Michael Without Apology by Catherine Ryan Hyde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hyde always knows how to write a powerful story and this one is no exception. Michael is taking a film class and decides to do a documentary about people who have a problem with the way their bodies look. He has major burns in his body so he is expecting those with trauma like his and to his shock, he gets a much wider variety of people than he expected.

This book is a kind, generous and honest journey Michael takes to find his way back to his own body and his own life so that he can live it to its fullest extent without apology. It’s powerful and sweet and touching.

with gratitude to Lake Union Publishing and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was too long. It was also insane and one crazy blow after another and kept me engaged all the way to the end. The whole time, I thought it would make an awesome TV series. It looks like it was made into a tv series 40 years ago, I hope someone remakes it. It’s excellent.

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The Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. Klune
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved so much of this story. Especially the first part before it becomes a chase scene novel. I loved the characters, especially Artemis Darth Vader, I challenge anyone not to fall in love with her.

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Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely adore the writing of McConaghy. Always so much atmosphere! This one was a mystery in so many ways and I was totally here for it. I loved this book.

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The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I both read and listened to this book on audio. I really enjoyed the audio which helped with the pacing in my opinion.

I’ve read and loved Bauer’s books and this was no exception. However, this book, while fascinating, moved at a slower pace than I would have liked. I loved all the characters and I loved the moving back and forth in time to have mysteries unfold in several timelines. I loved falling head first into the world of egg collectors both in real life (as in physically collecting the eggs from the birds) and in the academic sense (who knew?!) and the obsession and craze and the ones who were taken advantage of and the ones who put themselves in all kinds of danger.

It will be impossible for you to not fall into the rabbit hole of this world of danger, intrigue and deception.

with gratitude to Grove Atlantic and Dreamscape Media and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Trust Me on This by Lauren Parvizi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this story of two mostly-estranged step-sisters who go on a road trip together to see their sick dad. I loved that they each had unique 3-dimensional personalities. I loved the little bit of romance and I loved that we also got to see both of their moms in their own homes. I loved the tiny details around the cars, the cat, the food. I loved the food.

By the end of this story, I was attached to both of the sisters and felt like I was rooting for them and riding along the journey with them. There’s a twist at the end that I am not sure was necessary. It didn’t ruin the story for me but it also didn’t really add to it, in my opinion.

I still loved how this book tackled both the complexities of the trauma each sister carried and navigated the texture of sisterhood. (even if a step-sisterhood.)

with gratitude to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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