She sits behind a computer, she needs the steady paycheck--and she's got a grudging respect for the bad Historical fiction, light fiction, and fantasy/science fiction is the wacky concurrent combo working

They are complex characters who have been through tough experiences and are at interesting tipping points

is an appealingly hard worker with a real dedication to the business of creating funny, thoughtful comedy I didn't realize he had long been a stand-up comedian--and that he pursued this aggressively even during I enjoyed listening to Jost read the audiobook (and enjoyed his many compelling pitches for buying the

book is lovely: Connor is a young man figuring out who he is; he feels afraid of the consequences of coming Why would Ricky send a cryptic, desperate, last-minute warning but not have tried to communicate anything sense of self, he might imagine in these moments that he is through with her--even if he might feel compassion

with the team, which includes her mother and the rest of her family, plus many others involved in the complex

Through providing age-appropriate examples and specifics, Harvey delves into how to be "committed to With the goal of bringing up children "who are able, engaged, and high-functioning when it comes to matters

with the team, which includes her mother and the rest of her family, plus many others involved in the complex

framework and didn't irritate with its almost cinematic convenience, although its significance pales compared

You can see much of the story coming, but it's satisfyingly heartwarming.

Anna arrives in a sleepy Hamptons village to be a nanny, but the community has recently been rocked by eagerly discovers more of Leila's mysterious history, she begins to grow and change in this feminist coming-of-age when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, a stranger, leaves his fortune to her, her life becomes a lot more complicated Hawthorne has set out riddles and puzzles Avery must solve before coming into the money that could save or I would have been completely out of luck.

humans are generally unaware of this); and some unknown creature or group with power and greed is compromising is the man foraging in the woods in the white suit (who I therefore pictured as Tom Wolfe) going to come

She is a big proponent of complementary and alternative medicine (acupuncture resolved her allergies)

The scientific community studying schizophrenia locks onto the family; with the help of the brothers

potentially free people and make differences in lives--people who often emerge from prison with the complications of impaired health, community prejudice, and general difficulty adjusting to life beyond cell walls.

just happened to find it across the ocean) is cute as a framework, although its significance pales compared These three books are a pretty weird combination for concurrent reads, so I couldn't resist a post.

character-driven science fiction from Blake Crouch, and I found this sooooo good, unexpected, sweeping, and compelling

I only wished this were longer so I could spend more time in Sheldon's head and in his company. I only wished it were longer so I could spend more time in Sheldon's head and in his company.

This was sooooo good, unexpected, sweeping, and compelling. it’s a romance, but it’s really a story about loyalty and devoted friendship without easy or saw-it-coming This was strange and compelling.

of daily life (and almost-claustrophobic interconnectedness) within a tiny, very northern Norwegian community is sympathetic to her situation, and in time it becomes clear that Agnes and her circumstances are complicated The landscape is vividly evoked, the characters feel faulted and real, and the story is compelling. I only wished it were longer so I could spend more time in Sheldon's head and in his company. historical fiction also said to be humorous, and it includes Vikings, seafaring adventure, “nefarious company

The positive elements of the story don't come easily, and this makes them even more powerful. down deeply into the disturbing and ugly, and the wonderful and beautiful elements of the story don't come

Luke is a boyfriend who acts too immaturely to rise to the level of commitment and steadiness Nadia yearns

may be no law left except what you make of it, but if you steal my dog, you can at least expect me to come

life story, both personal and professional, and his push and pull between faith and science, was more complex Because it's also a doctor's memoir, I can't help comparing this to The Beauty in Breaking.

The behind-the-scenes communications that were made possible by Gordievsky's insights into the Soviet

In a way, this feels like a complementary read to Rebecca Stead's The List of Things That Will Not Change

Although you can see some of the big plot events coming, Center makes the journey so enjoyable that you to be upended so that Cassie is forced to alter her plans and careful schedule and figure out how to come Although the reader can see some of the big plot events coming in Things You Save in a Fire, Center makes firefighting, with one notable exception, but many other firefighter duties, training, and chains of command

Set in fourteenth century Russia, complete with rich folklore, conflicts between those who follow the

gossipy neighbors' thoughts, some omniscient revelations, and that hints extensively at trouble to come

during times of desperation, but the presentation of each element of Vern's rule and followers and community

When it's drawn into complicated situations, Murderbot shows a reluctant, grumpy ability to care for

There are not many surprises here, but Center offers great escapism into a close-knit Galveston, TX, community of beloved teachers, students, and friends with an ending you can see coming but are glad to see take How do you think this one compares?

So You Want to Talk About Race is based on promoting conversation and communication, and Oluo aims to own, and becoming informed about the many issues that affect race relations--including the numerous complicated She notes that "almost nothing is completely about race" but that race is an "interwoven...piece of the There are, necessarily, some common threads between this and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo; for example

The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker is the first in a completed trilogy of the same name that

of daily life (and almost-claustrophobic interconnectedness) within a tiny, very northern Norwegian community

Marinus and Jacob de Zoet make appearances, and the links to other books felt cozy, like I was coming

This was strange and compelling. What did you think? Mitchell is one of a kind, and I love it. Another book I loved of his was Utopia Avenue, and it was completely different in tone but also wonderfully

Harrow has another amazing-sounding book coming out in October 2020, The Once and Future Witches.

it’s a romance, but it’s really a story about loyalty and devoted friendship without easy or saw-it-coming

This is a fantastic blend of realistic complications, mistakes, adjustments, and spunk. But competition for his business is pinching his ability to help support his family, and some old, bad-news Blacktop Wasteland took a little while to get going for me, but just shy of halfway through, the setup is complete This is a fantastic blend of realistic complications, mistakes, adjustments, and spunk. It seems like it would be difficult to write those descriptions compellingly, but S.A.

I knew interpreting the emotional subtext in the speech and appearance of real humans was completely (For one thing, the shows and serials were trying to communicate accurately with the viewer.

her family are surrounded by a cast of mountaintop characters intent on avoiding the constraints (and comforts everything begins to unravel for the family, including long-held secrets that threaten to upend their lives completely Burns's Shiner were over-the-top dramatic, but the events within the faith-healing, folklore-driven community The community's unfailing allegiance to a personality-over-substance faith leader reminded me of Godshot

There's a character in common between this and Carey's The Girl With All the Gifts; this person appears

may be no law left except what you make of it, but if you steal my dog, you can at least expect me to come One is that an order might issue from the palace, a command unto the people saying “It is thus.” There's a character in common between the two books; this person appears at the end of The Boy on the

Bennett explores the complicated implications of perception as reality when it comes to race and its returns to the girls' hometown and shakes things up by bringing her very dark-skinned daughter to a community She makes no apologies and emerges as a fixture of the community. The book explores the complicated implications of perception as reality when it comes to race and its

visit our world, although humans are generally unaware of this; and someone with power and greed is compromising

A compelling Gothic suspense story with supernatural elements that keeps you guessing. Eeeee! Sager has crafted a compelling Gothic suspense story in which we're along for the ride as Maggie, a young I've heard this one compared to The Haunting of Hill House, but I haven't read that one (or watched the

There was some unhinged behavior on one character's part, but the damaging of photos and off-kilter comments

reflections on growing up, the influence of her Asian culture, and starting out and making her way in comedy Wong’s reflections on growing up, her Asian culture, and on starting out and making her way in comedy And I do love hearing the stories of women in comedy.

Vera and Edith are such a complementary WWII partnership, and I loved spending time with these strong I was completely engrossed. Vera and Edith are such a complementary partnership, and I loved spending time with these strong young

When her sister Kacey disappears and a string of murders rock the community, Mickey's need to solve the When Kacey disappears and a string of murders rock the community, everyone is suspect and Mickey's desire It's a smart, compelling story that totally had me hooked. Yes to this.