Summer 2022 Book Reviews

Title: Talking to Strangers
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Rating: 3.5/5
Comments: This is such a different vibe than what I typically read. 1. It’s non-fiction 2. It’s not a celebrity’s memoir. But I had heard such great things so I gave it a shot. The beginning is so not my thing – stories about Hitler and blah blah blah. History is my least favorite subject (one time in U.S. History, I raised my hand and asked if we are supposed to care. My teacher didn’t love that). However, I enjoyed hearing about certain stories that I didn’t really know the details of such as Jerry Sandusky, Amanda Knox, and Sandra Bland. His perspective is pretty unbiased which I appreciate. I also appreciate his belief that if we just gave strangers a chance, we could learn so much from them and understand them better. I am not sure I was convinced the whole time that his thesis was supported but at the end of the day, he is a great storyteller.

Title: The Secret Next Door
Author: Rebecca Taylor
Rating: 3.9/5
Comments: Not bad but not great. I appreciate the twist but I still feel like nothing was tied up in a bow like I prefer. There are still some loose ends and unfinished storylines and don’t get me wrong, I love a cliffhanger, but that is not this. I just feel “meh” about it even though the twist is pretty good. I think the best way to explain it is that it all felt a little random. It wasn’t bad enough to where I wouldn’t read Taylor again, but I’m not running to the library for her next novel.

Title: The Other Family
Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Rating: 3.7/5
Comments: Ehhhhh. I still feel like I have some questions which is never my favorite feeling after finishing a book. I did enjoy the various perspectives but I didn’t love it. Sure the twist was unexpected but I wanted more. I wanted to know more about other people. What I enjoyed most was the teenage relationship dynamic and how Staub showcased control, obsession, and trying to understand what crosses the line in any relationship. I would definitely read Staub again because it was a quick, fluff-free read!

Title: I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Under Suspicion, #1)
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 3.5/5
Comments: I have been reading this series out of order so that’s annoying. However, this is the first book in the series so I got a few questions answered that I’ve naturally had since I failed to read chronologically. I listened to this on Libby and found it very hard to follow along just because there are so many characters. I am not sure I would have kept reading this series if I started from the beginning because I thoroughly enjoyed books #2 and #7 way more.

Title: All Dressed in White (Under Suspicion, #3)
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Rating: 3.2/5
Comments: This is #3 in the Under Suspicion series and I liked it even less than I liked #1. But it’s not bad! It’s a quick, easy read and if you are read the series in order, you’re totally invested in the characters by now.

Title: Maybe in Another Life
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: 3.8/5
Comments: Not my fav TJR book, especially compared to Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones but it’s cute! The entire book is two different paths Hannah’s life could take depending on certain decisions. The two paths are very different and lead to different destinations. The whole time I am enjoying one path for Hannah way more than the other. There are a few things that happen in both paths but just a little differently and it was fun to explore those situations twice. The ending was the destination I was cheering for the whole time so that was very satisfying and made me appreciate the book more. (Except my friend Molly just read this and said she thinks both endings were presented at the end of the book… There’s a really good chance I wasn’t paying close enough attention and just heard what I wanted to hear.)

Title: The Golden Couple *RRN
Author: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Way better better than An Anonymous Girl, almost as good as The Wife Between Us, but definitely not as good as You Are Not Alone. I surprised myself when I realized I’ve read all four of their novels. I do really enjoy their writing style. This one really got me with the twist- I wasn’t expecting it at all. I thought there would be more to some of the other characters but I was wrong. Also, this was the first book I’ve read on my iPad and I didn’t hate reading off a screen as much as I thought I would!

Title: Behind Her Eyes
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Rating: 3/5
Comments: I’m confused. I don’t know if I even understand the ending, and if I do, it’s way too far-fetched for me. Even if the ending was different, I still wouldn’t have loved it. I’m not exactly sure what the hype is about. I kinda see why it was picked up as a show (which I started on Netflix) but eh. Probably my least favorite of the summer. Hopefully the show will clear up my confusion.

Title: The Stranger in the Mirror
Author: Liv Constantine
Rating: 3.3/5
Comments: The story is about a woman who has no memory of her life or who she is. So naturally, you find yourself wanting to know what’s going on. And it’s bizarre. Like really bizarre. Not too far-fetched but still absolutely wild. I had a few theories and none of them were right so that’s always exciting. I’m a little confused. I’ve been confused after a few books and I’m thinking it’s just me… It happens mostly when I listen to an audiobook and I lose focus here and there. But anyway… read this or don’t – you’ll be fine either way.

Title: Pretty Things
Author: Janelle Brown
Rating: 3.9/5
Comments: There’s a lot going on and it’s too long for no reason. But I did really enjoy the ending. The story is actually quite sad. It’s about a woman, Nina, who is driven to a life of crime and deceit. Those who she should trust the most are the least trustworthy. The story shows how the poor and the rich can have the same problems and how the “sane” and the “mentally ill” can relate to each other. It actually makes you wonder if we’re all just a little bit “crazy.”

Title: Heart of the Matter
Author: Emily Giffin
Rating: 2.9/5
Comments: I lied – this is definitely the my least favorite book of the summer. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. The ending? Awful. I was actually really enjoying it – I finished it in three days. But dumb. Maybe because it’s something I can’t relate to? Maybe I’m heartless? I forget who told me to read this but they told me they liked it. Me? Not so much. Is it well-written? Sure. Are some characters likable? Uh not any of the main characters. I read The One and Only by Giffin and I remember enjoying it so if you want to read something by her, go with that one.

*RRN: Read Right Now!

I didn’t rate any of these books over a 4/5 which means nothing I read this summer really stands out to be as jawdroppingly good. Maybe it’s time I get back on my Hoover game…

Spring 2022 Book Reviews
Winter 2021/22 Book Reviews
Fall 2021 Book Reviews
Summer 2021 Book Reviews
Spring 2021 Book Reviews
Winter 2020/21 Book Reviews
Fall 2020 Book Reviews
Summer 2020 Book Reviews
Spring 2020 Book Reviews
Winter 2019/20 Book Reviews
Fall 2019 Book Reviews
Summer 2019 Book Reviews
Spring 2019 Book Reviews
Winter 2018/19 Book Reviews
Fall 2018 Book Reviews
Summer 2018 Book Reviews