It’s been a while since I read Aimee Agresti's Campaign Widows, but with my August 25th release of Favorite Daughters rapidly approaching, I’ve decided to focus most of my reviews on political fiction. Campaign Widows is an excellent way to start! The novel’s protagonist is Cady, who is in a fairly new relationship with Jackson. She uproots her life for him and moves to DC. Everything is great and they’re engaged, and Cady believes she can fit in at the nation’s capital. But then the campaign …
My Book Reviews
I love novels! My favorite genres are high-end women's fiction, suspense, and psychological thrillers, but occasionally I'll also pick up some chick lit or YA. I mostly read books on my kindle, and I also listen to audio books every morning when I go for my run.
I do NOT love star ratings for novels. For each book I review, I will give a bit of background, my thoughts, and end by saying if I would recommend it or not. Full disclosure: if I'm not into a book, I don't finish it. Since I'll only be reviewing books I finish, most of the reviews posted will be positive.
Book Review: Our American Friend by Anna Pitoniak
I’ve read reviews that call Anna Pitoniak's Our American Friend fanfiction for Melania Trump. I disagree. This novel does not fawn over the woman who, when visiting children separated from their parents and put into cages at the southern border, wore a jacket that said I really don’t care, do u? And who, when given a chance to call for peace and unity on January 6th, reportedly said no. Perhaps, instead, I’d call this novel fantasy fiction, with a focus on fiction. The main character, Lara, …
Book Review – Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen
Park Avenue Summer, by Renée Rosen, is about Helen Gurley Brown, who became the first female editor of Cosmopolitan magazine in 1965. The book is a novel, but Helen Gurley Brown was real, and she had an amazing, impactful life. Some Helen Gurley Brown quotes: “Cosmo is feminist in that we believe women are just as smart and capable as men are and can achieve anything men can.” “I was mousy on the outside, but inside, I’m this tiger and I have to …
A Modern Othello: Tracy Chevalier’s New Boy
Reading New Boy, a modern Othello, was disturbing yet enthralling. I felt like I was in a speeding vehicle as it barreled down the road. I wanted to hit the brakes but knew the inevitable crash was coming. Yet, I couldn’t stop reading, even as I knew the ending would be tragic. It left me feeling extremely unsettled, but in a good way. Author Tracy Chevalier set the story in a 1970s schoolyard playground, and that was …
Book Review: Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan
About a year ago, I took part in a virtual seminar in thriller writing that was led by Hank Phillippi Ryan. Even though I was experiencing side-effects from my second Covid shot, I got a huge amount out of the workshop and was very impressed with Phillippi Ryan's expertise and ability. I immediately looked up her novels. (I confess, I hadn't been familiar with her work before that point.) I chose to read Trust Me, which apparently was her first stand-alone novel. She's released …