What I Read (& Loved) This Quarter
What I Read (& Loved) This Quarter
An escaping octopus, hit women past their prime (or are they?), fairies, and Nantucket - what a start to the reading year!
It has been an excellent start to the year reading-wise, and we have so much to talk about!
The very best of reads:
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Who knew a book about an octopus would stay with my heart like this? The writing is beautiful and the pictures are vivid. It’s one of those magical books that make you forget that you’re reading at all.
All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir
God bless Beth Moore. This had me crying, laughing, and nodding along with amens and amens. Listen to the audiobook to enjoy Beth’s Texas drawl and storytelling only the way the author can do it.
Killers of a Certain Age
This one has been flying under the radar of many ‘bookish’ people, but I’m going to get as many of you to read this as I can. It is pure delight. If you’re looking for something that is a ‘fun read’, but also very well done and thoughtful, then you must pick this up. I can’t wait to read it again!
I enjoyed these too:
The Hotel Nantucket: One of my favorites ever from Elin Hilderbrand (who writes my very favorite ‘beach reads’)! I listened to this one and very much recommend the audiobook.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry: oh heavens, this cozy, darling book about a bookshop on an island off the coast of Massachusetts had me feeling the feels (in the best way).
Wrong Place Wrong Time: I had the hardest time putting this book down. It’s thrilling with a very heartfelt undercurrent.
The Westing Game: whimsical and engrossing. It’s a more youthful take on mystery, and one I enjoyed very much!
Carrie Soto is Back: another book by one of my favorite authors! This one circles the world of tennis and I appreciate centering it on a traditionally-less-liked female character.
The Lost Summers of Newport: historical fiction spanning several timelines all involving an estate and society in Newport.
The Club: wealth, murder, mystery, and a fast pace. I listened to this one and enjoyed the audiobook.
Portrait of a Thief: a quick read about an art heist with lots of action.
A Court of Thorns and Roses: this was my first venture into fantasy in many, many years (maybe ever? Is Percy Jackson fantasy?) and I’ve been shocked by how much fun this was to read! Is it written well? Not necessarily. But it had me blowing through hundreds of pages in just a few days, and I’m currently devouring the second one. Be warned - there are open-door scenes. And the second one is even spicier. My audiobook automatically connected and started playing in the car with Seth at an…erm…*hot and bothered* scene the other day. The pause button took far too long to find - it was a scene out of a sitcom. I couldn’t make eye contact and then we died laughing. Good times.
I didn’t love as much:
An Object of Beauty: truth be told, there was little I enjoyed about this.
Stay Awake: an ok-ish thriller, but there are better ones out there.
The Art Forger: I really gave art crime a try this quarter but it may not be for me, just like this book.
The Swans of Fifth Avenue: I expected to love this, but struggled with it cover to cover. I’m wondering if I would have enjoyed it more had I read it rather than listening to the audiobook. The voice actor was very grating to me.
Links and week in review coming tomorrow, but in the meantime, I’d love to know what you read and loved this quarter. While I love it when you all email me directly, it’s even better when you leave a comment so we can all take notes and build out our reading lists together!
Cheers to excellent reading!
Adelyn