Some good book choices and some not-so-good. Waiting for the holidays and new books under the tree!

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Pretty typical and enjoyable for the creepy psycho-drama genre. Teenage daughter goes missing and the remaining family dynamic suffers for years. Different sections are narrated by four key characters. Even when it becomes apparent what happened, the question of how it will be resolved remains til the end.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Disclosure: this is my first book by Hannah; I had put her in a category of writers whose novels were cheesy romances in historic settings. That said, my friend Joan urged me to give her a try and loaned me The Women. Turns out, I liked it more than I expected. Perhaps that’s because it deals with the Vietnam War and feminist issues that I was becoming aware of during my young teen years. The story and the relationships

among the Army nurses were compelling, and at times, heartbreaking. It points out how little recognition women were given for their service. A poignant memory raised was the silver POW bracelets, one of which I wore. Yes, there was a cheesy romance factor and a lot of what I considered silly detail. Overall, it was a great read.

Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Dr. Atul Gawande

This is a first-person telling of experiences during Dr. Gawande's surgical residency. The focus is the unknown, the unusual, the uncertainty that comes with the practice of medicine. It’s insightful and interesting if you’re interested in hospital-based medicine. Gawande’s book Being Mortal is a must-read for healthcare professionals.

Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard

A bit older novel, it’s a tale of women’s friendship and mother-daughter bonds based in quite an adventure. Four women, lifetime friends except the one who’s been living out of the country, take a sailing tour to re-bond. Bad weather and drug-dealing pirates turn their pleasure trip into a scary and life-changing event. Lots of tension. Not a favorite, but a pretty good read.

Damage Control by Robert Dugoni

Corporate attorney Dana Hill is shattered when her twin brother is murdered in his home. She meets Detective Mike Logan and the two start piecing clues together, uncovering a complicated and high-level plot. Dana’s already shaky marriage is breaking apart at the same time. This is one of Dugoni’s early books, and it’s not quite as tight as his more recent novels, but he weaves a great mystery.

Alice & Oliver by Charles Bock

I really wanted to love this book, especially since it’s a fictionalized memoir. However, the characters never spoke to me and the level of detail in some areas (like Oliver’s internet start-up and health insurance challenges) was too much. Admittedly, I skimmed through big portions and may have missed that special something.

My Kind of People by Lisa Duffy

I’m so glad my friend Joan came across this book, because these really are my kind of people. On a New England island, these neighbors are truly there for each other – or they learn to be. When 10-year-old Sky’s adoptive parents are killed in an accident, their friend Leo suddenly becomes her guardian. Only problem is Leo’s husband feels left out and doesn’t want to leave the city. In spite of secrets and scandals revealed over a summer, this community survives.

Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates

The last time you see a loved one, do you realize it’s the last time? What happens when you become the adult generation and your eyes open to adult decisions? Who are you? These are the questions facing sisters Clare and Nikki after the tragic and frightening death of their mom, told mostly from Nikki’s view. It’s about the memories, the lessons, the secrets uncovered, and missing Mom. But it’s also about moving forward and finding hope.

Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom

This is a relatively short collection of short stories, a couple covering many years and two viewpoints. They’re okay, good enough for me to finish the book, but not really my taste.

Akin by Emma Donoghue

An unusual book, filled with history from Nice, France in the 1930s. The story revolves around an elderly man and a child for whom he becomes temporary guardian on the eve of a trip to Nice. Noah takes the boy on a trip filled with challenges as they develop a unique and special bond. Again, lots of history about places I’m not familiar with, but it’s a decent read.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

Tough to put down! This psycho-thriller story of a mom and daughter unravels a web of lies that have kept them hidden from the beginning of the mom’s pregnancy 24 years earlier. As the daughter starts to uncover the truth, danger rears its head again. What is the whole truth, and who can be believed?

The Old Place by Bobby Finger

This is an unusual but meaningful debut novel about aging women, friendship, and buried secrets, the biggest of which could destroy that friendship. Mary Alice and Ellie have been friends through some difficult times, including the loss of their sons. When Mary Alice’s long-estranged sister shows up, everything gets complicated. There are some gay themes involved, if that bothers you. I enjoyed it and will look for the author’s new books.

Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott

I really wanted to like this one, because I like Anne Lamott and love Bird by Bird. Unfortunately, I never could really get into it. I usually love mother-daughter books, but this had too many side stories and not enough strong plot to hold it together. (I forced myself to finish.) There was too much tennis talk for a non-tennis player, and none of the characters made an impression.

A Secret Kept by Tatiana De Rosnay

Antoine Melanie have long been haunted by their mother’s sudden death when they were children, but their father and grandparents are not easy to talk with. Melanie has a flash of memory while driving, and the resulting accident starts the pair on a path to find answers. It’s an entertaining read, though not at the level of her previous novel, Sarah’s Key.

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

Cummins is a master of powerful novels, though this one didn’t gut me the way a couple of her earlier books did. It’s the story of three generations of Puerto Rican mothers and daughters dealing with the challenges of love, marriage, and identity. A life-threatening accident weaves it all together. I found the jumps in timelines and perspectives a bit tough to keep track of, but it was a good read.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

This book topped my Christmas list, and I devoured it in 2 days. Through letters to and received from a variety of interesting characters, Sybil’s world, and theirs, blossoms into a garden of stories. Her relationship with her daughter, her best friend, a neighbor, the troubled son of a friend, and an unknown correspondent, are explored and revealed. I grew to care about them all through their correspondence and was quite moved by the end.

BONUS: My Favorites of 2025 (Fair warning, I couldn't limit myself to 5)

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans