Recent Reads

 A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner (2024)

After celebrating her first bestselling novel, Shelby returns to the town and people that inspired her book.  She doesn't get a warm welcome even though she takes over managing the local bookstore for her friend.  Over the course of the summer, she tries to repair relationships and save the store, while also trying to write her second novel.  Ugh, this was a disappointment for me.  I love a bookstore setting, so that was fun, as was seeing some of the ins and outs of a writer's process.  But, I didn't care for the characters (and there were SO MANY to keep track of), and the pacing of the story was inconsistent.  Some situations dragged on, while others were dealt with in a matter of paragraphs.  It all felt very shallow and uninspired.  3 stars

White House by the Sea by Kate Storey (2024)

Kate Storey recounts the lives of the Kennedy family through the lens of their Hyannis Port, Massachusetts compound, where so many family events, both big and small, have taken place.  In a mostly chronological order, Storey tells how the Kennedy family initially came to Hyannis Port and how they grew from one house to many over the area.  Through research and interviews with family members, neighbors, and friends, Storey is able to give an intimate look at the highs and lows experienced by the family at their retreat.  From football games and sailing to untimely deaths and political celebrations, it was so interesting to see how much happened to the family in this location.  4 stars

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