Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
by Robert Kolker
The Galvin family includes 12 children. All are athletic and good-looking, but eventually six of the 10 brothers will be diagnosed with schizophrenia. The two daughters were spared. The Galvins provide a compelling case study for treating the disease, and Kolker does an amazing job weaving together their story through interviews with some of the brothers, two sisters, the mother and a variety of health professionals. While the subject matter might seem depressing, it wasn’t. It was a fascinating and hopeful read.
The Guest List: A Novel
by Lucy Foley
Over a two-day period, a group of people come together on a beautiful little Irish island to celebrate the marriage of Will and Jules. Unbeknownst to anyone, each of them has a secret that slowly unravels during the weekend. Some secrets you will see right away. Others will cause you to screech, “no way!” Am I any smarter as a result of reading this book? No, but I sure did enjoy it.
Sorry I Missed You: A Novel
by Suzy Krause
Three very different people live in a triplex. None of them are particularly friendly with each other until they receive a note saying, “sorry I missed you.” No one knows who left the note, but each of them hopes it was someone very near and dear to them who has disappeared from their life. The three characters come together to try to figure out the author’s identity. This is a happy, funny read that will make you smile—perfect during this time of COVID.
Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered
by Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
I am not sure how this book ended up in my stack to read, but I suspect it had to be the title. As you know, I am a true crime fanatic, so I am always interested in murder. And who doesn’t want to be sexy? What I didn’t expect was this great story about two women with very different lives who found each other at a party and now are the very successful creators of the My Favorite Murder podcast. The language is crass as they share the good, bad and ugly about their lives. I actually found it very inspiring. Don’t be surprised if I announce my own podcast very soon!
