The Teacher by Freida McFadden -- The Bennetts teach in the same high school. Whereas Eve is a not-well-liked, rather stern math teacher, her husband Nate is handsome, kind, and a very-much-liked English teacher. No one comes to love him more than Addie who has both Mr. and Ms. Bennett, and whose love of poetry makes her a favorite of Mr. Bennett. Addie is picked on by bullies so Mr. Bennett looking out for her attracts her to him. Interesting story with a twist that made me want to reread the whole book looking for clues!
Life, Loss, and Puffins by Catherine Ryan Hyde -- Ru heard her mom describe her daughter as "freakishly smart" when she was just a little girl, and sure enough Ru (short for Rumaki) is set to begin college at thirteen. In order to better support her, Ru lives with a mom and son who rent out their extra room to students, and Ru becomes good friends with Gabriel, who is starting college as well. When something life-changing happens, Ru and Gabriel decide to fulfill a college list (instead of a bucket list) and head off to see stars somewhere in Utah, the aurora in the Northwest Territories, and puffins! Pretty cute story.
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena -- Three adult siblings reluctantly eat lunch with their parents on Easter Sunday when their father drops a bombshell that leaves them leaving in a hurry. When the housekeeper finds the parents dead in the kitchen when she arrives on Tuesday, the police are convinced one of the children - Catherine, Dan, or Jenna - killed the Mertons. They just have to prove it.
Last House by Jessica Shattuck -- Bet and Nick meet and marry and have two children, Katherine and Harry. Nick is often gone to the Middle East as part of a US company representing Big Oil, and Bet manages things at home. Later Katherine becomes quite the activist in standing up to all the things that make society grand (some will say).
So Pretty It Hurts by Kate White -- yet another book featuring reporter Bailey Weggins as she's a guest at someone's house when a supermodel winds up dead. Bailey does her thing - investigates!
We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White -- Eve and Daniella meet in their first year at college, as roommates they become fast friends. Later they lose touch as Eve sheds her wealthy upbringing to live simply with people against the Vietnam War - who openly cheer the Viet Cong instead. Meanwhile Daniella gets her law degree, gets married, and so forth. The book later explores Sarah and Anna's life as daughters of Daniella and Eve. Pretty good.
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier -- This book takes us to an island near Venice where the glassmakers lived and crafted goblets, platters, mirrors, and candlesticks among other things. It follows Orsla beginning as a 9 year old girl, and it travels through decades - sometimes generations - with Orsla aging a bit, but not as if she truly lived all those years. Most of the main characters are still there with a few dying off from the plague and other illnesses. An interesting look at life in Murano from the 1400s on. Pretty clever. I'm glad the author included a list of Italian words and phrases sprinkled throughout this book. I should know many Italian and Venetian curses if I choose to remember them!
Even If It Kills Her by Kate White -- another Bailey Weggins book because I figured I might as well read the complete series; In this book, Bailey is contacted by a friend from their years at Brown. Jillian's family was murdered back then and the guy convicted of their murders might not be the true killer. DNA tests found a new person on the scene. Of course, Bailey investigates!
The Stranger by Harlan Coben -- I was browsing at the library the other day because all my holds are still ON HOLD at the library, and saw a sign that had book similar to ______, and was right in the row with this author's books so I got one. And I liked this fast-paced story. Adam was at a lacrosse meeting - one his wife usually attended - when a stranger came up to him and told him a secret that got Adam investigating his wife's activities from a couple years back. This stranger knows things - and spreads his tidbits of knowledge to people. Pretty interesting story.
My Summer Darlings by May Cobb -- Three best friends live near each other and regularly meet for Wine Nights around Kittie's fantastic pool. When a handsome single man moves into the neighborhood, Jen, recently divorced, sets her sights on him. But Will Harding seems interested in others as well.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth -- Jessica, Norah, and Alicia met as foster children in a woman's house years ago. Initially Miss Fairchild was warm and inviting to Jessica (the first of the three children she took in), but her moods became increasingly volatile. Years later the foster sisters are contacted when bones are excavated on the property where they grew up.
Such a Perfect Wife by Kate White -- I think this is the last of the Bailey Weggins series though I saw in her last book that the author mentioned bringing back another in the future so we'll see. In this book Bailey goes to Lake George, New York, on assignment when a woman is missing. Shannon went on a jog and never came home.
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben -- I saw the library had a lot of this author's books so I decided to start book 1 of the Myron Bolitar series which was published way back in 1995. It's quite funny to read about people rewinding messages on their answering machines, and guys talking on their car phones. I like Myron's sense of humor somewhat, especially pertaining to his name. In this story, he is a sports agent who investigates with his friend Win. They try to track down a missing woman who was engaged to Myron's latest signee, Christian. So far I prefer the standalone novel mentioned above, but I may continue this series when I need more to read.
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins -- Miriam lives on a narrow boat, and makes a gruesome discovery at the boat parked next door. (It had stayed two days too long so she had to see what was the matter with this rulebreaker!) Meanwhile Laura is struggling to fit into life, and is questioned by the police. This book is full of interesting characters.
Good Apples: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York by Elizabeth Passarella -- I enjoyed this memoir that I found one day recently when I was looking for good stories to read. The author grew up near Memphis, TN, but ended up going to New York City after college - and married a guy from Manhattan. Pretty interesting!
The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace -- When Jo Jones inherits an estate in England, she goes to this small village since there is nothing in the US holding her back. Her marriage failed, her job is over, and her mom is dead. Jo discovers a painting hidden behind a dresser, but then it goes missing. And someone is found dead on her property. A mystery! Kind of cool that I did a reverse image search - my first one - and the very next day Jo did one, too!
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson -- Martha starts suspecting her husband of something and calls an old college friend Lily who helped her get away from a bad relationship years ago. Lily decides to show up at the teachers' conventions where Martha's husband sells his wares when she comes across an acquaintance from the past.
She Left by Stacie Grey -- Amy walked away from a party, and minutes later the cabin exploded with several of her friends and acquaintances dying. Twenty years later, about ten people associated with those who died are gathered because a journalist wants to revisit the story. Amy - now known by her middle name Therese - is an FBI agent, and when things get weird at the meeting, she has to investigate!
