Harry Potter 4-7 by JK Rowling
Honestly, I could go on and on and on, and, for those of you who I see of a regular basis, you have experienced this first hand. I was a total skeptic, but I freaking love this series. The characters age one year per book, so as they get more mature and complex, so do their story lines.
My feelings about each title are basically the same. They explore so many themes and teach so many lessons. So, in regard for brevity, here’s my two sentence reaction to each:
HP4: The Goblet of Fire
The Triwizard tournament was super suspenseful. This book contained the first major death— a turning point for sure.
HP5: The Order of the Phoenix
I loved everything about Dumbledore’s Army. I just might hate Professor Umbridge more than Voldemort.
HP6: The Half-Blood Prince
Things really start to get more complex in this book. And, there’s some serious heartache.
HP7: The Deathly Hallows
So much happened in this book. I alternated between gasping and crying—a perfect finale.
Seriously, read the first one. If you find it cute, keep going. They get better and better.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise, but I’m second guessing it after this book. Kidding; I still want to set sail. But, I’ll definitely keep my guard up. Lo, a young travel writer, fresh off the trauma of a home invasion, embarks on a work assignment aboard a boutique luxury cruise liner aka mega yacht. Once at sea, she inadvertently finds herself in the middle of some serious shit. I don’t want to give anything away. Was this novel life-changing? No. But, I would highly recommend it for a summer beach read. I couldn’t put it down.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
I don’t even know where to start with this one, so I’ll just say... wow! I could not stop reading. The characters were amazing, and I was completely absorbed by the setting and time period. This book follows the life of a young girl, Leni, and her parents beginning in the early 1970s. Leni’s father is a Vietnam veteran who suffers from PTSD and fits of violent rage. Her mother, the uppity girl gone wild, bears the brunt of this. When her father inherits a cabin and piece of land from an old war buddy, Leni’s family uproots to the Alaskan bush. Needless to say, they are hopelessly unprepared, but what follows is some amazing storytelling. This was one of those novels where, when I finished reading, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’d highly recommend The Great Alone to anybody who enjoys fiction.
Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach
Another page turner, Dead Letters was a recommendation from my friend, Sharon. It’s got a mysterious vibe; following Ava, a twenty-something living in Paris, as she returns home to her family’s struggling vineyard in New York state after her twin sister, Zelda, is presumed dead in a fire. Ava is skeptical right off the bat as to whether or not her free spirited sister is really deceased. Once she starts receiving messages from Zelda, the plot intensifies. In addition to the suspense, I appreciated this novel’s strong characterization and sense of place. I’d recommend it to anybody who likes a little mystery and is looking for a solid summer read.
You by Caroline Kepnes
Holy creepy! You, which my colleague, Ryan, and author, Stephen King, have both endorsed was one of the most unique books I’ve read in a while. Written in a second person perspective from inside the mind of a book salesman/stalker/psychopath, the novel follows Joe Goldberg as he zeroes in on his latest obsession, Guinevere Beck. It’s not often that authors let unreliable narrators tell the story; and, in this case, it was ultra intriguing. It started with getting Beck’s name off the credit card she used to make a purchase from his shop. With this basic information, Joe was able to obtain enough intel to fully insert himself into her world. Trust me when I say he will stop at nothing to hold his place. The story gripped me instantly. It also caused more than a few weird dreams. Still, I appreciated the rare look into the mind of a sociopath and the suspense it created. I learned there is a sequel, Hidden Bodies, and definitely plan on checking it out. I’d recommend You to anybody who enjoys suspense and is ready to take a journey into an unstable psyche.
