BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Angela J. (Highlands Ranch, CO)

A Fireproof Home for the Bride
by Amy Scheibe

A Fireproof Home for the Bride (12/23/2014)

I too felt this book was slow going at the beginning. While Amy Scheibe is a promising author; I thought the main character wasn't truly fleshed out. It took a great leap of imagination to accept that such a sheltered & naïve girl with no college experience could become a reporter. I also felt the author had a checklist in her mind: date rape, check, immigration, check, racism, check. I was surprised she didn't have a gay character, and maybe a developmental disabled person to complete the list. I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone.

Her
by Harriet Lane

Her by Harriet Lane (5/22/2014)

This is a really great, creepy thriller. Nina recognizes Emma on the street from when they were teenagers more than 20 years before, but Emma has no idea who Nina is. Nina then insinuates herself into Emma's life, by pretending to be friendly and kind, but with underhand, sinister motives. It's cleverly written in alternate chapters by Nina and Emma, and the tension builds slowly and effectively towards the end. The ending is a cliffhanger, which leaves you wondering what exactly happened.

That Summer
by Lauren Willig

That Summer by Lauren Willig (4/14/2014)

First off, the premise is intriguing. Who wouldn't want to inherit an old mansion in England filled with hidden treasures? I really enjoyed having two women in different time periods narrating the story; although I felt the present day was better written and had more background about the characters. I never understood the husband's actions and his coldness since his background was never discussed. The ending was what you expected, (and I would have been disappointed if it hadn't happened exactly as it did. It was an easy and enjoyable read. This would be perfect on a summer vacation to read.

Amy Falls Down
by Jincy Willett

Amy Falls Down (7/31/2013)

Amy Falls Down (or as I call it, Amy Falls Flat). It was slow going at first, but then the story did pick up a little. It was humorous in parts, but I felt the author was trying too hard to entertain the reader. It seemed a little too superficial, without ever getting to know the "real" Amy.

Flat Water Tuesday
by Ron Irwin

Disappointing (5/31/2013)

I felt like I have read a hundred books similar to this. Do we really need another coming of age book? It's the same old story about a poor kid on a scholarship getting to mingle with the rich privileged kids. I found all of the back and forth very distracting; with a lot of unnecessary detail trying to add drama and atmosphere. After all this buildup, the ending was extremely disappointing; I found I really didn't like the adult Carrey.

Walk Me Home
by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Walk Me Home by Catherine Ryan Hyde (4/5/2013)

I really enjoyed this book. At first, I was anxious to read about two young girls traveling alone, without any money or resources, but it proved to be groundless. It was told from the perspective of a young girl, much too young to be saddled with the responsibility of taking care of herself and her younger sister. But like all her books, there is always an element of hope and salvation for her characters.

Where You Can Find Me: A Novel
by Sheri Joseph

Where You Can Find Me by Sheri Joseph (2/27/2013)

I found the book to be overly long, even disjointed at times. At times, I felt I had missed a page or two because nothing made sense, and found myself going back several pages to see if I had missed something. It had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, "The Deep End of the Ocean" by Jacquelyn Mitchard already had written about this subject, and did a much better job.

The Edge of the Earth
by Christina Schwarz

The Edge of the Earth (11/20/2012)

I loved her previous novel "Drowning Ruth", I was expecting something along those lines. Unfortunately, it wasn't. At times, it was like reading a textbook on marine life. The book was plodding, and the characters weren't well developed.

And When She Was Good: A Novel
by Laura Lippman

And When She Was Good - Laura Lippman (7/30/2012)

This book was plodding, and was far too long in the telling. The main character, Heloise is extremely unlikeable, and manages to blame everyone else for her troubles. None of the characters were fleshed out, so it was hard to stay interested.

I enjoy her books, just not this one. Hopefully, her next book will be better.

The Age of Miracles: A Novel
by Karen Thompson Walker

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (6/13/2012)

A great read! It's a haunting story of a girl's coming of age during a time when the earth's rotation is literally slowing down. She has to cope with a lot changes - her adolescence, and a rapidly changing world.

The Land of Decoration: A Novel
by Grace McCleen

The Land of Decoration (3/22/2012)

This is a well written novel told from the perspective of a 10 year old girl who believes she can perform miracles when she is tormented by her classmates. It has great descriptive detail, and will appeal to readers who enjoy inner monologues.

Top Picks

Small Rain
by Garth Greenwell

At the beginning of Garth Greenwell's novel Small Rain, the protagonist, an unnamed poet in his ...
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung

Daughters of Shandong is the debut novel of Eve J. Chung, a human rights lawyer living in New York. ...
The Women
by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah's latest historical epic, The Women, is a story of how a war shaped a generation ...
The Wide Wide Sea
by Hampton Sides

By 1775, 48-year-old Captain James Cook had completed two highly successful voyages of discovery and...