“The story of Cuba is one of struggles and strife. When we were girls, we were kept from most of it, but the edges seeped through, crawling over the gates. Batista was a harsh president. He loved sugar, loved the money that flowed into the country from overseas, but he didn’t love the Cuban people. … Continue reading Next Year in Havana

Thank you, Flatiron Books, for the free, finished copy to review. All opinions are my own. A collection of stories that gives voice to the modern-day Indian American experience. All the stories had depth, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking prose. Short story collections make me nervous, but Patel proves masterful in this craft. Each story had … Continue reading If You See Me, Don’t Say Hi: Stories

Thank you, NetGalley, for the free digital copy to review. All opinions are my own. To be transported back to the Obama administration was amazing. To remember his way with words. His gentleness. His humanity. I loved getting to read a little about Obama behind the scenes, off camera. I just wish there would have … Continue reading From the Corner of the Oval

Let me start off by saying: I wasn’t a fan of A Visit From the Goon Squad at all. And then when I saw quite a few negative reviews about Manhattan Beach, I was nervous. It kept me from picking his one up for a long time. In an effort to clean my shelves up a … Continue reading Manhattan Beach

Thank you to Ecco Books for the free finished copy to review. All opinions are my own. These are the hardest books for me to review/rate. I loved the writing, but I hated the pace of the book. It felt like there was a great big build up, but the story ultimately fell flat and … Continue reading Tangerine

“Listen, baby, it makes me happy you want to know, but learning about your heritage is a privilege. A privilege we don’t have. And anyway, anything you hear from me about your heritage doesn’t not make you more or less Indian. More or less a real Indian. Don’t ever let anyone tell you what being … Continue reading There There

While this book talks a lot about the death of her husband, readers who are not experiencing grief can still get a lot out of this book. Loss is loss - whether that loss is through death, divorce, a lost job, etc - and Sheryl Sandburg does a great job of weaving it together. Resiliency … Continue reading Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

Thank you to the author, Jenni L. Walsh, for the free, signed copy to review. All opinions are my own. I’ve always heard references to the infamous duo, Bonnie and Clyde, but I didn’t know much about their crime spree. This was a fun and entertaining account of their 27-months on the run from the … Continue reading Side By Side

Thank you to the publisher, Simon Books, for the free copy to review. All opinions are my own.  I haven’t read the first two books in the Devil Wears Prada series, but I sure did enjoy the third one, When Life Gives You Lululemons! I was in desperate need of a quick, light, and easy read … Continue reading When Life Gives You Lululemons

This is the second time I’ve visited this story and I loved it just as much as the first time! Laurie Frankel addresses a timely issue and while the story is very much about that issue, it’s really about parenting and family. The bottom line is that all parents want the very best for their … Continue reading This Is How It Always Is