1. The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers

3 stars. A relatively fast-paced thriller/mystery but not memorable. Recommended if you want to read about two broads going rogue and investigating their respective missing sisters cases, I guess.

2. The Amulet by Michael McDowell

SOLID HORROR! This was written in the late 70s/early 80s I believe and was a good reminder that horror was on a different level back then. This had me SQUIRMING. Every character was described incredibly well which made this book play out like an actual movie in my mind while I was reading it. Someone died that I did NOT want to die, though!!

As an aside, Chooch and I do the NYTimes Connections puzzle every day and TWICE recently the term “bolt” was included in “to eat hurriedly” category and we were like, “WHO THE FUCK SAYS THAT?” Literally, not even Henry had heard that. Well, McDowell uses it! It was in this book twice, which excited me and I had to snap a picture to send to Chooch. I love when stuff like that happens while reading.

But yeah, 5 stars. I need to read my way through his whole catalogue now.

3. A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike

Another 5’er. I can’t stress how in love I fell with this book: from the characters (Tibb is unforgettable), the relationships, the sticky situations, the unexpected humor, the unusual and quirky writing style – I have never read anything like this. And also the cover is beautiful.

I will say that when I started this, I was unsure if it was for me because the writing DOES comes off as somewhat jarring at first. We are fully inside Tibb’s head for this ride. Rosanna Pike is brilliant – this was her DEBUT novel!! – and I can’t wait to see what else she puts out!

4. The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

I don’t know what Stephen King means by “magnetic.” This was just OK.

5. On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah-Yah Scholfield

3.5 – lots – and I mean LOTS – of abuse and trauma in this one, holy shit. Not for the weak at heart but a very unique horror story.

6. Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin

Lesbians and libraries! Cats! I listened to this on audio during my daily walks and it was an enjoyable experience. 3 stars.

7. It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica

3.5- a pretty good thriller that hooked me. I also listened to this on audio and I will say that Reese’s (the missing niece) chapters were so fucking annoying. I mean, I guess they were meant to be because she’s a bitchy teen, but it probably would have been less annoying if this was a physical read for me and not audio. Just putting that out there!

8. It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara

OK so for anyone reading this just for the book recs, knowing nothing about me, here’s a fun fact: my kid went to preschool and kindergarten at a Catholic school across the street. Most of the parents were stuck-up assholes who made me feel like an outcast because I was younger and, I don’t know, they probably frowned upon my tattoos. I would volunteer to chaperone field trips, hoping it would ingratiate me with other moms but they had no interest in socializing with me. So, whenever I would write about these things on my blog, I would be sure to drag them. And then they found my blog. LOL. There was a confrontation, it was terrible, but I had to hold my head high and continue showing my face every day when I walked Chooch over there.

This book triggered some PTSD that I didn’t realize I had lol.

Other than that, it was OK but VERY far-fetched.

9. Single Player by Tara Tai

Eh. I was definitely not the demographic for this but needed filler for my walks.

10. Bad Asians by Lillian Li

I have nothing constructive to say. 2 stars.

11. The Red Knot by Monique Asher

ONE STAR – SO BAD. Poorly executed, weird scene jumps, cardboard characters. I’m glad I couldn’t see my face while reading this disaster.

I scream-read this part out loud to Henry, I’m still stewing so I need to get this off my chest: at the end of the book (not a spoiler) there is a scene with a cat who is introduced as Momma because SHE just had kittens – female pronouns are used a few times, then another character immediately refers to the cat as “he” so then the person with the cat switches to “he/him” too?! Did we just witness the quickest feline gender transition in print or was this just more sloppy writing, YOU DECIDE.

12. The Names by Florence Knapp

5 stars – such a unique plot concept, beautiful characters, and absolutely gut-wrenching. You were warned.

13. The History of Us by Leah Stewart

I thought it would be fun to read something that I added to my “want to read” list on Goodreads over 10 years ago. I had read Leah Stewart’s The Myth of You YEARS ago and absolutely loved it. I remember sending it to Christina and begging her to read it but she’s too much of a stoner to ever sit down and read a book for pleasure so that was a waste of postage. (She did eventually give it back to me and then I let Barb borrow it but she never returned it and swore she didn’t have it!)

Anyway, this was such a bore. Coincidentally though it was set in Cincinnati which is where Christina sort of lives. Side note: I FUCKING HATED THE OLDER DAUGHTER THEO. I HATED HER SO FUCKING MUCH.

14. Model Home by Rivers Solomon

A haunted house story but not. I did not enjoy this but gave it a three for being a unique take on the trope. LOTS OF TRAUMA AND TRIGGER WARNINGS in this.

15. The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

Eh. Pretty mid. Winstead has let me down over and over ever since I gave her debut novel 5 stars. This is basically her trying to write something like Taylor Jenkins Reid. Hate to compare but it’s hard to read this and not immediately think of Daisy Jones.

I just didn’t care about anyone in this book.

16. Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

This was another “reach back into the Goodreads TBR list” pick. I listened to the audio and for a YA book, it held my interest and I really felt for Hermione. Trigger warning: (off page) rape.

The end.

 

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