Book Reviews

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

My Friends by Frederick Backman, Adult fiction, 2025.

What it's about: The story revolves around a painting done one summer 25 years ago that shows three friends in the sea and captures the feelings of the group when they were 14 years old. Present-day Louisa (17) feels a connection to the painting and runs away from her foster home to see it in person. She ends up taking a train trip across the country with one of the boys in the painting and learning about their past. All of the main characters in the story have tragic lives, but Backman is able to paint a powerful story of friendship despite the realities of the boys' lives.

What did I think? Backman is famous for his first novel, A Man Called Ove, and I have read a few more (3 or 4) in addition to the first one. Each book has dark subject material and specifically talks about suicide. However, in this darkness, he is able to bring humor and hope into each situation. This book is no exception. I found the book disarming at times, but enjoyed it. I recommend it.

What did others think? This book was on many of the Best of lists for 2025 (NY Times, USA Today, NPR, Marie Claire, Bookpage, Libby, Fallon Book Club, Goodreads) 

The Secret, Book, and Scone Society by Ellery Adams, Adult mystery, 2017.

What it's about: This is the first book in the nine-book series by the same name. In this story, four women bond over trying to solve the murder of a visitor to Miracle Springs who was part of the group building a new housing development in the area. 

Each woman has trauma and secrets from her past and is trying to start over in Miracle Springs. The women decide that if they are going to trust each other, they should reveal their secrets. One by one, we learn their pasts and watch as they become true friends.  

The main character, Nora, runs a bookstore and thinks of herself as a bibliotherapist as she recommends books to people to help them deal with their difficulties. Thus, there are many references to books throughout the story.

What did I think? The first one of this series I read was #8, and I liked this one better because I learned more about the characters' backgrounds. That made for a richer story. However, I can imagine that if I read the books in order and grew with the characters, I would have liked #8 better. The Secret, Book, and Scone Society has a decent mystery, and I enjoyed it. I will read others in the series when I'm looking for a fill-in book. 

What did others think? Ellery Adams is a best-selling author of several other mystery series. The debut novel in this series earned starred and positive editorial reviews. Amazon readers gave it a B+, and Goodreads readers gave it a C.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn, Adult fiction, 2026.

What it's about: Alix is down on her luck and has been since her mother left her at age 8 and she entered the foster care system. Now at 26 years old, everything is going wrong, and she is about to be homeless. 

Throughout her life, reading and books have been her escape. So she retreats to the Boston Public Library, where she opens a random door and enters the Astral Library, which can transport you to live in a book to escape the horrors of your real life. It's a magical world with rules of its own, and here she meets a crusty librarian and goes on many book adventures as she helps save the Astral Library from evil.

What did I think? This was a very clever book with an interesting premise. However, there were many literary references, mostly to classic books, and occasionally I thought the book bogged down in descriptions of the scenes they escaped into. But perhaps if I had read the referenced books more recently, I might have appreciated the details more. However, about halfway through, the story picked up and became an exciting read. 

The author's mother was a librarian, and there's a bit of library politics in the book. And from working in a public library for 20 years, I would say they were accurate.

What did others think? Ward also read this book and enjoyed it. There were parts that he didn't think quite made sense; however, those were secondary to the story. He felt the author had an idea and then rushed to finish the book, but he recommends it.

The book received both positive and mixed reviews, with the main complaint being that it could have had more character development. Amazon readers gave it a B and Goodreads gave it a C.

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, Adult fiction, 2026.

What it's about: The Calamity Club is Kathryn Stockett's second book, the first being The Help. It takes place in 1930s Mississippi when there were hard economic times and cruel practices in the name of morals and religion. The story has several plotlines, but they all, in one way or another, relate to Meg, an 11-year-old orphan.  

Meg is one of the unadoptable older girls at the orphanage and is treated worse than any other girl by the director.

Birdie, an unmarried twenty-something, comes to town to ask her sister, Frances, for money. Frances married into a rich family, and Birdie hopes she can help so that their mother and grandmother won't be foreclosed on. One day Birdie visits the orphanage where her sister volunteers and meets Meg. She takes a liking to her and sets out to see whether she can help. The story blooms from there.

The tale is complex and would be difficult to describe in a short summary. However, there are many well-drawn characters that are woven into a compelling read.

What did I think? I loved this book. I wasn't going to read it because it's over 600 pages long, but I put it on hold anyway. When it came in, I decided to at least start it, with no expectation of finishing it before it was due, given our busy schedule. Well, the story drew me in, and I finished it in three days. (And yes, I did get a few other things done.) You root for the main characters and understand the motivations of the evil ones as their backgrounds are slowly revealed. About two-thirds of the way into the story, there was a development that at first I thought slowed the story down. But as it was developed, I came to understand the need for what was included. 

What did others think? This is on the NY Times and Amazon best-selling list. All of the many professional reviews I could find were positive. Some individual reviewers thought the book was too long and thought it slowed down in the same place I did. Both Amazon readers and Goodreads give it an A.

Until next time...