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Niffenegger, Audrey. Her Fearful Symmetry. ★★★★✩When their Aunt Elspeth, who was estranged from their mother, dies, twins Julia and Valentina inherit her estate; however, the inseparable pair must move to London and live in their aunt's flat for one year before they are allowed to sell it. Even though I had to set aside my disbelief while reading this ghost story, especially at the conclusion, I couldn't put it down.
Gilbert, Elizabeth. Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage. ★★★✩✩
Because I loved Eat, Pray, Love, I had high expectations for Gilbert's second book. While the insights about marriage in different cultures were interesting, I was left wishing for more of her story and feelings. At times, it felt like a documentary on marriage. An interesting read, but a bit boring at times.
Sparks, Nicholas. The Last Song. ★★★★✩
When Ronnie is sent North Carolina to live with her dad for the summer, she is not exactly thrilled. But what unfolds that summer teaches her about falling in love and second chances. Not usually a fan of his, but I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely a relatable love story with a bittersweet ending.
Niffenegger, Audrey. The Time Traveler's Wife. ★★★★✩A somewhat sad, but compelling, love story à la Nicholas Spark's The Notebook, but with a sci-fi twist. Tells the story of the love between Henry DeTamble, an adventuresome librarian who involuntarily travels through time due to a genetic defect, and Claire Abshire, an artist who is stuck in the present and must deal with Henry's sudden disappearances. Somewhat confusing due to time traveling, but beautifully written.
Rakha, Naseem. The Crying Tree. ★★★✩✩Irene Stanley's husband uproots them from their hometown and, a short time later, their son Shep is shot to death in an apparent robbery at their home. When their son's killer is sentenced to death, each member of the family copes with the tragedy in their own way, but Irene falters; in an unconventional step, she reaches out to her son's killer and keeps it a secret from her family. A story about family and the power of forgiveness.
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. ★★★★★Sterling is an ordinary small town in New Hampshire, until one day a student enters Sterling High School and kills 10 of his classmates and injures 19 others. Josie Corimer is the teenage daughter of the judge, and is coping with the tragedy that killed her friends but that she can't seem to remember. Shows the aftermath of a school shooting, its effects on a town, and what can drive someone to take revenge in the most horrific of ways. A real page-turner.
O'Flynn, Catherine. What Was Lost. ★✩✩✩✩Kate Meaney is a young girl with an active imagination. One day, while she is performing surveillance as a junior detective at a shopping center in her hometown, she disappears without a trace. Suspicion falls on the son of a shopowner with whom Kate spent a lot of time. Twenty hears later, his sister and a security guard at the mall begin unraveling the mystery of Kate's disappearance. A pretty slow read; it was difficult for me to get through.
Picoult, Jodi. The Pact. ★★★★✩
The Gold and Harte families are inseparable; their children, Emily and Chris, grow up together and eventually begin dating. Everything seems perfect; that is, until Emily turns up dead and Chris claims that he shot her as part of a suicide pact gone wrong. The story of two families devastated by an unthinkable act, their struggle to cope with understanding their children, and the meaning of love. A powerful read.
Picoult, Jodi. Perfect Match. ★★★★✩Nina Frost prosecutes child molesters, and knows the justice system all too well; when her son, Nathaniel, stops speaking one day and it comes out that he has been sexually abused, Nina decides she must take the law into her own hands. Explores how far a mother will go to protect her child in the name of justice. A compelling novel with an unpredictable twist.
Shreve, Anita. The Pilot's Wife. ★★★✩✩Kathryn Lyons' husband is a commercial airline pilot, but she is unprepared for the knock that comes on her door that shatters her world: her husband's plane has crashed into the Atlantic. While she struggles to deal with the tragedy with her daughter, Kathryn begins to unravel the life of her husband and discover things about him that she never knew and devastating secrets he hid. Really mixed feelings on this one; slow moving at times and a somewhat frustrating storyline, but I couldn't stop reading.
Smoliniski, Jill. The Next Thing on My List. ★★★★✩June Parker offers Marissa Jones a ride home from their Weight Watchers meeting. A freak car accident leaves 24-year-old Marissa dead and June reeling with guilt. While preparing to return Marissa's belongings to her family, June discovers a list in her wallet: "25 Things to Do Before my 25th Birthday." There are only two items crossed off. When confronted by Marissa's brother, June makes a split second decision to complete the items on the list. Really heartwarming, inspirational, and funny.
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