When I wasn’t working on house stuff or teaching yoga this month, I devoured a few books.
This month included more “Thursday Murder Club” cozy mysteries, some contemporary fiction, and a thriller.
(As a reminder: I always track my reading on Goodreads.)
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The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2) by Richard Osman
Recommend
I read the first “Thursday Murder Club” book last month and I was on the fence about it, but I’m glad I pushed through to pick up the second novel in the cozy mystery series because it was so much better. Osman’s second novel in the series focused a bit more on the plot and had fewer meandering side stories and side characters. I like how all three plots came together at the end and the humor felt a bit cheekier. “The Man Who Died Twice” was easier to follow along with than “The Thursday Murder Club” and this book got me a bit more excited to read the third book in the series, “The Bullet That Missed.”
The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave
Recommend
Maya Patel has it all — a loving husband, adorable newborn and thriving company she’s at the helm of. But the one thing Maya can’t escape? Guilt. Guilt for taking maternity leave, guilt for leaving her baby’s side, guilt at needing help. But what if she could simply take a pill and make all the guilt go away? Every part of this book was pretty predictable — including the ending, which was kind of cheesy — but with that said, I still devoured it in a single day. Even though I’m not a mother, a lot of the social commentary resonated with me.
The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club #3) by Richard Osman
Recommend
This book received such rave reviews and it’s the reason I powered through the Thursday Murder Club series despite not loving the first book of the series, and this book definitely lived up to the hype! The Thursday Murder Club series does seem to get better as it goes on.
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
Neutral
Trigger warning: Abuse, assault, gaslighting, love-bombing, narcissism. This book was easy enough to read (if you can stomach the trigger warning content). At about 100 pages in I thought the end might result in a plot twist, but the plot progressed exactly how you would think it would, and it told the story of an incredibly narcissistic and psychotic man. It’s told in dual timelines, but the two fonts make it a bit easier to keep track of what’s going on. The ending was satisfying and I’m not entirely convinced this book wasn’t written about my Chicago ex.
Discontent by Beatriz Serrano
Recommend (with a caveat)
I don’t think this book is for anyone — but if you’re a childless 30-something disillusioned with the idea of full-time work and capitalism, you are this book’s target market. The book is told in a first-person narration, and you’ll either love or hate Marisa. There’s a lot of introspection in the narration, and huge chunks of it were a little too relatable for me (a childless 30-something disillusioned with the idea of full-time work and capitalism).
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Recommend
Gay Uncle Patrick (or GUP for short) is asked to watch his niece and nephew for the summer following the death of his sister-in-law, when his brother decides to check himself into rehab for a pill addiction. This novel is centered entirely around the relationships between Patrick and his family. I absolutely loved all of the characters in this book, and found myself on the verge of tears at the end of it. It was definitely a heartwarming one.
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