Mini Book Reviews: August 2024

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I received Burn and The Instrumentalist from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my review.

It's a good month when every book I read was a winner! People always ask me how I read so many books, but when they are as good as the ones I read this month, it's hard to put them down. I may have completely neglected everything. My house needs attention. So does my husband!  A few trips out of town helped as well--I read while traveling to my destinations. 

I can enthusiastically recommend every book here. Enjoy!

A restless young woman buys a beast of a van and heads out west to parts unknown with her two dogs, determined to live the van life. Nowhere for Very Long is an engrossing, well-written memoir of her physical struggles forging her way as a solo woman living in the wild as well as her emotional struggles with past traumas and depression. When possible, her husband joins her on the journey until tragedy strikes and the fallout strains their relationship. Beautifully written, I love a good adventure memoir and I couldn't put it down. She has a new book out- Never Ever Leave the Dogs Behind -which I can't wait to read!

So many twists and turns in this one- I couldn't put it down! The Return of Ellie Black is the story of a young woman who disappears after stepping outside while at a party. Two years later, she returns, a very different person. She also won't cooperate with the police. Meanwhile, a detective whose sister disappeared years ago, is on the case, determined to avenge Ellie's disappearance. This is a slow paced but completely engrossing thriller that had me glued to the pages. Some of the story might be disturbing, but don't let that keep you from reading. This will be one of my top books of the year! 

First Lie Wins is a twisty-turny thriller that kept me glued to the pages! The main character, Evie (not her real name) works for the mysterious Mr Smith, who gives her assignments that force her to plot, think, and avoid danger. She has to stay one step ahead of the target as well as her boss. I don't want to reveal too much--you'll have to read it yourself. This was a fun book and I enjoyed all the situations Evie had to sort out. I couldn't put it down!

Listen for the Lie is another thriller with a twist. After Lucy's best friend Savvy is found dead and Lucy is covered with Savvy's blood but remembers nothing about the night, suspicion has surrounded her. There was no evidence to accuse her and she moved on with her life. A podcaster has set up shop in the town, determined to sort out what happened that night. Lucy returns to her hometown for her grandmother's 80th birthday and has to face her demons. The story starts out slow, but as Lucy begins to put the pieces of that night back together, the pace picks up. Lucy's voice is snarky, which is definitely a highlight of the story. It was an entertaining read, but truthfully not as twisty I had hoped.

This short, engaging book tells the story of a 1950s housewife who decides one day to get in the swimming pool of her apartment complex and not come out. While her husband begs her to get out of the pool, we learn the backstory of Kathleen's life and what could have been. The Most is the story of a marriage, broken dreams, and betrayals. The writing is gorgeous. The ending is left open and had me envisioning different scenarios for this couple. I really enjoyed this one! It would be a great read for a book club. 

After reading some of the reviews of this book, and all the comments about sexual content, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. Well, call me surprised, but All Fours is really a novel about a woman in her 40s who is having symptoms of perimenopause and is in the throes of a mid-life crisis. She tells her husband she is traveling to NYC, but ends up in a town 30 minutes from where she lives. She fantasizes about a young man she meets at the Hertz rent-a-car counter and begins to pursue him. This is the bulk of the story and it was very entertaining. The author has a snarky sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud at times. Of course, she has to return to her real life and her husband and child. As you would expect, she has a lot to work out and the author does a nice job deftly navigating the situation. It's always fun to read a book that you don't expect to enjoy! Content warning for graphic sexual content.

Two men, friends since childhood, are hunting in rural Maine. When they emerge from the woods, they spot a small town and are shocked at the destruction and death that they find. Spotting one of the victims with a '49' patch on his chest, they realize they have stumbled upon the secession movement that has taken over the state. Instead of hunting, they become the hunted, and their attempts to survive and escape the region make Burn: A Novel a thrilling read! I loved the author's portrayal of these two men, determined to do the right thing. Lots of food for thought here!

It's been a hot minute since I've read any historical fiction and The Instrumentalist made me wonder why. Based on the real life story of 17th century violinist Anna Maria Pieta, this is the fictionalized version of her life. Born to a prostitute and given to an orphanage run by nuns, she is identified early on as a prodigy with amazing talent. Her instructor, based on the composer Antonio Vivaldi, guides her blossoming skill. I was completely engrossed by this book and found it difficult to put down. My only quibble is the one-time use of a curse word that felt very 21st century and completely out of context for the setting of this story. Not sure why the editor let that slide by. Otherwise, it was a wonderful interpretation of someone I knew nothing about!

Set in 1975, The God of the Woods takes place at a summer camp in the Adirondacks. Two first-time campers are paired together, both of them out of place in a group that has spent many summers at the camp. One of them, Barbara, is the daughter of the very wealthy family who lives in the house on the property. She leaves her bunk every night without explanation until one night when she doesn't return. And as it turns out, Barbara's brother Bear also disappeared 14 years ago without explanation. As the search ensues, a multi-layered story unfolds. There are a lot of characters, but the author deftly weaves a story that makes it easy to follow and difficult to put down. A little bit long-winded, but that is a minor quibble for what was a great read for me! PS check out her previous book Long Bright River, which was another winner for me!

What have you read this month? Have you read any of these books? What's your favorite genre?

I'm linking up with My First 5k and More, Running with Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Run with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked!