BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Beast of the North Woods: A Monster Hunter Mystery
by Annelise Ryan

Beast of the North Woods-Fun Read (11/22/2024)

This was such a fun and unique story. It is a murder mystery wrapped in a mythical creature hunt. The characters were well rounded and realistic. The story was not predictable which can be the case with so many murder mysteries. The creature, a hodag, is specific to Rhinelander, Wisconsin and the locale was almost a character itself. This was the first Annelise Ryan book I Have read, and I will definitely be picking up another.

Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Great Read (11/22/2024)

I love a good historical fiction book and Happy Land delivered. It is an emotional family drama told by two different generations of women. The present is told by Nikki, a woman reconnecting with her grandmother and by extension her ancestors back to post-civil war time. The past is told by Luella, a freed slave living in a self-sustaining kingdom built by a community of other free slaves. The two stories merge to an emotional, fitting conclusion.

Harlem Rhapsody
by Victoria Christopher Murray

Harlem Rhapsody (9/12/2024)

This was an enjoyable read. Jessie Redmon Fauset is not somebody I had been familiar with before this and am glad to have learned about her. The Harlem Renaissance was an important time in our history bringing us several prolific writers, artists, musicians and performers. It is always heartening to read about strong women, especially women of color, and this story brought to life the emotions, struggles and family life of Ms. Fauset in a way that takes makes you feel as if you are there with her. It touches on the suffragette movement, the NAACP, black culture and much more. Overall, an enjoyable read with much historical research.

Pony Confidential
by Christina Lynch

Pony Confidential (6/19/2024)

This was an interesting book. On the one hand I couldn't put it down. The writing was perfectly paced and each chapter kept me wanting to read more. On the other hand it was described as a murder mystery and while there was a mystery, this did not seem to be the main plot. I enjoyed the chapters told from the pony's point of view and his interactions with the other animals, I felt the Penny chapters were a bit flat and the choices she made were questionable. While I sped through this book, the end was a bit contrived. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

Help Wanted: A Novel
by Adelle Waldman

Help Wanted (1/17/2024)

I wanted to like this book. It has a great premise about the inequalities in the workforce; rank-in-file versus management. However, there were so many characters with so many issues that it was hard to keep track of each character and their problems. The writing and the plot were flat and made it difficult to stay interested in the story..

Delicate Condition
by Danielle Valentine

A Delicate Condition (7/13/2023)

I could not put this book down. I actually read it in just a couple of days. It was a bit unnerving, with lots of suspense. There is foreshadowing and a few red herrings that keep you guessing until the end.

The September House
by Carissa Orlando

September House (5/24/2023)

A very entertaining book. I found myself wanting to keep reading, even late into the night. The relationships between the characters are realistic and the backstories unwind in a satisfying read. There were times that I knew what was going to happen, only to have the story turn right around and go in a completely different direction. This is a horror book that is not overly scary and just the right amount of gore.

The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder

The Gifts (3/20/2023)

I was excited to read this book. The description sounded fascinating. It touches on science, religion, nature. I looked forward to diving right in. The writing is beautiful and descriptive with five different perspectives. Once I started reading, I just couldn't connect with the story. I couldn't always keep track of which character each chapter was about and the plot just didn't seem to come together as quickly as I would have liked.

Iron Curtain: A Love Story
by Vesna Goldsworthy

Iron Curtain (1/26/2023)

I really wanted to like this book. The time period during the Cold War is an interesting backdrop to a love story. However, I would not consider this a love story. It is two unlikable characters who "fall in love" after knowing each other only a few days. Milena is a cold, stoic partner to Jason's flighty, bohemian Irishman. On the surface, this should make for a good story, however, nothing seems to really come together to draw in the reader.

Moonrise Over New Jessup
by Jamila Minnicks

Moonrise Over New Jessup (1/3/2023)

This book captured me from the first page. The main character, Alice leaves the only home she has ever known only to find a new home she never knew she wanted. Her struggles and conviction carry her and her family through the civil rights era. The author does a masterful job at portraying a side of the civil rights movement that I had never read about before. Through beautiful language and descriptive storytelling, Jamila Minnicks paints a picture of an idyllic life in a small town in Alabama and trying to hold on to what you hold dear.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise (10/11/2022)

I have been in a reading funk lately, not able to finish the last three books I picked up. This book was the perfect remedy. It was fun, while also being mysterious and heartfelt. The characters were so fully developed, I felt as if I knew them intimately by the end of the story. I learned that no matter what stage of life you are in, you can make new friends, have adventures and learn something along the way.

Fruiting Bodies: Stories
by Kathryn Harlan

Fruiting Bodies (6/5/2022)

This book of short stories is very well written. Each story is imaginative and lyrical. I just had some trouble relating to some characters. I loved how calm and relaxing most of the stories were.

The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark

Lies, Lies and Lies (4/4/2022)

I must have enjoyed this book as I read it in two days. It is about two women; Meg, a con artist and Kat, a journalist trying to expose her. Meg is unapologetic and tough yet empathetic. Kat is determined and strong. Both are on a mission and will do anything they can to accomplish it. Lying starts out as a necessary evil and then becomes all encompassing. It is a game of cat and mouse, but who is the cat and who is the mouse?

Take My Hand
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Must Read (10/4/2021)

Take My Hand is a must read. It delves into the history of forced sterilization on young, poor, black women. Based on true events, the author does an amazing job of bringing this real history to life. The story is told through the eyes of Civil Townsend, a young, black nurse who becomes entwined in her two patients' lives. The two sisters become more than just patients, they become family to Civil and she takes it upon herself to help them in more ways than even she thought possible. The book is split between 1973 and 2016 as Civil tells the story to her daughter. The only criticism I would have is that the 2016 story does not have as much emotion as the 1973 story. But this could be intentional, as Civil tends to keep her feelings bottle up inside.

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

Blind Man's Bluff (8/10/2021)

I just finished this book and cannot stop thinking about it. The author told his story with such honesty that you feel as if he is truly telling his story for the first time. His story is real, raw, funny and heartbreaking. It is a quick read and worth every word.

Beasts of a Little Land: A Novel
by Juhea Kim

Beasts of a Little Land (8/10/2021)

I did like this book. However, I found myself putting it down and forgetting to pick it back up. The story was good and it had great characters, but just when I was getting interested in one character's story, the story would change to another. I liked how the story spanned fifty years of each persons' life. It was well written and once I did start reading I wanted to continue. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi (8/12/2020)

I loved this book. The characters are well written and stay with you long after you finish the book. The author's descriptions of the halls is amazing and I found that I wanted to explore more with Piranesi. The themes of loneliness and isolation are so relevant to our times today. It is the perfect read.

Ruthie Fear: A Novel
by Maxim Loskutoff

Ruthie Fear (6/11/2020)

The story of Ruthie and her place in the world is beautifully and poetically told. The world she inhabits is gritty and real and she vacillates between hating it and needing to be a part of it. I had to put the book down at times just to step away from the emotion I would start to feel, only to be drawn right back into the story a few hours later. I am blown away by the writing and storytelling and would recommend the book to anyone.

He Started It
by Samantha Downing

He Started It (2/14/2020)

This was a page turner. I could not put this down. There were so many twists and reveals. The author does a great job of building up the suspense and keeping you guessing. I did not find many of the character very likable, however, they keep you wanting to know more about them and their past circumstances. I was thinking about the ending for days after finishing.