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But You Have Friends by Emilia McKenzie My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the story of the aftermath of one of Emilia's best friends committing suicide. It's not about mental health or really about her friend directly. It's Emilia revisiting her memories, her story and keeping her friend alive and processing her own feelings on paper. I found this story to be moving and a wonderful way to remember someone who was an impactful part of her life. Someone who left way too soon. with gratitude to IDW Publishing and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. View all my reviews

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai My rating: 3 of 5 stars I loved Makkai's previous novel and despite a wonderful narration by Whalen, I thought this was perfectly average. A #metoo story about a murder on a college campus that the main character comes back to rehash. There are some interesting bits and it's easily readable but it's also pretty forgettable in my opinion. View all my reviews

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott My rating: 3 of 5 stars 3.5 stars. I would have rated this story if it were just a little shorter. I think the retelling and the fantastic world and the characters were fascinating and beautifully told but I felt like especially the ending dragged out a little too much. I still loved it. View all my reviews

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges My rating: 4 of 5 stars What a completely pleasant surprise of a story. I knew nothing about this story, just picked it up from the library and didn't really even read the blurb. It's about Myra Malone who is running a blog about a tiny mansion/dollhouse that she was given as she builds pieces for it and Alex, across the country, who is living in a life-sized version of the same exact mansion. There's some magical realism and there's so much beauty in this story. I loved it. View all my reviews

The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel My rating: 4 of 5 stars Poeppel knows how to write sweet, touching stories and this is no exception. Several people who are connected through a family, a neighborhood and a school all come together in unexpected ways and save each other. Because we are all walking each other home aren't we? Loved this one. View all my reviews

Always Human by Ari North My rating: 2 of 5 stars 2.5 stars. I loved the visuals of this and I loved the creativity. But there was no plot. And not really much character development either. Reasonably good representation but in the end I really needed more of a story and more about the characters. View all my reviews

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan My rating: 3 of 5 stars This came with such high ratings that i think it might have affected my expectations. It was a good story, and I liked that it was a second chance story (I haven't read many of those.) I liked that it covered complicated, real topics as loss and depression and the impact that can have on a marriage and the ways in which we deal with such large life events. I think if romance is your genre and you're married, you'll like this one. View all my reviews

Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel My rating: 5 of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic book about a mom and a son both telling their stories around the secrets they have had to keep and what it cost them and how to come back to ourselves. Really wonderful story and really fantastic audiobook. Highly recommended. View all my reviews

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall My rating: 4 of 5 stars Fast-paced strong thriller about three girls who are best friends when one of them gets stabbed in the woods by a serial killer. Years later, the killer dies in prison and the girls are now back together when secrets start unraveling. View all my reviews

A Chance for Us by Corinne Michaels My rating: 4 of 5 stars Loved this sweet romance story of a fake marriage turned into real love. If romance is your thing, you'll like this one. I haven't read 1-3 in this series and it didn't make a difference for this book. Loved it. View all my reviews

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl My rating: 4 of 5 stars I reread this with my husband on a recent trip. The first part of this book is absolutely gut wrenching for me. I cannot listen to it without feeling completely devastated. And it's also so inspiring how Frankl found a way to survive despite it all and make something so meaningful for himself and for the rest of us. View all my reviews

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi My rating: 4 of 5 stars I put off reading this book for a year. Not sure why. There were mixed reviews and I wasn't sure I would like it. And while the writing is odd and hard to really get into, the story was really beautiful and the way it all connected in the end was really tender. I'm so glad I read it. View all my reviews

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe My rating: 4 of 5 stars Another fantastic graphic novel about a young queer person finding their way and sharing their journey. I love reading these books and learning and growing and I am so grateful that they are willing to share their journey. View all my reviews

Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli My rating: 4 of 5 stars 4.5 stars. I put off reading this book because I knew it would wreck me. And it wrecked me. It was beautiful and raw and hard to read. I loved how true the grief was, how it wasn't sugarcoated. I love the complicated family. I loved this book. View all my reviews

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross My rating: 4 of 5 stars A beautiful story of family, love, tradition, country and so much more. I really loved Jack as a character and I loved the atmosphere of this story. It was light and fast moving, a wonderful read for a rainy day. View all my reviews

The Employees by Olga Ravn My rating: 3 of 5 stars 3.5 Stars. This is a thought-provoking book that takes place in the future but tackles concerns that are all too real today. About human vs robot, logic vs feelings. About what makes life worth living. This was an experience to read. View all my reviews

You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg My rating: 4 of 5 stars This story brings together a list of characters connected by a mall in upstate New York. There's a white bookstore manager and his black wife and biracial children who live in a tiny home he built for them to live with minimum belongings. There's an Asian hair stylist single mother who secretly dreams of being an artist and whose son is into magic tricks. There's a teenager who works at the mall and dreams of being an actress and the boy who is obsessed with her. And an old widow who lives next door to the biracial couple and gets her hair cut at the mall. All of these characters' lives weave in and out of each other as they navigate their lives and try to live and survive as the rumors of the mall closing turn out to be true. This story covers many topics around race, growing up, work vs dreams, anger and obsession, grief and redemption. At its heart it's a tender story ...

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks My rating: 5 of 5 stars Promise Boys is the story of three boys who are wrongfully accused of the murder of their school principal. They band together to try to solve the murder in order to prove their innocence. It's a powerful story tackling topics around race, poverty, education system, family and corruption. I can't recommend enough that you listen to this one on audio. It is performed by a full cast and really makes the story come alive. Highly recommended. with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review View all my reviews

Foster by Claire Keegan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Claire Keegan has the ability to hook you into a story in so few words. She makes every word count and her powerful stories always connect with you. This short novella will stay with you. View all my reviews