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happiestwhenreading's reviews
1365 reviews
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
4.0
I’ve finished the 7th book of this series already!? Louise Penny keeps doing her thing with Three Pines and her wonderful cast of characters. The way she keeps making me care about these people. I loved how she carried the factory incident into this story and the ways Gamache and Bouvier are still dealing with, and coming to terms with, their PTSD. We continue to get to know the others more deeply as well, and each time I finish, I can’t wait to start the next one!
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
4.0
Let’s start with this: ultimately, I liked this book. There are some problematic things for me that kept it from being a big 5⭐️ read for me, but generally, overall, this one held my interest and kept me wanting to read.
The characters are brilliant. It reminded me of Duchess in Whitaker’s first book, We Begin At the End. Whitaker shines with his character development - they’re so well-written, they become unforgettable. He is also great at portraying characters that get “stuck” in life and all the ways they cycle through the traumatic event that changed them.
What doesn’t work for me with Whitaker is his writing style. For me, it’s disjointed and jarring. It’s so disappointing to me because he truly has flashes of brilliance layered between a writing style that forces me to focus so hard, I lose my steadiness in reading. I also feel like his pacing is off a lot of the times. The story will really start to get going, and then it will sllllooooowwww way down, and then punch the gas again. A more even flow would really benefit the experience. Also, for me, this one was maybe 200 pages too long. The middle definitely dragged for me and a tighter edit would have propelled this one forward.
This is definitely a book you don’t want to miss. It’s kind of a genre mash up that worked very well - literary mystery, serial killer thriller, platonic friendship, and nuanced between all of that galore. Just because it won’t be my top book of the year, didn’t mean it wasn’t worth my time! This one is definitely giving fall…so put it on your tbr asap!
The characters are brilliant. It reminded me of Duchess in Whitaker’s first book, We Begin At the End. Whitaker shines with his character development - they’re so well-written, they become unforgettable. He is also great at portraying characters that get “stuck” in life and all the ways they cycle through the traumatic event that changed them.
What doesn’t work for me with Whitaker is his writing style. For me, it’s disjointed and jarring. It’s so disappointing to me because he truly has flashes of brilliance layered between a writing style that forces me to focus so hard, I lose my steadiness in reading. I also feel like his pacing is off a lot of the times. The story will really start to get going, and then it will sllllooooowwww way down, and then punch the gas again. A more even flow would really benefit the experience. Also, for me, this one was maybe 200 pages too long. The middle definitely dragged for me and a tighter edit would have propelled this one forward.
This is definitely a book you don’t want to miss. It’s kind of a genre mash up that worked very well - literary mystery, serial killer thriller, platonic friendship, and nuanced between all of that galore. Just because it won’t be my top book of the year, didn’t mean it wasn’t worth my time! This one is definitely giving fall…so put it on your tbr asap!
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
5.0
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but @ReadWithJenna is such a trusted source for me, I didn’t really care. Along with other rave reviews fresh in my mind, I started this one completely blind…
This one immediately captured me. It starts off with a quirky plotline, but side characters quickly swooped in and stole the show. By the end, I appreciated all the characters and what felt really genuine to me. Despite dealing with very tough topics, Espach was also able to insert humor, humanity, empathy and kindness.
This will easily be one of my favorite books of the year…and a book I genuinely can’t wait to read again!
This one immediately captured me. It starts off with a quirky plotline, but side characters quickly swooped in and stole the show. By the end, I appreciated all the characters and what felt really genuine to me. Despite dealing with very tough topics, Espach was also able to insert humor, humanity, empathy and kindness.
This will easily be one of my favorite books of the year…and a book I genuinely can’t wait to read again!
Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
2.0
When I saw this on the long list for the Booker Prize, i prioritized it. Headshot had a lot of momentum when it first came out; i mostly saw favorable reviews.
The premise had me from the beginning with its exploration of women’s sports, competition, and bracket style format. I was interested in these ladies and the reasons behind them wanting to compete as the best boxer in America.
I was quickly disappointed. In a stream-of-consciousness style format, I found the wandering prose annoying. I can appreciate the micro/macro examination that the author was exploring, but the way execution didn’t work for me. It felt a little incoherent for me and, by the end, I didn’t really understand the point trying to be made at all.
The premise had me from the beginning with its exploration of women’s sports, competition, and bracket style format. I was interested in these ladies and the reasons behind them wanting to compete as the best boxer in America.
I was quickly disappointed. In a stream-of-consciousness style format, I found the wandering prose annoying. I can appreciate the micro/macro examination that the author was exploring, but the way execution didn’t work for me. It felt a little incoherent for me and, by the end, I didn’t really understand the point trying to be made at all.
Grown Women: A Novel by Sarai Johnson
4.0
An incredible debut that takes a deep dive into generational trauma, motherhood, and the choices we make when raising our children.
Johnson shows great promise as an author. She tackles sensitive subjects with nuance and care. She brings new ideas tot he table and had me really thinking about the effects that I dealt with trauma can have on an entire family.
I think this is an underrated gem for the season and would love to see it get more attention. The only drawback for me was its length; I do believe it could have been just a tad shorter and it would have been stellar.
Johnson shows great promise as an author. She tackles sensitive subjects with nuance and care. She brings new ideas tot he table and had me really thinking about the effects that I dealt with trauma can have on an entire family.
I think this is an underrated gem for the season and would love to see it get more attention. The only drawback for me was its length; I do believe it could have been just a tad shorter and it would have been stellar.
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
4.0
No one wins in a nuclear event! That is the most important - and only - point of the book. A few simple moments of insanity would send the world into complete annihilation - and there would be NOTHING anyone could do to retract it.
In great detail, Jacobson lays out a false scenario of what this destruction could look like. There is literally no time to weigh the pros and cons…decisions are made in mere moments, and the reality is that each decision made will only escalate the situation further.
While this book is certainly scary, what was even more terrifying to think about is WHO we are going to elect in November to be in charge of these decisions. The President of the US is the ONLY person who carries the codes to our entire nuclear weapons arsenal; therefore, it is imperative to have a leader that is not only rational and calm in chaos, but someone who understands foreign policy and can maintain peace among all countries - especially the volatile ones.
The world is literally riding on the outcome of the 2024 election. Are we going to send the world a message of hope, peace, and stability or weakness, chaos, and ineptitude - leaving us more and more vulnerable to attack at the days go by?
In great detail, Jacobson lays out a false scenario of what this destruction could look like. There is literally no time to weigh the pros and cons…decisions are made in mere moments, and the reality is that each decision made will only escalate the situation further.
While this book is certainly scary, what was even more terrifying to think about is WHO we are going to elect in November to be in charge of these decisions. The President of the US is the ONLY person who carries the codes to our entire nuclear weapons arsenal; therefore, it is imperative to have a leader that is not only rational and calm in chaos, but someone who understands foreign policy and can maintain peace among all countries - especially the volatile ones.
The world is literally riding on the outcome of the 2024 election. Are we going to send the world a message of hope, peace, and stability or weakness, chaos, and ineptitude - leaving us more and more vulnerable to attack at the days go by?
Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp
4.5
This one is going to be a bit tricky for me…
I’ll start with the positives:
-Highly propulsive! I was hooked very quickly and that momentum maintained itself from start to finish!
-Compelling, dark themes: family dynamics, multi-generational, multiple povs, toxicity, nature vs nurture, good vs evil, perceived safety in the world around you
-Thought-provoking…this would be an excellent book club choice because of the nuance, complexity, and darkness!
Now for the negatives:
-I really wanted some of the issues fleshed out more. It felt like the author left me on cliffhangers a lot, and that was frustrating.
-Because some of the issues weren’t addressed, there was some repetitiveness that started to annoy me.
-The fact that one family continually encountered these serial killers was beyond belief. However, after talking with @novelvisits, she gave me the perspective that he was trying to emphasize how close danger lurks to us…and that made me feel better about it, but also required me to suspend belief.
Overall, this one was really good and I really did enjoy it. I’m glad I read it, but I do think it could have had a little more continuity. It has given me a lot to think about and I think it will continue to stick with me. Keep in mind, this one is dark…in various ways, so if you’re not up to that right now, save it for another time!
I’ll start with the positives:
-Highly propulsive! I was hooked very quickly and that momentum maintained itself from start to finish!
-Compelling, dark themes: family dynamics, multi-generational, multiple povs, toxicity, nature vs nurture, good vs evil, perceived safety in the world around you
-Thought-provoking…this would be an excellent book club choice because of the nuance, complexity, and darkness!
Now for the negatives:
-I really wanted some of the issues fleshed out more. It felt like the author left me on cliffhangers a lot, and that was frustrating.
-Because some of the issues weren’t addressed, there was some repetitiveness that started to annoy me.
-The fact that one family continually encountered these serial killers was beyond belief. However, after talking with @novelvisits, she gave me the perspective that he was trying to emphasize how close danger lurks to us…and that made me feel better about it, but also required me to suspend belief.
Overall, this one was really good and I really did enjoy it. I’m glad I read it, but I do think it could have had a little more continuity. It has given me a lot to think about and I think it will continue to stick with me. Keep in mind, this one is dark…in various ways, so if you’re not up to that right now, save it for another time!
Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins
5.0
When Willa’s sister, Laika disappears without a trace, she and her mother are left devastated and distraught. They continually search for her - even approaching total strangers on the street in hopes that Laila has finally found her way back home.
Twenty years later, Willa has never given up hope. Her friend, Robyn, has always known her heartache as they were boarding school roommates the year after she disappeared. Throughout the years, Robyn has helped track down leads all over the world in hopes of filling the gaping hole in her best friend’s heart. When Robyn and her wife, Cat, host a dinner party for their friends/family and significant others, all of their lives are changed in ways they didn’t see coming.
Don’t head into this one thinking you’re going to get a fast-paced thriller. This is a slow build mystery that takes its time to peel back the many layers to this story. It’s perfectly paced and emotional at times, but in the end, comes full circle with a satisfying closure. I’m impressed this debut was able to pack such a punch on just 250 pages!
Twenty years later, Willa has never given up hope. Her friend, Robyn, has always known her heartache as they were boarding school roommates the year after she disappeared. Throughout the years, Robyn has helped track down leads all over the world in hopes of filling the gaping hole in her best friend’s heart. When Robyn and her wife, Cat, host a dinner party for their friends/family and significant others, all of their lives are changed in ways they didn’t see coming.
Don’t head into this one thinking you’re going to get a fast-paced thriller. This is a slow build mystery that takes its time to peel back the many layers to this story. It’s perfectly paced and emotional at times, but in the end, comes full circle with a satisfying closure. I’m impressed this debut was able to pack such a punch on just 250 pages!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
5.0
Sometimes it’s scary to give into the hype of a book…and sometimes there’s nothing scary about it all. Instead, you’re just part of the bandwagon, screaming from the top of your lungs telling everyone you know to READ THIS BOOK!
When Barbara Van Laar goes missing from summer camp, it’s not the first time the alarm bells have gone off. Fourteen years prior, her brother, Bear, also goes missing from the same Adirondack mountains.
As Liz Moore carefully weaves her story together, I became obsessed very quickly. With short chapters that kept me flying through the pages, I became full immersed in this well-crafted tale. While there’s a very wide cast of characters, they’re well-fleshed out and all contribute to the momentum of the story. I was concerned at first, but by the end, Moore brings them all full circle and I was left with my jaw on the ground.
Moore is masterful in her storytelling. Her debut, Long Bright River, also left me breathless and she’s quickly moving her way up my auto-buy list. This is undoubtedly going to be the book of the year, and I’m glad I finally read it!
When Barbara Van Laar goes missing from summer camp, it’s not the first time the alarm bells have gone off. Fourteen years prior, her brother, Bear, also goes missing from the same Adirondack mountains.
As Liz Moore carefully weaves her story together, I became obsessed very quickly. With short chapters that kept me flying through the pages, I became full immersed in this well-crafted tale. While there’s a very wide cast of characters, they’re well-fleshed out and all contribute to the momentum of the story. I was concerned at first, but by the end, Moore brings them all full circle and I was left with my jaw on the ground.
Moore is masterful in her storytelling. Her debut, Long Bright River, also left me breathless and she’s quickly moving her way up my auto-buy list. This is undoubtedly going to be the book of the year, and I’m glad I finally read it!
All This and More by Peng Shepherd
3.5
Who could resist a dip back into nostalgia with a choose-your-own-adventure story? I couldn't!
Marsh (short for Marshmallow) is chosen as the season 3 contestent on a reality show that allows her to go back to critical moments of her life to fix, or choose, a different path. Would she still chose to divorce her husband? Would she prioritize her career more the second time around? Would she move abroad to explore different career options? Marsh visits all of these choice - and more! - during her second chance at life.
I LOVE the concept of this book and headed in with the full intention of making the choices I liked for Marsh...but that's not really how the book played out for me. Every time there was a choice, I basically chose the route that had me reading this one cover to cover. So when the thing that excited me most about this book - choose-your-own-adventure - didn't really play out that way, it was hard to overcome my disappointment.
After reading the book from beginning to end, my curiosity got the best of me and I went back to see how the story would play out differently. Honestly, none of the alternatives really changed the direction of the story, so I was let down once again.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but it definitely went in a bizarre direction for the next quarter and then wrapped up fairly well in the last quarter. This one had a ton of potential and had me more excited for a book than I've been in a long time, but there was just too much let down for this to be a real winner for me. Regardless, by far the most creative and fun book I've read in awhile!
Marsh (short for Marshmallow) is chosen as the season 3 contestent on a reality show that allows her to go back to critical moments of her life to fix, or choose, a different path. Would she still chose to divorce her husband? Would she prioritize her career more the second time around? Would she move abroad to explore different career options? Marsh visits all of these choice - and more! - during her second chance at life.
I LOVE the concept of this book and headed in with the full intention of making the choices I liked for Marsh...but that's not really how the book played out for me. Every time there was a choice, I basically chose the route that had me reading this one cover to cover. So when the thing that excited me most about this book - choose-your-own-adventure - didn't really play out that way, it was hard to overcome my disappointment.
After reading the book from beginning to end, my curiosity got the best of me and I went back to see how the story would play out differently. Honestly, none of the alternatives really changed the direction of the story, so I was let down once again.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but it definitely went in a bizarre direction for the next quarter and then wrapped up fairly well in the last quarter. This one had a ton of potential and had me more excited for a book than I've been in a long time, but there was just too much let down for this to be a real winner for me. Regardless, by far the most creative and fun book I've read in awhile!