Another month, another book review post. I read a surprisingly higher number of books than usual in October, with a total of seven books read. Unfortunately, they weren’t all great reads. Here are my October reads, which I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.
3 stars
Brunch and Other Obligations by Suzanne Nugent (Contemporary Fiction, May 2020) When Molly dies, she leaves a request that her three friends (who are not friends with each other) meet up for brunch, once a month for a year. She also leaves them each an inexplicable gift. Although the friends seem to have nothing in common with each other, they follow through on their friend’s request. Through the process they learn that Molly may have known what was best for them after all. This was an okay book about female friendship that was fairly predictable.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (Contemporary Fiction, July 2021) After having sex with her best friend since childhood, Elle must decide if she is going to stay with her husband and three children or leave to be with him. The main storyline takes place over 24 hours with flashbacks to show how Elle’s life has evolved to the present. I read this book because it was a Reese’s Book Club Pick and she usually chooses books that I enjoy. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of the books that I loved. I found it to be slow and the ending confusing.
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth (c/o Netgalley) (mystery/thriller, April 2022) The story opens with a wedding, where a tragic event takes place. Rachel and Tully’s mother is in a nursing home with dementia. Their father is dating and soon engaged to a much younger woman. Each of the women have their own struggles that they are secretly hiding. Each of their stories brings light on the surprising conclusion. I have been a huge Hepworth fan. This was an engrossing, fast-paced read. However, I just didn’t love this one though as much as her others.
4 stars
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (memoir, April 2021) At the age of 25, Michelle learns her mother has terminal cancer. Although they didn’t always have the best relationship, they always connected through their shared love of food. Faced with losing this part of her Korean American identity, Zauner learns to cook some of the traditional dishes she grew up eating with her mother. I heard about this book after hearing Zauner on a couple of different food podcasts talking about her memoir and Korean food. I haven’t read a memoir in a long time and this was a good one.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (mystery/thriller, May 2021) Hannah’s husband disappears, leaving her a note to protect his sixteen-year-old daughter. When the FBI start investigating her husband’s disappearance, she realizes that she didn’t really know him. This was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that more mystery than thriller.
Maangchi’s Real Korean Cooking by Maangchi and Lauren Chattman (Cookbook, May 2015) I’m counting reading Maangchi’s Real Korean Cooking as a book towards my goodreads reading goal because I did read this cover to cover. I am looking to learn how to cook Korean food and this is where I started. I know Maangchi has a big YouTube following and I’ll likely check out her videos. I just find cooking with a printed recipe easier. I wish she had cooking times listed with the recipes. Plus, most of the recipes in this cookbook were meat-based. So far, I’ve only tried one banchan vegetable side dish and it didn’t turn out great. But there are a couple of more recipes I hope to try out before it’s due back to the library.
The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms (Fiction, July 2021) Two neighbors, one a working mom, the other a stay-at-home mom end up waking up in each other’s bodies and get to see how the other mom lives. This was a good look at “the mommy wars” and how we all are just doing the best that we can. I’ve enjoyed all of the books by Harms that I’ve read, including this one.
I have the Sally Hepworth from Netgalley to read.
I loved The Paper Palace. As I was reading it I was thinking it was not going to be loved by most though. You know how you just know? Sometimes I think those books are time/where I’m reading them that really add to the enjoyment.
The Sally Hepworth wasn’t my fave. Curious to see what you think.
I like the idea of reading a memoir about the style of food you’re learning to cook, as well as reading a cookbook! I have no Asian ancestry at all, but both my mother and her mother cooked a lot of Asian food (mostly Chinese and Japanese) just because it’s GOOD, so cooking it makes me feel connected to my heritage in a weird way. The only Korean food I’ve made is bee bim bop.
Asian food is delicious! I love bimbimbap! So good!
I loved The Last Thing He Told Me – so readable. The Hepworth sounds interesting, I need to add it to my list.
The Hepworth wasn’t my fave of hers. I really liked her earlier stuff more.
I’ve read mixed things about The Seven Day Switch, but I am curious about it!
-Lauren
I can see how it’s not for everyone.
I’m getting The Last Thing He Told Me from the library tomorrow. Looking forward to it!
It was a good read! Hope you enjoy!
The Last Thing He Told Me was so good. Give me printed recipes forever.
Yes it was a good read! I usually get my recipes from online blogs but I’m beginning to read more cookbooks.
I’ve never read any of Harms other books but I did enjoy the 7 Day Switch a lot. Adding the memoir to my list! I really like memoirs and haven’t read any in at least a few months.
I’m not a big memoir reader but enjoyed this one.
Really liked The Last Thing He Told Me. Not feeling as interested in The Paper Palace now that I’ve read your review – I actually had no idea what it was about which is hilarious to me. On the fence still about the Kelly Harms book!
I had no idea what the Paper Palace was about before I read it either! LOL! I had just heard good things about it.
Oooo a new Sally Hepworth! I didn’t know. Checking it out!