Ima on (and off) the Bima: Real-Life Jewish Parenting

Books I Read in 2024

2024-12-30T16:18:00.002-06:00

Welcome to Year 17 of my year-end wrap up of books! I feel like this is such a great time to be a reader - there are so many incredible books out there, people are sharing their reading habits in such fun ways, and I'm never without something new to look at. I just did a review of some of my favorites from previous years and went back to see if any of those authors had new books that I had missed. I'm always sad when the answer is no! I'm a big fan of the whole BookTok and Bookstagram, but I try not to get too caught up in the hype. I had a few DNFs (did not finish) books from those that I tried so hard to like.

This year saw the end of one of my favorite series, the Maisie Dobbs mysteries. I'll be sad next year when there isn't a new one! Hopefully it's not the end for Gabriel Allon, and of course I loved the newest book in his saga too. I like to alternate between literary fiction and romance novels, and I love it when kids come running up to me with their recommendations. I usually try to drop whatever I'm reading and get those done right away so I can chat about it with the kids!

So here's the 2024 list:

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Can we Talk About Israel? By Daniel Sokatch

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

The Society of Shame by Jane Roper

Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

Kunstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Scheine

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Have You Seen Luis Velez? By Catherin Ryan Hyde

Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory

Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood

The Maid by Nita Prose

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel

The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland

The Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

The Amen Effect by Sharon Brous

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Family Family by Laurie Frankel

Once We Were Home by Jennifer Rosner

Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Marry Me By Midnight by Felicia Grossman

Rivals by Katharin McGee

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto

The Hebrew Teacher by Maya Arad

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

In the Shadow of the Greenbriar by Emily Matchar

Stockholm by Noa Yedlin

Welcome Home, Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss

This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune

Reign by Katharine McGee

The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva

The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear

Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew by Emmanuel Acho

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer

The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove by Karen Hawkins

Past, Present, and Future by Rachel Lynn Solomons

The Book of Silver Linings by Nan Fishcer

Sandwich by Catherine Newman

The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

Flunked by Jen Calonita

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Operation Bethlehem by Yariv Inbar

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Love You A Latke by Amanda Elliot

Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter

Hanukkah Hook-Up by Jessica Topper

Late Night Love by Chayla Wolfberg

Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

And here are all my mini-reviews:

December Books

November Books

October Books

September Books
August Books
July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

It's hard for me to choose favorites but here is a list of the ones I liked best:

Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino
Have You Seen Luis Velez? By Catherin Ryan Hyde
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari

I track my books on GoodReads and StoryGraph and as always, I'll share monthly updates here and on the socials so stay tuned.

What do you think I should read in 2025? What are you reading? What were your favorites of 2024?

Previous years' book lists are here:

Books Read in 2018
Books Read in 2017
Books Read in 2016
Books Read in 2015
Books Read in 2014
Books Read in 2013
Books Read in 2012
Books Read in 2011
Books Read in 2010
Books Read in 2009
Books Read in 2008

December 2024 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-12-30T16:12:00.000-06:00

Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman - Loved this one. It's historical, a little magical realism, a love story, Jewish...checked so many happy boxes for me. I wanted it to keep going....one of my favorites of the year!

Operation Bethlehem by Yariv Inbar - This was a book group selection for me, and as a group we liked it. I thought the story was interesting, although I got a little lost at one point, and I thought the theme of what it means to feel "at home" was very relevant.

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books - Could NOT put this one down! Loved it - the cast of characters was wonderful, it was clever and compelling, and of course, timely. I know it was meant as a satire, and I thought it really worked.

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian - It was a little too long but overall a sweet story of grief and love - it took me a while to realize that it was set in 1960 (I'm sure I just missed that moment), which obviously explained the terrible fear of discovery of the gay characters.

Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot - How could I not read htis one!? A quick and fun Chanukah romance novel with the added benfit of a real commentary on how it feels to be the token Jew, especially at Christmastime. Will this be the next Hallmark Chanukah movie???

Songs for the Broken Hearted by Ayelet Tsabari - So good! A look backwards and forwards at the Yemeni Jewish community as they came to Israel in 1950 and their generations in the 1990s. Such a compelling story as Zohara tries to figure out her mother's hidden past and her own Yemeni-Israel-Jewish identity.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - Okay, Oprah, I would never have picked this one up without you. A very short and powerful novel highlighting what it means to do right in the world, even when things are stacked against you.

Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter - I am pretty sure that I got this book from the New York Times Book Review. While I was reading it, however, I kept thinking, "who the heck recommended this book to me and why am I still friends with them?" This book is weird. (See: The Husbands) I can see how it is a meditation on grief and love, physical and emotaional space, family and relationships. But I didn't really like it.

The Hanukkah Hook-Up by Jessica Topper - a silly, fun Chanukah romance

Late Night Love by Chayla Woflberg - A sweet romance by a former student! Loved the shoutout to our synagogue :-)

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim - A lovely story about magic and matchmaking, and it reminded me a little bit of the Matchmaker's Gift too. This author's earlier book was one of my favorites of last year, and I liked this one a lot too!

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - It was odd that the last two books I read this year were both about seeing the future! This one was a really cozy magical fantasy about found family, and I really enjoyed it!

November Books
October Books
September Books
August Books
July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

November 2024 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-11-30T20:17:00.006-06:00

The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements - I *loved* this modern-day follow up to the 25-year-old Frindle. If you haven't read it, find a fifth grader and share it with them. And then read this one! Loved it. Great middle grade novel about the power of words and using them wisely.

The House of Eve by Sadaqa Johnson - Historical fiction about black women in the 1950s. It was an interesting look at a piece of history that I haven't read about before. The "twist" seemed fairly obvious to me, but otherwise it was a pretty good story.

Flunked by Jen Calonita - A fifth grader ran up to me at Hebrew School and said "Rabbi! Book recommendation!" so I immediately borrowed it from Libby and it was delightful. The first in a series called "Fairy Tale Reform School," and now I'm pretty sure you have an idea of what it's all about.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - This checks all the boxes: found family, magical stuff, cozy fantasy. As long as I didn't think too hard about the world-building, it was great.

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier - Historical fiction about the glassmakers of Murano, Italy. It follows a family through history but through an odd and completely mystifying time travel technique that totally threw me off. Much like the previous book, as long as I didn't think too hard about it, it was great. I wish it had been a more traditional family saga...without the weird time skips that didn't make sense.

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe - Um...quirky? That's probably the word for this book. On the one hand, I liked the found family, struggle-to-find-your-narrative story. On the other hand, I was a little thrown by the um...use of the internet to earn a living. Enjoyable but a bit odd.

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum - I liked Hoodie (short for Yehuda), an Orthodox teen who narrates the story. It's a fairly powerful story about Hoodie's intersection with the non-Jewish world around him, with the addition of some terrible antisemitism that rocks his community.

October Books
September Books
August Books
July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

October 2024 books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-10-31T08:40:00.005-05:00

Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer - cute and timely, with a lot about antisemitism and living in a smaller town. I'm not sure how I felt about the whole "golem" idea but overall, I appreciated the love story in the end.

The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove by Karen Hawkins - I didn't know this was the third in a series when I picked it up. That said, I really liked this one. It reminded me of the Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (one of my favorites) and I do love a smidge of magical realism with my love stories.

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomons - A sequel to Today, Tonight, Tomorrow! Loved seeing what happened next for this pair of Jewish kids from Seattle.

The Book of Silver Linings by Nan Fisher - There was definitely too much going on in this book, and I wasn't sure what the point of each part was and how it all tied together. That said, I didn't hate it, I just don't quite know why I liked it.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman - This book hit a lot of top lists for the year, and I suppose I can see why, although I found it a little too angsty for me. I do prefer slightly more plot-driven stories, so this one won't make MY top lists.

I'm about 65 books into the year. What MUST I read before 2024 ends?

September Books
August Books
July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

September 2024 Books

2024-09-30T20:35:00.006-05:00

Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center - Okay, I am so embarrassed to tell you that I read this book in 2009. And honestly? It was so forgettable that I read it again and never realized I'd read it before until I logged it in Goodreads. And I don't remember what I thought of it the first time, but this time I thought it was not my favorite of her books.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio - I'm pretty sure I didn't like this book. I couldn't quite understand the point of it. I liked the premise and it was interesting for the first 20-30 pages. But I couldn't see where it was going and I'm not sure that it even made any interesting points about marriage.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren - Fairly standard romance, some cute dialogue, enjoyed the love story.

When The Angels Left the Old Country by Sasha Lamb - I enjoyed this somewhat fantastical story about an angel and a demon who come to America from their shtetl - an interesting telling of the Jewish immigration to America story. A little too long, but well-told.

Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino - loved this 1960s story about a woman who takes a little bit of control of her own life and her own story. I loved the characters and how the era really impacted their choices and capacities. The mother-daughter story was strong, and I liked the callback to the author's earlier book too.

August Books
July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

August 2024 Books

2024-08-31T19:00:00.001-05:00

Um...so this month I watched a lot of the Olympics. And a lot of the DNC. And apparently, I didn't read a lot!

But all of these books were REALLY good so there's that!

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn - This was a great combo of two of my favorite kinds of books: about a "found family" and historical fiction. I really liked the look at McCarthy-era Washington, D.C. This book was a little long, but it was really wonderful and totally worth it!

True Love Experimen tby Christina Lauren - I really enjoyed this one! I'm now on a hunt for the rest of Christina Lauren's books. A reality show, a smart and snarky author, a hot British guy...great romance novel!

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray - I really loved this bio of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor who transformed our country by inventing Social Security (amongst many other accomplishments). She is my new favorite historical woman! Wow. Loved this insight into all of it...a period of history that I know a lot about but don't have a lot of details about what it was really like. Loved it!

July Books
June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

#blogelul #elulgram 2024

2024-08-30T09:35:00.005-05:00

Elul -- that wonderful and terrifying month that precedes the High Holy Days. A month of introspection and considering, a month of personal reflection and preparation.

#BlogElul is a project that I started in 2010, although it wasn't until 2012 that I created the list of topics. Since then, I haven't always completed the whole month of blogging, although I know that many of you have. I also know that the online world has changed so much since 2010, when blogging was one of the only ways to publish your online content easily.

Now we have Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, (some people are still on Formerly Twitter) and other platforms - even TikTok...so many ways in which to express ourselves and dive deeply into the themes of the High Holy Days. And so here we are….I've added #ElulGram (and perhaps #ElulTok?) to the #BlogElul family and the borders of this project are so wide that they reallly don't exist at all. This project is really whatever YOU want - however YOU want to spend your time preparing yourself for the holiest season in the Jewish calendar.

Who can participate? ANYONE. It's yours. I gift it to you. Elul is for anyone and everyone.

How could one do it? You don't have a blog… No worries. Be creative and find your own path! Maybe you don't want to do it daily. Maybe you just want to dip your toe into the experience, or just read (and share?) what others write. It's totally up to you. I always love to see the creative things that the #BlogElul community comes up with.

There are no rules. I provide the topics (see graphic) for each of the days of the month. Use the hashtag to share your post (I like to put it in my titles) and share other people's posts as well. This could be a way to revitalize your blog, kickstart a new project, or even just get yourself ready for the holidays! I know that lots of people use #BlogElul as a spiritual exercise each year, and I'm so proud to be a part of their yearly journey through Elul.

And what about #ElulGram? This one is even more interpretive. Photos, art, illustrations, quotes -- what kinds of images can you put together to explore and interpret these High Holy Day themes? You don't have to limit your picture-sharing to Instagram (even though I totally appropriated the name), you can use any image-sharing site you'd like, such as Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. Whatever you do, tag it with #ElulGram (or #ElulTok?) so we can call share and follow.

These themes and ideas are broad and open, and again -- remember, there are NO RULES except the ones you make for yourself!

And yes, I know that the dates include Shabbat. I personally don't blog/tweet/Facebook on Shabbat, but I will post before and after Shabbat. You can do whatever you like!

Rosh Chodesh Elul is in coming up fast! So here we go….

July 2024 Books

2024-07-31T08:33:00.004-05:00

Let's giggle about the THREE books this month all with "summer" in the title, shall we?

This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune - totally worked for me. Loved the Prince Edward Island/Anne of Green Gables references. A sweet romance, perfect for July.

Reign by Katharine McGee - I just really had to finish this series! A satisfying ending to wrap it all up.

The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr - found family! a creative mystery! a quest to find oneself! I loved this one.

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva - I mean, of course. Gabriel Allon is my favorite. That said, this one was not quite as thick as some of the others. The stakes felt lower, and the "team" wasn't there. But I won't complain.

The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear - A sweet and satisfying end to this long-running series. I loved how many old friends were brought back together, and Maisie was able to metaphorically ride off into the sunset of a happy ending. I will always want more Maisie Dobbs, but I also feel like this ending was perfect.

Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren - It's a family joke that I only finally saw the full movie of Tangled last year. I always ended up falling asleep or helping a kid, and I had never seen the whole thing. So that meant that I wasn't quite as well versed in the Disney film on which this book is based. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's darker than some other romance novels - and Rapunzel is, actually, a pretty dark story. Such a creative retelling. I'm totally in love with these books as a concept!

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - This was my first Abby Jimenez and it won't be my last. Loved this story and how it was told. I do appreciate the combination of a few serious ideas alongside the romance. I liked it so much that I dived right into...

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez - and I loved this one too! The letter-writing! The understanding between them! The family drama! (I promise I'll be back for more Abby Jimenez!)

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan - Despite the fact that this was my fourth romance novel in a row (I start to feel much the same way as though I've only eaten candy for a few weeks, like I need something with a vegetable), I really loved this one too. Loved the redemption love story, and the way that the main character was able to reclaim her own power. Predictable? Yes, of course. But enjoyable nevertheless.

June Books
May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

June 2024 Books

2024-06-30T10:47:00.001-05:00

Okay, we're halfway through the year!

Rivals by Katharine McGee (#3) After the second of this series (American Royals), I thought I was done reading these, but somehow I got sucked into this one and I enjoyed it. I am actually curious to see how far they can take this one! And of course, it ended on a cliffhanger so I'm in for book #4.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto - As I've said before, I'm a big fan of the "found family" genre, usually surrouning an older, somewhat quirky, woman. In this case, they're solving a mystery together. I liked this one a lot and highly recommend!

The Hebrew Teacher by Maya Arad - Loved this set of three novellas about Israeli women living in the Diaspora, trying to navigate their lives in all the strange ways that cultures and generations clash. The first novella was the best, in my opinion, but all are interesting, readable, and discussable!

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center - A love letter to romantic comedies and a quick, fun read. Reminded me of By The Book by Jasmine Guillory. Fairly predictable but readable.

In the Shadow of the Greenbriar by Emily Matchar - I thought the intergenerational story was interesting, and I liked learning about how a family of Jews ended up in a small southern town, and how their lives were impacted by that experience. The Greenbrier is a real place, and it looks gorgeous...but I don't think that the "big secret" was such a big secret.

Stockholm by Noa Yedlin - I'm leading a book discussion on this one and I really didn't like any of the characters, nor did I think it was as funny as all the reviews said it was. I tried to find the Israeli TV show that was based on this book and could only find a few clips. I'm not sure this one is a big hit, although you could pull some interesting conversations about how we start to look back over our lives as we age.

Welcome Home, Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss - I wanted to love this book but I didn't really get what it was trying to do. It's fiction about Jews, but I wouldn't call it Jewish fiction. It's about baseball, it's a little bit about casual alcoholism, which felt a bit off, and I'm not sure it was even a romance. It definitely is about learning to love yourself above all. I didn't hate it, but it was just okay.

Previous Months:

May Books
April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

May 2024 Books

2024-05-31T12:16:00.002-05:00

May was a weird month. I feel like I hardly read anything and there were a couple of books that I actually started and didn't finish. (And one of those I've returned to, so I might have something to report on in June). But I also think that Family Family is one of my top books of the year. So if for nothing else, May was great!

Family Family by Laurie Frankel - I loved this one so much, I didn't want it to end. I adored the way the story came together and the different ideas about how families are created. Breathtaking, emotional, beautiful. One of my top reads of the year, I'm sure.

Jews Don't Count by David Baddiel - lots of feelings here too, but different kinds of them. I think this is an important book to read in order to have a real perspective on what it means to be part of a "successful" minority. Probably read very differently when it was originally written than my reading of it now!

Once We Were Home by Jennifer Rosner - interwoven tales of children whose identities were hidden during World War II, and their lives converge in the early days of the State of Israel. Readable, interesting, and it ended without feeling like a real wrap-up, but perhaps that was intentional since their lives were so upended and so much closure was missing for the characters...

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams - After her first book, I really hoped to love this one, but I found some of the paranormal bits to just be too much. I think it was a little long too long, and I was pleased with the wrapup at the end, but I would have liked to have gotten there a little faster.

Marry Me By Midnight by Felicia Grossman - This one checked a lot of boxes - romance, regency-era, Jewy, happily-ever-after. A fun read.

Previous Months...

April Books
March Books
February Books
January Books

April 2024 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-04-30T09:21:00.000-05:00

Hmm, most of this month was a little bit meh for reading. I'll have to work on some better choices for May!

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I did like this one. Apparently, it's also a movie, which I should find and watch. A really lovely inspection of how we find love, how we grow through and with love, and how we change.

Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall - I really like magic stories, but this one was just trying to be a few too many things for me. I wanted to love it, since it was advertised as "gilmore girls meets magic" but I wasn't quite there.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood - I usually like Ali Hazelwood's science-themed romances. This was a bit of a new path for her, and I'm not sure that I really loved it. As a fan of the Vampire Diaries, I thought I would care more but it just didn't work for me.

Amen Effect by Sharon Brous - breathtaking and important. I'm sure you'll hear lots of rabbis giving sermons about this one. We need each other.

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford - I read this because one of my kids did, and it was interesting and hard. I am still processing this one.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle - Good, yes, but not great. I knew there had to be a couple of twists, and they didn't disappoint. Get busy living or get busy dying - ultimately a sweet and good message.

Previous Months...

March Books
February Books
January Books

#BlogExodus #ExodusGram 5784

2024-04-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

Rosh Chodesh Nisan is Tuesday, April 9th.

This year is so different. Since October 7th, nothing has felt quite right.

And of all the holidays we've observed since Simchat Torah, Pesach is the one that feels...off. I was able to celebrate Chanukah and Purim, but Pesach...how?

And yet - we will. We must.

We are told, each year, that we should see ourselves as though we came out of Egypt. That ability to imagine freedom kept our ancestors going through so many hardships of our history. That ability to hold a vision of a better future...and we will get through this dark time too.

We are a people with a future. Pesach reminds us of that. It reminds us that spring is coming, renewal is coming, and soon, we hope, peace is comign.

I'll admit that I'm having a hard time picking out menus, feeling more desperate as the days pass and we await the return of the hostages and some kind of feeling that we're able to begin to heal.

And yet...I'm also trying to find hope, to find normalcy in the cycle and rhythm of our year and our beloved holidays.

I spent a lot of time trying to decide if #BlogExodus and #Exodusgram should happen this year. And I decided yes, I would offer two different graphics and a list of prompts. As I say each year, the themes are open to your own interpretation, and they're words that can hold a lot of meaning in a lot of ways for different people.

May this season of Nisan, of Pesach, bring us all hope and healing, and may we find blessing in each other along the way.

#BlogExodus #Exodusgram topics for 5784:
1 Nisan - Launch
2 Nisan - Exalt
3 Nisan - Rise
4 Nisan - Cleanse
5 Nisan - Seek
6 Nisan - Retell
7 Nisan - Read
8 Nisan - Expand
9 Nisan - Perplex
10 Nisan - Join
11 Nisan - Celebrate
12 Nisan - Reveal
13 Nisan - Welcome
14 Nisan - Thank

*Yes, I know that I put the Shabbat dates there. I don't blog/tweet/Facebook on Shabbat but I will post on Fridays before Shabbat and on Saturdays after Shabbat is over. You can, of course, do it any way you like!

March 2024 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-03-30T19:00:00.006-05:00

I've mostly moved on from the 2023 recommendations and now I'm into some new stuff. What is on your TBR list?

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict - I knew nothing about Hedy Lamarr's story and this told it well. My complaint about her books is that they read too much like a wikipedia entry - meaning, not enough imagined insight into the character. Mostly a somewhat dry retelling of the life. I feel like a biography might have done better!

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer - A book about a "death doula" but really it's a book about found-family, and I usually like those kinds of stories where there's a mishmash cast of characters who all come together to make their own worlds just a little brighter and better. Heartwarming and sweet.

Life Intended by Kristen Harmel - a little bit like Sliding Doors, a what-if kind of story, but somehow not quite? I'm not even sure how to explain this book and the story, and that's how I felt while reading it also. But I kept going mostly because I couldn't quite figure out what the point was. (But it inspired me to watch Sliding Doors with one of my kids and that was fun!)

Meant to be Mine by Hannah Orenstein - cute premise but just a little bit uninspiring.

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang - Oh! So good!! Really loved this historical fiction about the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Very compelling, couldn't put it down. I love Kate Quinn's novels and now I want to go check out Janie Chang's. Sometimes a team-written novel can feel uneven but this one felt seamless.

Wings of Fire by Tui T Sutherland - I picked this one up because a fourth grader was reading the 14th or 15th book in this series and when I asked her if I should read them, she did say "well, the first 10 books aren't good but they get good in the last five." I suggested that I might start with book #11, but she was appalled by this idea and insisted that I needed to start at the beginning. I can see why she likes these books so much, it was delightful. I probably won't read all 15 but I feel like I would enjoy them...and I can't wait to see her at Hebrew School to give her my review.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare - I loved this fantasy-romance-magic book. Hints of Jewish elements made me smile. But about halfway through, I realized that there is going to be a sequel, there has to be, and then I checked. I think I have a new personal rule - no more unfinished series! I feel very grumpy to wait to find out what happens next. Couldn't put it down but I'll just have to wait for the next one!

February Books
January Books

February 2024 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-02-29T20:30:00.004-06:00

I am steadily making my way through the lists of all the end-of-year recommendations from 2023...but it's hard when new books come out too! It's a neverending saga....

You Have a Match by Emma Lord - a not-bad YA book about finding a "secret" sibling through a DNA testing service. Sweet and a little bit forgettable.

The Maid by Nita Prose - I didn't know anything about this one going in, and I was glad for it. Loved the "found family" story and the mystery was good too. I think this is the start of a series, but I'm probably done for now.

Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan - Great story and characters, I really appreciated the insight into the audiobook world, and I was rooting for the love story! What more can you ask for? (P.S. I'm not really an audiobook listener, but apparently the author is a famous narrator.)

Have you Seen Luis Velez? by Catherin Ryan Hyde - I adored this book. The intergenerational friendship just brought me so much warm joy, and the story was just beautifully told. Don't skip this one.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory - love me a good, simple, HEA (happy ever after) romance. I wasn't sure if this one "counted" since it was more of a novella, but other people put it on their lists so I decided, why not?

Amazing Grace Adams by Jean Littlewood - I wanted to love this and it started out strong, but I got a little bogged down in the middle somewhere and never quite found my way back to loving it. I had a hard time keeping track of everything and definitely didn't see the grief part of this story coming. Sigh.

The Women by Kristin Hannah - It's hard to believe how little I actually know about Vietnam and how I don't think I've ever read a novel about it. This was raw and painful and entirely engrossing. Plus, it included Kristin Hannah's signature deep female friendships, which I appreciate. I'm still reeling from this one.

January Books

January 2024 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2024-01-31T18:44:00.000-06:00

New year, new books to read!

The Island of the Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - Okay, I'll admit it, I get a little cranky about a book with a non-human narrator. This one was saved by that narrator only having periodic chapters. But this particular bias aside, this was a good book with an interesting story about Cyprus - I knew almost nothing about the history of this island! And the universal story about how we determine our identities and what is the meaning of home was really lovely.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson - This book was ...quirky.... The jist of the story is that there are these two kids who burst into flames. And a woman is hired to care for them, but becomes a loving parent to them. And...you'll have to read this one for yourself to see if you like it.

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino - really loved this story about a young woman who gets caught kissing the rabbi's son (!) and it turns her whole life upside down...in what turns out to be a great way. It was sweet and light, but also heartwarming.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman - This was like two totally different books - the first part and the weird second part. I enjoyed the first part, and the powerful message that reading can help you to find personal freedom was appreciated. But the second part? So confused. And somewhat annoyed. I usually enjoy magical realism but this one threw me for a loop.

Kunstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Schine - Similar to Sara Confino's book above, a young person ends up in the home of an older one, only to learn deep secrets from the older person. (I'm sensing a trope here.) I look forward to discussing this one with our book group in February, if only to ask the question of whether we are ready for Covid19 Pandemic Novels.

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre - found family, casual magic, somewhat sweet romance...this was a little like eating a candy bar. Turns out it's part of a series, but I probably won't read the others.

The Society of Shame by Jane Roper - Really liked this look at how "15 minutes of infamy" and the speedy news cycle in our crazy world lead to some ridiculousness.

Can We Talk About Israel by Daniel Sokatch - I'm leading a discussion about this one next month, and there's a lot to unpack here. Readable, good background material, interesting perspectives.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang - Oh my. This book dealt with some major issues regarding race and appropriation - who gets to tell certain stories? whose stories get told? how do books get published and who decides what hits the zeitgeist and what doesn't? And truthiness certainly plays in. A powerful book, I couldn't put it down. (But it was a little like watching a slo-mo trainwreck. I knew it was going to crash...I just didn't quite know how.)

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan - This felt like a classic Picoult, with a family drama/murder mystery/courtroom story all tied up with Issue Of The Day. Still, it was a good read and I was guessing until the end. (Also, my guessing was wrong, which means I should stick to my day job!)

Lots of good reading ahead in the rest of 2024, stick around! :-)

2023 Books I Read #YearInBooks

2023-12-31T12:50:00.003-06:00

So many books! The reading world is a broad and beautiful place.

This year found me reading almost the entirety of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series (I started it in 2022), and I didn't get to tell you about it because I never did an end-of-2022 recap post! (We were travelling and by the time I came back, it felt very 2023.) I definitely would like to another one (waiting on book 10, Shannon Messenger!) but I was also glad to finish so I could move on with my life! I also read both Fourth Wing and its sequel this year and I liked them along with everyone else in the world, haha.

Of course, the usual suspects are here - my annual Daniel Silva, a lot of romance novels, heavy on the Jewish content, and a bit of variety. I didn't like some of the books that other people loved and vice versa.

The end of this year was tough in the real world, and after a short slowdown, I was able to find escape in fictional worlds, which I really needed.

So here's the list:

An Affair of Spies by Ron Balson
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
Everblaze by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #3)
Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
Neverseen by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #4)
The People we Keep by Allison Larkin
Lodestar by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #5)
Nightfall by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #6)
Flashback by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #7)
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
A Play for the End of the World by Jai Chakrabarti
Legacy by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #8)
Unlocked by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #8.5)
Stellarlune by Shannon Messenger (Keeper #9)
Summer of the Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds
Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
Shadows of Berlin by David R Gillham
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges
The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr
Maame by Jessica George
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody
Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
The Red Balcony by Jonathan Wilson
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs
The Postcard by Anne Berest
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon by Zoe Klein
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Kantika by Elizabeth Graver
The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder
Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Diary of a Lonely Girl by Miriam Karpilove
The Collector by Daniel Silva
The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim
Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Hotel Cuba by Aaron Hamburger
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
Weyward by Emilia Hart
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz
The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer
Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynne Barnes
B'nai Mitzvah Mistake by Stacey Agdern
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
All the Broken Places by John Boyne
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
The Enchanted Hacienda by JC Cervantes
The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach
The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair
Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels
Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith
The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
Cottage on Glass Lake by Amy Pine
Hawaii by James Michener
Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
What You Do To Me by Rochelle Weinstein

Here are all the mini-reviews:

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books
August Books
September Books
October Books
November Books
December Books

It's hard to choose favorites (often it's what I'm reading right now) but here is a good list of the ones I liked best:

Secret Book of Flora Lea
Hello Beautiful
Romantic Comedy
Tom Lake
The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting
Matchmaker's Gift
The People We Keep
Black Cake
Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune

While I'm going to continue tracking on GoodReads, I'm also going to set up a StoryGraph account to track simulatneously. Lots of Goodreads drama, so I'll just dip my toe into something new. Plus I'll share monthly updates here and on the socials so stay tuned.

What do you think I should read in 2024? What are you reading? What were your favorites of 2023?

Previous years' book lists are here:

(I just didn't do it in 2022)

Books Read in 2021

Books Read in 2020

Books Read in 2019

December 2023 Books

2023-12-31T12:36:00.003-06:00

The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman - Oh this was a sweet and somewhat predictable read. That did not stop me from enjoying it immensely.

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center - I did not mean to read two books back-to-back that were about young widows. It felt a little odd. But anyway, this one was similarly sweet and predictable, and also quite enjoyable.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros - I wasn't going to read this. I was annoyed at the long-book-with-cliffhanger-ending of the first one, and I vowed not to read this one. But the hype got to me and I couldn't help it and oh my, did I enjoy it. It was a little too long but it mostly kept my attention and damn if I am not already planning to read whatever she throws at me next.

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper - a fun and silly paranormal romance set in the Midwest. A great quick read, especially after nearly 10 days on Iron Flame! Apparently a series, but I'm probably not reading more.

The Cottage on Glass Lake by Amy Pine - Casual Jewish representation! Shabbat dinners! A Wisconsin lake house! Romance! Delightful!

Hawaii by James Michener - Technically, this is a re-read. I read this in high school, when I was going through a read-the-biggest-books-on-the-shelf phase. Michener's books definitely qualified. I thought I was very grown up. Anyway, I never fact-checked this book back then, but apparently it's quite accurate historically, and was an amazing re-read that I finished as we landed in Hawaii!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett - a cozy fantasy that I didn't expect to enjoy but I definitely did!

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson - I am a fan of the older-woman-makes-chosen-family story. I can think of at least two or three others that fit into this category and I liked this one as much as the others (Iona Iverson, Lenni & Margot, Eleanor Oliphant...)

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - Loved it! It felt so real to the pandemic experience of finding joy even when everything seems terrible, and connecting youthful love to married love...sigh. I didn't really want this book to end.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson - One reviewer pointed out that "nothing really happens" in this book, and I am usually a plot-driven kind of reader. And it's true, nothing really happens. But it's a really interesting look at how class and money have a real impact on our interactions and behavior.

What You Do To Me by Rochelle Weinstein - This book is the imagined story of what might have inspired the song "Hey there Delilah" and I liked it. I was also glad for the Jewish represenation, although I think that Sara's parents come off as a little too harsh even though Sara clearly loves her Jewish life.

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books
August Books
September Books
October Books
November Books

November 2023 Books

2023-11-30T19:49:00.003-06:00

All the Broken Places by John Boyne - I did not realize this was a "sequel" to the Boy in the Striped Pajamas and as I read it, I slowly realized it. And then I was annoyed. I did not like the main character and it all felt very contrived.

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan - Summer nostalgia meets romance. It was sweet and fluffy and somewhat forgettable.

The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes - this was like the grown up, romance version of Encanto. And therefore I liked it.

The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach - okay, I'm still not sure what I think about this one. Have you read it? Can you please talk to me about it? It's a modern-day golem in modern-day America, and it can smell antisemitism...and wants to fight it. And there are so many questions here. Totally fascinating and strange.

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair - a somewhat cozy mystery set in post-war England. A little like Maisie Dobbs but not quite as delicious. I didn't realize it was a whole series, and I liked it but I'm probably not going to read more of them unless one of you tells me that I must!

Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels - classic enemies-to-lovers story based on two sides of the political spectrum. Nice and fluffy romance.

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith - what would you do if you won the lottery? And what if you felt that you were chronically unlucky? And how would you spend the money? And also, what are the expectations placed upon you by the rest of the world? All these questions...and some sweet answers too. I liked this YA novel and thought it was a really enjoyable read.

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books
August Books
September Books
October Books

October 2023 Books

2023-10-31T20:07:00.003-05:00

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride - Wow, what an incredible look at the way the Jewish and Black communities have been intertwined. The writing is wonderful and the characters are rich. My only real complaint is that nothing really happens in the story until it all suddenly gets wrapped up in the end. But it was an enjoyable read along the way!

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine - This was the perfect silly romance novel to get me through some of this terrible month. The title is the story, and, spoiler alert, they fall in love. Okay, now you've got the whole book.

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - You've got to laugh that this is the fourth book in a trilogy. Seriously, though, I was happy to revisit the world of the Hawthorne brothers, I get a big kick out of them. It was also somewhat ridiculous but therefore enjoyable.

B'nai Mitzvah Mistake by Stacey Agdern - This was a fun Jew-y romance novel and it followed the romance novel formula perfectly.

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom - This book was an intriguing concept but I'm not sure if it worked for me as a book. I'm still thinking about it, though, so maybe that part was successful.

What are you reading?

September 2023 Books

2023-09-30T20:38:00.005-05:00

Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok - Not bad, but not my favorite Jewy romance novel. I wanted it to move faster! And I wanted to see how they'd "mix" their Jewishness.

Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood - Loved this science-themed romance! Especially since we're also watching the Big Bang Theory, so it dovetailed with some of that too.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross - Honestly, did not love this one. It has been all over the bestseller lists so I was excited for this fantasy enemies-to-lovers book, but I found it fairly forgettable. As in, I almost can't remember finishing it!

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova - I adore this Disney-themed romance series. This one was Little Mermaid inspired, and I was not disappointed.

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley - Loved this author's first book, and I also really enjoyed this look into the Native community in Northern Michigan. I love the cultural and linguistic insights in the characters and the story of reclaiming stolen artifacts was intense and heartbreaking.

What are you reading?

August 2023 books #MyLifeInBooks

2023-08-31T17:16:00.005-05:00

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - This has been on the top of the best seller lists and I haven't read a lot of fantasty lately. This one was great - it reminded me of the Dragonriders of Pern books (loved those) with a nice dose of romance. The world-building was interesting but a little uneven (it bothered me that they used our swear words - I like when a fantasy book comes up with swear words that fit with the culture) but overall, I look forward to the sequel!

Hotel Cuba by Aaron Hamburger - A good twist on the immigrant tale, featuring a pair of sisters who end up going to Cuba instead of the USA when leaving Russia. The way that Cuba imprints differently on them, and how the Jewish community in both Cuba and the US help them to land with their older sister - a well-told and interesting read.

Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton - A ridiculous and fun fantasy-historical romance. If that sentence piques your interest, this book is for you. It was both silly and delightful.

Weyward by Emilia Hart - Slightly magical tale of three generations of women and the way that they each survive abusive relationships. A powerful story, but it was a hard book to read because of the subject matter.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley - I wanted to love this book but I just found it a little confusing and disjointed. I didn't quite get how all the pieces came together and ultimately, it didn't work for me.

The Donut Fix by Jesse Janowitz - A sweet middle-grade story about a kid who moves from NYC to a small town and decides to start a donut business. Enjoyable, but could someone please explain to me why this was a PJ Our Way selection? I missed any Jewish content in this book.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter - This book didn't quite know what it wanted to be - it was a mashup of a spy novel with a romance novel, and I'm not sure that either story really held up. But I did keep reading and I didn't hate it.

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer - I loved this one. Such a fun read, the story of a kosher bakery and its cross-the-street rival; enemies-to-lovers with a few interesting twists relating to chronic illness. And the rabbi! Oy! I couldn't stop reading and I giggled with all the Jewish and baking puns. (We won't talk about the one glaring "full moon on Rosh Chodesh" gaffe though, right?)

What are you reading?

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books
July Books

July Books #MyLifeInBooks

2023-07-31T20:02:00.002-05:00

The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder - I really wanted to love this, it's magic and a Bat Mitzvah put together into a book. I didn't feel like it quite hit the mark with me. I did appreciate that the rabbi wasn't terrible.

Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb - really liked this author's first book and I really liked this one too! A musical mystery uncovering a secret about a (fictional) "great American composer." Even though the story is all fiction, it feels like it could have been totally true.

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton - I strongly disliked this book. Not because of the potential environmental nightmares it left me with, but because I just didn't understand the magical element and felt like it actually took away from the story. (I usually really like magical realism, I was just confused by this one.) Extra props for a character named Phyllis, though.

Diary of a Lonely Girl, or the Battle Against Free Love by Miriam Karpilove (translated by Jessica Kirzane) - The Yiddish version of Bridge Jones' Diary....published serially in 1916ish in Yiddish and brought together into a book. It wasn't a "fast" read and I think it was a little draggy because it was originally published serially. But I was fascinated by the idea of an "independent woman" in this particular era, and her arguments against "free love" were pretty compelling (it's really only beneficial to the men, she says).

The Collector by Daniel Silva - My yearly date with Gabriel Allon was perfect. It did not disappoint. It followed the usual formula and it's like slipping on a favorite sweater.

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabelle Allende - I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've read by this author. It was very readable, but I was disappointed that it felt a little too preachy instead of story.

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim - A sweet book of magical realism. I commented that it felt like an early Sarah Addison Allen, but set it in the Chinese community of San Francisco. Plus it made me very hungry for Chinese food!

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal - I liked the Minnesota folksiness, but I didn't connect with all of the characters and found some of them mystifying. I liked the author's earlier book better.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon - I mean, I didn't hate it. But it was just sorta meh. A sweet romance between two casual Jews. My favorite thing about her books is the casual Jewishness. It's just there, which I appreciate.

Happy Place by Emily Henry - I think this is my favorite of her books so far. It's a romance, yes, but it's also a lovesong to friendship and I thought that part was especially lovely.

What are you reading?

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books
June Books

June 2023 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2023-06-30T12:45:00.013-05:00

Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley - This is in the "found family" genre of stories and I am all here for this. I love sweet, heartwarming books where people step out of their regular lives and create magical found family communities. (Other books in this genre include The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot...)

Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs - A readable and engaging story about a particular kind of magic. A little slow in places, but I was compelled to read to the end.

The Postcard by Anne Berest - A novel based on the author's family story. The various narrative styles were a little confusing to read (perhaps this was a function of reading on the kindle) and I felt that the "mystery" wasn't as compelling as the story itself. Overall, however, I think this was a good addition to the story of French Jews during the Holocaust, especially as it traced the modern survivors.

The Change by Kirsten Miller - Oof, this was a powerful and gut-punching one. I love magical realism (if you don't, you may hate this one) and it packed a strong message about how the world views women of all ages. Many reviews said it was too long, but I didn't notice.

Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon: New Jewish Stories by Rabbi Zoe Klein - such a fun set of original Jewish stories. A few didn't quite work for me, but overall I really love the way they felt new and also ancient. (And I bookmarked a few to work out a telling...)

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune - I liked her first book better, but this was a solid romance read that I enjoyed!

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - Wow, this is definitely going to make it into the top 10 for the year. A gorgeous story with just the right mix of joy and sorrow. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end, although I found the ending to be just right.

Kantika by Elizabeth Graver - I really appreciated this family saga of a Sephardic clan, and the paths they took throughout history. Based on the author's family, it had real family photos even though the story was fictionalized, which I appreciated.

What are you reading?

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books
May Books

May Books #MyLifeInBooks

2023-05-31T17:37:00.001-05:00

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld - Loved this romcom that took off on the idea of the writers' room at SNL (well, a fictionalized SNL) and then moved over into those first scary days of covid isolation. Couldn't put it down!

All of Us Villains by Foody and Herman - a YA novel similar to Hunger Games, with a magical element. Did not love that it is a "duology" because I'm not sure that I need to read the next book! A little gory for me.

Queen Charlotte by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes - If you watched the show, this is SO boring. If you haven't watched the show, skip the read and just watch! There was almost no new information gleaned here that wasn't in the show.

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Mejia - This was on my holds list forever! It's a dystopian-type novel about a Handmaid's Tale-like society with strict roles and rules. I wanted to love this but it was a little too...simplistic in some of its telling. (Also this is YA)

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson - One of the best books I've read all year. WOW. What an incredible back-and-forth telling of a family secret - I loved every minute of this book.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Henry - I really liked this story of two sisters evacuated from London during the Blitz, and the family mystery that it left behind. I liked the plot twist!

The Red Balcony by Jonathan Wilson - 1933 Palestine doesn't have a lot of fiction written about it! The plot was a little tricky to follow but I loved the historical setting and the writing was compelling.

January Books
February Books
March Books
April Books

April 2023 Books #MyLifeInBooks

2023-04-30T20:16:00.003-05:00

Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr - This author lives in my neighborhood so it's always fun to find the tiny local details in her story that spans generations and continents! Art scandal, romance, intrigue...it's all here.

Maame by Jessica George - a story of a Ghanaian immigrant family in London, the main character is so lovable that this book was delightful! Her growth arc in the story is wonderful - what a special novel.

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher - A mashup of fairy tales but with a dark edge, and I loved this one.

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim - I am really not sure if I liked this book or not. It was well-written and interesting, even though it was heartbreakingly sad. A group of people are all joined together by their association to a terrible accident - and the big question is "what would you do to protect the people you love?"

Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire - another installment in the Wayward Children series, I find these books to be so haunting and beautiful.

Attack of the Black Rectangles by A.S. King - I liked this middle grade novel about censorship in a middle school. My 12-year-old listened to this as an audiobook, and then he also listened to The Devil's Arithmetic, which is the censored novel in the story. We both enjoyed this one a lot!