I recently revealed that I'm running for office, so it's no surprise that a book about two young hopefuls moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a career in politics would intrigue me. Plus, The Hopefuls is by Jennifer Close, whose book, The Smart One, was one I thoroughly enjoyed. Unsurprisingly, I quite enjoyed this one, as well.The Hopefuls follows Beth and Matt, two … [Read more...]
‘The Summer that Melted Everything’ – What Would You Do if the Devil Came to Town?
Read this book. It's not often that I start off a review with these words, but Tiffany McDaniel's debut novel, The Summer that Melted Everything, is more than worthy of an off-the-bat recommendation. I say this for many reasons: the writing is beautiful, the characters are unforgettable, and the storyline is an important one. Plus, it made the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize … [Read more...]
‘The Inseparables’: A Fresh Take on Dysfunctional Family Dramas
Picking up The Inseparables by Stuart Nadler was a bit of a risky choice for me. The Goodreads reviews are mixed but a few of them compared it to The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, which I did not love. Ultimately, I was pulled in by the idea of three generations of women and family dysfunction. Both of these topics endear themselves to me and taking a chance on The … [Read more...]
‘Dear Mr. M’ Blends Koch’s Best Features with Wider Appeal
Dear Mr. M is my third book by Herman Koch, and I think it's safe to say that I'm a fan. I previously read The Dinner and Summer House With Swimming Pool, both of which were captivatingly disturbing in their own rights. Like these books, Dear Mr. M is a complicated story made up of flawed characters and sinister acts, but it's far less disturbing than his previous books. In … [Read more...]
The Mothers: A Judgment Free and Mesmerizing Novel
Following her mother's suicide, Nadia Turner is hurting. At 17, she has good grades and is filled with dreams and ambitions, but she also harbors a hole in her heart that she fills with rebellious acts. So when Luke Sheppard, an older boy and son of the local pastor, shows interest and compassion, they ensconce themselves in a world of their own making. But young … [Read more...]