The Murderer's Daughters

 

“The Murderer’s Daughters” by Randy Susan Meyers

Published by St. Martin’s Press

 

When I pick up a book to read, I just dive in without reading what it’s about.  Obviously, something intrigued me when I bought it or added it to my TBR list, so I just go in blind.  This book was not what I expected.  Based on the title, I thought I was diving into a thriller or mystery, but I was wrong.  This is a family drama about the lives of two sisters whose father kills their mother in a drunken fit of rage when they were just young girls.  One carries guilt because she’s the one who let her father into the apartment, ran for help, but couldn’t save her.  The other is left wondering why her father also tried to kill her before turning the knife on himself unsuccessfully.  The weight of the situation and their different reactions to the trauma greatly shape how they approach different situations, their sisterly bond, and the women they become.  I was hooked from page 1 and read it in 2 days.  It will break your heart a few times as they struggle through life, but you’ll keep hoping for the best, that they’ll be OK.  I definitely recommend it.

 

Finished 5/28/25 – 4/5 stars

 

#themurdersdaughters #randysusanmeyers #stmartinspress #2025reads #genxreads

Blonde Dust

 
“Blonde Dust” by Tatiana De Rosnay
Published by Grand Central Publishing
 
This is the story of Pauline, a young woman who becomes Marilyn Monroe’s housekeeper during her stay at a fancy hotel in Reno.  Through their daily interactions, they formed a bond that then changed her life in many ways, for the better.  Part of the storyline also involved the wild mustangs in Nevada and the fight to keep them free while taking care of the sick and wounded.  Pauline, like the mustangs, needs to be able to spread her wings and live the life she intended.  Overall, it’s a nice feel-good story with some insight into Marilyn Monroe’s last couple years of unhappiness.  It’s nothing close to the level of writing as her best seller, “Sarah’s Key”, but it was still a good story that I would recommend.
 
Thank you to Goodreads and Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book I won in a giveaway.  As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.
 
Finished 5/26/25 – 3/5 stars
 
#blondedust #tatianaderosnay #grandcentralpublishing #goodreads #2025reads #genxreads

The Ghostwriter

 
“The Ghostwriter” by Julie Clark
Published by Sourcebooks Landmark
 
Another roller coaster thriller from Julie Clark.  This is the 3^rd book of hers I’ve read, and all have been page turner mysteries.  This one changes directions so many times, you might get whiplash, especially at the end.
 
When 2 teenage siblings are found murdered in their home, the town all points their fingers at the surviving brother, but no one is charged.  Fifty years later, he wants to write a book, telling everyone what really happened that night but because his memory is failing, he hires a ghostwriter to assist – his estranged daughter.  Can she put all the pieces together to figure it out?  Wanting to know what really happened fifty years ago, will hook you quick.  I really enjoyed it.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary copy of this book.  As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.
 
Finished 5/24/25 – 4/5 stars
 
#theghostwriter #julieclark #sourcebookslandmark #netgalley #genxreads #2025reads

All the Broken Places

 
“All the Broken Places” by John Boyne
Published by Penguin Books
 
I know my words won’t do this book justice, but I’ll try because I absolutely loved every page of it.  It truly made me feel all my feelings, although somehow, I didn’t cry.  This is Greta’s story, told in dual timelines – fleeing Germany at the end of WWII through the 1950s and then current day, when she is in her 90’s.  Throughout, she needs to hide her true identity, keep secret the fact that her father commanded a concentration camp, and bury the guilt she feels over the small part she played in her brother’s death. It is a lot for a person to carry, especially a young adult.  Afterall, she was only 12 at the time.  In the current day, as a widow living alone, she meets a young boy needing her help but she is so conflicted by her past, she doesn’t want to get involved, risking her world falling apart if the truth comes out.  But could saving this one child make up for all the people she didn’t save during the war, including her brother?
 
Please know that yes, this can be a stand-alone book, BUT I feel like you wouldn’t have the true emotional connection to Greta’s brother without first reading (or watching) “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”.  If you are going to read Greta’s story, you should first read Bruno’s.  Both are absolutely fabulous books.
 
Finished 5/21/25 – 5/5 stars
 
#allthebrokenplaces #johnboyne #penguinbooks #5starreads #2025reads #genxreads

Summer of ''69

 

“Summer of ‘69” by Elin Hilderbrand

Published by Little, Brown and Company

 

This is one family’s story, taking place in the summer of 1969.  The only son is fighting in Vietnam, one daughter is adjusting to married life and pregnant, one daughter is spreading her wings to find her own identity, and the youngest daughter is starting puberty, dealing with everything that comes with it.  They each have a storyline, as well as the mother and grandmother, and they are all woven together with a little bit of politics thrown in for no real reason.  For me, it was just an OK read. Some would probably categorize it as a beach/vacation read.

 

Finished 5/17/25 – 3/5 stars

 

#summerof69 #elinhilderbrand #littlebrownandcompany #2025reads #genxreads

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

 

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