Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen was a disappointment. I was looking forward to it, as I really love Quindlen’s writing, but overall, it was a let-down – well-written but boring. It’s the story of a family, living in NYC, on a close-knit cul-de-sac, and their relations with their neighbors. The block is torn apart by a violent incident mid-way through the book. It is really the story of Nora and Charlie’s marriage, told from the perspective of what is happening around them. But, it’s obvious from the start what is going to happen and the “terrible incident” wasn’t really so dramatic as to completely upend the whole rest of the story. If I were you, I would give this one a skip.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is NOT great literature. But for an edge-of-your-seat-thrill-ride, this one is it. I couldn’t put it down. The first 3/4 were better than the last 1/4 which slowed down and kinda petered out until the end. However, it was still worth reading. It’s hard to describe this book without giving anything away. As you read, you make assumptions about who the narrator is and what her obsessions are. Basically, it seems to be a story told by an ex-wife about her ex-husband’s new paramour. And, that’s all I can say. It’s worth a read if you enjoy a good thriller.

Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan was a recommendation from my former colleague who always makes such good recommendations. This book was no exception. And, while I am a bit tired of WWII, this took a different angle – Italy and no real in-depth coverage of the well-known atrocities. Atrocities were certainly part of the story, but not the focus. It was a fascinating story and moved at a great pace. It’s the true tale of Pino Lella who lives in Milan with his family and how he becomes involved with the resistance. I very much enjoyed it and highly recommend it – one of the best books I’ve read all year.

Whew. Looking for a thriller that you won’t be able to put down? The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn is fantastic, though disconcerting, to say the least. An unreliable, post-traumatic-stress-suffering, agoraphobe tells the tale, which is simultaneously impossible to put down and cringe-worthy. Anna, a psychologist, watches and keeps track of all her neighbors. She has suffered a mysterious trauma (we don’t learn what it is until mid-way through) and can’t leave the house. One night, through wine and pills, she witnesses the across the street neighbor’s murder. But, did she?

In short, The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close is worth skipping. While I did finish it, I really didn’t enjoy it. It seemed like it would be a good read – based in DC, young couples who make friends and run a political campaign together – but the story was just not very interesting, the characters weren’t likable, and it fell generally flat. Overall, a disappointment.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin has been on a bunch of must-read lists. I would give it a skip, though, if I were you. The premise is appealing – four siblings meet a fortune-teller who tells them the exact day of each of their deaths and then they live out their lives. We follow each sibling section-by-section. For whatever reason, though, I slogged through this one and was really ready for it to end. I didn’t like any of the characters and the story wasn’t particularly appealing even though each section had interesting moments.

The Glass Forest by Cynthia Swanson was a decent read – enough suspense and intrigue to keep you going and a unique story. I enjoyed her last book, The Bookseller, as well (reviewed here). The Glass family is full of secrets. Angie has just married Paul and they have just had a baby. One night they get a call from Paul’s niece, Ruby, that his brother has committed suicide and her mother has disappeared. Angie and Paul (and their baby, PJ) leave immediately for New York to help Ruby. Alternating chapters are from Angie, Silja (Ruby’s mother) and Ruby’s perspective. I didn’t predict the ending until I got there. Highly recommend as a great diversion from real life!

Before We Were Yours is my book club pick for this month. It’s two stories. One is about the Tennessee Orphans Home, a place that stole babies from their homes and sold them to wealthy families. The other is about a senator’s daughter who comes home to help her parents and discovers mysteries about her family’s past (which of course intersect with the historical story). It was a good read and interesting (based in historical fact), but tied up much too neatly and quickly at the end. It could have been shorter on the front end and longer at the close. Nevertheless, it was a good read and well worth picking up.

Run out and grab Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach – it’s on sale for the Kindle for only $1.99. The story is a quick romp through the mania that gripped Holland in the 1630s. It’s also the tale of a clever deception. You get a glimpse into the artists of the time. I picked this one up on the suggestion of my former colleague who makes the great recommendations and I am glad I did. It was most enjoyable.

When Oprah chooses a book, it’s usually worth picking up. And, An American Marriage absolutely falls into this category. Celestial and Roy meet in college and get married after remeeting afterward. As they get used to the routines of being married, Roy is arrested and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. At first, in their letters, you know they will make it through, and then, things don’t work out as you might expect. When Roy’s conviction is overturned and he tries to return to his pre-jail life, everything’s confused. I really enjoyed this story and had a hard time putting it down. It’s fascinating and heartbreaking. I would definitely pick it up.