LOVE, HEARTBREAK, AND LOSS are the cornerstones of this elegantly constructed novel that captures the power of connection and the pain of isolation. Sex is a constant presence in the book, but evocations of food and friendship hit even harder. A MINUS
Read THE MEMORY THIEVES (Conjureverse Book 2) by Dhonielle Clayton if you love New Orleans, secrets, rewriting history, perfume, pandemic narratives, elections, familial legacies & the passing down of knowledge, standing up to oppression, fear responses, uncovering the truth & masks.
SENSATIONAL WILD-WEST DETECTIVE yarn features the “Holmes On the Range” brothers—a pair of cowboys turned sleuths—guarding a fossil dig in Wyoming with trouble not far behind. Brilliant return of these colorful characters in a sharp, twisty plot. A MINUS
Read THE MARVELLERS by Dhonielle Clayton if you love magic schools, jollof rice, The Underworld, floating cities, best friends, diverse cultures, starlight, twilight, integration, mysteries, something new, feeling different, maps, spices, creepy dolls, and circuses.
BARBRA STREISAND’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY is as unique as its subject and her remarkable career. Lots of candor about her childhood and her professional life, very little gossip about her romantic life, a strong throughline of moral and artistic clarity. A MINUS
Read HEARTSONG by TJ Klune if you love sad gay werewolves, finding your way home, eyeglasses, memories, trauma narratives, ace love interests, sitting beneath trees, the scent of lake water, traditions, loss narratives, crackers, and waves of blue.
NEAR-FUTURE NOIR THRILLER, set in a Pacific Northwest sodden with “broken weather,” combines lots of action and a colorful cast of characters for a highly entertaining read. B PLUS
For some reason this book didnt feel like Austen at all. Many many characters with different thought processes. The protagonist was surely very matured beyond her age in my opinion. For detailed review
THE EXTRAORDINARY, TRAGICALLY SHORT life of Tupac Shakur is explored in this authorized biography, rich with detail from his family, friends, and colleagues. Insightful, clear writing with heart. A MINUS
Hey! I did the BritPac, the celebrity biography version of Barbenheimer. Today’s review is of Britney Spears’s The Woman in Me; Friday’s review of Tupac Shakur: The Authorized Biography, by Staci Robinson.
On Saturday I’ll be posting a trip report on reading both the same day!
BRITNEY SPEARS’S LONG-AWAITED memoir is unsparingly candid and surprisingly sweet. There’s grief here, but little grievance in this thoughtful look at the truth behind an overwhelmingly hyped image. A MINUS
Read OPEN THROAT by Henry Hoke if you love big cats, the big city, small towns, scarcity narratives, poetic prose, trying to understand people, queerness, crises, fear, hunger, loneliness, developing the language to describe your existence, the American hard rock band Slaughter, adaptation & longing.
THE GREATEST ELIZABETHAN MYSTERY—who killed Amy Robsart, wife of the Queen’s favorite, Robert Dudley?—explored in this intriguingly framed novel that breathes new life into a much-told story. Richly envisioned. B PLUS
DELIGHTFUL, UNLIKELY SLEUTH Mrs. Pargeter—widow of an English crime boss—gathers her late husband’s crew to solve two linked mysteries. Entertaining cozy is author Simon Brett at his best. B PLUS
A MAGIC-INFUSED FAMILY SAGA traces the lives and the gifts of three generations of Dominican-American women. Beautifully realized characterizations and lush prose shine. B PLUS
A TALENTED, PRIVILEGED, COMPLICATED family unravels long-buried secrets in this keenly observed, expertly crafted novel alive with details of its vibrant Cape Cod setting. B PLUS
UNTANGLING A FAMILY LEGACY of secrets, shame, sacrifices, and survival, a mother and daughter find their way toward a new understanding. Powerful, nuanced characterization of three generations of Vietnamese-American women. B PLUS
GORGEOUS, EVOCATIVE, SPOOKY as hell, Paul Jessup’s latest novel is infused with terror, yearning, and twisted love. Impeccable and poetic prose, powerful characterization, a haunting that lingers on. A MINUS
EVOCATIVE BALLET NOVEL captures the struggles of young dancers in 1930s London. A clever mix of historical figures with fictional characters adds a punch of realism and immediacy. B PLUS
RICHARD OSMAN’S LATEST Thursday Murder Club adventure is his best one yet. Impeccably plotted, full of wit and fun, it’s also a marvelously observant portrayal of the power of love and friendship. A MINUS
MYSTERIES IN A MAGICAL VILLAGE and a confusing love…quadrangle? pentangle? have a cheery spirit medium seeing double. Cozy paranormal mystery is loaded with charm. SOLID B