Rating: ⭐⭐⭐I heard remarkable things about this book. Since it's the recipient of both the Orange Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award, I went into it expecting to be wowed. I'm loath to say I wasn't. Is this a beautiful book with some of the most detailed, life-like characters? Yes. Was it as wildly remarkable as I thought it would be? Sadly, no. I think, for me, it came down to believability and perhaps a lack of experience at the opera. Overall an enjoyable read, but I would s

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had high expectations of the author who penned The Kite Runner and I must begin by saying that Khaled Hosseini did not disappoint. This not a true story, but it cradles the truth of countless stories. The characters we meet are undoubtedly echoes of real lives whose pain and tragedy are as visceral as the love and sacrifice rooted firmly in heart of this book. A Thousand Splendid Suns follows the intertwined stories of two women who find true friendship and q

Rating: ⭐⭐ Let me begin by telling you that I struggled with this book because of how much I wanted to like it. I appreciated its romantic ode to linguistics. I enjoyed the detailed, life-like characters. I was wowed by the outstanding and wildly impressive amount of research that went into this book. And I cheered for the righteous examination of history that calls imperialism in for grueling questioning. But did I like the book? Truthfully, no. And it breaks my heart to ad

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I must begin this review by saying— what an outstanding read. Without embellishment, this might be the best book I've read this year. In layman's terms, I've been describing it to people as 'persecuted earth-benders take on the multi-cataclysmic end of the world', but honestly, that description is significantly lacking for something so special. Let's start with the obvious accolade: N.K. Jemisin is the first and only author to win the Hugo Award for best s

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐In her second novel, Madeline Miller gives us an intimate glimpse into the life of the witch-goddess, Circe, from the famed...

Rating:⭐⭐⭐ A charming genre mashup of thriller, sci-fi, and romance with even a dash of comedy thrown in, The Ministry of Time proudly delivered on all accounts. Our story revolves around a London woman working for a government entity that has discovered time travel- but doesn't know how to work it. Instead of sending modern humans through time, they select a few individuals who would have died in past centuries and pull them into the future, hoping to successfully adjust th

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ I would be remiss if I don't do a review on arguably the most highly-anticipated Fantasy/Romantasy book of 2025. I have a...

Rating:⭐⭐⭐ This book had me in the first quarter, lost me in the middle, and surprisingly redeemed itself at the end. The plot features a...

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Talk about an eye-catching title. I saw this on the shelf of a bookstore and thought, "wow, that's ambitious." I didn't end...

Rating: ⭐ Like your drunk uncle's monologue at Thanksgiving dinner, I kept waiting for The Signature of All Things  to become more...

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ I don't believe I need to tell you that Margaret Atwood is a superb author. Her writing style is as unique as it is brilliant...

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ Candid and bold, Lukainoff (First Amendment expert) and Haidt (social psychologist) tackle our society's growing ideological controversies with logical clarity. They discuss the origin and ongoing effects of what they refer to as "The Three Great Untruths" that plague society and staunch intellectual progress for the next generation. I found this to be an insightful look into the ideological problems that hold us back and a road map for a correction course into a

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ A simple and timeless story about the endless love of family, the value of hard work, and the trials and tribulations of...

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Often described as a retelling of Mulan, The Night Ends With Fire  delivers so much more. A fascinating story exploring...