The Ex by Alafair Burke

 Audio.  7.75. hours

Read by Xe Sands.

Olivia defends her former fiance when murder charges are brought against him.  But did he do it?

4.5 stars

The Noise by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

A strange noise is causing people to run non-stop.  Is it some kind of warfare?  Something naturally occurring?  Honestly, by halfway through I stopped caring.

 I had high hopes for this, as J.D. Barker has collaborated on at least one book I enjoyed.  This book was just too long.  I don't know how else to say it.  I literally had to force myself to read the last 10 pages so I could return the book to the library.

2 stars.

3 Days to Live by James Patterson, et al

 This was a collection of 3 novellas: 3 Days to Live, Women and Children First, and The Housekeepers.

All were readable, but rather implausible.  Women and Children First was the best of the three.

3.5 stars on average.

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

 I was so excited to see a new book by Ms. Ng.  I loved Little Fires Everywhere.  This book did not grab me the same way.  Dystopian fiction about the plight of Asian Americans after The Crisis.  I get that Asian hate is a thing now, though I can't imagine why.  So I guess this book provides a glimpse of that at an extreme level, so maybe important to read, but not as enjoyable as her other books.

3.5 stars.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Audio.  9 hours, 9 minutes.

Read by George Newbern.

Set in Sweden, Ove is an old man ready to die, but things keep popping up, thwarting his plans.  I actually teared up at the end, very unlike me.

Finished this in January, but forgot to log it.

5 stars.

 

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner

 Three generations get together at the family homestead on Cape Cod for Ruby's wedding.

I almost gave up on this book a dozen pages in or so.  I'm glad I stuck with it.  Great characterization, although there were some coincidences that were hard to believe.

4 stars.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Audio.  15 hours.

Read by Carrie Coon and Key Taw.

Lily, a young woman, is found dead.  Was it an accident?  Or did her boyfriend, Asher, learn Lily's secret and kill her?

Interesting twists and a lot of information about bees.

4.5 stars.