Based on a true story, The Wife, the Maid and the Mistress takes a look at the not-so-perfect life of Judge Joseph Crater.  One night in August 1930 he steps into a taxi and is never seen again.  The truth behind his disappearance is told by the three women who know him the best: his wife, his maid, and his mistress.
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Ariel Lawhon does a wonderful job immersing you in the time period-think Gatsby-esque parties, speakeasies, chatter, and gangsters.  Between the language, locations, and the types of characters (Did I mention there are gangsters?), I was sure this one would make it to the top of my list.  I was excited to see what and how each of these main women contributed to the disappearance of the Judge.  At the end, I still had some questions that I was dying to have answered about this piece of historical fiction, much like I do with the true story.  So why am I recommending it to you?  The journey is so fun, that I just have to share.  Read more to find out what I liked, and what just didn’t do it for me with this good book.

Shakespeare.  I know the mere mention of the Bard scares some people off, but bear with me, folks, because there will not be a test following today’s post.  Let me start again.

If We Were Villains is part homage to Shakespeare’s brilliance, part murder mystery, part coming of age, part confession.  M. L. Rio uses Shakespeare’s plays as the basis of her novel, using their plots and character dynamics to build this tangled, yet intriguing tale of identity and belonging.   Each of the characters plays a specific role in their group of friends which aligns with their roles in the plays: the hero, the tyrant, the villain, the seductress, the ingénue, and the expendable background characters.  

What happens when their roles are suddenly changed on the stage?  Their lives both together and apart are turned upside-down in ways they never imagined, affecting them for the rest of their lives.

I honestly could not stop talking about this book from the moment I picked it up until book club ended.  Want to know more about why? Read more to find out!

 What can a taxidermied raccoon teach you about happiness?  Everything.  
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Furiously Happy is one of those books that just stays with you.  Jenny Lawson is a queen at humor, especially when it deals with the more difficult parts of life like anxiety, depression, and chronic illness.  The Bloggess, as she is fondly known on her blog and social media, finds a way to make all of the hard in life seem bearable, even comical. The cover of this one explains it all: this is a funny book about horrible things.  Lawson uses her own life experiences to make you laugh until you cry (like I literally did) at the absurdity of life.  I found myself highlighting whole pages and reading them aloud to anyone that would listen, regardless if they wanted to hear it or not.  The situations Lawson finds herself in are indeed outrageous, and I always found myself wanting just one more story.  She balances her anecdotes with humor and candor, which left me laughing and contemplative at the same time.  Wonder how that happens? Read more to find out. ​​

Books like The Hate U Give are important to read not just because they’re timely, but because the fill a gap.  They make waves.  They make you think about how you view the world.  Angie Thomas writes in a way that makes you immediately engage in this novel, so much so that I could imagine her quietly coming up and putting her arm around me saying, “I know this makes you uncomfortable, but let’s think about why.”  It’s uncomfortable because it’s supposed to be.  Many of you will shy away from that, choosing to read books that make you feel good.  That’s great!  As for me, I’m finding that I take more from a book that makes me think, feel, and wrestle with some difficult issues.  This book fits the bill.  The Hate U Give is a young adult novel and one that I would have as required reading in my classroom.  I think I might make it required reading for my friends and family as well.  Read more to find out why…