Food is a Feeling by Carla Lalli

Food is a Feeling by Carla Lalli ⭐⭐⭐ This book started with an emotional wallop of the author describing her first night alone during a divorce. And as I kept reading, I realized this book couldn’t device if it was a divorce memoir or a cookbook. I guess I went into this expecting more of a cookbook as I own and enjoy one of her earlier books, but the narrative sections caught me by surprise and was trying hard for resilience but often felt like a bummer. Some of the recipes looked appealing, but some felt more like just vibes (e.g. cereal and milk, seltzer and fresca, etc.). Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter for the ARC.

The Shippers by Katherine Center (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/19)

The Shippers by Katherine Center (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/19) ⭐⭐⭐ This was my fifth Katherine Center novel, and unfortunately not my one of my favorites. The writing for the first half of the book felt rather manic and wacky. It had that jubilant bouncy style, but cranked up a few too many notches for my taste. I found the female main character annoying and was unconvinced by the repeated statements that she was brilliant. For the last third of the book, the story hit its stride and had more of the elements I’ve enjoyed in her other books, but this one felt more cloying than sweet.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/12)

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/12) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I took a chance on this book after reading a Minotaur sampler preview. I am usually wary of anything labeled thriller, but this one focused more on character development than gory details. I appreciated getting to see the two main characters mature over time as their lives intersected and the book created a strong sense of place. I read half the book in one sitting, and finished it on May 1, the anniversary day. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/5)

 Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I didn't take this book immediately, but once I did, I was all in. You know those times when you are out doing other things, but you just want to get home to read your book? That's how I felt with this book. Much like Brammer's previous book, Collected Regrets of Clover, this book was a warm hug mixed with some real reflection on the human experience and the wisdom that comes with age. It confronted real challenges but always with humor and warmth. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/12)

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/12) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book proved to a very propulsive thriller, with plenty of danger and suspense without being gruesome (a reason I am often wary of thrillers). I wasn't sure how this would flow having two authors, but it didn't feel disjointed and particularly in some of the descriptions near the end I could sense Penny's familiar voice. Many of the themes felt eerily timely which added a layer of realism. I found some of the characters annoying but appreciated their evolution throughout the novel. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Cozy Case Files, Volume 27 (NetGalley ARC, pub 4/21)

Cozy Case Files, Volume 27 (NetGalley ARC, pub 4/21) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I enjoyed this mix of familiar and new to me authors. Two that caught my eye were authors I haven’t read before with Dungeons and Danger (a historian dies during a Viking festival) and Purranormal Activity (the start of a cat-themed mystery). I also enjoyed the wide range of professions among the female sleuths across each of the stories. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Mother Tongue by Sara Novic (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/5)

Mother Tongue by Sara Novic (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is beautifully written and reads as part memoir, part non-fiction. I was familiar with most of the themes since I subscribe to Novic's newsletter and follow her on Instagram. I appreciated the exploration of deaf culture, history, disability rights, eugenics, adoption, identity, and the meaning of language and language deprivation. I think in some ways the book being labeled a memoir did it a disservice, since it was put together in chronological order as many readers might expect. and because it created a sense that the author was holding back. When read as a book of non-fiction inclusive of the meaningful lived experience of the author, it is a much more enjoyable experience. Although there was no surprise ending to anticipate, I read this book quickly and eagerly. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.