Book Reviews
April 2024
4/27/24
The Unstoppable Jamie by Joy Givens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim at the library.
I'm so glad that something drew me to this book. There's a lot of great information about people with Downs syndrome and the cause of the syndrome and the symptoms that go with it.
I highly recommend this book.
4/21/24
The Adventures of Dori, A Rescue Pup by Kathleen Conway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this book up in order to write an honest review.
I really enjoyed the intro which explained why the author wrote the book. The story was cute and the illustrations were good. They were more pastel than I would have expected, but, with a beach theme, they made sense. The story was simple but perfect for a bedtime story.
I recommend this book.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up for bookclub.
I love this book and the author. I love how full all of her characters are. I have heard her speak about choosing just the right person to translate for her, based on the feel of the story and how much easier it became for her once she became bilingual. I haven't gotten to the rest of the trilogy, but I plan on it at some point.
I recommend this book.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this up as a freebie and because it was a quick read.
I was interested in the topic, and I learned a little about the subject, but it kind of felt like a fluff piece to me. I disagreed with the author's reasoning for attempting her study, but she had some valid points.
I don't really recommend this book, but it wasn't bad.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a great opening book for what seems to be a large series featuring a family of shape shifters. I enjoyed it. There was a lot of catnip humor in the story and it broke up the flow of the story a bit, so I didn't give it 5 stars.
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It took a serious topic and dealt with it with humor. I loved the honesty of the book, and how times have changed in the time the original book was written.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim from the library.
I enjoyed this story about how varied dads can be. I found it funny that the elephant illustration comes on the page about making pies. I couldn't help but think of cow pies. The illustrations are great and on the humorous side.
I recommend this book.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up at the library, on a whim.
It is a cute story about how varied mothers can be. The illustrations were great and went well with the story.
I recommend this book.
4/13/24
I have been reading away. So far, this year, I have read 49 books. I have 101 to go to meet my goal for the year. According to Goodreads, I am 7 books ahead of schedule.
Unfortunately, I have been lagging on posting my reviews and blogging here. I decided to sit down and work on it today, so there are quite a few reviews that were finished ages ago, but just now got posted. Better late than never, right?
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book had been on my TBR list for a long time. I finally got to reading it.
I really enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was beautifully written and I loved following the family through so many years and generations. Each character was well written and I felt like I knew all of them.
I highly recommend this book.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book in theory. There were quite a few errors that should have been caught before publication. 3.25 discs were used - it was a 3.5 disc or a 5.25 disc. A person with a left foot injury couldn't feel the pedal under his foot - why was he driving with his left foot, anyhow? These little things nagged me during the whole reading.
The story was good. It kept me intrigued the whole time.
I do recommend the book if the reader can ignore the blatant errors that the proofreader and editor missed. Maybe it was only in the audio version? Maybe everyone was very young and had zero experience with computers in the 1980s?
Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this up because I was familiar with the other books in the series.
The story was interesting enough to capture my attention, but if I hadn't read the other books, I might not have been as interested. The story was very similar to the other books in the series.
I would recommend this book if you have read the other books in the series.
On a Night Like This by Liz Maverick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up, along with other books in the series, as a freebie from audible.
I am enjoying this series and I hope that there will be more. The characters are great and the stories are more unique than others that I have read.
I recommend this book.
Eight Winter Nights by Liz Maverick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up as a freebie from audible.
I enjoyed the light story and the characters. The story was fun and not too stressful. I look forward to reading the next books in the series.
I recommend this book.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this up as a quick read, since I was familiar with the author.
I enjoyed the book, but it was very similar to her other books. It seemed to dawdle through the story this time, but the ending was predictably cute.
I neither recommend or don't recommend this book. If you like the author and her other stories, you'll probably enjoy this, too.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because I loved books by each of these authors.
This was a well thought out and well researched book. I felt connected to so much of it, knowing that someone took the time to know so much about the variety of subjects that are discussed in this book.
The authors' notes were well worth paying attention to. Both authors get to be heard. I loved hearing their stories.
I recommend this book.
Sydney's Big Speech by Malcolm Newsome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a recommendation from a friend.
This story is about finding your strength to get your big thoughts out as words. I loved how Sydney used her new knowledge to encourage another student. The illustrations were wonderful.
I recommend this book.
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It shows the power that women didn't realize that they had when they needed it.
It was a little slow at the beginning, but it really picked up speed and I finished it quickly.
I would recommend this book.
I Snoop On My Anxiety: A Children's Book About Managing Worrying and Difficult Emotions. Self-Regulation Skills by Melissa Winn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I got this book in order to write an honest review.
I enjoyed the idea of the story and the illustrations. I do think that the book oversimplified the concept of anxiety. Sometimes anxiety is outside of our control, no matter what our age is.
I do think that this book could be a starting point to talk to children about their anxiety, but it needed to be mentioned that it's ok to be anxious and talk about it.
I would recommend this as a good starting point for a discussion.
I Snoop On My Attitude Of Gratitude: Teaching Kids to Be Thankful: A Children's Picture Book about Giving Thanks, Practicing Positivity, and Being Thankful by Melissa Winn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I got this book in order to write an honest review.
This was a good book with great illustrations, explaining about the feeling of gratitude. It would make a great book for children who are a little older, and it helps explain feelings that they might have that are difficult to put into words.
I would recommend this book.
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up because I have loved everything else I have read by this author.
I am not usually into horror, but this one had enough humor in it to allow me to gloss over the scary parts enough.
I would have given it 5 stars, but I didn't like some of the voices that the narrator chose for some of the characters. A 59-year-old woman shouldn't sound like she is in her 80s. The handyman sounded like he was dumb as dirt by his voice, but he was definitely smart, judging by the things he said.
I would recommend this story.
And That’s Their Family by Kailee Coleman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a wonderful book. All families are included, but if a family type is not included, the child can include their own.
I would recommend this book!
The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As with most romance stories, i knew how it was going to end. The journey from the beginning to the end wasn't as typical as many stories. I did find myself crying a bit doting the book, but it should have been expected. It was a good, solid story.
I would recommend this book.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because multiple people recommended it to me. I am so glad that I listened to them and read this! What a wonderful, well-written story!
I loved that we got a peek into the life of a female scientist over several decades. The way she lived her life probably wasn't so unusual for the times, and I felt we got to know her well during the course of the story.
I highly recommend this book.
Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z. Drago
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because it was available at the library.
It was very cute. I loved how Vlad found ways to be himself. The illustrations were wonderfully adorable and the story was great.
I highly recommend this book.
Confessions of a Token Black Girl by Danielle Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up as a freebie and because it was a quick read.
I really enjoyed the book. There wasn't much I hadn't heard before, but it was told from a different perspective from what I usually hear.
I really recommend this book. It's worth a read.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up to read along with a zoom meeting where multiple female authors are reading parts of the book. It was wonderful!
The book had been on my TBR list for a long time, and listening to other authors read the work was amazing, especially since so many of the women reading were well-established writers and I was a bit star struck.
I would recommend this book.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up for a bookclub read.
I loved this book and passed it on to others who would enjoy it also. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the way the author filled them out.
I also watched the series that was based on the book. I was glad that some of the questions from the book were answered in the show.
I highly recommend this book.
Pool House by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I picked this up because it was free and short.
I was not thrilled with the story. I was expecting more and kept waiting for it to get better. It never happened.
I do not recommend this book.
Tune in Tomorrow by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up as part of the Blaze Collection.
I enjoyed this story, but it really reminded me a lot of Lessons in Chemistry. I'm glad that the story was written and I am happy that I read it. It was worth reading, even though it was short.
I recommend this book.
Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up because of a friend's recommendation.
I was expecting a fluff, romance book, but this book had a little more bite to it. It turned into a book that was really wasn't expecting. I got to the point in the book where I couldn't put it down.
I recommend this book.
One of Those Flings by Lauren Blakely
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up because it was a freebie and I knew the author's work.
As with most romance stories, we knew how it was going to end. The journey on this one was fun and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
I recommend this book.
Lawrence & Sophia by Doreen Cronin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because it was available at the library.
I loved the message that this book sends. The characters learn to step out of their own comfort zones to make their friends comfortable. The illustrations are wonderful.
I recommend this book.
February 2024
2/19/24
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up for a bookclub read.
I remember seeing the movie years ago, but only had a vague recollection of it. I realize that there was so much more to the story that wasn't covered in the book, and it made for a fuller telling of the story.
I recommend this book even though it is a little dated.
The Little Mermaid by Dina Gregory
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this up because it was a free offering on Audible.
I was not a big fan of the updated writing. I understand that it was told in order to allow modern children to better understand the story, but it felt distracting to me.
I neither recommend nor don't recommend this book. It was just ok.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I laughed my way through this book. Living in a small apartment with 5 children is challenging enough. Add any attempt to leave the house, and you've got hilarious stories. I enjoyed the whole book enormously.
Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration by Natalie Daise
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim from the library.
I found the story cute and was glad that there was an explanation of the language that I didn't understand. The illustrations were wonderful and you could feel the connection between father and child during the book.
I recommend this book.
2/17/24
Arbuckle and Sloan by Greg Trine
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I picked this up in order to write an honest review.
The premise of this book was just silly. I understand the point the author was trying to make, but it was done in an unusual way that kind of fell flat.
I can't recommend this book to many people. It just wasn't really worth the time it took to read it.
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim since it showed up on a library search.
I truly enjoyed this book. Mostly because of the book discussions. I do think that a lot of what I liked about this book is that the author seemed to know what books I enjoyed and didn't. I loved that I found someone else who isn't a fan of Pride and Prejudice like me! I loved the twists on classics that were done. Wonderful!
I recommend this book.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this up because so many people recommended it to me.
It fell flat for me. It seemed to kind of drone on and on and it took me several tries to get through it. I think that I was expecting more since so many people loved it. I didn't.
I'm not recommending the book, but I'm also not stopping anyone from reading it. It was just ok.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up since it popped up on Audible as recommended to me.
I found myself falling in love with the characters. I loved traveling over the years with them. I wish the ending was a little more fulfilling, but it was still a good story and I could still relate.
I recommend this book.
Juneteenth: A Picture Book for Kids Celebrating Black Joy by Van G Garrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim from the library.
The illustrations were great. The book depicted a child's vision of a Juneteenth parade. It briefly described what Juneteenth was about, but if I hadn't known, I wouldn't have become clear about what the holiday is about.
The book is good to show a child a remembrance of the parade, but not to teach about the day.
2/3/24
Mommy Feels BIG THINGS by Danielle L. Forbes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up in order to write an honest review.
I enjoyed this book because of the way that it explains feelings to children. It is important for children to know that they don't cause the feelings that others have, but they can know when the feelings are happening. The illustrations are great, especially the way that confetti is used as a physical object to represent the non-tangible concept of feelings.
I would recommend this book.
Harlem at Four by Michael Datcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up from the library on a whim.
I enjoyed the book. The illustrations and the explanations were wonderful! I particularly enjoyed the glossary in the back which gave a better description of the events mentioned in the main text.
I highly recommend this book.
Etta Extraordinaire by Roda Ahmed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim from the library.
It was a cute story about a girl who is extraordinary. The illustrations are wonderful! I didn't give it full stars because it wasn't clear about what Etta was doing at the talent show, other than being extraordinary.
I would recommend this book.
Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I picked this up after realizing it was essentially Roald Dahl's autobiography.
While this was certainly a book written for adults, it was written in the same style that the author wrote his children's book. I could certainly tell where he got his adult vs. children ideas for his books.
I mildly recommend this book, but only for curiosity reasons. It is definitely for adults and not children, though, but only because of lack of interest from children.
Cupcake Curveball by Grace Tilney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up in order to write an honest review.
I really enjoyed the story. I picked it up and just couldn't put it down. I was disappointed in the ending, since it definitely needs a book 2 and I don't want to wait. I loved the characters and the flow of the text.
I did not give it 5 stars because of editing issues, such as obvious typos that should have been caught earlier.
I recommend this book.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book sat on my TBR shelf for a long time. I finally got around to reading it.
I enjoyed it, especially since the characters from the author's other books are mentioned in it. I am glad, though, that I read Carrie Soto before I read this one, since I didn't like her character in this book, but she was ok in her own book.
I would recommend this book.
January 2024
1/21/24
The Auction: A Reverse Harem Romance by Krista Wolf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. Normally, we know where a book like this will end, and the journey is the story. This time, I wasn't sure what the characters would do. I enjoyed the change of pace.
I would recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up because of library recommendation.
I really enjoyed it, especially the ending. I loved that a different character took a turn telling their part of the story. It was a different type of story for me and I found it refreshing.
I would recommend this book.
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up because of library recommendation.
I really enjoyed it, especially the ending. I loved that a different character took a turn telling their part of the story. It was a different type of story for me and I found it refreshing.
I would recommend this book.
1/15/24
She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up for bookclub.
I enjoyed the book for the most part. I didn't fully get into it until the epilogue which was only available through Audible. The epilogue was the best part of the book. It really tied the rest of the story together.
I recommend this book, but only if it includes the epilogue.
Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because I love the author's work.
I really enjoyed how the child's point of view was written. I loved the illustrations and the way that the child and his relationships with this family were written.
I would recommend this book, especially to a family expecting a new baby.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because it was recommended by an author.
This book sucked me in from the beginning. I felt all the feelings for the little girl. It was well written and the illustrations are wonderful.
I highly recommend the book.
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up because I knew that I liked the author and it was available.
I really enjoyed the story, but felt that it kind of got off to a slow start. About 3/4 of the way in, I mostly figured out what was going to happen, but I was still surprised at the ending.
I would recommend this book.
B Is for Bellies by Rennie Dyball
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim at the library
It was a cute poem about loving your body as they are. It's a good message for children.
I would recommend the book.
1/13/24
Mac the Vegetarian Cat!? by Jasmine Louisa Bungate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up in order to write an honest review.
I enjoyed the illustrations and the way the story flowed. I loved the idea of a cat coming up with its own menu! I was very glad that the end made it clear where the author came up with the story, since I know that a fully vegetarian diet isn't a good idea for a cat.
I would recommend this to budding chefs and cat owners! It was a very cute story.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I dragged my feet on reading this book for a long time. So many references to the book come up in discussions of other books and I figured I should probably know what they are referring to.
As I was reading this, I was reminded a lot of The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...) but from a different point of view. I was surprised to find that there were twenty years between the publications of the two stories. I almost felt the need to write a paper on them.
I would recommend the book to sci fi readers, even if it is only to give the readers a frame of reference for discussions.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had this book sitting on my shelf for a while, so I decided to finally pick it up.
It was a cute story with a mostly predictable storyline, but, as with most romances, we knew where it was going. The story is in the journey, not the ending. There were a few spots that I didn't quite see happening ahead of time, and that was refreshing.
I would recommend this book.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up on a whim from the library.
It is a beautiful description of a lazy summer day. The words and the illustrations are just perfect.
I would recommend this book highly.
How to Spook a Ghost by Sue Fliess
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I picked this up after an author talk recommended it.
This book had cute illustrations and a soothing rhythm. I liked the history of Halloween and All Hallow's Eve written for the readers to learn about.
I would recommend this book because it isn't too scary but still has the spirit of Halloween included.
Kept: An American Househusband in Paris by Gregory E. Buford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I picked this up because I enjoyed the first book in the series.
I wasn't as happy with this book as I was with the first one. I felt that there was a lot of history thrown in to make the book longer. I was expecting more of the challenges of raising children in a place which doesn't have the same culture as your home country. There was some of it, but not like in the first book.
I am indifferent about recommending this book. If you're interested in history, you might like it more than I did.