We've come full circle, all the way 'round: THE THOROUGHBREDS.

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series is so ridiculous yet incredibly bingeable. Centered around wealthy high school students at boarding school, it reads like a soap opera. Add in the constant name dropping of pop culture items and hot places and it can sometimes be a bit much.

But the Hilderbrand and Cunningham excel at pulling you into the story--and while there's fluff and intrigue, there's also heart. Rich kids are still people, and some of these kids are dealing with serious issues and topics. Many from book #1 are back, and I was particularly glad to see Charley and Davi again. We also have a new girl, Pippa, who is riling up the sixth-formers. Most of the teachers still seem a bit inept (looking at you, Rhode!) and poor Head of School Audre is making some bad decisions...

Still, I can't lie, I devoured this one like the guilty pleasure that it is, even if I rolled my eyes from time-to-time. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company in return for an unbiased review.

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Stumble in the void to find there's no one there: HOLLOW BONES.

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a quintessential Jodi Picoult book. It's filled with complex familial relationships and ties into tense subject matters. And, it's completely spellbinding, featuring her trademark twists.

Molly is the Chief of the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Rhode Island Department of Health. It's a mouthful of a title, especially for a young woman under 30. But thanks to COVID, she's been fast-tracked to her role. Molly loves being prepared and weighing the risks of basically everything. Her husband, Jesse, is older; an experienced detective and polygraphy expert. Molly lost her mom, Eloise, in the 9/11 attacks, and Jesse lost his sister when they were both teens. As a result, both Molly and Jesse are fearful of losing those they love. Their entire lives have been shaped by their loss and grief.

The story alternates between the past and present, allowing us to learn more about how Jesse and Molly met and then flashing back even further, to the events leading up to Eloise's death. The format is incredibly effective, especially with multiple POV changes, so you slowly learn more details about all our characters. It's good to go into this book with few details and just let the story happen.

As always, Picoult gives us a well-researched story, rife with facts and statistics about 9/11. She delves into tough topics, such as the post-COVID friction between the government and public health officials and the limited resources given to such organizations. She also gives us a strong portrayal of mental illness, particularly post partum psychosis--such an important and under-discussed diagnosis.

At its heart, this is a story about motherhood, family, and friendship. It illustrates how easy it is to fear losing those we love--and how tenuous life really can be. And it forces the reader to explore whether living in fear or living life fully is the best reaction to this fragility. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books in return for an unbiased review.

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