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Reviews by Susan L. (Alexandria, VA)

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by Kristina McMorris
Righting Wrongs (9/15/2018)
It's impossible not to care for the characters in this book. To watch them make mistakes, then work to make it right. The premise of a fateful photo that doomed two children was compelling and kept me turning pages. Beautifully done.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
A Cat Knows... (5/9/2018)
This book is a study in belonging and acceptance. It is a book the reveals itself slowly and methodically, with the studied and measured movements of a tea ceremony with meaning in every moment. This quiet book builds to an ending that will wreck you. It is the tale of howmore
America for Beginners
by Leah Franqui
Journey Across America (4/3/2018)
Leah Franqui introduces characters who are wonderfully flawed and real. They felt more like people than characters. America for Beginners is a peek into how others see America and people from other countries within the context of their upbringing and cultural norms. It wasmore
If We Were Villains
by M. L. Rio
Tragically Beautiful (3/13/2017)
This book is worthy of bardolotry. It is tragically beautiful in both structure and character. The characters borrow lines from Shakespeare as they play out their own villainous roles in a tragedy of their own making. The tension held taut until the final page. Excellentmore
Our Short History
by Lauren Grodstein
Our Short History (2/9/2017)
This book was meant to be a tearjerker, but I did not cry. I am sorry to say this book did not grab me. I enjoyed parts of it, but others put me off. The main character remained too angry at the father for much of the book. And as emotional as the subject was, I thought itmore
The Girl Before
by JP Delaney
The Girl Before Surprises (11/22/2016)
There is a reason this book went to auction and had its movie rights snapped up by Ron Howard. It is beautifully written, tautly paced and full of intrigue. It hooked me on page one and kept me guessing, incorrectly, until the end. Wonderful thriller with an architecturalmore
Falling
by Jane Green
Falling by Jane Green (6/21/2016)
I wanted to like this book and did in parts, but overall it left me a bit cold. It was a light read that would suit a summer beach or long plane ride. While I liked the Dominic, the male lead, Emma, the female lead, drove me nuts. She was so insecure and reactive. I wantedmore
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