It was a very detailed and amazing book with lots of twists and turns awaiting you around every bend.

It was a really good read.

For readers who have met New York author (and eventual resident of Maine) Lucy Barton in Strout’s other books, this is an interesting deep dive into her life. It focuses on a period in. Barton’s life where her children were young and she is in the hospital for nine weeks with a severe infection following routine surgery. Not sure if I would have enjoyed this story if I hadn’t read about Barton in Strout’s other books.

This Julie Soto book has been on my radar for a while and I finally read it for a summer reading bingo. I liked the two main characters and their chemistry. The side characters also added to the story and were entertaining/enjoyable. The dual narration was great. I’m not the biggest tattoo fan, but Elliot’s body ink was cool, and I loved all the floral and wedding elements in the book.

I love it because some days you just feel grumpy

This book is a sequel to Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley.

interesting book

i love how there's dragons and how there are people that can control them

I really wanted to love this book! It came onto my radar because I follow the author’s nycbookgirl instagram for bookish content. The idea of a love story in an art museum with magical realism sounded like such an amazing premise, and the lovely cover sets a nice tone. The book got off to a solid start but fragments into multiple disparate plot twists (one of which involved the pandemic, which took the book out of the present for me). I also felt like the emotional declarations between the two main characters felt too big and instalove for my taste. Still, someday when I come across Matisse’s The Music Lesson, I will immediately think of this book and all that it strove to achieve. I listened to the dual narration audiobook on Libby.

Teen Colby is still recovering from the death of her mother and struggles to cope with long absences from her long haul trucker dad. When Colby is dumped by her secret summer girl friend, it’s almost too much for her to bear. Over the next few months her grades slip and Colby lashes out at her friends and supporters. When a three-legged dog arrives in her life, Colby has companionship and new responsibilities. Lots of drama and turmoil, but mostly happy endings all around.