Monthly rundown vol. 4

murder, laughter faeries, space, and Eleanor Roosevelt

Hi all! I always forget what a mixed bag April can be. The weather (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere) is fickle, in my family our schedule begins to change (sports, second to last month of school) and there’s a holiday thrown in too. My to-do list has been crazy this month, but mostly with good things or neutral things, and only the occasional hiccup like our family vehicle needing a major repair. 

I’m finally hitting a good flow with the new novel. Not a fast flow, to be fair, but a flow nonetheless which always feels good. (did I just jinx myself?). In other news, I recently had a conversation with my friend Dalene Bickel for her podcast Ink and Impact. We talked mostly about my experience with both hybrid and traditional publishing, and a little bit about books (because of course!). It was a really enjoyable interview that you can check out here. I also have a local event coming up May 13–an author fair at my local used bookstore, Copperfield’s Books. It’s always a fun time! This will be my third year attending as an author. 

And now for some reviews…

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Kahvari. This cozy mystery (the first in a series) has a unique 1920s university setting, a touch of romance, and a spunky heroine. It was a quick, easy read, perfect to get out of a reading slump.

In Search of Sisters by Mary Ellen Bramwell is a celebration of friendship and found family. This character-driven, heartwarming story centers around a lonely young woman in the depths of grief who goes across the world to make friends. She finds the community and connection she’s looking for, and in the process remembers who she is and what’s important to her. It’s a story about vulnerability, compassion, and helping others.

French Braid by Anne Tyler is a slice of life story about a family and the things that bind them together, despite their differences and the ways in which they try and pull apart. This is my second book by Anne Tyler, and once again she uses the barest of plots to give space for her richly drawn characters and thoughtful observations. French Braid is about the ways our family of origin shapes us, sometimes obviously, and sometimes not. I loved it, and couldn’t put it down, but if you need a strong plot to carry your story, this book probably isn’t for you.

On the other hand….Chasing Eleanor by Kerry Chaput is a fast-paced, gripping story with a strong and compelling plot about three teenagers in search of home. This historical fiction novel set during the Great Depression doesn’t shy away from the desperation, brutality, and hopelessness many felt during that time, but it balances that with glimpses of kindness, courage, love, hope. It’s a story about both families of origin and found family, resilience, and forgiveness. It’s really grounded in the time period, and has a unique through-line involving the main character’s admiration and attachment to Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty. Liane Moriarty always sucks me into her stories, and this engrossing novel about a family with a big secret was no exception. I love how Moriarty writes complex, vivid characters and complicated relationships, especially female relationships. I will admit this novel was almost a miss for me because I typically dislike stories in which the conflict and tension hinges on people just not talking about something, but I thought it was handled well, and there was so much more going on than just the lack of communication. (content note: postpartum depression and suicidal thoughts)

Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater is an absolutely charming Regency fairy tale with endearing characters and clever worldbuilding. It’s a Cinderella story flipped a bit on its head, where characters discover their agency, and learn to channel their anger and fire into purpose. It’s a quick, light read that also has some depth.

Runs in the Family comedy special, Dustin Nickerson (YouTube). I was only recently introduced to Dustin Nickerson when I heard him on a podcast talking about this comedy special, and y’all, it is hilarious. It’s really relatable, the perfect way to spend an hour at the end of a long day.

Trying (Apple TV+) From the first episode of this show, I was hooked. The characters attached themselves to my heart, and I just wanted it to last forever. It’s heartwarming, thoughtful, funny, and made me cry. The show centers on a couple who are trying to have a baby, find out they can’t, and then decide to try and adopt. There are themes about love, family, community, belonging, responsibility, bad choices. (content note: language and adult themes)

Star Trek: Picard season 3 (Paramount+) This final installment in the Picard series was very nostalgic. It was also action-packed and delightfully tense, with the feel of “one last hurrah and adventure” for the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew. I’m not sure how much it would appeal to someone who isn’t already a fan of the Star Trek franchise, but since I am a fan, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought it was well-paced, and had a nice balance of plot and character, new faces and old, action and feeling.

That’s it for now! Ciao!