This month was the best one of the year. I got 13 books read. A total of 4,548 pages. Which averaged 147 pages a day. Yay!
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (245 pages). This is my second novel by this author. I had hoped (seeing as this one was made into a movie) that perhaps I might like it better than the first. Alas, I did not. It’s the summer of 1956. Stevens, butler at the famous Darlington Hall, has been given permission by his new employer, an American, to take a car trip to visit the estate’s former housekeeper. Stevens’ memories of his former boss, the late Lord Darlington, the Lord’s connections to Germany, and the former housekeeper all keep his company in his 6 day trip. As does the realization of what could have been had he not been such a proper British butler. I finished in 2 days.
Reset by Sarina Dahlan (312 pages). This was my Once Upon a Book Club box, so gifties on social media. Imagine all the people, living life in peace. That’s what the Planner did when he created four self-sustaining cities in the middle of the Mojave Desert after the Last War destroyed most of the world. Every four years, the citizens of these cities undergo Tabula Rasa, a memory wipe that allows them to start anew with no prejudices or attachments. Living life to the fullest for four short years means people are kinder to each other. Aris is a scientist who loves Tabula Rasa. But when she meets writer Benja, she begins to open her mind to the possibility that dreams are actually memories of prior cycles. And after Benja draws her into the world of the Dreamers, their leader Metis shows Aris that remembering the past can open up your heart to the future. I finished in 3 days.
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (466 pages). The fourth in the Bridgerton series focuses on third child, Colin. Unlike his older brothers, Colin feels as though he has no purpose in life. Anthony is the viscount, Benedict has his art. But Colin is a born traveler. Who loves writing in his journals. Upon a return to England, he realizes that neighbor (and his sister Eloise’s best friend) Penelope Featherington isn’t just Penelope anymore. She is witty and challenging and everything he never realized he always wanted. But Penelope has a big secret. One that could threaten their courtship before it even begins. I finished in 4 days.
Bookish Boyfriends: The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt (429 pages). The second in the Bookish Boyfriends series focuses on younger sister Rory and takes place immediately after the first book. Rory is the artist and the introvert in the family. And is hopelessly in love with next door neighbor (and her sister Merri’s best friend) Toby. But Toby has always been in love with Merri (even though she’s now dating one of his good friends). The magical English teacher at their high school quickly realizes that The Great Gatsby just isn’t speaking to Rory. But she knows exactly what book will- Little Women. And as Rory reads this new book and chases her dreams, she realizes that sometimes the boy next door truly is the perfect boyfriend. I finished in 2 days.
Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells (388 pages). Another Once Upon a Book Club book this month (woo hoo), so gifties on social. Gifts AND historical fiction? This girl is in heaven. In 1944 Paris, sisters Yvette and Gabby are simply trying to survive. Yvette is a bicycle delivery girl for House of Lelong (where Christian Dior first made a name for himself) and Gabby is the concierge/superintendent for their apartment building. A building where Mr Dior and his sister Catherine are tenants. Catherine isn’t simply the sister of a fashion designer though- she is part of the Resistance. In 1947, Yvette is summoned back to Paris to testify at the trial of actress Louise Dulac, accused of treason. By this time, Christian Dior has his own atelier. And the beautiful Yvette finally gets an opportunity to live her dream- as a mannequin for Dior. But the world of lies and spies that the sisters had been a part of during the war finally comes to a head and truths come out. I finished in 3 days.
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (343 pages). I really don’t even know how to describe this book without giving it away. Vanessa is the jilted ex-wife, obsessed with the young woman her ex-husband has replaced her with. Or is she? There is so much more to Vanessa’s story than meets the eye. I finished in 3 days.
Bookish Boyfriends: Talk Nerdy to Me by Tiffany Schmidt (324 pages). The third in the series. It’s spring semester at Hero High. Merri and Fielding have been together for a few months, Rory and Toby have been together for a week. And now it’s Merri’s best friend Eliza’s turn to have a book change her life. This one I totally connected with, as the book is Anne of Green Gables, one of my all time favorite books. In her English class, her magical teacher allows the students to pick a book for their new project. Eliza picks Frankenstein. And quickly realizes the book hits a little too close to home (she’s always felt like an experiment rather than a daughter for her Nobel prize winning scientist parents). So when she’s allowed to trade with academic rival Curtis, Anne of Green Gables finally speaks to her in a positive way. And she learns that rivals don’t have to stay that way and speaking your truth is always a good thing. I finished in 3 days.
Bookish Boyfriends: Get a Clue by Tiffany Schmidt (326 pages). The fourth and final book in the series. Yes, once I found out it was a series, I had to get all of them. This one focuses on Rory’s best friend Huck and Curtis’s little brother Win and takes place just a few days after Eliza and Curtis make things official. When an email goes out denying Win’s transfer to Hero High rather than the typical letter of acceptance or rejection, Huck quickly realizes it’s a fake. And with the help of his magical English teacher’s recent extra credit assignment of Sherlock Holmes, Huck decides to get to the bottom of it. Turns out, there is a lot more going on than a fake rejection email. I finished in 2 days.
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman (337 pages). In 1965 Baltimore, Maddie Schwartz is in a perfectly fine marriage. But she’s not happy. So on an impulse, she decides to leave her husband and start over again at 37. After finding the body of a young Jewish girl who had been murdered, she gets a job at a local paper. Between first hand insights from people all over the city and tips from her black policeman lover (so scandalous), Maddie decides to look into the possible murder of Cleo Sherwood. What she learns is eye opening. And further cements that she has finally found something she loves. I finished in 3 days.
Women Talking by Miriam Toews (216 pages). In the early 2000’s, a remote Mennonite colony in Bolivia was completely rocked. The women (over a hundred of them and of all ages) were awakening groggy and sore. It was assumed they were being visited by demons as punishments for their sins. The truth was much worse- 8 Mennonite men were drugging and raping these women. For years. This novel focuses on a fictitious meeting between 8 women of the community as they discuss whether to do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. I finished in 2 days.
Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman (288 pages). Daphne Maritch, broke divorcee living in New York City, inherited a high school yearbook from her mother. A yearbook from 1968 that had been dedicated to her. Turns out, the yearbook is heavily annotated after every reunion that her mother attends. But Daphne has no desire to keep it. Until a nosy neighbor finds it in the recycling bin and decides it would make a perfect subject for a documentary or a podcast. But turns out the mysteries of the yearbook contain more than just mysteries about the class of 1968. I finished in 3 days.
The Desolations of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs (503 pages). The sixth and final book in the Peculiar Children series. Caul has returned and is intent on taking down the peculiar world. Jacob and his friends (including Noor, one of the few peculiars who can save them) must do everything they can to save their kind and their world. I finished in 4 days.
The Flip Side by James Bailey (371 pages). When Josh’s New Year’s Eve proposal turns into a breakup, he loses his girlfriend, his apartment and his job in one moment. So he’s forced to move home (with the rabbit he’d bought for his now ex girlfriend’s Christmas gift. Josh decides he’s had no luck making his own choices, so for one year, he’s going to flip a coin to make decisions. Perfect poolside book! Total chick lit, but with a twist because a man was the lead character. I finished in 2 days.
This month’s favorite was .....Romancing Mr Bridgerton (although Sisters of the Resistance was a VERY close second)
