Almost-summer reads: May book reviews

I smell a change in the air.

Figuratively, that is. Literally, I haven’t been able to smell anything for weeks. Spring allergies are awesome. 

I have written book reviews on this blog for over five years, and I’m feeling like I need a change. The whole blog needs a change, in fact. 

That’s a peek at my upcoming blog makeover, at least on the outside. I haven’t decided what I’m doing in terms of writing, but book reviews will still be a staple on Kiss my List. The format may change; I may post more frequently with just one book at a time. I may do some roundup posts with reads of similar genre or style. I’m open to all possibilities, and I’d love any feedback you may like to provide.

But for now, I’ll end the month of May with a review of books I’ve read in the past few months. It hasn’t been a banner year for reading so far; I’m hoping the second half of 2018 is better! Of the 27 books I’ve read or listened to this year, a third have just been meh. Only four have been great, but the rest have been books I would absolutely recommend and review on this blog. Here are eight of them.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. This means I earn a few cents from any purchase you make by clicking through these links.

If you like Young Adult and/or Fantasy, or are willing to try a new genre:

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (audio)

This book has received a lot of buzz,and for good reason. In a market saturated by YA fantasy, Adeyemi has created a world set in a fictional West African, filled with rich and complex characters and struggles that echo those of present day America.

From the novel’s tagline: “They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us. Now we rise.” Sounds timely, yes? But the story stands on its own even without making any parallels to reality.

Orisha used to be filled with magic, until the king had all those with magic killed. Years later, Zélie has one chance to restore magic and avenge her mother’s death. Her unlikely comrade is the king’s daughter, and together they race to bring back magic the king’s son wipes it out permanently.

This is a YA novel, but it tackles serious issues that would make this an excellent read for teenagers and adults alike. It’s also being made into a film that I predict will be a blockbuster.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

This is the first of a YA trilogy, and it’s a fantastical ride. It reminds me of the Narnia series in that the plot is set in both the real world and the world of a story. It also reminded me a bit of The Magicians trilogy.

The real world is present day, where Alice and her mom have lived a life on the road, always outrunning something ominous. The story world is the Hinterland, the setting of a cult-classic book of dark fairy tales written by Alice’s grandmother.  When Alice’s mom is kidnapped, Alice must follow her into this fairy tale world of the Hinterland, despite her mother’s warning to stay away.

This is a dark and quirky novel. I don’t always love dark and quirky, but I do like to mix up my genres. It’s a relatively short and easy read, and I was invested enough to see where the story goes in the next two books.

If you’re looking for contemporary fiction:

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

Despite the bizarre (yet accurate) title, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, which was a pick for one of my book clubs. 

Nikki is a bit aimless, twenty-something and intent on steering clear of the traditional Sikh London community in which she grew up. She takes a job teaching creative writing at the Punjabi community center, and her students are all Punjabi widows. The class turns into something much different than intended, as Nikki works with the women to explore their untold stories. 

This is no Fifty Shades, for sure, which is a good thing. It is a poignant, funny, and honest novel.  I appreciate narratives like this that broaden my perspective, where none of the characters look like me or share a similar background. Books like this one are why I love my book clubs – I never would have picked it up otherwise.

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin (audio)

Oh, the first chapter of this book is tough to listen to, and I imagine it would be tough to read. But it’s worth pushing through, because this novel was a thoughtful and fascinating look at what it means to be intersex.

Max is the golden boy. Everyone loves him, including his friends, parents, and little brother. Max is also intersex, born with both male and female genitalia and reproductive organs. For sixteen years, Max has identified as a boy, and simply existed the way he is with little thought to what comes next. After the first chapter (no spoilers!), Max has to rethink his secret, while also falling in love for the first time. 

The author could have focused on the physical aspects of being intersex, but instead she writes an introspective character study of a complex young man who is struggling to define himself. Family drama, teenage angst and romance, and identity exploration…Golden Boy is a fabulous read.

If you’re looking for non-fantasy YA, or a quick and easy read:

Going Places by Kathryn Berla

I received an electronic copy of this novel from Bookish First.

Hudson is biding his time until he can graduate and pursue his dream of writing a graphic novel. The novel follows him through the first half of his senior year, as he takes his two required classes and spends the rest of his days drawing (or not drawing) and working on his two businesses. He’s a bit unmotivated and lazy, but the cast of characters who enter his life shake things up and force him to access where he’s going and what he wants.

I appreciated the atypical YA storylines: there is Hudson’s eldery client, a veteran who appears to be experiencing PTSD/dementia; a love interest who only likes him “as a friend,” and a new female friend who becomes his business partner and confidant.

I saw the plot twist coming, but I still enjoyed this feel-good read.

If you’re looking for suspense or mystery:

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (audio)

It’s tough to describe this book without spoilers, and I definitely do not want to give a spoiler. The publisher promotes it by saying “When you read this book, you will make many assumptions…” 

You will. Then you’ll find out your assumptions were wrong, and by then you will be more than willing to go along for the ride. I can tell you that the plot involves a wife and a husband, and lots of twists and turns. It’s a fast-paced and an engrossing read, and a perfect book to break up some of the more sluggishly paced novels I’ve been reading lately. Bring it on a road trip or on a flight, and you’ll arrive at your destination in no time.

If you love historical fiction:

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (audio)

Just when I think I’ve read every type of World War novel, a new one comes along to fascinate me. This book was a terrific listen, and I’m sure it’s a great read as well.

In 1947, American Charlie St. Clair is almost twenty, and all the way pregnant. She ditches her mother in London while they are en-route to getting her problem taken care of in order to follow a lead on her French cousin’s disappearance a few years earlier. The lead brings her to Eve Gardiner.

In 1915, Eve Gardiner becomes a British spy stationed in France. She is nothing like the broken, drunk and miserable Eve of 1947. By alternating between the two timelines, we learn what happened to Eve, what happened to Charlie’s cousin, and what will happen to all of them as the truth comes to light.

If you fall asleep while reading:

You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld 

I received an advanced electronic copy of this book from NetGalley.

I’m a fan of Sittenfeld’s, but not generally a fan of short stories. I’m happy to report that Sittenfeld has changed my mind – this collection of glimpses into the lives of ordinary people was wonderful. There is a common thread running through each – first impressions, assumptions, and judgments we make about the people who come in and out of our lives. I don’t typically find such brief character studies effective or compelling, but I was quickly drawn into each of these stories. Terrific read!

*****

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