catherine Gildiner

 

A difficult and sad read, but one of th best books I've read in a long time.

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebu Campbell

 

Interesting.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

 

Meh.