Any book that Oprah picks is usually one I like. I so miss her old book club. She chose Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker and I knew why just from the first 10%! It’s the story of a family of 12 kids, six of whom have schizophrenia. I could not put this book down and, even though it was lengthy, read it in two days. It was that good. I absolutely recommend it and will add it to my list of best books of the year.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore is another book that’s been on my list for a while. The library, as I have mentioned, while closed, has been a great source for Kindle books. This is the complicated mystery/thriller tale of Mickey and Kasey who were abandoned by their parents, raised by their grandmother, and ended up in two completely different circumstances. Mickey, a police officer, patrols the area where Kasey, a drug addict, spends her days. There is much complication and corruption between their two lives. This book carried on at a good clip and it was suspenseful and not easily predictable. So, I would recommend it if this is a genre you enjoy.

I have had My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell on my list for a long time and the audiobook came up on Hoopla, so I have been listening to it on my walks. It was dark, disconcerting (think Lolita), and not much to my liking. And, then it was due at the library when I had six hours left to go. Did I try to renew it? No. So, this one isn’t on my recommended list, but to be fair, I didn’t finish it.

I had high hopes for The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver, thinking it might be a Sliding Doors type of story. Rather, it is her waking life and her dream life. While this wasn’t a terrible story, it wasn’t as good as I had hoped. Lydia’s fiance dies in a car crash and she is having a tough time recovering. In her dream life, he is still alive and she escapes frequently. This is a summer read for sure, but not one I would wholeheartedly recommend.

Windfall by Jennifer Smith was an OK read, but the whole way through I kept thinking, it seems like a teenage story. Well, as it turns out, it’s YA. As you know, I don’t like YA. And, while this was decent YA, it didn’t have enough depth for me. And, there was a terrible loose end that just faded away with no explanation. Overall, I was disappointed in this one because I went it thinking it was one thing and discovered it was another.

I don’t usually listen to audiobooks, but to stay sane lately, my long walks have included listening to books. It’s been a nice change from my murdery podcasts. This Will Only Hurt a Little was recommended by a friend. I didn’t even know who Busy Phillips was, so I didn’t have the context for this memoir that many people would have. However, I loved it anyway. It was a great memoir on it’s own and read by Busy herself, which livened it up a lot – the voice she has for her mother is priceless. It’s sad and funny and everything in-between. A great read, I am sure, but also a terrific listen.

Godshot by Chelsea Bieker had a gorgeous cover, covered in gold. Don’t let that reel you in. I found this book to be tedious and almost gave up on it multiple times. I only read to the end, as often happens to me, to find out what happened to the pregnant 15-year-old in the cult. Yes, it’s a cult book, but not the type that draws you in. This one was choppily told and not very interesting. I’d certainly give it a pass if I were you.