I have to admit that I slogged through America’ First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. In fact, it was only until I realized that the book was due back to the library that I had a fire lit under me to get to it and finish it. While the story was interesting, the pace was too slow and I kept thinking I would abandon it over and over. I am glad I stuck with it, because it was an interesting story, but I don’t know that I would recommend it unless you’re a historical fiction fan.

Girl in the Woods by Aspen Matis has been on my to-read list for a long time. I am not even sure how it got there. It’s basically Wild with a different trigger. Aspen is raped her second day of college, ends up dropping out before the end of her freshman year, and to heal, hikes the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. At first, I wanted to give up on this – too much like Wild, but not as good. But, I am glad I stuck with it. Matis has a clear way of writing that pulls you in and engulfs you in her story. I found myself completely lost and wanting to find out her ending. I was surprised to learn that she had walked the trail and written the book before Strayed published Wild. In fact, her story was kind of scooped. Nevertheless, this is worth reading, even if you read Wild.

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin is a fascinating story that pulls you in right from the start. No matter what your belief in reincarnation, The Forgetting Time certainly makes you believe it’s possible. Noah, four, is being raised by Jamie, a single mom. He won’t take baths, has terrible nightmares, and insists that Jamie returns him to his other mother. Psychiatrist after psychiatrist tell her there’s nothing wrong with Noah, but she knows something isn’t right. Enter Jerome Anderson, who studies children who have had past lives. He and Jamie work together to help Noah and, in doing so, solve a crime. It’s good reading that will keep you on the edge of your seat. My only complaint is that everything is solved long before the end of the book and it kind of fades out until the last page. On the whole, however, this was an enjoyable read.

Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley is a story about two sisters, Cassie and Sid, who decide to keep in touch by letter, rather than email while Sid is in Singapore. Unfortunately, Cassie chooses to scan copies of her letters and mistakenly posts them to her blog, revealing more than she wants to about her marriage, Sid’s marriage, and her family. This story was too shallow for my liking and I found it preposterous in this day and age that Cassie wouldn’t have figured out what was happening while it was happening. It was a quick read, though, and well-suited to summer beach reading.

Having adored A Man Called Ove, I was nervous to read another Backman book, but I was a intrigued when good reviews kept coming out about Britt-Marie Was Here, so I gave it a try. And, though I liked it, didn’t hold a candle to Ove. Britt-Marie has left her husband and finds a job in a small town whose economy has tanked and is losing its residents. In taking over as the custodian for the community center, she is forced to examine her fastidiousness and simultaneously learns a great deal about herself. It’s a sweet story in many ways, but Britt-Marie was a bit annoying and I didn’t feel invested in her the way I did Ove. I also didn’t like the open-ended ending. This wasn’t a bad read, but not a favorite either.

I enjoyed I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. It was a fast-paced thriller with unpredictable twists and turns. However, about 3/4 of the way through, I discovered that what I thought had been happening hadn’t really been happening. And, I can’t figure out if that was the author’s intent, or if I just didn’t read carefully enough. I think the former. Nevertheless, this was a good debut. I can’t really even describe the plot now that I know what I know. Amazon says: “On a rainy afternoon, a mother’s life is shattered as her son slips from her grip and runs into the street . . .” The story is told in alternating chapters by Jenna who runs away from the scene of the crime and the police trying to solve the case. Thank goodness for the alternation, because the police chapters allow for one’s heart to stop racing before heading back for more. Now I need to move out of the thriller, British crime realm!!

I have a love-like relationship with Curtis Sittenfeld’s books. I enjoyed reading Prep, particularly because Sittenfeld had been a writer-in-residence at St. Albans. I also have fond memories of holding nursing Will in the crook of one arm while holding Prep in my other hand. I also enjoyed An American Wife. Sisterland, though, I thought was a disappointment. So, when Eligible came along with mediocre reviews, I was a bit wary. However, while I would say there were flaws for sure, and it could never hold up to Pride and Prejudices, it was an entertaining eye into the lives of the Bennet sisters, and an enjoyable-enough read. It’s perfect for this summer at the beach.

Having read Beatrix Williams’ other books (A Hundred Summers, reviewed here, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, reviewed here, and Tiny Little Thing, reviewed here), I was excited to pick up another, Along the Infinite Sea. And, it did not disappoint. In the same way the the other three books were a bit predictable, you could see some of the action in Along the Infinite Sea coming, but it didn’t detract from an enjoyable, well-woven tale. Pepper Schuyler, the protagonist, has gotten herself into a bit of a pickle by getting pregnant with a married man. Fortunately for her, Annabelle Dommerich, takes Pepper under her wing. The story bounces back and forth from the 30s to the 60s so that you learn about both women’s complicated pasts. This was an interesting love story times two.

I love Anna Quindlen. I have loved all her books and essays. Her writing is both simple and lyrical. And, her stories are good. I was excited to read her latest, Miller’s Valley, and it didn’t disappoint. This is a quiet story of a family living in an area that the government wants to flood before nature does. The ups and downs of the main character, Mimi’s, life keep you reading and interested until the end. The story wasn’t too complex and I did have a little bit of an issue with the “revelation” told in the last few pages, but it was enjoyable overall and worth a read.

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz is a fast-paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A woman is running from the law after she finds her husband dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. As you read, however, you discover that nothing is what it seems, including people she befriends along the way as she flees the scene. While I did finish this one, the story was shallow and not particularly well-developed. As with What She Knew (reviewed here), I would save this for a beach read. It’s good as a thriller, but nothing that is going to require much of your brain.