The Book List

This was the first book I finished in November, and it was perfectly timed. Y'all know I love birds, but even I don't love birds as much as Amy Tan does. Her voice was soothing and lovely. Her thoughtful descriptions about the birds in her yard made me feel like I am not crazy for knowing and naming and loving my own yard birds. 

PJ is many things. He's a former lottery winner. He's a clueless, lovable alcoholic in and out of recovery. PJ thinks that his key to happiness is to woo his first love, the recently widowed Michelle Cobb, who currently lives across the country in The Tender Hearts Retirement Home. As he starts getting ready for his roadtrip to rekindle with the love of his life, he finds himself the sudden guardian of his estranged brother's grandkids. It's a found-family road trip fever dream and just the best time.

This book has been everywhere and will continue to be. Jen Hatmaker solidifies herself as a superb storyteller as she tells the most heartbreaking story of all. If you read Beth Moore's memoir and were struck by the power of her storytelling and prose, you'll experience the same with Awake. I simply couldn't put it down... which is weird considering it's about her life and she's a real person who I've talked to before, but her ability to invite you into the hardest, darkest parts of her life and watch the light break through was really something. 

This is a memoir that had me laughing, crying, and gasping, all out loud. I made so much noise reading this book.

The Ugly Cry is masterful storytelling. In a time when stories sometimes feel like our only anchor, this one just got me. The writing is exceptional, just one banger after another, and you immediately love Danielle and her foul-mouthed, unaffectionate, but tender as a baby bunny grandmother.

This started a little slow for me, and then just took off like a rocket. 

Magda, a young mystery novelist, is one of four members of The Society of Unknowable Objects, a group in London that finds and protects magical items in a world that doesn't believe in magic. Action has been slow for years until Magda is sent to Hong Kong to retrieve a newly found magical object. When a man tries to murder her and take the object, everything gets crazy. 

This is a Hallmark Christmas movie in a book. Cozy, simple, predictable, and maybe exactly what you need right now. 

Amber, a London transplant, has lost her job in New York and stops over in her old English village to visit her mom's best friend before continuing on to her adventurous parents in New Zealand. Of course the family general store is in trouble. Of course the store is run by the hot disgruntled son. Of course Amber has experience as a window dresser and tries to bring the store back to life. Of course everyone else running the store eventually leaves so she's forced to do it with the hot son. You will see every beat, but sometimes that's nice. Plus, the British narration is comforting.