I finally finished my first book of 2023. It took me a lot longer than expected since I’ve been fighting COVID the past couple of weeks. Carolina Moonset is narrated by Joey Green. He has returned home to Beaufort, SC to help with his ailing father, Marshall. Marshall has recently been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia…

Looking for Alaska is told through the perspective of Miles Halter. He transfers to his father’s alma mater, Culver Creek, to find his “great perhaps”. He quickly falls in with a group of friends and meets the enigmatic Alaska Young. When tragedy strikes those left behind are forced to reckon with grief, guilt, and ultimately…

The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea tells the story of Willa Callister. Willa is a popular Blogger and Influencer. That is until her life and brand are torn apart when she discovers her fiancé and best friend are having an affair. While trying to rebuild her life she is approached by Maisie, a stranger willing…

I’m Glad My Mom Died details Jennette McCurdy’s years as a child actress and working for Nickelodeon. McCurdy also discusses her fraught relationship with her late mother. Additionally, McCurdy writes about the work she’s done on herself to move forward from her trauma and issues with self-esteem. I was surprised how quickly I got into…

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig tells the story of Nora Seed. After experiencing several heartbreaks Nora finds herself in the space between life and death. This space takes the form of a library, and on its expansive shelves are multiple books. Contained in each of these is an alternate version of Nora’s life. She…

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin tells the story of Grace Bennett. Grace has just moved to London with her best friend, Viv, as tensions  escalate and England enters WW2. The two women are living with a family friend, Mrs. Weatherford, and her son Colin. To receive a letter of recommendation Grace begins…

The Stolen Marriage tells the story of Tess DeMello. Tess is a young nursing student living in Baltimore and engaged to her childhood sweetheart, Vincent. However, after a trip to Washington, D.C. with her best friend, Gena, Tess’s life is turned upside down. She finds herself transplanted to Hickory, North Carolina as polio begins to…

Gretchen Berg’s The Operator tells the story of Vivian Dalton, a telephone operator in 1950’s Ohio. Ever since she was a child Vivian has been interested in observing the people around her, and eavesdropping to learn their secrets. However, this love of gossip proves to be her undoing when it results in her learning a…

I recently went to the Biltmore Estate to attend the Downton Abbey exhibition. There is a small bookstore on the estate and I found a couple of titles that caught my interest: Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist and Servant’s Hall by Margaret Powell. Both summaries offered similar stories, a young woman working in service…

The story is told from four perspectives. The first character we meet is Joana, a young woman aspiring to a career in medicine. Joana’s compassion, intelligence, and strength makes her the unofficial leader of a group of refuges. The second character we get to know is Florian, a young Prussian man. He is a talented…