My Murder by Katie Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

This is a well written story that has the most interesting premise. I think the blurb doesn’t do this book justice as the mystery at its heart doesn’t really unfold until way too late in the story and it’s not really a mystery story. I think this would be much better marketed as a speculative literary story. I thought the ending was also rushed and not clear. But I still enjoyed the writing and it’s unlike many other books I’ve read.

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The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

William Kent Krueger’s “This Tender Land” was my favorite novel of 2019. I then read “Ordinary Grace” and loved it as well. So I was extremely excited to read “The River We Remember” and worried it would disappoint me.

I needn’t have.

Krueger’s stories have the perfect balance of rich atmosphere, layered and flawed characters that you can’t help but love, beautiful and funny dialogue and they are just heartbreaking and tender all at once. And this one is no exception.

On its surface it’s a book about murder and solving the mystery behind it. But, of course, it’s about so much more. It’s about family and love and a small town, and rights, and repressing others, and immigration and assimilation, about hatred and bigotry. It’s about coming together to save each other.

It’s stunning and it will stay with me for a long time as all his stories do.

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

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Pageboy by Elliot Page
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

I am so glad this story exists. I am thankful to Page for telling his story. We need more stories told, we need more leaders in this space. At the same time, I thought this particular book was not as well paced and structured as it could have been. It wasn’t clear what deep story it wanted to tell. I still really enjoyed reading it and I really hope it paves the way for many many other stories.

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Speech Team by Tim Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of four friends who decide to take a road trip to confront their old Speech Team coach years later after another one of their friends commits suicide and they all realize that the words the coach used with them has broken each of them in different ways and has stayed with them all these years. So they decide to confront him.

Each of the characters is multi-layered and richly designed. The story is heart warming and at the same time honest to itself and to how the world is. It makes you mad, sad, warm, happy, joyful, thoughtful and it renews your faith in humanity and our ability to take care of ourselves and each other. Reminds you that there’s hope for all of us.

with gratitude to PENGUIN GROUP Viking, Viking and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Art of the Line in Drawing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Simple, Expressive Drawings by Frédéric Forest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Here’s another really unusual book if you’re working on sketching like I am. Unlike many books that focus on how to get every line right and how to create clear and well done sketches, this book focuses on how to create drawings that invoke meaning and a story with the most minimalist lines possible.

It’s a super interesting way to approach sketching and I really loved the authors multiple interpretations of the same scene. He’s clearly an amazing artist and at the same time he was able to make this book really accessible and feel doable for a beginner like me.

Super interesting.

with gratitude to Quarry Books and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Watch Us Shine by Marisa de los Santos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

los Santos never disappoints. Her stories are always full of heart and soul and memorable characters and this one is no exception. I loved loved loved it.

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