• 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

Soil and Spirit by Scott Chaskey

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Soil and Spirit: Cultivation and Kinship in the Web of Life by Scott Chaskey I listened to the audio version of this book of essays as I walked our farm in the afternoons. Scott Chaskey's reading voice as well as his poetic prose provided a meditative and spiritual accompaniment…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s 3 favorite reads in 2023

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This article on Jeannie's Best Books of 2023 was originally published on Shepherd.com. My favorite read in 2023…   Wellness By Nathan Hill Why did I love this book? Wellness is the first of my best books for 2023. Nathan Hill writes with the wisdom and…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Leaving by Roxana Robinson

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Leaving by Roxana Robinson ** spoiler alert ** So many people I admire gushed over this book and so I began this book with high hopes. It certainly has good qualities, the language and the voice are strong. This is the story of a couple who had been together in college finding…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Best Books that Utilize COVID in the Plot

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This article about five of Jeannie's favorite COVID novels was originally published on Shepherd.com. Why am I passionate about this? I am an author who also penned a novel during the pandemic, with a timeline that stretched into the first six months of the pandemic–against the…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Sunday Money by Maggie Hill

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Sunday Money by Maggie Hill Sunday Money is such a well-written book. I rooted for Claire as she navigated teenage struggle and coming of age. New York in the 197o's is a great back drop, as is the sport of basketball. As a lifelong woman athlete, I love to see these stories…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Solito by Javier Zamora

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Solito by Javier Zamora This memoir pulled at my gut. I was extremely impressed by the author’s ability to stay in the mind and voice of his nine-year-old self. If I hadn’t known he would survive his seven week journey from El Salvador to the US in order to grow up…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

James by Percival Everett

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James by Percival Everett In this retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Percival Everett gives us enslaved Jim's point of view. This book epitomizes why retellings of classic literature are necessary - we may know the original was racist in its orientation but…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Day by Michael Cunningham

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Day by Michael Cunningham This novel is wonderful for its in-depth character portrayals. Cunningham takes very authentic and simple domestic situations and makes them the subject of this beautifully paced work. A generation of young parents and their inquisitive children,…By jbadmin|
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|

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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