Category: Book Recommendations

For my library’s reading challenge this year, I needed to read a book by James Patterson, and I honestly wasn’t looking forward to it. However, I then remembered I had this book on my Kindle, and then I was excited. I have read many books about The Beatles, I have even read Cynthia Lennon’s memoir, so nothing in this book was new information. However, the way it was presented was new. I really enjoyed the way Patterson (and his co-writers) laid out this story. The prose was easy to read, and the book read like a suspense novel. If you have an interest in Lennon, but don’t want to delve into a denser biography, this is a good start.

This book was hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time. A woman dies, in a pretty hilarious way, and in her afterlife, she meets who she thinks is going to be her great love. Only, he was sent by mistake and is returned to earth. The woman is then given ten days to get him to kiss her and then she can have a second chance at life. What ensues is a lot of hilarious antics, and a lot about learning to live life to its fullest. This was a fun and easy read. And I couldn’t put it down. Warning: It did make me cry several times, but that may not be news to you, since if you know me IRL, you know that I cry at most romance novels.

Nerdy forty-somethings falling in love? Yes. Please! This book was something I didn’t know I needed. I think I saw it on X shared by the author, and I bought it. I finally got around to reading it, and I couldn’t put it down. Grumpy Sunshine novel where the girl is the grumpy? Also, yes. I devoured this book. It was hilarious. They play an online game together and he thinks she’s eighty and she thinks he’s twenty. Hilarity ensues, and also so much love. Highly recommend this, especially if you’re tired of romance novels being about people in their twenties.

The only thing I really knew Kelly Bishop from was The Gilmore Girls, but when I saw she had a memoir, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’m so glad I did. Did you know she originated one of the roles in A Chorus Line and the character she portrayed was semi-autobiographical? I sure didn’t! She is very outspoken and I fell in love with her through this book. I also cried. But, if you’ve made it this far in this post, you’ll notice I dod that a lot with books. She loved her role on Gilmore Girls and I think that made me happy. This is the second memoir of someone on the show I’ve read, and I’ve listened to Scott Patterson’s podcast. Knowing that the experience was beloved by the cast makes me love the show even more. It may be time for a rewatch…

This. Book. Easily in the top five books I’ve read this year, Eleanore of Avignon tells the story of a young midwife in 1348 Avignon, which is when the Plague arrived for the first time, decimating the population. Told through the point of view of a fictional character, but surrounded by historical figures, this book beautifully tells the story of life in the Medieval Papal States. It talks about the lives of women, the Jews, and how life in the city worked. When the plague hits, the descriptions about the toll it takes on the population will haunt you. If you’re a fan of feminist historical fiction, this is the book for you.

So, reading a memoir about a Christo Fascist Misogynistic Cult after this past election certainly was a choice I made, however, I loved One Tree Hill, and Haley was my favorite character, and I needed to read this. Highly recommend the audio, she has people come in and read their words. What Lenz experienced in her ten years in a cult was genuinely terrifying. I had to stop listening and give myself a break at times, especially near the end when she was trying to get her and her daughter out. Even if you weren’t a One Tree hill fan, I recommend reading ti. It’s a good read. She’s a great writer.