Reading That Next

The Sirens // Emilia Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The revenge against men + historical fiction plot is very similar to Weyward, but I’m along for the ride (for now). Hart is talented at creating whole worlds in a way that makes reading her books super immersive, like stepping outside your own reality for a few hours. I’m interested to see if she can branch out a little in whatever she gives us next.

I’d have liked to see a stronger lean into the fantasy side of this one. It was pretty clear right from the beginning what the magical thread was, and a bit of a stretch that the characters didn’t have suspicions themselves. It could have been really cool to dive (pun intended) a bit deeper into this.

If you liked Weyward, you’ll like this! I’d definitely recommend it for book clubs or people who want to get back into reading as it’s a pretty easy and quick read.

Homecoming // Kate Morton
⭐️⭐️

I was SO excited to read this as my dad comes from Adelaide! Had it on hold through Libby for months and then it became available just as I was leaving for a Europe trip for my birthday weekend - I thought surely this was a recipe for perfection.

I was wrong. This book is slowww and I remember numerous times throwing down my kindle in frustration because nothing was happening. It’s also got my second most hated trope - where the entire plot hinges on characters’ “failure to communicate”. The whole thing felt a bit lazy and I predicted the twist so early on that finishing it was an act of sheer stubbornness.

I loved The Forgotten Garden but have now read two other Kate Morton books that were disappointing. Can someone tell me if I should give another one a try or just step away from her work completely?

P.S. is a must-visit in Amsterdam! The cozy atmosphere, welcoming staff, and delicious hearty food made reading the book a lot more bearable 💙

Our Wives Under the Sea // Julia Armfield
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is what I’m talking about when I say I don’t mind when a book makes me uncomfortable. It felt like taking a dark emotion I’ve been ignoring and shining a spotlight on it. The writing is beautiful; the author somehow made me feel so much despite the storyline having not one single element that’s relatable for me. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before, had me reaching for Google more than a few times and I fear I might be on the brink of a submarine hyperfixation now.

The book is about as poetic as I can bear in a novel, in the sense that you have to suspend disbelief and you won’t get a neat little resolution wrapped up with a bow. I want more! I want an explanation! I want every side story to have an ending! There’s a lot of fuel for speculation and I think this is the perfect candidate for the book club that’s looking to expand its horizons a bit and have a creative conversation that’s actually about the book.

This is the kind of book that makes me feel like a more sophisticated reader but is still accessible enough to create a very enjoyable reading experience.

Lying in Wait // Liz Nugent
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s not often that a book exceeds my expectations. I picked this up because I was in a serious reading slump after the last book I finished (review to follow) and wanted something I could blaze through in a day to get me back into the rhythm. I did end up finishing it in just over a day (those last 50 pages at 2am are tough to turn away from) but wowowow there was so much more depth here than I anticipated!

The blurb honestly doesn’t do it justice - it had me thinking this would be a one dimensional crime thriller with a little bit of drama from two women dealing with a death from different perspectives. NOPE.

This is not a spoiler: the murder happens in the first 5 pages, and from then on the layers of WTF slowly start to reveal themselves. I’ve rarely seen this style of writing executed successfully without some overdone, far-fetched twists attempting to keep the reader engaged, but Liz Nugent does it beautifully here. It’s the perfect blend of a slow burn Tana French novel with a pinch of Zoje Stage (Baby Teeth) or Jason Rejulak (Hidden Pitcures) darkness.

I can’t wait to read more from this author - Unraveling Oliver is going on my TBR immediately and I’m so grateful this book got me out of my funk, we are SO BACK!

Bunny // Mona Awad
⭐️

I disliked every second of this. I don’t mind when a book makes me a little uncomfortable or sets my worldview on edge, but this one gave me gut-wrenching anxiety, tunnel vision, and honestly a bit of nausea. Reading it was like a prolonged panic attack. It was like one of those nightmares you wake up from drenched in sweat, with content so f-ed up it stays with you for the entire day.

I can’t give you a good reason why I kept going all the way to the end. Maybe it was stubbornness, maybe I was clinging to the hope that there would be some sort of resolution that made it all make sense. Needless to say the resolution didn’t come and I’m still in a very dark headspace. I hope I can forget about this book soon.

An airport bookstore hates to see me coming ✈️

For some people it’s an airport beer/glass of wine, for me it’s an airport book - money isn’t real and the normal rules don’t apply 🤭

The Answer is No // Fredrik Backman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s difficult to express how funny this book is without using expletives. I hate calling any attention to myself in public but I was on the plane and I gave up trying to suppress laughing out loud.

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to relate more to a character and I’m putting this book on my required reading list for everyone to get a peek into the mind of the introvert.

And I need to give massive credit to the translator as well because executing such beautiful dry humour in a second language is not easy, and this was masterful work.

I’m 2/3 on Fredrik Backman books now - I adored A Man Called Ove but didn’t think Anxious People was anything to write home about. This, however, is a must read!

Every Summer After // Carley Fortune
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read this in one sitting on a 5-hour beach day, and for that it was perfect. I can’t say whether it would have kept me engaged if I had tried to read it in snippets here and there during a busy work week, but it was just right for measuring my sunbathing time (~25 pages per side) and pausing every couple of hours for lunch or a quick swim!

I love how the author presented the intimate scenes in a somewhat unconventional order - not the coming-of-age losing-your-v-card story we’re used to (and I’m tired of) but rather flashbacks from an *experienced* FMC. They’re more like fond memories and make our protagonist more relatable as a whole. It’s like The Summer I Turned Pretty for grown-ups. I also can’t think of a moment where the main character annoyed me, which is rare for a romance novel.

Reading this nice little romance felt like making a friend; I find certain posts or ads on social reminding me of something from the story and I’ll forget this wasn’t actually my life. It didn’t get the 5th star because it didn’t particularly move me and I probably won’t be re-reading, but overall out of all the summer romances out there, this is one I would recommend.

The Cartographers // Peng Shepherd
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book has been on my TBR for years and as a Da Vinci Code fanatic I had really high hopes... I wish I could say it lived up to my expectations. The topic was super intriguing and I could easily see myself going into a phantom settlement rabbit hole, but unfortunately the character development was just not there for me and it took me about half of the book to figure out which names went with which time period. I can’t remember reading a novel before that had multiple characters telling their stories in first person, and now I can see why - I had to keep flipping back to the chapter titles to see who was talking.

As for the plot - for me the twist was super obvious from very early on, so when it came time for the dramatic, extended reveal, it felt like it was being dragged on for too long. I also thought the motive for the villain’s actions was very weak. It only came out at the very end and somehow felt anticlimactic; I wish there had been more of a buildup to make it all more meaningful.

I can’t give it less than 3 stars because I didn’t actively dislike it, I just wanted so much more from this book.

Tell Me An Ending // Jo Harkin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you know me, you’ll know I have an extreme aversion to inconveniencing others (oldest siblings sound off in the comments 📢), so the fact that I was willing to keep my reading light on for an entire evening flight to read this book should tell you all you need to know.

I’m not usually a big sci-fi person, but I think the review on the cover is a little misleading and this is really more of a psychological thriller. Very strong character development and lots of contemplating “what would I do if I were in this situation?” There were two or three times I started a new chapter and couldn’t quite keep straight which storyline belonged to which character (there are 5 POVs) but there were expertly placed, subtle reminders that quickly helped me get back on track.

If you liked The Measure by Nikki Erlick you should absolutely read this, and vice versa!

The one little plot hole I can’t get over (not a spoiler): there are two instances where Mei hangs up on her mother “for the first time ever/in her life”… can’t find the author on Instagram but I need answers!

No Bad Deed // Heather Chavez
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I chose this book because I had two days before a work trip and wanted a quick read so I could then start a new book on the plane, and the other reviewers weren’t lying about this being one you can’t put down. I finished it in less than 24 hours and it took me until about 70% of the way through to figure out the twist, which was a welcome change for someone who can usually see them coming from a mile away.

Books that get 5-star ratings from me generally have one or more of the following qualities: they suck me in early on, they are unlike anything I’ve read before in their genre, and/or they make me think about sweeping existential things like the meaning of life. This one easily checked the first two boxes and is moving right to the top of my crime/thriller recommendations.

Eternal // Lisa Scottoline
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not going to lie, I usually dismiss books with old-fashioned photos of women’s backs on the cover because they kind of all feel the same. They’re never bad stories, but you know you’re in for a slow progression over 5-20 years with a bit of tragedy, a bit of romance, and some female empowerment.

That being said, I waited until I was in the right mood for this and genuinely enjoyed it as a cozy winter read. I’ve also been to Rome, where this is set (and a bonus appearance by the tiny town of Orvieto where a family friend of mine lives), so it was cool to see some familiar places mentioned! I also didn’t know much about Italy’s role in WWII so that was an interesting new-to-me angle.

And, the good thing about historical fiction is that when I kind of know what’s going to happen in the greater plot, I tend to spend less time thinking ahead. It’s less like a crime novel where my brain is busy trying to solve the puzzle; instead, I’m giving myself over to the flow and getting more invested in what the characters are doing from moment to moment. Difficult to explain, but I find it’s a very relaxing reading experience!