karenika

Review: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book on audio. Others said it was too cute or too romancy. I didn’t care. I love Waxman’s writing and this one was no exception. Fun, light, and sweet.

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Review: Like Mother, Like Daughter

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once I started this book, I could not stop reading it. I didn’t even care if I could guess some of the twists. The pacing, the mix of storylines, and the momentum of the novel got my attention and would not release it until I was finished.

Do not pick this up if you have other things you need to get done, you are unlikely to finish any other tasks before the end of the story.

with gratitude to netgalley and Knopf for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Somehow: Thoughts on Love

Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lamott truly never disappoints. She’s kind, generous, true and makes you feel less alone in the world by not only existing alongside all of us but sharing her stories so we can feel a deeper sense of belonging.

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Review: Waking Up to Your Self: A Guide to Living Your Truth

Waking Up to Your Self: A Guide to Living Your Truth by Patrick Marando
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great book to keep by your bedside and read again and again as you need. It is a guide to connecting with yourself and being who you are. I am a big proponent of inside-out living and this book has strong guidance on how to do that. How to feel your feelings and ensure you can move through them.

The author groups categories of emotions and helps guide you on how to move through them and is always gentle, encouraging and kind. I will refer to my copy again and again.

with gratitude to netgalley and Collective Ink Limited for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Long Island

Long Island by Colm Tóibín
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an extraordinary writer Colm Tóibín is.

A few years ago, I read The Magician and that was my first novel by him. Even though I had heard of Brooklyn, I have never read it so when I saw this sequel I wasn’t sure if it would stand alone but I decided to request it anyway.

I am so glad I did.

This is such a quiet novel. I loved Eilis as the main character. In fact, I loved all the characters and I loved how real this book felt to me. All that repressed sorrow. All the repressed dreams. Loneliness and desire and loss.

The story of a mother torn between her own principles and support of her children and going after her own happiness. The story of a mother trying to save her future. The story of widows learning to make do. The story of a family trying to find a way out of a tough situation. So much said and so much not said.

I loved reading this story and now I am going to have to go back and read every single book this author has written.

with gratitude to netgalley and Scribner for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Joy of Art – May 05, 2024 at 09:16AM

Yay for day 78/100.

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