Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction

I Hate Everyone, Except You by Clinton Kelly

I watched more hours of What Not to Wear as a teen than I care to admit. One of my middle school friends was so obsessed, she went to the salon Clinton & Stacy used to get her hair cut. Despite the fact that I was a epic example of what definitely not to wear,… Continue reading I Hate Everyone, Except You by Clinton Kelly

Biography, History, Nonfiction

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin Looking for an interesting historical book about Nazi Germany, and knowing that my book club was going to read Dead Wake, I decided to read In the Garden of Beasts. Downside, it is a difficult book to get into, upside, the audiobook is well done and enjoyable.   Synopsis The… Continue reading In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Essays, Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

I can't say I've ever seen an episode of The Office and I've probably only seen 3 or 4 episodes of The Mindy Project. I can't even really say that I'm a fan of Mindy Kaling. But I can say that my sister, Laura, is and that on her recommendation, I decided to read one… Continue reading Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Memoir/Autobiography, Middle Grades, Nonfiction

Four Perfect Pebbles by Lila Perl & Marion Blumenthal Lazan

One of my grandmothers grew up in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, specifically in Nürnberg and the surrounding countryside. She doesn't talk about it. As such, I have spent my entire life fascinated by the stories of German children between 1933 and 1945. I don't remember the first book I read that fit the… Continue reading Four Perfect Pebbles by Lila Perl & Marion Blumenthal Lazan

Biography, History, Nonfiction

Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings I found this book on my very first visit to the Strand in New York City right after I finished student teaching. I’ve always loved multi-story books about historical women. Additionally, while reading this book at the Greyhound station in New York City while waiting for my… Continue reading Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

Contemporary, Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, Forever in Blue I have been best friends with Tibby, Carmen, Lena and Bridget for more than half my life now. The summer before I turned fourteen, I was attempting to walk to the Barnes and Noble of Virginia Beach… Continue reading Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares

Fantasy, Fiction, Retelling

Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

I love a good fairy tale adaptation and when I first heard the true story of the Little Mermaid, I became a bit obsessed with all accurate adaptations. Synopsis Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning, as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea,… Continue reading Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, New Adult

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

I picked this book up a few years ago at my favorite local bookstore (where I now work). It was shortly after I moved to the southeastern part of Pennsylvania and I was really lonely, trying to make friends and I was drawn to the story (and admittedly the cover – I’m a sucker for… Continue reading My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Essays, Nonfiction, Sociology

Women & Power by Mary Beard

A Manifesto Oh the thoughts and tirades this book stirs up. But for the sake of review, I'll try to keep it short and too the point. Add this to my growing pile of feminism reads. Synopsis At long last, Mary Bread has decided to address in one brave book the misogynists and trolls who… Continue reading Women & Power by Mary Beard

Fiction, Historical

At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

I love any book set in Europe during World War II, it is by far one of my favorite time periods to read about. I requested the audiobook from the library to listen to while driving to and from work and I wound up enjoying it so much, I bought the actual book as well.… Continue reading At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen