Happy Place by Emily Henry: Everyone has a different happy place. For Harriet it’s a cottage in Maine, where she spends time with her best friends. One last week at this cottage provides the setting for this book. Two of her best friends are getting married and after that the cottage is sold. The dynamic between the six friends is amazing and one could feel the deep friendship coming off the pages. I loved the description of it because it was so natural and relatable. I had more problems with the relationship of Harry and her ex-fiancé. Especially the ending was a little bit weird. But who doesn’t want believe that love conquers it all? Kept me up at night and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: I guess everyone has heard about the sinking of the Titanic, and maybe some of you even of the fate of the Lusitania. But the Wilhelm Gustloff might not be something you have know of. At least I didn’t. The German MS Wilhelm Gustloff sank on January 1945, after being hit by three Russian torpedoes in the Baltic Sea. The ship was filled to the brim with evacuees, mostly women and children. The story of ‘Salt to the Sea’ follows the fate of five characters, who all end up on this ship. It was heartbreaking, but also a wonderful story of resilience and human sacrifice.
What happens now? by Sophia Money-Coutts: Isn’t that a question we all ask ourselves from time to time? In Lil’s situation it is especially justified. After a one-night stand with Max she ends up pregnant. Definitely not ideal! I loved this book, the story telling was great and the secondary characters so well drawn. They come to life and just spring from the pages. I almost felt as if I lived with them in London. The relationship of Lil and Max is not main focus, which I enjoyed. Lil has her own life and set of friends and it’s these relationships, which define the book.
The Trees by Percival Everett: A white man gets murdered in Mississippi, and then another one. This brings two black detectives to the scene to support the local sheriff. I am not really into the crime and mystery genre, but ‘The Trees’ was more about race. The writing style of Percival Everett is excellent and I had several lol moments. They might not have been meant as such. But as an outsider to the race discussion in the States, some of the blatant absurdities just made me laugh. The ending was unexpected and quite weird, but until then the book was excellent. The story plays out in the present, which would make the racism described also a present day event. That’s almost unbelievable!?!
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