mhinnen's reviews
377 reviews

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Sweet book. Good vacation read. Romantic comedy. Redemptive 

All Will Be Well: Learning to Trust God's Love by Lacy Finn Borgo

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

In the final moments before my father died as I sat by his bedside, the words of Julian of Norwich came to my mind. All shall be well. Years later, during the pandemic, I remembered her life and ministry and it brought me hope. 

This was a sweet childrens book and I love the idea of handing a child a hazelnut as a way to remember Gods love. This would be a great book for a child suffering from loss. It’s sensitive to the realities while offering a spiritual understanding of our connection through a loving creator. 
Thanks to Netgalley and Intervarsity press for the ARC 
Talking about this book?  #AllWillBeWell #NetGalley.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Could not put this down. Creepy and horrifying. The end was a little over the top but not disappointing. First book I’ve read by this author and I’m looking forward to checking out the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Violence

My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was an easy book to read. While some of the themes has weight to them, it is overall a light read. The story is told from the perspective of a teenager in the late 70s who is being raised on a college campus. It is a clever and witty narrative.  The author has a humorous writing style and I could see it being made into a comedic play. 

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

My first job out of college in the mid 1990s was in the Graybar building, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal. One day I brought my 7 year old daughter to work and as we walked from the subway and through the main concourse she looked around in awe “this is where you work?” Grand Central Terminal by the end of the 20th century had been restored in a way that perhaps captured some of its original splendor. 

I enjoyed "The Masterpiece" a story of two woman connected over 50 years. Clara is an artist and art teacher at a school in Grand Central Terminal at a time when women artists weren’t taken seriously. But with smart strategies and skill she builds a successful and lucrative career while navigating love and life. When the Great Depression hits, people no longer buy art and she and her romantic partner look for new ways to create and survive. 

Virginia is recently divorced in the mid 1970s and trying to create a new life with her daughter. When she gets a job at Grand Central at a time when it is about to be demolished, she falls in the with the building seeing beyond the disrepair and the beauty that is possible with restoration. She also stumbles onto a mystery linking back to an art school from her 20s. Her curiosity helps build her character and confidence. 

Good light mystery and historical fiction in an iconic NYC building across two fascinating periods in time. It's interesting to see how Clare in the late '20s is able to break free of social constraints for women seemingly more easily than Virginia in the late 1970s. Though of course for Virginia a child and previous marriage have already defined her in many ways. 

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

You know you are in Park Slope when you are thoroughly amused by a murder mystery that takes place in your own neighborhood. And soon you are wondering what your neighbors are actually up to while their children are away at sleep away camp. Is there really an underbelly to the tree lined streets, culturally rich environment, and historically beautiful homes?

A Good Marriage captures both  idyllic and ironic characteristics of a community with the charm of a small town and the perks of a big city. 

what a ride. secrets upon secrets. No marriage it what it seems, but according to A Good Marriage, in Park Slope, everyone has something to hide. As layer upon layer is revealed, one question remains - who killed the beautiful new neighbor, Amanda?

This is a page turning mystery and I found myself having trouble putting it down. Though I did need to suspend reality at all of the coincidences that brought the final revelations to light. 

Maame by Jessica George

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jessica George does a great job telling Maame/Maddie's story - eliciting the complexities of trying to find who you are as you enter adulthood - professionally, socially, romantically. Maame (meaning "woman" in Twi) also has the weight of her family on her shoulders as she cares for her father in England which she has since she was a pre-teen and her mother began spending time in her home country of Ghana for months at a time. She doesn't have close friends because her mother has told her she can't share about what goes on in the family home. Maddie's interactions are also through the lens of a young Black woman navigating predominantly White spaces. 

Maddie's story of growth and self development is told through narrative, Google searches, and the voice of "new Maddie's" subconscious. In many ways, the style of writing and plot reminded me of Bridget Jones' Diary. 

So much of her experience resonated with me and I found myself laughing out loud as she explores a night of fun, groaning as she makes choices that seem questionable, and weeping for her as she experiences grief. The author takes  care in exploring the nuanced and challenging relationships in Maame/Maddie's life. As someone who is the age of Maame's mother in the book, it brought back a lot of the intense emotion of that season in my life and an appreciation for how those experiences shaped me into who I am today. 

#Netgalley

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read The Family Upstairs years ago and while I don't remember any of the details, I remember being pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed it. So I was excited to receive an ARC of The Family Remains. While it's a sequel, it still certainly can stand on its own. Get ready for a page turning thriller as you follow the twists and turns of the grown up Lamb children, a woman in an abusive marriage, and an investigator who is trying to solve a 30 year cold case.

Henry, Phin, Lucy, and Libby have all grown up in the shadow of the childhood horrors they escaped. But the past has come back to haunt them as 30 year old bones of a young woman wash up from the river. Who was the woman? Why have Henry, Phin, and Lucy all changed their names? And what is their connection to another murder - that of Michael who is Lucy's ex-husband? Will Phin/Finn escape Henry's childhood obsession with him? And will Lucy find them in time to save Henry from himself?

There are a bunch of random coincidences that seem a bit far fetched. And the last line made me chuckle. But if you suspend your sense of reality, you'll find this a satisfying end of summer read.

 #TheFamilyRemains #NetGalley

Lucky by Marissa Stapley

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lucky was raised to be a scam artist. But through her life she just wants to settle down. When she wins the lottery she finally has a chance to turn her life around and redeem herself. She knows if she does that she will be caught and go to jail. It’s a good ride if you are willing to suspend reality. 

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

adventurous emotional funny informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

So this is the fourth Fiona Davis book I have read this month and Magnolia Palace is my favorite! I loved the stories of Lillian and Veronica, two models 50 years apart in the same NYC home. I was frustrated and appalled by the wealthy and privileged Frick family. I felt hopeful for the servants as they navigated this family while holding onto their own dreams. Most of all, I loved the humanity of these young women as they show themselves to be so much more than a pretty face. The mystery and romance, wealth and culture create a page-turner within the walls of an iconic NYC home/museum. 

I always appreciate the author's note, which clearly explains the fact vs fiction. I can certainly see this made into a movie. There were a few inconsistencies in the snowstorm though maybe I missed the details of the explanation. It also seemed far-fetched that 50 years later when the home was turned into a museum that so much would have been left untouched. But otherwise a solid, fun, and a worthwhile read.