Summer 2023 Reading List | Book Chatter

The Drowning Woman
By Robyn Harding
Published by Grand Central Publishing, 9781538726761, June 13, 2023, 336 pp.

The Short of It:

Harding does it again.

The Rest of It:

Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets–no one ever does–but when her restaurant fails, and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move–until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. ~ Indiebound

I’ve read a few Harding books and they never fail to pull me right in. I mean, to the point where everything is pushed aside so I can be left to read. The Drowning Woman was no exception.

Lee, forced to live in her car and desperate for human interaction can’t help but fall under Hazel’s spell. What is this woman’s story? Why is she trying to kill herself? Outward appearances will tell you that Hazel has everything. A gorgeous beach house, money at her disposal and a handsome husband. But Hazel’s life is a mess and she wants out. Is Lee desperate enough to get tangled up in this web of lies if it means a chance to improve her life?

There are plenty of plot twists to keep the story moving. I eagerly picked the book up in-between work assignments, chores, and the like. I enjoyed it!! Recommend.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

The Bird Hotel
By Joyce Maynard
Published by Arcade, May 2, 2023,9781956763737, 432 pp.

The Short of It:

Maynard never fails to tell a story, and tell it well.

The Rest of It:

After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano.

The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magical realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a leading voice of her generation. ~ Indiebound

I was delightfully surprised by this novel. I expected to love it, but I didn’t expect La Llorona to find a place in my heart. I love it when a home, village or dwelling is so well-imagined that it takes on an identity of its own. The crumbling hotel with all its challenges is lovingly restored by Irene. Her sensitivity to the environment around her and the respect she has for the hotel’s original staff, earns her respect in the village.

People come to La Llorona for many reasons. To get away from it all, to find elusive herbs, to profit off the locals and yes, sometimes to hide as Irene continues to lay low to protect the secret she is hiding. Irene’s grief over losing a child and husband continues to grow and hold her captive, Memories of her mother’s last words replay in her head. She is heavy with grief and La Llorona gently calls her mind to other things.

People come together. Some become family, others become enemies. There’s heartache and great displays of loyalty. I found myself completely absorbed by the hotel and its people. It was one of those reads that you fall right into.

Recommend.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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