Adult Summer Reading - 2020: Reader Reviews

4 Stars - I really liked it!
I love stories from another era. This is about strong women in an era where women were meant to stay home and take care of the house. These women created a library and delivered books on horseback to people who couldn’t get to the library. A great read!

5 Stars - I loved it!
A novel that follows multiple generations of a family. One member must address their gender identity and family secrets are abundant.

2 Stars - It was OK.
This is a quick summer read. It was very similar to "The Last Mrs. Parrish" but not nearly as well done. It was easy to get through, though, even though you don't really care too much about the characters. Since there are so many books in this vein recently, you will plow on just to see what the "twist" in this one is.

3 Stars - I liked it.
Between Nazi-occupied Poland and modern life, an emotional story of a grandmother and granddaughter and their stories of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. How it can take a lifetime to find out our truth.

2 Stars - It was OK.
Realistic guide to the management process.

5 Stars - I loved it!
This is the 2nd book in this trilogy...I found myself not wanting to put this book down. I’ve been reading Hilderbrand’s books for a few years & although she has amazing beach reads this book has mystery in it...it left me wanting to read her 3rd book which doesn’t come out til Oct.!

4 Stars - I really liked it.
This book is motivational and straightforward. It tells stories as examples of different situations professional women may find themselves in, and how to resolve them while dealing with the internal struggle of being "nice" VS actually getting the tasks done and setting your boundaries. A great read for those who don't want to compromise who they are, nothing wrong with being nice, but don't be a doormat!

5 Stars - I loved it!
It's a very real, humorous at times, but ultimately sad story for an Irish man's life told by himself after his wife passes away and he reflects on their life together and his early childhood, which greatly influenced the man he became. It's beautifully written and lovely for an Irish person living abroad to read! You can feel the emotion is the writing, which moved me, and all the feelings this man, and many men, feel but don't ever express. I very much enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone interested in a real life story told in a very honest way by a man with many regrets.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
As a life-long Austen fan, I was drawn to this book about a diverse and relatable group of comrades—men and women, Brits and one American--coping with their own lifetime heartbreaks by sharing their love of Jane Austen and joining together in 1946 to save the cottage where she lived the last years of her life and wrote several of her novels. I especially enjoyed the members discussing Austen characters and also the parallels of Austen stories found within the stories of the book’s characters. The only reason I give the book four stars is that for me, an old softie, I found the early chapter accounts of the unrelenting sadness in the lives of these wonderfully drawn characters difficult to read. Only the promise of good things to come got me through and it was definitely worth it. Wonderfully written with hidden gems for Austen fans, but still accessible to non-fans. (Maybe you’ve seen some of the movies?)

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Earth experiences First Contact with an alien race…but never actually sees them. A Canadian SciFi writer is abducted to become the liaison between the two sides…but she only interacts with an A.I. representative. On Earth, force fields prevent all human violence against others and protect environmental resources, while people’s lives are supported by this benevolent intervention—even removing the threat of the Greys (those people-abducting aliens of legend). The political powers of the world’s nations don’t exactly take this interference well, especially the United States. Depending on the reader’s outlook, the book may seem preachy or a bit “over talky”—especially in the encounters of the SciFi writer—but it is a very different example of a First Contact story and I ended the book wishing it had all been true.

5 Stars - I loved it!
This book is filled with twists and turns. I did not want to put the book down.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
f you are new into the world of tea or a tea lover this reviewer has news for you. Everything is broken down to bits so you can really take in the information. The little illustrations go perfectly with the words and everything is presented into an easy understandable matter. You learn about where tea came from and not only that also how to cook with tea. You will become a tea expert after reading this wonderful book.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Different kind of father/daughter relationship. A good read.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Wow. This book was amazing. Set in Bar Harbor and centering on the relationships between writers, it takes you through two stories with amazing, flawed, and entertaining characters. I couldn't put it down and I was sad when it was over!

4 Stars - I really liked it.
If you enjoy reading novels about the Holocaust, this book is an excellent read. The story is engaging and based on a true story. It really highlights the horrors of the Holocaust.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Like a riddle wrapped up in an enigma, this book contains a book inside a book. The first, a 1950s-set Agatha Christie-style mystery taking up the bulk of the first two thirds of the book and the second, the suspenseful story of the current day editor trying to track down the missing last chapter after the author has died. Of course, both tales take place in England with locales in London and small Miss Marple villages. You’ll realize something’s up by the short introduction set in current day that leads into the book Magpie Murders: An Atticus Pűnd Mystery by Alan Conway. It’s a classic whodunit romp from beginning to end but to say too much more would be cheating the reader. Suffice it to say, I had a bloody good time—and I’ve never actually read any of Agatha Christie’s books. (But I’ve seen movies and TV versions.)

3 Stars - I liked it.
Good crime novel, thoug( not necessarily part of a series, this 18th book in the Women’s Murder Club could stand alone . Quick read, entertaining but not earth shattering.

5 Stars - I loved it!
I enjoyed Landline by this author, so I thought I’d try her first book about Beth and her friend/newspaper coworker Jennifer and Lincoln, the night-shift IT guy charged with monitoring the paper’s office e-mail for rule violations. Beth and Jennifer share many personal emails which Lincoln begins to see flagged for review, but he likes reading them and, seeing no major violations, he doesn’t send either worker warning notifications. As time goes by, he can’t help but continue reading the emails, and his feelings for Beth grow even though he knows from the emails that she has a boyfriend and he’s never actually seen her face to face. Things escalate when Beth starts referring to the Cute Guy she’s been getting glimpses of at work and ultimately Lincoln realizes she’s talking about him. The story could have gone every which way bad, but Rowell turns it into a warm and charming (and funny) story full of wonderful characters and Lincoln is so sympathetically drawn in all of his relationships that the reader can’t help but hope for a happily ever after.

3 Stars - I liked it.
Christmas time for the Women’s Murder Club. The characters race to solve a crime beforehand it happens. Quick read.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Good quick read with some suspense and love story.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Love This author. This book keeps your attention. Finished it in two days.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
The dynamics of an old house and the family and staff that live there. Sibling relationship, step children. Good story.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
This modern day Silas Marner story finds a bookstore owner on April Island (think Nantucket) mourning the death of his wife and imagining his future being one where he drinks himself to death. Then, after his most valuable possession has been stolen seeming to cement his future, a two year old little girl is left in his store with a note leaving Maya to his care so she can grow up to be a reader. What follows is his heartwarming story of reconnecting with life and with all the people around him. Each chapter is introduced with a brief book or story review by Fikry which we later see he is writing for his new daughter as she grows, and everyone in the book loves to talk about books—some of which the reader will recognize even before the title or author are revealed in the conversations.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Steamy romantic story of two very different writers with their own versions of writer’s block occupying neighboring beach houses on Lake Michigan and battling their own demons, unexpectedly reconnecting after first meeting at college years before. The narrator, January, out of money with a book deadline looming spends a lot of time over-analyzing her way through a major loss while also trying to write her next romantic comedy. Gus we see through her eyes and the reader soon sees where his backstory with January is going before she does. An off-the-cuff suggestion that they each try to write in the other writer’s genre (while teaching each other how) gets them to spend lots of time together, a key factor in getting a literary romance started. Except for some of January’s occasionally obsessive insecurity, it was an enjoyable and well-developed story that goes beyond the standard tropes of the romance genre.

3 stars - I liked it
A good read for those interested in WWII fiction. Captivating and engaging, but I found some aspects of the ending unsatisfying.

5 stars - I loved it!
I really enjoyed this book! The characters, stories and little mysteries all had me hooked til the very end! The audiobook is read perfectly too!

4 stars - I liked it
This book was read by my book club and it gave me much to think about and digest. The book is short (160 pages), but there is a lot to take in. I think it's an important read, I only wish it was less academic in tone.

5 Stars - I loved it!
This book covered so much about Paul McCartney that I didn’t even know having been a fan for many years. All aspects of Paul McCartney’s life are covered in this book. I highly recommend this if you are a Paul McCartney fan and even if you aren’t their is always knowledge to be gained. I like how this book not only focuses on Paul’s life in The Beatles but also his life outside of The Beatles. The depth and detail in this book is how the five star rating came about.

5 Stars - I loved it!
I love a book that brings me to a place populated with quirky, lovable characters that make me want to stay forever. In this case, it is the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1946 where a writer, Juliet Ashton, in search of an idea for a book finds just that and much more. Told in a series of letters, the book shares the tales of this community during the years of German occupation, tales of deprivation and courage and love and humor.

5 Stars - I loved it!
It took me a little while to get into Beach House, but then, oh my goodness! I could not put this book down! The last third of the book was amazing! I definitely recommend!

4 Stars - I really liked it.
An interesting look into a religion that most have only vague knowledge of. The narrator did not bash her religion or the things asked of her as a participant in that religion. Rather, she came to know who she was and what she wanted. When she realized her religion would never allow her to follow her own path, she made a brave decision to leave. It was interesting to learn more about her religion and traditions. It was well written and enjoyable to read.

3 Stars - I liked it.
Looking for a light, happy by-the-pool read? When Dimple Met Rishi will take you back to the exciting days leading up to moving to college- and teach you a thing or two about love. I especially loved the focus on a young women in STEM who loves computer coding. A pleasant young adult read.

5 Stars - I loved it!
This book follows Marianne Power on a year long journey to find out if self-help books could change her life. It was witty and such an easy read. I liked reading about all the various self-help books. This book is perfect for anyone wanting to change their life.

5 Stars - I loved it!
These few months have been a little hectic and I know most probably won’t be traveling any time soon. Travel planning is always exciting and this is the time to get organized planning everything out throughly for when the time is right. This book is perfect for that Beatles fan planning on going to London. Photos and snippets that explain about each location in full detail are what pull you in making you feel like you are at London. A lot of interesting stories and photos are inside this book. Anyone who is planning on going to London in the future will find this book really accommodating.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Very interesting concept - you have to kidnap a child and get their parents to pay a ransom in order to have your kidnapped child released! It is every parents' nightmare and parents are forced to cause this nightmare for other parents in order to save their own child knowing that any parent will do whatever it takes. Disturbing at times but well written and suspenseful, I was definitely excited to pick it up every night to find out more. I thought the ending was a little weak but was glad everything worked out as it did! Good read but not for everyone!

2 Stars - It was OK.
This is just OK, 40 something year old man, relationships. Quick read.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Definitely scary, but quite the page turner...unexpected twist! I would definitely read more by this author.

3 Stars - I liked it.
A great thriller. Starts out slow, but stick with it, it’s worth it! A great, fun summer beach read!

4 Stars - I really liked it.
It is 1918 and the Bright family moves across the state to Philadelphia for a better life living with a bachelor uncle who will bring his nephew into his funeral home business. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of the four Bright females--mother Pauline, and daughters Evelyn (15), Maggie (12) and Willa (6). Their tale of life during World War I and the “Spanish Flu” with the added details of the life of an undertaker’s family is especially resonant given the current pandemic as the family and their community struggle with the uncertainty of life and the resiliency of love. The second part of the book takes place in 1925 as actions taken in 1918 and 1919 come full circle.

5 Stars - I loved it!
This quirky story of Samuel, a lonely linguistics instructor in Barcelona, begins one New Year’s with the arrival of a mysterious cat who invades his home and leads to a series of changes including the addition of new people to his life and the search for an old love. The title refers to the power of small actions. I had been looking for a change-of-pace book and this one fit the bill. The humor in it is reminiscent of The Rosie Project but the story is warmer and replete with literary, musical, and philosophical references—I was brought back to my undergraduate German Literature class over 45 years ago. But don’t let that worry you—the references are self-explanatory. I may have liked the book more than most, but the book WAS translated into over twenty languages.

3 Stars - I liked it.
An in depth glimpse into family life for people living off the grid. Tara's family was infuriating but it was an eye opening look into a faction of society that we can't normally access.

2 Stars - It was OK.
Another quick read in the vein of all the similar books about wives and their seemingly perfect lives that quickly turn upside down. This one was not particularly well done but you will tear through it to discover the "twist".

3 Stars - I liked it.
This was an enjoyable read. It is told from the different points of view of people attending a wedding on a remote island. The big reveal was a bit unbelievable and felt a little forced. Fun, fast read for the summer.

4 Stars - I really liked it
This charming and steamy story lured me by its set-up: Carey and James work as assistants to a celebrity married couple who have created a business around their home remodeling store and HGTV show which showcases them as the ideal devoted married couple working together. Lately, however, as the couple comes out with their latest book, this time about how they manage to stay happily married, and enter into a new Netflix series, the truth behind the scenes is very different. As the four go off on a book tour, Carey and James are given the task to keep their bosses from breaking character in public. Any slip by their difficult bosses might end up on social media, ruining their hopes for a successful launch. Not exactly conducive to getting to know each other…or falling in love. I really liked Carey and James and rooted for them the whole time. Disclaimer: I almost never read romances.

3 Stars - I liked it.
I’ve started reading JPs Womens murder club series at the start of “stay at home” orders. Quick read, with interesting strong female characters . I read other books in between, this was a great series to have a go to book.

2 Stars - It was OK.
An easy, summer beach read. I didn’t love it, though. While I was sucked into the storyline, I found it mostly unbelievable and too convenient.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Insightful and entertaining. A timeless read that still rings true in our modern time.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Super quick and easy read! Left me feeling happy! I love how Higgins’ characters reappear in her other other books. Looking forward to reading more from her Blue Heron Series!

3 Stars - I liked it.
Arthur Moses in his eighties eats lunch at his wife Nola’s grave every day. Maddy, a lonely friendless pregnant seventeen year old, sees him there when she uses the cemetery as a retreat from her own problems. When they strike up an unlikely friendship, she is the one to add Truluv to his name. Ultimately, Arthur, Maddie, and another lost soul, elderly neighbor Lucille form a family. Arthur is the gemstone in the setting here and a pleasure to know. I had a few problems with the two ladies but they gave Arthur what he needed as he gave to them. Maddie’s jerk of an ex-boyfriend and her heartbroken father (Maddie’s mother died when she was a little baby) are minor characters but important to Maddie’s story. All in all, worth reading. But I’m still looking for a book with more joy and less heartache.

4 Stars - I really liked it.
Mary Jordan gives a good background about Melania Trump. The book tells about Melania Trump's childhood to who Melania Trump is today. It share how her mother was and still is a strong influence in Melania's life.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Ever need a good laugh? Well, reading this book will give you some good laughs. Peggy Rowe's real life stories will have you chuckling and thinking about your own life stories. The chapters are short and it's a quick read.

5 Stars - I loved it!
This is a heavy reader. Read this book before watching the movie. It is a good example of being persevering when seeking justice for others.

5 Stars - I loved it!
I've read Frank Peretti's books before. This one is a nonfiction genre that share experiences from Frank Peretti's life. These experiences are about how he was picked on throughout his school years; his feelings; and how he ultimately got help. I highly recommend this book.

5 Stars - I loved it!
Another great book by Hilderbrand-you will not be disappointed! Many family secrets and drama that unfolds amidst much of the history of 1969. Of you are looking for something that you won’t want to put down, this is it!