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LaurelLit.com

Writer, Reader, English Teacher

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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.

Giveaway for Ruth Ware’s The It Girl

Laurel Osterkamp · July 13, 2022

  I am so excited for Ruth Ware's new release, The It Girl, that I thought I'd share the love. I'm doing a giveaway, and one lucky winner will win the Kindle version of Ware's latest novel. Click "Enter Giveaway" in the bottom right; it's easy. And while you're here, subscribe to laurellit.com if you haven't already, and get your free download of Murder at Styles Resort. …

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Book Review: Fake by Erica Katz

Laurel Osterkamp · July 5, 2022

Erica Katz's Fake was a riveting fish-out-of-water story about a young woman who’s been suddenly thrust into the elite echelons of the art world. Emma Caan is a professional painter who makes “copies” of famous works. Apparently, this happens often, either by museums or by private collectors who want an exact copy of something they intend to store away. It’s all very legit, but not exactly lucrative. Because she’s one of the best copycats, and because Emma’s personal history suggests …

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Agatha Christie Obsession

Laurel Osterkamp · June 30, 2022

We're Still Obsessed With Agatha

Agatha Christie has received a lot of attention lately, especially for someone who’s been dead since 1976.  Aside from the recent film adaptation of Death on the Nile, there’s been a rash of novels that are about her, or are inspired by her life/work. I’ve also seen her repackaged novels promoted on BookBub a few times.

Were her novels literary?

Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time, and she was incredibly prolific, having …

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Book Review: Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul

Laurel Osterkamp · June 17, 2022

Jackie and Maria was the first novel I read by Gill Paul, but I will certainly come back for more. In fact, The Manhattan Girls (based on Dorothy Parker) comes out on August 16th, and I’m totally there for it. Can’t wait! But about Jackie and Maria–it’s a historical romance about the two women who were closest to Aristotle Onassis, Jackie Bouvier Kennedy and famed opera singer Maria Callas. This novel had me taking constant breaks to Google facts about the three main characters’ lives, and …

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8 “Political Women’s Fiction” Novels; But Is Political Women’s Fiction Even a Thing?

Laurel Osterkamp · June 6, 2022

 

Political Women’s Fiction. Is there even such a thing? Umm, maybe? First, let me explain what I mean by the term: Women's Fiction = novels usually written by women, and always for an intended female audience. They must have a strong female protagonist who engages in a journey of self-discovery. Romantic, family, or rags-to-riches subplots can certainly be part of the story, but they are …

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My Favorite Authors

Reading novels is more than a pastime to me; it’s a way of life. I love escaping into a captivating story, and when that story is well written, I find myself learning about all sorts of things, like how to be a better writer, how to understand others, and how to understand myself. I mostly read books on my Kindle or listen to them on audio, but sometimes I’ll read from a hard copy. When I like a book, I’ll review it. Since you’re required to give star reviews on places like Goodreads, I will give every book I like enough to review five stars, even if I get nitpicky in my written review. (I HATE giving books star ratings since I don’t think good writing can really be quantified. But as an author myself, I know how devastating anything less than a five star rating can be, so I’m never going to do that to a fellow author.)

Below is a list of some of my favorite authors and links to their sites. You’ll find a mix of Women’s Fiction, YA, Psychological Suspense, and Literary Fiction. This list is always growing, so please check back as I continue to add to it.

Links to my favorite authors:

Curtis Sittenfeld

Hank Phillippi Ryan

Ruth Ware

Kate Moretti

Renée Rosen

Anna Pitoniak

Tracy Chevalier

Catherine McKenzie

Kara Thomas

J. Courtney Sullivan

Kelly Simmons

Jessica Strawser
Jessica Goodman

Jacquelyn Mitchard
Katherine St. John

Ann Garvin
Chandler Baker
Lori Rader-Day
Carol Goodman
Megan Miranda

Amy Impellizzeri

Ali Hazelwood

Karen McManus

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