Diane Chamberlain is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and this book is the second one I read by her this year that has made it into my top list for 2021. What I like about her books is that she successfully fictionalizes serious events in recent history in a way that does not … Read More “The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain” »
I really enjoyed Sayaka Murata’s earlier book Convenience Store Woman. The collection of short stories in Life Ceremony continues down the quirky path set by Convenience Store Woman, but I feel like it jumped almost too far into an uncomfortable and awkward place, although I was left with the impression that this is an issue … Read More “Life Ceremony: Stories by Sayaka Murata” »
Sister Evelyn became a Catholic nun after her father made a vow that if his son (her brother) came back alive from the war, he would give his youngest daughter to God, and she never realized that she could make a different decision for herself. After a tough beginning, Evelyn founded Mercy House with two … Read More “Mercy House by Alena Dillon” »
Ginny is about to turn 35 and finds herself jobless, roommate-less, boyfriend-less, and desperately wanting a baby. Cassie, Ginny’s neighbor, is an almost washed up actress with a lot of issues of her own. Somehow, these two women form a deep friendship. I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually … Read More “The Neighbours by Nicola Gill” »
Roz, a single woman in Ireland who is barely making ends meet and living paycheck to paycheck, finds herself unexpectedly pregnant after a “one night stand.” She decides she wants to adopt out (sell) the baby, and finds a great online agency that will help make it possible. She is introduced to Julie–half of a … Read More “The Perfect Mother by Caroline Mitchell” »