When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

 

Decent.

Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore

 

Sounds like a painfully dull premise ('how US economic policy contributed to WWII strategy'), but this is one of the best books I've ever read.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

 

This is one of the best things I've read in a long time. I loved the dark humor, the characters development, and the quirky plot.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Lost Man's Lane by Scoot Carson

 

This was weird, but I think I liked it.

New Nigeria County by Clare Brown

 

Fun.

Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

 

Meh.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

 

Kind of over the top, but fun.

The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher

 

I feel like this was right on the edge between clever and formulaic.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

 

Solid.

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood

 

Meh 

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

 

Interesting, but dragged in the middle.

Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore

 

Uneven.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

 

I really wanted to like this, but it was just didactic and predictable and, honestly, kind of annoying.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

 

Solid.

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Solid.

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

 

I don't know about this one.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

 

Decent.

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

 

Meh.

Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel

 

I usually really like Frankel, but I didn't like this one.

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

 

So, so good. I particularly liked the ending.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

 

I loved this so, so much. To say it is targeted at my demographic is an understatement.

Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis

 

Very unusual, but I think I liked it.

The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline

 

Meh.

The Year of Living Constitutionally by A. J. Jacobs

 

Jacobs is always fun.

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh

 

This was a clever twist on an old mystery formula.

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood

 

I love this series -- and this title was so much fun. I realize that older detectives are having a bit of a moment right now. That's fine.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

 

 

So on a sentence level, this book is excellent. On a plot level, it sagged in the middle but redeemed itself at the end.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis

 

 I really enjoyed this.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff

 

 Really well done.

Mrs. England by Stacey Halls

 

 Solid, and I loved the narrator.

It's a Privilege Just to Be Here by Emma Sasaki

 

A great story, and so well done in explicating the nuances of some difficult issues. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall

 

A very good read. . . Excellent back story on the nuances of feminist issues, combined with a compelling plot 

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Unwedding by Ally Condie

 

A solid read, but then the ending . . . mystery writers really need to step away from the 'multiple coincidences' ending. 

Review copy provided by publisher.

Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh

 

 Decent.

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

 

Excellent.

You Are Here by David Nicholls

 

 So fun.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay

 

Very well done -- this was a delightful read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Night Music by Jojo Moyes

 

 weird 

Excavations by Kate Myers

 

 Fun and funny 

Hidden by Laura Griffin

 

 meh

Schooled by Ted Fox

 

Beginning was stronger than the end, but it was still fun.

The Child by Fiona Barton

 

meh

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

 

 I mostly loved this, but (as, I think, with most time travel novels) it got a bit knotted up at the end.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik

 

 Probably only worth reading if you are in Paris, and I was, so it was interesting.

Greenwood by Michael Christie

 

 I loved this so, so much.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

 

 Decent.

Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum

 Great potential, but ultimately just felt like a pastiche of stereotypes about the tech industry.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck

 

 I don't read (actually read, as opposed to listen to) many books, but this was a rare exception. This was so, so good. It's hard for me to articulate why, except that the character development was excellent, the engagement with social issues worked, and the plot made sense.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

 

For some reason, I always suspect that Hepworth books are going to be relatively lame, and then they always end up impressing me with clever plots.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Invisible Woman by Katia Lief

 

 

Novels are allowed a max total of one extraordinary circumstance and/or coincidence. This otherwise promising book well exceeded that limit.

Review copy provided by publisher.