My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante | This is the first book in a series of four about the friendship between Lila and Lenu, two girls in a poor neighborhood outside of Naples in the 1950s. Both girls are smart and clever, but only one of them continues her education. Lenu is the narrator, and she paints a complex picture of growing up post World War II. It is an engrossing read, but you will be grateful they have a chart in the front to keep track of all the colorful characters.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
In Cosby’s novel, we follow three siblings searching for the truth. Their mother disappeared years ago and there are no answers. Their father is in the hospital after a suspicious attack. The eldest son is trying to help unwind the mystery. This is a fast-paced novel and a great read.
Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family and Finding Freedom by Christine Brown Woolley
If you have never watched the series Sister Wives on TLC, this book will leave you gobsmacked. If you have seen a season or two of the series following the polygamist Brown family, you will certainly enjoy all the new, well, gossip on the characters who you love to hate. This is an easy read while you watch TV!
The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey
This novel is a dystopian tale in England where there was not a clear winner in World War II. It is the story of triplets ‘abandoned’ by their parents in a boys home, the Sycamore Home. The boys are visited regularly by a doctor who does not have their best interests in mind. I was blown away by the secret behind their abandonment and who they really were. This is a good suspenseful read.
