How do you describe a family? The definition has changed so much in the past few decades. Had it been as it is now, so much pain could have been saved for so many families. As it is now, there is still too much pain inflicted. This novel is about tolerance and reconciliation. And hope. We can become our better angels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a stunner of a memoir. I didn‘t know anything about this book when I started it so it really shook me. I felt the trauma right along with Amy. I am shocked at the harm that befalls the most vulnerable of us. I am also heartened by all the compassionate and wonderful people who do the work of helping to heal those who are most in need. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a strange, strange journey. I‘m not sure how to feel about this book nor how to describe it. I guess it seems like how a bad acid trip would be. Two different tales of another‘s demise but I‘m not that either informs the other. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I sympathize with Chris McCandless‘ family over his loss, but also understand how he hurt them with his unstinting moral code. It seemed to be more than youthful hubris. A deliberate unwillingness to communicate with loved ones caused them all so much hurt. If he had come out of the Alaska wilderness alive, one hopes that he would have learned enough from the experience of extreme isolation to resolve his familial differences. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The first in a new series, I can‘t wait for the second. This novel went to a place I could not foresee. Talk about being blindsided. Detective Tommy Kelly is sent to Nantucket Island to oversee the discovery of a child‘s body. The case is more than cold and there seems to be no chance of solving it when he and the local detective Jo Harris get a series of lucky breaks. This novel will flip you on your head. A great series beginner. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had been hit or miss (more miss than hit) with Riley Sager books lately, but this one has everything. Secrets, ghosts, missing memories, death, hauntings, confession, redemption, forgiveness. The ending was not as sinister as I had expected. in fact, it was surprisingly heartwarming. A definite hit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stacy Wliilngham is an auto-buy for me. This newest novel is a perfect example of why. Two sisters, separated by so much unknown history, have similar harrowing experiences decades apart. Secrets, a hidden diary, isolation, family, kidnapping, murder, and, of course, dysfunctional characters. Cut off from everything, Claire tries to resolve her feelings about her missing sister and uncovers so much more than she bargained for. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a book that I don‘t really have the capacity to describe. I cannot relate to anything in it. And yet I have been changed by the mere reading of it. It‘s not sad but matter of fact. We, especially we in the United States, do not deal well with death, especially death from suicide. I feel a strong compassion for the author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is definitely one of the weirder books I‘ve read. But I loved it! A bot who is basically off the rails, following a program that parallels proscribed actions only if they suit its own purposes. I really, really like Muderbot. It is kind of amoral, and yet seems to have some type of morality. I think I will have to continue this series. I kind of care about what happens to Murderbot. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my stars and garters. That was quite a ride. The epilogue. Woof. This is an off college campus, campus thriller. Australia is the backdrop, but also a character as this drama unfolds. Study abroad cohorts become instant friends but each harbors secrets, some of which turn deadly. Flash forward to a reunion and a police investigation and everything starts to go to hell. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This twisty mystery had a lot going on. Some of the side stories were distracting and just served as misdirection. I was kind of amazed to find out who the killer turned out to be. It felt like it came out of left field. And talk about dysfunctional. Not one character escapes that label. I would like to see Detective Jayne Salter solve another crime, though. And there are some loose ends that could be tied up in a sequel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a twisty tale of a slippery man, told from alternating perspectives, one of which is his. It‘s a look inside the mind of a sociopath who has a knack for divining the needs and wants of women. But sometimes he loses control and bad things happen. This is one of those novels that you read through your fingers, metaphorically, like a scary movie. Oh, the delicious anxiety and the satisfaction of the ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fay and Poppy are BFFs, ride or dies, and they have a plan. This short story is a fake within a fake within a fake. It‘s such a fun read and so much fun to try and figure out. No one is truly innocent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What is home? What do we take with us when we leave home? Petros allows his mother to convince him that he should see the world before joining his father‘s taxi business. But he is ill prepared for the world. What do we take back with us when we return home? We can‘t help but be changed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wasn‘t sure about this book at first but it really grew on me. I don‘t think there is a character in this book that is not dysfunctional. One of the most frustrating things about this book is that a hell of a lot could be cleared up if they‘d just talk to each other. So many secrets. So many lies. So much darkness. Solving (sort of) a 50 year old crime with little to go on. A very satisfying ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now, that was a wild ride. This is a story within a story within a story. I did not see that ending coming. Throughout this novel, Mackenzie‘s character just shines. I love the back and forth of past and present that slowly build her story and push the narrative along. This is an exciting and smart novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I never know what to expect from a Joyce Carol Oates work. I‘m left with the feeling that I‘m not sure what actually happened. In this case, I‘m not sure anything did happen. But it might have. What I do know is that we‘re left with a surprisingly happy-ish ending, I think. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beckett Bowery has returned to her hometown and the school she attended but didn‘t quite graduate from, not by choice, but because Delilah, her daughter, has secretly applied and been accepted to the same school. Too much water has passed under the bridge and things start to spiral out of control. Tradition, conflict between town and gown, fire, death, twists and turns, and the “howling". I loved this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That‘s an ending I did not foresee. This is so much more than a haunted house story. So much creepier. Both of the main characters exchange chapters, with another character occasionally having their own chapter. Miscommunication, obfuscation, hauntings(?), possessions(?), murder, scenes that will make you sleep with the lights on. Wow! I really enjoyed this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one of the creepiest short stories about the descent into madness. The callousness of the medical profession towards women suffering from postpartum depression is appalling. Women are just labeled as hysterical and told to “just calm down”. The results are as we see them in this horror story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Strong poetry, essays, other writing from a group one does not readily associate with Appalachia. You can feel the love that these creators have for this region of the country. You can feel the courage that each individual radiates in the truth of their self identification. Claiming their heritage, they show us the true spirit of Appalachia. May that spirit grow and flourish across all regions of the world. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to like this book more, but there‘s just something off about Nic. She‘s dysfunctional, for sure, but she‘s also not always a believable character. There were times when she was misreading a situation, but it didn‘t ring true. I didn‘t believe that that‘s what her character would think. The ending is a weird twist, but it was unsatisfying. It was entertaining, but not one of my favorites. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an intimate short story about life, about death, about mourning, about laughing. It feels true. We temporarily lose ourselves and hopefully we come back to ourselves, but we will never be the same. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love, love, love this series! And this book is so good! We are once again in the world of serial killer Isabel Parker. Will she successfully manipulate her sisters yet again? Told in a back and forth timeline between Raisa and Delaney, we get a disorienting version of events. All of the characters are dysfunctional but you can‘t help rooting for almost all of them. The ending is so satisfying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m giving this novel a 4 but I‘m really feeling a 3.5 because I felt frustrated by all of the seemingly unnecessary incomplete filler chapters that just added confusion to the plot. I much prefer The Thursday Murder Club series. I do like Steve and Amy and Rosie and the rest of the locals where Steve lives. Maybe, if the series continues, it will find a more solid footing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have read and loved every Alex North thriller. He has a way of chilling you to the bone. The killers are human but very twisted and oh so believable. This one is a freaky twist on the Pied Piper. An island, trauma, child abduction, guilt, shame, rage, a sick, domino-effect murder path. You need to read this and all of Alex North‘s books. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my gods. The ending of this book just gutted me. But in a good cathartic way. This is about a woman who gets lost while hiking the Appalachian Trail. But it‘s about so much more. The descriptions of the trail, the hikers, the environs, the search, the searchers, the family, shows how much more complicated the Appalachian Trail actually is and how unprepared most of us are to be out in raw nature. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fast read (power outage, nothing else to do), and I enjoyed it very much. I know not every book has a happy ending, but this one could have. It was a bit of a let down. The book is a bit of an emotional roller coaster, and I enjoyed the different chapters told by the different characters, none of whom were without their issues. This was also a microcosm of global warming. All in all, a solid story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have loved all four of The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, but this one made me bawl. I recommend reading them all, and in order. I love this family. Alice Hoffman writes so well. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Color me confused. What just happened? This is such a compelling short story that seems to go in several directions at once. I don‘t know what really happened, although I can guess, I guess? I cant really say much more without giving anything away. All I will say is that it starts with one ending and ends with another. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There‘s a reason I don‘t read ghost stories but I couldn‘t stop reading this book. It scared me, but when seen from Nell‘s perspective it seemed almost cozy which was just plain crazy and not true which was even scarier. For such a short novel it packs a wallop. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is such a sweet book. It is a series of stories loosely held together by cats. Each one feels a little more odd than the previous one, until the end which I was kind of but not really expecting. Still, it‘s never completely spelled out what‘s going on. But it‘s not NOT explained. You just have to read between the whiskers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Raisa Susanto is an FBI linguist which gives her a unique slant on tracking down serial killers. Her family is completely dysfunctional but she is stronger for it. Codes, serial killer(s?), misdirection, family, justice. This is an excellent series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Be careful what you wish for. Is there a conduit to another dimension? What happens when you unknowingly open a line of communication with an unknown correspondent? Unexpected consequences. This short story is spooky. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What happens when a mother can‘t bear the grief of her loss? She learns the truth about what really happened and it gives her a new purpose. Not a happy purpose, but new understanding of how she should move forward. Are there ghosts involved? Maybe. This is a sad, spine tingling short story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There is no such place as paradise. An island where there are vacation homes and a strict vacation season. Just follow the rules and ignore what‘s under the surface and you‘ll be OK. This short story is horrifying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It‘s impossible to see the future, isn‘t it? Can a normal conference room transform into a crystal ball? Things like that just don‘t happen. It‘s certainly not a gift to Jennifer. A very eerie short story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Judgement comes in strange forms. A man who is only thinking of doing something morally questionable, but is discovered, and whose life starts to spiral downwards. His judge, jury, and potential executioner is something wholly unexpected. A disturbing short story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one messed up book. I loved it. If you like novels with dysfunctional characters, this one has got a bunch. The lake, the town, the desert, the canals, the orchards, it all feels dysfunctional. I wouldn‘t choose to live there. Murder, mayhem, the bogeyman, ecological destruction, a crazy, desperate cabal of sorts. It‘s a twisty tale and no one is really innocent. What a ride. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, that was certainly creepy. I don‘t really like reading about this kind of trauma, but it was well done. Nature or nurture? Can nurture overcome nature? Not likely in most cases. Suicidal thoughts, rape, pubic humiliation, a mom‘s courage, justice. This is a short, fast read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This 3rd novel in the Detective Elin Warner series was good. I liked the 2 perspectives, one in first person and one in third person. I felt closer to Kier than I did to Elin, but they were both going through similar emotional trauma. The story does quite a few flip flops, each one quite surprising. Psychological and physical abuse, obfuscation on a giant scale, murder, of course. This is a pretty good series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Martini Club is once again helping the police chief of their tiny Maine town solve a crime, a crime that reaches back decades, and reveals answers to other mysteries. But this case also has them questioning whether their age is starting to hinder their abilities. Physical abilities, yes. Mental abilities? Kidnapping, drowning, murder, intrigue, family, betrayal. You will fly through this book. I love the characters in this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! Just wow! This series is so wonderful. Deanna Raybourn has done it again. These 4 unofficially “retired” assassins are unofficially “unretired” because once again someone wants them dead. And so they go on the hunt all over the globe to be sure they strike first. Unbeknownst to them this case has ties to a previously semi successful case. I love these fierce women of a certain age. They are kickass. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book just about killed me. I didn‘t feel until the end just how deeply its roots have embedded themselves in my mind and my heart. Two lifelong friends spending a lifetime each, searching for a voice from the darkness. More than that, it‘s a search for a serial killer. But each of those descriptions does not do this epic novel justice. Yes it‘s long, but it is so worth the investment. Did I cry at the end? You know I did. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This classic bears up under more than one reading. I had forgotten how utterly unlikable the main characters are. But it‘s a novel that you just can‘t put down. The story is so compelling and the ending is so satisfying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a very cute short story. What do you do the day your ex gets married? Probably not what happens in this story. On the other hand, who knows what might work for you? A short and sweet tale of redemption. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn‘t know what to expect from this book in this genre I rarely read, but it surprised me half way through when we finally learn the identity of the woman in the title. I probably should have known sooner, but I honestly didn‘t know this woman‘s history, or anyway the version of it in this novel. Abuse, intrigue, espionage, escape, stardom, WWII, invention, misogyny. Not a lot has changed, but this book has made me want to learn more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is not my genre. (I read it to get a Goodreads bookmark.) So I didn‘t know what to expect. This book is a bit more sappy than I really like, but it was also a bit more magical than I thought it would be. That combination was just right and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Witches and humans solve a problem and maybe start a bit of a revolution in the world of both. Magic, love, family, and a happy ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I expected this book to be sad, and it was, but it was also honest and open and cathartic, both for the author and for the reader. Geraldine Brooks generously shares her experience of the loss of her husband and her delayed period and method of mourning. It‘s an inevitability that we will all experience in our own unique ways. This is a lovely book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Edwidge Danticat‘s writing is clear and succinct. She is a master of the essay form. This book covers a wide range of topics, both personal and global. One of the later essays in the book is about Haiti and its political climate and it sounded eerily familiar. Definitely a book to add to your library. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️