February Books

It’s Book Review Day - one of my favorite days of the month!  This month I read 4 books, each one completely different from the next. 

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot – Marianne Cronin (B)

This is a powerful, poignant, and important story for anyone grappling with living while also dying. I fell in love with the characters that are so likeable and interesting and determined to live life to the fullest.  I laughed and also fought back tears at times.  This is a book that will stay with me for a while.  So well crafted and worth the read. 4/5 stars

The Girls in the Stilt House – Kelly Mustian (A)

This debut novel is a fictional story about two women who have had life throw them together in the most unexpected way.  This storyline touches on a lot of different topics – poverty, abuse, racial injustice, and ultimately the power of friendship, forgiveness, and kindness.  It is well written and I was shocked to learn that it is this author’s first novel. This is a pick from book club and I think we will have a LOT to talk about. With all of that said, I do wish that I would have read this book with my eyes instead of listening to it.  I did not care for the narrator; but another friend of mine really enjoyed this narrator – so to each their own.  3.5/5 stars

The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness (B)

So in full disclosure I read this book due to strong, unrelenting requests from my oldest.  She has devoured this whole series and was really wanting to discuss with someone.  So of course, I quickly agreed to read it! I loved reading and talking about it with her and listening to her as she pondered some of the harder topics.  This author has created a strange fictional world where only men exist and everyone can hear each other’s thoughts (their noise). And when you come of age, “something” happens – though we do not what it is that happens as the story is told from the perspective of Todd Hewitt who is about to “become a man”. The storyline and writing style are definitely geared for a younger audience with a few cheesy moments.  But overall, the storyline is good one.  Now, I don’t know that I would recommend this to another adult.  BUT if you are looking for something to read and discuss with your middle-schooler, then I would definitely say YES. 3/5 stars

Wish You Were Here – Jodi Picoult (A + B)

I read and listened to this book.  Great narration. I loved the first half, was surprised by the middle, and felt a little unsatisfied with the ending. But overall, I enjoyed it. This author definitely knows how to tell a story that really pulls you in.  She was able to carefully weave together all the feelings of heartbreak, grief and loneliness that the Covid-19 pandemic inflicted on our world.  But then she was also able to still leave the reader with compassion and hope for the future. I thought it was creative, wonderfully crafted and is a book that will hopefully build empathy and compassion within each of its readers now and in the future. 3.5/5 stars  

B – Physical Book

A - Audiobook

As always, you can see a consolidated list of all my book reviews HERE.

Now it’s your turn – what book have you recently read that you can’t stop thinking about?  I don't know about you, but I need some solid book recommendations to get me through the next few months.  Something that will pull me in immediately and keep me going through to the very last page.  So tell me in the comments what you are reading, what you are loving, and what book recs you have for me.

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