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Ann Patchett. Contemporary Fiction. My sister texted me a picture of the Whistler book cover one Tuesday afternoon. Have you read this? I just read the first 40 pages and now I might have to stay up half the night to keep reading. I read Bel Canto decades ago and remembered it with vague appreciation; I tried to read Tom Lake five years ago and couldn't stand it. My opinion on Ann Pratchett was biased toward the negative but my sister knew I couldn't resist a dangling lure. I

Non-Fiction Atlas of the Heart - Brene Brown Walk - Drs. Courtney Conley and Milica McDowell Eating Animals - Jonathan Safran Foer Year of Yes - Shondra Rhimes Mystery/Thriller The Man Made of Smoke - Alex North My Husband's Wife - Alice Feeney The Mad Wife - Meagan Church The Perfect Marriage - Jeneva Rose Dead of Winter - Darcy Coates My Best Friend's Exorcism - Grady Hendrix Tourist Season - Brynne Weaver Historical Fiction Manhattan Beach - Jennifer Egan The Mighty Red -

Breanne Randall. Contemporary romance/witchcraft. I wanted to like this book: a small town family with cozy magic, a handsome neighbor, and recipes at the end of each chapter? Maybe an Alice Hoffman vibe with warm croissant on the side? Yes please! The basic summary is, Sadie is a baker whose magic comes with a curse of four heartbreaks and she struggles with family secrets while her grandmother dies. Sounds straightforward. But right from the beginning, I needed more exposit

Caro Claire Burke. Contemporary Fiction. I'll admit, it took much longer than it should have for me to realize what was going on in this story. There weren't really plot twists as much as plot options, and I kept pushing away the one that seemed obvious but unfeasible. I enjoyed the book - an interesting topic, unlikable characters, the delicious allure of passing judgment on all of them. I am still confused about a few things: did Natalie sexually assault the producer or was

Louise Erdrich. Historical fiction. Sweet but gritty, this book left me feeling expansive and full. I could have read dozens more chapters (Louise, you ended it too soon). I love reading books about people working hard, cleaning and cooking and practicing trades; it makes me feel as though in another life I could have been that busy. My only complaint is, towards the end of the book, time began passing in large chunks; the story skipped over years at a time, and I missed the