Lora's United States of Whatever

Mad Honey : This collaboration between Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finnegan Boylan was beautifully so written. The story is told from two perspectives - Lily and Olivia. It is a story of love and loss, forgiveness and acceptance. In typical Jodi Picoult fashion, as story unfolds my personal opinions are challenged. More than once, I put down my book and had a conversation with Greg about the controversial topics highlighted in this story. My key takeaway: if you aren’t in the situation, you’re really not entitled to an opinion.   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Measure : The plot of this story was so interesting to me. Each person in the world age 22 and older receive a wooden box on their door step. Inside the box is a string. As people share about their string, they notice different string lengths. Soon, research shows that string length correlates with the length of one’s life. This book follows the perspective of eight characters, sharing their experiences and the impact of the string in their lives. ...

And just like that, February comes to a close! This short month had me grabbing books I knew I’d quickly devour and left me with four books to recommend and one that was a flop. The House Across the Lake : I was craving a thriller and was hoping to get my fix with this book. As I began reading, I enjoyed the flashbacks to “Then” and flashforwards to “Now” in the storytelling. More than once, I had to go back and reread as the story unfolded. The main character, Casey, uses alcohol to cope with the loss of her husband, and it blurs her interactions with her lake house neighbors. A neighbor goes missing, and Casey gets involved. This book gave me Girl on the Train and Gone Girl vibes. The twist at the end was interesting, and, honestly, it shifted my opinion about this book. I had more than one “oh geez” moment as I wrapped up this book. If you’re looking for a good thriller, pass on this one.   Nora Goes Off Script : This book was a quick, easy, somewhat fluffy read. It felt a lit...