Reviews by Gail H. (Live Oak, FL)

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Everything We Never Knew
Everything We Never Knew: A Novel
by Julianne Hough
Intriguing (7/26/2024)
The first line of "Everything We Never Knew" almost scared me from continuing the novel. "The form fitting mermaid dress….hugs my curves in all the right places." Uh oh, is this going to be a book filled with cliches about shallow characters? Luckily, I kept reading and my …more
Ghost Season
Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas
Study in Contrasts (11/29/2022)
For some reason, I procrastinated in reading this book. Perhaps it was because I feared the setting in Sudan would be grim & poverty stricken. Indeed, the residents of Saraaya live a life most of us would find difficult to endure. However, Fatin Abbas has created some …more
In the Time of Our History
In the Time of Our History
by Susanne Pari
Complex Family (9/16/2022)
The synopsis of Susanne Pari's book intrigued me from the beginning. Since both of my parents grew up outside the United States, I am always interested in reading first generation tales. Mitra, the main character, idolized her father as a child and followed his career …more
Natural History
Natural History: Stories
by Andrea Barrett
Unlikable Characters (8/11/2022)
Authors spend a considerable amount of time and effort on writing, rewriting, and editing their books and I truly would like to like Andrea Barrett's "Natural History." However, I could not warm up to any of the characters in her short stories. The stories felt like I was …more
Good Husbands
Good Husbands: A Novel
by Cate Ray
Unconvincing Characters (3/8/2022)
The premise of "Good Husbands" is intriguing. Three married women receive identical letters stating that one of their husbands is the father of Holly Waite, the letter's author. Narrating from the viewpoint of each women, Ray
details the women's story lines and families. …more
Golden Child
Golden Child
by Claire Adam
Glimpses into West Indian Culture (11/2/2018)
At first, this book was a bit slow & I didn't know if I could be drawn into it. However, I was quite glad that I persevered as the novel began to pull me in more and more. Claire Adam skillfully outlined the lives of Clyde, Joy, and their twins, Peter & Paul, and …more
Me, Myself and Them
Me, Myself and Them
by Dan Mooney
Great Premise, Long Delivery (7/12/2018)
Daniel Mooney's "Me. Myself, and Them," explores a little discussed topic of men's emotional health and the reluctance imposed by our culture for men to ask for help. The main character, Denis, undergoes an horrific tragedy and copes with the aftermath by creating four …more
The Devoted
The Devoted
by Blair Hurley
Who are you, Nicole? (6/9/2018)
I did try to like this book. The premise is intriguing although I would argue that Buddhism is a major religion and not a cult. However, Nicole never came alive for me and neither did the Master. Unfortunately, I only made it 1/3 of the way through the book before giving up …more
Other People's Houses
Other People's Houses
by Abbi Waxman
Less is More (12/1/2017)
Abbi Waxman's new novel, "Other People's Houses," is one that I wish I liked more than I did. In this story of four Los Angeles area families, Waxman attempted to take a tone of irony on her reflection of suburban life. However, she is a bit too obvious in some of her …more
Strangers in Budapest
Strangers in Budapest
by Jessica Keener
Great Setting, Disappointing Characters (10/13/2017)
The premise and setting for Jessica Keener's novel are so intriguing.. With the collapse of the Soviet domination of eastern Europe, there were all sorts of opportunities for savvy minded entrepreneurs from the west. Having visited Budapest a few years before the 1995 …more
Happiness
Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham
Evolution of a Family (6/11/2017)
I must admit that when I first began this book, the author's attitude & actions annoyed me quite a bit. She had been dating a man who told her early on in their relationship that he was not interested in having children and a typical family life. After Ms. Harpham …more
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