Review of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
Cronin's debut novel explores mortality, vulnerability, surprising moments of joy and reflection, an irresistible young protagonist, and...
Sep 21, 2022
Review of Less (Arthur Less #1) by Andrew Sean Greer
ICYMI: This funny, wry, silly, sweet, heartbreaking story feels light on the surface but has deep meaning churning underneath. “I look at...
Sep 8, 2022
The Bossy Five-Star Reads So Far This Year
The Five-Star Bossy Favorites Someone asked me a while back if I ever give five-star ratings to the books I read. And the answer is: yes!...
Aug 12, 2022
Review of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
A book about childhood friends making a video game is an unexpected, captivating setup for this wonderfully deep, epic dive into...
Jul 26, 2022
Review of White Houses by Amy Bloom
ICYMI: White Houses is gorgeously written, exhaustingly researched historical fiction about Eleanor Roosevelt and her love, Lorena...
Jul 7, 2022
Review of In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom
Amy Bloom writes with brutal honesty about her heartbreak and her determination to support her husband Brian Ameche's desire to end his...
Jul 6, 2022
Review of The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle by Shawn K. Stout
Stout's recently published middle-grade story is irresistibly strange, full of difficulties and a tough young heroine's gritty...
Jun 2, 2022
My Favorite Reads of the Year So Far
Bossy Bookworm's Very Favorite Books of 2022..So Far! I love a favorites list--check out my favorites lists, posted at the end of each...
May 6, 2022
Review of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
ICYMI: This fictionalized version of a first lady's personal history from the talented Curtis Sittenfeld was a five-star read for me. In...
Apr 28, 2022
Review of Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor
ICYMI: I loved Taylor's exploration of various faiths, striving for open-mindedness, respecting differences, and finding captivating new...
Apr 13, 2022
Review of The Gods of Howl Mountain by Taylor Brown
ICYMI: Taylor Brown's five-star, 1950s North Carolina-set novel offers mountain clans, whiskey runners, folk healers, family conflict,...
Apr 12, 2022
Review of This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
ICYMI: This five-star read--part memoir/part essay--is one of my favorite books of Ann Patchett's, and I didn't want her reflections and...
Mar 23, 2022
Review of Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
Williams's historical fiction mystery--based on real-life double agents in the Cambridge Spy Ring--is vividly set in Europe and Russia...
Mar 9, 2022
February Wrap-Up: My Favorite Reads of the Month
My very favorite books from February! Here are my favorite reads of the past month, in no particular order: No Cure for Being Human, a...
Mar 1, 2022
Review of No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler
Touching, honest, raw, funny, and full of gritty reflections about life and faith, this was a read that I absolutely adored and gave five...
Feb 1, 2022
Six Five-Star Bossy Reads to Check Out
Five-Star Bossy Love! Someone recently commented that I "never" give five-star reviews. And it's true that I don't throw five star...
Jan 21, 2022
My Twelve Very Favorite 2021 Reads
My very favorite reads this year! I post a monthly wrap-up of my favorite reads, and now that 2021 is almost over, it's time to share the...
Dec 31, 2021
My Twelve Favorite 2020 Books
ICYMI: Bossy Bookworm's Very Favorite Books of 2020! I love an end-of-year, best-of, favorite books list, and I loved putting together my...
Dec 27, 2021
Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series
Royalty, intrigue, and magically wonderful stories--even if no magic is involved (see number 1 below)! It's tough to fall in love with...
Dec 9, 2021
Review of The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
Jansson offers a vivid Finland isle setting, a wonderfully grumpy grandmother-granddaughter relationship, and the complexities of carving...
Dec 8, 2021