Month: December 2024

Title: Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies

Author: Catherine Mack

Genre: mystery

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Really fun book about a writer who takes a 10th anniversary trip of her first book’s release with a group of friends and fellow writers, when one member of the party claims someone is trying to murder him. Eleanor has written a series of books, set in Europe, where a private investigator, Connor, solves murders. The real-life Conner and Eleanor solved an actual murder years ago, and Eleanor decided to fictionalize it for her book. Then came nine more in the series.

And as much as Eleanor dislikes Connor these days, she can’t help but notice he might be right that someone is out to get him. However, Eleanor seems to be a target, also. Are they both destined for death? When one member of their traveling party actually does die, Eleanor has to figure out what is happening and who is the real target.

Great, snappy dialogue with beautiful descriptions of Italian food and scenery. Eleanor and her sister, Harper, are a lot of fun to follow along on the adventure. And the ending left me guessing as to who (if anyone) was the real target.

Title: The Quince Project

Author: Jessica Parra

Genre: YA

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

After reading Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success, I was pleased to see another book by this author in my NetGalley queue. As delightful as Rubi was, I was really looking forward to another in the same vein. And I enjoyed this one just as much.

Cas’s mother died two years ago and she and her sister, Po, have been struggling since. Both are strong, resilient young women, but dealing with the loss has been hard. Cas dreams of being a “fairy godmother,” meaning the best party planner ever.

Cas and Po stumble upon a perfect opportunity for Cas to hone her skills as a party planner by fudging the truth about Cas’s experience to a well-known YouTube vlogger. The plot was a bit predictable, but when the phrase Happily Ever After is on the cover, you should really get an idea of what the book is about.

Another delightful entry from Jessica Parra. I’ll keep an eye out for future books of hers.

Title: Someone Is Always Watching

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: YA thriller/horror

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I love a good YA horror book and was really pleased with how fun and creative this one was. Blythe and her friends, Gabby, Tanya, and Tucker (dumbest names for siblings ever) go to school together, but when Gabby becomes unexplainably violent, they have to solve the mystery of why.

Gabby goes missing, and Blythe and friends try to find out where she went. Gabby also receives mysterious emails from “Veritas” who seems to know a lot about her friends’ childhoods before they moved to town.

The mystery of this book was so fun. Although I figured out where the book was headed, having it unfold in a well-written way was satisfying. The characters were great, the plot was unique, and I really enjoyed this one!

Title: The Woman Inside

Author: M.T. Edvardsson

Genre: thriller

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

A great story, set in Sweden, of several people whose lives intertwine in a way that ends in murder. We quickly find out a married couple has died, but was it murder? Suicide? And how are the other characters involved?

Karla works for the couple as a housecleaner, working her way through college. Bill and his young daughter need money, so they lease out a room to Karla. And Jennika is a friend of Bill’s dead fiancee, the daughter’s mother. These three characters are all connected to the dead couple in their own ways, as well.

Once I figured out all the characters and where they fit in, this book took off. Told from multiple perspectives, you realize who is more truthful than the others. I really enjoyed this one!

Title: Real Americans

Author: Rachel Khong

Genre: literary fiction

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This book is a beautiful story of three generations of Chinese Americans and how their lives weave and diverge. I had no idea what to expect with this one but really loved it for its simplicity.

The story is told in three parts. First is Lily who falls in love with wealthy Matthew, even though they are radically different. They have a son, Nick, whose story is second. The third, I’ll leave a mystery to avoid spoilers.

I loved all three parts and found them all honest and moving. Lily’s need to be seen and heard resonates with me. Nick’s story is one of searching for himself, and finding his place in the world, which many will relate to. And the third story really ties them all together.

This beautifully written book is one to read. Loved it.