Cogs and Monsters by Diane Coyle

 

Good, but too similar to other things I have read.

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

 

This was decent, but not amazing.

Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

 

Amazingly well written, and an infuriating story. This is one of those books that everyone should read.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

 

A fascinating bit of history wrapped in a mediocre story.

The Privileged Poor by Anthony Abraham Jack

 

Everyone who works in higher ed admin should read this.

Racism without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

 

On the one hand, this felt dated; on the other hand, it felt completely relevant.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

 

I was just charmed by this -- I loved the characters.

The Children's Secret by Nina Monroe

 

This was lame -- it just tried to do too much.

Running Smart by Mariska Van Sprundel

 

Interesting. As a summary: everything you've read about running (good shoes, foam rolling, warming up) lacks any scientific basis.

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

 

I'm not usually in to (pseudo?) magical realism, but I loved this.

How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith

 

This was stunning, as well as amazingly lyrical.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

 

Really well done and thought-provoking.

The Genetic Lottery by Kathryn Paige Harden

 

I didn't agree with all of this, but it is a fascinating topic.

The Judge's List by John Grisham

 

Classic Grisham -- this worked really well. A fun read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

 

So much fun. The characterization is really clever.

The 99% Invisible City by Roman Mars

 

This was amazing -- seriously, so fascinating. Highly recommended.

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

 

This was very unusual, and I still haven't decided if I liked it.

The Dilemma by B. A. Paris

 

This was dumb -- too many coincidences. It might have worked as a farce.

A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century by Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein

 

Wow, this was epically bad. The only reason I finished reading it was the same reason people slow down to gape at car wrecks.

Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui

 

Super-interesting. I started lap swimming a few months ago, and a lot of this really resonated with me.

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

 

This would be a great read for a book group -- there's so much here to discuss.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

 

Very well written and great fun.

Review copy provided by publisher.

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

 

This was amazing. Highly recommended for its excellent writing.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

 

I disliked this at first because of my strong conviction that, if Franzen were female, their works would be dismissed as "chick lit" instead of as one of the best novelists of this generation.

Be that as it may, the story grew on me. Franzen has a gift for characterization, specifically for showing how events appear differently from different perspectives.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Dear Evan Hansen

 

This was charming.

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

 

I liked this glimpse of rage, although it feels somehow wrong to say that.

Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County: A Family, a Virginia Town, a Civil Rights Battle by Kristen Green

 

This was fascinating and very sad.

Run the world by Becky Wade

 

Great topic, poor execution. I think she may have been too young to write this.

Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin

 

Clever and fun, with a nice romantic angle (if a bit eye-rolling of a sex scene).

Review copy provided by publisher.

Running Like a Girl by Alexandra Heminsley

 

Honestly, this was kind of lame.

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum

 

Everyone working in education should read this book, as well as anyone who wants to have an opinion about affirmative action.

The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves

 

This was mediocre.

What Makes Olga Run? by Bruce Grierson

 

A fantastic blend of biography and science. Highly recommended.

The Matrix by Lauren Groff

 

Lame.

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

 

I was just completely charmed by this.

Odd Numbers by J.J. Marsh

 

This was just too . . . unlikely. Way too many contrived plot points to work.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The F*ck It Diet by Caroline Dooner

This was interesting and entertaining.

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

 

This was predictable and dumb.

Hawking Hawking by Charles Seife

 

Interesting material, but the reverse chronological order was annoying.

Civilizations by Laurent Binet

 

Despite the fact that it got a bit into the weeds near the end, this was fantastic and great fun.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Golden State by Michelle Richmond

 

Lots of potential, but it tried to do too much and ended up dropping it all.

The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances

 

This was clever.

Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Royce

 

Decent.

We, The Jury by Robert Rotstein

 

This was enjoyable. It was also one of the rare cases where I appreciated having >1 narrator in the audio book.

Into the Lake by LK Chapman

 

This was just not that good. Too over the top, poorly executed characters, weird.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

 

I really like Kate Quinn.

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

 

meh

Over the Falls by Rebecca Hodge

 

A great story -- unlike many similar books, not over the top.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Late City by Robert Olen Butler

 

All the emotions . . . I just loved this. Part of me felt like I shouldn't, like it was too stereotypical, but I just did.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Snobs by Julian Fellowes

 

Decent.