Book Reviews

 Here are a few things I've been reading recently.

Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, Adult fiction, 2025

What it's about: Nora marries an older man and becomes part of the rich elite in a Florida town. Or I should say, is rejected by the other rich, gossipy women of the town. Her husband ends up missing, and she has to solve his disappearance to save herself.

What did I think? I generally don't read society, relationship novels, but the suspense of what happened to Nora's husband made this an interesting read.

What did others think? It was a pick for the Read with Jenna book club, and there are still holds on it at the library even though it's been out for a year. Good Reads and Amazon give it a B+.*

* Goodreads and Amazon have different rating systems, so I generalized with letter grades.

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, Adult historical fiction, 2025

What it's about: In 1963, four women in a new neighborhood form a book club and read The Feminine Mystique. It opens their eyes and gives them a new perspective as they navigate the difficulties of their lives. The book does a good job of reminding us of how many fewer privileges women had at that time.

What did I think? At first, I thought the book was a little preachy and wondered whether it would go beyond the women's rights issues. But soon, the characters and their lives became center stage, and the challenges women faced at that time became just another "character", instead of the main "character". Also, the book has incredible detail in its descriptions of the products, styles, etc., of the 1960s. I found this interesting to a point, but thought there was too much of that at times. However, overall, I enjoyed the book.

What did others think? We read this book in book club, and the club really liked it. It provided for an interesting discussion as others shared the prejudices they had faced as women. The Book Club for Troublesome Women has also appeared on several bestseller lists and in book club picks.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, Adult fiction, 2025

What it's about: 70-something, Sybil, has written letters all of her life to friends, family, authors, politicians, and to anyone and everyone she wants to. We read her letters and learn about her life as a retired attorney and divorced mother with two adult living children and one who died in childhood. She has a degenerative eye disease and is going blind. She also struggles with the fact that she was adopted.

What did I think? I enjoyed the book's letter format and the variety of letters shared, ranging from the mundane to deeply personal, and I enjoyed getting to know Sybil that way. At times, I had to put the book down because of the various traumas that were being described. However, the book had satisfactory endings to the different story threads. I missed reading Sybil's missives when the book ended.

What did others think? The book's popularity spread by word of mouth and is now on many bestseller lists and best-of lists. I was on the wait-list at the library behind hundreds of other people, so locally it is a popular book. One acquaintance said that she has read it three times already. 

The Ghost Writer by Julie Clark, Adult mystery thriller, 2025

What it's about: Olivia is a professional ghost writer who currently can't get a job because of her outspokenness. She accepts a job writing a memoir for her estranged father, who wants to tell the real story of what happened when his two siblings were murdered 50 years ago. He has a degenerative disease that affects him both physically and mentally, including having hallucinations. Olivia has to figure out what is real and what isn't in her father's memories. Tension slowly builds as more things are uncovered and is relentless until the end.

What did I think? This is another book that I wouldn't have picked up on my own because I generally don't read thrillers. However, it was recommended by a friend when I was between books. The Ghost Writer captured me from the beginning and held me to the end. When I had to take a break from reading, I was thinking about it. It's not a happy book and involves much dysfunction and teenage angst, but it is a compelling read.  

What did others think? The book is well reviewed and on the New York Times best seller list.

Until next time...