Much Ado About You

 Much Ado About You by Samantha Young  372 pages

Summary from Goodreads: The cozy comforts of an English village bookstore open up a world of new possibilities for Evie Starling in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling's life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she's passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There's no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she's drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can't deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love.

And here's what I thought:  I can suspend my disbelief for plenty of science fiction and fantasy books, no problem. I can believe in fairies and elves, I can believe in magic, I can believe in space battles. But I have a very difficult time suspending my disbelief when it comes to romance.

This book has a fun premise and I liked the main character -- but I found all of this way too difficult to believe. After a while, it wore on me enough to make the book irritating. I finished it because I wanted to know what happened at the end, even though I could kind of predict it. Which might not bother some readers, but I won't be re-reading this one any time soon.

However, this light romance has a very fun premise and for a "beach read" holds a lot of appeal. 

The Girls Are All So Nice Here

 The Girls Are All So Nice Here by  Laurie Elizabeth Flynn 308 pages

Summary from Goodreads: A lot has changed in years since Ambrosia Wellington graduated from college, and she’s worked hard to create a new life for herself. But then an invitation to her ten-year reunion arrives in the mail, along with an anonymous note that reads, “We need to talk about what we did that night.”

It seems that the secrets of Ambrosia’s past—and the people she thought she’d left there—aren’t as buried as she believed. Amb can’t stop fixating on what she did or who she did it with: larger-than-life Sloane “Sully” Sullivan, Amb’s former best friend, who could make anyone do anything.

At the reunion, Amb and Sully receive increasingly menacing messages, and it becomes clear that they’re being pursued by someone who wants more than just the truth of what happened that first semester. This person wants revenge for what they did and the damage they caused—the extent of which Amb is only now fully understanding. And it was all because of the game they played to get a boy who belonged to someone else and the girl who paid the price.

Alternating between the reunion and Amb’s freshman year, The Girls Are All So Nice Here is a “chilling and twisty thriller” (Book Riot) about the brutal lengths girls can go to get what they think they’re owed, and what happens when the games we play in college become matters of life and death. 

And here's what I thought: I found Ambrosia to be annoying. I just want to get that out there right away. However, as annoying as I found her, I wanted to know what was going to happen to her. Maybe something really mean, which sounded like it would serve her right.  Yes, I'm awful - but I don't need to like a character to find them interesting enough to read a story.  Actually, I didn't like Ambrosia's friend Sully, either. And reading about their freshman year at college gave me flashbacks I didn't enjoy, either.  But I found the story interesting and because I was curious, kept reading to the end.

In a nutshell, this story is: Someone gets revenge on some mean girls. Finally. 

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake

 Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis J. Hall   435 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Following the recipe is the key to a successful bake. Rosaline Palmer has always lived by those rules—well, except for when she dropped out of college to raise her daughter, Amelie. Now, with a paycheck as useful as greaseproof paper and a house crumbling faster than biscuits in tea, she’s teetering on the edge of financial disaster. But where there’s a whisk there’s a way . . . and Rosaline has just landed a spot on the nation’s most beloved baking show.

Winning the prize money would give her daughter the life she deserves—and Rosaline is determined to stick to the instructions. However, more than collapsing trifles stand between Rosaline and sweet, sweet victory.  Suave, well-educated, and parent-approved Alain Pope knows all the right moves to sweep her off her feet, but it’s shy electrician Harry Dobson who makes Rosaline question her long-held beliefs—about herself, her family, and her desires.

Rosaline fears falling for Harry is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Yet as the competition—and the ovens—heat up, Rosaline starts to realize the most delicious bakes come from the heart.

And here's what I thought:  This book has a bunch of elements I like: Baking contest, fun characters, and some surprise elements. I very much appreciated that there's more than meets the eye to Rosaline (spoiler: she is bisexual) and she's a great character -- someone I'd want to know in real life. I liked the baking elements, especially because I'm a fan of The Great British Baking Show. And while I don't usually read romance stories, I liked this one --- it's light, and the romance elements are there but they don't drive the entire story. And Rosaline has a good head on her shoulders, which I appreciated.

Midnight in Chernobyl

 

Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham  538 pages

Summary from Goodreads: April 25, 1986, in Chernobyl, was a turning point in world history. The disaster not only changed the world’s perception of nuclear power and the science that spawned it, but also our understanding of the planet’s delicate ecology. With the images of the abandoned homes and playgrounds beyond the barbed wire of the 30-kilometer Exclusion Zone, the rusting graveyards of contaminated trucks and helicopters, the farmland lashed with black rain, the event fixed for all time the notion of radiation as an invisible killer.

Chernobyl was also a key event in the destruction of the Soviet Union, and, with it, the United States’ victory in the Cold War. For Moscow, it was a political and financial catastrophe as much as an environmental and scientific one. With a total cost of 18 billion rubles—at the time equivalent to $18 billion—Chernobyl bankrupted an already teetering economy and revealed to its population a state built upon a pillar of lies.

The full story of the events that started that night in the control room of Reactor No.4 of the V.I. Lenin Nuclear Power Plant has never been told—until now. Through two decades of reporting, new archival information, and firsthand interviews with witnesses, journalist Adam Higginbotham tells the full dramatic story, including Alexander Akimov and Anatoli Dyatlov, who represented the best and worst of Soviet life; denizens of a vanished world of secret policemen, internal passports, food lines, and heroic self-sacrifice for the Motherland. Midnight in Chernobyl, award-worthy nonfiction that reads like sci-fi, shows not only the final epic struggle of a dying empire but also the story of individual heroism and desperate, ingenious technical improvisation joining forces against a new kind of enemy. 

And here's what I thought: Maybe not an uplifting story, but definitely very interesting -- and scary. I remember when this accident happened and how the details really did not come out for a very, very long time. Which did not make it any less scary.

Understanding what the USSR was like at the time gives perspective here, and I liked that the author includes political details here, not just a step-by-step of what happened. The Soviet approach to everything really did impact what led up to the disaster and how it was handled, so it's important to give a full picture of that. 

This book is insightful and detailed, and includes the human element of the whole disaster, which really makes it clear just how horrifying the whole accident was. It's a scary book, but engrossing and interesting. 

Dark Horses

 Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic  344 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Fifteen-year-old equestrian prodigy Roan Montgomery has only ever known two worlds: inside the riding arena, and outside of it. Both, for as long as she can remember, have been ruled by her father, who demands strict obedience in all areas of her life. The warped power dynamic of coach and rider extends far beyond the stables, and Roan's relationship with her father has long been inappropriate. She has been able to compartmentalize that dark aspect of her life, ruthlessly focusing on her ambitions as a rider heading for the Olympics, just as her father had done. However, her developing relationship with Will Howard, a boy her own age, broadens the scope of her vision.

And here's what I thought:  I found this to be a dark, compulsive pageturner of a read and found it difficult to put down once I started. It's a bit of a trainwreck with the main character and it's impossible to look away. As you can see from the summary, Roan's relationship with her father has some big problems --- no spoiler alerts here. But be prepared to be disturbed. I found the characters compelling and the story interesting, even as there are plenty of disturbing elements here. 

White Oleander

 White Oleander by Janet Fitch  390 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Everywhere hailed as a novel of rare beauty and power, White Oleander tells the unforgettable story of Ingrid, a brilliant poet imprisoned for murder, and her daughter, Astrid, whose odyssey through a series of Los Angeles foster homes--each its own universe, with its own laws, its own dangers, its own hard lessons to be learned--becomes a redeeming and surprising journey of self-discovery.

And here's what I thought: I re-read this book about once a year because I enjoy the story and a lot of the imagery. Both Astrid and her mother are interesting characters and the way they play off each other lends an extra element to the story of a daughter exploring the results of her own choices. When Astrid's mother is charged with murder and imprisoned, Astrid is left to navigate the foster care system. As expected, some places are better than others and through the years, Astrid has to struggle to hang on to who she really is.  Astrid is an artist and her mother is a poet, so there are plenty of both throughout the story. This is a book that is beautifully written, which is why I re-read it on a regular basis.

The Calculating Stars

 The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal  431 pages

Summary from Goodreads: On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process.

Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too.

Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.

And here's what I thought: I picked up this book for a book group read and really enjoyed it. The premise is interesting and believable, and I liked that the story focused on a woman who is really good at math. Which may sound odd --- but really, it's kind of nice to have a focus on intelligence, rather than what she looks like. Or how bad-ass she is.  Because she is bad-ass --- but it's because she's really smart.

Kowal includes plenty of realistic details, so you could imagine this story really happening.  This is alternate history, but it's so well done that it could be a nonfiction memoir. Definitely looking forward to reading more in this series!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab  444 pages

Summary from Goodreads:  France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name. 

And here's what I thought: I was SO happy to finally get this book -- I've been on the holds list forever!!!  And this story definitely did not disappoint -- I was sneaking pages here and there, staying up way too late reading . . .   definitely a story that I became immersed in really quickly. I thought the idea of the bargain that Addie makes was really imaginative and I liked the way the story moved back and forth in time, so you understand just how she is able to navigate through years of being alive.  The settings feel historically accurate and the characters are all believable, as well.  I don't know if I'd quite call this book a fantasy story --- more like magical realism mixed with some historical fiction?  I'll be adding this one to the list to add to my home collection.

The Lost Apothecary

 The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner 301 pages

Summary from Goodreads: A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course. Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.

Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

And here's what I thought: I enjoyed the dual plotlines and character lines in this story. Going back and forth lends some mystery elements to the present-day story, and the storyline set in the past is just as compelling as the part set in the present. I liked that the story is based around women, and there are true elements in this story - historical details, and botanical details, as well. The story has a very smooth progression, keeping you on edge about what's going to happen to both Nella and Caroline, who both are in danger for different (yet similar) reasons.  Is there such a thing as a quiet thriller? If so, this is that kind of story.

Death with a double edge

 Death with a Double Edge by Anne Perry  293 pages

Summary from Goodreads: When junior barrister Daniel Pitt is summoned to the scene of a murder in the London district known as Mile End, he knows only that the victim is a senior barrister from the same firm. To Daniel's relief, it is not his close friend Toby Kitteridge, but the question remains: What was this respected colleague doing in such a rough part of the city? The firm's head, Marcus fford Croft, may know more than he admits, but fford Croft's memory is not what it used to be, and his daughter, Miriam--Daniel's friend and sometime sidekick--isn't in the country to offer her usual help. And so Daniel and Kitteridge must investigate on their own, lest the police uncover something that may cast a suspicious light on the firm.

Their inquiries in Mile End lead them to a local brothel and to an opium den, but also--unexpectedly--to a wealthy shipbuilder crucial to Britain's effort to build up its fleet, which may soon face the fearsome naval might of Germany. Daniel finds his path blocked by officials at every turn, his investigation so unwelcome that even his father, Special Branch head Thomas Pitt, receives a chilling warning from a powerful source. Suddenly, not just Daniel but his whole family--including his beloved mother, Charlotte--is in danger. Will Daniel's devotion to justice be the undoing of his entire life, and endanger Britain's defense at sea?

And here's what I thought: This is the fourth book in the Daniel Pitt series and I think it's the best one yet. From the beginning, Perry lays out details that are intriguing and then the suspense builds throughout the story. As always, there are plenty of realistic details here, so it's very easy to become immersed in the story and the setting. I like that Daniel is an earnest character, but he's not so perfect to be unbelievable. I also like that Perry includes elements that are easy to relate to, like having one character who has started to develop memory problems with age. It makes you wonder if you have somewhat of an unreliable narrator in that character, which adds an extra bit of mystery to this mystery. It doesn't hurt that Perry brings in more of both Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, characters that I have always enjoyed. 

Birds of Paradise

 Birds of Paradise by Oliver Langmead  297 pages

Summary from Goodreads: American Gods meets The Chronicles of Narnia in this adult fantasy about the Biblical Adam recovering the lost pieces of the Garden of Eden.

Many millennia after the fall of Eden, Adam, the first man in creation, still walks the Earth - exhausted by the endless death and destruction, he is a shadow of his former hope and glory. And he is not the only one. The Garden was deconstructed, its pieces scattered across the world and its inhabitants condemned to live out immortal lives, hiding in plain sight from generations of mankind.

But now pieces of the Garden are turning up on the Earth. After centuries of loneliness, Adam, haunted by the golden time at the beginning of Creation, is determined to save the pieces of his long lost home. With the help of Eden's undying exiles, he must stop Eden becoming the plaything of mankind.

Adam journeys across America and the British Isles with Magpie, Owl, and other animals, gathering the scattered pieces of Paradise. As the country floods once more, Adam must risk it all to rescue his friends and his home - because rebuilding the Garden might be the key to rebuilding his life. 

And here's what I thought:  This is a beautiful, strange, sad story. I haven't read anything this odd since China Mieville's best stories and I really enjoyed this book. The idea of Adam walking the Earth and trying to find the pieces of the Garden is interesting and compelling enough, but the other characters are fantastic. This book has some violence, but it has some really beautiful moments and at times, completely broke my heart.  Definitely adding this one to the list to add to my personal collection so I can re-read it in the future.

Before she disappeared

 Before she disappeared by Lisa Gardner  383 pgs

Summary from Goodreads:Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will--searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie starts looking.

A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim's wary family tells Frankie she's on her own--and she soon learns she's asking questions someone doesn't want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her. 

And here's what I thought: I really liked this story and found the characters believable and easy to envision. Frankie isn't a perfect person, and that's actually the point --- she's not necessarily special or gifted, but she is stubborn and has found her purpose in life. I appreciated that this wasn't a police procedural to find a missing person, but instead a regular person who is just determined and who will try her best to work with the police (or not, actually).  The gritty setting is as much a part of the story as anything else, which I also liked.

Those Girls

 Those Girls by Chevy Stevens  376 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Life has never been easy for the three Campbell sisters. Jess, Courtney, and Dani live on a remote ranch in Western Canada where they work hard and try to stay out of the way of their father’s fists. One night, a fight gets out of hand and the sisters are forced to go on the run, only to get caught in an even worse nightmare when their truck breaks down in a small town. Events spiral out of control and a chance encounter with the wrong people leaves them in a horrific and desperate situation. They are left with no choice but to change their names and create new lives.

Eighteen years later, they are still trying to forget what happened that summer when one of the sisters goes missing and they are pulled back into their past.

This time there’s nowhere left to run.

And here's what I thought: I discovered one book by Chevy Stevens and now I've started working my way through the rest of her books. This story isn't just a tense, psychological suspense story, but also an exploration of the bonds of sisters and family and how far someone will go to protect the ones they love. As you can tell from the summary, the story begins with something pretty bad . . .  and it actually gets worse.  The tension starts in the first pages and doesn't let up, even as the thread of it might wax and wane throughout the story. The characters are believable, and actually, even the horrific situations are pretty realistic. This is a nail-biter type of pageturner.

Later

 Later by Stephen King 264 pages

Summary from Goodreads: The son of a struggling single mother, Jamie Conklin just wants an ordinary childhood. But Jamie is no ordinary child. Born with an unnatural ability his mom urges him to keep secret, Jamie can see what no one else can see and learn what no one else can learn. But the cost of using this ability is higher than Jamie can imagine - as he discovers when an NYPD detective draws him into the pursuit of a killer who has threatened to strike from beyond the grave.

And here's what I thought: This is another story from King that follows a pulp classic style. With a smooth pace, King builds a story that keeps the tension throughout the story. The main character is sympathetic and well-written, and it's easy to get immersed in the story. And of course, there are some elements of horror, as you would expect. If you like your coming-of-age stories with some dark twists, this is your story. 

Keeping it Real

 Keeping it Real by Justina Robson 333 pgs

Summary from Goodreads: The Quantum Bomb of 2015 changed everything. The fabric that kept the universe's different dimensions apart was torn and now, six years later, the people of earth exist in uneasy company with the inhabitants of, amongst others, the elfin, elemental, and demonic realms. Magic is real and can be even more dangerous than technology. Elves are exotic, erotic, dangerous, and really bored with the constant Lord of the Rings references. Elementals are a law unto themselves and demons are best left well to themselves.

Special agent Lila Black used to be pretty, but now she's not so sure. Her body is more than half restless carbon and metal alloy machinery, a machine she's barely in control of. It goes into combat mode, enough weapons for a small army springing from within itself, at the merest provocation. As for her heart, well, ever since being drawn into a game by the elfin rockstar Zal (lead singer of The No Shows), who she's been assigned to protect, she's not even sure she can trust that any more either.

And here's what I thought: I re-read this and it's been enough years that most of the story was completely new to me. Robson has a different kind of take on elves than you might expect, and she creates a really cool world here. The idea of the Quantum Bomb takes this story in some really interesting directions. There is some humor in this story, and Lila Black is a character that I liked. The story is a mashup of cyborg sci-fi with fantasy, and there are some great parts to this book. At times, the story did seem to veer into odd directions and I had completely forgotten that there were some romance elements in this story. But, it was fun to read again and I might look for the second book in the series in the future. 

It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake

 It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian  353 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Of all the women and men Noni Blake has pleased in her life, there's one she's often overlooked--herself. After the end of a decade-long relationship, Noni decides it's time for that to change. She's finally going to prioritize her wants and desires and only do things (and people) that feel good in the moment.

As she embarks on a pleasure-seeking quest that takes her halfway around the world, she discovers that maybe she can have everything, and everyone, she's ever wanted.

Effortlessly hilarious and relatable, Claire Christian spins a fresh, feel-good tale about starting over as a thirtysomething woman who's been living life for everyone else. A story of self-discovery for the ages, Noni's journey serves as a sparkling reminder that life is what we make of it--so why not enjoy it?

And here's what I thought:  I don't usually read books with this much romance, but this was a fun story and a quick read -- and a departure from other things I've been reading lately. Noni is a funny, smart character and going through the story with her, enjoying her adventures along with her, made for a good story.  Sometimes, admittedly, she did things that made me cringe --- but so many times, these things were so, so funny. I don't know if I quite buy how real some of the characters are (like the too-amazing-to-be-true tattooist she meets).  But, it's still a fun read.  

Wait, I'm Working With Who?!? the Essential Guide to Dealing With Difficult Coworkers, Annoying Managers, and Other Toxic Personalities

 Wait, I'm Working With Who?!?  The Essential Guide to Dealing With Difficult Coworkers, Annoying Managers, and Other Toxic Personalities by Peter Economy  206 pages

Summary from Goodreads: This is the go-to guide on working with anyone in your office—from the difficult or negative to the toxic and destructive—whether they are your manager, a team member, or someone who’s just waiting out the clock. Chock-full of useful advice that will make your workday happier and more productive. Who hasn’t had to deal with a jerk at work? Whether it’s a toxic team member who loves nothing more than to suck the life and excitement out of her colleagues, the difficult coworker who isn’t happy unless the office is filled with mayhem and drama, or a bad boss who causes his employees to constantly dream of telling him to “Take this job and shove it!”, we’ve all had to deal with people on the job we would rather not.

And here's what I thought:  It never hurts to read a book like this, even if you don't work with a lot of difficult people. Economy breaks things down into different types of people, and then some practical advice on how to work with them.  Note -- not befriend them, not change them -- work with them.  If you do work with someone you find difficult, this book may also help because you might be able to figure out what type of person they are, and then go from them.  Quick read, but helpful.

Just One Damned Thing After Another

 Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor  335 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Behind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary's, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don't do 'time-travel' - they 'investigate major historical events in contemporary time'. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power - especially given their propensity for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet.

Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document - to try and find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions...and not to die in the process. But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And, as they soon discover - it's not just History they're fighting.

And here's what I thought:  This is a clever, funny, interesting story. I read this for a book group discussion, but otherwise wouldn't have picked up the book. But, once I started it, it was pretty good and a quick read. The main character has a dry sense of humor and she's very sensible, and she's also a good foil for some of the other characters. The author includes enough details that I found it somewhat easy to suspend my disbelief --- I could see this place existing!  

For readers who liked watching the TV show Timeless.  Also, if you enjoyed the book The Rook. 

Broken (in the Best Possible Way)

 Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson 285 pages

Summary from Goodreads:  As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.

With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.

And here's what I thought: Typical for her books, Jenny Lawson makes me laugh until I'm crying and then with the next chapter, makes me get choked up. Mostly, I laugh until I'm ready to cry - which is why I cannot read her books when I'm in bed before I go to sleep . . . I get way too punchy and laugh too much.  She's a little like Allie Brosh -- I can't relate to all of her stories, but I can relate to some of them. And that's what makes Jenny Lawson pretty awesome --- she's not afraid to bare it all, even if it's something ugly or sad. And she's there for the journey and takes you along with her.

By the way - I also cannot listen to her audiobooks in the car. I tried her first book on audio and was laughing so hard I had tears running down my face . . . which I could tell alarmed the person stuck next to me in traffic.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers  454 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family's strange and magical circus, it's the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother's journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations. 

And here's what I thought:  Secret circus? Sign me up!  If you like stories of circuses, and things like Cirque du Soleil, as well as dark fantasy, this is your book. I really enjoyed this book and the back-and-forth in time storytelling.  This circus is fascinating, but there's something very dark at play here and as the pages turn, more and more is revealed, bit by bit. A ticket may be something you want, but is it worth your soul?  Can you pay off a lifetime of bad acts by performing a circus act?  Definitely a dark story, and a bit of heartbreak here.  Smoothly paced, this story builds in intrigue with each page and there is a dark current running all the way through.