BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews by Penny P. (Santa Barbara, CA)

The Blind Light: A Novel
by Stuart Evers

The Blind Light (10/24/2020)

An interesting story of two men from different classes. Their commonality the threat of nuclear war and their service at doom town. A story that spans 70 years of the men and their families. The characters were well developed and I felt that I knew them even though I did …more

Migrations: A Novel
by Charlotte McConaghy

Migrations (4/21/2020)

I put off reading this book because of the uncertain times we are facing. Once I stated reading it I found it to be captivating. Very scary at time, as it addresses rel situations we are facing such as climate change and extinction of species.
Fanny was a modern day hero …more

Travelers: A Novel
by Helon Habila

Interesting read (5/10/2019)

This book provides in depth insight into the world of refugees. Though the people come from different countries, their journey to find a better life faces the same obstacles. This book is very relevant to today's world. I liked the format of the book and found it easy to …more

Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson

Interesting read (4/16/2019)

This was my first book by this author. I will recommend it to my book club which I think is very different than the one in the story. It is an easy book to connect immediately with. The characters are well developed whether you like them or not is another story. I thought I …more

The Last Romantics
by Tara Conklin

The Last Romantics (1/4/2019)

I was excited to get this book because I loved The House Girl by the same author. I think this would create a good conversation for book clubs. I also think anyone who has siblings or who had a parent die or leave when they were young would identify. The author did a very …more

Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham

Happiness (6/14/2017)

I usually don't read memoirs but this one was very interesting. Very true to life and real. Having a child that your partner didn't want is bad enough but to have that child be ill on top of it must be doubly difficult. I thought Helen was very level headed both about her …more

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
by Cherise Wolas

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby (6/6/2017)

A beautifully written book that because of both its length and complexity took some time to read. I really hope to see more of Wolas's work in the future.

This book centered on the core relationships in our lives and how we change as we go through the different ages and …more

Home Sweet Home
by April Smith

Home Sweet Home (12/5/2016)

Not as good as I had hoped but interesting anyway. I think the author did a good job of showing the very large differences in city and country living. Also the ability of people to turn totally against a person even though the cause may have been minimal or happened a long …more

Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins

Rise (10/18/2016)

I really enjoyed this book. A family who was at an all time low, chose to find a way to escape their past. I loved the fact that the family pulled together to escape a violent and abusive past. The mother, Cara, knew that her children had been damaged by the experience and …more

A Small Indiscretion: A Novel
by Jan Ellison

A Small Indescetion (12/7/2015)

I really liked this book. I would rank it sort of like The Girl on The Train or Gone Girl. It explored a lot of areas, past mistakes and how they might follow us, the inability to really appreciate what we have and the need to search for even more. It is a good look into …more

Hunters in the Dark
by Lawrence Osborne

Interesting Book (11/24/2015)

Although it took a while to get into this book, once I did, I found it to be interesting and well written. Think it was a little wordy but the author did a good job of intertwining the ghosts of the past and the present day reality of people who will take advantage of you …more

The Well
by Catherine Chanter

The Well (3/9/2015)

I really enjoyed this book once I decided that I could believe there could be a drought in all of the British Isles. I could understand the panic that ensued because I live in California and we are currently in the midst of a serious drought. I think this book was …more

Safe with Me
by Amy Hatvany

A quick read (11/14/2013)

I sat down and read this book in a day. It was good for a quick read. I think it dealt with a lot of relevant topics such a losing a child, abuse, family dysfunction, fear of relationships and organ donation. To me, the most well developed character was Maddie, maybe …more

The Disenchanted Widow
by Christina McKenna

Disenchanted Widow (8/28/2013)

I had some difficulty getting into this book. I was reading another book that I really liked so put this one down for a while. I had a rainy day with nothing to do so finally started reading this. Once I got past the accents, I did enjoy the book. I found the historical …more

The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
by Saira Shah

Mouse Proof Kitchen (6/18/2013)

I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my book club. I think the author was able to take a difficult subject, that of raising a disabled child,and still have the book be entertaining and insightful. The mice (rats) are really just symbolic of all the things we …more

Walk Me Home
by Catherine Ryan Hyde

A long walk (4/14/2013)

I didn't realize this book was for younger readers but I am happy I read it anyway. While it was hard to imagine girls this young out on their own it did speak to how resourceful and resilient people can be when necessary. It also showed that when life dosen't turn out as …more

The Voluntourist: A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem
by Ken Budd

A travel log (4/22/2012)

I found this book interesting but as others have mentioned it did read more like a travelog. In some way, it also was a lot like a male version of Eat, Pray, Love. I found the fact that he so regretted not having children very sad. I think the death of a parent always makes …more

Accidents of Providence
by Stacia Brown

A Good Read (12/6/2011)

I enjoy reading historical novels and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I remember loving The Dress Lodger and Perfume and would put this book in the same category. The history seemed quite accurate. The political times and the belief of the Puritans were covered, as well a the …more

That Deadman Dance: A Novel
by Kim Scott

Deadman Dance (11/13/2011)

While this book had an interesting topic it was difficult for me to read.. The writing was good but somewhat disjointed. While I really tried to involve myself in the book, I was often confused because of the style in which it was written. The story was slow. I do think the …more

A Bitter Truth: A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd

A Good Read (8/16/2011)

I read this book in one sitting. I have never read any of the other Kim Crawford books so I have nothing to compare this one to. I do not normally read mystery books but I do think this book was very interesting.

The characters were well developed and the plot was twisty. …more

BookBrowse Book Club

The Husbands
by Holly Gramazio

The Husbands delights in asking: how do we navigate life, love, and choice in a world of never-ending options?

About Discuss
Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating novel about an American heroine France Perkins—now in paperback!

About Discuss
A Map to Paradise
by Susan Meissner

From the USA Today bestselling author of Only the Beautiful. 1956, Malibu, California: Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

About Discuss
The Jackal's Mistress
by Chris Bohjalian

From the New York Times bestselling author of Hour of the Witch, a Civil War love story of a Confederate wife and a wounded Yankee.

About Discuss

Members Recommend

Jane and Dan at the End of the World
by Colleen Oakley

Date Night meets Bel Canto in this hilarious tale.

Read the Reviews
The Antidote
by Karen Russell

A gripping dust bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraskan town.

Read the Reviews
Girl Falling
by Hayley Scrivenor

The USA Today bestselling author of Dirt Creek returns with a story of grief and truth.

Read the Reviews