Lindsey Buck

The Vanishing Half

Rating: 5/5 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary Fiction/Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Pages: 352

Synopsis :

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults; it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?

Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person’s decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.

As with her New York Times-bestselling debut The Mothers, Brit Bennett offers an engrossing page-turner about family and relationships that is immersive and provocative, compassionate and wise.

Review:

You know those rare books that just get under your skin and stay with you long after you’ve closed the last page? The Vanishing Half was absolutely one of those for me.

Brit Bennett has such a gift for storytelling—it felt like she was weaving this gorgeous, multicolored quilt out of all the different lives and timelines. I was never lost in the plot, even as the story moved from past and present or from one character to another. Instead, I felt like I was being gently carried along, watching how the choices of one generation spilled over into the lives of the next.

At its core, this book is about identity. Who we are, who we want to be, and sometimes who we pretend to be. The twin sisters, Desiree and Stella, couldn’t have taken more different paths, and yet both of them are so human, so heartbreakingly real. One embraces her roots even when they feel heavy, while the other builds an entirely new life by walking away from hers.

The characters are what made this book unforgettable for me. They’re messy, flawed, sometimes frustrating, but always real. I found myself rooting for them, even when they made choices I didn’t agree with.

What surprised me most was how much the book is also about family—how secrets ripple through generations and how silence can sometimes weigh heavier than words. The daughters of the twins are just as captivating as their mothers, and seeing how history echoes forward was both fascinating and heartbreaking.

And can we talk about the writing itself? Bennett’s prose is so smooth and lyrical, but never in a way that feels heavy or pretentious. It’s the kind of writing that makes you want to keep reading “just one more chapter,” even when you should definitely be sleeping.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this book is everything: it’s endearing, it’s heartbreaking, it’s thought-provoking, and it’s one I know I’ll be recommending for a long time. There’s been a lot of buzz about The Vanishing Half, but let me tell you—it’s 100% worth it.

From Sand and Ash

Rating: 5/5 stars

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: December 1, 2016

Pages: 384

Synopsis :

Italy, 1943 — Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.

As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood. Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn.

With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church. But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe.

With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.

Review:

I can’t believe I had never heard of Amy Harmon until recently! She first caught my attention on Bookstagram when someone posted about one of her other books. Curious, I looked her up and discovered she had an impressive backlist. That’s when I found From Sand and Ash.

I will admit that it was actually one of Harmon’s other books that initially piqued my interest more. However, From Sand and Ash became available on Kindle Unlimited with a free audiobook download. I needed a new audiobook at the time, so I thought, “Why not?” Little did I know what I had signed up for.

It didn’t take long for me to become completely captivated by the characters and their story. This book is achingly beautiful. I felt spellbound the entire time I was reading and listening. I found myself taking long walks just to hear what happened next. Before even reaching the halfway point, I knew this was going to be a new favorite.

Harmon’s approach to writing a WWII novel set in Italy was especially compelling. I’ve never read a WWII novel set in Italy. Of course, I knew from history classes about Italy’s involvement, but I’d never seen it up close. It was eye-opening to realize that most Italians didn’t want to be involved in a war they felt no part of, yet were forced into it under a fascist state.

That doesn’t mean Italians were necessarily sympathetic to Jews, but it reshaped my understanding. I had also never thought much about Jewish Italians during this period, typically focusing on other parts of Europe when considering the atrocities of WWII. Harmon’s portrayal of Eva and her family offered a new perspective that broadened my understanding of history—an aspect of the book I deeply appreciated.

Unexpectedly, this novel also presented one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever encountered. I’m a sucker for romance in any genre. Eva and Angelo’s love grows alongside their lives, often leaving me on the verge of tears. Harmon balances their relationship perfectly—it is ever-present but not always the central focus. Through their story, she shows what a powerful, enduring love looks like, capable of withstanding some of life’s most harrowing moments.

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned earlier, Amy Harmon has an extensive backlist encompassing various genres. After reading From Sand and Ash, I have mentally put all of her books on my TBR. One that I am really looking forward to is her newest release, Where the Lost Wander. I also can’t wait to try some of her fantasies!

The Grace Year

Rating: 3/5 stars
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: October 8, 2019
Pages: 416

Synopsis :

No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.

In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.

With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in between.

Review:

I picked up The Grace Year after seeing so many positive reviews online from multiple sources. It had been a while since I’d read a dystopian novel. Like many others, I used to devour them, but over time, I grew tired of the same tropes being recycled in YA dystopian fiction.

When I came across The Grace Year, it seemed a bit refreshing. It didn’t follow the exact plot line that has dominated YA dystopia for the past fifteen years. I appreciated that it appeared inspired by the #MeToo movement and had a feel reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale.

The main character, Tierney, is a young woman who sees through the misogyny of her community but lacks the power to make a change. Her “Grace Year” is approaching, and her only hope is to return as a worker to avoid being trapped in a marriage subject to her husband’s will.

But, as often happens with heroines, her plans are upended by a shocking event. As she enters her grace year alongside the other girls from her community, reality and sanity begin to twist. Trust erodes, and survival becomes the only thing that matters.

The Grace Year felt like a mix of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Hunger Games, The Crucible, and a female version of Lord of the Flies. It explores critical themes, such as the dangers of mob mentality and how society can consume and destroy itself. I liked how certain story elements become clear as the plot progresses, justifying the anger and complete insanity of this world.

However, I couldn’t say I loved it. The timing and pacing felt off, making it hard to gauge how much time had passed. Some characters, including Tierney, occasionally fell flat. Perhaps the most disappointing part for me was the ending. I can’t go into specifics without spoiling it, but I was left feeling indifferent and unsatisfied. I believe there was potential for a more impactful conclusion that the book never quite delivered.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t hate it, but I couldn’t love it either. On the emotional scale, it landed firmly in the “meh” category for me.

Educated

Rating: 5/5 stars
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: February 20, 2018
Pages: 334

Synopsis:

Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag”. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard.

Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent.

Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes and the will to change it.

Review:

I honestly don’t know where to begin. Several years ago, I read The Glass Castle and was astounded by Walls’ family dysfunction. I had yet to meet the Westovers.

Reading about Tara Westover’s life felt almost miraculous. Abuse of every kind permeated her childhood, yet she survived — and not just survived, but became Dr. Tara Westover. That alone is nothing short of extraordinary.

Westover has a remarkable gift for storytelling. She grapples with memory in a way that feels honest and human, admitting that it can be unreliable or shaped by our own desires. Her narrative doesn’t just tell a story — it offers a small study of the mind itself.

Most importantly, this is a story of survival. At times, it seemed impossible that Tara would emerge intact, and yet she did. I had to constantly remind myself that this was nonfiction — that her experiences actually happened to her.

Final Thoughts

I was completely absorbed. I found myself holding my breath, flinching at moments, and even wanting to shout at her to see sense! I can’t remember the last book — nonfiction or otherwise — that made me feel this way.

If you are looking for an incredible, moving read that will make you grateful for all you have, Educated is an absolute must.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Rating: 4 stars/5 stars
Author: Alix E. Harrow
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Redhook
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Pages: 374

Synopsis:

In the early 1900’s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place. Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger.

Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January and richly imagined, a tale of impossible jounreys, unforgettable love, and the enduring power of stories awaits in Alix E. Harrow’s spellingbinding debut-step inside and discover its magic.

Review:

Have you ever gone into a book expecting one thing, only to realize it’s something entirely different? That’s exactly what happened to me with The Ten Thousand Doors of January. I had a very specific picture in mind after reading the synopsis, and the story turned out to be nothing like what I’d imagined. At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

But let me be clear: I didn’t dislike the book. Harrow’s writing is stunning — lush, lyrical, and filled with imagery that makes you want to linger on every page. The concept of doors to other worlds was magical and haunting, and I adored the “story within a story” framework (I’m always a sucker for that). The early 1900s setting added depth and color, grounding the fantasy elements in a richly historical backdrop.

My biggest struggle was with January herself. At seventeen, she often felt older, yet her choices were frustratingly naive. She made mistake after mistake without seeming to learn from them—trusting the wrong people, mistrusting the right ones—and that tested my patience as a reader.

Final Thoughts

While it wasn’t the book I was expecting, it left me deeply impressed with Harrow’s talent and imagination. I would love to see how she develops her craft. Her lush writing is terrific, but I would love to see her develop her characters further. I will be sure to pick up her work in the future!

The Bird and the Blade

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Author: Megan Bannen
Genre: Historical Fiction/YA Lit
Publisher: Blazer + Blay
Release Date: June 5, 2018

Synopsis:

The Bird and the Blade is a lush, powerful story of life and death, battles and riddles, lies and secrets from author Megan Bannen.

Enslaved in Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom . . . until the kingdom is conquered by enemy forces and she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father across the vast Mongol Empire.

On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into an impossible love.

Jinghua’s already dicey prospects take a downward turn when Khalaf seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. As beautiful as she is cunning, Turandokht requires all potential suitors to solve three impossible riddles to win her hand—and if they fail, they die.

Jinghua has kept her own counsel well, but with Khalaf’s kingdom—and his very life—on the line, she must reconcile the hard truth of her past with her love for a boy who has no idea what she’s capable of . . . even if it means losing him to the girl who’d sooner take his life than his heart.

Review:

I first picked up this book through a Once Upon a Book Club subscription box. Honestly, I didn’t expect to love it—but since I’d paid for the box and wanted to open the gifts, I gave it a try. I’m so glad I did.

Bannen’s storytelling is stunning—lush, immersive, and woven in a way that doesn’t rely on straightforward chronology, yet flows seamlessly. The novel is based on a classic Chinese play (which I had never heard of before), and it’s refreshing to see a retelling that explores a time and culture rarely centered in Western literature.

Jinghua is a beautifully written heroine: resilient, layered, and forced to face impossible choices. Khalaf is equally compelling, a male lead defined by his sense of justice and integrity rather than brute force. Together, their relationship is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Instead of an instant spark, the romance grows out of kindness, deepens into friendship, and slowly blossoms into a love grounded in sacrifice and mutual respect.

This is exactly the kind of romance I love to see in YA—tender, believable, and powerful.

I highly recommend The Bird and the Blade to readers looking for a story that will sweep them away and break their hearts in the best possible way.

Top Ten of 2019

We have now come to the end. 2019 was an amazing reading year for me. I had so many books to choose from, but now it’s time to take a look at my top ten favorite books/series that I read in 2019!

1. Enchantée by Gita Trelease
Still in first place is Enchantée! No other book this year wowed me quite as much as this magical retelling of the French Revolution. The lush writing and unforgettable characters completely stole my heart.

Trelease recently announced that the sequel won’t be released until 2021. While that was disappointing to hear, I admire her honesty—she didn’t want to rush the story and felt the original 2020 timeline wouldn’t allow her to do it justice. It took her three years to write Enchantée, so it only makes sense she’d want the same care for the sequel. Too often, follow-up books are rushed and lose their spark. So I’ll happily wait as long as it takes!

2. Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith
For much of the year, it was neck and neck between Bloodleaf and Enchantée. In the end, Enchantée edged out by the smallest margin. Bloodleaf is a loose retelling of the fairytale The Goose Girl, and like Trelease, Smith takes the bones of a classic and spins it into something completely fresh.

I adored the magic system, but it was the characters—flawed, resilient, and deeply human—that made this book unforgettable. Their journeys of growth felt so authentic. The sequel comes out this summer, and it’s already one of my most anticipated reads of 2020.

3. The Lady Darby Series by Anna Lee Huber
I started this series at the tail end of 2018 and spent 2019 happily devouring books 2 through 4.5. Lady Darby mysteries are consistently engaging, with wonderful historical detail and a heroine I adore. I still have more books ahead of me in this series, and I can’t wait to continue in 2020!

4. Stalking Jack the Ripper Series by Kerri Maniscalco
This year I read the first two books: Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula. Both were excellent, but I have to give the edge to Hunting Prince Dracula. The atmosphere, gothic setting, and mystery gripped me even more than the first book. Books three and four are definitely on my 2020 TBR!

5. Sorcery & Cecilia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
This book was pure joy. A whimsical historical fantasy told through letters, it had me smiling the entire time I read it. The story itself is delightful, but what makes it even better is its unique origin—the book began as a letter-writing game between the two authors. If you don’t know the backstory, look it up. It makes the reading experience even more charming.

6. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
This was the most inventive book I read all year. A time-bending “whodunit” that blends the classic feel of an Agatha Christie mystery with a mind-bending fantastical twist. I couldn’t put it down. I’m eagerly waiting to see what Turton publishes next.

7. The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Sepetys never fails to impress me. She shines a light on overlooked corners of history, and this book—set in post–Spanish Civil War Spain—was no exception. I’m ashamed to admit how little I knew about this period, and Sepetys opened my eyes to its lingering impact. Every time I read her work, I come away with not only a moving story but also a reminder of how much history still hides in the shadows. I’ll read anything she writes.

8. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
This was another unforgettable historical fiction read. It follows Cussy Mary, one of the last “blue people” of Kentucky, who also happens to be a traveling librarian. Prejudice, isolation, resilience, and the power of books all come together in a deeply moving story. The audiobook is especially wonderful.

9. The Sixth World Series by Rebecca Roanhorse
Both Trail of Lightning and Storm of Locusts blew me away. These post-apocalyptic, Navajo-inspired fantasy novels combine myth, gods, and clan powers in a world that feels truly original. They’re fast-paced, gritty, and unlike anything else I’ve read. I can’t wait for the third installment!

10. The Verity Kent Series by Anna Lee Huber
Clearly, Anna Lee Huber had a strong showing for me this year. While I slightly prefer her Lady Darby series, the Verity Kent books are excellent in their own right. Set in post–WWI England, they follow a former secret service agent navigating mysteries in a world still haunted by war. Huber’s research and attention to historical detail are remarkable, and Verity herself is a strong, layered heroine.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it—my top 10 reads of 2019! This year was full of unique worlds, unforgettable characters, and books that stayed with me long after I closed the covers. I can’t wait to see what stories capture my heart in 2020.

Fall Time is for Reading

Honestly, every season is a season for reading—but there’s something extra special about fall. Maybe it’s the chill in the air, or the way shorter days invite you to curl up inside. Whatever it is, autumn seems tailor-made for sinking into a dark, luscious story in a way that summertime just can’t match.

When I started pulling books from my shelves to make a fall TBR, I ended up with far too many. My stacks quickly grew into a delightful mix: Agatha Christie–style whodunits, gothic historical romances (bonus points if there’s a fantasy twist), anything set in Victorian London, cozy contemporaries that feel like pumpkin spice lattes, eerie ghost stories, and some odd little titles that just felt like fall reads.

Will I get to them all? Absolutely not.
Will I try anyway? Of course.

And that’s the paradox of every bookworm’s life. The consolation is simple: if I did manage to devour all of these titles this season, what would I have left to savor next fall?

Some of these reads will carry me into the winter months, too—but I firmly believe certain books are best saved for autumn. They belong to the season of colorful leaves, cozy scarves, pumpkins on the porch, and nights that beg for a blanket and a good story.

Trail of Lightning

Rating: 4/5 stars
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Genre: Dystopian/Fantasy
Publisher: Saga Press
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Pages: 287

Synopsis:

While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive.

Welcome to the Sixth World.

Review:

I first noticed Trail of Lightning at Barnes & Noble earlier this year. I honestly can’t count how many times I picked it up, read the synopsis, and put it back—only to do the same thing the next time I was in the store. The cover always caught my eye, and the storyline sounded intriguing, but with so many other books on my TBR, I wasn’t sure I would get to it anytime soon.

Then came a day when I could hold back no longer. A friend had started the book and couldn’t stop raving about it. That was the final sign I needed. Thank goodness I listened.

Trail of Lightning is unlike anything I’ve read before, yet it carries echoes of storylines I love—think Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tomb Raider, and Mad Max.

Maggie is a kickass monster slayer with a tough exterior shaped by a painful past, but she’s also one of the most fragile and heartbreaking characters I’ve encountered. Her life is anything but easy: navigating a post-apocalyptic world, facing monsters and gods, and constantly having to fight for survival. Yet the story isn’t only about problem after problem—it’s about the people she meets who challenge her sense of self and push her toward redemption.

Final Thoughts

I truly loved this book and am eagerly looking forward to the sequel, Storm of Locusts. I can’t wait to return to this cast of characters and meet new ones! I highly recommend Trail of Lightning for anyone seeking an engrossing read with plenty of action, heart, and some seriously badass moments.

Struggling to Read When You Have…Too Much to Read?

July was great. I read a lot, like a champ.

August? Not so much. I haven’t read one book all the way through in weeks, and it’s driving me a little crazy.

Sure, the start of the month was busier, and summer pressure is real—but nothing is grabbing me. And it’s not like I don’t have books. I feel like I have hundreds of unread books staring at me right now. Maybe… that’s the problem.

Too many books, not enough me
Sometimes I forget I’m just one person (especially when it comes to buying books… or hitting a buffet). I look at my shelves and feel like I should be reading them all at once. But I can’t.

Yes, I can multi-task with an audiobook here and a novel there—but wanting to read twenty books at once? Across different genres and age ranges? Absolutely ridiculous.

My reading life in a nutshell

Historical fiction and fantasy are my top loves, across adult, YA, and middle grade.
Retellings? Count me in.
I’m in multiple book clubs.
I read for work.
And of course, I have my personal list.

It is, frankly, a little ridiculous.

The slump struggle
Right now, I feel a bit defeated. My brain keeps asking, “How will you ever catch up?” Simple answer: read. But I can’t seem to stick with a book. I’ve picked up at least five and put them down again.

Has this happened before? Yes. Will I get through it? Absolutely.

In the meantime, I feel the wasted moments slipping by—the moments I’m not reading. So, what’s a book lover to do when they have no energy for the thing they love most?

Making the most of a slump

In the meantime, I’ve found that diving into other book-related activities really helps. Booktube and Bookstagram are my go-to whenever I can’t muster the stamina to read but still want to immerse myself in the bookish world.

I also keep trying new books. Eventually, something will stick and get me back into the groove. I have to remind myself: having too many books isn’t a bad thing. It’s just more opportunities. Everything in its own time.

Our lives are never perfect. As much as we’d like, we can’t plan out everything—the universe just doesn’t work that way. When you hit a reading slump, don’t be afraid to explore other interests for a while. Don’t worry—you’ll enjoy reading again. And when you do, you’ll find yourself savoring the joy of books even more than before. Which, weirdly, makes the slump completely worth it.