Monthly Book Review: June 2025

Two excellent books this month, both recommended by Modern Mrs. Darcy as favorite audiobooks of 2024. I wholeheartedly concur!

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn is girl power at its best. Mix six women living in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse in the early 1950's with politics (McCarthyism), cultural changes in gender roles, and murder and you get a fascinating story of secrets and loyalty. The house is also an important character. There are at least two chapters per boarder for in-depth character development and intriguing backstories. There are a few twists along the way (no spoilers), but one of my favorites is a recipe, complete with accompanying music and activity, from the group's weekly supper club - sun tea, Swedish meatballs, corned beef hash, Irish colcannon, candle salad (hysterical!), halusiki (cabbage and noodles), gumbo, strawberry fool, fried chicken, Italian ragu, fried bananas in rum, potato pancakes, eight-layer honey cloud cake and rassolnik (pickle soup). 

I devoured The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini in six days. A woman has fallen from a 25-story London roof. Was it suicide or murder? A woman is arrested and with so many inconsistencies the reader is left wondering what's real and what's bullsh!t. And who the heck is Helen? The story unfolds like layers of an onion as the key suspect speaks with her solicitor. Intriguing, sad and a great example of revenge being a dish best served ice cold.

Monthly Book Review: May 2025

3 great books in one month - trying to get my reading mojo back! 

Beach Read by Emily Henry. Henry is one of the hottest chick lit writers along with Taylor Jenkins Reid. This was my second Henry read and I have four others in my wish list. Beach Read is about two authors who have a shared history and end up living next to each other in a small vacation town. Their friendship unfolds as they are dealing with writer's block and challenge each other to write a book in the other's genre - happily ever after for her and dark fiction for him. Witty, cute and fun. 

I devoured City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. Excellent! The fictional story of Vivian Morris, an independent, free-thinking rebel, from 1940 to early 2000's. It's told from Vivian's point of view as she writes a letter to "Angela" though we don't know who Angela is until near the end. Vivian experiences many exploits in New York City thanks to her Aunt Peg and the cast of characters at Peg's Lily Playhouse. She learns tough lessons and finds her place in the world with a chosen family. Great history of NYC and the liberation of women after WWII. Reader beware - Vivian takes full advantage of the changing times to explore her sexuality.

One excerpt was striking to me because it could be written word-for-word about my husband -

He became the most trusted confidante of my life. There was a clarity about [sic] .., a deep and unshakable integrity. It was soothing to be with a man who never boasted about himself ... and who did not impose himself on the world in anyway. If he ever had a fault or made a mistake, he would tell you before you could find out for yourself. And there was nothing I could ever tell him about myself that he would judge or criticize... Most of all though, he listened.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is beautifully tragic. The story bounces between three timelines: 1968, "before" and "the trial". You don't know who is on trial and the buildup is exquisite. Longing, loss, and regret - how one choice can change everything. I wish I could read it for the first time again (and I never say that!). Beautifully written with complex characters (plus fantastic narration by Blair Brown for audio version) - definitely a top pick for 2025. I hear Reese Witherspoon's company has picked it up for TV.

Monthly Book Review: April 2025

It's hard to summarize Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (Sharon Says So book club). It was intense, informative and thought provoking. Lots of engineering detail and history, but so necessary for context. I didn't find it dry or boring. Excellent narration. I know hindsight is 20/20, but over and over again, NASA had cautionary tales of what not to do, opportunities to maintain fail safes with too many acts of hubris and concern for optics. The only reason we know the full truth is because a couple of engineers at rocket contractor Morton Thiokol admitted that they advised NASA not to launch the fateful morning of January 28, 1986 because of poor performance of the O-ring seals in low temps. The temperature that morning was 36 degrees - 15 degrees cooler than any previous launch - and they told NASA they couldn't advise if below 50-something degrees. But NASA pushed them to prove it wasn't safe to launch for the first time - they had always focused on proving that it was safe to launch. Then the contractors reversed their advice - they caved to pressure and it cost lives. No one was ever the same - certainly not the families of the 7 lost astronauts. Unfortunately, in 2003 there was another disaster, owing much to the same flaws in management and politics. History always has a way of repeating itself.

Book Review: Q1 2025

Note post title 🤷‍♀️ IYKYK

I started the year with a memoir by one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. I watched Ina’s show for years and love her recipes for being reliable and delicious. It was interesting to hear how she became The Barefoot Contessa and that she seems to have been in the right place at the right time throughout her adult life. She did have many advantages so not completely rags to riches. I love her authenticity, work ethic (trying recipes over and over to ensure consistency) and general happiness. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and is grounded enough to determine the difference between what is and isn’t important. This was on everyone’s reading list as soon as it came out, but I finally decided to read it as part of Sharon McMahon’s book club (of Sharon Says So IG fame).

Next was Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. This is about three generations of women: Minh, her daughter Huong and her granddaughter Ann Tran. Minh immigrated to the U.S. after the Vietnam War, seeking a better life for her two young children. But she harbors a secret. Huong worked hard to give her daughter a good life, but her mother Minh and daughter Ann have a close relationship that she resents. Ann is at a crossroads in her life. Minh's sudden death brings them all together in a home that has its own secrets. 

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren was predictable but cute. What if popular "it" designers (think Chip & Joanna Gaines) were not happily married and one of their assistants was actually doing all the work?

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufus Thorpe is my favorite so far this year. Margo is a very bright young woman with sketchy parents, three roommates and a new baby. She has to find a way to make ends meet since her baby daddy, her English professor, has ghosted her and she’s been fired from her waitress job for lack of childcare. Enter ingenuity, Only Fans, and wrestling. Funny, smart and thought proving, this really challenged me to stretch my ideas of how someone else's unconventional choices aren't bad even if they don't fit with what my idea of good choices looks like.

Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle. I read Melanie’s blog back in the day as well as one of her first books on friendship. In Dragons, she shares that her mother was her first bully. Oof. Very insightful regarding generational trauma and the journey to healing through boundaries. Loved all the references to growing up in the 70s and 80s and friends that fill our voids 💗

I just started Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (Sharon Says So book club) about the space shuttle disaster. 

Book Review: December 2024 and Year in Review

I've been MIA so in good conscience could not call this a "monthly" review. We spent a week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico just after Thanksgiving and with the holiday season already so short due to how close Thanksgiving and Christmas were it just flew by.

Amidst vacationing, losing my beloved kitty, Mina, baking and a crazy work schedule, I snuck three books in November and December.

In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker gave me Practical Magic meets Hope Floats vibes. The Haywood women of Yarrow, Kentucky are known for reading tea leaves and their shadow garden, and Yarrow is known for bourbon. When you blend the two you get magic and mystery. 

The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon (America's government teacher whose followers are known as the Governerds) chronicles 12 lesser-known Americans who made a significant impact on history. I was moved by Gouverneur Morris who wrote the preamble to the Constitution, Septima Clark who is responsible for the literacy of countless black Americans, Clara Brown who helped establish Colorado's prominence during the Gold Rush, and the nine other inspiring people who helped shaped this great nation. 

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman was a cute read about four friends who spend every Christmas together. It was way too long but had a very satisfying end and delightful characters. 

21 books total for 2024 and my top 5:

Monthly Book Review: Oct 2024

My BFF and I saw comedian Leeann Morgan mid-September and I just had to continue the fun by reading her autobiography What in the World. I find her relatable, funny, and authentic. Looking forward to her Netflix show next year.

I love Lucy Foley books, and The Midnight Feast is my fourth. Like the others, Midnight is a proper whodunnit ala Agatha Christie. It's summer 2025 and guests have gathered at the new "it" vacation spot on opening weekend in Dorset, England called The Manor. The manor is actually owner Francesca's ancestral home where she spent summers neighboring the beautiful cliffs and a caravan park (Americans would say "RV" park). Some of the guests are there for a luxury vacation and others have ulterior motives. The tension creates a satisfying suspense.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare was the perfect listen just before Halloween. Kit Tyler leaves Barbados for America in 1687. During the journey she shocks other passengers with her independence and progressive thinking. In Connecticut she finds her family, aunt, uncle and two cousins, Mercy and Judith, along with the stiffness and formality of a Puritan town. There is a certain way of doing things and Kit just can't fall in line. The only solace she discovers is with the Quaker "witch" Hannah Tupper who lives on Blackbird Pond. When children start falling sick, assumptions are made, and fear takes over commonsense.

TBR List:

• Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
• Banyan Moon by Thao Thai 
• Beach Ready by Emily Henry
• The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
• Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
• The Switch by Beth O'Leary
• Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
• Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
• Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford

Monthly Book Review: Aug/Sep 2024

I took a month off from the blog to enjoy the end of summer to it's fullest, including an epic two-week road trip to Utah (three national parks!), Phoenix, AZ and Telluride, CO. I found time to read three good books.

Can you spot the Corgi?!

Homecoming by Kate Morton - I love Morton's books for their rich character development, interwoven stories, and ability to engross you in the story. A fog machine, lush greenery and songbirds are her vibe. Homecoming starts with a shocking discovery then fast forwards 60 years later to begin unfolding the mystery. Jess rushes home to Australia when her beloved grandmother who essentially raised her falls ill. Like "Rosebud" in Citizen Kane, an utterance leads Jess to uncover her family's connection to an infamous unsolved crime. Deeply held secrets, a sense of duty and devotion, and mother-daughter dynamics make for a captivating, layered tale. I was so sure I had it all figured out but was completely surprised for a satisfying end. I was also sincerely disappointed to learn that the idyllic Tambilla is a fictional town. 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore was another mystery with a surprising end. A thirteen-year-old camper goes missing one morning in 1975. Creepily her brother also went missing and has never found fourteen years prior. It meandered at times and there's a strong haves/have-not's perspective - camp owners and their wealthy guests on the hill vs. camp workers and investigators - that I found distracting, but it was all part of Moore's foil to keep you guessing. Once again, I thought I had it all figured out only to find I was completely wrong. My favorite character was investigator Judyta - smart, dedicated and intuitive - if only the men around her would stop discounting and patronizing her.

I don't want to give too much away about The Wedding People by Alison Espach - it's quirky, tender and delves into the heart of depression with honesty and humor. My favorite of the three.

TBR List:

• Banyan Moon by Thao Thai 
• Beach Ready by Emily Henry
• The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Blue Love: Blue Valley High by MJ Fields 
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
• The Switch by Beth O'Leary
• Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
• Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
• Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford