BookBrowse: Your Guide to Exceptional Books

Ordinary Love: A Novel
by Marie Rutkoski

Not so ordinary (5/3/2025)

It's hard to imagine a more beautiful love story. From the beginning to the end and all the bumps in the middle. Very unexpected for me.

Songs of Summer
by Jane L. Rosen

Right in tune (2/2/2025)

I really enjoyed this book. The characters all had great personality.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat
by Syou Ishida

Meouch (6/12/2024)

I really wanted this book to make me laugh out loud.
Unfortunately it was not as funny as I had expected. I love the idea. I wish the writer could have dug deeper into each cat's situation and the help it provided to the stressed out owners. and Emphasize the need for adopting cats.

Help Wanted: A Novel
by Adelle Waldman

Help please (2/14/2024)

This book seemed extremely repetitive. Kind of like the life of an employee at a big box store! Makes you appreciate the people behind-the-scenes, who unload the trucks and stock the shelves! It doesn't happen by magic.

The Day Tripper: A Novel
by James Goodhand

Day Tripper (1/7/2024)

Not a bad book if you are able to keep up!

The Continental Affair: A Novel
by Christine Mangan

Lies Lies Lies (8/9/2023)

It's enough to make your head spin.

I enjoyed the book but had trouble keeping up at points.

Perfect to read when their are no other distractions.

The Long Ago: A Novel
by Michael McGarrity

How far would you go to find someone you loved? (3/31/2023)

A brother and sister raised in a dysfunctional family bond together to survive. Now she's missing and he might be her only hope. Gut wrenching, edge of your seat.

Pieces of Blue
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Pieces of my mind about Pieces of Blue (2/17/2023)

I did enjoy reading this book. It's about a Widowed mother of three. That right there could be the story but no, She has insomnia and on an impulse she buys a motel in Hawaii! Amazingly, they all figure out how to work together and the family bond grows tighter.

There are a few hiccups along the way. I quickly became invested in their story and was slightly annoyed when Lindsey (the mom) would decide to go for a walk on the beach instead of working on the motel game plan. This book definitely kept my interest, I would recommend it for an easy summer read.

The Family Izquierdo: A Novel
by Rubén Degollado

slightly disappointing (8/25/2022)

I was really looking forward to reading this book but unfortunately I found going from Spanish to English back and forth distracting and it caused me to have a headache. So I never was able to finish.

Good Husbands: A Novel
by Cate Ray

decisions, decisions! (3/28/2022)

What to do? Three women receive a letter from a dying woman who is accusing their husbands of a terrible deed.

Many twists and turns keep you guessing as these three strangers balance the truth and their own futures.

Good for discussions in book clubs

Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob
by Russell Shorto

Inside look at small town/smalltime mobsters (3/14/2021)

I chose this book because I am personally familiar with Johnstown, PA. Having visited the town many times on our way to the Poconos, I was very interested in finding out more.

The memoir is a fascinating look into the life of a mobster through the eyes of his family and friends. There is also a little mystery/who-done-it woven into the pages. This story might have never been told if it wasn't for a persistent cousin.

I found it very thought provoking. Watching the memories being colored by stories told.

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to peek behind the curtain of the smalltime mob.

Three Many Cooks: One Mom, Two Daughters: Their Shared Stories of Food, Faith & Family
by Pam Anderson, Maggy Keet & Sharon Damelio

Three Many Cooks (3/12/2015)

I could relate to this book in more ways than one! I also have daughters and was laughing out loud at times.

I enjoyed the stories each had to tell, I especially LOVED the recipes that were included. That was a nice bonus!

The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale (9/28/2014)

I fell in LOVE with The Nightingale. I was on the edge of my seat, up late reading and even dreaming about Viann and Isabelle - sisters who are not as different from each other as they think.

While I could not relate personally to their trials, I felt like I was in it with them every heart wrenching step of the way. Bravo to Kristin Hannah for bring this story to life as only she can.

Mating for Life
by Marissa Stapley

Took me a while to really get into it. (4/4/2014)

While this book did come together at the end, during the first 3/4 of it, we jumped from drama to drama. I could not relate to a lot of the problems the characters were having. I did enjoy the little blurb at the beginning of each chapter where the author notes the mating habits of different birds and animals. That was interesting information to learn.

I Am Livia
by Phyllis T. Smith

I Am Livia (2/19/2014)

This book is the story of a girl who grew up before your eyes. She is a little too smart for her own good at times. Taking place during Ceaser, Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. Sad at times but also inspiring. I liked this book because we vacationed in Italy this past summer and I could visualize some of the scenes. Great love story.

Safe with Me
by Amy Hatvany

Hard subjects for a very enjoyable book (11/14/2013)

I loved reading Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany. There were many things going on that most of us on some level can relate to. This book was an easy/fast read and I enjoyed every second!

The Mouse-Proof Kitchen
by Saira Shah

The Mouse-Proof Kitchen (6/21/2013)

I expected this book to be funny, instead, I found it to be on the verge of depressing. Saira Shah does have a way with her writing to keep the reader interested though.

I would recommend this book to the over 40 crowd.

The Sisterhood
by Helen Bryan

The Sisterhood (5/27/2013)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were compelling and extremely interesting. They kept calling me back.

I would not recommend this book for the younger audience.

Also, if you are interested in religion, you will enjoy this read.

Golden Boy
by Abigail Tarttelin

A Golden Novel (1/20/2013)

I found it very difficult to put this book down! I loved the characters and truly felt pain/joy when they did. I can not imagine living with such a secret but I can relate Karen in the book who wanted her family to be "normal"

Sometimes us moms try to fix everything and think our way is best when in reality, sometimes it is not.

Very touching and thought provoking, I will recommend this book to my book club.

Indiscretion
by Charles Dubow

Indiscretion is the ultimate love story (10/25/2012)

I was captivated from the beginning with this book.
The characters are very easy to relate with. I found myself being drawn back again and again. I love Harry and Maddy, my heart was celebrating and breaking along with theirs. The narrator Walter's view was very interesting and from that aspect, it did remind me of Gatsby.

We should all have such a devoted friend!