Ladykiller

“Ladykiller” by Katherine Wood
Published by Bantam / Random House
 
There are pieces of this book I didn’t enjoy but plenty of pieces I did.  The book is told in two related storylines – one being chapters of Gia’s memoir taking place a few months prior and the other being Abby’s present storyline.  Eventually the two timelines meet.  I much preferred Abby’s chapters but looking back now, I think it might have been planned that the reader wouldn’t enjoy Gia’s memoir as much.  Afterall, she was the less likable and relatable character. And her personality definitely came through in her writings. 
 
Overall, considering this is the author’s debut novel, I think she did very well and I can see promise in her future books.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for the complimentary copy of this book.  As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.
 
Finished 6/29/24 – 3.5/5 stars (publication date is 7/9)
 
#ladykiller #katherinewood #bantamdell #netgalley #2024reads #lynnsbookreviews
 

The Country of the Blind

“The Country of the Blind: a Memoir at the End of Sight” by Andrew Leland
Published by Penguin Audio
 
This memoir covers the authors journey towards losing his vision, the rights granted to blind citizens, and the services and tools available to the blind.  Majority of the time I found it quite interesting but at times it felt like I was listening to an infomercial.
 
Finished 6/27/24 – 3/5 stars
#andrewleland #countryoftheblind #penguinaudio #2024reads #lynnsbookreviews

 

"The Last Flight"

 

“The Last Flight” by Julie Clark
Published by Sourcebooks
 
This book will have you hooked from page 1, and you won’t want to put it down.  I’m sure many people read it in one sitting because it’s not long (<300 pages) and so fast paced.  It’s written in alternating points of view – 7 months leading up to the plane crash and post crash, with plenty of suspense in both.  The only reason it’s not a 5-star read for me is because I’m more of a realistic fiction reader and this was a little too far fetched for me at times.  Still a great read and I can easily see how it’s a 5-star read for others though.  I definitely recommend it.
 
Finished 6/24/24 – 4/5 stars

#thelastflight #julieclark #sourcebooks #2024reads #lynnsbookreviews

American Dirt

 

“American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins
Published by Holt Paperback (Macmillan Publishing Group)
 
While reading this book I had many flashbacks to reading “Enrique’s Journey”, the true story of a young boy’s journey from Honduras to the United States.  Based on that book, I think “American Dirt” got a lot right regarding the dangers of riding the trains through Mexico.  I do think that part of the book was a little long and felt repetitive at times though.  I also felt some of it to come across a little political, mainly when it came to discussing the boarder wall.  It was originally published in 2020 so I can understand why.  Overall, it was a good story – I just enjoyed the beginning and the end better than the middle.
 
Finished 6/20/24 – 3/5 stars
 
#americandirt #jeaninecummins #holtpaperbacks #macmillanpublishinggroup #2024reads #lynnsbookreviews

Ordinary Grace

 

“Ordinary Grace” by William Kent Krueger
Published by Atria
 
This is the third stand-alone novel written by William Kent Krueger that I’ve read and all three have been outstanding.  I absolutely love his writing - the characters, settings, storylines, all of it.  I would say he’s now on the short list of authors in which I’ll add their books to my TBR as soon as I hear of a new one coming.
 
This book is a coming-of-age story that takes place in a small town during the summer of 1961.  “It was a summer in which death, in visitation, assumed many forms.  Accident.  Nature. Suicide.  Murder.”  And yet, with all that death, it’s not a depressing book.  I think part of the reason why is because you are reading the story from the point of view of a 13-year-old boy.  His innocence, and that of his brother, keeps it lighter.  There is a religious aspect to it as well because his father is a preacher, but I didn’t find it to be too “preachy”.  I highly recommend this one.
 
Finished 6/12/24 – 5/5 stars
 
#ordinarygrace #williamkentkrueger #atria #simonandschuster #5starreads #2024reads #lynnsbookreviews

Love & Treasure

 

“Love & Treasure” by Ayelet Waldman

Published by Alfred A Knopf

 

This is three stories in one, obviously all linked.  The first one was good, the second one was good but a little preachy, and then the third I ended up speed reading through because I really didn’t enjoy it.  I think if the author had just stuck with the first two storylines, it would have been a much better book.

 

Finished 6/9/24 – 2/5 stars