As an avid reader, I’ve been reading novels longer than I’ve been writing them. Despite possessing an eclectic taste in fiction, I promised myself this year only to read current, chart-topping novels. And to that end, I must admit, it hasn’t been easy. There are so many unfinished novels on my kindle reader! I’m still stuck in the past. I adore the classics—from George Eliot to Somerset Maugham, Du Maurier, and Steinbeck. I’m just naturally drawn to descriptive language and exotic settings. The novels I reviewed, however, managed to hold my interest up to the last page. If I possessed half of these authors’ talent, I’d be blessed.
Like most talented writers, Liane Moriarty makes storytelling look easy. It’s as though she’s lounging back, sipping on a crisp white wine and, like a seasoned raconteur, tells a story while gesticulating expressively and rolling out witty commentary. I’m awestruck by her enviable grasp of language, and her evocative portrayal of human conflict within an exceedingly complex world. That she’s able to do so in a pithy, punchy, and at times humorous fashion is impressive. Her female characters are so multi-dimensional and real, I remove my writer’s hat to her.
*Published as BIG LITTLE LIES in Australia and the United States*
Liane Moriarty, million copy selling author of The Husband's Secret brings us another addictive story of secrets and scandal.
Jane hasn't lived anywhere longer than six months since her son was born five years ago. She keeps moving in an attempt to escape her past. Now the idyllic seaside town of Pirriwee has pulled her to its shores and Jane finally feels like she belongs. She has friends in the feisty Madeline and the incredibly beautiful Celeste - two women with seemingly perfect lives . . . and their…
This book was a real page-turner for me. The story had a creepy element that Ms. Hoover managed to convey brilliantly, while beneath the mystery there’s believable chemistry between the male and female leading characters.
This book is a masterclass on how to layer the essential elements of good storytelling seamlessly. She’s woven a strong plot, three-dimensional characters, and a nice little twist.
OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD - THE NO.1 BESTSELLER AND TIKTOK SENSATION, FROM THE AUTHOR OF IT ENDS WITH US Are you ready to stay up all night? Rebecca meets Gone Girl in this shocking, unpredictable thriller with a twist that will leave you reeling . . .
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
This sexy story captures the visceral connection between her leading male and female characters beautifully. I felt their chemistry from the word go. Chemistry in a romance novel is what a slightly flawed, left-of-field detective is to crime novels. At the end of the day, writing romance is all about expressing deep passion and emotion. I believe T. L. Swan achieved that very well with this story while adding enough sauciness to charm the reader.
The grass is not always greener on the other side is the takeaway message from this novel.
Talk about schadenfreude dripping from page to page.
While the new wife is very easy to despise, the ex-wife comports herself with dignity when she has every right to be angry and pop Xanax like candy.
Here we have a genuflecting husband begging to return to the marriage he destroyed. He’s had his fun and now he’s pining for the woman, who he finally realizes is his true soul mate.
Like all good mysteries, there’s an “I didn’t see that coming” moment which in my humble opinion made this book shine. Twists are not easy to devise. As a writer, you can accidentally give the game away by offering hints that readers sniff out a mile away. Readers are an instinctive bunch. That didn’t happen in this novel, therefore kudos to the author.
There is no limit to the lies, suspicion, and secrets that can poison the perfect marriage in this twisting novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.
Kate Nelson had it all. A flourishing company founded with her husband, John; a happy marriage; and a daughter, Ashlyn. The picture-perfect family. Until John left for another woman. Tish is half his age. Ambitious. She's cultivated a friendship with Ashlyn. Tish believes she's won.
She's wrong.
Tish Nelson has it all. Youth, influence, a life of luxury, and a new husband. But the truth is, there's…
I had to mention this book because along with Sylvia Day and E.L. James, this story propelled my commercial writing career along. Before immersing myself in the contemporary romance world, I read books mainly written in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. I was new to this world with its descriptive sex scenes that bounced off the pages.
Despite the leading man being, as the title suggests, a bastard, he redeems himself by showing a believable sensitive side. Creating a jerk is easy enough, I suppose, but creating a character who is likable and flawed at the same time takes talent. That was my takeaway as a writer from this cheeky, fun read. This book, along with 50 Shades of Grey, and The Crossfire series taught me that the sky’s the limit when writing bedroom scenes. The steamier the better. But over and above everything else, being able to express raw, believable emotion is what really draws a reader in. This novel, along with the aforementioned novels, managed to do so with great skill.
Chloe Mills is intelligent, hardworking, moments away from her MBA and starting a successful career. The only thing standing in her way is her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate and... completely gorgeous - a beautiful bastard. She's determined to ignore him, do the best job she can, and move on to her bright future. Bennett has been trying to ignore his gorgeous, infuriating assistant for months. He's never been one for a workplace dalliance, especially not with one of his employees. But Chloe is so tempting he's willing to bend the rules - or smash them, if it…
To escape an abusive ex, Scarlet Black takes on a new identity and accepts a role masquerading as an admin assistant. She moves to a secluded mansion in a small English coastal village working for the reclusive billionaire, Daniel Love, whose wife has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Scarlet soon forms a connection with her troubled but handsome younger boss, and together they descend into a torrid relationship. The deeper they delve into each other the more insatiable they become. The problem is if she breaks from her undercover role her ex, a rogue policeman, will find her. But if she stays, after winning the trust of this guarded and damaged man, the deep bond they’ve formed will be shattered.
I’m an OB/GYN, passionate about adventuring beyond what’s expected. This has led me to pivot multiple times in my career, now focusing on writing. I’ve written a play, The Post-Roe Monologues, to elevate women’s stories. I cherish the curiosity that drives outer and inner exploration, and I love memoirs that skillfully weave the two. The books on this list feature extraordinary women who took risks, left comfort and safety, and battled vulnerability to step into the unknown. These authors moved beyond the stories they’d believed about themselves–or that others told about them. They invite you to think about living fuller and bigger lives.
Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctor—and only woman—on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.
The team attempts a new route up the East Face without the use of supplemental oxygen, Sherpa support, or chance for rescue. When three climbers disappear during their summit attempt, Zieman reaches the knife edge of her limits and digs deeply to fight for the climbers’ lives and to find her voice.
The plan was outrageous: A small team of four climbers would attempt a new route on the East Face of Mt. Everest, considered the most remote and dangerous side of the mountain, which had only been successfully climbed once before. Unlike the first large team, Mimi Zieman and her team would climb without using supplemental oxygen or porter support. While the unpredictable weather and high altitude of 29,035 feet make climbing Everest perilous in any condition, attempting a new route, with no idea of what obstacles lay ahead, was especially audacious. Team members were expected to push themselves to their…
