2019 Autumn Book Review
This fall line-up was straight FIRE, y'all! I read a couple more that didn't make the cut for this post because I'm not here to waste your time with mediocre literature. Add these to your Christmas list, cozy up to your Christmas tree, and get your read on!
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Rhiannon is determined to rule the app dating scene, but she has some stiff competition. In our modern world of Tinder, Bumble, etc; this book is timely. You'll root for the badass boss babe throughout, even if you slightly cringe at the extraneous R-rated scenes (maybe that's just me?).
Hands down, best book I read all fall. No contest. I set the bar high for Moyes and she nearly always delivers. Set in rural Kentucky in the depression-era, a band of women on horseback deliver books to the masses as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's commitment to literacy and "changing people's lives word by word." The Packhorse Librarians are fierce and fearless in a time when they are expected to be meek and home-bound, which leads to male unrest because "doesn't matter how smart you are, how clever, how self-reliant -- you can always be bettered by a stupid man with a gun."
The Nanny by Gilly MacMillan
A rambling old estate on a lake, secrets, and a stilted family make for a textbook novel of suspense. Tensions rise when the lake eventually washes up a skeleton -- but who does it belong to? Lots of questions quickly piled up, but the time it took for answers was agonizingly slow.
Seems like a dream job, right? Simply occupy a luxurious apartment in one of the most elite buildings in Manhattan and collect an easy paycheck. But why do people keep going missing? Where are they going? If you're trying to squeeze your cardio in without leaving the couch, snatch this bad boy and BUCKLE THE FREAK UP. The novel spans just a few short days, but these days are absolutely insane.
Little Lovely Things by Maureen Joyce Connelly
First things first, you must be in the right setting to truly enjoy this story. This is prime beach read material for when the only thing you're worried about is when you'll get your next mojito. Eliza owns a jewelry store with her sister in Brooklyn and it's truly her dream job. She runs the books and the social media accounts and accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing one of their diamond engagement rings. Everyone has the wrong idea, but the sales are pouring in and everyone is expecting a publicized wedding. What's a girl to do? Find a fake fiance of course.
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
The Day We Met by Rowan Coleman
4 stars
This is a heart-wrencher! The main character is learning how to navigate the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's. Her relationships with her own mother, her daughters, and her husband take center stage as she struggles with knowing her own identity. A sweet read the whole way through.
That's What Frenemies are For by Lauren Gershell
4 stars
Wealthy Julia has it all: perfect husband, kids, and house in NYC (complete with a housekeeper, of course). She also has the Midas touch when it comes to catapulting places and people to Upper East Side fame. Gossip Girl meets Big Little Lies in this sizzler about keeping up appearances in this Instagram age.
How Not to Fall in Love Actually by Catherine Bennetto
3 stars
I had dazzlingly high hopes for this one after my first Bennetto book, but it didn't quite hit the mark. This main character wasn't nearly as likeable, but I still enjoyed following her unemployed antics and familial drama. If you need a good escape this fits the bill!
Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
4 stars
Land weaves an eye-opening story of poverty in America from her own perspective as a maid and single mother. The day to day struggles and the strangling desire to get ahead yet slipping behind are expertly relayed. This is not a life I have personally experienced, which makes it all that more important to understand.
3 stars
Not Moriarty's best work, but even Moriarty's worst work is better than most works, you feel me? A unique story of a hypnotist, her man, and his stalker ex-girlfriend. Save it for an easy, low mental commitment read.
Not Moriarty's best work, but even Moriarty's worst work is better than most works, you feel me? A unique story of a hypnotist, her man, and his stalker ex-girlfriend. Save it for an easy, low mental commitment read.
Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
4 stars
If you are into suspense reads and you pick up only one book from this list - make it this one! I sat up so fast in bed when the twist hit and truly had to take a minute before I could continue reading. It will rock you. I'm still thinking about it weeks later and I have a copy if you want to borrow it. That's all I'm going to say about this one.
4 stars
Rhiannon is determined to rule the app dating scene, but she has some stiff competition. In our modern world of Tinder, Bumble, etc; this book is timely. You'll root for the badass boss babe throughout, even if you slightly cringe at the extraneous R-rated scenes (maybe that's just me?).
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
5 stars
Hands down, best book I read all fall. No contest. I set the bar high for Moyes and she nearly always delivers. Set in rural Kentucky in the depression-era, a band of women on horseback deliver books to the masses as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's commitment to literacy and "changing people's lives word by word." The Packhorse Librarians are fierce and fearless in a time when they are expected to be meek and home-bound, which leads to male unrest because "doesn't matter how smart you are, how clever, how self-reliant -- you can always be bettered by a stupid man with a gun."
You've Been Volunteered by Laurie Gelman
3 stars
This is technically a sequel to Class Mom, but you don't necessarily have to have read the first to enjoy the second. Gelman provides a light-hearted look at classroom politics and parental interference, but the hijinks in this follow-up felt just a tiny bit forced for my taste. It's entirely possible that I wasn't the right audience since I'm dog mom only for now!
This is technically a sequel to Class Mom, but you don't necessarily have to have read the first to enjoy the second. Gelman provides a light-hearted look at classroom politics and parental interference, but the hijinks in this follow-up felt just a tiny bit forced for my taste. It's entirely possible that I wasn't the right audience since I'm dog mom only for now!
3 stars
A rambling old estate on a lake, secrets, and a stilted family make for a textbook novel of suspense. Tensions rise when the lake eventually washes up a skeleton -- but who does it belong to? Lots of questions quickly piled up, but the time it took for answers was agonizingly slow.
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
4 stars
Seems like a dream job, right? Simply occupy a luxurious apartment in one of the most elite buildings in Manhattan and collect an easy paycheck. But why do people keep going missing? Where are they going? If you're trying to squeeze your cardio in without leaving the couch, snatch this bad boy and BUCKLE THE FREAK UP. The novel spans just a few short days, but these days are absolutely insane.
My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams
4 stars
Have you heard of Anna Delvey? She's the fake heiress who recently went on trial for fraud in NYC. Williams was a personal friend of Anna and was completely conned by the girl. She shares the story of their friendship and subsequent unraveling when Delvey ended up owing Williams over 60k. I recommend listening to this one rather than reading -- I think I would have rated it lower otherwise.
Have you heard of Anna Delvey? She's the fake heiress who recently went on trial for fraud in NYC. Williams was a personal friend of Anna and was completely conned by the girl. She shares the story of their friendship and subsequent unraveling when Delvey ended up owing Williams over 60k. I recommend listening to this one rather than reading -- I think I would have rated it lower otherwise.
If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman
3 stars
One moment in time years and years ago splintered a family into fragments. But no one talks about the incident and thus individual perspective clouds reality until grown sisters Lily and Jess live completely separate lives, and their mother Audrey is left to bounce back and forth. When Audrey is diagnosed with cancer she is more determined than ever to mend her family, but Lily and Jess are less than open to the idea.
One moment in time years and years ago splintered a family into fragments. But no one talks about the incident and thus individual perspective clouds reality until grown sisters Lily and Jess live completely separate lives, and their mother Audrey is left to bounce back and forth. When Audrey is diagnosed with cancer she is more determined than ever to mend her family, but Lily and Jess are less than open to the idea.
3 stars
Claire Rawlings is driving to her medical residency like every other morning, with her two children chattering in the backseat en route to daycare. Claire begins to experience an allergic reaction and swerves into a gas station to recover in the restroom only to come out to a nightmare. Her car is gone and so are her daughters. The novel follows the case and the guilt Claire refuses to shed. It was almost 4 stars for me until the end didn't quite wrap up a couple of key plot points.
Claire Rawlings is driving to her medical residency like every other morning, with her two children chattering in the backseat en route to daycare. Claire begins to experience an allergic reaction and swerves into a gas station to recover in the restroom only to come out to a nightmare. Her car is gone and so are her daughters. The novel follows the case and the guilt Claire refuses to shed. It was almost 4 stars for me until the end didn't quite wrap up a couple of key plot points.
Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein
4 stars
First things first, you must be in the right setting to truly enjoy this story. This is prime beach read material for when the only thing you're worried about is when you'll get your next mojito. Eliza owns a jewelry store with her sister in Brooklyn and it's truly her dream job. She runs the books and the social media accounts and accidentally posts a photo of herself wearing one of their diamond engagement rings. Everyone has the wrong idea, but the sales are pouring in and everyone is expecting a publicized wedding. What's a girl to do? Find a fake fiance of course.
It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane
3 stars
Delia Moss is not my favorite kind of female character. If we want to get down to business, it's probably because she has some tendencies that I fall into:
"Instead of trying and failing, Delia never tried. She told herself that failure was inevitable and she’d only look silly in the process. It was fear, cloaked in rationalisations and self-deprecation. So Delia fell into the kind of jobs that educated young women with a nice phone manner in the twenty-first century fall into, because that’s what she told herself she was good for."
Replace Delia with Taylor and it's something I 1000% struggle with. Delia's life in Newcastle crumbles as she learns her long-term boyfriend is cheating and she makes a break for London to escape into the anonymity. Loads of humor made this a fun & light read, but not a pillar of literature.
Delia Moss is not my favorite kind of female character. If we want to get down to business, it's probably because she has some tendencies that I fall into:
"Instead of trying and failing, Delia never tried. She told herself that failure was inevitable and she’d only look silly in the process. It was fear, cloaked in rationalisations and self-deprecation. So Delia fell into the kind of jobs that educated young women with a nice phone manner in the twenty-first century fall into, because that’s what she told herself she was good for."
Replace Delia with Taylor and it's something I 1000% struggle with. Delia's life in Newcastle crumbles as she learns her long-term boyfriend is cheating and she makes a break for London to escape into the anonymity. Loads of humor made this a fun & light read, but not a pillar of literature.
4 stars
This book gave me Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, but it wasn't quite as masterful. Cora Carlisle accompanies budding star Louise Brooks to New York City for a summer of dance school. Cora is enlisted to be Louise's chaperone and essentially keep her out of trouble so naturally Louise is seeking out all the trouble Manhattan has to offer. The story is set in the Prohibition era and effortlessly tackles the numerous social issues of the time.
This book gave me Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, but it wasn't quite as masterful. Cora Carlisle accompanies budding star Louise Brooks to New York City for a summer of dance school. Cora is enlisted to be Louise's chaperone and essentially keep her out of trouble so naturally Louise is seeking out all the trouble Manhattan has to offer. The story is set in the Prohibition era and effortlessly tackles the numerous social issues of the time.
3 stars
Do you have a series that's just cozy and comforting and you'll read it again and again? That's the Shopaholic series for me. They are quick, easy, and a perfect little escape; even if I've already read them all dozens of times! I was super excited to see Kinsella was coming out with a new addition in time for the holiday season. It was definitely a fun read, but the antics of Becky Brandon felt more forced this time around.
Do you have a series that's just cozy and comforting and you'll read it again and again? That's the Shopaholic series for me. They are quick, easy, and a perfect little escape; even if I've already read them all dozens of times! I was super excited to see Kinsella was coming out with a new addition in time for the holiday season. It was definitely a fun read, but the antics of Becky Brandon felt more forced this time around.
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