After You by Jojo Moyes

I almost didn't read this when I saw it was a sequel to Me Before You because generally sequels stink.  Glad I did though because this novel about Louisa's life after Will dies was excellent.  Again, Ms. Moyes does not go for the happily ever after ending, which I appreciate.

4.5 stars.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Ruth Jefferson, a black labor and delivery nurse, is charged with homicide when the newborn son of white supremacists dies.

The look inside the white supremacists movement was horrifying.  I can only hope that I will forget some of what I read.  Looking at Ruth's life is similarly upsetting, but for different reasons.  The way Ruth is treated by the white people around her and how she feels she needs to act because of this subtle racism is so sad.

I would have given this 5 stars, but I found the epilogue kind of hokey.

4.5 stars

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

Audio.
Read by Kathleen McInerney
14 hours

In 1952, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, three separate planes crash within 58 days.  This novel weaves the stories of the many people these events touch.

5 stars.

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple.

Eleanor makes a list of small ways to improve her life, starting now!  Not surprisingly, it all goes awry.

I had a little trouble following all the flashbacks and asides.  I don't remember having that trouble with Bernadette, but maybe I did.

3 stars.

Don't Ever Get Old by Daniel Friedman (Audio)

Read by Nick Sullivan.
8 hours.

Buck Schatz, former tough-guy cop, finds out the Nazi guard who almost killed him escaped Germany with a carload of gold.  Buck, a grumpy 87, and his grandson try to track down the guard and recover the treasure.

4 stars.

Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas (Audio)

Read by Barbara Caruso.   11 hours.

Denver, 1885.  Beret, in NY, receives word that her sister has been murder.  Further, the former society girl, was found working in a brothel.  What led to her sister's downfall and murder?  Beret travels by train to Denver and proceeds to "help" the detective on the case find the killer.

The look at historic Denver was very interesting to me. 

4 stars.

15th Affair by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.

Meh.  I don't know why I keep reading these, or trying to.  There are so many books out there.

Latest installment of the Women's Murder Club series.  Another mash-up of stories with hardly a resolution at the end.  Did they ever confirm who killed everyone at the Four Seasons?  If they did, I can't remember it, which doesn't bode well for the story.  Also, surprise* revelations about Lindsey's husband, Joe.   The real mystery is where they found this incredible babysitter who is available 24/7 and also cooks and cleans for them.  HAHAHAHA

2.5 stars.

Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Audio book.  11.5 hours.

Read by Heather Wilds.

Triplet sisters in Australia, there trials and triumphs.  Loved the story.  Loved the narrator.  I'm so glad the author didn't force a happy ending for everyone.

5 stars.

Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille

Audio:   10.5 hours.
Read by: Scott Brick.

Detective John Corey chasing Russians trying to explode a suitcase nuclear bomb in Manhattan. Very good.  I didn't like the reader at first, but he grew on me.

4 stars.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Good writing, but damn, what a sad story.

Can Louisa convince Will, a quadriplegic man in her care, not to kill himself?

4 stars.

Under the Influence by Joyce Maynard

Audio.    9.25 hours.

A struggling Helen is befriended by a wealthy couple, Ava and Swift Havilland.  But is the cost worth it?

4 stars.

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.

A retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Kate's father asks her to marry his lab assistant so that he can get a green card.  Kate's life seems to be going nowhere, so she agrees.

3.5 stars.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

Audio.    Read by Dan O'Grady.    7.5 hours.

Brilliant, but odd, Don Tillman tries to find a partner based on a highly organized, scientific questionnaire.  Many laugh out loud moments.

4 stars.

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline.

Audio.     Read by George Newbern.     13.5 hours.

Dr. Eric Parish, psychiatrist, finds his life falling apart shortly after taking in a new patient, Max.  Some twists and turns, but not particularly engrossing.  The reader did a good job.

3 stars.

It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell.

Audio book.  Read by the author.  7.5 hours

Ms. Mitchell details the rise and fall of her weight and how it affects her life.  The first part was interesting, but the last quarter or so was like an angst-filled teenage diary.  Having the author narrate was not an attribute to this material.

3 stars.

Violent Crimes by Philip Margolin.

An Amanda Jaffe Novel.

Lawyer Amanda represents two clients, both of whom end up accused of murdering the same man, among others.  Of course, Amanda figures everything out and saves the day.  Ethical concerns later cloud her victory celebration.

The story was good in the beginning, but the ending got very convoluted, hence the 3 star rating.

3 stars.

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.

Young mother gets a cancer diagnosis at the same time her father does.  Their stories.

3.5 stars.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

Audio.  Read by Dan O'Grady.

9 hours.

Socially awkward professor's wife gets pregnant on purpose without telling him.  Proceeds to treat him poorly and ultimately decide to leave him and return to Australia.  Friends + desperate move by Don + airport confusion lead to happy ending.  I liked Don and his friends, but I really started to dislike the wife, Rosie.  Great characterization though and a very good job by  the reader.

3.5 stars

Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results by Stephen Guise.

Easy to read and follow formula for making positive life changes.  The plan is working for me for now.  I will upgrade to 5 stars if my new habits stick, and if I remember.

4 stars.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan.

Audio book.  Read by the author.

5.5 hours.

Heartbreaking at times story of how the author finally bonds with her mother, the self-proclaimed glue of the family, where the father is the glitter.

I'm not sure if it would have been quite as good in print form because the author doing her parents' voices was great.

5 stars.

Ghost Hero by S.J. Rozan

Audio book.  8 hours, 57 minutes.  Read by Emily Woo Zeller.

Detectives Lydia Chin and Bill Smith investigate possible fraud in the art world when rumors of new paintings surface by Chinese artist Chau, the Ghost Hero, who supposedly died in Tienamen Square.

Loved the voices except the Bill Smith one.  Although the Vladamir voice (Bill in disguise) was awesome.

4 stars.

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

Audio book:  7 hours.

Read by the author.

Usually the phrase "read by the author" is a deal killer for me with audio books.  Maybe I was in a rush or didn't notice when I was at the library, but I was in the car and needed a book, so even when it announced read by the author, I decided to give it a try.  Better than nothing, right?

The story is about a gas explosion that kills a family on the eve of the daughter's wedding.  The bride's mother, June, is the only survivor.  The novel is told from many viewpoints, but the characterization is so good, that it is (mostly) easy to keep track of who is who.  While I wouldn't call this chick-lit, it is a slow moving story about people and their lives.  The backstory of the characters is told and you ultimately see how interwoven society really is.

5 stars.

Find Her by Lisa Gardner

Flora Dane was kidnapped and held by a man for over a year.  So, how, after she killed him, can she be kidnapped again, possibly by the same man?

Readable, but not my favorite book.  The coffin part was too creepy, even for me.

3.5 stars.

Second Life by S.J. Watson

Read by Susan Lyons.

Audio book: 13 hours.

Grief at her sister's death sends a housewife/mother down a road that leads to self destruction.

Interesting story with a decent plot twist at the end.  My biggest complaint was some of the stupid things the protagonist, Julia, does had me talking back to the radio.  Otherwise, good characterization, dialog, plot.

4 stars.

All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke

Typical MHC suspense novel.  I thought I could read her again after being burned out for a while, but I guess it is still too soon, even though I think it's been years.  

This story was about a television producer who re-examines cold cases.  Interesting enough concept, but I thought the end was kind of weak.  I didn't see any signs in retrospect that the killer was, well, the killer.

3 stars.  

Love May Fail by Matthew Quick

Audio book, 12 hours.

Read by Cris Dukehart, Jim Meskimen, Lorna Raver, Tonya Campos, & Tim Fannon.

Highly improbable story of a woman, Portia Kane, who sets off to save her former high school English teacher who, after suffering a brutal attack in the classroom, becomes a suicidal loner.

Book was ok to listen to, but I wouldn't recommend.  Perhaps someone who believes in divine intervention might enjoy the story more.

3 stars.

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

Audio book:  8 hours, 46 minutes.

Read by the Author.

The story of Tim Farnsworth, a successful lawyer who develops a disorder where he can not control his urge to walk.  This compulsion costs him his career, his family, and ultimately his life.

Normally, I don't care for works read by the author, but Mr. Ferris did an admirable job.

For the most part, I liked this book, but certain scenes went on way too long.

3 stars.