thetonipages's reviews
21 reviews

L'Affaire by Diane Johnson

3.5

So fun and witty. American, French and British characters meet at a bougie French ski resort. Hijinks, affairs and cultural clashes ensue. This wasn’t my favorite of hers but I love this niche genre of humorous stories of Americans in France.

The Glutton by A.K. Blakemore

2.0

So much potential. So boring. Based in a French historical figure who had an insatiable appetite and would eat literally anything, even if it wasn’t food. This was a real missed opportunity to tell what is actually a fascinating story.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

4.5

Kennedy Ryan does it again! I love the depth of her characters, the humor, the spice! Her stories have it all. I can’t wait for her next book.

Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang by Joyce Carol Oates

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

A group of teenage girls in the 1950s form a gang and go on a bit of a crime spree plus there’s an ambiguous ending. What’s not to like?

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

4.0

Wow. No surprise this is a Pulitzer winner. A must read. I deducted a star because the beginning had too many characters to keep track of and it was hard to follow for a while.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

5.0

Outstanding. Intriguing, Suspenseful. The dual timeline was perfection. It sent me on a deep dive about the real life Lucrezia.

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay

4.0

Roxane Gay can do no wrong. A collection of short stories about “difficult women” and what that can mean. Even though this is fiction I still felt like I was getting Roxane’s commentary on society throughout.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

3.0

This was underwhelming. It had the typical Daphne DuMaurier dark, atmospheric vibes we love but the story lagged for me in the last half to 2/3 of the book.

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

3.5

So. Much. Drama. The repetitive co-dependent toxicity got a bit boring but that ending sucked me right back into the story.

The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt

2.0

Not great. The story is broken into different timeframes but it’s disjointed and one section feels like it’s meant for a different book entirely. The main character was wholly undeveloped. Disappointing.