Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Speak to Me of Home

“Speak to Me of Home” by Jeanine Cummins
Published by Henry Holt and Co.
 
My book of the year for 2023 was “The Outside Boy” by Jeanine Cummins.  There is a high probability that my 2025 book of the year will be by the same author.  I absolutely loved every page of this book.  It is the story of 3 generations of women, spanning from the 1960s to current day, taking place in both Puerto Rico and the United States.  It bounces between each woman’s story, at different times of their lives, yet is easy to follow.  There is family drama, romance, parent/child relationships, sibling relationships, cultural issues, racism, and other “hot topics” all braided into one book. And it is just so beautifully written. I can’t think of one piece I didn’t enjoy.  I highly recommend it.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Holt for the complimentary copy of this book.  As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.
 
Finished 5/7/25 – 5/5 stars (publication day is 5/13/25)
 
#speaktomeofhome #jeaninecummins #henryholtandco #netgalley #5starreads #2025reads #genxreads

 

Friday, May 2, 2025

I Will Blossom Anyway

“I Will Blossom Anyway” by Disha Bose
Published by Ballantine Books
 
I love when I learn new things while reading for pleasure.  It’s one of the benefits of reading diversely.  With this book, I learned about the Indian culture and family traditions.  It’s a coming-of-age book in which a 20 something woman has fled her family in India to start her own life in Ireland.  She wants the freedom to find her own true love rather than her family arranging a marriage for her.  What she really needs to find is her own true self and to determine which aspects of her family culture and traditions she wants to hold on to while still being an independent woman.  It’s a balance she’ll have to find for herself.  I felt it dragged occasionally but overall, it was a good book.  And the title is quite fitting.  I recommend it.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the complimentary copy of this book.  As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.
 
Finished 5/2/25 – 3.5/5 stars  (release date is 5/6/25)
 
#iwillblossomanyway #dishabose #ballantinebooks #netgalley #2025reads #genxreads

 

Monday, April 28, 2025

The House on Beartown Road


 

“The House on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Learning and Forgetting” by Elizabeth Cohen
Published by Blackstone Audiobooks
 
I think the writing of this book was the author’s personal therapy.  Whether it was frustration with her sister, her mother, or her husband….it all came through loud and clear but those feelings were all valid.  I was frustrated with them as well.  The love she had for her daughter and father was constant though.  Did it bother me that she referred to him as Daddy the entire time?  Yes, I’ve never liked hearing an adult woman calling their father Daddy rather than Dad.  I also had issues with the way some situations were handled but those were also personal preferences.  There was plenty I did enjoy but overall, I don’t think I’d recommend this one.  The exception might be for someone who is also taking care of a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s and wants another person’s perspective and insight.  They’d probably be better off with an actual support group though.
 
Finished 4/28/25 – 2.5/5 stars
 
#thehouseonbeartownroad #elizabethcohen #blackstoneaudiobooks #2025reads #genxreads

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Waltraud

“Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany” by Tammy Borden
Independently published
 
I first heard about this book on TikTok and I’m glad I did.  It’s the story of young girl growing up in war torn Nazi Germany, but without the holocaust aspects.  There are hints of it, like some people just go missing, but that’s about it.  It’s more about the Hitler requirements that had to be followed, the lack of food, the air strikes, etc.  Because she was young and in a small town, I believe they probably were sheltered from the hatred and aggression towards the Jewish population that was very prominent in larger towns and cities.  It certainly wasn’t going to be in the German news but it was odd to read a book that takes place during WWII without it.
 
I definitely recommend it and if you do read it, make sure to read the author’s notes in the back.  This is her mother’s story so at the back you get pictures and an update on the rest of Waltraud’s life.
 
Finished 4/26/25 – 3.5/5 stars
 
#waltraud #tammyborden #indyauthor #2025reads #genxreads
 

Sunday, April 20, 2025

The Dutch House


“The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett
Published by Harper Audio
 
I listened to Tom Hanks read this to me and really enjoyed it.  Ann Patchett has yet to let me down in the books I’ve read of hers so far.  This one is a family drama with a strong brother and sister bond.  It covers many years with multiple hurdles to overcome, holding my interest the entire time.  I definitely recommend it.
 
Finished 4/20/25 – 4/5 stars
 
#thedutchhouse #annpatchett #tomhanks #harperaudio #genxreads #2025reads

 

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Magic Hour


 

“Magic Hour” by Kristin Hannah
Published by Ballantine Books
 
This book is heavier on the romance side than the mystery side of things, to the point that at times I got frustrated that they weren’t focused on finding out what happened. But I love a good mystery so that’s probably why I was wanting more in that aspect.  There is a lot more than just romantic love within this story though.  There is the love between sisters that grows to be much stronger as adults than they were as children as well as the love a care giver will have for a child.  If I were to rate it simply on the storyline it would probably be a 3 but the emotional attachment to a few of the characters brings it up to a solid 4.  I do recommend it.
 
Finished 4/19/25 – 4/5 stars
 
#magichour #kristinhannah #ballantinebooks #genxreads #2025reads

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Unsheltered


 

“Unsheltered” by Barbara Kingsolver

Published by Harper Collins

 

This book is broken into 2 storylines – 1 in the late-1800s and 1 in the mid-2010s.  The story taking place in the 1880s is very science vs religion and completely boring.  The story taking place in the more current day is entertaining but also quite political.  Both come across a little preachy.  By the middle of the book, I found myself skimming the 1880 chapters and really only reading the current day story.  I’ve enjoyed other Kingsolver books, just not this one.

 

Finished 4/17/25 – 2/5 stars

 

#unsheltered #barbarakingsolver #harpercollins #2025reads #genxreads