Joan

This sci-fi thriller was a hit for me! It is fast-paced and centered around changing DNA to “upgrade” humans. There is family drama and high stakes for the future of humanity which keeps the action going. Lots to enjoy here so I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

I appreciate all of the research that Nayler put into this book. It was very evident that he has thought long and hard about AI, consciousness, inter-species communication, and many other topics. I found the premise of the book to be so unique and interesting. Highly recommend!

Wow...what an interesting book! The main character is not likeable, but like a car wreck, I couldn't stop looking and wanted to see what was going to happen.

Some of my favorite parts are the “behind the scene” glimpses into the publishing industry. I am looking forward to hearing more about the accuracy of how the book business was portrayed. Lots to discuss with this one. Highly recommend, especially to lovers of contemporary fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary digital ARC.

3.5 stars. This is a fast-paced mystery with pictures! I liked that element of the book and enjoyed reading it.

I was glad that I had read Mandel's two previous novels, Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel, prior to reading her latest book. There were characters and nods to both of those books included in this novel. I enjoyed Station Eleven but wasn't a big fan of The Glass Hotel. So the carryover of characters from that book was not a plus for my reading experience.

I enjoyed the themes the author explored in this book. Overall, however, I found that the characters were not fleshed out enough for me to care about them and the story. I appreciated the author's cleverness in this book, but ultimately it was just an okay read for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This was a propulsive thriller that kept me turning the pages. I didn't particularly care for the ending and “reveal.” I would recommend it to someone looking for a quick, easy read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

What a surprise! I only knew a little about this book before diving in and I found it to be an excellent read. The writing is superb and I found the story to be compelling and emotionally moving. I enjoyed the role that music and language played in the interaction between the characters. Would recommend to literary fiction lovers who enjoy character driven stories. A new favorite!

I really enjoyed this book! The author was able to weave together fantasy, a detective story, and political intrigue all in one story. I am looking forward to the next installment.

This book has a very unique and interesting premise. The writing and characters held my interest through out and the ending was propulsive. I look forward to reading other books by this author and recommend this one to readers who like historical/literary fantasy.

4.5 Stars. Original story with wonderful characters. Loved it!

Love the Will Trent series! Karin Slaughter is a great story teller and a master at weaving compelling thrillers.

Fun and enjoyable read!

I enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow quite a bit and had high hopes for this new offering from Towles. He came through with a completely different yet utterly enjoyable story. I enjoyed the historical setting, the characters, and the plot. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical or literary fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book.

Great book that explores the psychology and science behind how our minds work in relation to happiness. With our imperfect memories, inability to predict our emotional reactions to events in the future and the psychological tricks that we play on ourselves, it becomes obvious that our thoughts and opinions about “the world” are highly subjective. All the more reason for having an open mind and heart.

This was another solid entry in the Joe Talbert series.

3.5 stars...I really enjoyed The River and had high expectations for this book. I love Heller's writing and descriptions, especially of the natural world. Even though the story was propulsive, I found it a bit lacking. I'm not sure if it is because the end seemed rushed or I just wanted the mystery to have more meat on its bones. It is a short and quick read though, so pick it up if you are curious.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I typically love this author's books but am torn on this one. It was an interesting thriller but had some cons for me.

I didn't really connect with the characters and it took a long time to build the story which made it longer than I think it needed to be. The story wraps up pretty quickly in the last 50 pages and has a predictable and logical conclusion.

It was interesting in that it was the first book I have read that has characters dealing with COVID...wearing masks, etc.

If you are a fan of the author and have high expectations, you may want to keep those in check. Overall, it was an okay read. Trigger warnings for sexual abuse, violence, and drug addiction.

3.5 stars. This book was an enjoyable nerdy romp. The story was very creative though I did find the ending to be a bit convoluted.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital review copy.

I enjoyed “The Seven Husbands of Evely Hugo” and had high hopes for this book. Overall, it was just an average read for me and not up to the level that I was expecting. I didn't find the character development that I typically enjoy and the story was predictable and ho-hum.

I think many readers will enjoy this as a light, summer read this season. It just didn't captivate me as I had hoped it would.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital advanced review copy of the book.

3.5 stars. I appreciated the diversity and propulsive story-telling!

I went into this book knowing nothing and was so glad I did. Everything was a surprise which made it a fantastic read for me. A lot of the science was beyond my understanding, but that didn't take anything away from the heartfelt and funny aspects of the story. I recommend going into this book blind and just enjoying the ride!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This was an interesting book. It did have some slow parts but the ending made it worth it. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy literary fiction and don't mind a character-driven story.

I had no expectations going into this story. I listed to the audio book version read by Hector Elizondo and think that he did a fantastic job. The writing was good and the story surprised me by how dark it went. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. It is perfect for readers who enjoy literary fiction and well-developed characters. The plot is slow-moving but engaging and I found the ending satisfying.

This book had such a unique plot. If you are looking for something short, sci-fi (cloning), and original, give this one a try.