Last year, I loved Natalie Jenner's novel, Bloomsbury Girls. Set in post-war London, it highlighted three women making their own paths while working at a prominent, if fading, book store. My favorite character was Vivien Lowry, a woman with fire, ambition, and hidden melancholy. I'm excited that Vivien is back in the upcoming book, Every... Continue Reading →
Last year I picked up On a Night of a Thousand Stars, the debut novel by Andrea Yaryura Clark. Set between the 1970s and 1990s, it shines a light on the people affected by Argentinaโs Dirty War and the repercussions that followed. I listened to the audiobook version of it, narrated by Paula Christensen.ย Summary... Continue Reading →
All of this year Iโve been looking forward to Thank You for Sharing, the debut novel by Rachel Runya Katz, and this week itโs finally here! This second-chance romance stars two Jewish people of color as they work together, rebuild their friendship, and develop a deeper connection along the way. Itโs light and fun, but... Continue Reading →
Lately, Iโve been wanting to read more classics. Despite having a bachelorโs degree in English, there are still so many well-known novels that I havenโt read (and so many Iโd like to reread)! I decided to get a head start on Spooky SeasonTM by diving into one of the horror classics, Dracula by Bram Stoker.... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this month is A Shot in the Dark, the adult romance debut by Victoria Lee. Set during one summer in New York City, itโs a love story between two recovering addicts. The story highlights a character who was raised in an Orthodox Jewish community and a character who is... Continue Reading →
One year ago, I enjoyed reading Miss Aldridge Regrets, the first in Louise Hareโs Canary Club Mystery series. Now the series continues with Harlem After Midnight, set immediately after the previous bookโs events. Told in three timelines, it combines two different mysteries, both set in New York City in the first half of the 20th... Continue Reading →
After reading two excellent books by Emma Donoghue, I was excited to get into her newest novel, Learned by Heart. Set in the early 1800s, it shines a light on a small York boarding school for girls and the relationship that develops between two students over the course of one school year.ย Can this romance between... Continue Reading →
I love when two different things that I enjoy converge. Such is the case with the latest book I read. In the last few years, I've become a fan of Zoraida Cรณrdova, having read several of her books. Last year, I also enjoyed Jasmine Guillory's By the Book, the second installment in the Meant to... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I enjoyed reading The Spanish Daughter byย Lorena Hughes.ย This week, that historical mystery gets a sequel in The Queen of the Valley. The new story takes places in Colombia as Puri tracks down a missing manโnot only a man she does business with, but the father of her child. Special thanks to Kensington... Continue Reading →
Do you have a favorite author, one whom you like to emulate in real life? This is the concept behind What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett. It's a charming novel of romance, community, and a bit of family mystery, and Jane Austen's quotes consistently prove helpful no matter how trying the situation. This... Continue Reading →
Last year, I loved Nan Fischer's novel, Some of It Was Real, and I've been eager to read more from her. Luckily, I won't have to wait any longer: Her new novel, The Book of Silver Linings, is out today. The story follows Constance Sparks after she (somewhat reluctantly) agrees to marry her boyfriend. With... Continue Reading →
Last year I enjoyed T. Kingfisherโs novella, What Moves the Dead. It was my first time reading her, and Iโve been eager to explore more of her writing. Her newest novella is Thornhedge, a take on a classic fairy tale, but flipped on its head. I liked this book even more, and it is definitely... Continue Reading →
Have you ever wanted to read a gender-flipped, Jewish retelling of Cinderella? Now is your chance. Felicia Grossman has just released her new historical romance, Marry Me by Midnight, the first in her Once Upon the East End series. Set in London in 1832, it spotlights a Jewish heiress, an overlooked custodian, and their path... Continue Reading →
Last year, I absolutely loved Nisha Sharmaโs Dating Dr. Dil, the first installment in her If Shakespeare Was an Auntie trilogy. Now the second book of the series is here: Tastes Like Shakkar is a modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. It stars Bobbi, a wedding planner, and her friend group nemesis, a chef... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I loved Tracey Langeโs debut novel, We Are the Brennans. When I learned that she had a new book coming out, I could hardly wait. The Connellys of County Down follows another complicated Irish-American family working through tough circumstances, and it's equally as impactful as its predecessor. ย Special thanks to NetGalley... Continue Reading →
I love books and France, so reading about either of those is usually a joy. This drew me to the new Nina George novel, The Little Village of Book Lovers, a companion piece to her bestseller, The Little Paris Bookshop. I havenโt read that earlier book, but this new publication works as a standalone. Special... Continue Reading →
A few months ago, I was thrilled when an author I like invited me to read her new historical romance, written under the pen name of Delphine Ross. Ironically, The Poetics of Passion, the first in her Muses of Scandal series, is about a woman in 1870s England who secretly publishes love poetry under a... Continue Reading →
From the moment I first heard about The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James, I knew I had to read it. Set in a small village outside of Rome, it follows a struggling actress who may just have her big break in a horror film... but she's also dealing with a real-life horror of... Continue Reading →
For the last couple of years, one of the books that's been highest up on my TBR has been The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec. With her second novel, The Weaver and the Witch Queen, coming out imminently (July 25th, to be exact!), I decided that it was officially time to read her debut. Though... Continue Reading →
As soon as I heard about Sammy Espinozaโs Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia, I knew I had to read it. Set in a small town in Washington (like my hometown!), it follows a music critic whose job is on the line. With a second-chance romance, found family, and themes of connecting with yourself, this... Continue Reading →
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is among my favorite authors, and I'm always ready for more from her. Today, she releases her latest novel, Silver Nitrate, a horror set in 1990s Mexico City with themes of dangerous magic and sorcery. It's a slow burn, but with its intricate details and exciting climax, this is another hit in the... Continue Reading →
When I learned of The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, I was excited to dive into the subject of Parisโs Salpรชtriรจre asylum. It would be my second time reading about it in fiction, and I find the whole subject fascinating. This novel just came out last week (sorry for my late review; it... Continue Reading →
Any avid reader will agree that much wisdom can be gleaned from the novels we read. Whether it's from morally upright characters or the lessons they learn along the way, there are kernels of truth worth taking to heart. Such is especially true of the great Jane Austen. Her quotesโfrom novels and personal letters alikeโappear... Continue Reading →
One of the books I'm really excited for this summer is I Wish We Weren't Related by Radhika Sanghani. How would you feel if, after 30 years of being told that your father was dead, your mom called to tell you that he's actually been alive all this time, but now he has just died... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 