Some Books I Really Liked

It's 100 degrees outside right now. Since the air conditioner has been broken for over a month, it's almost that hot inside the house. Between the heat and the list of things to do to get ready for Young Women Camp next week, my brain might literally be fried. At least it feels too fried to write meaningful reviews of each of these novels, though they legitimately deserve them. At the very least they definitely need a shout-out because I really liked them. A lot.

The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall is a delightful novel about ten-year-old Willow Havens and her obstinate yet captivating mother Polly. Polly was recently widowed and in her fifties when Willow was born. Having an older mother who doesn't conform and is keeping secrets, Willow is constantly fearful that Polly will die. Willow is determined to uncover all these secrets before cancer can take her mother's life.

The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall is published by Pamela Dorman Books and released in March 2017.

Touch by Courtney Maum is a surprisingly good novel. Sloane Jacobsen has accepted a new job that will move her from Paris back to New York City and her family. She's a respected and powerful trend forecaster and the giant tech firm Mammoth has hired her for their ground-breaking conference that will celebrate those that are voluntarily childless. Sloane is perfect for the job. She is content with the life that she's created for herself--no kids, a partner obsessed with "neo-sensuality" and a focus on her career. Or is she?

Touch by Courtney Maum is published by Putnam is and released on May 30, 2017.

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld is a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's a lot of fun. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed it immensely. Stifled is pretty loyal to the original but  her characters are definitely not in the 18th century.

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld is published by Random House and released in April 2017.

I also listened to the audio Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See. My girls used to tease me about how many books I own by Lisa See. I definitely enjoy her novels so it wasn't a surprise that I also loved this one. Li-yan lives with her family in the remote village of Yunnan where they prize their tea leaves. An education offers Li-yan a chance to leave the ancient traditions of her Akha people.

Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See is published by Scribner and released in March 2017.

**I received complimentary copies of Touch and The Book of Polly. I purchased the audio books of Eligible and Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. No compensation was received.**