A Beautiful, Terrible Thing: A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal by Jen Waite was not the best-written piece I have ever chosen, but it was compelling and quick. The chapters alternate between before Jen realizes that her husband is having an affair (which he adamantly denies over and over) and after. I kept thinking that a shoe was going to drop and something was going to surprise me, but it didn’t. This was a sad story, but nothing earth-shattering and somewhat predictable. I couldn’t put it down, however, and, as it is a memoir, you have to feel bad for Ms. Waite, especially as she figured all of this out with a colicky newborn. Worth a read? Yes, especially if you like memoirs.

After slogging through Ken Follett, Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent was a delight. It was short, suspenseful, and enjoyable. In the first chapter, Oliver kills his wife. In subsequent chapters, we learn who he is piece by piece from his friends and acquaintances over the years. While an unsettling story, overall, it was a good one, and I recommend it as a quick and interesting read.

Wondering where I’ve been lately? Well, it’s the busy season at work AND I’ve been mired in a 900 page Ken Follett – a bad combination. When all is said and done, I should have passed on the Follett. I have always loved his historical fiction and thought this one would be equally enjoyable, but at this point in life, it was WAY too long. Once I got partway through, though, there was no giving up. If you are a fan of Follett, by all means take on A Column of Fire, a tale of the religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants during 1500s. But I wouldn’t grab it unless you are really ready to settle in for a LONG one.

Well, 2018 has started off well in the book realm for me. The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s hard to put down (even to watch “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which, sidebar, is another gripping way to spend some time). Alice and Jake, a lawyer and therapist, respectively, have just married and received a crazy wedding present – membership in an elite group, The Pact. While the goal of the group is simple – to keep marriages alive and thriving – the cost is anything but simple. But, when Alice and Jake want out, things become complicated. Amazing literature? No, certainly not. Keep you reading for all 400+ pages? Absolutely.

Looking for a cozy read for this cold weather? Like Maeve Binchy? Then you’ll enjoy The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan. While Colgan’s stories take place in Scotland, rather than Ireland, they have the same feel as Binchy’s Irish tales. This is nothing deep or meaningful, but it’s a good, if predictable, story that keeps the pages turning, even though the ending is just what you expect. Flora left her Scottish island for London and hasn’t returned. She works in a law office and has fallen in love with her boss. When she is forced back home for a case, she realizes what she missed and learns about herself and her family in the process. I would say this is a perfect summer read, but it worked as a snuggle-up selection as well.

My first book of 2018, Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie was OK, but not fantastic. The story is of an immigrant family. Isma has finally moved to America to pursue her degree after raising her younger siblings, Aneeka and Parvaiz, since their parents’ deaths. But, she continues to worry about the twins, with good reason. Parvaiz has followed in his late father’s footsteps as a jihadist. Aneeka is in a relationship with Eamonn, the son of a political figure who has a history with their father. Everything gets tangled with devastating consequences. The last 50 pages were amazing and made the book worth reading, but the first 200+ were a bit too slow for me. Overall, I think this one is worth adding to your TBR pile, but it wasn’t a favorite of mine. Only upward this year…

I snuck in one more quick book to end 2017 (it took about an hour to read), The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. It’s a novella about the queen discovering that she likes books – and subsequently being consumed by them. The queen reminded me of the queen in The BFG by Roald Dahl. What a delightful romp for the last of the year. I highly recommend if you are looking for something sweet and quick.

Every year, at the end of the year, I look back on all the books I have read the year before and list my favorites overall. The added bonus of this post is that you don’t have to bother to read any of my other posts over the course of the year!

There were three five-star books this year:

And here’s the bulkier list of four-and-a-half stars:

As usual, there were lots of fours this year – too many to include among the favorites. As I say every year to those three fans I have, thank you for reading my thoughts on books and keep the recommendations coming – any great reads for you in 2017 that I need to add to my TBR list?

So, the last book of 2017 was a disappointment. I loved the idea of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. The beginning was full of fun and wickedly entertaining. But, while the history and weaving of the fictitious character into real events was neat, I found myself skimming and wishing the book would end long before it did. Allan Karlsson, after a very full life (told in mostly alternating chapters), leaves his nursing home shortly before a birthday party is being thrown in his honor. The accidental misadventures on his journey made me laugh out loud and that part of the story was most enjoyable. The history of his life, while interesting, bogged down the rest of the book and kept me from truly enjoying this one more.