Book Review: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book for my summer book club, and it turned out to be very different from the typical selections from this group. Katherine Center is a new author for me, and I started the book not knowing what to expect.

Strong female characters are a favorite of this book club, and Cassie is no exception -- a 26-year old female firefighter on a totally male crew in Austin, Texas. However, her mother calls her from Massachusetts and asks her to move there to help her out for a year due to blindness in one eye. Reluctantly Cassie agrees, uproots her life, and takes a firefighter position with a very chauvinistic crew.

Cassie is excellent at her job, gives it at least 110%, and is proud at being an overachiever. She wants to prove herself with her new crew and consistently goes above and beyond, as well as accepting the frequent pranks with a smile. Things are a little rocky with the new crew, but she instantly bonds (a little too much) with the rookie, who started the same day. She is very wary of developing a friendship or relationship because of the warnings from her previous (female) captain. We slowly find out more about Cassie's background -- her relationship with her mother (who left the family on Cassie's 16th birthday) and an assault she experienced in high school.

This book was a real surprise. It's the story of an incredibly resilient woman in a male-dominated field. It's also a book about friendship and romance. In addition, I learned a lot about firefighters! All in all, I highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading more by this author!

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Book Review: The It Girl by Ruth Ware

The It Girl by Ruth Ware
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fantastic page-turner from Ruth Ware!  And of course I stayed up much too late in order to finish this book.

The story is set at Oxford University (England).  Shy Hannah is paired with wealthy and beautiful April as a roommate -- the "It Girl."  She is immediately immersed with April's friend group of Will, Hugh, Ryan and Emily, and they spend all their time with each other.  It's not a spoiler to reveal that April dies before the end of their first year at Oxford, and Hannah's testimony is instrumental in convicting the killer.  Fast forward 10 years and Hannah is married to Will and expecting their first child.  New evidence is uncovered which causes Hannah to seriously doubt what she saw.  Thus begins her quest to determine the truth about April's death.

I loved the sense of time and place that this book conveys -- Oxford, college days, academia, friendships.  The chapters alternate between "Before" and "After", and typically I don't like non-linear storytelling, but it really works here.  I was kept guessing throughout the book and read it in just a couple of days.  A solid 4 star thriller; highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Scout Press for an advanced reader copy of this title!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

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Book Review: The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Last year I read Sulari Gentill's The Woman in the Library, which I absolutely loved!  It started with a murder in the Boston Public Library, and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out what happened!

This book deals with Theo, a law school dropout who moves from Australia to Lawrence, Kansas to stay with her brother Gus, a lawyer.  She decides to focus on writing a novel instead and immerses herself in the literary community.  There's a murder, actually several murders, of people she has come in contact with.  

The plot is fast-paced, but I didn't think it was nearly as compelling as the previous book.  I really couldn't identify with Theo.  She was very impulsive and made a lot of poor choices and decisions.  Luckily Gus and his co-worker Mac were there to keep bailing her out of trouble, and I loved their camaraderie.  The story surrounds conspiracy theories and also focuses quite a bit on guns, gun ownership and gun violence.  My suggestion would be to read The Woman in the Library instead. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced reader copy.  

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

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Book Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry

Funny Story by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure -- I love Emily Henry's books.  She always manages to come up with very interesting and unique situations, to write believable characters, to have them encounter plausible obstacles, and most of all write incredible dialog!  I just immerse myself into the world in each of her books, wanting to be friends with her characters.

Funny Story has everything in my personal reading wheelhouse:  a children's librarian, set in Traverse City, Michigan, wine, books, and reading!  Daphne is the children's librarian who moved to northern Michigan with her fiance, whose family lives there.  At his bachelor party he realizes that he is in love with his childhood platonic friend and breaks up with Daphne.  In a twist of fate, she moves in with Miles, the ex-boyfriend of said childhood friend who needs a new roommate.  Daphne is an introvert trying to make her way in a relatively new town where all of her friends were actually her fiance's friends.  Miles serves as an unofficial area tour guide, and you can predict what happens next.

I just need Emily Henry to write faster!  It's difficult to wait for her next book.  However, it's gratifying to know that three of her books are in the process of being made into movies!  I can't wait!
https://www.today.com/popculture/books/emily-henry-movie-adaptations-rcna78519

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

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Book Review: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #2)

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book in this series is even more compelling than the first!  Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce and Ibrahim once again band together and face danger from multiple sources.  However, their creativity, resourcefulness, and experience save the day. 

I absolutely love these characters and the dialog -- I often find myself laughing out loud while reading this series.  Ron's visiting grandson, Kendrick, is a precocious 8-year old who plays a very important role in solving one of the mysteries.  I hope to see more of him in upcoming books.

As in the first book in the series, there are quite a few characters coming and going, both primary and peripheral.  Pay attention and read carefully or you'll need to go back and re-read sections.  

I'm looking forward to reading #3 in the this series!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

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