This book club year started off pretty normal, and we had a few great reads – including our second special holiday book – before everything changed in the new year. We made the quick switch to virtual meetings, and got several ‘extra’ books in, and I miss meeting with the ladies but I have to say, we really made the best out of it!
September
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson. We started the season with this thriller from one of my favorite authors. While some of the more mystical elements of Jackson’s books was absent from this one, it definitely kept us on our toes and was a gripping, fast-paced read.
October
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. This book was so beautifully written, and it will stay with me for a long time. It’s definitely a character driven story about a family dealing with some very real things, so that might not be for everyone who looks to reading as more of an escape, but Keane’s novel really gives a realistic perspective of families making the best of difficult situations, yet finding the beauty in it all.
November
Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey. For all the rom-com lovers out there (who doesn’t love ‘Sleepless in Seattle?’), this is a quick, fun read that’s sure to brighten up your reading list. A little outlandish, the storyline keeps you engaged and entertained and was overall a great break from the much more serious ‘Ask Again, Yes.’
December
City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. This was our holiday pick, and it would be hard to find something more heartwarming or mouth-watering – there are so many amazing descriptions of baked goods in this book, that alone makes it perfect for the holiday season.
January – March
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim. Our first book of 2020, Miracle Creek is a legal drama/thriller that really explores some deep themes, such as responsibility, parenthood, family dynamics, loyalty, and identity. This book definitely brought up some great discussion, and I’ve recommended it many times to friends and family as a complex, intriguing, moving read.
April
You Are Not Alone by Hendricks and Pekkanen. Another fun thriller, this was the first time we read a book by a repeat author (we read The Wife Between Us a few years ago). After a bit of a break, it was a good way to get back into things. Like most of this duo’s books, this one is fast-paced and keeps you guessing (though I did like The Wife Between Us a bit more).
May
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Ah, the great book/author controversy of 2020. Read more about it HERE. I couldn’t resist buying this book because of the cover (for obvious reasons), and I really wanted to go into this book with an open mind, while being conscious of the potential issues. Overall, it was a good story that I think highlights some important aspects of the struggles that immigrants face. That being said, there are some problematic aspects, and I agree with the criticism that it is not the seminal work of the Mexican immigrant as the book was marketed to be, and that it’s important to read books written by people who have actually experienced these situations first hand. It is a work of fiction, and from that lens, we enjoyed it and had a great discussion.
Bonus Book: Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. Being stuck inside due to the pandemic, a lot of us were getting a lot more reading time in than usual, so we decided to slip in a ‘bonus book’ here and there. This book was unbelievably heartwarming, with a little bit of a mystical element, and it was just what we needed to take a little bit of a break from the heaviness of the year.
June
Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster. Such a FUN summer read. The perfect way to kick off the ‘beach reading’ season. This book had it all – the perfect summer setting (Martha’s Vineyard), a ‘life of the rich’ perspective, a little mystery and scandal, and an unexpected romantic story line, and we really, really enjoyed it! It was my top recommendation for the ‘what should I read this summer’ questions I get.
Bonus Book: Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Oh my goodness, such an unexpectedly amazing book with a ridiculous premise (children who burst into flames), but it ends up being so much more. We absolutely love it, and this book has given me something great to recommend to those who might not read much (it’s a quick one) or those who aren’t usually into the more dramatic-fiction that we often read in the club.
July
The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett. I can’t say enough about this book. Not only is it a great story about identity, family, and resilience, this absolute work of art really allowed us to explore some complex topics regarding race, racism, the history of our country and communities with regards to race and racism, and the effects on individuals and families because of it. It was a very timely read, and we had a great discussion regarding things that we should talk about much more openly and often.
Bonus Book: A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight This was another really fun, really summer-y read, that was slightly racier than our other choices! It’s a legal thriller with a very interesting story line surrounding a somewhat adult party held (at least in the book) in a Brooklyn neighborhood every summer. We had a small group read this, and it was honestly one of the most fun discussions we’ve had about any book.
August
Strangers and Cousins by Leah Hager Cohen. This was an interesting read with a unique format that a lot of us struggled through, honestly. The ‘stream of consciousness’ writing style was very well done for the effect of the story, but not necessarily our cup of tea, yet, the actual story did keep us interested and we were largely glad we powered through it. We had a great discussion on weddings, family, anti-semitism, and it was a slightly different, yet good, way to end our ‘summer reading.’
Images: Amazon