REVIEW – City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

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“My friends! My oldest friends in the world! My oldest friends in the world whom I’d only met two weeks ago.”

City of Girls starts off as the literary equivalent of a fizzy, fruity cocktail. It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s lighthearted. The characters are great friends – the theatre crew is an interesting mix of personalities, but they all get along so well. Just when you think you’ve settled in to an easy breezy story, it delivers a gut punch.

“The sooner you get flattened to the ground, the sooner you can begin to rebuild your life again.”

There are some brutally real and crushing moments in this book – which deviates completely from the tone set early on. What starts as a tale of a frivolous, stupid 19 year old girl (weren’t we all idiots at that age?) turns into an epic about one woman’s fascinating journey through life.

It’s racy and shocking at times. It’s set during WWII but unlike any historical fiction I’ve read from the same era. The pacing is incredible and the writing is exquisite. The examination of relationships, mostly of the different types of female friendships, is very real and honest.

The last few chapters are the most emotional. They make up such a brief – but powerful – part of the book.

“Anyway, at some point in a woman’s life, she just gets tired of being ashamed all the time. After that, she is free to become whoever she truly is.”

REVIEW – The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

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If this book isn’t on your radar, it needs to be. From the absolutely brutal beginning to the chilling last chapter, The Chestnut Man holds on and does not let go.

The investigative part of the story is compelling, and keeps you guessing until all of the answers are revealed.

The story explores the worst of humanity, the depths of grief (and the different ways people cope), and the ripple effect that lies and secrets can have.

This book is DARK. It’s incredibly gruesome and can be jarring at times. It is not for the faint of heart. There is also a deep sadness that runs underneath the story (there’s a reveal that’s an absolute gut punch).

Although the book clocks in at just over 500 pages, it’s a relatively quick read with short chapters.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow

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Mulberry Mischief is a delightful little cozy mystery. As someone who is half Ohioan and half Michigander (and 100% a Great Lakes enthusiast), the setting couldn’t be more perfect. Oriole Point is an adorable little resort town right on Lake Michigan.

Marlee is a great main character – and I loved her group of friends! I found myself wishing The Berry Basket was a real shop, and that I could somehow join the cast of characters in this book.

The mystery kept me guessing until the end (and the last few chapters are pretty fast paced!)

Thank you Kensington Books for the free book!

TRUE CRIME REVIEW – Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen

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”The murders in the shadows add up to a hell of a lot more than the murders in the spotlight. The blood of the forgotten was just as red as the “famous” victims.”

Chase Darkness with Me is an absolute must have for true crime fans. Billy Jensen is an incredible writer. He pours so much of himself into this book – from explaining why he’s interested in helping solve crimes, to his honesty about the sacrifices he’s made to be 110% dedicated to seeking justice. (Spoiler: being a citizen detective is HARD. It’s an enormous commitment and not for the faint of heart.)

The sections about Jensen’s dad are some of my favorites. He was an interesting man (with a somewhat checkered past) and it sounds like he was a dedicated, loving father. If he were alive today, I’m pretty sure he’d be a Murderino.

There are so many emotional ups and downs in this book – from catching the bad guys, to frustration over dead ends. But the lowest and highest points are definitely the loss of Michelle McNamara and the eventual capture of the Golden State Killer.

Jensen’s chapter about learning of Michelle’s death is a tough one – he’s an expert at transferring his grief to the page. (Sidebar: if you have not yet read I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, I would recommend picking it up before you read Chase Darkness with Me. It will make the chapters about Michelle and GSK all the better.)

We think of superheroes as vigilantes in flashy costumes that shove the law out of the way and take matters into their own hands – that’s not true here. Jensen is compassionate, driven and dedicated to seeking justice and helping grieving friends and family find closure. He doesn’t step on toes. He works with local authorities. He asks for permission from the families before he takes on a case.

In a world that sometimes feels full of bad guys, Jensen is a good one.

“It’s chaos. Be kind.”

REVIEW – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

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“Life will throw you major curveballs, but it’s rare you can do much more than duck.”

What an amazingly delightful book! The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is full of lovable characters, fun pop culture references and little bits of wisdom about life.

It’s cozy, it’s hilarious and it’s heartfelt. I’m so sad that Nina is fictional – we’d be great friends (I love to plan, I love to read, I love silence. I’m also full of useless facts.)

This is the perfect read for book lovers; you’ll likely find a kindred spirit in Nina.

“It didn’t matter what hit the fan; as long as there were unread books in the world, she would be fine. Being surrounded by books was the closest she’d ever gotten to feeling like the member of a gang.”

REVIEW – A Deadly Deception by Tessa Harris

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This one was a little lukewarm for me. It’s a slower-paced mystery, set in 1880s Whitechapel. After a dormant period of about eight months, a murder occurs and residents fear that Jack the Ripper is back.

I ended up liking two secondary characters the best (I won’t say who, major spoilers!)

The writing is good and the book does pick up speed towards the end, with some fun little reveals and twists.

Thank you to the folks at Kensington for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien

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What an enjoyable book! Lana is a great main character – I could easily see myself being friends with her and Megan.

Even though the series is set in Cleveland, it doesn’t lose that sense of a small community that readers of cozies tend to love.

I felt like I was investigating right alongside Lana, and I did have my suspicions but it didn’t all click for me until the very end (which is great!)

This is my first Noodle Shop Mystery, but I definitely plan on going back and reading the others!

I won a copy of this book on Instagram.

REVIEW – Little Sister: A Memoir by Patricia Walsh Chadwick

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“Happiness is finding peace, joy and inspiration in the array of things one does in life. It is also moving on from what cannot be undone.”

Little Sister is vivid, heartbreaking and, ultimately, joyful.

Patricia Walsh Chadwick does an incredible job of illustrating how intelligent, kind people can get sucked into a cult (especially a cult tied to religion). It seemed like a noble idea at first – but then, bit by bit, freedoms were taken away. Identity was stripped from adults and children alike. Families were separated. The brothers and sisters in the community suffered physical and psychological abuse. The leaders of the community were manipulative hypocrites; it was frustrating and sickening to read about the ways they abused the members of the community (especially the children) in the name of God. (It has some Handmaids Tale vibes for sure.)

And yet, Chadwick’s story is one of resilience and triumph. Of the strength of a family’s love for one another. And ultimately the love of a community despite (or maybe because of) their shared trauma.

If you love memoirs, you have to get your hands on this book.

Thank you to Get Red PR for providing me with a free copy of this book.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Death by Cafe Mocha by Alex Erickson

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Death by Cafe Mocha is a cute little book – not my favorite cozy mystery but I still enjoyed it.

The coffee lovers’ convention was a fun setting and the murder mystery keeps you guessing until the very end. I haven’t read the other books in the series (yet!) but I would love to read more about Death by Coffee and get to experience the cozy town of Pine Hills!

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!