Life has been lifing lately and I hardly know if I‘m coming or going. I did manage to get myself on a plane to France for a trip that I have been planning for ages although the plan has changed so many times it only added to the chaos. But today I got to go to Shakespeare and Company and then sit down with a latte and read this short story before I send it to a friend. Ghost stories aren‘t my usual thing but I love Gaskell and this was enjoyable.

Two couples who are neighbors, the wives seem to become friendly but it quickly becomes clear that none of the four is truly known or understood by any of the others. You get to know each of them so well, including how they perceive each other. The plot, what little there is, is secondary and almost distracting- the ending was jarring in way that didn‘t work for me. A light pick.

Listening to this audiobook was a bit like poking at a wound that hasn‘t fully healed yet but it was still an interesting look behind the scenes from Kamala‘s perspective. I am still mourning for what could have been but I am glad I was persuaded to give this a try.

I finished this book last night which made today‘s headlines even more of a jolt. It took time to read this because even though I thought I had a handle on Virginia‘s story , I didn‘t. The abuse she suffered throughout her life was difficult enough to read about, I cannot imagine how she survived it all. I want the files released and truth exposed but there is no punishment big enough to qualify as justice for what was done to these girls.

I have been a cranky reader lately but I don‘t think this book not working for me was because of my moods. Just before graduation, Phoebe meets her birth parents despite her reluctance. The meeting leads her to leave her home and try to go unnoticed in the home of her friend and his 13 siblings. However a haircut makes his brothers take notice and Phoebe follows where they lead. Phoebe annoyed me and her journey and this book seemed directionless.

Yiyun Li had endured more in her life than I can fathom and yet she is able to go on. This book about the deaths by suicide of both of her sons years apart is told matter of factly but that doesn‘t make it emotionless. For me it amplified the sentences that hit me hard, as if they snuck up on you. Thoughtful and reflective and like nothing I have read before.

Sue! This is such a lovely surprise. I have so been wanting to read this and your package arrived just when I needed a boost. I appreciate it so much.

My brain cannot handle challenging reads at the moment so this book was exactly what I needed. At a time in her life when she desperately needs a win, a woman is called to participate in a series of challenges on the island owned by the children‘s book author she has loved her entire life. The books I loved as child still hold a magical place in my heart so I really enjoyed this warm and sweet read.

Easter Sunday when Ivy is 19 is a hugely impactful day in her life. In its aftermath, the book then checks in with her on different days across the decades of her life. I finished this ages ago and at first thought it was fine, but didn‘t feel compelled to review it. Yet I keep thinking about it, certain scenes popping into my mind frequently. It has burrowed itself into my brain which I cannot ignore.

An opera singer is forced to teach a whistling class when she must take time to rest her voice. While her life is seemingly falling apart she finds friendship and understanding in unlikely places. This book was a surprising delight. It was well written and emotionally impactful but never overly sweet.
This will be Sergei‘s last time being a book model as he and his brother will move to their forever home on Friday. I will definitely miss them.

Two women who barely know each other start up a marriage bureau in London after WWII. When one of their clients is murdered and they suspect the wrong person has been jailed for the crime, the two start to investigate for themselves. Really enjoyed this palette cleanser. Fun banter and great side characters (I would read this for Sally alone#) made me it easy for me to buy the next two books in the series.

I have to agree with @Suet624 that this was a five star read. Bo is determined to stay independent and do things for himself and his dog despite what his son and daily caregivers say. His beloved wife has already been put into a facility due to her dementia and Bo spends much of his time remembering the past with her, his father, and with his son. This book was so masterfully written that despite knowing what Bo would face I cried like a baby.

I finished this #booker2025 title days ago but have been struggling to explain why it didn‘t work as well for me as it seems to have for everyone else. A long book told in multiple perspectives across many years, it touches on so many impactful themes but never really gelled for me as a whole. Some sections I never wanted to end, some sections were harder to get through. I appreciate its inclusion on the shortlist but I wasn‘t excited by jt.

This book tried to be too many things which was jarring. Perhaps if it had skipped the office rom com part and just focused on the world of publishing or the historical fiction aspects it would have worked more. I did end up absorbed in the story, if not the romance, and read the last third in one big gulp. Overall it was fun read. A very light pick.

After being seduced by an older woman as a teen and their relationship‘s traumatic end, Istvan drifts through life, remaining monosyllabic and unaffected. His emotions don‘t drive him but his physicality seems to. He is passive and largely unknowable and yet I still ended up caring about what happened to him. I kept seeing the wounded kid in his inability to let himself feel. Surprised that this ended up a pick for me. #bookerlonglist

Cora meets Sam at a local baby group and realizes that not only is he the sole other parent she can stand, but she is also very attracted him. Sam feels the same but they cannot act on those feelings and potentially destroy two families. But then what if they did? I really loved the way this story was told, managing to make suburban infidelity almost seem fresh. It was funny and gripping if a touch too long. Out 10/21

As a young teenager Ian Manuel was sentenced to life in prison without parole and spent years in solitary confinement. This is the story of his upbringing, his crime, the draconian punishment he received and how Equal Justice Initiative eventually took his case and helped to free him. I listened to the audio, which Ian narrated himself, and found this a powerful reminder of how unjust our justice system is.

Thomas‘s life is made up of unending labor with every day almost exactly like the last and no real hope for something more. When a Hollywood producer comes on the scene there is suddenly a chance that maybe life could be different. This is the quietest of the #bookerlonglist titles I have read but the writing is so detailed and evocative that what is at heart a simple story becomes so much more. This would make my shortlist with ease.

My nephew just finished reading this series and is really sad it is over. He would love recommendations for any similar books if any of you have any.

Thank you so much @AmyG ! My excitement startled Sergei out of his nap but after investigating he agrees that you are awesome! This has been long been on my wishlist and I am excited to read it.

Yes! A #bookerlonglist title that I loved! It starts off focusing on three women in the Ukraine, a scientist trying desperately to save rare snails from extinction and two sisters taking part in tours that match foreign men with potential Ukrainian brides. As the three characters become entangled in a scheme Russia invades and everything changes. I don‘t want to spoil anything but this book has so much to say and is so smart and darkly funny.

I loved this! After the death of Emily Dickenson the women in her life grieve the loss of her as they also decide what to do with all the poetry she left behind. This was so beautifully done. Gorgeously written, without a wasted word I think this is a book I will want to revisit.

A Chinese family in Malaysia spends the summer at their small family farm. There is a lot of tension about the farm and within the family. Amidst all of this two teenage boys forge a relationship. This is one of my favorites from the #bookerlonglist so far but the fact that it is the first in a four part series makes sense to me because it felt like it was building towards something that it never became.

This is probably my least favorite of Hartnett‘s books. She is still a must read author for me but I spent too much time annoyed with pretty much every single character before it all clicked into place for me. A light pick.

I went into this book about a Trinidadian woman who gave up her daughter for adoption when she was 16 expecting to really like it, even with all the middling reviews. But instead, after a solid opening, I found the book tedious. Not sure how this made the #bookerlonglist

Well I will be looking for something light hearted on my shelves to read next because this was just so hard on my heart. An autistic mother with a teenaged daughter when new neighbors move in next door and insert themselves into their lives. It drags a bit in the middle but I was still ready to jump into the pages and fight everyone for being so cruel and dismissive of Sunday.

Tom drops his daughter off at college and rather than driving home and facing his marriage, his health, or his career he just keeps driving stopping off to visit old friends on the way. He is not an especially likable character but even with my adamantly disagreeing with almost all of his views there were moments in his thoughts that resonated with me. I really enjoyed reading this but it didn‘t feel very Bookery to me. #bookerlonglist

John is a black man who trains horses on his ranch outside of a small town in Wyoming. When a gay man is murdered in the town the event vibrates through out his life in unexpected ways including bringing the son of his college roommate to stay. Percival Everett is in a league of his own and my only complaint about this book is that it is so short. The ending was so abrupt, I wanted another 150 pages.

I read this collection of both novellas featuring Dex and Mosscap in bite sized snippets after work all week. I have been feeling pretty burned out much like Dex so the quiet comfort of these pages was very welcome .
#14books14weeka. Book 14

A marriage of convenience between two academic rivals who argue and test each other but also show each other such care, respect, and support. I was here for it all- from the literary discussions and campus politics to the family dynamics and simple act of bringing your parter coffee every morning. This book was funny, sad, and unbelievably sweet all at once. Out on 11/11/25

Quick on audio but ultimately not for me. This was a look at class, wealth, journalism, and politics. Brown deftly gets you into the minds of her characters but even spending time in the thoughts of those with entirely different t perspectives from my own did not make me feel any more enlightened.

Somehow I thought I was going to stop at the halfway mark but there was no way. Cosby has somehow become a must read author for me although I don‘t really read high octane, violent thrillers. I still get drawn into the stories and care about the characters, including all of the Carruthers siblings in this book as older brother Roman tried to save them all. Once he made his first move, I could not look away. And what an ending! #camplitsy25

And now for something completely different…. I started this as a buddy read with a coworker while I was in a slump and had to focus it on it this weekend like it was my job. Over 700 pages and jn the beginning I was feeling every one of them- suddenly though it all clicked and I was there for it all the epic adventures, the violence, the vulgar insults, the friendships and betrayals. It was quite a ride.

The first of my #bookerlonglist library holds to come in and not an especially auspicious start. In the beginning I was hooked but then things went off the rails. There was too much going on and.then nothing was resolved leaving me wondering what I was going to take away from it all.

I started this coming off of a minor slump and was so relieved that it was so propulsive. A nine months pregnant woman trying to make it across Portland on foot after a major earthquake, cue the tension and anxiety. The pages almost turned themselves and yet I didn‘t looove this as much as everyone else at #camplitsy seems to. It was like a good action movie- thrilling in the moment but not overly impactful. Still a pick. #14books14weeks Book 13

I avoided this one when the buzz started but all of the Litsy reviews wore me down and I am glad they did. Such a wonderfully unusual book that sort of makes space in your brain and won‘t let you stop thinking about jr. A girl raised in a bunker with 39 other women. Why are they there? What was her life before? How does this impact every aspect of her being? You don‘t get all the answers you want but you do get a lot to mull over.

Every once in awhile you read a book that feels like it was written for you. This book brought me back to twenties self in such a powerful way. Long passionate talks about music while trying to figure out everything else.. I can see how many people might find this a basic love story but for me it felt like revisiting my younger heart.

No sophomore slump for Mottley, this book was every bit as good as her debut with perhaps an added layer of polish. A group of unwed, teenage mothers band together in small town Florida and provide each other the support that is denied them my their families and the community overall. They are still so young and making all the errors in judgement teenage girls do while trying to be the mothers their children need.

A man kills his wife and two of his three children, shocking the small island community where he lives. Twenty years his surviving son returns to the island forcing everyone to face their complicated feelings about what happened and what it means. This was so good. The emotions in this book escalated as layers to the story were uncovered until I was turning pages with my heart firmly lodged in my throat.
#14book14weeks book 12

A missing hiker and those looking for her, a case of overly high expectations I think thwarted my experience with this one. It was still a good book, better than average even, but I went into it thinking I was starting what was destined to be one of my top reads of the year and it just wasn‘t.

Another great #camplitsy25 selection and an important read about trans lives and experiences and how vital it is to be seen and accepted for you truly are. I didn‘t expect this to be such a hard to put down, page turner but I had to know how things were going to turn out for these wholly vibrant, imperfectly perfect characters. #14books14weeks book 11

Grief, regret, and longing. Ivona divorced her the love of her life, Vlaho, years ago but their lives remain entangled. He has remarried and has children but nothing about Ivona‘s life has turned out the way she wanted. When she meets a man their relationship upsets the balance she and Vlaho have obtained and bitter truths are revealed. Ivona makes decisions that I never would but I couldn‘t help but worry and read on.

Three best friends growing up together in northern England in the 90s - the squabbles, insecurities ,and devotion of girlhood friends alongside the difficulties of growing up and figuring out how to exist in the world as a girl. This was a raw story that doesn‘t pull its punches. It took me a few pages to be able to read the dialect but once I got into the swing of it I was worried about Shaz, Rach, and Kel and what would become of them.

My coworker is moving and gave me first dibs on the books she is weeding out and I chose this one. A short but effective read about a Korean woman as she experiences sexism in every stage of her life from the favoritism her brother receives as the only son to the inequalities faced when having a child both at home and in the workplace. This was the perfect length- the writing was direct and rules my emotions up to the last maddening sentence.

Well shoot,I really liked Wilson‘s previous books and loved the idea of half siblings were complete strangers embarking on a a road trip to find the father who abandoned them all. The problem is that there seemed to be only the idea of a story here. The characters were one dimensional, the journey itself was kind of boring, and the ending was so unsatisfying. Happy others seem to be enjoying it but I didn‘t like this one at all.

Chopin didn‘t run & hide!
Steven‘s father disappeared from his life when he 12. For decades Steven let his hurt and anger rule and never looked for him. Now that his own life is in disarray he is searching for answers. Steven talks to people who knew his father and dissects his own memories trying to understand what he couldn‘t s a child. The writing was crisp and at times I forgot this wasn‘t a memoir. Steven felt so real to me.

Cushla is tying to juggle so much from her alcoholic mother,to assisting the family of a student when his father is severely beaten while living near Belfast during the Troubles. Adding an affair with an older, married man creates even more stress. The affair is more icky than romantic and I‘d have preferred it have less of a focus but I felt such a sense of dread wondering which of the balls she was juggling would drop first. #14books14weeks 10

As soon I could today, I sat down and finished this book after today‘s #camplitsy discussion. I loved this. It surprised me at every turn from beginning to end. A book within a book that is half sci fi tale about robots but always supremely human, it covers a lot but it to me it all distilled down to the power of shared stories to bring us together as well as the courage to write our own stories. So lolling forward to next week‘s conversation.

I could not have loved this book more. Two teenage girls in the 1970s experiencing their first loves, with other girls. They both choose different paths, one embracing her sexuality and the other trying to deny it. This book was devastating and beautiful and just gorgeously written. I will be spending the rest of the year trying to force everyone I know to read it, starting with all of you. All the stars.

Frank is summoned by the alcoholic father he has met only a few times in his 16 years, and who managed to disappoint him every time. He learns that his father is dying and wants Frank to take him to his final resting place. During their days together Frank learns who his father is and gains an understanding of his own life. It seemed like a simple, straightforward story until I grasped the torrent of the emotions pouring out of me. Loved it.