• book reviews, Book Reviews

Book Reviews

book reviews, Book ReviewsBeing a writer means being a reader, so why not share some book reviews? I have always enjoyed getting lost in fictional worlds and delight in beautiful and evocative language. It is this love of novels that has prodded me to write. As I began my writing journey, I remember asking myself, “Can I really do this?” Like all artists, I am inspired to emulate art I admire. And so I read—all the time. This is a page where you can keep track of what I’m reading for pleasure as well as for inspiration / research for my next novel. 

As I realized my dream of becoming a novelist, I began to appreciate even more how important it is to spread the word about great books. Writing book reviews helps me engage critically with the work I’m reading and join fellow readers worldwide in conversation. I will post book reviews here but make sure to follow me on Goodreads and BookBub to see my most recent reads! I am also a reviewer for the New York Journal of Books. You’ll find those (more extensive) commentaries below, but you can check them all out on my NYJB page.

If you’d like to learn more about how my reading is influencing my current writing process, or delve deeper into the inspirations behind my first two novels, Eden and The Nine, just click on Writing Inspiration to the right. I am also excited to share the works of fellow authors whose books I’ve been asked to blurb in the far right column.

Want to chat about a book I’ve reviewed? Have a recommendation for me? Drop me a line to start the conversation!

book reviews, Book Reviews
book reviews, Book Reviews
book reviews, Book Reviews
book reviews, Book Reviews
book reviews, Book Reviews

Recent Reads

book reviews, Book Reviews

Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur

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Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur In Little Monsters, as in her memoir Wild Game, I loved Brodeur's writing, especially the descriptions of Cape Cod. The portrayal of setting was my favorite thing about this book. My second favorite book was Adam's character. He is bipolar…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

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The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell If you loved Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, this one is a bit of a let down. — dead sister's intended husband. He is a cruel duke and she senses she is in danger in the palace. Little is known about the real Lucrezia except that her…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Stark Beauty of Last Things by Celine Keating

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The Stark Beauty of Last Things by Celine Keating The Stark Beauty of Last Things is a poetic novel that emphasizes the fragility of the worlds we occupy- relationships, lives, places - are all fleeting. The problem is that humans often fail to understand this until it is…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

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Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson A well done biography that allowed the reader into the room. An intimate portrayal of the whole man, trying to get at the root of what makes him tick, displaying his wounds and obsessions. It was made even more fascinating as the subject matter…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Wellness by Nathan Hill

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Wellness by Nathan Hill I loved The Nix and when I heard Nathan Hill had a new novel coming out, I preordered. I toggled between reading and listening to the audiobook because it is narrated by Ari Fliakos who is my all time favorite reader. His tone captures the wry wit…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

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The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson This is a work of science fiction that reads like it could be true. It is very long book that offers many thread lines and points of view as well as the ministry for the future’s ideas with regard to advocating for beings…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

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Tom Lake By Ann Patchett I listened to this on audio, such a delight as Meryl Streep was the narrator. Her performative and soothing voice combined with Ann Patchett's writing resulted in a most pleasurable experience. The story was well done too. Well suited for me as a mother…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Twenty: by Marianne C. Bohr

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The Twenty: One Woman’s Trek Across Corsica on the GR20 Trail by Marianne C. Bohr A great read which will inspire you to get out of the chair. Bohr does an excellent job of honestly telling recounting the ups and downs of completing one of the world's iconic hikes with her…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Trust by Hernan Diaz

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Trust by Hernan Diaz After learning this work shared the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction with Demon Copperhead, I had to read. I listened to the Audio which was narrated by four different voices, amplifying this novel's theme of perception. Indeed a story changes so much based on who…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Invisible Hour by Jamel Brinkly

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The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman This review originally appeared in the New York Review of Books. With a truly imaginative structure, Alice Hoffman delves into what has become her trademark theme of magic. The Invisible Hour asks a grand “What if?” Not so much the question…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

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How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue This is a heartbreaking novel, portraying the destruction of a town and a way of life when an American oil company arrives to drill in an African country. This is a sweeping story that crosses oceans and lifetimes told from multiple points…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Witness by Jamel Brinkly

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Witness: Stories by Jamel Brinkly This review originally appeared in the New York Review of Books. A collection of ten short stories set in Brooklyn, NY, Witness: Stories is populated by characters navigating relationships with friends and family, both living and not. The…By jbadmin|

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, I may make a small commission (at no additional cost to you), which I will donate to literary organizations in Boston. Thanks!

book reviews, Book Reviews

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book reviews, Book Reviews

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