Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

A book about college friends now in mid-life living in Brooklyn with families and all of the complications that come with life.

Last July, I read Straub's The Vacationers and found it to be an easy, but so-so read. My experience with Modern Lovers was the same. Pleasant enough, but ho-hum.

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

Quinn's roommate suddenly disappears overnight through her open bedroom window. At the same time, a mysterious girl shows up in a cafe and captures the attention of Alex. Are these events connected?

A bit creepy and a fast read, but kind of anti-climatic and underwhelming.

Year of No Sugar: A Memoir by Eve O. Schaub

I've been researching ways to make some dietary changes to address a health issue, and I picked this up as I was browsing the health books at the library.

Schaub, along with her family, cut out sugar from their diets for a year. She writes about the challenges and the ups and downs. It seems like they spent a lot of time and energy trying to find substitutes so they wouldn't miss the sugar. However, she does spend a bit of time reflecting on the changes in her own taste buds. It's unclear whether or not they experienced any health benefits like weight loss though or improved health. It seemed like they were just trying to get through the year.

The Assistants by Camille Perri

A fascinating fiction book about an executive assistant embezzlement scheme via expense reports and all in the name of paying off student debt.

A delightful read that kept me mesmerized for the day.

Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon

I am not naturally drawn to historical fiction, but I found myself absorbed by Flight of Dreams. It's about the ill-fated flight of the Hindenburg in 1937 as it crossed over the Atlantic headed to New Jersey.

The characters are based on actual passengers and crew. There is a murder plot along with unrequited love and secrets.

A fast, fast read. I finished it in two days, but I think I could have finished it in one except that we had dinner with some friends.

I also checked out some documentaries about the Hindenburg and the footage of the explosion is fascinating. Thanks to Boomer for spending several evenings watching Hindenburg documentaries with me!

In the Woods by Tana French

By reading this mystery, I'm reading outside of my regular book box, but it was a fun read.

As a boy, Rob Ryan was out in the woods with two of his friends. He doesn't know what happened next, but his friends went missing, and he was found bloody and clinging to a trees. Fast forward decades, and Ryan is now a detective working on solving a murder that happened right back in those same woods.

Dark, and actually not as twisty as I thought it would be. I would have liked some more explanation about the first case, but this is a series so I am hoping that as I read the others, I will learn more. 

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Murder, revenge, and a supernatural dad. Well-written and magical. This wasn't a super fast page-turner for me. It read more like a book that would be assigned in high school literature class.