Hollow Bones

Jodi Picoult has always been one of my go-to favorite writers. I’ve loved so many of her books that, years later, I still think about them. I don’t know whether my tastes have changed or this particular book simply wasn’t for me, but Hollow Bones too long and overstuffed. The story begins in the aftermath of 9/11, when Eloise disappears and is presumed dead, leaving behind her husband, Adam, and their two-month-old daughter, Molly. Eloise’s best friend, Evie, steps in as Molly’s surrogate mother and eventually marries Adam. Twenty-five years later, their lives are still shaped by what happened. The premise is compelling, and the book’s exploration of survival, grief, and postpartum psychosis is genuinely interesting. As always, Picoult’s writing and character development are excellent. The problem (editing?) is that there are so many characters and storylines, each with such an extensive backstory, they sometimes feel like separate books. They eventually connect, but much of the detail felt unnecessary, and were unrealistic. At 464 pages, the book dragged considerably. In the beginning I was completely invested, but somewhere around the halfway point, it began to lose me. I wish the story had been tighter and more focused. Thanks Netgalley for the early peek. Releases in September. ⭐⭐⭐

 

The Wild Beneath

Annie grows up aboard a sailboat with her parents, Aiden and Mara, spending her childhood traveling  around the remote island where her father was raised. Homeschooled aboard the boat “sailboat school” and nicknamed Little Fish, Annie is more at home in the water than almost anywhere else. Her mother, has an even deeper and somewhat mysterious connection to the sea, adding a lovely touch of magical realism to a story filled with extraordinarily vivid descriptions of the ocean and it's creatures. The one constant in Annie’s life on land is Evan, her childhood best friend and first love, who longs for something more permanent with a girl who has never learned how to stay in one place. When Annie is a young woman, a devastating tsunami strikes the island and changes all of their lives forever. This book is a beautifully written page-turner filled with romance, family, loss, and just enough magic to make it dreamy. I can understand the comparisons to Wild Dark Shore, although this one leans further into the mystical connection between humans and the natural world. A great book to lose yourself in this summer. Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Good Parts

Landon and Rose are college sweethearts whose beautiful and loving relationship is shattered by an unbearable tragedy. Told through alternating timelines, Rose’s memories of their life together and Landon’s efforts to find her afterward, The Good Parts introduces an intriguing world in which a pill can erase a person’s past. Rose chooses to take it, hoping to escape her grief and begin a new life, while Landon tracks her down and hopes she might somehow fall in love with him twice. I was immersed in their romance and fascinated by the book’s questions about memory, trauma, and what the body or heart might retain even when the mind forgets. And I really enjoyed the Edinburgh setting. Unfortunately, the story became increasingly repetitive midway through, and the writing never felt strong enough to support such a magical premise. Although I really liked the first half, by the end I was ready for it to be over and no matter how interesting a book may be, I never think that is how a reader should feel. ⭐⭐⭐

The Truth About Ruby Cooper

By Liz Nugent/Book Review

When Ruby Cooper is raped at sixteen, the lives of everyone connected to the tragedy begin to unravel. The story looks back at what happened through the years that followed and how it destroyed the once inseparable sisters. After Liz Nugent’s phenomenal Strange Sally Diamond, I could not wait to read this book! The opening 30% confirmed everything I had hoped—it was gripping, unsettling and impossible to put down. And then, it inexplicably fell apart. The writing began to feel as though it belonged to an entirely different author. The story became predictable and repetitive, the characters behaved so badly that I stopped caring what happened to them, and the words felt weirdly robotic. Rather than watching the story unfold, I felt as though it was being summarized for me. The premise had real potential, and I pushed myself to finish but was deeply disappointed. Releases in the U.S. February 2027. I thank netgalley for the early peek but my vote is - readerfriends, don't waste your time. ⭐⭐

 

Sunlight Finds You

By Laura Moriarty/Book Review

Nora moves with her family to St. Petersburg, Florida, then a sleepy little beach town. Her father has finally remarried, and Nora and her siblings are ready for a fresh start. She is a studious high school student—kind, intelligent, and seemingly incapable of telling a lie. One day she meets Leonard, a boy a year ahead of her, in the school courtyard. They connect over their shared love of reading and quickly become inseparable. Leonard is brilliant, with a bright future that has been meticulously planned by his overbearing parents. Nora does not fit into those plans, and as the young couple grows more serious, Leonard’s parents will do whatever it takes to protect their precious son. Although Nora’s stepmother, Mae, tries to be understanding, it is the early 1950s, and single women, sex, and anything considered promiscuous are not treated with tolerance or compassion. Without giving away any spoilers, this is a heartfelt story about young love and the kinds of secrets that can fester within a family. I really enjoyed this quick read, my first by Laura Moriarty (no relation to Liane), and highly recommend it. Releases August 4. Thanks NetGalley for the early peek! ⭐⭐⭐⭐