Books are my lifeline and always have been. I can disappear into the story and leave my worries behind. If you love books and are looking for an escape, here are some reviews of recently read books.

The Woman in Cabin 10 – Ruth Ware

There was a lot of hype around this book, calling it the next Gone Girl or Girl on a Train. It’s interesting that Ware uses woman in title, letting us know that her heroine, Lo, is no girl. I won’t give much away, but in a nutshell it’s about a travel writer who has the worst trip on a luxury boat ever. I really enjoy British authors, if just because when I hear dialogue, it’s in a British accent. The writing was strong, and the story evolved at a good pace. I wouldn’t give it high marks on character development. Other than knowing that Lo had a “breakdown” years before, we don’t really get to know her. Overall, I would recommend this book, but don’t expect it to be as good as its predecessors.

Wishful Drinking – Carrie Fisher

After Fisher’s untimely passing, I wanted to read some more about her life from her perspective. I am not an expert on Fisher’s personal life, but I was aware of her past battles with drugs and mental illness. I always thought she was a strong woman who spoke her mind and was pretty damn funny, too. The only negative thing I can say about this book is it was too short. I guess I’ll need to read her other memoirs to get the complete story!

The Circle – Dave Eggers

This book will find its way to the movie screen this year with stars Emma Watson and Tom Hanks. All I can say is I hope the movie is better. The Circle introduces us to Mae who happens to land a job at the Circle, which is something of a Google/FaceBook hybrid, intent on bringing transparency to the world. I liked the book at first, but then it just spun out to somewhere else, and it left me with not the greatest feeling. The writing is fine. The character of Mae is pretty well fleshed out, but I did not read her as an authentic narrator. The rest of the characters are thin wisps. And the ending didn’t really resolve anything or get to the heart of The Circle’s true intentions.

Kathy Griffin’s Celebrity Run-Ins

I really enjoyed Kathy Griffin’s first memoir. This one has exactly what you would expect from Griffin. The book is short glimpses into her meeting celebrities, some stories are really nice, others just funny while a few are WTF. If you like Kathy Griffin then this is a great easy read that will transport you to being a Hollywood insider. I finished it in one afternoon over the holidays.

The Widow – Fiona Barton

This is another novel trying to be a thriller with a female lead. I did finish it, but I hated it. A woman becomes a widow unexpectedly and must face the aftermath of the crime her husband may have committed. The narrator is naïve and weak. Not that you have to like a character, you just need to find her interesting, and I did not. The writing was well done. It felt like a cohesive story. There was no one to root for and by the end I didn’t care if he did it or not. I would pass on this one.

China Rich Girlfriend – Kevin Kwan

This is the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians, which was one of my top picks in my Summer Book Review. It continues the story of Rachel and Nick who finally marry in the beginning. The story continues with Rachel’s quest to meet her father and brother. Lots of characters return and new ones are introduced. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the players, but that’s about the only bad thing I can say. The writing is beautiful and paints a picture of many decadent locales. An absolute must read.

Scrappy Little Nobody – Anna Kendrick

I can’t exactly remember why I decided to give this book a try. I’m not a huge fan of Anna Kendrick, but I have liked her performances. The writing was very honest and really gives the reader insight into what her childhood and youth were like and how she made it in Hollywood. I found myself relating to parts of her personality, especially that she’s an introvert who must push outside her comfort zone to make it as an actress.

Hungry Heart – Jennifer Weiner

This is Weiner’s first non-fiction book. I’m a big fan of her fiction and have read all her books. But I didn’t know much about her personal life. Weiner gave me a full view into her life and how her childhood shaped her. She writes about the pain of her parent’s divorce and her father’s disappearance from her life with such skill and self-awareness. She also shares her journey to accepting her body, which I can also relate. Many of the chapters were specific to her role as a mom. I can appreciate her words but didn’t feel as connected since that’s not an experience we share. I am grateful to Weiner for letting me into her life and doing so with such vulnerability. She continues to be a woman I admire.

Good as Gone – Amy Gentry

A kidnapped girl returns to her family home years later. Is it really her or an imposter? That’s the set-up for this thriller, although the more I read, the less I cared about if she was the real daughter and sister they lost. I enjoyed how Gentry kept moving back through the main character’s different lives and names. The book goes back and forth between present and past, which is an approach that is effective at layering a character. Honestly, I can’t exactly remember the big reveal at the end (only so much room in my brain for stories!), but I did enjoy reading it.

A Little Thing Called Life – Linda Thompson

This is the memoir from the woman who was Elvis’ girlfriend, the former Bruce Jenner’s second wife and mom of Brody Jenner. She was also married to David Foster and was a prolific song writer. I really enjoyed this book. She tells a story very well, and it’s easy to see her evolution from naïve college student to formidable woman and mother. I admire Thompson for her strength and class. She is honest about her time with Elvis and Bruce Jenner but in a very respectful manner. These are people she loved and that is very obvious in the way she writes about them. Plus she includes lyrics to many songs she has written.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo – Amy Schumer

Some people don’t like Amy Schumer very much. They think she’s brass, disconnected and crude. I on the other hand have adored her for years. I remember when she competed on Last Comic Standing. To me, she’s a great example of a strong women who doesn’t take any shit. And I like those kind of ladies. She is also hilarious, even when talking about tragic or sensitive matters like her parent’s divorce or her dad’s illness. She is able to be smart and interesting, which don’t always pair together. Be ready to laugh and possibly cry.

Top Picks for winter:

China Rich Girlfriend

A Little Thing Called Life

Hungry Heart

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo