Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

My rating: 4.8

Very disturbing. This book is about different women's lives that are connected over a missing girl. It is told primarily about one woman but it weaves together her relationship with her two sisters (one who went missing years ago) and her husband. Karin Slaughter is a gifted writer who spins the tale and slowly lets out snippets for you to piece together.

This is extremely graphic and uncomfortable and I did some skimming of parts that were too disturbing for me. That being said, I could not put it down and will be reading more of Slaughter's works.

The Excellent Lombards by Jane Hamilton

My rating: 3.2

Mary Francis "Frankie" and her brother "William are raised on a farm.  Across from their orchard is her cousin "Amanda". This is a beautiful quiet coming of age story. You see the world through a child's eyes (Frankie's) with the simple but all important moments such as waking up in the back seat of the car on a family roadtrip and hearing her parents disagreement or having a new teacher that she is in love/awe of.

This was such a unique book in that it captured a child's perspective better than any book I have ever read. While this was sweet and wholesome I do not feel that it was a must read. I also felt that the last portion of the book fell apart.

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

My rating: 4.6

This is the second in this trilogy. I loved the first book The Queen of Tearling but it took me a while to get in to this one. Once I understood that Kelsey was having flashbacks to Lily's life, then it flowed. (This disconnect may have been due to my listening to the audio.)  This was also much darker than the first book. People seem to either love the first book or this second book better so this one was definitely different.

I am still loving this series and will definitely be reading the final book in this series. Note: I am labeling this as "Young Adult" although with the language and sexual content this book is not marketed that way. For me, it still seems to fit best in that classification.

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

My Rating: 4.6

At 38 years old, Anna has early on-set Alzheimer's. She quits her job as a paramedic and goes to live at Rosalind House where single mother Eve is the chef. This goes back and forth in time and helps you to understand both Anna and Eve's journies - both of love and descent into Alzheimer's

It is hard to say that a book about Alzheimer's was 'enjoyable' but this was. It felt light and easy to read and captured so much - good & bad - about the disease. At the core of it, we are all people and that never changes. Definite recommend.

The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

My Rating: 4.0

Three sisters and their dysfunctional relationship. This is a coming of age story, a family saga, the trials of being a mother and captures New York and France.

I enjoyed the first part of this book a lot. A very unique story line that drew me in to their imaginary world/language. The last half of the book dragged a bit and felt like it should have been condensed but, that may have been my frame of mind with work. Still, a very creative read. I think this will make an interesting discussion at an upcoming book club.

The Heavenly Table by Donald Ray Pollock

My rating: 1.5

I am the outlier....again. The writing was wonderful and it felt like I was reading a lot but the story wasn't going anywhere. For me, it was way too much detail about every single character that it dragged.  It was also really dark.

I really wanted to like this book but every night when I wanted to sit down and read I would almost groan out loud realizing what book I was reading. Reading should be a pleasure, not a struggle.

The Queen of Tearling by Erika Johansen

My rating: 4.8

Kelsey's mother was killed and she was raised by guardians till the age of 19 years old. Then men came for her to take her to be Queen of the Tearling.  If you can overlook some questionable character development (when Kelsey goes from being a very sheltered teenager to suddenly being a very strong confident Queen) this is a fabulous story that kept me enthralled all the way through.

Harper Collins has not marketed this as a "Young Adult" as their is cursing and the female lead is 19 years old.  Still, I have classified it under my 'Young Adult' labels as I think anyone who has read Harry Potter or the Hunger Games would love this series.  I am looking forward to continuing reading this trilogy.

Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain

My rating: 4.6

This is the third book in the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell series. It is as twisted and thrilling as the first two. I am never entirely sure if I am rooting for Archie to break free from Gretchen or not.

I definitely think the narration is perfection and adds to this book so get the audio book from your library if you can.

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

My Rating: 4.6

This is the follow-up novel to "You".  When Joe's new relationship ends up taking an unexpected twist, he moves from New York to LA.  Joe is still twisted, cynical and judgment and a totally lovable serial killer (did I really just type that lol!)

This didn't have as much tension as the original novel but I still found it to be extremely enjoyable and I will definitely be waiting for the next one in this series. 

The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 4.8

Picture "Castaway" on Mars.  Mark Watney gets abandoned on Mars. I won't tell you any more than that, other than to say that Mark Watney is a hilarious lovable guy that made we want to continually come back to this book.  So enjoyable!  We will definitely be watching the movie.

The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

My rating: 1.0

I know others have said the first section was the most trying but, I just couldn't get through it. I am the outlier....again.

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos

My rating: 1.5

In 1631 Sara de Vos is the first woman painter to be admitted to the Guild of St Luke’s in Holland. It’s the Dutch Golden Age, the time of Vermeer, Rembrandt and Hals. This is the story of Sara's painting In The Edge of the Woods.

I know so many loved this book and I hate being the outlier but, I didn't care for it at all. I didn't find any of the characters were likable and the story line dragged.  I got half way through and decided to stop torturing myself and move onto other books I would enjoy in my queue

The Great Santini by Pat Conroy

My rating: 4.8

This is about Bull Meecham, a Marine fighter pilot, and his family.  As is typical of the Marine lifestyle, they move all too often which is difficult on his four children and his wife. Bull is "the best damn fighter pilot" and expects all of his children to be the best too. Bull Meecham is a very complex character and Conroy captures him so well. He is lovable, volatile and controlling - and whether you love him or hate him (or both!) he will stay with you.

I loved the Prince of Tide's and Pat Conroy's writing is equally as beautiful in this novel and, as always, his love of South Carolina shows through.

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway

My rating:  4.8

I read this previously but I picked it for an upcoming book club and wanted to reread it. I loved it just as much the second time. A tense and haunting novel following four people - Arrow, Kenan, Dragon and the Cellis - all trying to survive war-torn Sarajevo.

After a mortar attack kills 22 people waiting in line to buy bread, an unnamed cellist vows to play at the point of impact for 22 days. Arrow, a young woman sniper, picks off soldiers; Kenan makes a dangerous trek to get water for his family; and Dragan, who sent his wife and son out of the city at the start of the war, works at a bakery and trades bread in exchange for shelter. All the while, the cellist continues to play.

With wonderfully drawn characters and a stripped-down narrative, Galloway brings to life a distant conflict. It makes you feel what it would be like to have war come to your city.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

My Rating: 4.4

It is 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom to escape the advancing Red Army.  Four teenagers paths converge as they are making their way to the Wilhem Gustloff ship that promises to take them to freedom.

I loved Sepety's Between Shades of Gray so was looking forward to her latest novel. Sepetys writes great historical fiction and I enjoyed that it was about something I knew nothing about - the single greatest tragedy in maritime history. There were a couple characters that didn't have as much substance as I would have hoped but, that could have been due to the portrayal in the audio version.