Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao (★★★★☆ 1/2)
E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2024
Short synopsis: After Isabel rescues Mira from her abusive ex and offers her a place to stay, an unexpected, undeniable attraction sparks—despite Mira insisting she’s not into women.
Oh, my heavens, I adored this romance. Isabel + Mira 4ever. Mira has been spending her nights on a friend’s couch after breaking up with her boyfriend who was essentially financially abusive to her. She’s a Ph.D. student and barely making ends meet in NYC, but lived a cushy life thanks to her boyfriend. Isabel offers her the spare room that’s been empty since her ex-girlfriend moved out (it was her art studio), and thus begins a tentative friendship that blooms into so much more. There is so much happening in this novel beyond Isabel and Mira’s love story. There is Mira learning to be independent after a bad relationship while also fighting for a union contract at her university. There is Isabel who is still grieving her sister’s sudden death and dealing with another sister’s estrangement. The way both of them learned to trust each other with their secrets and their hearts was beautiful to witness. I will be keeping an eye on this author, and I’m ready for her to release another book!
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Mystery • 1936
Short synopsis: There’s a serial killer on the loose. His macabre calling card is to leave the ABC Railway Guide beside each victim’s body. But if A is for Alice Asher, bludgeoned to death in Andover, and B is for Betty Bernard, strangled with her belt on the beach at Bexhill, who will then be Victim C?
I am oh-so-slowly making my way through Agatha Christie’s extensive backlist, and I picked up this book at an indie bookstore while I was traveling. The premise is so intriguing! I loved that this book was from the point of view of Poirot’s sidekick, Hastings, which gave us a unique look into this investigation and the way our dear Poirot works. The twist in this mystery was so well-done and I never saw it coming, which made it that much more satisfying. Do Christie’s novels have the best writing? No. But we’re not reading her books for that! She writes really inventive mysteries, especially considering the time period.
In Light of All Darkness: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America’s Child by Kim Cross (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction (true crime) • 2023
Short synopsis: In Light of All Darkness embeds readers in one of the most famous true-crime stories of our generation—the kidnapping of Polly Klaas—a case as pivotal in the history of the FBI as the Unabomber or Oklahoma City bombing.
Friends, if you love a good true crime podcast, then you’re going to love this book. In 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped from her own bedroom while hosting a sleepover with two friends. It was a time when techniques like dusting for fingerprints were still relatively new, and victim advocacy as we know it today was far in the future. This case had far-reaching ramifications, and the book explores the many elements involved in the search for Polly and her kidnapper. It’s not only a chronicle of a horrific tragedy, but also a deep dive into how investigations like these unfold.
One of the most striking insights was how little law enforcement understood about interviewing victims at the time. Polly’s two friends were present during the kidnapping, and while they weren’t physically harmed, they experienced significant trauma. Their stories changed over time, which led investigators to suspect they were lying. With what we now know about how trauma affects the brain (especially in children!) it’s clear they were doing their best to process an overwhelming experience. And not being believed by these authority figures did not help matters!
At times, the author goes a bit too far into the weeds and I found myself tuning out when she was diving into something that wasn’t totally related to Polly’s kidnapping or the investigation. Overall, this is a compelling book that taught me a lot about how the FBI operated in the early 1990s—and how this case helped shape meaningful changes that followed.
What are you reading?
Adding In Light of All Darkness to be TBR now!
I hope you enjoy it! It was sad, but also very fascinating.
I should have known about this kidnapping as I was around that age in 1993 but I somehow never heard about it! I learned about it in Paula McClain’s book that was based on that kidnapping. I don’t think I can handle any true crime right now… But I will have to keep it in mind for the future. I find the advances in investigations so fascinating!
I’m currently reading “Good Dirt” which I am really enjoying. It has short “cheeto chapters” so is very hard to put down! I’m also reading “Best Laid Plans” by my blogging turned IRL friend Sarah Hart Unger and am really enjoying that as well!
I asked my mom about the Polly Klaas kidnapping as she was in her late twenties at that time (with two young kids), but she didn’t have any recollection. Probably because of the way the news worked at that time! Nowadays, it would be EVERYWHERE.
I have Best Laid Plans in my cart to buy finally. I was stupid and didn’t preorder the book. Gah!
Oooh the Polly Klaas book sounds very intriguing. I love my murder mysteries, but I have not really dabbled that much in true crime. Maybe this is my gateway book???
I think In Light of All Darkness could be a GREAT gateway book for more true crime. I don’t read a lot of true crime, either, although I love thrillers and murder mysteries, too!
I remember the Polly Klaas kidnapping- I was in high school at the time and it gripped the nation. I’ve never thought about the larger historical context of it, though.- this sounds fascinating.
I’m currently reading Big Bad Wool- Sheep solve mysteries! And also Crescent City because my 14 year old loved the book.
There was so much happening at the FBI when this kidnapping case came up, especially as it related to fingerprint technology. Fascinating!
Sheep solve mysteries! That sounds like a cozy read I could use right now.
The Polly Klaas book sounds really good. And, I read the ABC Murders a loooong time ago. I vaguely remember something about the twist at the end, which means it was a good one. Sometimes I’ll reread her books and I can’t remember anything- which makes me happy until I get to the end and I’m like “Oh, that’s why I didn’t remember it- it wasn’t that good.”
I just started Heart the Lover!!!
EEEKS! I’m hoping to read Heart the Lover in February. BOOK BUDDIES!
I have added Make room for love to my TBR for one of those times I want to just get lost in a book.
The last one sounds interesting but I probably won’t read it.