what’s on my kindle, part 43

Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl. This is about her becoming the editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine. I liked it! I think you will probably only like it if you’re really into food and/or magazines. And there’s a few recipes thrown in there that I want to try.

The Boys Club by Erica Katz. I actually could not put this down and read it in an entire weekend. It’s about a recent law school grad who goes to work for a big firm in NYC and all the wining and dining and drama that unfolds. Highly recommend- my favorite thing I’ve read in a while.

Normal People by Sally Rooney. This might be an unpopular take but I did not like this at all. I found it incredibly boring and I also LOATHE when authors don’t use quotation marks for dialogue. I know it may be a hoity toity literary choice but in fact it’s obnoxious and just seems lazy to me. I’ve heard the Hulu adaptation is good but I’ll take a pass on that, too. Teenagers having a lot of sex no thank you.

A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost. I listened to this (he reads it) and I loved it. You definitely have to be an SNL fan because that’s what a lot of it is about, but I also thought his story was pretty interesting and he’s just very funny. Highly recommend if your favorite part of SNL every week is Weekend Update like mine is.

Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand. The next in her winter series set in St. John which I LOVE. Listened to this, too (thank you Sheila). This was good not great. I enjoyed listening to it, but I’m okay that the trilogy has come to an end. She honestly just set the bar really high for me with 28 Summers and this paled in comparison.

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole. The cover of this advertises it as a thriller, but Karin Slaughter and I would beg to differ. The first half of it is more about the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood and a will-they-won’t-they interracial romance.

Eat a Peach by David Chang. I know he’s kind of polarizing but I really like him. He’s the founder of Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC which has now exploded into a crazy empire that also includes the Momofuku Milk Bar which everyone knows about for their insane desserts, and Fuku fried chicken. He has a couple of Netflix shows (Ugly Delicious and Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner). The book is definitely for foodies but I just find him so fascinating. If you’re on the fence, listen to his episode of Armchair Expert.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. This is a Hunger Games prequel and I really wanted to love it but my impression is that Suzanne would like to make a buck on another franchise film. Her new protagonist is a total snore and I quit it at 40%, at which point the games hadn’t even started yet and I was over it. Sorry folks.

Group by Christie Tate. This is a memoir by a woman who spent several years in group therapy. I really liked it! If you liked Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb), this book is for you. It was a bit much for me at the end, without giving anything away, but overall an enjoyable listen.

Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagoski. DAMN every woman should read this book. If you’re not sure, you can listen to them on Brene Brown’s podcast (Unlocking Us) to get the gist. It’s basically about the physiological implications of stress on your body and how to complete the stress cycle and it really resonated with me. Recommend!