Are you a rereader? It’s a divisive topic. Everyone from Mortimer Adler to my favorite homeschool philosopher, Charlotte Mason, decry rereading as lazy and wasteful. I’m in the other camp. I reread for all sorts of reasons and get lots of pleasure out of it. I reread novels with amazing worldbuilding and thrilling adentures. I…… Continue reading In defense of re-reading
At first glance, Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis is a tropy romance, from the cartoonish cover to the fake romance inside. And the first half of the book delivers on that promise with fake-dating, a slow burn up to steamy sex, unrequited love, and hilarious conversations full of double meanings. If that’s what you’re looking…… Continue reading The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Boston artist Claire Roth was disgraced three years ago and cannot sell an original painting, so she supports herself by painting above-board reproductions of classic art for an online retailer. When an old friend approaches her to do a similar replica of a painting that was stolen in an unsolved art heist in 1990, she…… Continue reading The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro
Alison Desir’s 2022 book Running While Black is the best kind of memoir. She has canny self-awareness and a deep knowledge of the history we are living. Desir is a runner, a keen observer, and a student of history. Her book includes her own story of growing up in the water of racism and coming…… Continue reading Running While Black by Alison Mariella Desir
Courtney Milan’s Trade Me is a masterpiece. You would be forgiven if you looked at the cover and description and thought it was simply a fake-fiancé romance. It does it well and is worth reading just for that, but the book is so much more. Milan has crafted characters with layers of motivation and chemistry,…… Continue reading Trade Me by Courtney Milan
January Andrews’ story-telling gift fails her when she inherits the keys to her dad’s secret beach house. When her grief stops her writing completely and ruins her live-in relationship with her not-quite-perfect romantic boyfriend, she reluctantly moves into the beach house and discovers in the worst way possible that her next-door neighbor is her nemesis,…… Continue reading Beach Read by Emily Henry
There are many things I love about Lisa Gardner’s writing. Her stories immediately draw me in. I know to buckle my seat belt before I crack one of her books open, because once I’m a chapter in it will be hard to put it down. Her female characters are strong, opinionate, and resourceful. She paints…… Continue reading Love You More by Lisa Gardner
Lily Chu’s audiobook, The Comeback, is a delight. Ariadne Hui is a disenchanted Toronto lawyer whose roommate Hana is traveling for business. Hana gives the keys to their apartment to her cousin from Korea so he can lick his wounds after a painful breakup. When Ari finds Ji-hun on her couch, she pulls a knife…… Continue reading The Comeback by Lily Chu
I love reading books on the craft of writing. Becky Clark’s Eight Weeks to a Complete Novel does not disappoint! Clark lays out step-by-step directions to move from idea to novel. (That my own books take far longer is no reflection on Clark’s plan!) The meat of Clark’s method is a thorough outline, but she…… Continue reading Eight Weeks to a Complete Novel by Becky Clark
Technically this is not a review. But I would love it if you left one after reading the book. My new book is coming out on October 7! Cover of The Code, available October 7 Dr. Kate Deming has spent four brutal years working in a Chicago ER, swinging back and forth from tragedy at…… Continue reading The Code by Ann Dominguez
Ann Dominguez Books 