Reviews

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the moon suddenly, and with no conceivable explanation, turned to cheese? No? That’s okay, because John Scalzi has and you can read about it!  

Following some related, but many unrelated characters, When the Moon Hits Your Eye brings us on a journey of scientific, spiritual and technological discovery. While the story is often laugh-out-loud funny, it's also surprisingly poignant in its observation of the human experience. From astronauts navigating what it means to have trained their entire lives to land on the moon only to have their dreams dashed mere months from the finish line to three old friends discussing the end of the world at their usual booth at a diner in Oklahoma, this book may inspire some self-reflection. 

Unfortunately, the eAudiobook is an Audible original and unavailable to the library. But if you have some available credits, Wil Wheaton narrates, which I thought was a nice touch. 

If you’re looking for a feel-good book with loveable characters, look no further than Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin. Brimming with optimism and heart, Cronin gives us a 90-year-old (male no less) protagonist that bucks the stereotypical grumpy recluse. Which was exactly the breath of fresh air I needed to bring me out of the gloom of winter. 

Eddie Winston is 90, works in a charity shop sorting donations and has never been kissed. This fact is quite shocking, because he is absolutely lovely. As evidenced by his penchant for keeping certain items in an ‘Eddie pile’ he has a feeling people may come back looking for. Which is how he meets twentysomething Bella, who donates her recently deceased boyfriend’s items, including a pair of shoes inscribed with love notes. Eddie and Bella become fast friends, eating lunch together, setting Eddie up on dating sites, and working through Bella’s grief. 

All the while we learn that perhaps Eddie has been saving his first kiss for the one that got away. His Birdie, who was a married woman when they knew one another and could never truly be his.  

The novel is told in alternating points of view between four characters. I listened to the eAudiobook, and the full cast recording was phenomenal.  

The Favorites is a departure from author Layne Fargo’s usual psychological thriller. Instead diving into the cutthroat world of elite figure skating. Which perhaps is a psychological thriller after all. The Favorites is inspired by Wuthering Heights, and the two leading characters’ names reflect that (Heath and Shaw). Billed as a sports romance, I’m here to tell you that it’s not. Sure, there are romantic elements, however, it’s more a coming-of-age story about breaking free from expectations and reaching your full potential. There are bumps and a lot of bruises along the way, which made for a fast and exciting read.  

Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha don’t have much, but they have each other. Two poor kids without parents from Illinois, they do what they have to, to make their way to L.A. to train with renowned Olympic ice dance champion Sheila Lin and her children. While Katarina’s passion is to make it to the Olympics, Heath just wants to be with Katarina. As they enter the glitz and glamour of this new world, they learn that ambition might just outweigh their bond, and no one is truly your friend. I simply could not put this one down. 

Told in both first person narrative and documentary style snippets, the chapters are short and quick to get through. 

If you enjoy Taylor Jenkins Reid, this will appeal to you. The eAudiobook is a full cast recording. 

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is sportswriter Kate Fagan’s debut fiction novel. Told from multiple points of view in a pseudo memoir style, this novel was a nice surprise. Due to the multiple perspectives, this story felt more like a puzzle, but it was never confusing. 

Annie Callahan doesn’t have anyone but her best friend Amanda and their dream to ditch their small town and make it big in Los Angeles. On the day they are set to leave, Amanda has a terrible accident and Annie skips town. Changing her name to Cass Ford, she starts a new life a few states over, struggling with her decisions and attempting to figure out who she is without her best friend. After meeting Sidney, a young law student, they both move to New York, where Cass writes a novel under the pen name Cate Kay as a way to come to terms with her choices. The Very Last ends up being a breakaway hit. For fear of being discovered, Sidney helps Cate hide her true identity from everyone.  

When The Very Last is picked up for a movie, Cate finally travels to L.A. where love may just be the key to finding the way back to herself. 

Weaving several different storylines together, Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty asks the question, what would you do if you knew when and how you’d die? Would you make any changes? Are you truly happy with the life you’re living now? 

On a flight from Sydney to Hobart, a woman stands and begins predicting each passenger’s date and cause of death. Some are far in the future from natural causes while others are rather close and from less natural and more traumatic causes. These six unlucky passengers must disembark and decide whether they believe the ‘Death Lady’ as she’s soon called. As some of her predictions begin to come true, the hunt for the Death Lady begins. 

An unremarkable everywoman, the Death Lady has a story of her own, which is brilliantly woven into the story of these six strangers (Who might not be as far removed from one another as they thought). Is she a real psychic? Why was she on that flight that day? So many questions, but just as many answers with a poignant and satisfying end. 

What is a Sociopath? Do you know? Are you sure? Thanks to Sociopath by Patric Gagne, I’ve now learned what I thought it was and what it is, isn’t entirely correct. And that there are some major but also subtle differences between clinical diagnosis and pop culture portrayals. Which is the main reason Gagne wrote this book. 

Sociopath is a memoir that follows the life of Patric Gagne, the daughter of a high-powered music executive, as she struggles with her lack of ‘normal’ emotional responses. It’s also the story of her path to getting a true diagnosis for sociopathy at a time when none really existed. 

As a person with high anxiety and a lot of emotions, I found this book incredibly fascinating.

O.O. Sangoyomi’s debut novel, Masquerade is my top read of 2024, taking the lead right at the buzzer! Full of lush descriptions, feminine power and a satisfying end, this is a must read for fans of Greek mythology retellings.  

A very loose retelling of Persephone and Hades, Masquerade is set in pre-colonial West Africa. The story follows Òdòdó, a beautiful and talented blacksmith with the ability to make flowers from metal, as she is stolen from her homeland of Timbuktu and brought to the bustling city of Yorùbáland. Òdòdó has spent her life on the periphery, considered a witch and therefore low status. As the future queen of Yorùbáland, she winds a path of self-discovery; navigating a cutthroat world of power and prestige. 

If you enjoy Madeline Miller or Vaishnavi Patel, you’ll want to add this to your list. I couldn’t put it down! 

Mark is the most famous and dangerous assassin in the world. Well, he WAS the most famous and dangerous assassin in the world. Up until he realized the monster he’d become and vowed to never kill another human being. With the help of a twelve-step program for former killers, Mark is living his best murder free life. He may even be ready to become a sponsor to another reformed killer. 

Everything changes when Mark is attacked after one of his meetings, kicking off a page turning quest to uncover who is trying to kill him. Can he figure out who’s after him without taking another life?  

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart is an action packed, incredibly witty story with so much heart. The characters are endearing, and Mark’s dedication to remaining murder free is commendable. I could see this being a great book club pick, as there is certainly a lot to discuss.

This book was such a delightful read. If you love the Great British Bake Off, Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford will not disappoint. Full of tender, wholesome characters, this is a feel-good story perfect for the summer. 

Jenny Quinn loves to bake and at the age of 77 fears she’s let the opportunity of a grand adventure pass her by. That’s not to say she’s unhappy with her life. She has a loving husband and her great niece and nephew to dote on. When the opportunity to compete in Britain Bakes arises, Jenny secretly throws her hat in the ring. For all her worry that she’s too old, not good enough and that she can’t leave her aging husband, Jenny becomes a breakout star on the show. 

But with each bake, old memories surface, forcing Jenny to relive her past and come face to face with a secret she’s kept hidden for decades. 

She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica is a fast-paced thriller full of twists you won’t want to put down. The first chapter ropes you in, and true to form, Kubica continues to weave a master puzzle that will have you desperate to put together.  

Set in Chicago, our narrator Meghan works as a nurse in the ICU. Her most recent charge, Caitlyn, is brought in after an apparent suicide attempt. Battered, bruised, and in a coma, it’s anyone’s guess what really happened on that bridge that night. With a daughter of her own, Meghan feels great empathy for Caitlyn’s family. But as things start to come to light, Meghan begins to cross the line of professional care, digging deeper into Caitlyn and her family’s lives. 

Add in a slew of recent break in and assaults, an old high school acquaintance with an abusive husband desperate for help, her recent divorce, and a teenage daughter testing her limits, she's a little on edge.   

Kubica expertly tackles the trials of being a working mom and the dangers of being a woman living in a city.