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Reviews by Beth M. (New York, NY)

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Libby Lost and Found: A Novel
by Stephanie Booth

A delicious, quirky read! (8/3/2024)

Libby is a strange and wonderful children's book author. She's beloved for her fantasy series called The Falling Children. She lives alone with her dog and writes under a pseudonym, F.T. Goldhero, to keep her quiet life private. Unfortunately Libby has just been diagnosed with early onset dementia and can't manage to finish her book series. In desperation, she secretly reaches out to her superfan Peanut. Together they form an unlikely partnership to complete the book (and save the Falling children). From here the story gets more crazy and fun. This is a magical, heartwarming story about identity, loss, family, friendship and our ability to endure life's ups and downs. . The author does a wonderful job of navigating the realities of dementia and Libby's diminishing memory. You'll end up laughing, crying and loving all the characters that make up this story.

Bright and Tender Dark
by Joanna Pearson

A dark but not tender mystery (3/12/2024)

I was excited to read this book after it was promoted as similar to Notes on an Execution. That was a book I loved. Unfortunately for me, it didn't live up to the hype. The premise is compelling. Karlie,, a University of North Carolina student, is found murdered in her college apartment. After 20 years, questions arise about killed her and why. Joy, her college friend, finds a 20 year old letter from Karlie that convinces her that the man who was convicted for her murder was wrongly accused. The story moves from 2019 to 1999 when the murder took place. Eventually through a multitude of voices, the dark web, Reddit and evangelical beliefs the mystery is well solved. My problem with the book was that there were too many characters, some not essential to the story and way too many plot points I read to the end to find out what happened, but I was really not invested in this story.

Day: A Novel
by Michael Cunningham

Overwrought dysfunctional family story! (9/30/2023)

Michael Cunningham is a beautiful, thoughtful writer. I've read all his books and loved most of them. I was so excited to read this new book after his long absence. Unfortunately I didn't love it. It's a story of a dysfunctional family; Isabel and Dan, their two children, Isabel's younger brother Robbie and several other characters. It takes place before, during and after the pandemic on the same day of the year. It examines the impact of the lockdown and the characters inner turmoil and choices moving forward. Robbie was the character I cared most about. He was pivotal in this story and Cunningham did a masterful job of portraying him with all his achingly beautiful humanity. The book which was relatively short felt overwrought to me. The characters seem so embroiled with their inner dialogs which often felt unimportant. Overall while the book touched on thought provoking topics, like the falsehoods on social media, I found the story and the characters to be rather tedious.

All You Have to Do Is Call
by Kerri Maher

A fabulous story of women fighting for our right to choose. (6/6/2023)

I love this book. This is the story of the Jane network It is- fictionalized account of women in Chicago in the 1970's who sacrificed much to provide secret health care and abortions to women. Sadly it is a very timely story when women's right to choose is now being criminalized in many states. The author has done a fabulous job of uncovering the stories of these little known women who were so vital to the freedoms I took for granted in 80s. This is an inspiring story of what a group of housewives can accomplish with the will, belief and courage to make change happen. I particularly identified with the character of Veronica and her ability to juggle so many roles and keep pushing for change and women's freedom. This is a book I won't forget and I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to read it early.

Pieces of Blue
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

A disappointing read! (1/28/2023)

I was expecting a “brilliant and bighearted page turner” as Maria Semple promised. Instead I found the book tedious and simplistic. It is a story about mother and her three children who move to Hawaii where they bought a run down motel hoping to heal from the death of the husband/father. I loved the spunky younger daughter, Sena, but the rest of the characters were too simplistic for my taste. As another reviewer said, this feels like a YA novel although I’m not sure there is much to be gained. I really wanted to like this story and just couldn’t. There’s so many better books to read!!!

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley

A fun, unexpected, charming read! (10/2/2022)

This story started out slow but once their "adventure" began I became really engaged. Tanner and Louise are brought together almost by default. Louise needs help with driving and errands after she broke her hip. Tanner needs a job and a place to live after she broke her leg which ended her promising college soccer scholarship. This story involves a jewlery heist that happened 40 years ago. Louise gets a call which causes her to pack up and leave town taking Tanner with her. The characters are so good and their banter is entertaining. The author does a great job dropping clues that become important in the end. I kept reading trying to solve the mystery while also routing for Louise and Tanner's unlikely friendship. This book has a mystery, a "Thelma and Louise" road trip, and lessons in not judging people by the way they look. Read this fun ride.

The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark

A first rate thriller you can't put down! (3/31/2022)

Wow. Julia Clark has done it again. I was so excited I got to read an early reader copy. I will be recommending this book to my book club and all my friends. What made this book so great were the two main characters. Meg and Kat were both smart, cunning and complex women. Who will succeed in their 'cat and mouse" game. Is Meg really a monster or just a woman seeking revenge? Does Kat get to redeem herself? Who really is the con? Can they really be friends? I read this book late into the night. It's just that good. What a wild ride.

Housebreaking
by Colleen Hubbard

A surprisingly heartfelt story (9/27/2021)

This book was a quick read. While I found the premise a bit unbelievable, I kept reading to follow Del's journey. Her strength, determination and persistence surprised me. I loved the connections she made with the people she encounters. They helped her open her heart and heal in unexpected ways. Reading this book was an unexpected pleasure and the ending was just right.

A Theater for Dreamers
by Polly Samson

Hydra is for dreamers (3/5/2021)

I love, love, loved this book. What a fabulous read and the perfect escape for these times. Polly Samson's new novel is a wonderful snapshot of a glorious time (in the early 1960's) on the Island of Hydra. The descriptions are so poignant and accurate ( I was there 3 years ago). Narrated by16 year old Erica, it features an eclectic group of writer, poets, painters and musicians. Led by the writers Charmian Cleft and her husband George Johnson, their entourage includes Alex Jensen a destructive writer and his gorgeous wife, Marianne and the young Leonard Cohen. Wow! Their tangled lives and utopian dreams are fleshed out in beautiful, evocative prose. As their paradise splinters, pain and loss multiply. All the characters are human and flawed. I became so attached to their gossip,lives, and loves. I wanted to stay with them much longer. The ending was satisfying although I hope there's a second book.

The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman: A Novel
by Julietta Henderson

A big hearted, wonderful story, (1/28/2021)

This is a fabulous, feel good novel about 12 year old Norman, his mom Sadie, and their 80 year old friend Leonard. Norman’s best friend, Jax, has suddenly died and Norman decides to honor his friend by performing at the Edinburgh Fringe which was their dream. These three quirky characters jump in Leonard’s vintage car and head to Edinburgh. Along the way they have many misadventures that are funny, moving and memorable. This is a thoughtful book about friendship, family, grief, illness, growing up and growing old. There’s so much wisdom, kindness and hope buried in these pages. You’ll laugh and cry and fall in love with Norman just like everyone he encounters. This is a great read, especially during these dark days. I highly recommend it.

The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington

A heartfelt story of privilege and loyalty (10/22/2020)

Charlie Boykin is the son of a single mom just trying to survive. She manages to use her connections to get him a full scholarship into an elite boarding school. There he becomes enamored with the wealthy Arch Creigh and gets increasing entangled in his shaky morality and many lies. It's an interesting take on how we grow, who we choose to be our models and what do we do when the people we worship are not worthy. It raises questions about about privilege and entitlement that have been asked and explored in many different and better ways. The book is a quick read and has some unexpected twists that I enjoyed. Overall it was a good but not great read.

American Dirt: A Novel
by Jeanine Cummins

An extraordinary immigrant story (11/10/2019)

I loved this book. It was compelling, frightening, tender and expansive. It really seated you in the experience of a Mexican mother and son on the run from a dangerous drug cartel lord. Their journey from Mexico to America is harrowing and unimaginable. Read this book and you will support every immigrant organization you can. This book is so special and written. You won't be able to put it down. When writers like Stephen King, John Grisham, Julia Alvarez and Tara Conklin highly recommend it, you must take notice. You will be better for the experience. Thank you BookBrowse.

You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley

Surprising love story. (8/14/2019)

What a great summer read. The writing was terrific, the characters were relatable and well developed and the plot twists were unpredictable. I kept reading late into the night to find out how and why Mia and Oliver are connected. And what does she decide to do with that knowledge. This story has stayed with me and gotten me thinking about the choices we make and the role of fate in our lives. Read this book. You won't be disappointed.

Listen to the Marriage
by John Jay Osborn

Grueling Marriage Counseling Sessions (5/21/2018)

I really wanted to like this book. The concept was appealing to me since I've been in this couple's situation and I am a therapist. While much of the couple's interaction sounded true, I felt the therapist wasn't very well written or professional. In my mind she didn't have a sensitivity to either client and she said some rediculous things. I appreciated the processes Steve and Gretchen went through to get at the truth of what they wanted and felt. However this book read more like a clinical case study rather than a novel. There are much better versions of this story. I'm disappointed.

A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza

A beautiful and heart wrenching story a Muslim American Family (3/18/2018)

An incredibly perceptive story of the wonderous moments, deeply felt frustrations and heartbreaking pains of being part of a family. When a son returns home after a long absence he says: "That it feels unexpectedly comforting is, in and of itself, difficult." Wow. It's lines like that touched me deeply and brought me to tears. It describes in intimate details the sacrifices we make for our loved ones and the many ways we cause pain. And through it all, love survives and often triumphs. A great book for book groups. This is a book where you really connect with and care about the characters.

Our Short History
by Lauren Grodstein

Keep tissues handy! (2/10/2017)

I loved this book. I read it in two days. Lauren Grodstein has done an amazing job of taking you on the awful journey of battling cancer, while trying to work and be a mom. This story is told through journal entries to Karen's six-year-old son. I was right there with her. The highs, the lows, the strength, weakness, impossible pain and great love. And all those decisions she was forced to face. One of my favorites parts was Karen's discussion with Bev. It was a beautiful scene of two moms breaking through barriers to share a common ground. Plus I loved the ending. It was perfect and fulfilling in a way that so few novels are these days. Read it. You will cry, laugh and be emotionally expanded by the end.

The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko
by Scott Stambach

A wonderful, unique love story with so much heart (7/4/2016)

This story reads like a memoir. Many times I felt like Ivan was a real person. He's so smart, and honest and has so much passion and determination. Given his very limited life and the constraints of his deformities, he's truly a wonder. He ponders people and situations deeply and his voice is clear and heartbreaking. He is irresistible and his relationship with Polina is somehow magical. The characters are so strongly drawn and the humanity is achingly present. I highly recommend this strange and wonderful book.

Shelter
by Jung Yun

Riveting but not totally satisfying (12/22/2015)

Shelter is a fast paced, engrossing debut novel that starts off with an elderly mother being found naked and bleeding in her son's backyard. A horrific tragedy has occurred and I couldn't put the book down. The author does a great job of exploring important questions about the impact of a childhood devoid of love, security, or emotional stability. The writing is good and filled with strong emotions and some very graphic scenes. My problem was the ending which wasn't convincing or satisfying.

The Book of Speculation
by Erika Swyler

Good but ultimately not satisfying (3/29/2015)

I have very mixed feelings about the Book of Speculation. On the one hand it's a multi generational story of love, magic, and ultimately redemption. The book is beautifully written and very atmospheric. It was a quick, entertaining read. The driving plot absorbs you and keeps you turning pages to find out what actually happens.

My problem was that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I didn't feel the characters had much depth. Plus I felt the storyline was a little too fantastical. By the time I reached the end of the book, I felt disappointed and didn't care whether Simon, the main character, succeeded in his quest.

Everybody Rise
by Stephanie Clifford

Evelyn's climb to the top (3/4/2015)

This is a quick read about social climbing by a New York Times award winning writer who clearly know the territory. Evelyn Bergen, the protagonist, has learned from her mother the ambition to fit "in with the upper class. Reminiscent of Edith Wharton and more recently Amor Towles's Rules of Civility, this debut novel takes you inside this moneyed world. Evelyn's journey becomes more tense and painful as her little lies become bigger as she claws her way up the social ladder. While few of the characters were likeable, they were believable. Their search for an identity was something I could relate to.

Reviews by Beth M. (New York, NY)

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