Mini Book Reviews: March 2024

 Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Broken Country, The Dream Hotel, Dream Count, Claire Darling, Hot Air, and Saltwater from NetGalley and the publishers. This post contains affiliate links.

Thank goodness March has 31 days because I had a lot of books to read this month! I was also fortunate to have 2 weeks off work with plenty of downtime to read. I even had time to meet my goals of reading one Kindle read and one non-fiction read. My favorite book? Broken Country, which will most likely be one of my favorite books of the year. 

I hope you'll find something here that interests you!

It's been a while since I've picked up a book that wouldn't let me put it down. In Broken Country, we have the story of a woman in love with two men--her husband and her first love, who reenters her life. But it's not a love story. It's a story about family, love, loss, and tough choices. The narrative alternates seamlessly between two timelines, the past and the present. The characters are written like people you might know, which makes the book all the more engaging. Beautifully written, and I absolutely loved this book- it will be one of the best books I read this year!

I do love a dystopian novel, but even if you don't, The Dream Hotel is a good read. A woman returning from a business trip abroad is detained at the airport by the RAA (Risk Assessment Agency). Her crime? Her dreams, monitored by the RAA, put her at risk of harming her husband. She is transferred to a retention center where she is held with other women accused of the same thing. Her stay is extended...and extended.. The retention center seems no different than a prison, with prison rules that change depending on who is in charge that day. But to be held against your will for your dreams? Alexa, are you listening? What an interesting story that gave me a lot of food for thought. This would be great for book clubs!

Having read and enjoyed Purple Hibiscus and Americanah, this was another wonderful read from Adichie. Dream Count is a story of 4 women whose lives intersect through family and continents. The story is divided into 4 sections, each focusing on one of the women but not exclusively. There are themes of love, sex--lots of it but not graphic--, class, and men. Much of the book focuses on the women's relationships with men and the importance of having a circle of women for support. The pandemic is in the background but is not a distraction from the story. Adichie's beautiful prose makes what could have been a confusing story very cohesive and meaningful. 

Claire plans to surprise her fianceé Noah with lunch at his office, only to find out he doesn't work there. She tries to call him, but her number is blocked. Her texts won't go through. She does a little digging, only to find out that he has another woman in his life. And so it begins... As with any thriller, it's best to go in blind. The narrative alternates between Claire's loveless, lonely childhood, passages from her diary, and the present situation. The story keeps you guessing! Claire, Darling is a great debut thriller that kept me turning the pages! PM me if you want to discuss that ending. So.Many.Questions.

After reading and enjoying Marcy Dermansky's Hurricane Girl. and Very Nice, I was excited to pick up her latest. Hot Air is a very funny short novel filled with quirky characters. It starts when a couple on an anniversary hot air balloon ride crashes into a swimming pool at a home where another couple is on their first date. The narrative takes an unexpected turn and snowballs from there. The story is told in alternating perspectives from the 4 main characters. It was a quick read for me as I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Gave me lots of food for thought, too! 

Part family drama, part thriller, Saltwater is a tale of rich people behaving badly. Set on the beautiful Isle of Capri, the Lingate family returns every summer to party. Underneath it all is a 30 year old mystery-what happened to Sarah Lingate? Her now 30 year old daughter would like to know. On this trip, she discovers the necklace her mother was wearing when she plunged to her death into the sea. Cue the mysterious music... It's too bad this wasn't as tensely written as it should have been. Instead, the narrative meanders through a word soup, taking its time to settle on a point. I loved the plot, the setting, and the twists. I didn't see that ending coming! It seems ready-made for a mini-series.

Wow. It's been a long time since I've read a book that has left me speechless. In Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams shares the story of her seven year tenure with Facebook from the very beginning, when she was idealistic and the company held so much promise. Idealistic employees became jaded and reckless as the money flowed in. The culture shifted from a young upstart to a corrupt corporation with people behaving badly. The author shares her own personal struggles with the culture as well, which included sexual harassment and requiring her to work during her maternity leave. This was an unputdownable read and a cautionary tale about greed and unfettered access to peoples' personal data. Facebook/Meta sued to prevent this book from coming out, so we should all read it, m'kay? 

I picked this one up after reading that it was set in Madison, Wisconsin and Palm Springs. I do love reading books that are set in familiar places. I thought it would be a good palate cleanser after my last read. Don't let the cover fool you- it wasn't as light and fluffy as I had expected, but The Snowbirds kept me turning the pages. It's a story of a marriage- although the main characters aren't actually married- who are struggling with the empty nest, getting older, and job loss. A friend offers them his Palm Springs home for the winter, and they become snowbirds, making the long drive from Madison to Palm Springs. Once there, they begin to navigate their new surroundings and their situation. I think many readers will relate to this couple's struggle with the empty nest. 

What have you read this month? Have you read any of these? Do you pick up a book based on the cover? What is your favorite genre of book? While I like a variety of books, my favorite is literary fiction.

I'm linking up with Jenn and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics. I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month Is Booked! Check out the newest link-up: Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life, Memphis Bridges, Overflowing with Thankfulness, and The Other Side of the Road.