My fondness for this book increased with each chapter. It starts a bit slow and depressing, but this makes sense as the story develops. What initially starts out as a question of who will step up for Joel evolves into something much more complex. For a first novel, Lamont skillfully develops the characters whose lives are directly impacted by Joel's plight. What made it even more enjoyable was the way the relationships between the characters evolved as much as they each did individually. Any parent will flash back to similar instances in their own lives as these potential guardians figure out how to navigate the highs and lows of raising a child and the changes in perspective and priorities that go with the experience. By the last few chapters, I wasn't just rooting for Joel; I was rooting for all of them and couldn't put it down until I knew how it all played out. Definitely a book I will recommend to friends.

A story narrated by a somewhat invisible, underappreciated night cleaner in a building where a company is floundering turned out to be more entertaining that I thought early on. I enjoyed the unique perspective of the cleaner and her sometimes skewed rationalizations of her own behavior. Her character was one that elicited empathy at some points, pity at others, and even scorn on occasion. It was also fun to follow the nameless (albeit nicknamed) characters described by the narrator and the unseen ways she may have shaped their lives. There were times that the book felt a bit redundant, but so is/was the cleaner's life. Wells' choice to cloak most of her characters in these nicknames or abbreviations also helped make the book more universal. The world she described could exist in any building/company. The Cleaner is not a book I would have typically picked off of the shelf in a store, but I definitely enjoyed reading it.

As a fan of all things related to time travel, The Day Tripper was outstanding! While I generally spend a few weeks reading each book, this page turner was completed in two days. Goodhand is a gifted writer who does an amazing job of dropping the reader into the same sense of confusion that Alex feels as he navigates through various iterations of his life. We are drawn into his progression from trying to understand what is happening to him to his later recognition of how his choices directly impact his life and the lives of those around him. What makes this novel even more enjoyable is the way in which Goodhand dances with the debate between fate and free will. This allows Alex to exist as character who is both frustrating and likable at the same time. It felt like a blend of It's a Wonderful Life and Groundhog Day, with a splash of The Five People You Meet in Heaven. This would be a great read for a book club!

For a debut novel, I was thoroughly impressed. This type of novel is a bit out of my comfort zone, but the characters, the plot lines, and Lynch's choice to tell her story through the lens of an actress turned gossip columnist kept me intrigued throughout. From the gossip, the scandals, and the often secretive sentimentality, she captured everything that made (and makes) Hollywood so fascinating. At times, it felt like catching up on the people who would have frequented Jay Gatsby's parties in the 20s. I look forward to reading Lynch's next work.

Fascinating read! It takes a little while to get used to the change in time and narrator, but it was worth it to figure out who was who and when was when. Minus the satire, it was similar to trying to figure out what is going on in Catch-22. My initial desire to read the book was based on what had been described as a thriller involving a possibly tainted inheritance and the looming presence of an angry drug cartel. As I got deeper in the novel, I found myself at least equally captivated by the author's brilliant description and incorporation of the setting. At times, it was as if the reader had a front row seat to what happens when modern man threatens to ruin one of the increasingly rare remaining natural environments like Panther Gap. Summer and Bowman were also developed as perfect complements to that setting. As focused as I was on the plot twists, I also needed to frequently reread sections because I got too caught up picturing the landscape. Once the action really picked up, this one was almost impossible to put down. It was a unique combination that readers do not usually get in a "thriller," and I will definitely be reading more of McLaughlin's work.

Hats off to Colleen Oakley for writing a story that made me want to read even when I had absolutely no time to do so. This novel is definitely one of the most entertaining stories I have read in the last year. I love the way that the characters are developed both individually and through the relationships between them. Once the plot took off, I did not want to put it down and was sad when it was over. After finishing the story, I felt as if I had simultaneously predicted the ending and gotten it almost entirely wrong. Maybe one of my favorite things about the book is my inability to classify it in any one category. In addition to some really great lines, the novel is a great combination of snarky banter and sentimentality that would be a hit in any book club. I will definitely be reading Oakley's other novels!

Even after finishing this collection of short stories, I struggle to categorize this unique debut. Harlan has a gift for revealing her characters which, at times, left me feeling somewhat uncomfortable. It was as if I were intruding on parts of their lives that I was not supposed to see, but this is also what made the stories worth reading. While I found some of the stories more thought provoking than others ("Fruiting Bodies" and "Is This You?" were my favorites), I appreciated the diversity of the stories. Harlan also has a gift for crafting ending that are both perfect for her stories and yet a bit uncomfortable for the readers. That took a bit of time to get used to, but I definitely got comfortable being uncomfortable. As someone who does not typically read short story collections, this was an enjoyable foray into the genre and one I would recommend to others.

I confess to being one who knew nothing about Belle's place in history prior to reading this book, but the authors did a wonderful job of bringing her story to life. Not only is this a timely read, but it is an enlightening look at the the incredible juggling act Belle had to do as she earned her place in the world while protecting what should never have to be a secret. Not only will I look for more information about Belle, but I have also become a fan of these authors, both individually and collaboratively.

It took a little while to get going, but I was immediately captivated by the author's prose and the images it created. The ending felt mildly anticlimactic, but the way in which Clarke develops the mystery of who and where Piranesi is made it impossible to put down. I would strongly recommend Piranesi to any fantasy buffs and book clubs who enjoy exploring alternative reality stories.

Seager's memoir was a thoroughly enjoyable and captivating read. I love the way she bounces back and forth and draws parallels between her "life life" and her "work life." Not only did I learn about Seager's field, but her perspective on a wide range of issues struck me as both apt and timely. I also enjoyed reading about Seager's challenges as a working mother in such an incredible field and would have loved a chance to talk about this book with others. As such, this memoir would be great for any book club that enjoys philosophical conversations about people and what is truly important in life.

After a sluggish start, the pace of this novel picks up quickly and becomes difficult to put down. I loved Fein's choices to tell the story from Herta's point of view and to make the story span such a long period of time. Not only does it bring the story to life, but it also provides a glimmer of what life in Germany must have been like back then, especially since the are characters that span the entire spectrum of ideologies. As someone who has taught Elie Wiesel's Night, this book could be an interesting companion/supplemental piece in high school. It would also be a great choice for any adult book club.

For a first work, Fossey has a knack for creating real characters that force readers to both accept them as real and root for them throughout the story. I enjoyed the relationships, the conflicts, and the way that Fossey created such a unique storyline in such an unexpected setting. I was also a big fan of the opportunity for redemption that Fossey created for more than just one of the principal characters. Probably the best indicator of how much I enjoyed this book was that I read it in less than 24 hours. As a high school teacher, I would definitely recommend it to book clubs and plan on passing it along to the teachers who run one in our English department.

While I have enjoyed everything I have read through BookBrowse, this was definitely my favorite. Instead of the gradual/slow beginning that can sometimes plague even a great plot, Prescott jumped right into the story. I enjoyed her style, the way she developed the principal characters, and the unique timeline. At times, it reminded me of the structure of Catch-22 (minus the dark satire). This was not a book to read chapter by chapter; I read this in huge chunks at a time. As a teacher, I found myself flagging excerpts that I could use to make connections to other texts, and I plan to share this possibility with our social studies teachers as well. I can definitely see it being a hit with any book club, and a must read for any historical fiction buff, especially those with an interest in Russian-US relations.

After a somewhat slow start, I truly enjoyed this book. The pacing picked up, and I definitely got caught up in the plot line. There were enough twists and surprises, and I definitely did not see the ending coming. The author did a fine job of developing the characters with just enough detail to make their moral imperfections intriguing. This would be a great fit for an adult book club, but I think the nuances of the marital relationships might be less interesting to a younger audience.