5 Star Reviews

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5 Star Reads: These 5 books are must reads!

The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano

A beautiful & heartbreaking story, this novel serves as a powerful historical reminder of our country’s beginnings. I listened to the audiobook & was initially distracted by the strong Irish male narrator’s voice; I suspect I might have enjoyed it more in print, as I typically do with my reading. That said, I adjusted fairly quickly & was able to fully immerse myself in the story. As someone who studied American literature, I absolutely loved this novel. The female character is especially compelling, her wit & commentary made me laugh out loud several times & offered a wonderful example of how history has often revealed (& sometimes overlooked) the strength of women.  The story provided the perfect tone & reality of the Salem Witch trials & the absurdity & nonsense of it all. While the last chapter was absolutely tragic, there was some beauty in the mother & child outcome- which is something this book did well: mixing the dark & beautiful. The epilogue is one of the best I’ve ever read & truly provides a fantastic ending!

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, & Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

Wow! This book is exceptional. I picked it up out of curiosity & a love for psychology, human behavior, & Oprah, & it exceeded every expectation. Dr. Perry & Oprah masterfully weave neuroscience with real-life stories, making complex concepts both accessible & deeply meaningful. Reading it felt like an invitation to better understand ourselves & others. As a parent, I found it especially impactful & believe it should be essential reading for all parents. As a human, I know it will make me a more empathetic & self-aware one. The insights are so rich that I fully expect to return to this book again. I listened to the book, & I highly recommend the audio book!

The Widow: A Novel by John Grisham

What a ride! I had no idea where this story was headed, & that made the journey even better. It was by turns fun, heartbreaking, & stressful in the best way. I loved the characters & the plot, and I could deeply relate to the small-town drama woven throughout. This was my first John Grisham novel, but it definitely won’t be my last—his writing is absolutely beautiful.

Carless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed & Lost Idealism by Sarah-Wynn Williams

Wow—this is a must-read. Everyone should read this as a lens on big tech, data collection, AI, & China’s influence. It’s also a powerful cautionary tale about how extreme wealth & power can enable secrecy & behavior far outside normal accountability. Whether the story is 10% true or 100% true almost doesn’t matter—either is deeply unsettling. I found the author incredibly credible, & her storytelling is exceptional. Brilliant work,& I can’t wait to follow the rest of her journey.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

This book was absolutely beautiful, a true gift of storytelling. I fell in love with every single character, each one written with such warmth & sincerity that they felt real to me. By the time I turned the final page, I genuinely missed the main character, as if I were saying goodbye to someone who had become part of my life.