I can’t stop talking to people about The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott. This book knocked me off my feet. It is such a fascinating history of prohibition and bootlegging while also being a great biography of some terrible people. Plus, there is murder! I knew very little about bootlegging apart from the little …
Temporary by Hilary Leichter is absurdism at its best. The narrator fills in for a variety of temporary jobs, from chairman of the board to a crew member on a pirate ship. In addition to all of her jobs, she is dealing with her 18 boyfriends. This book is an absolute joy to read. The …
I was shocked when my friend Abi alerted me that I had not written a review yet for this absolutely wonderful joy of a book. I read it back in February and it is still my favorite read of the year (and I’ve read a lot of great things this year). Winter in Chicago can …
I have been missing Chicago like crazy and so finding THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by Claire Lombardo couldn’t have come at a better time. While covering a large period of time and having quite a bit of plot, THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD, the story of the Sorenson family, is deeply a …
How do you make friends in a town when everyone is always moving away and your family stays? “Friend or Fiction” is a beautiful story about what it means to be a good friend as well as showing that there is no such thing as a perfect friend. Cooper explores some extremely heavy topics with …
All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker is a wonderful story about the power of art while also discussing depression in a masterful way, all in the package of a middle grade novel. When Olympia’s dad runs off and her mother falls into a deep depression, she turns to art to keep herself …
Such a Fun Age is absolutely brilliant. Kiley Reid has a beautiful way of writing about absolutely terrible every day horrors in a way that is almost too easy to read. She explores both sides of a working relationship. Alix is a white, upper class woman who hires Emira, a 25-year old black woman, to work …
Immigration and border issues between the US and Mexico are incredibly important to me and this book did such a beautiful job of explaining to the world why we should care more. Villasante has created such complex characters and shows the lengths people will go to for the hopes of safety. Marisol, the main character, …
LITTLE WEIRDS by Jenny Slate was a case of the book not living up to the beautiful cover. I’m a fan of Jenny Slate’s so I was really excited when a galley of her new book came in. And then I was so disappointed by the content. This feels like a book that is trying …
I don’t think that I have ever been as spooked as I was when reading Hollow Kingdom and there was an exact description of my apartment. So weird! This apocalypse book told mainly from the perspective of a crow was so bizarre and fun. Starting the moment the apocalypse beings, Hollow Kingdom follows the reactions …
If I had to describe my favorite genre, it would have to be goofy dysfunctional family stories. And There’s a Word for That by Sloane Tanen perfectly fits the bill. I originally picked this one up because the cover called to me and I’m so glad I did. After years apart, Marty and Bunny find …
This book is a master class in dramatic irony. Bridget Collins has created a book that explores what the world would be like if books weren’t made for reading and instead were vessels that stored away memories that people don’t want to remember. She explores deep questions like morality and the importance of learning from …
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