The Winter Of The Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) - Katherine Arden

My Review - 5 Stars

You know when you love a series and each book is better than the last and then the final book comes out and it’s impossibly perfect and you’re filled with a sense of completion and satisfaction and yes, a little bit of sadness it’s over, but mostly you’re in awe of your reading experience? Well, now you know how I feel about The Winter Of The Witch and the Winternight Trilogy.

Winter Of The Witch picks up where Girl In The Tower left off and it’s pretty much off to the races from the start. This book was INTENSE, in a good way, even if some parts made me very nervous.

This was action-packed and just when one arc would resolve, I’d realize there was more to come. But it was always in service of the plot and the characters. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

Arden explored the theme of belonging in some really interesting ways. Morozco is winter—he is the Frost Demon, after all—and it is basically impossible for him to be with Vasya in other seasons. Vasya does not want to be reduced to a wife: she doesn’t want to belong to a man in their patriarchal world. Then there are the familial relationships between Vasya and her siblings and aunt and the ways they work in tandem and apart. I also really enjoyed all of the symbolism at play.

When I consider the whole of this trilogy, I marvel over where Vasya was when we started and where she winds up in the end. She’s grown in big ways but the heart of her character is the same. She sees herself as an agent of chaos, like Medved, only she’s trying to help people when trouble ensues, whereas he delights in wreaking havoc.

One of Vasya’s tasks is to recognize her monstrous sides without giving in to those impulses and saying connected to the light and to her family. Winter Of The Witch blurs the lines of good and evil, as we also see other sides of both the Frost Demon and the Bear.

Vasya does not belong to Morozco or Medved. This makes her powerful in her own right and I loved watching her really come in to her own. She’s her own person with her own wants and desires and she’s not there to take sides. She is their very literal balance. Or as she says, “born to be in between.” The way this came together was magnificent.

Lastly, there's Vasya and Morozco's relationship. Look. I don't know how many times I have to say it but if being in love with a Frost Demon is wrong, I don't want to be right. As such, I absolutely loved the new developments in their relationship and where things stood between them.

This was such a fitting end to the trilogy and cements the Winternight trilogy as one of my favorites. Highly recommended.

CW: death of a horse (this was hard to read but it does get a good resolution), violence, mob violence, threatened rape, war

Synopsis

Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen.


Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.

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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Del Rey in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1) - Roshani Choksi

My Review - 5 Stars

This is Six Of Crows meets Ocean’s Eleven meets The Librarians, with a dash of Indiana Jones. If that doesn’t reel you in, I don’t know what will.

The Gilded Wolves is a historical fantasy set in 1899 Paris centered around a crew of friends. In this world, the Order of Babel rules. Some people are divinely gifted with Forging affinities, allowing them to change or enhance creation. But as you might suspect, not all is well in this world. There’s the Fallen House, which no one will talk about. There’s a House without an heir. And, oh, there’s the way the Order doesn’t always act in everyone’s best interests.

Enter Séverin, the denied heir of House Vanth, who delights in reclaiming the items sold off from his House and tracking down Order items for those who will pay him. He’s assisted by Zofia, Laila, Tristan, and Enrique, each of whom bring a great deal to the table.

Séverin believes the Order falsified his inheritance test because he’s biracial (Algerian-French) and there was already a mixed race patriarch (Hypnos of House Nyx, who had a Black mother and French father.) Séverin wants nothing more for House Vanth to be restored.

This leads to a treasure hunt for items which will allow him to blackmail the Order but his quest for a compass leads him in an entirely different direction. The rest of the novel is part treasure hunt, part heist and I could not get enough of it. I don’t want to say much more about the plot but suffice it to say, you’re going to want to talk about it.

The real star is the group of friends. All of the details and interactions show how well they know each other and care for one another. The different dynamics, such as who was closer to who, was fascinating to watch, as well as see what love stories might emerge, if any. (I was especially here for the unrequited but maybe requited longing.) I also loved how badly Hypnos wanted to be part of their group and how this aspect of the plot developed.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out how seamlessly diverse the cast of characters is. Laila is Indian and bakes by day and dances as L’Enigme by night. Enrique is Spanish-Filipino and likely bisexual—I fully geeked out on his character because he’s a historian and symbolist and I can’t get enough of symbolism. Zofia is a neurodiverse, Polish, and Jewish math whiz. Tristan is white and has anxiety and has somewhat of a codependent relationship with his tarantula Goliath but can do amazing things with plants. Laila and Zofia were especially strong female characters, which was refreshing to see when it comes to a heist plot.

While Séverin’s obsession with getting his House restored is what gets them into a pickle, each person has a vested interest in the plan succeeding. They test themselves and each other and this made for some wonderful character development. I cared so deeply about each one of them.

There’s such a great sense of humor throughout, no matter the stakes. This was a suspenseful read, to be sure, but more than anything else it was fun. The ending makes for an incredible set up for book two and I cannot wait to see where Chokshi takes us next.

CW: racism, colonialism, death of a loved one, grief, references to past bullying, past child abuse (neglect, mental, emotional), anxiety attacks

Synopsis

Set in a darkly glamorous world, The Gilded Wolves is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous but thrilling adventure.

Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can't yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.

Together, they'll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.

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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

I've progressively read more and more Young Adult literature the past several years and I thought it was finally time for it to have its own post for my annual favorites list. 

After romance, YA is the genre I reach for the most. I haven't put much thought into why that is, other than I find such consistently wonderful stories. It's easy to get lost in those worlds and I find I learn so much from the characters. There's so much I love about the books listed here!

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post. 

Darius The Great Is Not Okay - Adib Khorram

Darius is a sweetly awkward 15 year old Iranian American who doesn’t feel like he fits in anywhere. He loves tea and Star Trek. He’s bullied at school and he’s on medication for depression. His relationship with his dad, who is white, is strained. I could not have rooted for him harder! I loved watching Darius figure out where he belonged and especially how the arcs with with his father and with his friend resolved. The #ownvoices depiction of depression as an every day part of life that’s being managed was refreshing—something I could have used when I was a teenager. I loved every part of this story and can’t wait to see what Khorram does next.

Read my full review.

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Love, Hate & Other Filters - Samira Ahmed

Samira Ahmed deftly explores identity, racism, Islamaphobia, and culture through the eyes of Maya, a 17 year old American Indian. The way Ahmed structured the novel was incredibly effective. While each chapter focuses on Maya, the chapters are separated by a page which centers on a crime, either still to come or the aftermath. The way she uses this to build up the tension is impeccable. Maya’s wry observations and snark often made me smile. She is most comfortable viewing the world by the lens of her video camera, a part of her surroundings, yet separate from them. Maya is caught between her parents' expectations for her and her own desires. She's also aware of how she's different from her mostly white classmates by virtue of being brown-skinned and Muslim. Maya really has to wrestle with whether to go along with her parents' dreams for her or forge her own path. My heart really went out to Maya as she was figuring out what she wanted and whether she had the courage to act on it.

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Strange Grace - Tessa Gratton

This was eerie and creepy and magical. It's about bargains and sacrifices, which has big implications for even us. In some ways, it reminded me of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery...but if it had witches and a Devil. Mairwen, Arthur, and Rhun are singularly memorable characters, so fully alive on the page, so unpredictable. They face such high stakes and I had no idea what they would choose to do or what was best for the community or whether Three Graces was even deserving of their care. They were so refreshing to read about, not only because of what the novel has to say about gender and sexuality, but because of what they mean to one another and the relationship they forge. This book took me on quite the journey and I'll be processing it for a while. Suffice it to say, I now need to read everything Tessa Gratton has written.

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The Beauty That Remains - Ashley Woodfolk

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Children Of Blood & Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) - Tomi Adeyemi

I'm still marveling over the mastery of the storytelling. Hands down it’s one of the best YA Fantasy novels I’ve ever read. From page one, the world-building and character growth was unparalleled. It’s fast-paced but it never felt like too much. I needed to know where it was all headed and whether certain characters would be redeemed. There were so many passages and arcs that are relevant for us, that resonated and gave me hope. Zélie, Amari, Tzain, and Inan captivated all my waking thoughts until that heart-racing cliffhanger ending. I need March to be here so I can dive into book 2! I have no idea where Tomi Adeyemi will take this series but I’ll be there every step of the way. 

(And okay, I'm giving Adeyemi a certain amount of side eye after her scuffle with Nora Roberts but I'm hoping she's learned her lesson and I still highly recommend it.)

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When Dimple Met Rishi - Sandhya Menon

This was as wonderful as everyone said. Why didn’t I get to it sooner?! Dimple and Rishi captured my heart from the start and I could not get enough of the evolution of their relationship. This was a heart-warming, happy read...although it made me cry too because of how strongly I empathized with the characters. It was also refreshing to read a book that got the San Francisco setting right!

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Wild Beauty - Anna-Marie McLemore

Lush, evocative magical realism—I’m stunned by the beauty of this story, still turning its core messages about love, complicity, and restitution over in my mind. I adored the characters and, as a white cishet woman, really appreciated the ownvoices Latinx and queer representation. Anna-Marie McLemore wrote my favorite stories in two YA anthologies I read earlier this year and she’s even more amazing in long-form.

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Shadowsong (Wintersong #2) - S. Jae-Jones

Anyone else hold off on reading much-anticipated sequels because they don’t want the experience to be over? I adored Wintersong and could not wait to see what happened with Elisabeth and her Goblin King in the sequel but once I read it, I’d have no more Goblin King to look forward to so I held off. Luckily, it was as magical as I hoped it would be! Not only is it a rich retelling, it explored mental health in unexpected, nuanced ways, asking us what the gifts of “madness” might be. The world-building and character growth were top notch. I also really appreciated the emphasis on the entirety of the person and the way the story explored this. I was spellbound while reading and, yes, I was deeply sad it’s over. The Goblin King is one of those characters I’ll carry in my heart.

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Olivia Twist - Lorie Langdon 

Lorie Langdon’s inventive take on Oliver Twist completely stole my heart. It’s fresh and witty, one of those rare books where you feel like you are beholding something special. I adored Olivia as both the hard-scrabbling orphan posing as a boy and the lady trying to find where she belongs. There are no words for how I feel about Jack and his evolution as a character- it’s mostly heart eyes and flailing. Of course, there's danger and intrigue and I was crossing my fingers the whole way for a happy ending because I could not recall Oliver Twist having one. I flew through this story, needing to know what would happen. The writing was fresh and clever and I laughed out loud more than a few times. When I finished the last page, I was completely satisfied and immediately wanted to tell everyone to read it.

Read my full review.

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What If It's Us - Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

This was such a cute, funny read! It made me laugh out loud and it made me tear up. Arthur is convinced he met Ben because of fate and the universe but when he realizes he doesn't even know Ben's name, he's forced to help the universe bring their paths back together. This could not have been more of my catnip and I loved how Ben and Arthur finally found one another again and even more so how they still had to get to know each other and see if there was more to their relationship. They were such well-developed characters and I loved seeing how they grew across the story. The story explored class, religion, and race differences in some really nuanced, compassionate ways and this made Ben and Arthur's relationship even more believable for me. The ending left me filled with hope. Fingers crossed Albertalli and Silvera team up again!

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My only reading goal for 2019 is to write shorter reviews in a timely manner and it's all based on how long it's taken me to put together my favorite book lists for 2018. TOO LONG. You would think if I loved a book, I'd immediately write a review proclaiming all the reasons why but alas, this did not happen for at least half of what will be featured in the three ensuing posts. Often, I'll want time to process the magic and goodness or be at a loss as to how to say anything in written form when really I just want to jump up and down yelling about how good it is.

In any case, along with writing fewer reviews, I noticed some big changes in my reading habits last year. While I've always read way more fiction, I read noticeably less non-fiction. Reading has been more of an escape for me the past couple of years and I needed that escape especially in 2018. And I escape best through stories.

But I also noticed a shift in the stories I gravitated toward. When it comes to fiction, I go for romance first, YA second (especially YA Fantasy), and then general fiction, with some exceptions. There's nothing wrong with that but it's interesting to note that during a stressful year, I wanted guaranteed happy endings most of all and then YA after that.

However, I still read some amazing general fiction. There's a little literary fiction, women's fiction, thrillers, and even some sci-fi. One book was an intentional step out of my comfort zone and boy, was it worth it.

Usually I roll these out my favorite book posts one after another but I'm still writing reviews so I'll post as they're ready. Be on the lookout for my favorite nonfiction, YA (in a separate post for the first time!), and romance novels!

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post. 

Jane Doe - Victoria Helen Stone

Can’t stop won’t stop talking about my new role model Jane! She happens to be a sociopath but don’t let your preconceived notions about sociopathy prevent you from appreciating the glory known as Jane. Also: don’t piss her off or hurt someone she cares about. I have not been able to shut up about this refreshing, inventive domestic suspense! I fell for Jane on page one and I’m not ashamed to admit how many times I’ve asked myself, “what would Jane do?” She is not bogged down by anxiety or insecurity or shame and it was super empowering to live vicariously through her as she plotted revenge. Steven got everything he deserved and I definitely needed to see a man actually pay for his crimes against women. If you need a book that essentially says “screw the patriarchy and all abusive gaslighting men!,” pick up a copy and thank me later. 

As delicious as the book was, there were so many other clever or touching elements, like Jane adopting a cat and finding a kindred spirit in it. Or the quiet love story that emerged, which made me so happy. Victoria Helen Stone has given us a gift.

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Witchmark - C.L. Polk

Witchmark is a fantasy novel built around a murder mystery. If you like stories about witches, you have got to check it out! Evocative writing, reveals that made me gasp, thorough world-building. Best of all: I deeply cared about the characters. Miles and Tristan are drawn together because of the mystery and a lovely love story emerged as a result. I adored them. Witchmark raises good questions about privilege and class differences through the ways mages are valued over witches, Storm-Singers over Secondaries. And I really liked the emphasis on the freedom of choice, how we must be able to choose our way through this world instead of being forced or limited to one avenue. I thoroughly enjoyed the world Polk created and I can’t wait to see what happens in book two.

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A Study In Scarlet Women - Sherry Thomas

I don't think I'll ever get enough of gender-bending retellings and this is my favorite Sherlock Holmes take yet. Thomas subverts the patriarchy and empowers her Charlotte Holmes, never letting society dictate what Charlotte can do. Turning Watson into a widow gives the series even more room to grow and highlights what's possible when women take their future into their own hands, even in 1860s England. The mystery was compelling and I remained ever in awe of Charlotte's intellect, but I was really there for the characters, including police detective Treadles, Charlotte's sister Olivia, and Lord Ingram.  A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Amazon | Barnes & Noble) was just as good and I'm hoping to get around to The Hollow Of Fear (Amazon | Barnes & Noble), which came out in October, as soon as possible.

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Susanna Kearsley

This year I decided I wanted to try to read the rest of Kearsley's backlist (not including her category romance.) It was a very loose goal that I didn't determine until February or March and as such, I still have two to go. Five out of the six novels I did read were 5 star reads. She's an author that just plain works for me! 

Susanna Kearsley’s novels build in the loveliest ways. I loved the way The Rose Garden (Amazon | Barnes & Noble) examined Eva’s grief after the death of her sister and the way her found family took care of her. Plus, time travel! And intrigue! And a tea house that I wish was real so I could visit!

I didn’t want The Shadowy Horses (Amazon | Barnes & Noble) to end! I was so fully immersed in the story, dying to know what the archeology team might unearth, whether the Roman army had ever come through there, and just what might set the Sentinel’s soul at ease. Not to mention how fun it was to see a young wee Robbie whom I met as an adult in The Firebird. Plus, the lovely development of Verity and David’s relationship.

Mariana (Amazon | Barnes & Noble) was another enthralling read! I love how her stories play with the paranormal and intuition. I’ve never believed in the concept of past lives or perhaps I should say I never understood it. But Mariana’s story turned out to be a rather compelling argument. I loved figuring out who the present day characters were in their past lives! And I absolutely adored watching Julia find a home and community in a small British town. The resolution was perfect and I closed the book with a smile on my face and a sense of satisfaction in my heart.

Bellewether (Amazon | Barnes & Noble) was an absolute winner! The present day storyline follows Charley who has moved in with her 19 year old niece Rachel after the unexpected death of Charley's brother Niels. She's the new curator at the Wilde House Museum and comes to learn of the house's ghost: Lydia Wilde's Frenchman who was killed by her brother. We get both Lydia and Jean-Philippe's POV and the transitions between all three POVs was excellent. Kearsley deftly explores grief through the death of Charley's brother/Rachel's father, as well as the deaths of Lydia's mother and her fiancé. Bellewether examines the reality of history, compared to how stories can take on a life of their own. This goes beyond what happened to Lydia Wilde and her Frenchman. Charley is very intentional in how she curates, making sure she portrays history as it was, not just as we wish or imagine it was. We have to tell the whole truth, warts and all.  I both loved and dreaded watching Lydia and Jean-Philippe slowly develop feelings for one another. After all: this is a ghost story, which meant any happy ending was in jeopardy. But as this was happening in the past storyline, Charley was dealing with her lackluster love interest Tyler and then thankfully, finally, realizing what a treasure Sam was. I loved how the plot developed and the way the mystery unfolded.

There’s so much to love about A Desperate Fortune (Amazon | Barnes & Noble): old diaries, codebreaking, perilous journeys, Jacobites, a hot Frenchman, past and present storylines. Here for all of it! I can't speak to the representation of Sara's Asperger's in the present day storyline but it seemed like it was handled well. I especially liked the contrast between how her cousin watched out for her all these years and how Luc accepts her as is and instinctively knew how to help her because his brother also has Asperger's. Mary's storyline in the past was quite engaging—never a dull moment once her journey began. It was such a different look at the Jacobites and it was good, albeit hard, to see the very real toll it took on families. Her own love story was wonderful and a well paced slow burn. And I appreciated that it took second place to her adventure and to her forging her own identity as a young woman apart from the expectations placed on her.

Trail Of Lightning (The Sixth World #1) - Rebecca Roanhorse

This was seriously amazing! The Sixth World series centers on Dinétah (a former Navajo reservation) after flooding wiped out most of the world. It's an #ownvoices Native post-apocalyptic story and the incredible world-building had me hooked. Maggie the Monsterslayer was such a fierce, prickly character and I really appreciated the way she grew through the course of the story. She experienced major loss and hardship but she also needed to make sense of who she was, as someone who now has the god-gifted ability to kill monsters. It brought up a lot of questions about good and evil, identity, and who monsters are, beyond the monsters Maggie tracks in this particular novel. Kai was an intriguing character in his own right. I kept trying to get a read on him and his intentions but he kept me guessing the whole time. There were so many great side characters, plus the way Coyote and immortal monsterslayer Neizghání figured into the plot. When I reached the end, I immediately wanted to dive into book two (out April 23, 2019). What an ending! I absolutely have to know what will happen next to Maggie and her crew.

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The Late Bloomers' Club - Louise Miller

If Louise Miller is writing, I'm reading it. The beauty of this story lies in the characters. They are fully realized: charming, quirky, hopeful, cynical, wry, dour, kind, compassionate. Sometimes all at once. Nora and Kit are opposites who share a foundation. Charlie and Fern at the diner who are more like Nora’s family. All the townspeople in their glory. Kit’s boyfriend Max pretty much stole the show for me, from his leading ladies tattoos to his Zenisms to his enthusiasm for baking even though he’s vegan. This was a well-written, lovely story. It pulled on my heartstrings and the ending left me with a profound sense of satisfaction.

Read my full review.

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The Incendiaries - R.O. Kwon

Literary fiction doesn't always work for me but this definitely did. It's a stunning exploration of faith, doubt, and what it's like to no longer believe. John Leal's rise as a cult leader was quite eerie yet I could see it happening all too easily. Will was not a healthy individual, particularly once he fixated on Phoebe. He did so many awful, selfish things and yet I could relate to his struggle with religion and the loss of certainty. Phoebe was less clear, purposefully so, as we never hear her point of view. She remains obscured, even to Will, which fuels his fixation when they're apart and gives him purpose when they're together. I loved the way Kwon wrote and structured this; the writing itself was beautiful. But it's the way the characters related to God (or didn't relate to him) that really held me captive to the story, all the way to the powerful conclusion.

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The Phantom Tree - Nicola Cornick

What really sold me on this story is that instead of a present day character traveling back to the past, we get a character from the past traveling to our present day. With this fascinating premise, we meet Alison Bannister who has been searching for a way to return to the 1550s and save her infant son Arthur ever since she emerged through a door to the present. The years passed but Alison has not given up on hope. When she finds an old portrait of her cousin Mary Seymour, she's one step closer to figuring out how to return home. But at the same time, the portrait draws her back into the orbit of her ex-boyfriend Adam who believes the portrait is of Anne Boleyn. She can't be fully honest with him about what she knows and she needs his help to investigate. The story spills out from there and it kept me absolutely enthralled. Gorgeous prose and impeccable plotting, backed up by excellent research. A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read!

Read my full review.

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The Girl In The Tower (Winternight Trilogy #2) - Katherine Arden 

I really enjoyed The Bear And The Nightingale (which you must read first) but Girl In The Tower exceeded my hopes for where Arden would take her story. Vasya and Morozco are such compelling characters in and of themselves. Neither can be fully contained, albeit for different reasons, and Vasya’s burgeoning awareness of her strengths and abilities was marvelous. This book marks a new aspect to Vasya’s relationship to the frost demon., exploring whether there can be possibly be hope of a future together. Nothing is really as it seems in this world and that adds another layer of intrigue to the whole story. Plus, I continue to love how Russian fairy tales and folklore are woven in. Arden again explores the divide between good and evil, the power of love, and the importance of women having ownership in their lives and futures. 

Read my full review.

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Next Year In Havana - Chanel Cleeton

If you enjoy past-present stories, if you're at all curious about Cuba, if you like your novels to come with a love story, you are going to need this book in your life. Next Year In Havana is an immersive experience. While officially Marisol travels to Cuba to write an article on tourism now that restrictions have eased, unofficially she's there on a journalist's visa to return her grandmother Elisa's ashes to her native country. Elisa's family left the country when Castro took over but they never thought Castro would stay in power or that they'd never be able to return. Upon Marisol's arrival, she meets Luis, the handsome professor grandson of her grandmother's best friend Ana. Through Ana and Luis, Marisol is able to see the Cuba from her grandmother's stories, as well as the Cuba of today. Two love stories, two depictions of Cuba. It highlights what modern Cubans have undergone and it does not shy away from the US government's complicity in Cuba's plight. I learned a lot but I never felt like I was being taught. This was a wonderfully written story.

Read my full review.

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Bone Music - Christopher Rice 

I am the wimpiest of wimpy readers. I read the occasional thriller but I don’t read scary books and I rarely read about serial killers. But when I read a few friends’s rave reviews about Bone Music, I was intrigued. The daughter of serial killers gets super powers and decides to hunt down a serial killer?? I'm so glad I took a chance on this one! This was an impeccably plotted, well-paced page turner of a sci-fi thriller. It’s intense (hence, I had to read it in one day) and disturbing in places but more because of how Rice builds our dread than the actual content. Although, to be clear, characters do some messed up things too. I don't want to say more than that because I think you'll appreciate the storytelling so much more the less you know going in. The twists really elevated the story and I cannot wait to see how he develops this as a series.

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My Review - 5 Stars

“It was a truth universally acknowledged that by age forty I was supposed to have a certain kind of life, one that, whatever else it might involve, included a partner and babies...If this story wasn’t going to end with a marriage or a child, what then?”

I’ve been trying to come up with the words to explain how much this book means to me. I’ve read some incredible nonfiction this year but this memoir about a woman creating her own blueprint for the single life was the book I *needed* to read. It was so good for my soul. I viscerally related to Glynnis MacNicol’s experiences, particularly the way she embraced her singleness, and felt so understood. Her words so deeply resonated with me, especially with my 39th birthday around the corner. While I remain open to meeting the love of my life, the last few years I’ve focused more on what my ideal single life looks like because I fervently believe my life has value even if it looks different from how I imagined. To that end, I've been hungry for stories of other single women who are doing the same. 

It’s a rich memoir, whether she’s asking herself what 40 means to her and whether she wants to have kids as a single woman or she’s grappling with the decline and eventual death of her mother or she’s reveling in the realization she has a life people envy her for. Best of all, it’s a memoir exploring singleness that does not end with the author in a relationship. MacNicol isn’t following a conventional path and I soaked up her wisdom as someone who is a few years ahead of me. Highly, highly recommended.

Synopsis

If the story doesn’t end with marriage or a child, what then?

This question plagued Glynnis MacNicol on the eve of her 40th birthday. Despite a successful career as a writer, and an exciting life in New York City, Glynnis was constantly reminded she had neither of the things the world expected of a woman her age: a partner or a baby. She knew she was supposed to feel bad about this. After all, single women and those without children are often seen as objects of pity, relegated to the sidelines, or indulgent spoiled creatures who think only of themselves.

Glynnis refused to be cast into either of those roles and yet the question remained: What now? There was no good blueprint for how to be a woman alone in the world. She concluded it was time to create one.

Over the course of her fortieth year, which this memoir chronicles, Glynnis embarks on a revealing journey of self-discovery that continually contradicts everything she’d been led to expect. Through the trials of family illness and turmoil, and the thrills of far-flung travel and adventures with men, young and old (and sometimes wearing cowboy hats), she is forced to wrestle with her biggest hopes and fears about love, death, sex, friendship, and loneliness. In doing so, she discovers that holding the power to determine her own fate requires a resilience and courage that no one talks about, and is more rewarding than anyone imagines.

Intimate and timely, No One Tells You This is a fearless reckoning with modern womanhood and an exhilarating adventure that will resonate with anyone determined to live by their own rules.

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