When I woke the dream was gone: THESE SUMMER STORMS.

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love a good soapy family drama as much as the next person, but there was something about this one that I couldn't fully get into! I attribute a lot of it to the writing style. It was written with these weird choppy short sentences thrown in, which put the rhythm of the story off balance and kept me from fully getting in the flow.

The premise is there. Alice is exiled from her wealthy family, forced to make her own way without her family's preposterous wealth. The only reason she returns to the fold is the death of her egocentric father. On her family's private island, she learns that the terms of inheritance dictate that she and her three siblings will only inherit her father's vast fortune if they all stay on the island for an entire week and complete an inheritance game: a series of tasks laid out by her father and overseen by his righthand man, Jack Dean. For Alice, it feels like a death sentence.

Using the word "games" seems like an outright exaggeration. It's a few stipulations, mostly punctuated by bickering and dealing with their drunken, overwrought mother. Alice forms an odd relationship with Jack. The island setting is dramatic and stark, with many wealthy friends and family headed there for a "celebration of life" for Alice's late father. Alice's three siblings are mostly hateful. Very little happens until a rush of secrets are revealed, most of which seem predictable.

Some of the drama here is enjoyable (rich people problems have their moments, after all), and I didn't mind Alice or Jack, or the island locale, but after all the hype, this one left me a little lacking.

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I've kicked myself at times because I've lied: DISCONTENT.

Discontent by Beatriz Serrano
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. Working in a corporate job myself, I was hoping to find a book that resonates with that aspect of my life. And there are definitely amazing flashes of brilliance here, with some hilarious lines that truly spoke to me.

But wow, pieces of this story are so depressing. Marisa works for an ad agency in Spain. She's fallen into the job, sticking with it since an internship. She now manages employees, but performs her job mainly by delegation and stealing work from others. When she can, she spends her workdays watching YouTube videos and escaping to museums.

Marisa has a particularly bleak outlook on life and honestly, she's an unlikable character. There's little to find redeemable about her. I get it, the book is satire and so is she, but sometimes her choices and personality made me cringe.

I enjoyed the pieces that truly related to corporate work, but some parts just felt too much and awfully depressing. 2.5 stars.

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The emptiness that lays deep within your bones: THE SUMMER WE RAN.

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Books like this are why I love my BOTM subscription. I doubt I would have come across this book elsewhere, and it's an enjoyable summer saga about the power of class and money and how deeply both can corrupt.

As teens, Grant Alexander and Tess Murphy spend one amazing summer together, falling deeply in love. This despite the fact that Grant is the son of wealthy parents who put inordinate pressure on their only son, while Tess is staying near Grant's summer home only because her mother is working as a chef and assistant at a neighbor's property. But their summer romance ends abruptly, and the pair do not cross paths again for around two decades--when they are both running for Governor of Virginia.

The story is told from both Grant and Tess' points of view, and covers both present-day and that fateful summer. We get their story of young love (building up to their big break-up) and then two jaded adults, ha. This is like a political soap opera--it's impossible to put down--and it covers important topics like class, wealth, spousal abuse, and abortion while doing so.

I especially loved the Virginia setting, with pieces of the story even set in my hometown of Charlottesville.

This is a great cross between political drama and romance, topped off with secrets and lies.

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Now none of that matters when the flame licks the spoon: KING OF ASHES.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very S.A. Cosby book. It's incredibly well-written, but wow, it's brutal and sometimes almost too hard to read. I had to read it in small chunks, with lots of breaks for the light and fluffy romance I was also reading.

Roman returns home to Virginia from Atlanta, where he's a high-flying financial advisor. In Virginia, Roman's father is in a coma, leaving Roman's sister Neveah and brother Dante to run the family crematory business. Soon he learns Dante has gotten on the wrong side of a gang and is in horrible debt to a set of cruel and ruthless brothers.

Roman must enact a plan to save Dante, the family business, and ultimately, everyone's lives. Doing so will mean examining what exactly he's willing to do for his family. The resulting story is brutal and violent but also a masterful exploration of familial ties and the lengths people will go for power. Roman confronts a lot of dark truths--is he doing this for his family, his own power, or something else. Being home also reminds him constantly of his mother, who went missing when he was a teen. To this day, locals still think Roman's father killed her (and used the crematory).

Cosby does an amazing job of showing how secrets and grief can build up and consume a person--even a family. I can't say that I totally enjoyed this book, but I certainly appreciated it. He remains a master of this genre.

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I'm here again, but I'm all alone: MORE OR LESS MADDY.

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Oh this book is so well-done, but so hard to read. College student Maddy has always felt different from her posh Connecticut family. The college clinic puts Maddy on an anti-depressant, which unknowingly triggers her, spinning her into mania. Maddy soon learns that she has bipolar disorder, which will require strict management for the rest of her life.

This book is incredibly stressful, but very accurate, making you feel as if you're a part of Maddy's brain. It's an outstanding portrait of bipolar disorder and the depression associated with it. You can feel Maddy's moods as she cycles through the highs and lows and how difficult her bipolar makes her life. Genova captures Maddy's despair and how it affects both her and her family, as well as the stigma, embarrassment, and illness that comes with the illness.

We follow Maddy through several manic and depressive episodes and hospitalizations. It is of note that while they place high expectations on her, her monied family also means Maddy has access to care and treatment that others might not. Maddy's story is painful and sad, but also hopeful. This is an insightful and realistic look into mental illness. Please note a major trigger warning for multiple things such as cutting, depression, mania, and suicidal thoughts. It can also be very hard to read if you, or someone you love, has suffered from mental illness.


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Go run my name into the ground: BROKEN COUNTRY.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a gorgeous and emotional book.

Beth has a teenage love affair with the wealthy Gabriel Wolfe, which ends badly, and she marries Frank, a local farmer, who has always adored her. They have a son, Bobby--and Bobby and their farm are their entire world. But when Bobby dies in a horrible accident, their happiness is shattered. Now Gabriel is back in their village, divorced, with his own son Leo in tow. When Frank's brother Jimmy shoots Leo's dog to prevent it from attacking the farm's flock, a series of events unfold, upending the entire village.

This beautiful, tragic story is told in back and forth fashion, veering between the past and present, leading up to an incident we're told has happened from the first pages: "the farmer is dead." It's suspenseful and emotional.

The book does an amazing job of showing how Bobby's death has affected Beth, stoic Frank, and Jimmy--his proud uncle, who has turned to alcohol again with his nephew's death. These characters are painted so beautifully with amazing nuances and depth. Beth reacts by forming a bond with Leo--the only one willing to hear about her late son. Frank stuffs his emotions down, but cannot help but feel angry at how much time his wife is spending with her former lover. And Jimmy, who once helped his sister-in-law deliver his beloved nephew--reverts to old ways without the stability Bobby brought to his family.

While this book is sad, it's so beautifully written and often hopeful too. I found it hard to put down and a wonderful exploration of motherhood, love, and village life. 4.5 stars.

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She drives a hard bargain with a woman's touch: WE ALL LIVE HERE.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I typically enjoy Jojo Moyes, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s engaging, but it treads familiar ground—a struggling, divorced author and mom juggling family chaos and career uncertainty.

Lila is trying to keep life together post-divorce, raising her daughters, Celie and Violet, while sharing a home with her stepfather, Bill, who moved in after her mother passed away. The irony? She built her career on a bestselling book about her "perfect" marriage—one that has since crumbled. Now, she’s under pressure from her publisher to rebrand as a fun, sexy single mom, but inspiration is nowhere to be found.

Enter her long-estranged father, Gene, a charming yet self-absorbed actor. His sudden reappearance stirs up plenty of tension, particularly with Bill, who harbors deep resentment toward him. As Lila struggles with writer’s block, family drama, and personal insecurities, nothing seems to be going as planned.

I had a hard time fully rooting for Lila. While character growth is essential, she often comes across as self-absorbed—neglecting her kids, belittling the kindhearted gardener, and using people's personal stories as writing material without much thought. She also fails to appreciate either of her father figures. Gene, for all his flaws, at least has some heartwarming moments with her daughters, and Bill, despite his quirks (and questionable health-conscious cooking), is endearingly steadfast.

Honestly, I would have loved more from Gene, Bill, and Celie’s perspectives. Their dynamics were more compelling than Lila’s romantic woes, which felt repetitive. While the story is easy to read, it doesn’t break new ground. Lila’s fixation on needing a man overshadowed the strong family bonds already present in her life, which was frustrating.

Overall, this is a quick, readable novel, but not one that will stay with me.

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She'll let you in her heart if you got a hammer and a vise: THE FAVORITES.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

THE FAVORITES is an utterly captivating novel that delves into the fiercely competitive world of ice dancing, where ambition, sacrifice, and betrayal intertwine.

Katarina Shaw always dreamed of becoming an Olympian, but growing up in poverty meant she had to fight tooth and nail to reach the top. Her path crossed with Heath Rocha, a foster kid with his own struggles, and together they formed an unbreakable bond. Ice skating became their escape, propelling them from obscurity to royalty in the skating world—until a devastating incident at the Olympics shattered their dreams and their lives.

A decade later, the world is still captivated by their story, now the subject of a tell-all documentary. The book alternates between gripping documentary interviews, where various characters offer their takes on Kat and Heath’s journey, and Kat’s raw, personal narrative of what truly happened. The result is a riveting tale brimming with anger, passion, and resilience.

As Kat becomes entangled in the lives of her idol, Olympic champion Shelia Lin, and Shelia's twin children, Garret and Bella—current competitors with their own high stakes—the story deepens. Both Kat and the Lins are willing to pay any price for Olympic glory. But THE FAVORITES poses a haunting question: how far is too far?

What starts as a seemingly straightforward story of love and competition evolves into a masterfully crafted web of deceit, desire, and vulnerability. Fargo’s storytelling is both spellbinding and thought-provoking, delivering a tale that lingers long after the final page. This is a must-read for fans of character-driven drama. Hurrah for #bookstagram for getting me to pick this one up!

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Time stands in a duel: THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a beautifully written story about love and loss, all wrapped in the layers of a mystery.

Nora and her somewhat estranged half brother Sam do not believe that their father Liam's death--a fall over a cliff--was an accident. Nora reluctantly joins with Sam to investigate and in the process, learns a great deal about Sam, about herself, and about her father.

Liam was a wealthy man, with three ex-wives, and Sam and Nora have much to untangle about their father's life. There are a variety of twists and surprising turns about Liam's life (and death), but also a plethora of emotional moments as we watch Sam reckon with his father's death and his own life choices. Nora, meanwhile, grapples with her flailing relationship with her fiance, Jack, seeing it within the prism of the loss of both her father and mother.

While present-day chapters focus on Nora and Sam's quest to find out what happened to their father, other chapters describe Liam's love story with a mystery woman, showing a surprising depth and emotion not expected of this meticulous, rich man who seemingly discarded so many wives. In fact, much of this book is tender and thoughtful, including Sam and Nora's slowly renewed sibling relationship.

This is a lyrical story about family and grief, yet it remains captivating as we unravel the events surrounding Liam's fall. 4+ stars.

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If I don't keep my head up, I may drown: THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not quite what I expected after all the hype.

LAST ONE is a slow burn of a read that ends up as half thriller, half rumination on father/daughter relationships.

Frank, a UPS driver, reunites with his only daughter, Maggie, after a three-year rift. Maggie calls to invite him to her wedding and he learns that she's engaged to a rather wealthy guy. Well, the son of a rather wealthy, guy. Maggie's fiance, Aidan Gardner, is the offspring of a rich and famous tech billionaire (who happens to be Maggie's boss). Frank heads to Maggie's three-day wedding festivities at the Gardner's country property, but can't help but feel weird vibes. Soon, a lot of strange things begin to happen, including a mysterious death.

This is a slow read for a thriller. It does a very good job of cultivating a sinister and suspicious feel, but about halfway through, I felt frustrated that nothing of much importance had really happened yet. Frank is a bit of a whiner--much of the book is spent on him ruminating on his relationship with Maggie and wishing she was spending more time with him. Maggie, however, is busy with work, and you know, getting married.

Frank shows up to his wedding with his sister, fine, but also the sister's foster child. This is a really odd side plot, but cute, I suppose, and lends some humanity to the story in later chapters. It's still a very odd juxtaposition to the story. I was also shocked at how much time Frank thought Maggie should be spending with him leading up to the wedding. He came across as demanding and self-centered.

Frank discovers that *gasp* the Gardners are a rich family with too much power and too many secrets. Shocking--this is a plot never explored in literature before. Sigh. The story is dark and suspenseful, but the twist was not as surprising as I would have hoped. The story could have benefited from someone other than Frank's POV--I tired of his repetitive thoughts. If you like your thrillers with family drama thrown in, you'll love this one.

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Treat each day as though it's borrowed: HERE FOR THE MOMENT.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this was a captivating read. After a lengthy delay, a flight finally takes off. It seems like it will be a typical journey, until a woman starts going up and down the aisles, telling everyone when and how they will die. "Old age. 99." "Drowning. Age 7." Some people laugh it off, while others are a bit freaked out, especially those whose deaths are predicted for the near future.

Things become even more interesting when the first passenger dies... exactly as predicted. Two more deaths follow, just as they were foretold. A Facebook group filled with the passengers is fraught with panic.

I had a tough time putting this story down. It alternates between the stories of the passengers, including the mom who was told her baby will drown at the age of 7; the flight attendant celebrating her birthday on the fateful flight; a new bride who is told her husband will kill her via intimate violence; a young man already grieving the loss of his friend; and an overworked dad who is told he will die in a workplace accident after his next birthday.

Then we hear from Cherry, the woman who made these startling predictions. Moriarty captures Cherry perfectly, allowing her to tell her life story between the tales of our plane passengers. When the first passenger dies, it's truly shocking, and Moriarty does an amazing job of making you truly care about this group of people you meet on a plane--so you're worried about their welfare and fates.

This would have been a 5-star read for me, but I found the ending a little lacking--in a way I'm not even sure I can articulate. I was looking for something just a bit "more." Still, the way Moriarty weaves the various stories and connections together is masterful. This is a fascinating and thoughtful read about appreciating life--just as it is--and realizing the true impact we have on others. It makes interesting and poignant points about the ways our lives are woven together more than we may ever realize. 4+ stars.

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Wake up one day, you find that everything had turned to dust: ONE PERFECT COUPLE.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Agatha Christie's book AND THEN THERE WERE NONE is one of my all-time favorites, so I was fascinated to see this modern take on it. I wasn't expecting a lot, but this was actually an enjoyable read!

Lyla is upset when her post-doctoral research doesn't pan out, leaving her potentially jobless. That's about the only reason she would consider her actor boyfriend Nico's ridiculous desire to go on a reality show, THE PERFECT COUPLE, where couples compete in various challenges on a far-off island.

To Lyla, the show seems questionable at best, with five couples being sent to a half-constructed island and filmed and watched over by a skeleton crew. They only make it through the first challenge, eliminating one contestant and leaving the remaining members upset, when a storm decimates the island. Suddenly, they've lost contact with the crew, some contestants are dead, others injured, and for the rest: it's a new challenge--survive, for real, or they're all dead.

Locked island mystery doesn't do this book justice; it's incredibly captivating in the way it explores group dynamics and the psyches of people faced with imminent death. This is a quick read that draws you in, both through the exciting narrative; diary snippets that make you question said narrative's validity; and descriptions of radio calls from the island.

COUPLE delves into the power of social media and reality TV and the effects of "car crash TV" on society. It's quite a thriller, with some great twists, but an excellent examination of character as well.

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No one wants to see the cracks the make-up doesn’t hide: THE WEDDING PEOPLE.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phoebe arrives at the fancy Cornwall Inn with plans to kill herself. She quickly realizes she's the only guest there not attending the wedding of Lila, "the bride," and her husband-to-be, Gary. When Lila finds out Phoebe's plans, she freaks out and tells her she cannot ruin her wedding plans. As the two talk, Phoebe finds herself caught up in Lila's intricate seven-day wedding extravaganza, including Lila's family.

What follows is a thoughtful story about grief, admitting to one's faults, and learning to love yourself. The characters are nuanced and flawed, filled with sadness and calamities. Phoebe is broken after a divorce, while Lila is grieving the loss of her father. The setting is atmospheric and oozes a wealthy seaside vibe. Lila's various family members are engaging, charming, and interesting.

The only reason this is not a 5-star read for me is that while, overall, it deals with sadness and depression fairly well, it feels like Phoebe's suicidal desires are pushed to the side rather easily. Getting over a deep depression and suicide attempt is not as easy as meeting a chatty bride and falling for her family, even if they are pretty cool.

Still, this is a unique and lovely novel. I fell for the characters and was immediately caught up in Phoebe and Lila's stories.

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Used to daydream in that small town: MIDDLETIDE.

Middletide by Sarah Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a quiet and character-driven debut that certainly pulls you into the story. Elijah leaves his small hometown of Point Orchards to make it as a writer. This means abandoning his beloved girlfriend, Nakita, from the nearby reservation. He returns years later as a "failure," having only published one book that barely sold any copies. When a woman is killed on his property--local doctor Erin Landry--in the same fashion as his book, Elijah's attempt at a simple life quickly becomes anything but, as he is the prime suspect in the Sheriff's eyes.

MIDDLETIDE is quite an interesting read. I didn't particularly connect to the characters, but it's such a well-written story, and it kept me reading; I finished the book in one day. It wasn't exactly what I expected: it's part mystery, part character study, part romance. Once back home, Elijah throws himself into restoring his father's ramshackle cabin and trying to make things right with Nakita. But when Erin's suicide is found to be a murder, we see him a different light, especially through Erin's journals and his and Nakita's memories.

The story is told in a back and forth style that sometimes makes it hard to keep track of timelines. It builds up to what happens to Erin, plus the current timeline of the Sheriff investigating the case. We hear from a variety of points of view, which does help build suspense and interest. The small town atmosphere is strong, with the focus on Elijah restoring the cabin, life at the reservation, and how the townspeople's public opinion affects what happens to Elijah.

This isn't an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but it's a solid, well-done mystery.

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Spending time chasing ghosts: THE GOD OF THE WOODS.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This book is everywhere, and I'm not sure there's a ton I can add beyond what everyone else is saying, but I will certainly reiterate that it is really darn good. At first, it seemed like it would be a worn out story: wealthy family, lost child, summer camp setting. Don't be fooled. Moore's prose sucks you in from the start, dropping you directly at the camp with the characters.

The story is told across multiple POVs and many time periods, including the 1950s and 1970s. You have to get your bearings straight going in; it seems like all the switches will be confusing, but it's not hard to keep track of the changing narrators and eras. We're at Camp Emerson, owned by the wealthy Van Laar family. It's the mid 1970s and their daughter, Barbara, who has been attending camp, goes missing. Then we flash back to fourteen years earlier, when the Van Laar's first child, their son Bear, went missing--never to be found.

What follows is a fascinating and intriguing story that spans decades, looking into wealthy families and the control they can have over people and situations, as well their own children. The camp setting is atmospheric, steeped in nature exploration, with a focus on small town life. We meet several campers and counselors at the camp, allowing the story to delve into class issues.

Moore has this amazing ability to allow her readers to feel incredibly deep emotions for her characters, ranging from empathy, to pity, to revulsion. She weaves in twisted family ties and dynamics as well as subtly illustrates how women were treated in the 1950s and 1970s. There's an excellent character, a newly minted police officer named Judy, who does a wonderful job at showing so many of these elements as she searches for clues about Barbara's disappearance.

If you're looking for an intricate, character-driven mystery, this is an excellent choice. 4.5 stars.

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What I have is a gift of life I can't repeat: THE HUSBANDS.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

My favorite thing about Book of the Month (BOTM) is finding books like THE HUSBANDS, which I'd probably never pick up otherwise. It has a refreshing and unique premise; it was nice to have something different to read. When the very single Lauren comes home from a night with friends, she finds someone in her home: apparently he's her husband, Michael. This is backed up by photos in her home/on her phone, messages with friends, and more. Then Michael goes up in her attic and when he comes down, he's someone else--another husband--and Lauren's life slightly alters to encompass the new spouse. Each and every time.

This was hard to put down, as the story is totally engaging, with Lauren cycling through husbands at an often rapid clip. In some ways, this is a romance, but it's really a journey of self-exploration. As the many husbands come out of the attic, Lauren deals with so many thoughts: is she crazy? And, how picky is she? How do you, in fact, wind up with the person you love? How do we frame who we love, especially when we have more agency and choice in the matter.

The story drags a bit in the middle with the endless parade of husbands, but it's still quite fascinating. It's a personal story, and a bit mysterious, as Lauren tries to puzzle out why this is happening to her. Answering the questions of what you want in life and learning to accept what you have are central here, but this is also a witty and insightful story that keeps you reading. 4.5 stars

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But home is a feeling I buried in you: STARS IN YOUR EYES.

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There's so much more than fake dating happening in STARS IN YOUR EYES, which is told in a back and forth point-of-view between its two main characters, both actors. Mattie is an up-and-coming actor, still sweet and shy, and dealing with shame from being gay thanks to a religious father. He's filming a new movie with the famous (or is it infamous) Logan, known for his bad boy antics. Logan hides his pain--much of it from being abused--behind a gruff exterior, where he pushes everyone away and acts out.

Filming a story about two gay authors that begin a romance, Mattie and Logan suddenly see their film life parallel real life when the producers force them to fake a romance to stir up interest in the movie (and cover up for some of Logan's bad behavior), and the two quickly realize they like each other. But nothing is simple when they each carry so much baggage--and they're under constant public scrutiny.

I really enjoyed hearing the story from both Logan and Mattie's sides and the way Callender interspersed their POVs with snippets from film magazines, blogs, social media, and more. It's a quick read, albeit a powerful one. STARS delves into serious territory including racism and bi-phobia and looks seriously at sexual assault (triggers for assault, rape, suicide idealization, and more). It's really a very tender story showing how love can occur between flawed people with pasts--not every romance is a straightforward, cheery one, as the book illustrates.

There's a bit of relationship and therapy speak that sometimes feels overdone, but overall I enjoyed this one. It's not a feel good story per se, but it's enjoyable, makes good points, and really lets you feel for the characters.


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All around your island there's a barricade: YOU, AGAIN.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

YOU, AGAIN has a cheerful cover, but is actually a rather angry, emotional book instead of a happy, go-lucky romance. Our leads are flawed characters. We have Ari, who is post-breakup from her one real relationship, and who avoids serious relationships like the plague, and Josh, an anxious guy suffering from an intensely personal career failure who requires perfection in relationships.

The book chronicles Josh and Ari's encounters over a span of time, showing them to be self-centered, depressed, and fragile people. In many ways, this is refreshing. Instead of some picture perfect romance, we see two people living actual, real life. The author said she was inspired by When Harry Met Sally and it shows. The idea of two people who can't get over their own issues (versus the concept of forced external plots) is fun for a romance. Once accustomed to the book's tone, I found this enjoyable and more real than the artificial situations of some love stories.

And, Ari and Josh have an excellent simmering, angry chemistry that permeates the story. The book is filled with so many bitter but funny moments. Yes, it could be bleak at times, but also really hilarious. It's a very NYC story, focusing on landmarks and settings in the city, making you feel like you're there with the characters.

Overall, this was a different sort of story, but an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.


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We get years of practice camouflaging shame: PINEAPPLE STREET.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

PINEAPPLE STREET introduces us to the three Stockton siblings: Darley, Cord, and Georgiana. Each is a rich, privileged New Yorker raised by parents who have more money than most of us can ever fathom. Their story is told by Darley, Georgiana, and Cord's wife, Sasha, a "regular" girl who married into the wealthy Stocktons and is immediately deemed a gold-digger by her sister-in-laws. Is it any surprise that Sasha quickly became my favorite? For a decent part of this book, the original Stockton clan seemed spoiled, clueless, and utterly ridiculous.

PINEAPPLE STREET attempts to make deep points about income inequality and generational wealth, but it's difficult when its characters are shallow and often unredeeming: their world contained to the privileged "fruit streets" of Brooklyn.

Still, there's something oddly compelling about this clan, even if we're just getting a sneak peak into their daily lives. There's a voyeuristic aspect of watching people spend and deal with amazing amounts of money not known to the average human. Still, I'm not sure I learned much more from this book than our characters did by the end.


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Or would we never know the fortunes that we had 'til we grow old: THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was surprisingly good. I was prepared for predictability with yet another plot centering around the daughter of a cop--now a detective herself--struggling with their history with their father, losing her murdered sister, and investigating a series of missing girls. But ELLIE BLACK is a sad and haunting tale that keeps you guessing and reading.

In the present-day we hear from Chelsey (detective), Ellie herself, Ellie's boyfriend, and Ellie's parents as they all narrate her return after being missing for over two years. The timeline in the past comes from Ellie, at 17, and explains the circumstances of her disappearance. Present-day Ellie has no desire to explain to Chesley what happened to her, frustrating the detective beyond words, and taking her back to her own youth, when her sister died.

Chelsey is a flawed character and comes across very real, even frustrating. As does Ellie--there's no "hero worship" of our victim here. Even Ellie herself will admit she wasn't the perfect daughter before her disappearance. This is a dark book, with plenty of damaged characters, and it dives deeply into violence toward women. I found it hard to put down, with a plethora of twists and surprises. 4.25 stars.


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