BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
by Spencer Quinn

Mrs Plansky's Revenge (5/30/2023)

Almost everything in this book was too far-fetched for me . Hard for me to believe a woman as intelligent and resourceful as she was would not question the scam in the first place. Then there was the trip to Romania (by herself) and all of her adventures there involving a crime family and a new love interest. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it. It was a fast read. Don't think I'd recommend it though.

The Critic's Daughter: A Memoir
by Priscilla Gilman

The Critic's Daughter (3/1/2023)

I received this book from Bookbrowse knowing nothing about either Richard Gilman or his daughter Priscilla. But I enjoy memoirs so I thought I'd give it a shot. I started the book and couldn't get into it so I set it aside. While browsing in a book store I saw a copy of the book and thought to myself " You have this book, try it again". So I did. This time seemed to work for me, I guess I had to be in the mood for it. I did enjoy it but I have to say all of the quotes from Mr. Gilman were over my head . I was horrified that her mother seemed to think an eleven year old (I think she was) was old enough to hear all about her father's affairs and that he didn't really love her for herself. I really came away not having great feelings for her mother. After all, she started the whole mess by marrying someone she didn't love. Many years ago I heard someone say, "Just because he's a good father doesn't mean he's a good husband". I think that was the case here.

The Family Chao: A Novel
by Lan Samantha Chang

The Family Chao (12/10/2021)

Thank you for the ARC of this book. I did enjoy it but had mixed feelings about it. I thought it was well written and the characters were so believable. What I didn't like was the ending and the uncertainty of Dagou's future. I'm so glad the mystery of Alf was solved in a good way.

Of Women and Salt
by Gabriela Garcia

Of Women and Salt (1/8/2021)

Thank you for opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with it. It was confusing at times and if I hadn't had to do this review I would not have finished it. There were some interesting parts, though, which is why I went with a 3....

Daughter of the Reich: A Novel
by Louise Fein

Daughter of the Reich (3/15/2020)

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the characters were very well developed as was the story line, Although it was fiction, I thought it was totally believable. I will be recommending this book to my book club.

The Seine: The River that Made Paris
by Elaine Sciolino

The Seine (10/29/2019)

Although it is time to review this book I have to honestly say I haven't finished it yet. The reason is, I am slowly travelling through it, enjoying it all, taking time to travel through France and through history with it, and learning so very much. It is a great book!

Her Kind of Case: A Lee Isaacs, Esq. Novel
by Jeanne Winer

Her Kind of Case (5/18/2019)

This was a well written book about an aging attorney and a case she is working on. Felt like I've read this book many times before though...for me everything that happened I expected...including the ending. What I did enjoy about the book though was the relationship between Lee and her father and the interactions between Lee and the prosecuting attorney. They seemed to genuinely like each other and that was refreshing.

Listen to the Marriage
by John Jay Osborn

Listen to the Marriage (6/24/2018)

I liked the fact that it was rather short as I think I would have gotten bored with it had it gone on for very much longer. The story of a couple being counseled for their failing marriage was interesting though. I was especially interested in the process of the marriage counselor and how she was able to get the couple to work out their problems. I thought, though, at times her "thoughts" seemed a little unprofessional and not really "nice". I could see how this could be an interesting discussion for a book club.

Other People's Houses
by Abbi Waxman

Other People's Houses (1/23/2018)

Thank you for sending me this book..I really enjoyed it. Liked the characters and loved her style of writing..it was fun to read. I did think the ending was predictable though.

Stay with Me
by Ayobami Adebayo

Stay With Me (8/31/2017)

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in two days. It was a nice story line, sad but nice. I liked the style of the writing and character development and I didn't mind the chapters being narrated by different people. I really felt like I new them. I will be sharing this book with my book club. Best book I've read in a while.

Castle of Water: A Novel
by Dane Huckelbridge

Castle of Water (12/11/2016)

I really enjoyed it. I would be interested to read something else by this author. Felt like I was right there on the island with them.....

The Secret Language of Stones: A Daughters of La Lune Novel
by M. J. Rose

The Secret Language of Stone (4/22/2016)

Not really my kind of book.. a supernatural romance novel with a predictable ending . The only part I enjoyed were the historical aspects which kept me from giving this book a 2.

The Return of the Witch
by Paula Brackston

The Return of the Witch (1/29/2016)

I didn't think I'd like this book as I never really read books of this genre..I liked it though and want to read the book that preceeds it.. thanks for the opportunity to try something new !

What Lies Between Us
by Nayomi Munaweera

What Lies Between Us (12/21/2015)

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I had a little trouble getting interested in it in the beginning..my enjoyment of the book increased as the story went on. As I sometimes do, I went back to read part of the beginning to clarify some things I missed when I first read it. This was a sad book...one I will be thinking about for a while.....

Make Your Home Among Strangers
by Jennine Capó Crucet

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book! (5/25/2015)

I liked the book but didn't love it. However, I am glad I was given the opportunity to read it. I haven't read anything about the Cuban-American experience and this did bring back memories of the little boy Elian from many years ago. It was interesting to get a detailed perspective on how many of the Cuban people probably felt at the time, and some of the humor in the book had me chuckling out loud. Lizet reached out for a better life but didn't abandon her old life either.

Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir
by Jamie Brickhouse

Pass on this one (4/25/2015)

I finished this for the book review but I wouldn't recommend it. I am not a prude but I found it to be not interesting and not even funny. I felt like he was trying too hard to be "funny" but it came across kind of sad to me.

Tomlinson Hill: The Remarkable Story of Two Families who Share the Tomlinson Name - One White, One Black
by Chris Tomlinson

Not what I was expecting.. (7/3/2014)

Liked the writing....the author has provided a very detailed history of the time period...I was hoping for more information on the Tomlinsons, black and white. I feel like the book focused more on the history of slavery itself and not enough on the specific Tomlinson families so in that was I was disappointed.

Her
by Harriet Lane

What happened next? (5/2/2014)

As someone who at times will go to the back of the book and read the ending because I can't wait (really), I usually don't care for books that leave me hanging in the end, and this one does it big time....but I did enjoy reading it except for that and I think it would be a good book for book clubs to discuss...Nina was creepy and I kept hoping Emma would wise up before something bad happened...did it or didn't it?

Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley

Liked it - didn't love it. (3/23/2014)

I thought it was a light read about a family of women with the same old problems....hippie single mom, unhappy daughters, marriage problems, nothing new here. I couldn't get emotionally connected to the characters, maybe because I had nothing in common with any of them. I did like her style of writing though and would read another book of hers.

Safe with Me
by Amy Hatvany

KIND OF A DOWNER (11/14/2013)

Oh my....talk about a downer! I found this book to be an easy read, liked the style of the writing. Thought the characters were well developed, I could picture them very clearly. But the subject matter...very depressing....so many sad things in one book! Death, illness, betrayal, abandonment, bullying...not for the faint of heart. If that doesn't bother you, you might like it..I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone unless I told them about it first....

Reviews by Sharalynne P. (Valparaiso, IN)

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Reviews by Sharalynne P. (Valparaiso, IN)

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