Christine Kelly Reads and Writes

I think November may have brought to me two of my favorite reads of 2024! While I have read so many amazing books, two stuck out and hit me hard in my core.

First, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE MOTHER, by Susan Rieger was astounding. There were SO MANY pause pebbles (as CeCe Lyra calls them). And I stopped to jot down many quotes because they were fantastic! I also felt like this is an excellent book to show how a character can be rough/unlikeable, but you subtly see the character arc. And TBH, I don’t even think it’s an arc, but seeing what was there under the surface all along.

The second book that will sit with me for a long time is SANDWICH, by Catherine Newman. Her debut is sitting on my shelf to be read someday. That is an emotional story of three friends as one navigates getting closer to death. I know it will be a cathartic read, but for now it’s too close to home as I watch my mother live through a extremely similar situation. THE POWER OF BOOKS PEOPLE! Reading about lived eperiences! But alas, SANDWICH is not her debut, but Catherine’s second novel that is just as powerful. For the “sandwich” generation, this touches on motherhood, loss (TW), and caring for your elderly parents. And if only I could be as cool as Rocky is in this book. But I know that the love she describes so beautiful sums up how I feel about my family– both kids and parents. *Pardon me while I go cry again*.

Between these reads I was able to enjoy some fabuous escapes into a world of horny angst in a delightful enemies to lover workplace romance, LET’S CALL A TRUCE, by Amy Buchanan. I was blushing as much as I was kicking my feet and giggling.

And last, but actually my first read of the month, and certainly not least, I read METAL SLINGER by Rachel Schneider. YOU MUST READ IT UNTIL THE END AND IMMEDIATE DM ME BECAUSE!!!!!!! This book was a delicious romantasy that keeps you on your toes, and then…helps you jump off a cliff of surprise with the twist.

Did you all have a good reading month? What books are you hoping to read before the year is done?!