Jen Beagin's literary fiction novel is consistently bizarre, at times base, and often darkly funny as increasingly unreliable and uncomfortable (with bleeding, itching, and other problems building as the story The story was wonderfully narrated by Rebecca Lowman, Carlotta Brentan, Stephen Graybill, Joy Osmanski

In Erin Kate Ryan's historical fiction mystery, she uses a fascinating story structure to explore different the structure--which explores multiple girls' various possible lives and situations--would make this story With the multiple girls at hand, I had to flip back a few times to make sure Ryan was writing about the was writing about, but that definitely could have been a personal problem related to reading while tired Regardless, I was hooked on this book and fascinated by what felt like multiple genres in one story,

You may see much of this young adult story coming, but Warcross is an action-packed quest to right wrongs She's hacked into the game plenty of times and glitched the system to work in her favor. romaaaaaantic moments, a noble quest, a reluctant heroine, and complications that upend everything just in time enjoyed; the sequel is Steelstriker, which I haven't yet read) and her stand-alone historical fiction story

The elements that feel potentially familiar or could have felt overused from use in other stories (a book’s main case) are cushioned by Denfeld’s skillful setting of the scene and lovely shaping of the story More missing-person stories If you like unlikely heroines and missing-person plots, you might also like

capsizes in the middle of the ocean when a whale breaches beneath it; I'm reading Claire Lynch's family story 01 A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst Sophie Elmhirst revisits a decades-old true story that she crafts like fiction, skillfully using dry firsthand accounts You might also want to check out more cozy stories I've reviewed.

As another girl disappears, this time one she's tenuously connected to, and when she realizes that aspects and while I'm sometimes frustrated by an unreliable-narrator setup, Chloe's swirling mind suited the story without glossing over the irrevocable effects of the deep doubts and trauma on the relationships in the story The story has been optioned by actress Emma Stone to be produced as a limited television series.

I was happy to spend time with Gen and Attolia again in this sixth and final book of Turner's Queen's Turner's series was published over a period of almost twenty-five years, and the story trail traces the wonderfully unexpected developments related to plot, character arc, point of view, morality, origin stories I had a tough time following the political machinations in this book, but I was just happy spending time

While the gore and terrifying elements aren't my personal favorite aspects of a story, I was intrigued I was cringing as I listened to various agonies, which compounded as the story progressed.

The young women cope with their pain in divergent ways, and while I was interested in the story, I wanted A lot occurs within the story, yet I found myself wanting to feel more around the dramatic scenarios The story builds theatrically to an ending that takes the drama to another level.

Newitz offers a cozy story of an unlikely safe haven for all. I love a science-fiction story in which elements of humanity are explored, I love an alternate-history Newitz provides all three in a cozy story that charmed me through both funny and poignant moments.

Sue Monk Kidd spins this historical fiction story, inspired by the real-life Sarah Grimke, and includes excruciating details of the time, including various horrifying punishments for enslaved people considered and infuriating to read historical fiction about the actual horrors that occurred in this place and time women by men, and various instances and examples of women's powerlessness are apparent throughout the story , abuse, resolve, and heartbreak, and Kidd grounds Handful in her mother's stories and in her history

The construct of tracing near-death experiences to tell the story of her life didn’t feel forced at all neurosurgeon facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, found himself with many thoughts about existence and little time Warren’s life story, both personal and professional, and his push and pull between faith and science, There was just a little bit of repetition at times, but I read an advance reader's copy, so this likely

The interview format and multiple perspectives add to the layers of the story. behind the scenes, and I loved the politics, rivalries, determination, mind games, and sabotage in the story devotion to Kat that hard work was able to lead him to the level of success that was required for the story pushed any reasonable bounds of reality, but I didn't mind and was hooked on the roller coaster of a story comparisons to Daisy Jones and the Six  ( a title I included in the Greedy Reading List Six Rockin' Stories

“There is an old saying that every story, even your own, is either happy or sad depending on where you It took me a little time to get into Cash's Last Ballad. It was a slow build but worth riding Cash's wave to an affecting middle of the story and a powerful sequence I really wish I’d read the final author’s note about Cash's personal links to the story before reading

When events come to a head and the O'Banion brothers must flee down the Gilead River--in hopes of meeting The author has said that this story was inspired by The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and it does feel

interconnectedness of the characters and the details of household life and power structures of the time O'Farrell, who has written many books I've loved, here tackles a novel of the plague and a story loosely I wondered if the timing of this reading experience was going to be enjoyable--reading a book about the But O'Farrell has crafted a story that is primarily about a family--their hopes, dreams, and the sometimes The details of the time, household life, and gender, vocation, and familial power structures were wonderful

I sometimes like to dig into a big nonfiction read during the summer, when I feel like time stretches out and allows me to take more time with a more dense title.

The Icelandic landscape is vividly evoked, the characters feel faulted and real, and the story is compelling Burial Rites is a beautiful, haunting story inspired by the true events surrounding the last person put The landscape is vividly evoked, the characters feel faulted and real, and the story is compelling. I still think about this book from time to time, and I read it years ago. This book is part of the Greedy Reading List Six Captivating Nordic Stories. What did you think?

boarding-school mystery that's also about race, gender, and power; Weyward, a multi-timeline witchy story whose biggest hope for the pending end of the world was to play at the most epic goodbye party of all time The story features instances of rape, abandonment, witch hunting, and attempted suicide. The story is wonderfully narrated by Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley, and Nell Barlow. Stories and Six More Wonderfully Witchy Stories to Charm You.

In this memoir, the charming, food-obsessed cookbook author and actor shares the stories behind his Italian-American The author shares stories of his wife and children, his first wife and her untimely death, and his own health crisis of cancer, which affected his digestion, ability to chew, and his taste--at the time, Food is interwoven through all of these shared stories, and it always feels natural, never a forced construct

whose biggest hope for the pending end of the world was to play at the most epic goodbye party of all time Yume Kitasei offers plot and mystery, but this is primarily a wonderfully character-driven story--with The gods' war provides the structure for the book's main conflict, but the story feels primarily focused fascinating imagined technological advancements, and more, while offering great twists, a compelling story Harrow Starling House is another wonderful, dark, twisty story from Alix E.

passing of the years, however, those memories become distant and malleable, and we shape them into the stories To the Bright Edge of the World  is a story of discovery, adventure, tedious slogging, danger, and self-revelation Ivey's fantastical elements are inspired by Native American folklore and stories, and they work well

These six memoirs from musicians offer stories about the authors' lives, loves, and work, and they each Carlile intersperses songs with stories about their impact on her or the influences that led her to write They felt incredibly powerful as a closure to her story. For my full review, check out The Storyteller. 06 Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story by Jewel at age 3 alongside her parents), how she began to write songs to express herself, and the now-famous story

This story imagines a wife for Jesus, questions gender roles, and offers adventure. This was so interesting: a story from the point of view of an imagined wife for Jesus, including an exploration adventure, strong female loyalty and friendship, love, and lots of fascinating details of life at the time character Ana is off having other experiences (and often-dangerous adventures), so his role in her story is primarily as a faithful man who disagrees with the politics of the faith at the time, but most essentially

protagonists must face and overcome past and present difficulties in order to banter their way through the story childhood abuse, animal abuse, and dementia are all part of Xavier and Samantha's past and present stories Jimenez writes irresistible characters, and I loved the weight of the difficulties behind this sweet story

and Became the Most Iconic Comedy of the Twenty-First Century by Saul Austerlitz ...shares surprising stories With more than 60 new interviews with Anchorman cast, crew, and creators, Kind of a Big Deal tells the story Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune and Roger Ebert was at the Chicago Sun-Times all while examining New York itself as a cultural capital. 05 Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story

That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash Beyond That, the Sea is a lovely character-driven historical fiction story Beyond That, the Sea tells the story of two families on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean during World Click here for my full review of Boys I Know. 04 Charm City Rocks: A Love Story by Matthew Norman Charm I loved this story about relationships, complications, famous/everyday person romance, and a love of Our time here is limited, gone in the blink of an eye.

that we would have clean resolutions to the mystery; the sometimes-gruesome aspects of the path to the story's When he meets the elderly Carl Iverson at a nearby nursing home, he's eager to hear Carl's life story And his story is introducing more questions than answers for Joe--who is coping with his own complicated personal challenges but can't leave Carl's story alone.

Kate Quinn makes the urgency of World War II code breaking come alive through the stories of three young The Rose Code is a wonderfully spun historical fiction story of three very different women who answer I love a World War II story about strong women making a difference, but I admit that I was curious about and while I'm sometimes frustrated by an unreliable-narrator setup, Chloe's swirling mind suited the story loyalty and intentions of almost everyone in State of Terror while still making me feel invested in the story

Kingfisher novel, the fantasy story and retelling of the Grimm Brothers' Goose Girl , A Sorceress Comes to Call ; and I'm reading a reimagined, empathy-inspiring story of Dickensian villain Jacob Fagin from wrought fantasy novels featuring main protagonists I love: Uprooted  and Spinning Silver  as well as the story Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon's pen name) read, and so far, I love this retelling of the Grimm Brothers' story

James explores race, friendship, ambition, and the absurdities and rhythm of daily life during her time herself to delve more deeply into aspects of her years at Taft that she largely glossed over at the time The majority of page time is focused on aspects of James's boarding-school life, including its rhythms The author notes that when she was a high schooler, in that place and time in our society, she didn't social critique, partly a recounting of the absurdities she experienced, and partly simply her unique story

A woman recognizes him and impulsively spills the story of her mother Margot Bamborough's mysterious investigator employees have enough surveillance work to keep them busy, but Strike can't shake the story It was nicely paced, and I liked having time to dig into the characters' evolution and the mystery's

The story is heartwarming, funny, with strong friendships, plus it's steamy and romantic at times without The story is steamy and romantic at times without being dramatic.

scenes of a fictional 1960s sitcom is layered with the complex issues of the changing world at that time Now it's 1964, and times are changing for women, people of color, gay people, and society in general.

The historical fiction story about the building of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, had society, complications of widespread TB infection, visionaries shaping the future, as well as the love story I love a North-Carolina-set story, and Joy Callaway's historical fiction What the Mountains Remember Belle is determined to write the stories of the extraordinary everyday men who are building the Grove For more North Carolina stories, check out the books on this Bossy list .

I loved the twist, double-twist of my first Cavanagh mystery, and the story's revenge and renegade justice I don't love the title--although it does indicate the dynamic--but I was hooked on the story.

Witch is just their nasty word for anyone who makes things happen, who moves the story along. desperate to save their society from the arrogant men and their unchecked power, but only turning the tide witch hunters as more devilish creatures than anyone they might be seeking to punish, and at the same time infuriating in its recounting of the horrific cruelties and tortures enacted against so many women at the time witch hunt-focused Hour of the Witch or the titles on the Greedy Reading List Six Wonderfully Witchy Stories

series (all of the books are set in Amish country), although they've been on my to-read list for a long time I wondered if it was fair of me to first dive into the story so late in the series, but in an illuminating meant to stand alone, while readers following the books in order will note character development over time I thought the characters sometimes seemed slow to catch on to the implications of events, but the story Stars Go Dark, about a missing persons detective coping with her own tragedy; the historical fiction story

discord, bringing the reader into her extended periods of pain, worry, and suffering, while most of the time eventually, of the underlying conditions that caused so many intermingling, complicated, agonizing times

his (unrecognized) teenaged soulmate didn't ring true enough for me to feel that I could buy into the story were some steamy moments, but the sexiness often felt violent, the racy talk didn’t land for me and at times Even solid mentor Jim inexplicably says to Dani about Nick's appeal, "Keep spending time with him, on The specter of Nick's addiction overshadows much of the story, and this element felt tragic and compelling If you like stories about music, you might like the books on the Greedy Reading List Six Rockin' Stories

off-putting to me in his arrogance at first, but Carley Fortune is the best at developing a lakeside romance story features characters Percy (Persephone) and Sam (Charlie's brother) from Every Summer After , which is the story once she developed a strong female character with her own rich backstory, Fortune was able to tell the story

That girl is frozen in time, with her beginning, middle, and end: victim, endurance, triumph. It was a good story. A good feeling. A good ending. Fade to black. The last few pages felt a little disjointed from the story and odd. emotional investment were a intriguing framework for Miranda's story. its structure (it begins in the present day after a series of disturbing events and works backward in time

couple of hours (narrator Sophie Amoss deftly handles the voices in this novel to great effect), the story It's difficult to describe how bonkers this story is. I was surprised by how hooked I became on it. book I would universally recommend, but for an audience that appreciates cutting satire and a bananas story

Cosby; a light fiction story that's multigenerational, features a winery backdrop, and references racy reads from the 1980s; and a story inspired by The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn about four young orphans So far this is a lovely light fiction story that also focuses on racy reads from the 1980s in the form When events come to a head and the O'Banion brothers must flee down the Gilead River--in hopes of meeting The author has said that this story was inspired by The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and it does feel

Elizabeth Strout examines the range of characters from her many books and their intersecting stories, And the story weaves in characters from other Strout books, including Olive Kitteridge. But the story is primarily about human connections. And Olive and Lucy share stories from their own lives and those they've encountered, trying to come to

Walls uses a journal structure to draw the reader into a singular story I can't stop thinking about. I was fully intrigued by the story and by Ig's vivid point of view, the relentless and increasingly outrageous

Much of The Safekeep feels claustrophobic, quiet, and hopeless, but unexpected shifts late in the story But approximately three quarters of the way through the book, the story's perspective changes to Eva's revelations shifted my thinking about the book's various relationships and made me question the basis for the story's almost gothic in its initial darkness and hopelessness, then took me by surprise by blooming into a story

The Books I'm Reading Now I'm reading Jessica Anya Blau's 1970s-set music-focused story Mary Jane; I'm By the time summer is over, Mary Jane will understand how many more possibilities there are for her future than she's ever dreamed of. 02 Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine nonfiction ode to settling in, stepping back, and slowing down, she explores her own experiences with times

The story twists and turns through confidential informants, militias arming themselves with black-market For more Bossy reviews of stories involving law enforcement officers, please check out the titles at

Kingfisher (this is Ursula Vernon's pen name) read, and I loved this retelling of the Grimm Brothers' story The story is sometimes funny, and it's consistently suspenseful and character-driven. This story felt smart, strange, and intriguing. I can't wait to read more books by this author.