I’m glad this wasn’t my first Liane Moriarty book…. If it had been, I might have abandoned it by about the halfway point and never picked up another oI’m glad this wasn’t my first Liane Moriarty book…. If it had been, I might have abandoned it by about the halfway point and never picked up another of her books. The first half was dark with not much levity to lighten the load. But I trusted that Liane had a plan for pulling some hope out of the mess she was creating, and that trust paid off. I didn’t see most of the various twists coming, but was happy to be taken along for the ride that came in the second half of the story. A masterful pulling together of a lot of seemingly disparate threads.
Thanks to PRH and Libro.fm for the advance copy of the e-audiobook....more
3.5 rounded up to 4. 12-year-old middle schooler Lo doesn’t understand why her best friend Jazz is in such a hurry to use makeup and wear bras and kiss3.5 rounded up to 4. 12-year-old middle schooler Lo doesn’t understand why her best friend Jazz is in such a hurry to use makeup and wear bras and kiss boys— Lo isn’t a fan of leaving childhood behind. But when she comes face to face with misogyny and inequities at school, she realizes that maybe growing up means speaking out. And she discovers she has a lot to say. Enjoyed so much about this book, but some of the situations were definitely far-fetched (looking at you, boys in the cafeteria harassing girls with condoms blown up into balloons with nary an adult in sight). And the resolution was very neat. Still, an engaging story with relatable characters. ...more
What an original and thought-provoking meet-cute! I loved Luna and Aoife— especially Luna’s saltiness. Both girls are navigating some pretty tough famWhat an original and thought-provoking meet-cute! I loved Luna and Aoife— especially Luna’s saltiness. Both girls are navigating some pretty tough familial expectations, and I appreciated how they helped each other be their best selves. Also appreciated the way Brophy weaves in social commentary, her ability to bring in the messiness of relationships, and the way the story ended....more
Stumbled across this in a bookstore. The title and beautiful cover caught my attention, and when I read the description, I was hooked. Completely origStumbled across this in a bookstore. The title and beautiful cover caught my attention, and when I read the description, I was hooked. Completely original, fantastic world-building, horrifying and un-putdownable. At its heart, this is a story of the power of a mother’s love in the face of some really nasty characters and circumstances. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
Such a fun and big hearted novel— a love letter to all those who are exhausted by assumptions and limitations based on gender. I knew nothing about thSuch a fun and big hearted novel— a love letter to all those who are exhausted by assumptions and limitations based on gender. I knew nothing about the world of entertainment wrestling going into this, but I think some episodes of GLOW and WOW are in my future. Loved getting to know Birdie and the other characters. Recommended for fans of quirky....more
In the late 19th century, three former boarding school roommates continue their friendship through ongoing mail correspondence. This epistolary novel In the late 19th century, three former boarding school roommates continue their friendship through ongoing mail correspondence. This epistolary novel starts off slowly, but readers will soon become invested in the day to day happenings of Polly, Sophia, and Tirzah. Their intertwining stories will keep the pages turning quickly. Very satisfying historical fiction....more
I’d never read Knisley’s webcomics, so I’m glad I was able to get to know Linney through this collection. A wonderful tribute to a cat who might have I’d never read Knisley’s webcomics, so I’m glad I was able to get to know Linney through this collection. A wonderful tribute to a cat who might have been just a bit of a drama queen....more
The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my all-time favorite books. This sequel is enjoyable, but doesn’t have the sparkle of the first. The social coThe House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my all-time favorite books. This sequel is enjoyable, but doesn’t have the sparkle of the first. The social commentary has no nuance, and comes across as heavy-handed. What was sweet in the original story can at times cross over into smarmy.
That being said, the children are still delightful, and I loved the family’s new addition. Audiobook narrator Daniel Henning does a fantastic job bringing the children to life.
Thanks to Macmillan and to Libro.fm ALC for the complimentary audiobook....more
In 2005, three high school students discover they’re pregnant after prom night. They weren’t in the same circles before this happened, but they becomeIn 2005, three high school students discover they’re pregnant after prom night. They weren’t in the same circles before this happened, but they become friends, and, when their children are born, the children grow up together. We see them in 2024 as they are preparing for their own prom experiences at the same high school their mothers graduated from. This was a quick read with short, breezy chapters that alternate between the three mothers in 2005 (“Then”) and the three offspring in 2025 (“Now”). Misogyny, gender issues, and racism are all touched on in a surface-level way, but there’s not much nuance....more
Twisty mysteries, dysfunctional families, characters who leap off the page… what a great story. Alternating between 1961 and 1975, this story of the dTwisty mysteries, dysfunctional families, characters who leap off the page… what a great story. Alternating between 1961 and 1975, this story of the disappearance of the two Van Laars children, 14 years apart, kept me enthralled. Saskia Maarleveld does an excellent job narrating the audiobook.
Thanks to Riverhead Books (PRH) and Libro.fm for the complimentary audiobook....more
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