Wild Dark Shore was my pick for our neighborhood book club in March! I love McConaghy’s work, Once There Were Wolves is my favorite of hers. I’m halfway through Great Big Beautiful Life right now (which is just meh for me so far) but this month I’m excited to get into more of Strout’s books (I picked up My Name is Lucy Barton at our local bookstore this week on your recommendation) and also Kate & Frida by Kim Fay. Last month was a reading slump, hoping to pick up the pace in May!
I am excited to read McConaghy’s backlist titles! GBBL has gotten such mixed reviews, and I can see why!
I think you’ll enjoy Strout backlist! I was going to read another book and pause my Strout journey but then— I couldn’t! I picked up Oh William! like a sugar craving— cannot get enough right now!
Haha yes I can see that! I am curious to see what I think of Beach Read when I read it again this summer (which I hope to do!). I think Funny Story might by my other fave of hers! So top 3 would be Beach Read, Funny Story, GBBL!
I’m so glad you loved Open Throat! It looks like such a good month of reading for you! I’ve only read Olive Kitteridge by Strout but now you’ve got me wanting to revisit 😊
I have had it in my mind ever since you mentioned it and I was a sucker for the hot pink paperback cover, so glad I finally read it!
Oh, Michelle! I think you’d love her other books— I’m kind of craving them like sugar right now. My Name is Lucy Barton was short and thoughtful, it could give you a good sampling of Lucy’s storyline. And so many of them take place in Maine! I’m excited to get there 😄
I read Charlotte McConaghy's Once There We're Wolves this month and was very captivated by her descriptions of the Scottish Highlands. The setting felt like a character of its own. I am looking forward to picking up Wild Dark Shore soon.
I love Elizabeth Strout! I think I’ve read almost all of her books. She is such a comfort read for me. These days I started buddy reading the savage detectives by Roberto Bolaño, a book that’s been in my pile for a long time…
I read two this past month I absolutely loved that will be out soon. Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje & Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin both incredible. Open Throat made my favorites list last year! You have my interest piqued by The Morningside!
Oooo well I’ll say, she was really the first romance author I liked for a long time! I don’t think you could go wrong with any of her books— it’s been 5 years now since I read Beach Read so I’m excited to pick it up again and see how my feelings towards it have evolved. Beach Read, Book Lovers, and Funny Story tend to be her most loved books. I enjoyed Happy Place because of the setting and relationship but it’s a bit more unique on that front (second chance romance trope) and a big emphasis on friendships. People We Meet on Vacation takes place in lots of different settings and I really enjoyed that one but I know others who didn’t. I think my favorite might be Funny Store!
Selfishly, I want you to read Never Let You Go because I just finished it for book club and did not love it at all. Most of my bookclub agreed with me, but then when I go online, many people say it's one of their favorite books of all time. I always find those books so fascinating and get so nosy to see what other people think.
At the same time, I'm so excited to get my hands on Wild Dark Shore from the library.
That is interesting! I tend to lean more positively towards all my book reviews so I’m always curious to hear what people didn’t love about a book because it is really interesting!
I'm reading Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May right now. It's really good, and I'm savoring it in small bits. I just finished The Overstory with my book club and I really loved it.
Summer reading is creeping in, despite the periodic spring snow storms here in Colorado. 🤪 I read Heartwood in April and enjoyed it. Such an interesting premise for a novel. Now reading Isola and I’m loving it — and realizing I have a flair for the historical and dramatic, who knew? (everyone)
Having read, reread, and loved all 10 of the Elizabeth Strout books over the winter, I have to strongly disagree with only reading the Lucy books before "Tell Me Everything"! You need to meet Bob Burgess and Olive Kitteridge, at a minimum, first. The delight of "Tell Me Everything" is with how Strout pulls together the different characters' storylines. You'll miss so much if you "jump the line". You could *possibly* wait on "Amy and Isabelle" and "Abide With Me", but not the others, imho.
In a similar vein, do you have Richard Russo on your radar? He's another favorite (also happens to be set in Maine) with a wonderful building series.
Wild Dark Shore was my pick for our neighborhood book club in March! I love McConaghy’s work, Once There Were Wolves is my favorite of hers. I’m halfway through Great Big Beautiful Life right now (which is just meh for me so far) but this month I’m excited to get into more of Strout’s books (I picked up My Name is Lucy Barton at our local bookstore this week on your recommendation) and also Kate & Frida by Kim Fay. Last month was a reading slump, hoping to pick up the pace in May!
I am excited to read McConaghy’s backlist titles! GBBL has gotten such mixed reviews, and I can see why!
I think you’ll enjoy Strout backlist! I was going to read another book and pause my Strout journey but then— I couldn’t! I picked up Oh William! like a sugar craving— cannot get enough right now!
Oh also Cross My Heart was a fun thriller I couldn’t put down. And I read The Terrible Two with my 8 year old and we loved it.
Oooo I need a good thriller— I haven’t read one in a hot minute, thank you!!
I’m adding Ultra Processed People to my audiobook queue. And ok I think I will try this Emily Henry! Also to answer your previous question:
Beach Read - loved
People We Meet on Vacation - hated
Book Lovers - just ok
And I never read Happy Place or Funny Story, neither really appealed to me.
Haha yes I can see that! I am curious to see what I think of Beach Read when I read it again this summer (which I hope to do!). I think Funny Story might by my other fave of hers! So top 3 would be Beach Read, Funny Story, GBBL!
I’m so glad you loved Open Throat! It looks like such a good month of reading for you! I’ve only read Olive Kitteridge by Strout but now you’ve got me wanting to revisit 😊
I have had it in my mind ever since you mentioned it and I was a sucker for the hot pink paperback cover, so glad I finally read it!
Oh, Michelle! I think you’d love her other books— I’m kind of craving them like sugar right now. My Name is Lucy Barton was short and thoughtful, it could give you a good sampling of Lucy’s storyline. And so many of them take place in Maine! I’m excited to get there 😄
I read Charlotte McConaghy's Once There We're Wolves this month and was very captivated by her descriptions of the Scottish Highlands. The setting felt like a character of its own. I am looking forward to picking up Wild Dark Shore soon.
That’s a great way to describe the setting— a character of its own! I’m looking forward to reading her backlist!
Right there with you on Wild Dark Shore! And I can't wait to pick up the new EmHen, so glad to see you loved it.
Eeek yes very much enjoyed the new elements she brought into her writing!
LOOOOVED open throat as well! Such a unique and powerful and punchy read!
So glad you loved it too!! A perfect read for you indeed!
I love Elizabeth Strout! I think I’ve read almost all of her books. She is such a comfort read for me. These days I started buddy reading the savage detectives by Roberto Bolaño, a book that’s been in my pile for a long time…
Such a comfort!! I’ll look that one up, I’m not familiar!!
I read two this past month I absolutely loved that will be out soon. Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje & Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin both incredible. Open Throat made my favorites list last year! You have my interest piqued by The Morningside!
I’d be so curious to hear your thoughts hear your thoughts on The Morningside!! And I’m excited to check both of those out!! Hehe my poor TBR 🤣
I'm halfway through Wild Dark Shore and I too want to pack up my family and move to a remote island to live with the seals 🙃
I’m glad it’s not just me 🤣
Open Throat was a fantastic read! I have read any of Emily Henry’s work yet. Which book by Emily Henry do you recommend to try first?
Oooo well I’ll say, she was really the first romance author I liked for a long time! I don’t think you could go wrong with any of her books— it’s been 5 years now since I read Beach Read so I’m excited to pick it up again and see how my feelings towards it have evolved. Beach Read, Book Lovers, and Funny Story tend to be her most loved books. I enjoyed Happy Place because of the setting and relationship but it’s a bit more unique on that front (second chance romance trope) and a big emphasis on friendships. People We Meet on Vacation takes place in lots of different settings and I really enjoyed that one but I know others who didn’t. I think my favorite might be Funny Store!
Selfishly, I want you to read Never Let You Go because I just finished it for book club and did not love it at all. Most of my bookclub agreed with me, but then when I go online, many people say it's one of their favorite books of all time. I always find those books so fascinating and get so nosy to see what other people think.
At the same time, I'm so excited to get my hands on Wild Dark Shore from the library.
That is interesting! I tend to lean more positively towards all my book reviews so I’m always curious to hear what people didn’t love about a book because it is really interesting!
I’m about halfway through my audio listen of Ultra Processed People- I agree it feels like an extended podcast which I’m enjoying!
I wonder if the physical book includes the same convos, I love those!
I'm reading Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May right now. It's really good, and I'm savoring it in small bits. I just finished The Overstory with my book club and I really loved it.
Ooo I loved Wintering by her! And The Overstory keeps catching my eye!
Summer reading is creeping in, despite the periodic spring snow storms here in Colorado. 🤪 I read Heartwood in April and enjoyed it. Such an interesting premise for a novel. Now reading Isola and I’m loving it — and realizing I have a flair for the historical and dramatic, who knew? (everyone)
Hahahaha. I’ll check both of those out, I don’t think I know of either of them!
Having read, reread, and loved all 10 of the Elizabeth Strout books over the winter, I have to strongly disagree with only reading the Lucy books before "Tell Me Everything"! You need to meet Bob Burgess and Olive Kitteridge, at a minimum, first. The delight of "Tell Me Everything" is with how Strout pulls together the different characters' storylines. You'll miss so much if you "jump the line". You could *possibly* wait on "Amy and Isabelle" and "Abide With Me", but not the others, imho.
In a similar vein, do you have Richard Russo on your radar? He's another favorite (also happens to be set in Maine) with a wonderful building series.
Oh good to know! I have Olive in the lineup for sure but I’ll add in the Burgess Boys too— why the heck not! Thanks for the inside scoop!
And no, I haven’t, thanks for putting that on my radar!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all!