"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins

This book was incredibly clever and a delight to read. It is worth picking up simply for the sheer pleasure of tracing all the Easter eggs and discovering all the mysteries nestling in its pages. The book at its core is the story of Ruby McTavish, a multimillionaire and a rumored husband murderess several times over. The book switches perspectives between Ruby, her adopted son and heir Cam and Cam’s wife Jules. None of the characters are what they seem to be when we first see them. They all have secrets. You have to keep reading to uncover all the truths. I also really enjoyed the role Ashby House plays in this book. It is a gothic mansion in the Blue Ridge mountains and the ancestral seat of the McTavishes. It is a presence in itself and almost a character in the novel. Rachel Hawkins is a masterful writer. I always enjoy her novels. This one by far is my favorite of hers.

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley. The US publication date is January 9, 2024.

"The Atlas of Us" by Kristin Dwyer

Sometimes I am wary to pick up a book that I know will have an emotional impact on me. However, paradoxically such books always become my favorite. The Atlas of Us explores the depth of human emotion (in this case intense grief) and the resilience of human spirit. It is also about friendship, new beginnings and love. The main character is an 18 year old girl named Atlas (aka Maps) whose father recently died of cancer. Maps has the hardest time dealing with grief. She drops out of high school, has uncontrolled anger and sadness, and overall becomes rudderless. She ends up in a program for troubled kids who set off on a month long hike in the Sierra mountains. There, on the trail her father dreamed of hiking again, Maps slowly learns her way back to herself and builds new relationships. I truly loved this book. It is raw, it made me cry, it also had a beautiful love story (both the love between parent and child and romantic love). Highly recommend. What a great way to kick off the reading year!

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The US publication date is January 9, 2024.

2024 Reading Goals

For 2024 I am not going to set any "hard" goals such as a specific author, book or genre to read. Instead, I'd like to just enjoy reading and pick up those books that truly interest me. So here are my goals:

1. Have fun

2. If I have to struggle through a book, set it aside. It's ok not to finish!

3. Participate in the two bookclubs even if I do not finish the book - it is about connecting with other readers 

4. Do not feel obligated to read every bookclub pick

5. Request fewer ARCs

6. Buy fewer books

7. Read more from my own shelves

2023 Reading Results

2023 was an extremely challenging year for our family, so the fact that I actually read 103 books is quite impressive and frankly unexpected. There were a couple of months in spring and summer when I barely read at all. So overall, I am very proud of my reading stats for the year. 

My most read genre was fantasy - 34 books. 

I read 54 books from my own library, 3 ARCs and 46 books were borrowed from the library or Kindle Unlimited. 

In terms of medium: 53 were in paper, 26 e-books and 24 audiobooks (definitely fewer audiobooks this year!) 

I read 65 adult books, 20 YA and 18 middle grade.

A few books did make a lasting impression. A list of my favorites is below.

July 2023 Reads

The screen capture from Bookmory (a new app for tracking reading that I've been trying) shows the books I read in July - 9 total. It is always interesting to note which books stick in your mind as time goes by and which ones fade away. 

Fourth Wing was by far the most memorable read. This romantasy has gotten a lot of hype lately and it definitely worked for me. I think people who hated it just forgot what it's like to have fun. For me personally, it re-created the feeling I got while reading Hunger Games and Divergent back in the day: the same need to keep turning the pages, anticipation of the next installment and a desire to find another book that can have the same effect. I am eagerly anticipating book 2 which is due to come out this November, and will most likely be re-reading Fourth Wing before then.

Another great read this month was The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox. This was a very atmospheric historical fantasy with some elements of thriller/mystery. I have two more books by the same author in my home library and will definitely be reading them soon.

The Antiquity Affair is great for Indiana Jones fans. It is a fast paced adventure that takes us to an archeological site in Egypt. Unlike the Indiana Jones films, it features two strong female characters. I would definitely recommend this as a palate cleanser between some heavier reads.

Babel by R.F. Kuang was a bit of a disappointment. I was promised a dark academia, instead it was a commentary on colonialism done in a historical fantasy setting. And that would be fine, except the commentary was kind of applicable only to the historical time the novel is set in (mid to late 19th century) and is very one-sided. I would have loved a commentary that is more contemporary and nuanced in nature. Immigration is such a complex notion and its impact on individuals and society is immense. I expected more. 

Daughter of No Worlds is a often slotted into the fantasy romance genre. However, I would argue that it is heavier on the fantasy than romance. I started book 2 a few days ago, and the world is very interesting and unique. I would definitely recommend this series especially to readers who are just starting dipping their toes into fantasy. There is magic, war, fey, lots of political intrigue.

Picture in the Sand focuses on one of the subjects I almost never pass by: radicalization of youth by militant Islamic groups. It is written mostly in letters from a grandfather who grew up in Egypt to his grandson who flees his comfortable suburban life in the US to fight jihad in Syria. It is poignant and nuanced - I highly recommend it.

The other three books I read in July were not memorable enough to deserve a mention here. So I will leave it at that.

Mid-Year Updates

2022 was a tough year. Unbelievably, 2023 has been even worse. I won't go into any details, but I think absence of new posts is usually the best indicator that life challenges have been all-consuming. Things are getting a bit better now, so here I am with my mid-year update on reading. In hindsight, I am very glad I did not set any reading goals for myself for 2023. It is good to be able to just read whatever I want and frankly enjoy the escapism that books allow. 

1. Number of books read so far this year: 

50 - my Goodreads goal is set at 100 for the year, so I am right on target!

2. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023: 

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. It touched me enough that I actually posted a review of it on my blog despite going through a lot of emotional turmoil at the time. 

3. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020

I have not read many sequels this but, I must say, Aurora's End was a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I highly recommend it for Sci-Fi fans.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. This is a fantasy romance that is insanely popular at the moment. A lot of book bloggers I follow say it is fun and takes you back to the feeling you got reading Divergent and Hunger Games, but with DRAGONS (!!). I could definitely use some fun and have actually just started this book last night. I am only 20 pages in and already loving it.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I have not really been focused on following upcoming releases, but if I like Fourth Wing, it's sequel is coming out this fall.

5. Biggest disappointment

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. I just don't understand why this trilogy is popular. Book 1 had major plot holes and I barely got through it.

6. Biggest surprise

Do NOT be fooled by the cover! Yes, this is fantasy romance, but the world is complex, the plot is interesting - it really felt like reading an epic adventure than anything else. I will definitely be reading the sequel.

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Hands down Hester Fox. I just finished her new release The Last Heir to Blackwood Library and absolutely loved it. Set in post-WWI Yorkshire in a remote Abbey, it is a gothic story complete with ghosts, mysteries, an unreliable narrator and even some romance. I can't wait to dig into Hester Fox' backlist.

8. Newest fictional crush

I am hoping Xaden from Fourth Wing will be in this spot. Right now, it is Wynter Atrialan from The Winter King.

9. Newest favorite character

Khamsin Coruscate, Princess of Summerlea and summoner of Storms, from The Winter King.

10. Book that made you cry

Group by Christie Tate and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. Both of these books are going to be my favorites of the year. Both are heartbreaking and poignant. Definitely recommend them.

11. Book that made you happy

I love the series about the Vanderbeekers family and every book is a delight!

12. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

On my immediate TBR are 

Babel  by R.F. Kuang

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Picture in the Sand by Peter Blauner, and

Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens

"Transcendent Kingdom" by Yaa Gyasi

Yaa Gyasi is a genius. I loved her debut novel Homecoming which tackled the topic of slavery. This newest book from her takes a look at race in America, African immigrants in America and also the subjects of addiction and depression. Gyasi excels at taking on difficult, hard-breaking topics, but also somehow bringing them to a hopeful conclusion. In Transcendent Kingdom the main character Gifty is raised in Alabama by a single mother who is originally from Ghana. Gifty is raised evangelical Christian. As a child, she has a deeply personal relationship with God, her faith is strong and pure, and she genuinely feels called by God and in fact, starts each of her journal entries with "Dear God". 

But then, her life is turned upside down when her older brother, a talented athlete, overdoses on heroine and tragically dies. Her mother descends into the tunnel of depression, and Gifty feels betrayed and abandoned by God. The narrative unfolds along two timelines: the present day, where Gifty is a graduate student at Stanford doing research in reward-seeking behavior and looking for a cure for addiction. The second timeline is Gifty's childhood memories of growing up in Alabama and the tragedy surrounding her brother's death. 

This book that is under 300 pages packs a powerful punch. It absolutely crushed me. At times, I was not sure I could keep reading because Gifty's pain felt so personal and real to me. Her search for God also felt very genuine and relatable. I loved this book. It is not the easiest read, but really important one. When I read Gyasi's books, I remember WHY reading is important. 5 out of 5 stars, phenomenal.