God I Feel Modern Tonight

I picked up this book solely because of the cover art so I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. An interesting collection of poetry that ranges from introspection, sex, New York City, UTIs, ex boyfriends, and more. I'm not a great critic of poetry so I'm not sure how this rates as a whole - but it was very interesting. I really liked the poem titles and there were a few standouts that I re-read - but overall the collection was just ok. If you're looking for humorous, edgy, and unique then you will love this collection. If the TV show, Girls, had a book of poetry based off it - I assume it would be this exact collection. 

Arsenic and Adobo

A cute start to a new series. I especially loved that it wasn't some ditzy blond or old white woman leading the charge. Cozy mysteries are long overdue for some diversity and Arsenic Adobo delivers. Lila Macapagal has dropped out of college and moved back home to help out her aunt's restaurant. Her love life is in shambles and she is constantly plagued by her matchmaking aunties - but at least she's closer to her best friend. When her ex-boyfriend (a nasty food critic) drops dead at her aunt's restaurant the cops discover that he was murdered. Arsenic was found in his food. If Lila want's to clear her aunt's restaurant from slander and keep herself out of jail she is going to have to solve this mystery fast because she has no confidence in the police. Filled with lots of amazing Filipino food dishes, family drama, cute men, and friendship drama. A little underwhelming but still good enough to have me looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Not That I Could Tell

My sister summed it up best - this book is underwhelming. One Saturday evening a bunch of ladies in the neighborhood get together for drinks around the firepit. The baby monitors reach out that far and the wine is flowing. Life is good. Or so it is until Monday afternoon when they discover that Kristin and her twin girls have disappeared. These women were the last to see Kristin. It looks as if bags were hastily packed and money withdrawn - but no one knows where they went. Or is it a red herring. Her soon to be ex-husband seems to be the culprit, but is he? Why does he keep hanging around - did he kill them or did they get away? There is suspense and intrigue - but when you get to the end *spoiler* there is no big plot twist or surprise. Everything is as it seems... what's so thrilling about that? 

A Thousand Ships

I could not put this down. I loved Circe and Silence of the Girls and this is right up there with them. If you love Greek mythology, especially ones focused on the women - then look no further. A Thousand Ships isn't about Achilles and Odysseus - it's about the unsung heroes - the women. From Cassandra to Hecabe to hated Helen of Troy - A Thousand Ships weaves together all of the women's stories. More times than not - they are horrible, and suffer time and again. But they will not be forgotten. All of the untold and unheralded stories, pushed aside in favor of the big brutish warriors and kings but hidden no longer. Compelling, heartfelt, and one I will CERTAINLY come back to time and again. Wonderfully written. 

Blackberry Beach

Admittedly - I've not read the first six books in the Hope Harbor series, but that didn't make this book any less enjoyable or harder to understand. Kat has escaped from LA to the beautiful and sleepy community of Hope Harbor to "hide out" and re-evaluate what she wants out of her life. She's fresh off a tragedy and scandal and she's hoping she can fly under the radar. What she doesn't expect to do is catch the eye of the charming coffee shop owner who just so happens to be her neighbor. From the moment she walks into his shop hiding behind her sunglasses, Zach is smitten. He wants to get to know her better and in the process he will find out that they have more in common then they thought. They both have baggage and they both have done abrupt life changes - but is that what Kat wants? Can he convince her to stay? Predictable, but nice relaxing fluff. 

Riding the Bullet

Classic Stephen King ghost story - not over the top scary - but enough to give you the chills. A college kid gets the call that his mother had a stroke and she's in the hospital - he drops everything to go to her. The only problem is... his car isn't working. He decides to hitchhike the 120 miles because he is desperate to make sure his mom is ok - she's the only family he has. He thumbs a ride and then another - but the drivers aren't who they appear to be. In fact there is something wrong about the whole evening. It might take him a lot longer to get to his mother - if he ever gets to see her again. Quick, suspenseful, and satisfying. I thought the ending was particularly thought provoking and not what I expected. 

You Should Have Known

Wow - once I started this book it was hard to put down - it was suspenseful and thrilling in ways I didn't know a book could be. It was emotional not visceral terror that kept the pages turning. Set in New York City this book centers on a therapist named Grace whose book "You Should Have Known" is about to be published. Grace is happily married to a pediatric oncologist and has a 12 year old son at one of the best private schools money can buy. Day after day she listens to patients on her couch lament about their spouse or significant others failings when subconsciously KNEW what their faults were when they first met them. They don't need kindness they need tough love and honesty. When a parent at her son's private school is found brutally murdered her perfectly manicured world starts to fall apart. Gripping, emotional, and unique.