Favorite Reads of 2024

December 2024 Reads

TL, DR above

Engrossing Reads

The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey - Just under a five. I loved George and Richie and thought this was interesting as hell. I couldn’t put it down.Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes 2/11/25

The Moonlight Healers by Elizabeth Becker - A little magic never hurt anyone - loved this story of a line of women and their strengths through the years. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes 2/11/25

The Big Fix by Holly James - This was cute. I liked all of the characters and the storyline. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes 3/25/25

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall - The blurb says for fans of Paper Palace, and I found that to be true. I was sucked into this from start to finish. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 3/4/25

Everybody Says It's Everything by Xhenet Aliu - Interesting and surprising in places, with all characters. Jackie’s backstory was simultaneously matter of fact and compellingThanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 3/18/25

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Silver Squad by Marty Essen - A bit of unexpected, easy fun with the antics of the Silver Squad. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes 1/17/25

Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey - A quick read that passed the time just fine - it read a bit like a Nickolodeon documentary and I didn't mind that at all. Thanks for the free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/29/25

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha - I enjoyed the premise and the family dynamics. Thanks for the free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/21/25

Name Not Taken by Madeleine Henry - This was a little bit bananas, I could not believe the main character put up with some of this. Red flags are flying. Passed the time just fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest reviewThanks for the free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 3/1/25

Not For Me

I'll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley - Good for you, not for me. Thanks for the free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/14/25

Did Not Finish

The Obsessive by Nykkie Baldwin - Publishes 1/1/25

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What have you been reading?

November 2024 Reads

TL, DR above

Election aftermath stunted my reading this month. Fascism effects focus, you know?  

Engrossing Reads

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor - There's a sci-fi/futuristic bent to this book which is typically not my favorite but the characters and overall story and humanity won me over - loved this read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/14/25

Crescendo by Joanna Howat - Very impressive for a debut novel - vulnerable characters, symbolism with the piano. I read this quickly, which is not always the case with novels like these. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder - A re-read. Seemed timely. Check it out. Paperback, own - bought a few additional copies to place in Little Free Libraries

Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade - Haves and have nots, beach town, treachery, murder? Sign me up. This is a really good debut novel. At points it reminded me of some passages from Pat Conroy books.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/28/25

Passed the Time Just Fine

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego - On a star system I have this as a 3 but it's closer to a 4 - this was a ride. I like a locked room mystery. Several confusing points and a few weak backstories but I had no idea who was pulling the strings, and that propelled me through nicely even though I was reading this over Election Day. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy, book publishes 2/11/25

The Perfect Boyfriend by S.E. Lynes - This was pretty clever and quick moving, and I liked the characters which doesn't always happen in a psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/6/25

The Hunter (Cal Hooper #2) by Tana French - These books read as very Ireland to me. A little slow, but that's okay. Always an interesting supporting cast of village characters, which I love. OCNJ library hard cover

Blood Moon by Sandra Brown - Standard Sandra Brown fare, which I like because I know it will be a dependable read. It is still always weird to me to have romance mixed with murder, but that's life, baby. If I was sitting on the beach with a paperback copy, I would finish it in three hours. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 3/4/25

Not For Me

Did Not Finish

The Receptionist by Kate Myles - Own on Kindle, this was maybe an Amazon First Reads at some point? 

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What have you been reading?

Weekending September 2024

September 6-8

Started at the shore with the always delicious Luigi's special bake on Friday evening, some beach time Saturday before heading back to Philly where we saw the most beautiful rainbow before taking the River Line from Pennsauken into Camden for The Killers concert which was fantastic - both the method of transport and the concert. Despite wearing long pants and long sleeves, I was freezing. Sunday I headed back to the shore to clean after weekend guests left - very late, so that was not that cool - but I did sit on the beach for a bit and ran through the Corvette show on my way back to the house.

September 13-15...long wedding weekend 

Friday we made our way to an ABB rental in Chester, MD. So fantastic to spend a weekend with Gwen and Aaron and Gena and Meem and Doug for Tess's wedding. Friday we hung out outside, got dinner on the water at The Dock House then met Meem and Doug and wedding folks at The Big Owl Tiki Bar before heading home to sit out back for a bit under a lovely moon. Saturday we laid low at the house, Aaron cooked for us, and then we went to the wedding. Everything was beautiful and the food was great. It's sort of nice to be the older people who can leave before the end LOL. Sunday we sat out on the dock before going our separate ways. MFD and I caught some of the Phillies game and after he went down the shore and I headed back to Philly to melt into the couch after a full peopleing weekend.

September 20-22 family shore weekend 

Friday I made my way back to the shore. Mom and Rich were already down there. We hit the beach later in the afternoon. Saturday Mom and I did Asbury and more beach but this time as twins in East Coast tees - thanks Mom! I slept upstairs for the first time in ages as Mark, Sarah, and Harry arrived for an apartment stay. We all hung out on the driveway at night. Sunday Kate, Dan, and the kids came down. Some boardwalking and beaching, a great relaxing weekend all around! 

September 27-29 

Friday I did trip prep and made salmon for dinner. Saturday more trip prep before Frank and Amanda picked us up to finally see Stevie Nicks in Hershey (postponed from June 19). We made an attempt to flip the continuum back to where it should be and clearly failed. We stopped at a great restaurant in the middle of nowhere on the way. We secured VIP parking with a straight face. Stevie was fantastic and has really adapted her music for her voice as its aged. It's been a long ass time since I saw so many people absolutely shitcanned drunk in public. Frank said it was like they started drinking on the original concert date and never stopped. Hilarious and true. Sunday I had to go back and forth to the shore to clean the house after weekend guests since we had people check out Sunday and new people check in while we were on vacation.

SMD

October 2024 Reads

After a stretch of mostly okay reads that were easy to put down and not as easy to pick back up, I hit several that were the opposite this month. Thank you, book gods. As a sacrifice, I have almost no photos. 

TL, DR:

Engrossing Reads

O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy - I found both the present and the past compelling, fitting together like a puzzle. I'll be thinking about this book for a while, despite being unable to pinpoint exactly why. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 3/18/25 

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young - Read on the heels of the previous, I was delighted to find I couldn't put this down either for entirely different reasons. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 1/7/25

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister - I like to believe many different things in the course of a book for the simple fact that it makes the book hard to put down, and that happened here. I stayed up late on a school night to finish it all in a day. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 2/27/25

Tangles by Kay Smith-Blum - Based on the description I was not expecting to be so into this one but I was. Historical fiction is not my favorite genre but I've recently adored two of them set in 1950s America. Man, what we have done to the earth we live on with the full knowledge of the government and corporations. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 12/3/24

Bad Liar (Broussard and Fourcade #3) by Tami Hoag - Still into this series and looking forward to more. More please, Tami Hoag. OCNJ library hardcover

Open Season (Alex Delaware #40) by Jonathan Kellerman - For a series 40 books in, they still hit without being overly repetetive. There are few things I love more than a reliably good series. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 2/4/25

The Summer Guests (The Martini Club #2) by Tess Gerritsen - Love this new series and can't wait to read more - a really clever twakeon small town inhabitants and mystery. I also love that the main character group is older. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 3/18/25 

Cold as Hell (Haven's Rock #3) by Kelley Armstrong - Another well paced and thought out installment of Haven’s Rock - can’t wait for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 2/18/25

Passed the Time Just Fine

December Dread (Murder by Month Romcom Mystery #8) by Jess Lourey - As you can see, there are apparently other books before this and typically I'd have to read all of them first or my brain would go haywire but I decided to jump in on this since romcom is not my comfort zone anyway. It was a fun little mild murder mystery if that phrase is acceptable even though fun and mild typically don't go with murder and mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review - this originally published in December 2018

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins - The main character struck me as batshit crazy while I was reading it, which propelled me along through it instead of making me put it down, which happens sometimes in that scenario. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 1/14/25

Not For Me

Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer - A good idea that never cashed in on itself. I likely did not connect due to repetition, it never really got off the ground for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 3/18/25 

Her Prodigal Husband by Becky Masterman - Not even the presence of Brigid Quinn (main character in books by the same author that I enjoyed) could push this one up for me - the main character was difficult to engage with. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 1/7/25

Did Not Finish

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia - Free advanced copy from Netgalley, publishes 1/14/25

The Days Between by Robin Morris - Free advanced copy from Netgalley, publishes 11/19/24

A Hush at Midnight by Marlene Bell - Free copy from Netgalley

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What have you been reading?

September 24 reads

About to leave for a CO/NM road trip, so just a list this month.

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What have you been reading?

Weekending second half of August 2024

August 23-25

Coming off of two concerts - two close to 2 am bedtimes in a row - Friday was a struggle. I had to keep repeating to myself, "you can do this" as I worked through noon, put laundry away, packed up food and car and dogs, and drove down to the shore. I hit the beach late. Saturday we were the cleaners as our crew was doing back to college stuff. When we were finished I rode my bike to the library, then hit the beach later in the afternoon. Mozz sticks and ice cream, the dinner of champions. Sunday morning MFD and QV left before 6:30. I painted my nails, made iced tea and french onion dip, cut up veggies, cleaned my birkenstocks, and relaxed. Our niece Maddi and her boyfriend were down for the day so I saw them for beach tags and chairs, and I hit the beach myself in the afternoon. Otherwise lots of walking and reading and relaxing. 

August 30-September 3...long Labor Day weekend 

Summer hours Friday, people checking out Saturday and fam and friends arriving. Nice beach days, a goodbye to Wonderland Pier with a ferris wheel ride, and the 5th Anniversary of the Great American Smokeout with lots of smoke, games, etc. Also celebrated MFD's birthday and Michelle's birthday!

SMD

August 2024 reads

That slow slide into Labor Day weekend is here. I don't think I'll finish my current book today or tomorrow, I overdid it on reading this month and my brain needs a break.

TL, DR:

Engrossing Reads

The Witch of Colchis by Rosie Hewlett - This is no Circe or Achilles, but I still liked the story and was glued to it. Goddamn these idiot misogynistic men, even in ancient Greece. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 9/10

The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley - I love a rock and roll saga, and this surely was one. Gut punch in several places, covers addiction in a respectable way for fiction, and really zeroes in on music and what it means to us beautifully. Free advanced copy from Netgalley, book publishes 9/24

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn - This is my new favorite Kate Quinn. I love going into her books not knowing what they're exactly about and am always thrilled when it's not WWII. This was really good and will probably make my top five of the year. OCNJ library hardcover

Head Cases by John McMahon - My series loving heart wants every book I enjoy to become a series, and that is true here. I loved Gardner and his crew, and the story was good! Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes January 28, 2025

The Last Widow (Will Trent #9) and The Silent Wife (Will Trent #10) by Karin Slaughter - I'm taking the easy way out and combining two series books - It's been a while since I sat down with a Will Trent novel and I'm not sure if absence made the heart grow fonder, but I'd mark 9, 10, 11, and 12 as the strongest in the series so far. Bravo to the author for making that happen. OCNJ hardcovers

After That Night (Will Trent #11) by Karin Slaughter - I had planned to take a break between 10 and 11 and another between 11 and 12 but I had to steamroll through and stay living in Will and Sara's world for a while. OCNJ library digital copy

This is Why We Lied (Will Trent #12) by Karin Slaughter - Rounding out my recent Will Trent tear with the newest that published on 8/20. Loved the story though. Layered and clever. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Remember Her Name (Detective Josie Quinn #21) by Lisa Regan - Speaking of series that I love, it's Josie Quinn still strong as hell at #21. This expands on the newest team member a bit and I'm already impatient on the next book. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 9/17

The Salt Cure by Shelby Cohen - As usual when a short story is good, I have resentment that it's not a full book. I'd read more of these sisters and the local coven by my friend Shelby - you can read it in Suburban Witchcraft magazine, click on the title link and go to page 164.

Passed the Time Just Fine

Things We Never Say by Caitlin Weaver - I appreciate the growing friendship throughout this. These secrets, whew. Some heavier than others. A quick read. Free advanced copy from Netgalley, book publishes 9/27

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors - I mean one extra letter on my maiden name, how could I not read this. A tale of sisterhood, and a triumvirate of self destructive spiraling. There seemed to be a disconnect between chapters, which is what puts this at a 3.5 for me. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book originally published 5/23 and this version publishes 9/3

Guide Me Home (Highway 59 #3) by Attica Locke - The final installment of the Highway 59 trilogy is the best in my opinion - I love Attica Locke's writing style and style and substance delivered here. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult - Loved the concept of this book (incredible research by Picoult as usual) and despite not standardly loving historical fiction, preferred Emilia's parts to present day even though at points it seemed stuck on repeat to hammer home certain aspects of her life and the lives of women at that point in history. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Only One Survives by Hannah Mary McKinnon - The first half was better than the last. A flip was switched at some point on perspective and characters that required a bit of a leap but overall not a bad read. OCNJ library paperback

Rip Tide by Colleen McKeegan - I love a book set in a shore town, and this one did just fine. This was darker than I thought it would be and that suited me fine. OCNJ library hardcover

Not For Me

The Body at Back Beach by K.J. Sweeney - A good setting for a cozy mystery, which I don’t read that often. If you do, you'll like this. It's a not for me but cozy mystery lovers will likely like it. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight - I've read every Kimberly McCreight book since Reconstructing Amelia waiting for it to rise to that level and it has not. This is no different. Not a goddamn likeable person to be found or a storyline interesting enough to drive it all together. OCNJ library hardcover

After Image by Jaime deBlanc - There was foreshadowing of things that led to that's it? scenarios, more tell me than show me, and plenty of no way would this happen in reality instances. If I knew at the beginning what I knew at the end, I might not have picked this up. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 10/8

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty - I will surely be the outlier on this - just a reminder that you can be that at any time, with any book, by any author - but this wasn't it for me. Not making it easier to like - for what it was, it was long as hell. The beauty of a Liane Moriarty book for me is the quick page turn and this didn't have it. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 9/10

Did Not Finish

n/a

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What have you been reading?