Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Libby • Thriller • 2023
Short synopsis: In the seemingly safe neighborhood of Stanhope, nine-year-old Avery Wooler goes missing just hours after a violent encounter with her father—unraveling a web of secrets, lies, and neighbors with something to hide.
Gosh, this thriller was excellent… until the ending. The ending was such a letdown that it dropped my rating from 5 to 4 stars. Up until that point, I was so intrigued by the story and never wanted to stop listening, which is always a great sign. This novel tells the story of a young girl who goes missing and the subsequent search for her. In the midst of that, all kinds of secrets are revealed about this small neighborhood. There are a lot of characters in this novel, but it was pretty easy to keep track of them all. While I had my own theory about what happened to Avery, I was genuinely shocked by the truth. It was such a great reveal. Even though I wanted more from the ending, I was still overall satisfied with my reading experience. (Recommendation source: Sarah’s Book Shelves Live.)
Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Fiction • 2025
Short synopsis: After falling behind on rent, thirty-year-old Freya returns to her suburban hometown and unexpectedly reunites with her estranged teenage niece, Aubrey; together, they work to rebuild their fractured bond and the crumbling house they now share.
Allison Larkin’s previous novel, The People We Keep, was one of my favorite books of 2023. So I was excited when I heard about her newest release, set in her hometown and centered on a woman who’s down on her luck. At first, I wasn’t sold on the premise, but Larkin’s writing immediately pulled me in. She has this beautiful way with words that swept me right into Freya’s world and into the small town she left behind. This book is really about family, and how family can surprise you and break your heart at the same time. It’s about the detours life throws our way, second chances, and learning to find your own kind of happiness. While I don’t think this novel will make my favorites list at the end of the year, it was still a wonderful read with great writing, engaging characters, and a satisfying ending.
No Cure for Being Human: And Other Truths I Need to Hear by Kate Bowler (★★★★★)
Audiobook • Libby • Nonfiction (Memoir) • 2021
Short synopsis: Kate Bowler confronts her cancer diagnosis with honesty and wit, challenging the toxic positivity of self-help culture and exploring what it means to live meaningfully in a fragile, unpredictable world.
This was a quick audiobook (5 hours), and the author narrates it herself. She did a fantastic job, weaving together poignant reflections and snarky commentary into a cohesive, compelling narrative. The book is about Kate Bowler’s cancer diagnosis—where she was essentially given a death sentence, though she is thankfully still alive today—and explores what it means to face the end of your life while trying to keep living. The most heart-wrenching parts, for me, were when she talked about her son, who was only three at the time of her diagnosis. She is raw and honest about her fears about leaving him motherless and imagining the life he might have without her. Despite the heavy subject matter, Kate writes with levity and honesty, and left me feeling more hopeful than sad.
What are you reading?
I just finished the novel Horse AND the memoir Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks and loved both of them.
Hooray for two winners in a row! I have heard great things about both books.
I have the Kate Bowler book on my TBR list but a waiting for the right time for me to read it. The subject matter seems heavy to me and I’m just not ready yet. Thanks for the review.
I totally understand! I was thankful it was a quick audiobook because I think if it had been longer, it would have been a bigger struggle to get through due to the subject matter.
I read the Bowler book years ago and also really liked it! I can’t imagine going through a cancer dx with a young child. :….(
I am reading a middle grade novel called “The Labors of Hercules Beal.” I think it was recommended by Kaytee of Currently Reading. I’m really enjoying it! It’s set on Cape Cod so the timing of reading it is perfect since I’m familiar w/ that area of MA now! I like reading Middle Grade books as they are a good pallet cleanser and they give me an idea of what to suggest for Paul down the road.
Next I will read “Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez!
The chapters where she is ruminating on her child being motherless were HEARTBREAKING.
I usually skip past the middle grade recommendations on Currently Reading, even though I usually love the middle grade books I read! But that’s fun that you’ll have a great selection of stories to suggest to Paul down the road. <3
I’ve heard Kate Bowler interviewed on a podcast- I’m sure that book is great.
Now I’m curious about the Shari Lapena book- maybe I’ll read it. Right now I’m reading Kindred by Octavia Butler. It’s hard because I haven’t really had that much time to read on this trip. I’m hoping to rectify that on my flight tomorrow!
I loved Kindred! It was such an interesting premise and the writing was so good!
I sort of want Home of the American Circus to be about a circus. Maybe I should just reread The Night Circus.
Agreed – the title isn’t great! Now I want to reread The Night Circus, too!
I read either No Cure For Being Human or Kate Bowler’s other book, the name of which is escaping me right now. Anyway, it was lovely. She has a podcast too – or did – and I listened to it for a while when I moved here. I kind of fell off of it though.
I am reading Fun For The Whole Family, which is pretty good – a contrived kind of plot but I’m enjoying it.
Her other book is Everything Happens for a Reason, which is on my bookshelf! I need to read that one soon. She is an excellent writer!
I looked up the Allison Larkin audiobook, and she didn’t read it herself! What??? She’s one of my favorite narrators, and she didn’t read her own book? It’s narrated by Julia Whelan, who is also an excellent narrator. But I’m really disappointed that she didn’t read it herself.
I’m listening to Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller, and I’m enjoying it SO much!
Ohhh, man. That’s a missed opportunity to read her own book, especially if she’s already an expert audiobook narrator!
I have added the first book to my TBR. I am usually not for thrillers but every once in a while…
I just finished “Shield of Sparrow” by Denver Perry which pulled me out of my reading slump. I am hoping to stay in reading mode and get into the novel I am reading (and which has been dragging) Book of Doors.
I enjoyed _Everyone Here is Lying_ too. I didn’t not see many of the plot twists. (Maybe because I don’t read much in this genre?)
I just finished _I’m Thinking of Ending Things._I picked it up because I thought someone I knew had recommended it… but I probably shouldn’t have… so bleak and surreal and there were bits that were truly nauseating. I really don’t know why I persisted until the end.