Hotel Cuba paints a colorful picture of two sisters escaping Poland/Russia as the First World War tears up their homeland. In their perilous ocean journey, Pearl and Frieda cling to the hope of America, where an older sister lives. But with so many immigrants arriving, they were turned away for a year. That year in tropical Havana gave them time to learn and grow as young women.

The vibrant descriptions of their life around the city kept me turning pages to learn more about how they would prevail, each in their own way. The people they met and the places they went helped them learn both English and Spanish, and a large Yiddish community in Havana gave them joyous moments with meals and conversations that kept them connected to their Russian roots.

After separate struggles to reach America, first Frieda and then Pearl reach New York City. At this point, for me, the story seems to lose the imagery as it moves toward the final wrap. It's a beautiful story based on the author's grandparents' experiences. I just wish it had ended with the same descriptive prose I found at the start.

Mrs. Louise Wilt and Tanner are the two most unlikely of companions, and I was delighted and frustrated with each quirky step and word and whine, just enough to put me into their mindsets. The characters are well developed — including all the ways these two women are so different, and I couldn't wait to read more. It's a captivating journey for the reader and these two characters. It's also about looking outside your view to see through the eyes of someone much different than you. It's raucous (and a time or two rowdy), as well as tender and hopeful. I highly recommend this author and a big WOW for the book.

From the first paragraph, O’Farrell led us into a new approach to William Shakespeare. His name is never mentioned, and it’s his family that takes center stage in the captivating lyric novel. The author engrosses the reader with details of life in the 16th century England. Just as the Bard was beginning to ply his trade in London, his family lived a world away in the smaller village. It’s a deep dive into a backstory where this gifted storyteller weaves grief, sorrow, hope, courage, and love into a masterful work.