• 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

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

/
 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Kingsolver transports the reader into one young man's heartbreaking life in a manner that feels no less than brilliant. I couldn't stop asking myself how she accessed that voice, that vernacular, those sensibilities. Although this…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

/
The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas Having heard this book compared to Atkinson's Life after Life, I was very excited to read it. Whereas Life after Life accomplishes elegant, almost dream-like revisions of a life's outcome, The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

/
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus I was excited to read this after all the hype. It is a funny rendering, but at times too long and schmaltzy. This is the type of book that will make a great rom com movie. I had issues with the structure, the way it started and then the…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

/
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery This book's power is made even more sharp by its economy, it's exactitude. The interconnected stories, or loosely connected chapters, however you choose to name them, are so rich in nuance that Escoffery blazes fearlesslessly along with…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez

/
Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez This is a memoir of inter-connected, more or less chronological essays that took me on a journey of laughter, tears, empowerment and despair. Erica’s writing (and narration of the audiobook) was courageous and so honest. It was…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Cyclorama by Adam Langer · NYJB Review

/
Cyclorama by Adam Langer This review was originally posted on the New York Journal of Books. Cyclorama is a stunning novel that weaves together past and present while reflecting on and questioning Anne Frank’s timeless assertion, “In spite of everything, I still believe…By Jeanne|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Finding Freedom by Erin French

/
Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch by Erin French I listened to this audio book narrated by the author, Erin French, which was a treat in and of itself. Finding Freedom is a beautiful memoir with highs and lows and with a banquet of tastes and flavors…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Thank You, Mr. Nixon by Gish Jen

/
Thank You, Mr. Nixon by Gish Jen Really enjoyed this collection of interconnected stories which span 50 years of Chinese / American relations. Characters show up in multiple stories at different stages in life. The writing is humorous, biting and concise and the stories raise interesting…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

/
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas I enjoyed the protagonist's perspective so much. In Vladimir, a fifty-eight year old female English professor married to the former head of the department in a small college in upstate New York. Her husband has been relieved of his duties after 8 former…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg

/
I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home by Jami Attenberg This an especially good read for a writer. It is an inspiring story of perseverance from an author I admire. The opportunity to glimpse into her life and professional ups and downs was a treat. I have participated…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

/
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen Crossroads, the first book in the Key to All Mythologies trilogy, is everything I love about Franzen - a big, American, family story. The author commands the luxury of time going deep into the psyches of each member of the Hildebrandt family, all…By jbadmin|
book reviews, Book Reviews

Weather by Jenny Offill

/
Weather by Jenny Offill This was a fast read both in length but also because of the writing style. Narrated in the first person, Weather by Jenny Offill is a beautiful portrayal of the modern mind at work, flitting to and from between the personal, professional, familial, and…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

book reviews, Book ReviewsZero O’Clock is a beautiful and timely YA novel that is both heartbreaking and whip smart, a glimpse into the world of virtual friendship… Read More

book reviews, Book ReviewsMt Moriah’s Wake unfolds masterfully, alternating timelines in a way that had me eagerly reading on to the final, most satisfying plot twist… Read More

book reviews, Book ReviewsWith incredible elegance and insight, Leaving Coy’s Hill strikes a perfect balance between historical setting and a rendering of the inner woman… Read More

book reviews, Book ReviewsAlthough set in the nineteen sixties, David Hirshberg’s Jacobo’s Rainbow is infused with prescient relevance today… Read More

book reviews, Book ReviewsElise Schiller’s Watermark is a poignant novel that gripped me from beginning to end. Masterfully structured and told… Read More

book reviews, Book ReviewsIn her literary debut, Deborah Goodrich Royce has given us the sort of thriller that wants to be devoured in one sitting. Written from… Read More

book reviews, Book Reviews

Hard Cider is a fabulous novel about starting a business, taking on challenges, and building a family. The real treat was… Read More

book reviews, Book ReviewsReading My Mother’s Son is like opening up a time capsule and sifting among the treasures. 1952 Boston comes alive as… Read More

Click here to add your own text