Wellness by Nathan Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nathan Hill’s “The Nix” was my favorite novel of 2016. I laughed so hard and I loved every moment I spent with that novel. Even so, I was worried about requesting “Wellness” since it’s more than 600 pages and what if I didn’t like it?

After a lot of hemming and hawing I requested it any way and slowly started reading it, hoping it wouldn’t be too hard to get through.

I spent the next three days of my vacation wanting to do nothing but read this book. I fell in love with the characters. I laughed, I cried, I was touched, I was mad. I loved following every single meandering thread of story Hill took me down and I exclaimed with joy when he brought it all back and tied it with an awesome knot.

This book singlehandedly made my vacation ten times better than it already was. I came home feeling full of joy and could not stop talking about the book to everyone I saw. I am absolutely confident it will be my favorite read of 2023.

Nathan Hill has done the impossible and his sophomore novel is even better than his breakout novel and his story is funny, meaningful, thought provoking, and tender. I loved and cherished every single minute I spent with it.

I cannot recommend it enough.

Now I really hope he hurries up and writes another novel.

with gratitude to netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I find Ali’s novels to be eminently readable. I enjoy them and like falling into her worlds. They are my little happy place.

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Drowning by T.J. Newman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

This was interesting but for some reason not as captivating to me as it seems to have been to everyone else.

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Learn to Draw in 5 Weeks: A Beginner’s Workbook for All Ages by Kritzelpixel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book starts out very simple with introductory exercises to warm up and loosen your hands with doodling and mark making and then it expands from there all the way to multiple different perspective exercises. Some are really easy and some are really sophisticated. It’s not “fun” but it’s serious and a great look at not just drawing techniques but how to get into the right mindset and how to hold the pen and move your arms etc. A very different and interesting guide. I’ve been really enjoying working my way through it.

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

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Art for Self-Care: Create Powerful, Healing Art by Listening to Your Inner Voice by Jessica Swift
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had read Jessica Swift’s story before but I didn’t remember it until I saw it again it this book. What a terrible tragedy she’s had to survive and what a wonderfully inspiring book this is. This is not a step by step book. It won’t teach you how to draw or paint. Instead if will teach you how to go within and access that part of you that can then create beautiful, amazing, meaningful art.

The book is also full of Jessica’s inspiring, colorful and beautiful art. It will make your fingers itch to create as you read it.

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

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A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

this was a fast read of a whirlwind romance that takes place over many many years. It seems to have a huge following. I read it and loved it and already forgot it.

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