How does an innocuous elementary school trivia night turn into a fatal crime scene? With the dynamics of a group of overly-involved, gossip-driven kindergarten parents and  a series of epic events that unfold into a murder.

Liane Moriarty’s “Big Little Lies” is told in a light and humorous tone. The story follows three mothers– Madeline, Celeste, and Jane—starting six months prior to the infamous trivia night.  Jane is a young, single mother who is new to their small community. At the kindergarten orientation, Jane’s son is accused of bullying a little girl, which spirals into a series of dramatic events including a petition to get the child kicked out of school. The vivacious and passionate Madeline along with her stunning friend Celeste take Jane under their wings and help her navigate through all the chaos. Though Madeline and Celeste are quick to help Jane, they both are harboring their own secrets and deep personal troubles.

“Big Little Lies” is an enthralling tale that keeps the reader guessing the murderer and the victim until the very last chapter. Within the murder plot are several small subplots and unexpected twists that make the book incredibly engaging. Moriarty gets credit for exploring  some dark themes, including bullying and domestic abuse, all while keep the murder mystery genre. Her ability to capture her characters’ personalities and their reactions to the events is praiseworthy. Moriarty is an excellent storyteller with lovable characters, making “Big Little Lies” a book you can’t resist (Watching the HBO series does not count, though you should do that too).

The blink of an eye. Will Traynor’s entire life and way of living changed on a single day- March 19, 2007, the day he was hit by a motorcycle. In Jojo Moyes’ tear-jerker, “Me Before You,” the incredibly adventurous, wealthy and good-looking Will is confined to a wheel chair after being paralyzed in both arms and legs.

Forced to rely on the help of others for every basic task from changing clothes to going to the bathroom, Will becomes depressed and angry. Will’s desperate mother Camilla hires one caregiver after another in an attempt to cheer him up, yet Will’s rude attitude and moodiness scare them off.

Until Louisa Clark comes along. Louisa Clark, affectionately Lou, is from a working class family and has no ambitions to get an education or ever leave her small hometown in England. When she looses her long time job at a cafe and is left with very little employment options, Lou takes a job caring for Will. The two get off to a rocky start, but eventually form an unlikely bond and learn so much from one another. 

“Me Before You” is an absolute must read. It is incredibly well-written and will evoke so many emotions long after you are finished reading. Moyes deserves praise for her ability to take heavy, thought-provoking content and lighten it with humorous characters. Her powerful writing will make you count all the blessings in your life and rethink whether or not you are living your life to the fullest.

See my review on “After You,” the sequel.

Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” is not your classic coming of age story. In fact, very little about “Persepolis” can be labeled as classic. This internationally acclaimed memoir is done entirely in comic strips.  Don’t let that scare you away, though, as this book is definitely worth your time.

In “Persepolis,” Satrapi invites the reader into her childhood and adolescence. The teenage rebellious years are hard for anyone, and Satrapi endures them in Tehran during the heat of the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution and war. From a 10 year-old forced to wear a veil, to a teenager forced to flee to Austria for high school, Satrapi’s story is astounding.

The juxtaposition of a complex time in history through the eyes of a child provides a unique perspective that lightens the tone of a rather dark subject.  Growing up in a wealthy and liberal Iranian family, Satrapi exemplifies the difference in Iran between public expectations and private home life. 

“Persepolis” will provide readers with a viewpoint of life in Iran that can be found nowhere else.  It is incredibly enlightening, and Satrapi’s remarkable drawings make it a true work of art.

Although it is a quick read and intriguing, John Green’s “Paper Towns” is quite overrated.

“Paper Towns” follows high school senior Quentin Jacobsen’s lifelong obsession with his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo is beautiful, popular, and mysterious; so mysterious that she disappears weeks before high school graduation, leaving friends and family members speculating. Convinced that Margo wants him to find her, Quentin, along with the help of his friends, follows the trail she left behind.

While the story is beautifully written and contains many great literary references,  the plot is rather inconsequential. Not only is Quentin’s infatuation with finding Margo unhealthy, but it is also misguided.  Margo does not wish to be found, nor did she mean to leave a trace for Quentin, making his journey utterly pointless.

Green’s writing style is admirable and puts the reader directly in the mindset of an 18 year-old boy. Quentin and his friends are charming and funny, and they have a very humorous outlook on the world.  Unfortunately, though,  their journey in “Paper Towns” will pull you in and disappoint. Ultimately, Green works so hard to build a plot that goes nowhere and never connects.

In Diane Chamberlian’s The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, young CeeCee Wilkes has lost everything. With nowhere to turn, she puts her trust in charming college student Timothy Gleason who leads her down a crazy path and pulls her into the illegal kidnapping of pregnant Genevieve Russell. 

Almost 30 years later, Eve Elliot is happily married with two beautiful daughters. Her lifetime of secrets is safely left in the past. Or so she thinks. When the remains of Genevieve Russell are uncovered, Timothy Gleason is put on trial for murder. Eve has to decide between her perfectly crafted web of lies, which leaves her family safe and unharmed, or saving the life of an innocent man who is wrongly accused of murder. 

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes will pull you in, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you question the known. It is full or surprises and captivating plot twists all the way until the very last page.  If you are looking for a book to travel with, The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes is a must read. Just make sure you have some downtime, since you will not want to put it down.

Herman Wouk’s epic World War II saga that started with “The Winds of War,” continues in “War and Remembrance.”  As the story progresses, so does the war, and with it, trauma, tragedy, and terror. Like the war itself, the book can at times feel long and depressing. However, Wouk beautifully intertwines historical battles and losses of life with the power of love and human resilience. From the entry of the United States into the war until the suicide of Adolf Hitler, the reader is pulled into World War II and rooting for the Allies.

Once again, the reader follows the lovable Henry family through the war. The father, Pug, and his two sons, Warren and Byron are in the military and take the reader through several historical battles including the Allied invasions at Normandy and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Byron’s Jewish wife, Natalie and son, Louis, are trapped with their Uncle Aaron in Nazi-occupied Europe. Even as American citizens, Natalie and Aaron are unprotected from the Nazis and get placed in concentration camps.

“War and Remembrance,” though fictional, captures the essence of human experience in World War II. The substantial loss of life and loved ones is heartbreaking, and the sheer length of the war is unfathomable for those of us who never experienced it. Through this novel, Wouk provides the reader with deep insight of the war, that can be found nowhere else.   

Jojo Moyes’ “Me Before You” left the reader sad, lost, confused, and unsure where to turn next. And that is exactly where the sequel to this bestseller picks up as we find Louisa Clark struggling 18 months following Will Traynor’s death.

Not surprisingly, as “Me after You,” unfolds, Lou is, well, a wreck. After the loss of Will, she is consumed by guilt and sadness, and is stuck in a mediocre waitressing job in London.
Despite Will urging her to travel and to live life to the fullest, it takes a series of unrelated events, including a freak accident of falling off the roof, the entrance of two new strangers into her life, and the help of a Moving-On Support Group, for Louisa to finally get back on her feet again.

“After You” is a beautifully written story about the journey of moving on and what it takes to keep going after the loss of a loved one. Moyes crafts a very realistic and relatable tale about the obstacles Lou faces and her struggles to find the strength to adjust to the new normal.  Although it is not quite the page-turner of the first novel, “After You” nicely ties the story together and provides the reader with closure. It also gives the reader an opportunity to revisit the lovable Louisa Clark and the Traynor family.