March

The Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler

They say football is a game or inches. However, life itself seems to be a collection of small yet surprisingly monumental decisions. How would life have changed if...I didn’t take that class, move into that house, stop by that coffee shop, cross that sidewalk, form that friendship, etc etc etc. This book, and the point of view from which it is told, takes that thinking to an entirely new level and makes one think hard about each life choice. Valerie doesn’t like her new neighbors (they built an enormous house and pool area that wrecked the root system of her 80 year old oak).  Valerie’s son Xavier has his whole future in front of him with a college music scholarship for classical guitar. Julia grew up in extreme poverty and chaos; she loves her new swanky house. Julia’s daughter Juniper is a teenage girl who is growing tired of the strict parental controls. Her stepfather, and Julia’s husband, is always looking for an angle in life, struggling to control his impulses. Stir all these people together, add issues of race, class, money and boundaries, sprinkle in a provocative voice telling the story, and you have a book that will shock you, rip your heart into pieces,  make you think long and hard about American culture and the direction of our country. This book should explode into the publishing world.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
The author of The Dinner List is back with another un-put-down-able book. Here's the premise: Dannie, a hard-charging corporate attorney, engaged to a the man she loves, falls asleep one night, and when she wakes, it is five years later, a new man in a different apartment. Stuff happens that freaks her out. When she wakes, from this dream-like reality,  Dannie cannot get this image out of her head and the changes it wreaks in her life are monumental because...wait for it...that new man? Yeah, come to find out, itt's her best friend's new love. I think I make this premise sound silly, light, fluffy, but this book is absolutely not. It tells of a deep and abiding friendship, of how we arrange our lives to meet certain expectations, of how we love and what we will do for that love, and of the influences that push us to our destinies. I read this one in just 24 hours, staying up well past midnight because I kept saying, "just one more chapter." It is that good. The next time you want an addictive read, pick this one up - you won't be disappointed.

Chances Are... by Richard Russo
While many of you may be fans of Russo's Pulitzer Prize winner, Empire Falls, I loved his humor in his book Straight Man and I never picked up this 2019 book of his - not sure why. Maybe the content - I mean, what do I have in common with three old men, hanging out together for a reunion weekend on Martha's Vineyard? Honestly, not much but it did not matter. Russo is the most talented writer and he pulled me into his story of these three men and their friendship with a unique young woman, weaving family drama, heartache, and mystery together in a way that amazed me. The beauty of the island and Russo's words made this a delicious read. 

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

I thoroughly enjoyed this writing duo's past books (The Wife Between Us, An Anonymous Girl) - fast-paced, intriguing thrillers. Their latest is a bit of a miss for me. The premise itself is a rather implausible - girl witnesses subway suicide, gets drawn into influential friend group, things go south. There's just too many characters to keep track of + they're one-dimensional women, with little reason for me to feel invested in their lives. Even the main character, Shay, who is the suicide witness, is unappealing and rather flat. I did turn pages quickly, wanting a satisfactory ending that just did not come. Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If We Were Giants by Dave Matthews, Clete Barrett Smith (Contributor), Quentin Regnes (Contributor)
Intriguing idea, putting together a famous musician (Matthews) and a popular children's author from my home town(Smith) so how could I not read it? The premise is a lovely, heroic tale of a little girl named Kirra, a mistake she makes, and the life-changing consequences it has not only on her life, but on many others. It is also the story of how we must live with nature, not against it, and how we need one another to survive. I loved the characters and the plot line, which built tension well and kept moving forward. My one concern is who is this written for? The syntax and vocabulary are too high level for it to be a middle reader, yet the plot line veers more towards upper elementary and middle schoolers, not high schoolers.  I also found it to be quite long for a younger reader to handle. It would, however, be a fantastic read aloud for anyone third grade or higher. Thanks to Net Galley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.