Review: Demon Copperhead

Demon Copperhead
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an excellent story that was too long. Maybe Kingsolver and I are just never meant to be. But It was too long.

View all my reviews

Review: Symphony of Secrets

Symphony of Secrets
Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved Slocumb’s previous novel and I loved this one too. I love the juxtaposition of music, racism, mystery and historical fiction all at once. He’s such an excellent writer.

View all my reviews

Review: Yellowface

Yellowface
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

not sure i can write anything about this one that hasn’t already been said. I have several writer friends so I knew many of the stories. So many of the tropes are all in here. Cancel culture, own voices, twitter, and more.

View all my reviews

Review: I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home

I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home
I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was so excited to get my hands on a Lorrie Moore book. There’s no one who writes as beautifully as Moore can and this book is no exception. The story for this one is hard to explain and if you like a clean, simple story, this book is likely not for you. This involves a teacher who loves conspiracy theories, a cross country trip, a clown, some ghost, hospice death, and so much more that doesn’t seem like they could come together to hold a story. But underneath it all, it’s about grief and humanity and love. And Lorrie Moore never disappoints with her writing.

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

View all my reviews

Review: Throwback

Throwback
Throwback by Maurene Goo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute and sweet and a fast read. Made me really glad my kiddos are living in this century and surrounded by open minded peers. Great YA book.

View all my reviews

Review: The True Love Experiment

The True Love Experiment
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

perfect when you need a light and happy read. It never lets me down.

View all my reviews

Review: The Guilty Husband

The Guilty Husband
The Guilty Husband by Stephanie DeCarolis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Eh it was good when I read it but a month later I already forgot about it.

View all my reviews

Review: Small Mercies

Small Mercies
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Lehane’s writing. It’s real, it’s gritty, it’s atmospheric. The characters are deeply memorable. The mystery is real, disturbing and sad. I loved this one.

View all my reviews

Review: The Rachel Incident

The Rachel Incident
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of two best friends while in college. An affair, a boyfriend who is hard to nail down, an infatuation, books and more books. I loved all of the characters in this story. Even though they are all flawed, I loved their incomplete selves. I loved their friendship. I had so much empathy for them and kept rooting for them again and again.

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

View all my reviews

Review: The Celebrants

The Celebrants
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rowley never disappoints. His stories are the perfect combination of heart and love, sorrow and humor and this one is no exception. Old friends who come together and support each other. Lives that take unexpected turns. The beauty and the sorrow of the ordinary parts of life. You will not regret reading this one.

with gratitude to netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Staying Open – May 14

Staying Open – 134

Happy mother’s day to mothers who have little kiddos and are too tired to do anything let alone celebrate. Happy mother’s day to mothers whose kids have grown up and left the house. Happy mother’s day to those who have lost babies, who never could have babies despite wanting them. To single mothers. To mothers raising their grandbabies. To mothers who are mourning their mothers. To mothers who are mothering themselves. Single fathers who are also mothering. To foster mothers. To step mothers. And to so many other kinds of mothers.

Also to those who never wanted babies and are happily not mothers (thank you for not succumbing to peer pressure and doing what is right for you.)

May you all take moments of joy and gratitude today. I see you, I celebrate you and I’m grateful for you.

Thank you to my mama and my sister who are two of the best mothers I know. And thank you to my friends who parent alongside me and help me.

#stayingopen #open

100 Tiny Watercolors – Part 1

i love making these. 100 Day Project 2023.

art #100dayproject #watercolor #watercolorpainting #landscapes #the100dayproject #dothe100dayproject #dothe100dayproject2023 @dothe100dayproject