BLOG

I just performed my twice annual ritual, switching out the sandals in my closet for boots. While I love the turning of the leaves and the chill in the air, saying goodbye to my sandals always comes with a tinge of sadness. These two books helped me hold onto the heat of summer for just a little bit longer.

There’s nothing better than a good thriller—the excitement, the mystery, and of course the unexpected twists. But more often than I’d like, the promises on the inside flap fall flat, causing me to close the book with a disappointed sigh rather than an excited gasp.

I listened to this on audio and the narration by the author made me feel like a friend was telling me her incredible story. Rachel DeLoache Williams, a twenty-something professional who worked in the photo department of Vanity Fair, meets Anna Delvey through mutual friends.

I love the movie Sliding Doors. If you haven’t seen it, Gwyneth Paltrow’s character runs to catch the subway—in one storyline, she makes the train, and in the other she misses it. Watching how her life plays out differently based on such a small thing is both fascinating and frightening.

I’ve been a fan of Emily Liebert’s writing since I picked up her touching debut novel, You Knew Me When, a few years ago. She has an amazing talent for crafting complex female characters and engaging plots.

This clever and relatable novel shines a bright spotlight on the struggles women face in the corporate world. The main character, Asmi, is being considered for a promotion to the Vice President of marketing at her tech company. The other candidate,Scott, is a revolting frat boy type character who thrives in the boys club culture of his team.

I admit to a hopeless book addiction, and there’s no definitely no cure. This novel is one of the sub-genres I can’t resist—a novel by a professional woman writing about her career. I love the way the details and settings from a writer’s work experience render a story authentic, nuanced, and believable.

Every once in a while, a really special book comes along, a book that is just perfect for you in so many ways. For me, Miracle Creek is one of those books.

This is the first book I’ve read from Naomi Ragen and I’m so glad I did. Thank you to St. Martin’s press for putting this gem in my hands and introducing me to this wonderful author. In the first scene, Leah (formerly Lola) Howard is sitting in a Rabbi’s office. After losing a fiancé to a freak accident and a serious boyfriend to infidelity, she has turned to faith for healing, decided to become Orthodox.

For some reason, I’ve read several books in the past few weeks that center on children in peril—kidnappings, mysterious disappearances, murders in the woods. I don’t actively avoid books like this, but I also don’t seek them out. These books found me. Perhaps it’s a subconscious choice—if I read about these horrible things on the page, maybe it  will prevent anything like this from befalling me or my children.

Although I read mostly fiction, I do listen to non-fiction audiobooks during my commute. For some reason, I find a true story keeps my attention while also allowing me to follow the rules of the road. 

I totally did not plan to read these books sequentially, but they happen to complement each other perfectly.

A few weeks ago, my new friend Suzy, a blogger and voracious reader, told me that I must read Babyteeth by Zoje Stage. She said it was intense and unputdownable (is that a word?), so I made a point to get a copy at BookExpo. 

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Way of Beauty from NetGalley and I couldn’t wait to start reading. I loved both of Di Maio’s previous novels and this one is equally wonderful and yet totally different from the others.

Whenever Lisa Genova releases a new novel, it is automatically my must-read book of the season before I’ve even read the first line! 

I’m in love books that explore personality types, so I couldn’t pass up The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin and Reading People by Anne Bogel. 

This pairing was totally unintentional. I picked up Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak on a whim—it was new, available in digital form form my library and had an eye-catching cover—and I’m so glad I did.

I can’t remember how I first discovered the writing of Laura McBride—whether I happened upon the beautiful cover of her debut novel, We are Called to Rise, while I was snooping around the bookternet or whether I heard about it on one of the many literary podcasts I listen to obsessively— but I am so thankful this book crossed my path.

These books with nearly identical titles were released less than two months apart, and to make it even funnier, they were both published by imprints of Penguin Random House. 

This pairing is so perfect its hard to believe I didn’t do it on purpose.

Like the perfect wine to complement your meal, certain books go well together, bringing more meaning to the experience when read together. That is the concept of my new book column, Book Pairings. Some of these pairings will be deliberate and I’m sure more will come together on their own as I read and notice similar themes.

I splurged on a ticket to BookExpo this year for the first time and the experience was exhilarating. Since I don’t smoke, do drugs, or drink more than a few glasses of wine a week, books are my drug of choice. I am a book addict and the addiction gets worse every day.

My amazing reading and writing nook, especially when the rhododendrons are in bloom outside the windows.