I'm so excited to share that I've already completed my 2024 Goodreads Challenge. I've read 68 out of 65 books. I feel so accomplished but along with that I realize it's because I didn't do some of the work projects around my house-I read instead! By the way the projects are still waiting. I spent my summer reading a lot of good elementary fiction for school and then in August I read a few great adult books as I was eating my way around Italy.
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (2024): What a fun concept! Lauren returns to her London apartment to be greeted at the door by her husband, Michael, except she knows she is not really married. A strange cast of characters and the revolving door of her attic keeps this debut novel popping!
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams (2024): Single mom Mallory Dunne gets the dreaded phone call that her young son has eaten a poisonous mushroom at summer camp and her world turns upside down as she cares for her child. Interwoven in alternating chapters is the story of Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee, married to a cold-hearted British diplomat. As Hannah and Mallory's stories collide we learn the truth about the choices both women made to keep themselves safe.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (2015): A little wedding mystery to shake things up. Mystery writer Leonora is invited to a girl's getaway in the English countryside. Her invite comes from an old university friend and Leonora cannot figure out why she's actually been invited to this particular bridal shower. This kept me reading late into the night to figure out what was going on!
I read all three of these books on my Kindle app through Libby. I'm not been the biggest fan of reading on my phone because it just keeps me on my phone more and it is easy to get distracted but in this case it worked and I didn't have to lug books around in my bags plus I could literally pull it out every time we were on the train, in an Uber, or at dinner one night when the conversation was beyond me.
The end of August brought a few more great reading choices and that is what's pushed me over my final challenge numbers.
The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold (2021): My brother-in-law/SIL sent this to me for my birthday. It is a favorite of theirs and they'd shared about it on our family trip to Asheville. I loved that they just sent me their copy, dog-eared and loved. I loved Station Eleven and this one had similar vibes as a post-apocalyptic world set in New England. 20 years ago after infected flies have taken out most of the population. The young cast of characters left behind are charming survivors who know far too much about the world and are on hopeful quests to find more of what is possible in this new world.
Yellowface by R.F Kuang (2023): This story is a twisted tale of lies and let's us in on the world of publishing. I read this after Japhy recommended it; she listens to a lot of books through Libby. June and Athena both want to be world-famous authors but Athena is the only one with a rising star. When June gets her chance she snags what, she feels, is rightfully hers. So well done-I loved it. I want to go back and read Kuang's previous novel Babel.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023): This is one of my BOTM club picks that languished on my to-be-read shelf and then one day in September I just picked it up and started it. I love a really good meet-cute and this one was well-done. Based on the whole Saturday Night Live comedy scene with Sally as an older writer on the show and Noah Brewster, a world famous singer/songwriter who happens to guest on the show. I loved learning about this comedy world and laughed throughout this book. It also touched me with it's raw emotion about women as we age and how we are viewed by others.
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (2023): This is a riveting mystery set in 1970's Boston's Irish south side with a cranky, tough as nails narrator Mary Pat Fennessey as she searches for her missing daughter. The busing crisis to integrate schools takes center stage as Mary Pat tries to figure out what has happened to her daughter as well as questioning her own decisions and choices. Excellent writing.
Truly Devious series #1 & #2 by Maureen Johnson (2018/2019): Japhy recommended this series to me as well. This mystery, set in an exclusive Vermont school, flips between present with Stevie as our budding true crime detective trying to solve a kidnapping gone awry back in 1936. This young adult series is a quick and adventurous read and I'm looking forward to book 3.
Funny Story by Emily Henry (2024): Another romantic comedy set in Michigan with a cute twist on who is marrying who...? I like Henry's writing and this story revolves around Daphne's broken engagement to Peter and Daphne happens to be a children's librarian! Fantastic and fun with some definite sexy moments; the sexy librarian rules!
What I'm reading now: Mosquitoland by David Arnold (bc of Electric Kingdom) and The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare. It's also a great time to. pick up a banned book and give it a read.
