The Books I'm Reading Now I'm reading a small-town Irish story of deep connections and the potential 01 Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan In Heart, Be at Peace , Donal Ryan shares the story of a small town The story is told from 21 interconnected points of view. poet's poem, the single version of which was read aloud for the poet's wife's birthday, but then lost to time

Wild Life: Dispatches from a Childhood of Baboons and Button-Downs Keena Roberts grew up splitting her time a sensitive young girl whose unusual life was shaped by her parents' primatology careers and family travel home management book (which I loved with a few reservations in my early married days; my love of and time These three women's stories seem like they couldn't be more disparate, and I imagine the tones will be

Upon being on her own for the first time, she discovers that she is capable of cleverness in the wild Would Adam be willing to help them gather the stories that shape so many lives? For my full review, check out We Must Not Think of Ourselves. 06 Funny Story by Emily Henry Funny Story The banter is fantastic, and I laughed many times while reading this one. I listened to this fascinating story as an audiobook.

listening to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Kim Michele Richardson's historical fiction about a traveling As they mastermind a plan to bring the exes together in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s light fiction story, Russell

decision one night after a concert, when she's shoeless and in need of a ride home: she chose joking, fun-time-guy So far in this story she's explored money troubles, death and grief, identity theft and financial repercussions Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser Rachel Hochhauser's Lady Tremaine is a retelling of the Cinderella story

I felt like the story started off slowly, but once the world was built and the background established Over time, some of these demons have evolved into grumbling lackeys for the Eternal King, or bound slaves Eventually the story seemed to hit its stride, and the various demons, magical powers, dark histories

world and called it the Kingdom of Back, entertaining themselves during weeks and months of carriage travel This is a story about the magic of music, but it is also an exploration of gender roles (and tragic female likely future levels—which she also deserved but which were seemingly impossible for a woman at the time

These are the stories of the women left behind as the men journeyed and sought to inspire songs and stories vulnerable in order to try to save each other, they carve out meager existences as they bide their time She can travel through the multiverse, but only to worlds where another version of herself no longer The subtitle of Browder's nonfiction book is A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight Zauner delves into her intense love for the complex flavors, the frequently time-consuming and sometimes

In the first installment of Cher's two-part memoir, she traces some of her ancestors' pivotal stories provide more reflection around events as she grew older and more emotionally mature within her own story , and this is when she starts to show more vulnerability and growth--and when I felt drawn into her story occasional emphasis on certain words and infrequent, but present, perplexing pauses threw me off at times

01 A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna Mandanna's is a fun magical story featuring Schwab This wonderfully creepy lesbian vampire story is largely about female empowerment, but also about I loved each time period and the evolution of each strong female character . I appreciated the epic length of the book (688 pages), in which each remaining knight gets page time But the many points of view and meandering stories also felt a little broad at times, and I wished for

Skylark started off sloooowly for me--my friend Kim was reading it at the same time and we were both Early on, I wasn't sure I was going to feel drawn into either story. upstairs-downstairs pairing within each tale, and the fight for justice exists in parallel in both stories

I love digging into the story of someone's life--notable because of chance, circumstance, or choice-- storytelling podcast in D.C. and Philadelphia--and he certainly knows how to craft a compelling and full story I listened to this as an audiobook, and I loved hearing Field tell her story. Aaaand I realize that this is unfair since I chose to read this person's life story. journey in different ways could have felt disruptive or jarring but didn't; they added a layer to her story

This book is part of the Greedy Reading List Six Captivating Nordic Stories. This is a smart, compelling story that totally had me hooked. Liz Moore’s writing is thoughtful and the story in Long Bright River is character-driven. Jesus' role in Ana's story is as a faithful man who disagrees with the politics of the faith at the time Donoghue weaves a good amount of fact into this story.

For the rest of our lives, every time one of us goes somewhere and doesn’t return on time, doesn’t let the others know where we are, we will remember this time, what can happen. But Happiness Falls is primarily a story about a family finally understanding each other and going to

The towers of justice are built one brick at a time. We have more to build yet.” In Robert Jackson Bennett's novel, The Tainted Cup , he blends a rich, historical fiction-feeling story investigatory relationship, and fascinating otherworldly fantasy and steampunk elements into a captivating story I loved this book and the extended story that Robert Jackson Bennett has begun here.

mystery at the heart of the book seems only to be solvable by the biggest book nerd in existence; and the story's aren't too convenient, and they add layers to the mystery of who exactly the nefarious force in the story I'm up for a renegade story and a good-over-evil, noble quest. But What Happened to the Bennetts is more than a suspense story. surprising depth, particularly while exploring the bone-shaking grief that lies at the root of this story

But Brooks also builds rich stories in each of the other interconnected timelines, as we see privileged The story is built upon the framework of facts from the lives of Julian of Norwich and what is known Sharratt injects an undercurrent of what feels like modern feminism in her first-person story. book more so than in the modern bookends of Monique's documentation of Evelyn's stories. The story is inspired in part by Hawker's own ancestors' experiences.

Just for the Summer is another Jimenez story with wonderful banter and a romantic connection that's anchored But Justin's family is going through an incredibly complicated and fraught time, and he's caring for over and over--and she's also the reason Emma can't settle down for more than a couple of months at a time Characters from other Jimenez books appear, although it took me time to figure out that Alexis, Daniel

It was a great love story, one for the ages. The family's extreme privilege could have felt offputting or could have made Burden's story feel unrelatable As she sets up her part of the story, Burden delves into the backgrounds of her notable, famous, wealthy At times their larger-than-life presences greatly overshadow Belle's own relatively small, quiet existence She grows more bold, finds healing in speaking her mind, and becomes determined to write her story and

It's just an irresistible setup for a great story. Cosby Razorblade Tears is a brutally violent story shadowed with heartbreaking regret and a fast read The story highlights unlikely loyalties forged during desperate times, terrible scenes of cruelty, and I still think of this book from time to time, long after reading it. This sci-fi thriller is about the forces that drive apart a husband and wife, and the story is about

during World War I, When the World Fell Silent; I'm listening to mystery author Gillian McAllister's story Gillian McAllister is also the author of Wrong Place, Wrong Time, a book I loved, as well as Famous Last

dual-timeline mystery, Homecoming; and I'm reading Ashley Poston's newest light fiction that plays with time You might also be interested in the novels on the Greedy Reading Lists Six Great Historical Fiction Stories Morton's story explores secrets, loyalties, mysteries, and the complicated matter of coming home. Books that play with time! When do we want them? Er...now? Her aunt always said the apartment was a "pinch in time," where timelines blurred together.

When Detective Elise Sutton stumbles into a crime--a gunman is wandering a big-box store, shooting--she draws her gun for the first time in her career and takes down the shooter, saving at least one bystander's The story is told with alternating chapters focused on a chilling crime that feels connected to the Elise-Wade

It's time for the foooood books! Ruth Reichl was editor in chief of Gourmet and a world-renowned food critic for The New York Times, and Bourdain does have sordid tales to tell, but he seems less puffed up over his kitchen war stories after before I spent endless evenings happily watching multiple television series featuring Anthony Bourdain traveling unpolished to me--but Bourdain himself was unabashedly rough around the edges too. 04 A Homemade Life: Stories

boundaries they can push and how many lines they're willing to cross in order to uncover the truth in time There aren't significant subplots, so this is a straightforward-feeling story, a sort of "mystery light disguises, alternative identities, bugs and surveillance-- The Trap  involves many of my favorite spy-story

Joanna Quinn's debut novel is a hefty 558 pages, and the story sweeps through time from the 1920s malaise The children are largely unattended during this time, but their bonds to each other are solidified. The pacing of the story picks up, appropriately, when World War II begins to shift the world, exerting

family treks from California and traipses into a town with a colorful cast of characters, legends and stories I loved that Giuseppe the dog is given so much page time and importance here.

Bossy Romantic Favorites The heat of August feels like a perfect time to dive into recently published romantic stories, and these have been six of my favorites this year. Perfect for Summer Reading Six More Great Light Fiction Stories Six of My Favorite Rom-Com Reads of The banter made me laugh at times, and I bought the attraction between Katie and Hutch, as well as the Supporting characters are great, colorful, and add nice layers of interconnectedness to the story.

More Science Fiction Faves I love character-driven science fiction stories. Sci-fi books can be so lovely and weird and immersive, and the stories can dive into so many fascinating She can travel through the multiverse, but only to worlds where another version of herself no longer This was a fascinating story that offered satisfying character depth. She's hacked into the game plenty of times and glitched the system to work in her favor.

and cutthroat choices, pushing toward what feels like an inevitable, disastrous climax to the campy story We can see what Jessamyn is unaware of in this campy story: her acting may be sound, but her singing I often have a tough time reading about protagonists who are making poor choices, but the book's dark

men in a rowboat struggle to rescue a family trapped by the rising waters of the Mississippi after a storm The river balloons to 80 feet wide, and three convicts and their leader arrive at the ancestral home The story is narrated by J.D. You might also like the books on the Greedy Reading List Six Wonderfully Witchy Stories and Six More Wonderfully Witchy Stories to Charm You. 03 Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano William grew up in a family

translates the singular voice she displayed in her candid, darkly funny memoir into fiction with a story fascinating, deeply uncomfortable scenario in which Waldo, a young woman--legally underage at 17 when the story In Half His Age  McCurdy offers a complicated story about an illegal, inappropriate, mystifying, all-encompassing atrocities of the relationship that drives the book somehow separately and compartmentalized from the story Korgy, who takes up so much of her emotional energy and so much page time in the book, ultimately seems

Bossy Bookworm 01 The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the Unknown All These There's another complementary book of stories from The Moth as well, The Moth Presents Occasional Magic : True Stories about Defying the Impossible. Songteller includes previously unpublished photos, behind-the-scenes stories and memories. 05 The Bird Think by Jennifer Ackerman It says a lot about how many birders are on my gift list that I had a tough time

read by a wintry fire, but the heat of summer has recently hit where I am, and the idea of reading a story The elements that feel potentially familiar or could have felt overused from use in other stories (a I still think about Disappearing Earth from time to time, long after reading it. Hurley's images is incredible; the glass plate negatives lasted through months on ice floes, a week's travel The books on the Greedy Reading List Six Captivating Nordic Stories would also fit nicely here.

with three thousand of their most dedicated fans, American Fantasy; and I'm reading Sarah Damoff's story also the owner of the Books are Magic bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, and she's the author of This Time

surgically alter her facial features for a sum that might keep her family financially stable for a time In no time at all, she would be a craver again. I felt stressed while reading this story, with its focus on consumerism and extreme disconnectedness

is immediately evident once again, and they revisit old memories, compare notes, and treasure their time Ann Patchett is also the author of Tom Lake, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, State of Wonder,

William has always leaned on Lucy for support, despite the fact that he has been married two other times Now William has uncovered a family secret that shakes him, and he asks Lucy to travel with him to investigate The people Lucy has built her life around admiring and has spent her time clinging to as steady presences

historical fiction from a favorite author of mine, Christina Baker Kline, which is based on the real story by Christina Baker Kline In The Foursome, Kline offers the imagined reality of the astonishing true story , seeming impossibilities, and outsiders' desire for salacious details in this sympathetic, layered story schooler in 2000, dreaming of writing for Saturday Night Live, but working at her local video rental store We see glimpses of Eddie's past and Bella's history as well, as their bonds grow deeper in this story

How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) is a charming, irresistible young adult story about superheroes Astrid is always on time, always. How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) is a wonderfully romantic story about finding your own true Cristina Fernandez has crafted an irresistibly charming story that I absolutely adored. tone is very different, but the superhero element of this book reminded me of Hench, a darkly charming story

After the World Falls Apart I have a fascination with postapocalyptic (set in a time after a disaster ) and dystopian (set in a time of darkness and desperation) books, and I think it's for the same reason I'm captivated by wartime stories: the books are about characters being pushed to their limits by an Carey's story is also hopeful, but not in the way I might have expected. This is one of my all-time favorite books.

Libby Jones was adopted as an infant and she has long wondered at the true story of her parents. inspires varied and complicated questions about the possibly disturbing events that transpired around the time In the final lines (where the idea of travel and of unraveling the final threads of the story are introduced

I loved this premise At times, particularly in the middle of the story, things felt disjointed to me While I enjoyed the trip to Alaska (I love an Alaska storyline) and the polar bear-focused parts of the story Things wrap up in quite neat fashion at the close of the story, but I didn't mind because of the justice Side note: I've read and reviewed another book called Sleeping Giants; that one was a science fiction story

annoyance at the bards' reported tales of Odysseus as he extends his outrageously complicated and indulgent travels vulnerable in order to try to save each other, and they carve out meager existences as they bide their time

At almost 650 pages long, there's enough page time for Link to build various realities, tear them down I received a prepublication edition of this book (which was published this time last year, oops!) More Bossy love for oddball novels and second-chance stories For more oddball novels, check out the titles

Here are six personal stories that I found captivating! I'm intrigued by stories of those who have left constricting faith systems. Scorah tells a fascinating personal story of growth and fear and change. That said, I have a tough time reading memoirs in which someone is fighting cancer, and this one may Now I'd like Miller to write more books about varied topics, because I like spending time in her head

fiction about music, you might also like the titles I included in the Greedy Reading List Six Rockin' Stories Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch In alternating points of view, Christina Lynch offers a playful story So far this is a cute--at times a little too cute for my taste--mystery that seems sure to be headed

I scheduled a little Bossy break from posting until today so I could have lots of family time, but instead The book is fully epistolary, as the story is told in a book-long letter from Benjamin to Tot. Story Collections to Wow You and Six More Short Story Collections I Loved. It's satisfying that Robin gets the majority of page time as she bravely infiltrates the UHC and works It was time for something new.

efforts she enters into with her eccentric friends, and how Galland deftly places the reader in the story's place and time with rich details.

Chris Whitaker's novel All the Colors of the Dark  builds a story of a deep friendship between two young And I was intrigued by the disparate-seeming story that soon emerges, beginning with the premise of a There's yet another somewhat separate-feeling story of an outlaw, and a study on prison life, as well Yet the cast of characters is colorful, and I enjoyed the time I spent with them.