Passionate Marriage: Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships by David Schnarch

Dr. JFF recommended this book and talks about this author all the time in her courses. I feel like this could have been about half as long and just as effective, but there were definitely some good, interesting points that I wanted to remember. A lot of it JFF talked about too. 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

I read that this was a Beauty and the Beast rewrite, and was interested, but it didn't really grip me like I thought it would. It was fine but I wasn't tempted to read the sequels. I was confused about the love triangle thing. 

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

This was really what it sounds like--a book about how to have good gatherings. But it goes into way more detail than I expected and honestly, was fairly interesting. I learned a lot of good ideas from it, although let's be honest--right now is not the stage in my life when this book will be that useful. Maybe in a few years I should read it again. 

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

A great sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Also well done, super gripping. 

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

I didn't love this one, but it did go pretty quickly. I liked a lot of the stories, even though they were all about a world I have no knowledge of or interest in. I liked the short story format, because I felt like I was able to get invested in each character really deeply for that time. 

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

I absolutely loved this middle grade WWII novel about some children who were evacuated from London during the blitz. It was basically a The War that Saved My Life but much less depressing. I loved the whole thing. 

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

I really liked this story, and I was actually super surprised by the resolution. I thought the author did an amazing job having Pip make reasonable choices and smart detective work, and make us think we were going through all of the discovering with her. She did the amazing job of making you suspect the villain early on, then clearing him for you mentally, before you realize at the end that it was actually him all along. I was really impressed with the mystery.

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I honestly wasn't sure I was going to like this, but since I've enjoyed all the Taylor Jenkins Reid books I've read, I went for it--and it was amazing. I loved it. She did such a good job with Carrie as a character and showing her grow and develop and become a more full person by the end. 

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

This was a cute romance, with a few raunchier scenes than I expected. The characters were great. I liked the setting of a small fishing town. 

Bomb Shelter: Time, Love, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott

I really loved this memoir in essays. She writes about parenting and worrying and time passing and loving your children, and it felt really poignant in spots. It was meaningful.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

I have been wanting to read this book for like seven years and finally got to it by reading it aloud with the boys. We all really enjoyed it, but it took us months to get through. (Pregnancy and having a baby will do that to you.) Dane loved it so much he immediately plowed through the four sequels. A great read-aloud. 

Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton

I'll read anything Harry Potter. Tom Felton hasn't ever been my favorite HP actor, but Camille had his posters on our walls... and I like him a lot after listening to his audiobook. Kind of a light memoir considering he's my age but it was a quick fun listen.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

This was a cute romance, and I liked the childhood friends-to-lovers trope, but I didn't like the angst of her big secret and the reason they hadn't talked for ten years. I would have liked it better if it hadn't been for that. 

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

This book was funny and fun but also I was annoyed by her crazy ridiculous choices. I hate it when characters cross the line into unbelievable and this book did that for me. I could have believed the main premise but I couldn't believe all her choices as she went through the process. Although I liked the ending. 

And Yet: Poems by Kate Baer

Loved these just like her other collection. Love how powerful they can be while being so short. 

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

I'd seen this book mentioned places for years but finally checked it out. It was a cute true story about the thousands of people who were stranded for days in this tiny hamlet in Newfoundland. It went quickly and was heartwarming about how many people helped and gave to strangers. It was also hard reading about 9/11 as a new event again.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

I really liked this story. It was a great fantasy novel, with a great plot and characters. I also loved the romance element too. I would definitely listen to the sequel.