thoughts on books

Category: Literary Fiction

  • a family matter by claire lynch

    I was recommended to read this on NetGalley- thank you to the publisher for the ARC— in exchange for an honest review.

    This is a quick read and somewhat difficult subject matter.

    Multiple timelines- 2022 Heron, recently diagnosed with cancer and his adult daughter Maggie. He has been divorced for 40 years, Maggie has no memory of her mother, Dawn.

    1983- Dawn and Heron divorce because Dawn is in love with a woman, Hazel.

    We already are aware, because of the structure of the book, that Dawn’s decision to leave Heron makes her completely absent from Maggie’s life. In the 1980’s during divorce proceedings most gay parents were not given custody, and this is a tragedy; the homophobia of the time is still not giving us a lot of hope, but we can’t forget about what used to be.

    That said, Dawn had to continue living and learn to let go.

    Honestly, it is very sad, but the plot felt a little lacking- perhaps it would be an excellent short story; plus you kind of know right up front how it is going to end because you have the dual timelines. I didn’t feel a strong connection to any of the characters, but I think it’s also an ambitious topic for a debut author.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC. Book to be published June 3. File under LitFic

  • undeclared by sherry mann

    22 year old Landon is a devoted dad to adorable 2 year old Sadie, and works as a package handler at UPS. He’s a college dropout after being an undeclared major, sort of drifting through life day in and day out. But then his wife Beth is killed in a car accident. And he isn’t sure why she wasn’t alone in the car.

    A family drama driven novel with romantic aspects, this book is great for fans of Katherine Center and Caitlin Weaver; very relatable dialogue, time spent in the part of falling in love that confuses us all. Toddler Sadie is extraordinarily realistic and endearing, one of the best written children I’ve read.

    And we know how Landon is feeling juuuuust a moment before he figures it out too. What makes this a five star read for me are the characters- the in-laws who require a weekly visit on Sundays causing Landon to miss the Eagles, his buddy Digger who is loyal and supportive, and his slightly overbearing mother. Perhaps my favorite minor character is Pearl, a woman in Landon’s grief group who lost her lover of many years.

    Painfully constructed and funny, I simply loved this book. These characters will stay with me for a long time. This is one of those novels I would not have known about if it wasn’t for #bookstagram which is the world’s biggest book club. And what is a book club but a support group of misfits who have all finally found each other?

    What I googled while reading this book
    -Is Disney World open on Christmas?

    • Laura Ashley fashion
      -Mr Noodle
      -Were the eagles good in 2012

    QOTD: If you have kids, what character did they LOVE when they were two? My son loved Thomas the tank engine and my daughter loved Daniel Tiger!

    bookreaders #booksbooksbooks #undeclared #booktok #romancebookstagram #bookstagram

  • hero by katie buckley

    It is enraging to be told that you are heartbroken because you are 19, not because he was the love of your life, and then suddenly you are talking to your best friend’s sister, telling her that the reason she is heartbroken is because she is 19.

    What a surprise this short book was! This book is very artistic and high brow, without much punctuation and without naming the characters. It reads like a very very long poem instead of a short novel. The theme is about how women are treated as the side characters in their male partner’s lives. It gives example after example of how culture views the male point of view as the default- like “PacMan” and “Ms PacMan.” Imagine a world where the 80’s arcade games were “PacWoman” and “Mr PacWoman”

    The girl writes a lot in her diary. She writes things like, I will be better at asking for reassurance. I will try to be more trusting and I will try to make sure that I don’t make my emotions his problem.

    If I was trying to actually follow a plot I would be confused, instead I just read each beautifully constructed paragraph one at a time. The blurb talks about how this takes place over 7 days and is about a woman whose boyfriend has just proposed. This doesn’t have a defined beginning-middle-end but is a feminist manifesto and commentary on 21st century patriarchy.

    People who are doing well do not listen to Norah Jones.

    Also the cover is very shiny, so when I look at the book, I see a distorted reflect myself on the cover. Pretty brilliant.

    Catherine Howard is the one I think about the most. She was 16 years old when she married Henry VIII. She was 18 when he killed her. She was a handmaiden to Anne of Cleeves, and her family had placed her at court because an older man was preying on her in her own household. When the man, her music teacher, started pawing at her, she was 12. She was beheaded not for adultery, but for treason; the charge was rooted in the sexual affairs she had before her marriage, including, allegedly, the one with her music teacher.

    Thank you to Gallery marketing for gifting me this book. I loved it, 4.5 stars.

    Isn’t it funny how we go back to draw the lines. To make “you were made for me” feel more true. What is You were made for me But a mistranslation of I own you.

  • harriet tubman live on stage by bob the drag queen

    I loved it, wonderful on audiobook. A fascinating “what if” scenario- historical figures have come back to life, including Rockefeller, Cleopatra (an instagram influencer), and most importantly, some abolitionists.

    This is never explained or really delved into- I have about a hundred questions that weren’t answered, because this isn’t the story. The story is; what would Harriet Tubman be like if I could talk to her and what would be her advice to me in my world?

    Harriet has found Darnell Williams and she wants him to produce her album. He had some success a few years back but his career fizzled when he was outed. Darnell is an insecure but curious character, the main character is really Harriet.

    The narrative that follows jumps around a bit and is inconsistent at times, but the real gem of this book is the conversations between Darnell and Harriet. If you like history and “what if” scenarios, this is about the intersection of history and black culture, and a “how did we get here” theme.

    The book is short, but the audiobook has two songs at the end. Read by the author; and you wouldn’t want it any other way. This is BtDQ’s first novel and I hope it won’t be the last. He writes dialogue really well.

  • vera, or faith by Gary shytengart

    A five star review of a stunning novel that I will recommend to no one. It’s so smart, so sad, so captivating, a character study of a brilliant neurodivergent 10 year old girl in a dystopian LitFic. Vera is half Jewish and half Korean, she has a younger brother Dylan. Her father edits a failing publication he wants to sell to an investor, but he is stressed and drinking alcoholically. He is fighter with Vera’s stepmom (who she calls Anne Mom) as they navigate a political climate looking to diminish voting rights.

    Vera continually adds to a list she doesn’t understand. It is so fascinating to see this world through her eyes. They have self driving cars and limited autonomy, it’s a post Trump America struggling with the aftermath of a decline in democracy and freedoms. It is challenging to see this world through Vera’s eyes; because while precocious, she is still ten, and this is the world she was born into. I know I missed a bit of the world building in my desire to immerse into Vera’s viewpoint. I really liked how the first person narrative puts idioms into quotations so she can be clear to the reader. I found that to be endearing and sweet.

    Vera means faith in Russian. She has faith in her father, her stepmom, in her education, and in her future. She is hopeful although we are not. She loves her AI best friend chess game. She doesn’t know to be worried about what we are worried about.

    It’s brilliant and although Vera is endearing, it doesn’t exactly make you feel good. It’s not a pleasure to read. That said, it is a world I won’t forget soon.

    Five stars
    a best LitFic of 2025

    Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. Book to be published July 8, 2025.

  • good grief by sara goodman confino

    Good Grief is an engaging, female-centered novel that celebrates the connection between two women who both love the same deceased man. That is… a young widow and her mother-in-law.

    The year is 1963 and the setting is the greater DC area. Barbara Feldman has 2 children, 6 and 4. Her mother moved in when her husband died very young of a massive heart attack. They realize that the time has come for Barbara and the kids to survive on their own, so her mother-in-law moves out.

    They have exactly one day as a family of 3, when her Mother-in-law shows up on her porch with five suitcases. There is no room for argument, Ruth Feldman knows that Barbara’s mother has just left and she is taking her rightful place.

    Hilarity ensues!

    Okay- time for my trigger warning. What happens next is Ruth meddling and really going overboard on being intrusive. If you struggle with setting boundaries and/or are triggered by this, this is a major theme of the book and – I will admit – it raised my blood pressure a bit. I grew to really love Ruth in the end, but there were several times that I was full of anxiety at what she was doing. For example, Barbara has people coming to paint the kitchen a pale yellow and Ruth changes it to being pink. That kind of thing, over and over.

    But all the while, you know that Ruth means well, and she really does love Barbara and her grandchildren. Barbara decides to play matchmaker to just get Ruth out of her house.

    Historical fiction in the mid twentieth century can be a difficult plot for 2025 readers; authors make the mistake of making the characters unrealistic and having the culture/viewpoints of the typical 21st century reader. Authors also can make the time period overly nostalgic, but that isn’t the case here. The workplace is a hospital and very different than today’s society. You can change your own perceptions and see things through the eyes of characters who are
    Immersed in another time.

    It also made me grateful for the women of Barbara and Ruth’s time that made workplaces better for women and mothers like myself.

    4.5 stars rounded up.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Lake House publishing for the ARC. Book to be published August 26, 2025.

  • the homemade god by rachel joyce

    Another book about a group of adult siblings that is slowly falling apart. While not as depressing as Long Island Compromise, it is just as funny, and has an atmospheric European island setting that is necessary for the artistic direction. Fans of Blue Sisters and Like Mother, Like Mother will love another world of complicated family relationships.

    Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris all have wonderful character development in this novel, their father announcing he is setting aside his lothario ways and getting married to Bella-Mae, a 27 year old who is CERTAINLY not marrying him for his fame and money. A famous artist, Vic suspiciously drowns in the lake shortly after marrying Bella Mae with no will. And what is more, Vic’s last piece of artwork is missing.

    This is an easily readable book and the blurb is perfect, it gives away just enough about the plot to engage the reader without giving away too much. The premise, to many, may overshadow the outcome. The reveals throughout the book don’t come as a big splash, but very human and subtle. It ends not with a bang, but with a music box tinkling. Each character is developed and tweaked, just when you think you know who they are, they surprise you and break your heart in the best way.

    Then comes the time to separate and take the items from the family home. They use stickers to indicate what items they want, with a number from 1-4 based on how important it is to them. And by then, you know each character so well that they act completely as you’d expect. It is such a good scene and proof of how well developed they are. The character we don’t actually know that well is Bella-Mae, but she is really more of a Maguffin to move the story forward rather than being important herself.

    Not everyone will like this one, but I found it to be like listening to an opera…. the goal of an opera is not the ending, but the journey of the music drawing you in. The pacing and characterization are brilliant and I also loved the setting and how it built towards the complete arc of each sibling.

    Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC and for Madison Dettlinger from Random House marketing for recommending this novel. Book to be published June 24, 2025

  • first time long time by amy silverstein

    Allison is a college professor and at the age of 28, her mother is being very annoying about her singleness. Allison is a relatable character, she has other side hustles like facilitating book clubs. She met Reid at a bar, he is close to her father’s age. He is a successful shock jock and inspired by Howard Stern. She teaches creating writing and is a writer herself. Allison’s divorced parents are interesting side characters.

    I struggled with how to rate this- some of the lines of dialogue are so purely and cleverly written. This is true witty banter and a “slice of life” story. Amy Silverberg is a talented writer and has keen observations of life. My favorite character is Reid’s daughter Emma (she is incorrectly called Maddie in the blurb).

    In the acknowledgements she mentions that this started as a 30 page short story and damn I bet that was amazing. I kept thinking “this would work better as a short story” as it was a strangely paced story. Also the blurb gives away a LOT of the story that doesn’t happen until 66% through the novel.

    Like many of my favorite short stories, it ends with just an image, rather than a conclusion of plot. If you are looking for a lot of plot, you will likely be disappointed; but if you love observational dialogue, this is some of the best I’ve read.

    Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. Book to be published July 22, 2025.

  • the strange case of jane o by karen thompson walker

    A haunting, intriguing sci fi/mystery written in a LitFic style, this book came onto my radar as an Aardvark Book Club Selection. The Strange Case of Jane O is one of my top Sci Fi books of 2025, a book that I loved. It is Sci Fi for people who don’t usually like Sci Fi, very accessible and such a page-turner!

    Jane O had a blackout after dropping her infant son, Caleb, off at daycare. She woke up being roused by a Brooklyn park worker, and did not remember the prior 24 hours. This may be because the day before, she ran into her friend Nico on the street. Which is odd, because Nico died 20 years earlier at 17. Nico is around 37 now and a doctor, which was always his career goal. Nico warns Jane to get out of the city. But why? And is this related to her blackout? How can she prevent it from happening again….and should she?

    This is a multi-POV book and alternates with Jane and her doctor, Dr. Henry Byrd, a widower. Henry is writing case notes about Jane, so it has a medical feel, not your typical mystery twists with murders or kidnappings and red herrings. We are, along with Dr. Byrd, determining a diagnosis for Jane. In Jane’s viewpoint chapters, she is writing a letter to her son Caleb. Soon it becomes apparent that we may have 2 unreliable narrators.

    I think I loved this book because it is just so unique. I would compare it to [book:The Night Guest|127306444] except with a much more satisfying ending. There is great character development and keeps your interest with lots of dialogue and descriptive setting. The ending is not at all what I expected, but I found it to be truly fascinating. Although Jane is a troubled individual, the reader will find themselves rooting for her.

    A great book to get you OUT of a reading slump.

  • disorientation by elaine hsieh chou

    I purchased this book as a “blind date with a book” from Nowhere Bookshop. Like most blind dates, it can be fun and sometimes even memorable. I like the challenge of reading something that I normally wouldn’t pick up.

    Disorientation is cross-genre; romcom and millennial malaise at times, while also walking the line of LitFic. I think it is probably a little too silly and satirical for the typical Litfic reader and too hard handed with the lessons learned for the typical romcom reader. Ingrid is a little unfocused, she is on her 8th year of her dissertation and agrees to write on a Chinese poet. Ingrid is American and her heritage is Taiwanese, so she is no stranger to micro aggressions and in how whiteness is seen as default. She has a white fiancé, Steven, whose presence felt superfluous.

    The book is readable but probably too long, I wanted more dialogue for character development and to get into the setting. I appreciated the turns that the book takes, the plot itself is good and well-paced with several reveals and changes in direction. Overall we are engrossed in a world that asks more questions of it than it answers.

    This would be a good book club selection as the motivations of the characters give us lots of question. You can examine the ideas and themes and relate them to how we all experience racism and the way whiteness is centered in our society.