Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fans of the X-Men and The Umbrella Academy will love this tale of superwomen “conceived” on a rural Vermont commune and slowly realizing their full capabilities while trying to fully understand their origins. The ultimate story of girl power, finding inner strength, learning the truth and achieving full potential. With numerous twists and a delicious slow burn, this story will keep you riveted from beginning to end.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

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Revival Season by Monica West
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book this year that I have had to continuously remind myself that what is taking place is in the current timeframe, as opposed to something happening in the last century. This is due, in part, to some antiquated ideals paired with timeless behaviors and practices. As a pastor’s child myself, a lot of the atmosphere and activities were very familiar, and I was appreciative of the fact that the author is respectful of the faith and views of God while still pointing out and uncovering the imperfect human nature prevalent in the religious community. The supernatural aspect is a fantastic and relevant twist, even with its own inconsistencies, and the familial relationships are compelling and provocative.

I definitely recommend this if you would like to step away from the normal read and explore something unique.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For a sci-fi novel, this book has something for everyone; it’s heartfelt, it’s funny, it’s definitely science-y with plenty of fiction, but overall, it’s a well-rounded, enjoyable read. Weir’s dry wit and humor that was prevalent in The Martian is back in full force. From the very beginning, I was laughing out loud and rereading passages to my husband because he wanted to know what was so funny. There isn’t much I can say in a review for fear of spoiling any of the surprises, but I’m anxious and excited for the movie version, since it’s already been optioned, because as much as I would love to see how they recreate some of my favorite scenes, part of me knows that they’ll undoubtedly fail to capture it in just the right way to satisfy my imagination. While the science talk can become a bit technical and would cause me to space out (pun intended) at times, most of it is written in a way that us laypeople can understand complex concepts and still remain interested and engaged. The structure of the novel, with well-placed flashbacks answering many of the questions that come up during the present timeline, keeps the story fresh and moves it along at a fair pace.

Everything about this story was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

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Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas by Josh Malerman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Welcome to Goblin, a town with a tumultuous inception, a terrifying forest filled with giant, red-eyed owls, an unsettling police force that creeps everyone out, and monstrous topiaries reminiscent of The Shining. It is filled with a cast of unique characters that have a slew of stories to tell and it’s almost voyeuristic the way in which we watch their lives play out on the pages. Fans of Stranger Things will embrace the overall feeling of nostalgia and community, while those who grew up watching The Twilight Zone will revel in the short stories, the deeper undercurrents of thought and moral underpinnings, the overall quirkiness, and questionable denouements. Six stories that are markedly different are brought together and find common ground in this unassuming town with the anomalous name.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

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Madam by Phoebe Wynne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you want me to read a book, put a boarding school filled with girls in a creepy building and you have my instant attention. Cue the “mean girls”, the comrade who drinks too much and has a loose tongue yet never says enough, the handsome counterpart, and the automatous office secretaries, and you’ve got me, hook, line, and sinker. The elusiveness and intrigue in the beginning of this story borders on irritating as the pace that reveals the reason for the mysteries can be a bit slow but it makes the reveals and conclusion all the more worthy for the wait. Also, prepare to have your interest piqued in the Greek tragedies, as this story is often told through the teaching of and interpretation of these timeless works. It is this unique writing approach that makes up for the sometimes unconventional transitions and back-and-forth timeline that can give a reader a bit of whiplash. However, nothing can top the dramatic conclusion, leaving with a hint of possibility for a sequel, or maybe the author is just a tease.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

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The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Logophiles will delight in the eloquent structure and vocabulary of this innovative thriller. As someone who enjoys writing and crafting sentences, reading this was an absolute treat, not only because it deals intimately with the writing process and the inner workings of publishing and authors, but every phrase is a lesson in terminology and verbiage aesthetics. Not to mention, you’re reading two different books at the same time, bouncing between the main story, and the story that is the reason for all the drama that makes up this book. Aside from this structural deviation, all the traditional anticipated twists and turns are present. There are times when it’s difficult to wrap your head around some of the wilder concepts of the main character’s amateur sleuthing, or the crazy cast developments, but it still makes for a compelling and worthy weekend read.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For a sci-fi novel, this book has something for everyone; it’s heartfelt, it’s funny, it’s definitely science-y with plenty of fiction, but overall, it’s a well-rounded, enjoyable read. Weir’s dry wit and humor that was prevalent in The Martian is back in full force. From the very beginning, I was laughing out loud and rereading passages to my husband because he wanted to know what was so funny. There isn’t much I can say in a review for fear of spoiling any of the surprises, but I’m anxious and excited for the movie version, since it’s already been optioned, because as much as I would love to see how they recreate some of my favorite scenes, part of me knows that they’ll undoubtedly fail to capture it in just the right way to satisfy my imagination. While the science talk can become a bit technical and would cause me to space out (pun intended) at times, most of it is written in a way that us laypeople can understand complex concepts and still remain interested and engaged. The structure of the novel, with well-placed flashbacks answering many of the questions that come up during the present timeline, keeps the story fresh and moves it along at a fair pace.

Everything about this story was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.

View all my reviews