Category Archives: Reviews

Whoa. Please tell me at least one of you thought of Joey Lawrence. If a book can be said to be both dreadful and wonderful at the same time, then Gather the Daughters is one such book. Set in a unknown period after a fire destroys civilization, an island community is formed by ten menContinue reading “Gather the Daughters // Jennie Melamed”

How has it been so long since I’ve hit publish? Simon, once a troubled youth turn adventure seeker, is now a barista trying to get a spooky website off the ground. The cofounder, Thierry, sends Simon spelunking in search of three bodies left behind in a cave, Cwm Pot. Guided by the unbalanced Ed, theyContinue reading “The White Road // Sarah Lotz”

Upon finishing this book, I took a long moment to wonder what the hell I’d just read. This book makes Flowers in the Attic look conventional. The Roanoke Girls* tells the tale of then and now, with family history woven in. Cousins Lane and Allegra, through death and dysfunction, come to live with their grandparentsContinue reading “The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel”

Winifred Allen needs a vacation. She, along with three of her friends, decide that vacation is going to be rafting down a virtually uncharted section of the Allagash River, led by an “experienced” 20 year old named Rory. What could possibly go wrong? If your go-to answer isn’t “Everything!”, than this isn’t the book forContinue reading “The River at Night by Erica Ferencik”

I am, barring any unseen literary missteps, now a lifelong fan of Nickolas Butler. Beginning with the superb Shotgun Lovesongs, following that with Beneath the Bonfire, and now releasing The Hearts of Men, I am absolutely on board with anything he writes. Cereal boxes, Ikea manuals, it doesn’t matter. Beginning at a Wisconsin summer campContinue reading “The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler”

Sarah Domet’s debut novel takes its name from the four protagonists, all named Guinevere and all abandoned at the Sisters of the Supreme Adoration convent. Vere, Win, Ginny, and Gwen are desperate to escape their circumstances and hatch a plan to do so during a parade in a float. When that fails, the girls are sentencedContinue reading “The Guineveres by Sarah Domet”

Making: Tortellini soup, it’s surprisingly good, and kid friendly. Drinking: Water. It’s one of my goals for the year. Reading: Ill Will by Dan Chaon Organizing: This year’s travel plans (which may include some time in the Adirondacks). Coveting: A brand new house with no issues. Listening: Stone Walls // Three Tall Pines Watching: Black Sails. It’sContinue reading “Lately”

I feel like it has been an absurdly long time since I’ve done a traditional review (because it has). However, this lovely little book came out on Valentine’s Day and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it. A little over a year ago, I was in one of the biggest reading slumps of myContinue reading “The Shimmering Road by Hester Young”

The Hogarth Shakespeare project launched in late 2015, with prominent authors retelling and re-imagining the works of Shakespeare. With authors such as Anne Tyler, Margaret Atwood, and Gillian Flynn, I couldn’t help but be excited about these novels. Yet somehow, despite Atwood’s contribution being the fourth installment, it’s also the first one I’ve read! Hag-Seed*,Continue reading “Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood”

#30Authors is an event started by The Book Wheel that connects readers, bloggers, and authors. In it, 30 authors review their favorite recent reads on 30 blogs in 30 days. It takes place annually during the month of September and has been met with incredible support from and success in the literary community. It has also beenContinue reading “#30Authors: Ed Tarkington on Miss Jane by Brad Watson”