Since Riser Boy was born in February, I've had more time to read (thanks to nursing) and wanted to share some of my favorites of the Spring/Summer.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikery
I adored this book. I ugly cried while reading this book. I laughed hard while reading this book. Any novel with a grumpy old man that takes place in a small-town bookstore is one I cannot refuse. This book had so many quotable phrases and the writing of Zevin sucked me in from page one. If you like stories where the characters become like friends and family in a way that makes you want to pack your bags to travel to where they are, pick this one up.
5/5 stars
Recursion
This book was so worth the summer hype. It was just published in June and followed Crouch's previous huge novel hit, Dark Matter, which you should for sure read if you haven't. Recursion is a sci-fi novel (don't let me lose you here) that shows what can happen when we have the ability to go back into a memory in our life and change it, for better or for worse. It's mind-bending, dramatic, and fast-paced. Blake Crouch is a wizard with eerie, futuristic topics and this novel isn't one to be missed.
5/5 stars
Daisy Jones & the Six
This was a hot book this summer, and I can see why. I listened on audio (which I would recommend). It was both an Oprah's book club + Reese's book club pick, too. If you care about that sort of thing. The novel is written entirely in an interview-format, and zeroes in on a fictional 70s rock band called The Six, telling their story of their beginning and breakup. Daisy is a young girl who desperately wants connection with others, she's neglected by her busy + wealthy parents, and finally gets noticed for her voice. She grows up to be an absolute icon, yet has so much brokenness behind the scenes and off the stage.
4/5 stars
