Book Love & Coffee Mugs

Thank you to Renee at @itsbooktalk from last week's episode "You Heard it Here First: An Advanced Screening" on the pod.  Renee and Tina were discussing what advance reader copies they've enjoyed.  How thrilled was I when Renee mentioned this one to find I had it already queued up on my kindle!  Thank you @netgalley and @penguingroup Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer Pub date: April 26, 2022 Unpredictable story of Merit and Cole, married 12 years with two young boys and two careers.  The exhaustion, the short tempers, the lack of engagement with one another.  When Merit returns to work and finds her soul filled with architectural design and a boss who understands her, not just as a talented employee but as a valuable person the story becomes more intense.  I appreciated the fact that this women were in their 40's and 50's yet full of life, determining what's next, and taking time to appreciate what they enjoy.  Such a great follow up to Vladimir ...

  Vladimir by Julia May Jonas So many things drew me to this book, least of all the cover.  Likely why I chose to listen on audio instead as to not have to look at the cover each time I picked it up.  Yet I digress.   The setting of this novel is on a small, liberal arts college in upstate New York.  By connecting dots in my mind I found this my hometown, Saratoga Springs and the college my alma mater, Skidmore.  The author is a professor there and many descriptions in the book mirrored the area so well.  The Avenue of the Pines on the outskirts of the Spa State Park as a locale for many a walk to clear one's head.  The comfy alcove overlooking the campus in Schribner library for a quiet place to read and people watch!  And the charming downtown of Broadway which resembles a New England town.   So much familiarity I wasn't prepared for what came next. All the disdain.  Self-loathing.  Resulting in very few likable characters. ...