The Dutch House

★★★★/5

I am so excited to finally be writing a review for The Dutch House! Ann Patchett is one of my all time favorite authors and this book had been on my TBR for months. I don't typically listen to fictional audiobooks (I usually use that platform for non-fiction), but my mom convinced me to give it a try and I'm so glad that I did. (It also definitely doesn't hurt that Tom Hanks reads the story and does an amazing job - feel better Tom and Rita!!!!)

The Giver of Stars

★★★☆ (3.75/5)

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes was a book I was both hesitant and excited to start. There had been so much hype about it that I expected it to be decent, but having read a Jojo Moyes book years ago, wasn't sure if I should expect a lot of fluff. Also, I believe this is her first attempt at historical fiction so I wasn't sure how that would affect her storytelling style. I have to say - I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book! The concept of a female-driven team of traveling librarians was a little unusual to me at first, I'll admit, but it was definitely something I was interested in learning more about. Moyes instantly creates characters that you can invest in, which set the framework for a good read off the bat. 

Circe

★★★ (3/5)

I was so excited to finally read Circe by Madeline Miller when it came in from the library. It had been very hyped on social media, had an extremely high Goodreads rating, and had even won a few awards. I'm also a huge fan of historical fiction, and was excited about the story's concept of diving into Greek mythology through the character of the lesser known goddess, Circe. Sadly, I didn't click with this book the way I thought I would. I don't know why I struggled so much with it, so I'm curious to hear if anyone else felt the same way after reading. If you disagree with my thoughts and loved this book, I'm really interested to hear what you most enjoyed!

The Secrets We Kept

★★★★ (4/5)

Happy 2020 everyone! So excited to be kicking off with my first 2020 review, and The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott was a great way to start the year. I should preface by saying that I love most historical fiction, but I am especially into Russian historical fiction. I have absolutely no idea why (I've never actually been there), but if you were to check my favorites bookshelf on Goodreads, you'd see that 3/30 are Russian historical fiction. That's a solid 10%! So needless to say, when I saw the description of this book and found out it was also a Reese's BookClub pick, I was immediately on board (I was on hold at the library for WEEKS)- the book takes place shortly after the cold war across Soviet Russia and the US, has three very strong female protagonists, plus spies helping to spread manuscripts of Doctor Zhivago. Count me in!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

★★★★ (4/5)

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is a WWII novel based on the true story of Lale Eisenberg (later Lale Slovak) during his imprisonment at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It's the first read of our new quarterly "Ya-Ya" Book Club (don't ask on the name), and I'm so happy this is what we started with! It has received a ton of hype and I feel like I finally got to find out what all the fuss has been about.

Daisy Jones & The Six

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a book I was extremely excited to get started on: it was a Reese’s Book Club pick, I loved the last book I read by Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and my Pittsburgh friends gave it raving reviews. Additionally, I’m a sucker for anything musically inclined, especially if it’s set during the 60’s or 70’s. So I was ready for a great ride! Let me tell you – I have a lot of thoughts on the book, but it did not disappoint.

First and foremost, I love the format of the novel – I loved it from the start, and it only developed further as I got to the end of the book. The novel is told in an interview format, with the main characters retelling their accounts for their time in/around Daisy Jones and the Six. The way the story is told from the perspective of each character really develops your understanding of their perspectives of the inner workings of the band and sets a really strong foundation for character building.

The Clockmaker's Daughter

★★☆ (2.5/5)

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton is a tough one for me to review. It felt like the perfect October read when I started – beautiful cover, mystery, some dark/ghost themes – but I honestly struggled to get through to the end. I usually love Kate Morton and even though she is a little formulaic, and I try to read her new releases whenever they come out. This one, unfortunately, was probably my least favorite so far.

The story takes place over the course of 150 years, with general character/perspective shifts over time, but consistent input from Lily Millington throughout. It centers around Birchwood Manor, a house that is seemingly under the protection of old, sacred magic but also has a dark past. We hear about it from its origins, to the purchase by artist Edward Radcliffe, all the way to the summer of 2017 when unsuspecting Elodie Winslow uncovers some secret connections to the house that draw her into the mystery surrounding it (and plenty of characters in between).

The Taster

★★★

The Taster by V.S. Alexander is a novel that brings a new perspective to WWII historical fiction- it’s a different and refreshing read in a literary world filled with novels about this time period. It’s unapologetically honest with no pretenses about heroism in the protagonist. I especially liked it because I learned a ton about the key players in the Nazi Party (people behind the scenes), which was both fascinating and horrifying.

Summer Wives

★★★☆ (3.5/5)

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams is a novel that takes place on Winthrop Island (inspired by Fishers Island) off the coast of Long Island. Wealthy families summer there and the year-long population is made up of Portuguese locals who fish and run the Island businesses. There is a distinct class disparity, but at the surface the Island runs in perfect harmony until a fatal accident leaves a dark mark on the Island atmosphere for years.

Before We Were Yours

★★★★

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a gripping novel that sheds light on a dark time period and draws you in with compelling characters and a fast-paced mystery.