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Reviews by Karen R. (Columbus, OH)

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The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant
by Liza Tully

Great start to a new series (2/22/2025)

4.5 I love strong female characters. This book has two strong female leads. I enjoyed getting to know both the main PI, Merritt and her "just OK" assistant, Blunt. It was also an interesting mystery. I am hoping for more books in this series. Highly recommend.

Songs of Summer
by Jane L. Rosen

Heartwarming story (12/16/2024)

Maggie found out she was adopted when she was in elementary school, but was in such a loving family, she had no interest in finding her birth mother. Both of her parents, who were older, died by the time Maggie was only 30. This wonderful novel is about Maggie's search for …more

Three Days in June: A Novel
by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler does it again (11/21/2024)

In typical Anne Tyler fashion, she makes the ordinary characters in Three Days In June very interesting. The three days in June are the day before, the day of, and the day after a wedding. I found myself thinking of these characters even when I wasn't reading this book. …more

All You Have to Do Is Call
by Kerri Maher

Wow, how history repeats itself (6/3/2023)

This is a novel about women who learned how to perform abortions to help and liberate other women, in the pre Roe vs Wade United States. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and observing how they developed. Now in the post Dobbs United States to have so many states …more

The Little Italian Hotel: A Novel
by Phaedra Patrick

Love found family book (3/26/2023)

4.5 I received this book from the wonderful book website, Bookbrowse, in exchange for an honest review. This book is about Ginny, a relationship/advise expert who has unknown problems in her own marriage. Ginny booked an expensive surprise vacation for her wedding …more

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley

Highly recommend, especially if you are in a reading slump (10/2/2022)

I have been in a reading funk. I have started so many books, and put them aside. I started The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, put it aside, but couldn't stop thinking about the characters, kept going back, reading a little more, set aside, then ponder the …more

Some of It Was Real
by Nan Fischer

Slow start then a page turn (2/20/2022)

I received a complementary copy of this ebook from NetGalley, through the Bookbrowse website first impressions.

This book took me a little while to get into it. I didn't enjoy the writing style but the plot was great, so even though I kept putting it down, I was still …more

Blind Man's Bluff: A Memoir
by James Tate Hill

Blind in more than one way (8/6/2021)

I am an eye doctor so was excited to read this. I especially enjoyed reading about the author's experience being tested, and then receiving his diagnosis. I was disappointed JT refused to accept, acknowledge, and move forward with his disability. The book was well written, …more

At the Chinese Table: A Memoir with Recipes
by Carolyn Phillips

New understanding of Chinese Cuisine (6/12/2021)

What a delightful memoir. I enjoyed reading about the author's interaction with her boyfriend's mother and father, both of whom were not thrilled the eldest son was with a foreigner. I also enjoyed the author's description of dining in Chinese restaurants. I am going to get …more

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

Found Family (1/30/2021)

I loved this book. It has been hard for me to read during COVID times. This book kept my interest, and I cared about all the characters. I love quirky, interesting characters, and the found family concept. I thought about these characters even when I wasn't reading this …more

The Affairs of Others
by Amy Grace Loyd

Flawed, but interesting characters (7/15/2013)

This book is well written and has interesting characters. Not necessarily all likable, but interesting. A widow owns an apartment building. You get to know the people in each apartment. It was a book I found myself thinking about even while I was not reading it.

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The River Knows Your Name
by Kelly Mustian

A haunting Southern novel about memory and love, from the author of The Girls in the Stilt House.

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The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris
by Evie Woods

From the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop.

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The Devil Finds Work
by James Baldwin

A book-length essay on racism in American films, by "the best essayist in this country" (The New York Times Book Review).

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Real Americans
by Rachel Khong

From the author of Goodbye, Vitamin, a novel exploring family, identity, and the shaping of destiny.

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