Not an AUGUST month of reading this year

 I did not get a lot read this month. I blame it on moving. I only read 5 books. Well, 4 and an audible. A total of 1,625 pages. An average of 53 pages a day. And only 2 of the books were worth mentioning. 

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel (333 pages). This book was written in 2014, but I’m pretty convinced the author is psychic. Imagine if Covid had been worse and actually truly decimated the world, down to no more electricity. That’s what happened in the novel. Kirsten was 8 years old when she watched famous actor Arthur Leander collapse onstage. Within weeks, the world as she knew it was gone. 20 years later, Kirsten is part of the Traveling Symphony, a troupe of musicians and Shakespearean actors who travel from town to town. When they find themselves in St Deborah by the Water, they learn that a prophet has taken over.  And this prophet is dangerous. The Symphony decides to head towards an airport in Severn City. And as they travel, we learn about the past- Kirsten, the prophet, the people at the airport, Arthur. I liked this book, but didn’t love it. It was definitely a tough read post Covid. I finished in 5 days.

 

The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane (333 pages). This was my gym book club book. It’s 1883 in the plains and small towns of Australia. Denny Wallace is 6 years old when a dust storm hits and he is lost in the plains. The entire community unites to find him- his family, the local (white) law enforcement, the local (Aboriginal) trackers, the neighbors, a traveling artist and his artist wife. Honestly, I found the book a slog to get through. I finished in 6 days.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (368 pages/11+ hours). This was my first ever audiobook. While I doubt I will become an audiobook girlie, I loved this book!  After Tova’s husband died, she became the night shift cleaner at the Sowell Bay aquarium. While working there, she befriends Marcellus, a giant pacific octopus. Marcellus is a remarkably bright creature. And he decides to figure out what happened to Tova’s beloved son, who died 30 years ago in a boat accident after high school graduation. Because he loves Tova. Meanwhile, Cameron shows up in town, running away from the bum hand he thinks he’s been dealt in life. But positive that a local Sowell Bay developer is his long lost father. Y’all- I loved these characters!  Especially Michael Urie as the voice of Marcellus. Now I really need to watch the movie. Although IF Marcellus has a voiceover, I’m not sure I’ll be okay with any voice other than his. But the story was so sweet. I finished in 4 days.

 

The Woman Beyond the Attic by Andrew Neiderman (266 pages). The author is actually the ghostwriter who assumed the mantle of VC Andrews after her death. I had NO idea that Virginia was in a wheelchair most of her adult life. A surgery on bone spurs caused irreparable damage and aggregated her arthritis to the point that she could barely walk. I also didn’t know that she was in her 50’s when Flowers in the Attic was published. She apparently saw a lot of herself in Cathy, the protagonist of Flowers. The book also included an unedited draft of a novel she started before passing away. It’s crazy to realize that I didn’t discover her books until high school and by then, she had already passed away from cancer. Honestly, this wasn’t the best biography I’ve ever read. I expected more from the man who basically became her (as an author anyway).  I finished in 4 days.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (335 pages). I love a good twist on a fairy tale, especially when told from the villain’s perspective.  Lady Etheldrada Tremaine Bramley is twice widowed. Her daughters’ father left her helpless, her stepdaughter’s father left her titled but penniless. So she tries everything in her power to keep their crumbling estate from falling down around them. Her daughters Rosie and Mathilde are helpful and practical; her stepdaughter Elin refuses to help and lives in a fantasy. But when a ball is planned, the prince pursues Elin.  When Ethel learns the deep dark secrets of the royal family, she must now determine whether an ungrateful stepdaughter’s happiness is more important than stability for her own daughters. This was so creative!  I finished in 4 days. 

This months’ favorite was ……Remarkably Bright Creatures (with Lady Tremaine coming in a close second and the other three not even placing). 

July is over, my books are never ending

 This month was nothing outrageous. Just some good reading (including an old favorite). I read a total of 7 books. 2,955 pages. An average of 95 pages a day. So let’s get to it!

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister (340 pages). This was a special edition Once Upon a Book Club box, so gifts on social. Simone and Damien are restauranteurs in London. Their daughter Lucy is at a theatre program in Texas, prior to starting college at RADA. Mother and daughter plan a little holiday in Texas after Lucy’s program is complete. But things don’t go according to plan. Their very first night together, Lucy is kidnapped. Simone (and later on Damien) do whatever they can to find her. And when they do, they find themselves in a much bigger mess. There were some good twists. I finished in 3 days.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (618 pages). This was for my ISI book club. From the day 5 year old orphan Locke Lamora finds himself taken in by the Thiefmaker, he displays an uncanny ability as a thief himself. So much so that the Thiefmaker actually sells him to the Eyeless Priest, the greatest con artist in all of Camorr. 20 years later, Locke is now the head of a group of thieves called the Gentlemen Bastards, the most infamous and successful thieves in the city. He is called the Thorn of Camorr (as he is a thorn in the side of the nobility), but his identity remains unknown. His small but mighty gang of thieves are delightful characters (honestly, you find yourself rooting for the thieves to win the day). But something dark is happening in Camorr. Heads of gangs are being killed and the Capa in charge of them all is being threatened. By a mysterious figure known only as the Gray King. As the world starts closing in on Locke and his gang, they begin to learn more of the secrets of the Gray King and of Camorr’s history. While this genre isn’t my jam, the book was actually pretty good. I truly loved Locke and Co (Jean, Calo, Galdo and Bug). I finished in 7 days.

A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (383 pages). I know it’s the wrong season to read a Christmas book. But it’s so hot out that I wanted something the exact opposite. I did not get that. This story was supposed to be a cute rom com. I did not realize it was a cute rom com about former porn stars. Honestly, change the professionals and it was kind of cute. Sunny is in Christmas Notch, Vermont, working on a movie script she has already sold. Isaac is also there, working on his last record for his label. Upon realizing that both of them are experiencing writers block, Sunny moves into Isaac’s mansion and they agree to help each other. But both of them are struggling with past memories. Can they move past what is holding them back and find happiness with each other?  I finished in 4 days.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers (452 pages). In 1926, Cecile Cabot left Paris, with her infant daughter Margot. She found herself in Virginia, eventually starting a circus called Le Cirque Margot.  While Cecile loved the circus life, Margot first ran away. Then returned home to settle down, with a husband and daughter Audrey. In 1972, Audrey also decided that circus life wasn’t for her and Cecile retired the show. The family stayed in Virginia and opened Cabot Farms, a premier horse farm. Audrey married and had daughter Lara. And here is where the story begins. Because on Lara’s wedding day in 2004, her fiancé’s car is found. In the exact spot and the exact day of another man’s disappearance 30 years earlier. As a young girl, Lara encountered Althacazur, a mysterious man who told her that her legacy was a circus. But not Le Cirque Margot like she thought. Instead, it’s a mysterious circus called Le Secret Cirque, or the Devil’s Circus. This circus is just- wow. Learning about the performers and Lara’s connection to them was soooo good. I really liked this one!  I finished in 5 days.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver (357 pages). After her mother’s death, chef Iris decides to leave London and make a fresh start in New York. With just her memories and her mother’s special gelato recipe. She stumbles upon Belotti’s Gelatoria. Where she learns that the shop is about to shut down because Santo, the only family member with the recipe, is in a coma. She offers to help Santo’s nephew Gio. Not telling him that she actually already HAS the recipe. As Iris begins to fall more in love with Gio and the Belotti’s, she begins to imagine her life amongst them. But when Gio’s father returns home and Santo wakes up, they spill secrets that Iris’ mother kept hidden for years. Can Iris and Gio survive the lies their love is built on?  It was like While You Were Sleeping. But with gelato. I finished in 3 days.

Girls of July by Alex Flinn (496 pages).  Spider and her grandmother Ruthie have 3 rooms for rent in Ruthie’s charming cabin in the Adirondacks. So they advertise for 3 teenage female roommates for the summer. Bubbly Britta and studious Meredith (classmates in Florida) and socialite Kate from Georgia answer the ad. Each girl needs an escape- from family, from stress, from scandal. What they didn’t realize was that what they really needed was each other. I finished in 4 days.

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (309 pages). Most book nerds will agree, it is REALLY hard to pick a favorite book. It’s like asking which child is your favorite. But let’s face facts- everyone DOES have a favorite child. And this one is mine. I have loved Anne spelled with an E for so long that I can’t remember life without her. When we went to PEI 30+ years ago, I got offered a job as a tour guide at Green Gables if I could become fluent in French or Japanese. And yes, I was a teenager at the time. Anne Shirley is an orphan who is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert (siblings). She is full of imagination. The Cuthberts offer her a home and stability. She offers them love and life. The relationship between the three is so beautiful. Anne has many misadventures as she finds her way. Montgomery has a wonderful way of making the small big. And I will love her and all of her books until my last breath. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was….obviously, Anne. Always and forever. 

More like summer not reading for me

 This month was a slow one. I only read 5 books. A total of 1,1771 pages. An average of 59 pages a day.  Yes, that’s embarrassing. 

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati (482 pages). For those of you who don’t know, I’ve always had a fascination with Greek mythology. So a book that delves into it and adds more depth to a story is always a winner. This one was great. I didn’t know too much about Clytemnestra. She was married to Agamemnon. And killed him because he sacrificed their daughter to get favorable wind at the start of the Trojan War. And then she was killed by her son and another daughter as vengeance for their father. The murdering daughter was the inspiration for the term Electra Complex. Anyway, this novel gave her a truly wonderful story- she was loyal, strong, fierce. A true Spartan woman. I finished in 5 days. 

Beach Read by Emily Henry (362 pages). January Andrews is a romance writer, currently in the throes of her life falling apart. When she ends up at a beach house for the summer to try to write her newest book, her neighbor is author Augustus Everett. Dark fiction author and college rival. Both of them are experiencing writers block, so Gus decides that that should write in each other’s style and see who can get published. As they help each other research rom-com montages and death cults, they realize that a modern day love story can come in any shape or size. I love a good enemies to lovers story!  I finished in 4 days.

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell (386 pages). Colin and Lorelei Bird have 4 very different children- sensible Meg, dreamer Beth and twins Rory and Rhys (and no, it is not lost on the Gilmore Girls fan that I am that the mom is Lorelei and the child is Rory. Even though this child is a son). The Birds have a very different home life than most. Lorelei is a bohemian hippie. And a hoarder. Period.  Their house is slowly taken over by stuff. And when tragedy strikes, each family member reacts differently. And their family begins to fall apart. When another tragedy strikes, can this fractured family find their way back to each other. Lisa Jewell knows family dynamics in her novels. It was deep, it was sad, it was good. I finished in 3 days.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (335 pages). I finished in days. In 1936, Charlotte Cross was an 18 year old undergraduate student, traveling to Egypt for a study abroad program on an archaeological dig. While there, the team makes an amazing discovery. And is struck by disaster. The curse of Hathorkare might just be true. In 1978, the Metropolitan Museum in New York City is the place to see. They have just opened a new exhibit in the Egyptian artifacts department and associate curator Charlotte is in charge of it.  Meanwhile, 19 year old Annie Jenkins has landed her dream job- assistant to the former editor in chief of Vogue and current head of the Costume Institute, Diana Vreeland. Annie gets to help plan this year’s Met Gala. But when one of the artifacts at the Egyptian exhibit goes missing, Charlotte and Annie team up to recover it. And find themselves back in Egypt. Learning that this was loosely based on a real female pharaoh who history attempted to erase was very cool. Obviously, only that fact was true. The story, while fun, was entirely fiction!  I finished in 4 days. 

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. (206 pages). Pecola Breedlove just wants to be pretty. She wants blue eyes, the bluest eyes in the world. But Pecola isn’t pretty- she is dark skinned, with curly hair and dark eyes and comes from a poor family. And her life slowly starts to fall apart when her family is torn apart by one member’s actions. Honestly, this is one of those books that I’m not sure how I feel about it. It was heavy and heartbreaking and beautifully written. I finished in 4 days.

This month’s favorite was…. Beach Read. Although all of them were good this month. 

MAY I tell you about the books I read this month?!

 Kind of a slow month. Just 8 books. 2,566 pages. AN average of 83 pages a day. But I haven’t gotten to spend a lot of time by the pool. So there’s that

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (384 pages). Theo, a distinguished man of 87, arrives in Golden, Georgia, most unexpectedly. He does not appear to know a soul in town. On his first day, he happens into a coffee shop, where portraits are on display. Theo decides to slowly purchase them and bestow them upon the subjects. Theo is a beautiful soul, generous and welcoming. And he slowly creates a family for himself during the year he spends in Golden. It was a sweet and touching story. I finished in 5 days.

The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis (243 pages). I loved the limited series that this book was based on, so decided to give the book a try. Beth Harmon is 8 years old when she is orphaned and sent to a home. The custodian there teaches her chess. And Beth quickly proves to be a prodigy (and also a bit of a druggie thanks to the tranquilizers they are given). At 14, she is adopted by the Wheatleys.  Turns out she is adopted so that Mr Wheatley can leave Mrs Wheatley and she will have a companion. Once Mrs Wheatley realizes that Beth is gifted at chess, they begin to travel to tournaments. Because Beth wants to be a grandmaster and a world champion. Along the way, she makes friends with other chess players. And travels the world for tournaments. I liked the book just as much as the series!  I finished in 4 days. 

The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy (292 pages). I read this for my book club. Pat Conroy was a naive college graduate when he decided to teach on Yamacraw Island (a fictionalized Daufuskie Island) off the coast of South Carolina. His 18 students were all black and not a one of them knew that they lived in the United States of America. Pat decided he was going to teach them, not just the ABC’s but about life. With help from friends, he managed to teach them about classical music, he took them to DC, he even introduced them to Rick or treating. But the old guys in charge didn’t like him and after one year, he was fired. While he fought it, he didn’t win. Pat Conroy is an exquisite writer. And for me, I loved reading about one of the men who came over to meet the children, my family friend Peter Walter. I finished in 3 days.

Lord of the Fly Fest by Goldy Moldavsky (311 pages). Rafi Fransisco is a podcaster who knows she’s found her next big story- proving pop star River Stone murdered his girlfriend before he became famous. And she knows exactly where to do her investigating- the Fly Fest. This highly publicized and exclusive festival is going to be held on a private island. But once Rafi and the other influencers arrive, it’s not what they thought. No villas, no food, no festival. Think Frye Festival meets Lord of the Flies. Except not as good. Rafi is annoying. The influencers are absolute morons. Honestly, the premise was great. The execution?  Not so much. I finished in 3 days.

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer (297 pages). This was a special edition One Upon a Book Club book. All stories are love stories when you love stories. And thus opens the story!  Rainy March comes from a long line of book witches. Witches with the unique ability to enter a book when something goes wrong. But there are rules. And the most important one is don’t fall in love with a fictional character. When Rainy and her familiar Koshka get sent into her favorite series to save the Duke of Chicago (a page has gone blank, so they know something is wrong), she ignores all the rules. Because she’s always had a book crush of the Duke (I feel you, girl. Gilbert Blythe for me). Rainy continues her adventures of saving books and being with Duke. Until her grandfather goes missing. And Rainy must track down the March Hare to solve the mystery. This book was so creative, so cute. I really enjoyed it!  AND gifties?!  Perfect. I finished in 3 days.

By the Book: A Novel of Pros and Cons by Amanda Sellet (374 pages). Mary Porter-Malcolm’s whole world changes when her experimental school closes doors and she has to go to public high school. As a sophomore. With no friends!  But Mary has an encyclopedic knowledge of literature. And quickly makes friends by warning Arden, Lydia and Terry about the dangers of a Vronsky, aka heartthrob and cad Alex.  The girls begin to establish the Scoundrel Survivor Guide. But real life isn’t literature. And sometimes scoundrels are actually the heroes. I finished in 2 days (yes, finally a pool day)

The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr (303 pages). Marni is a successful chef with her own television program. Her producer Ellen is her best friend of 20 years. Their young intern Sophia is just starting her career in television. And Marni’s daughter Bella is a lawyer and expecting her first child. The women are at different places in their lives. But they are there for each other as their lives change. New relationships begin. Bad relationships end. And through it all, they have their friendship club. It was an easy read. I finished in 3 days.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill (362 pages). Alex is 8 years old in the spring of 1955. The spring of the Mass Dragoning. Over six hundred thousand of women literally became dragons, included her beloved aunt Marla. But not her mother.  Alex raises her cousin/adopted sister Beatrice. And eventually, after 9 years, the dragons begin to return. It’s a commentary on feminism and civil rights honestly. And a little too heavy handed. But an interest idea. I finished in 6 days. 

This month’s favorite was…The Book Witch. Loved the concept, loved the execution. 

April readings. I’ve nothing punny to entitle this entry

 This month was kind of average as far as the amount I read. But the books were all pretty good!  7 books. 2,349 pages. An average of 78 pages a day. 

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (425 pages). Meghann Dontess (high powered divorce attorney in Seattle) and Claire Cavenaugh (campground resort owner in Harlen) are sisters. But also strangers. When their actress mother abandoned them, Meg was just a teenager. And all she could do was find Claire’s father and ask for help. Meg never felt part of this new family and left. Now the sisters barely know each other. But when tragedy strikes, it turns out that sisters are sisters, no matter what. It was a sweet story. I finished in 4 days.

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose (320 pages). Sarah Morgan is a powerful defense attorney in DC. Her husband, Adam, is a once promising author who now spends his time at their lake house, trying to recapture his literary success. And having an affair with a local waitress named Kelly. When Kelly is found stabbed 37 times in his bed, Adam is charged with her murder. His only hope?  His wife’s fantastic courtroom skills. Because Adam swears he didn’t do it. And unless Sarah can find the true killer, Adam might be found guilty. Really enjoyed this one!!  I finished in 3 days.

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose (277 pages). The sequel to The Perfect Marriage. It’s been 12 years since the trial of Adam Morgan. Sarah is remarried to Bob Miller, a former coworker. Their life with their daughter seems perfect. Until Bob cheats. And his mistress goes missing. And the former sheriff who led the murder investigation on Kelly becomes connected to that case through DNA.  But Sarah is always one step ahead. I liked the first one better than this one. But it was still pretty good. I finished in 2 days.

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben (333 pages). Maggie McCabe is a combat surgeon and renowned plastic surgeon whose whole life has gone up in flames, including the loss of her husband and the revocation of her medical license. When her beloved mentor offers her a job opportunity that is too good to pass up, she doesn’t. And finds herself in Russia, performing plastic surgery on a Russian oligarch and his mistress. But when one of her patients disappears, Maggie realizes there was more to this surgical request than she first thought. And she quickly has to make sure that she’s not the next to disappear.  Her father in law, Porkchop, might be one of my favorite characters. He’s a tough biker who will do anything for family. I finished in 4 days.

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (359 pages). In 1882, Esme is born into a world of words. Her father is a lexicographer at the Scriptorium who works under Dr Murray, the man responsible for the first complete Oxford English Dictionary. While Esme finds words themselves fascinating, she finds the ones that are discarded from inclusion even more fascinating. Most of these words have never been written down but are said almost daily. Mostly by women. So Esme begins collecting these lost words. Esme’s life covers the suffragette movement, WWI, love, death, loss and everything in between. Which Esme is a fictional character, the men she worked with at the Scrippy were very real. It was a fascinating look at language and words.  I finished in 3 days.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (391 pages). Natalie Heller Mills is a 32 year old tradwife influencer. She is pregnant with her sixth child. And her life is perfect.  Or so she claims. With her 2 nannies, full time social media producer, ranch hands, 5+ million followers and very rich in-laws that fund a very cushy “farm life”. But one day, Natalie wakes up in her house. With completely different children and a slightly different husband. And the year is now 1855.  Natalie has no idea how to function in this life, despite her social media reflecting otherwise. And this life just seems wrong. It’s way more of a psychological thriller than I thought it would be from the description. And quite a satirical commentary on social media influencers. But I really liked it!  I finished in 4 days.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (244 pages). Esther Greenwood is 19. And on top of the world. She’s won an internship that’s allowed her to work in New York for part of a summer. She is inspired to be a poet. But then, something switches. And she slowly descends into a breakdown. It’s semi autobiographical. And a commentary of societal pressures on women that existed in the 1950’s (and honestly still today). This book was depressing and a little disjointed. I didn’t love it (but my heart still breaks for Sylvia Plath and her life). I finished in 3 days.

This month’s favorite was…The Dictionary of Lost Words. Y’all know I love historical fiction!

An embarrassingly bad showing/reading this month

 This month, I really slacked off. Like didn’t read for several days throughout the month. But let’s get into it. 6 books. 2,270 pages. An average of 73 pages a day (or 95 for the days I actually read)

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman (378 pages). The last of the Practical Magic series. For 300 years, Maria Owens’ curse had affected the Owens women. From secret weddings to never living together, the women have found a work around. But it still ultimately claims the men they love.  But Jet learns the secret of how to end the curse. And begins to set that into motion with her death. When Sally’s youngest daughter Kylie’s longtime love is in an accident, Kylie learns of the curse and is determined to break it. So she travels to England to seek the true beginning of their curse. As Franny, Sally, Gillian and Vincent follow her, they encounter left hand, dark magic that they have never encountered before. This was a beautiful ending to the series. And now I’m even more excited to see how the movie sequel turns out. I finished in 4 days.

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill (395 pages). This book was for my gym book club. Jenna was literally born into Scientology in 1984. Her grandparents joined in the 1969 and her uncle was David Miscaviage, the man who took over the “church” when L. Ron Hubbard died. Throughout her time in Scientology (from birth in 1984 to her escape in 2005), Jenna experienced family upheaval, manual labor that no child should endure, and mental/emotional manipulation of the highest degree. At 8 years old, she signed a contract to join Sea Org, the most senior staff of the group. A contract for one billion years. Because in Scientology, your Thetan (spirit) never dies <insert eye roll here>. Eventually, Jenna, her two brothers, her parents, and her grandfather (you know, the FATHER of the head of the organization) all left Scientology. Y’all- i knew Scientology was crazy. But I had no idea HOW crazy. Learning about the requirements of this group just reinforced every belief that I have that it is a dangerous cult. I finished in 3 days.

The New Girl by M.I. Hattersley (277 pages). Jade Fisher just started a new job at Beautiful You! Incorporated, an eco-friendly lifestyle brand. Working for THE Rebecca Burton-Webb. But Jade isn’t working there for the experience. She’s there for revenge. Because she and her sister are convinced that Rebecca has stolen their legacy. And Jade plans to prove it by working her way into Rebecca’s trust. But this world is more than Jade thought it would be. And the hidden secrets could be deadly. I finished in 4 days.

The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin (468 pages). The year is 1876. 20 year old heiress Charlotte Baird, an avid photography hobbyist, has been invited to spend time in the English countryside during hunting season. While there, she meets Bay Middleton, one of the greatest horseman in England (but not a nobleman). And Charlotte immediately falls in love. But Bay has been asked to pilot the Empress Elisabeth of Austria during the hunting season. She is staying at Easton Neston with the Spencers (yes, THOSE Spencers. The ancestors of Princess Diana). And Sisi is well-known as the most beautiful royal in all of Europe. She is also a fearless horsewoman. And thus began a wild royal love triangle. Y’all know I love some historical fiction. And I do love historical fiction about rumored relationships. This one took a few liberties with history (like the fact that Charlotte and Bay were engaged for 7 years rather than the elopement that ended the book). But on the whole I rather enjoyed the story. Sisi’s story is pretty tragic, so it was kind of nice to see her happy for a moment, even if it was because she was cheating on her husband. I read somewhere that Sisi was the Princess Diana of her day. And that tracks. I finished in 5 days.

The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little (379 pages). Y’all know I love historical fiction (as declared literally with the immediate prior book). Everyone in the world knows the name Coco Chanel. But what about the woman herself?  Gabrielle “Coco” was one of three sisters (older sister Julia-Berthe was a year older and younger sister Antoinette was four years younger). They also had two brothers. But when their mother died, the girls were left at a convent orphanage. And the boys just kind of disappeared. Gabrielle and Antoinette eventually met their young aunt Adrienne and the three became inseparable. Despite their humble beginnings and upbringing, they know they are meant for Something Better. The girls all learn how to sew, but Gabrielle is convinced that her future is on the stage. She earns the nickname of Coco from her songs. Eventually she realizes that she doesn’t have a future on the stage. And she and Antoinette open a hat shop in Paris (backed by one of Gabrielle’s lovers). Eventually they expand into resort wear. Then WWI hits and they switch to simplicity. And thus, the House of Chanel is born. Coco did not like to share her past. In fact, she lied about it. But I loved this story. Obviously, embellishments were made. But it seems like this truly was the gist of her origin. I finished in 4 days.

The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn (373 pages). In September of 1815, Rachel and Liam arrive in London. Not from Jamaica, as they tell people. But from the future. Their mission? To befriend Jane Austen, recover a suspected unpublished novel simply referred to as The Watsons and possibly save Jane’s life. But 1815 is a difficult time for women, especially a woman like Rachel who is a doctor and highly independent. She begins to wonder if she is losing herself as she begins to develop romantic feelings for Liam (who is supposed to be her brother in 1815) and true friendships with the Austens. They have one year to achieve their goal and leave history unchanged. This was an interesting concept and I really liked the idea of would you change history if you could. I finished in 4 days.

This month’s favorite was…The Chanel Sisters. Honestly, because I knew so little about Coco herself. 

February- the month of love-ing books

This was not my best month. Only 6 books. A total of 2,154 pages. An average of 77 pages a day. 

The E.M.M.A. Effect by Lia Riley (287 pages). This was a Valentine’s Day special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. 30 year old Harriett Smythe is a computer genius (but rather a rube at love). She works for a company that is creating cutting edge AI technology called E.M.M.A., short for Empirical Machine for Maximizing Athletes. Basically an AI-powered platform designed to revolutionize athletic performance and well-being. When her boss finds out that her best friend Brooke’s young brother is 25 year old NHL star Gale Knight, Harriett has to ask Gale if he will take part in their beta testing. Turns out that Gale needs Harriett in order to improve his athletic performance, at least according to EMMA. Because matchmaking is just one of the many abilities this system has. Now that they finally have permission from a computer, can Gale and Harriett admit to themselves that they are crazy about each other?  It was cute, it was frothy, it was a quick read. I finished in 2 days.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (366 pages). Have you ever wondered about the magical aunts, Franny and Jet, in Practical Magic?  Well, this is their story. Born to Susanna Owens (one of the rare Owens women who fled Massachusetts for new sights), Frances, Bridget and their younger brother Vincent (an anomaly in the all female Owens family) grew up in New York City in the 1950’s and 60’s. When Franny turns 17, she receives an invitation from Aunt Isabella. And all 3 children head to Massachusetts for the summer. They all know that they aren’t normal. But they don’t know what magic flows through their veins. It’s the magic of Maria Owens. As all men who love an Owens are cursed, this affects the siblings in different ways. But they live their lives in New York City, leaning on each other. When the unthinkable happens, Franny and Jet find themselves in the ancestral home in Massachusetts, creating a new life there and eventually welcoming Sally and Gillian into their lives. How did I not know about all of these sequels?!  I finished in 4 days. 

My Plain Jane by the Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows) (447 pages). Y’all know I love these creative reimaginings. And this is the last one they’ve written!  The main characters in this novel?  Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë and Alexander Blackwood. Jane is a teacher at the Lowood School for Girls, who eventually leaves to become a governess for the ward of Edward Rochester.  Charlotte is one of the students, and one of Jane’s best friends. Alexander is a ghost hunter with the Society for the Relocation of Wayward Spirits, and a seer, meaning he can actually see ghosts. And he thinks that Jane might be one as well. But she’s not- she’s so much more. As the three of them (along with Charlotte’s brother Branwell) join forces, they learn that the Society doesn’t care about the best interests of anyone other than themselves. I finished in 4 days.

The Block Party by Jamie Day (374 pages). Every year, the exclusive Alton Road cul-de-sac in Meadowbrook, Massachusetts, has their annual Memorial Day cookout. But this year, someone is dead before the end of the day. We then go back one year to learn the secrets of the street. Alcoholics, abusive relationships, unhappy marriages, young love, cheaters, stalkers, cyber geniuses and even Only Fans models litter the street. Now one of them is dead. And one of them had the motive. I did not see the murderer OR the murderee coming, which is always good. I finished in 4 days. 

The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams (357 pages). May of 1946. The war is over and the summer crowd is finally returning to Winthrop Island. 21 year old local Emilia Winthrop is thrilled that Summerly, summer home to the Peabodys where her father is the caretaker, will be reopened. Shep and Amory Peabody survived the war and are coming home. Along with them is their aunt Olive Rainsford and her children.  But Emilia is approached by special agent Sumner Fox to help apprehend a Soviet spy. Aunt Olive. And one night, it all goes down and lives are forever changed. In April of 1954, Emilia is now a doctoral student at Wellesley College. Fox calls and lets her know that Olive has a request for her, a request from behind bars. And once again, lives are forever changed. I don’t normally read a lot of POST war/Cold War historical fiction. So that part was pretty interesting. But honestly, the ending seemed a little rushed. I literally had to reread a chapter because I thought I’d missed something. I finished in 5 days.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (323 pages). If someone wishes you dead, have they actually killed you?  6 years ago, Alicia Berenson killed her husband Gabriel by shooting him in the face several times. From the moment the police arrived, Alicia never spoke another word. The only clue she left was a self portrait entitled Alcestis (a Greek tragedy). After her trial, she is sent to the Grove, a psychiatric hospital. Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber begins working at the Grove, just so he can work with Alicia.  Ever since the trial, he’s been convinced he can help her. But if she won’t talk, can he actually help her?  Is Alicia actually guilty?  Or is she just crazy?  I did NOT see the ending coming at all. And I loved it!  I finished in 4 days. 

This month’s favorite was…The Silent Patient. Although The Rules of Magic was a very close second.