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What have you just read? Opinions, Recommendations, and Reviews, part 3
My First Christmas Piano Music by Emily Norris
A good book for little beginner pianists to start playing holiday songs on their instrument.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The weakest two stories of the Alibi collection are the middle two stories. Story #3: False Note by David Lagercrantz
I don't know if anything was lost in translation, but I didn't like this much.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Story #4: The Skydivers by Chris Bohjalian
The ending makes this among the worst short stories I have ever read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1 for #2 in the Philomena McCarthy series from Michael Robotham
The White Crow https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
my review of The Colony Club: A Novel by Shelley Noble
4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of
The Wrong Sister by Fiona Palmer
4 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A while back I read Lampedusa by Steven Price about Tomasi di Lampedusa, a Sicilian aristocrat who witnessed the demise of an era. I finally got around to reading Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's classic novel, The Leopard. It is translated from the Italian by Archibald Colquhoun.
It is an elegant novel about a bygone era. I thought the writing was beautiful and the sentiments expressed very moving.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished this books and here are my reviews:Problematic Summer Romance
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Five Days
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Look on the Bright Side
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Is She Really Going Out with Him?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Funny Story
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One Night Stands and Lesson Plans: Two Teachers, One Bed, and a Lesson Plan for Lovehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri. I enjoyed her novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo, but I found this disappointing. It just wasn't for me.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Lost Girl of Seahaven by Phillipa Nefri Clark
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald
A decent book, as long as you aren't looking for a romance or a romcom novel.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read The Magician's Wife by Brian Moore, historical fiction set in 19thC. France and Algeria and inspired by the life of the famous French magician and illusionist, Robert Houdin. I enjoyed it.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio
Anyone who feels that graphic novels are just comical entertainment for kids should get their hands on this. A brilliant part of the 'Wonder' book family, but can be read as a standalone.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My last three reads have all been excellent - strong 4* reads.Two of these have been Irish literature - love the writing style of both of these, with their lyrical and poetic prose and strong yet flawed characters:
The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr
Review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden
Review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Night Swimmers by Roisin Maguire
Review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
One I wouldn't recommend, thanks largely to its tortuous writing style is:
Occupied City by David Peace
My 2* review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon by Sophie Green
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pearly Gates by Bonnie Solomon
A quirky afterlife fantasy with a drag queen in the lead. Fun, but a bit too crass for my taste.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Adam CourtenayMy review 5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I was the first to read this one :)
This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
One of the most beautifully written books I have ever read, even though it has a minimal plot. A great option for literary fiction lovers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I strayed from my usual reading habits by reading a murder mystery. I read Malice by Keigo Higashino; translated from the Japanese by Alexander O. Smith and Elye Alexander. It turned out to be a "whydunit" instead of a "whodunit." It just wasn't for me.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Two of the better stories in the Alibis collection.Story #5: Good Neighbors by Chad Zunker
The only "thriller" in the entire set.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Story #6: Small Things by Wanda M. Morris
I'd have liked it even better had the ending contained some crucial details.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cats of the World by Hannah Shaw
If you are a cat lover, you MUST get this book!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My rebiew of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year by Jpanna Nell
3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished these books, and here are my reviews.
Every Happy Family
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not Safe for Work
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Prophecy by Lisa Zimmermann
An urban fantasy possible better for older YA/NA readers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Lost Language of Oysters by Alexander McCall Smith
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times by Elizabeth Wayland Barber. Through painstaking and meticulous research, Professor Barber explores the role of women and their work with textiles through 20,000 of history. Highly recommended for those interested in women's contributions to early civilizations and in the history of textiles.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Almost similar to its companion novel "This is Happiness", but the effect was even more meandering this time around. Still, a great option for prose lovers.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Dervla McTiernanMy review 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Melissa PanarelloMy review 2 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Jodi PicoultMy review 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
A domestic drama. Not as good as the author's debut work, but a good (dark) entertainer.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A stunning ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐gritty Aussie crime thriller debut
Stillwater by Tanya Scott. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Easily the best short story collection I have read so far in 2025.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
During my vacation in July, I read so many books that I can't keep up with the reviews.I really liked Intermezzo.
Intermezzo
This is my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of The Keepers of the Lighthouse by Kaye Dobbie3 and a half stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently finished these books, that I enjoyed, and here are my reviews.The Vintage Village Bake Off
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It's a Love Story
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Some amazing children's fiction for your gift-giving consideration:1. Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash by Constance Lombardo
This series will make the perfect gift for Halloween without scaring little ones.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2. Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town by Li Chen
Who wouldn't like to read stories of a kitten detective?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o
Could have been amazing, but even as is, this book offers a great lesson.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
House of Treason: The Rise and Fall of a Tudor Dynasty (other topics)Thin Air (other topics)
Once There Were Wolves (other topics)
The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories (other topics)
Dead Water: A Cornish Crime Thriller (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Beka Gremikova (other topics)M.L. Wang (other topics)
R.F. Kuang (other topics)
Robert Jackson Bennett (other topics)
Sarah Wynn-Williams (other topics)
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