29. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean – a young woman about to be married wants to experience London’s darker side while she still can – of course hijinks ensue – main character is smart (she wears glasses!) but unworldly – fun regency romance – second in the series but can be read on its own
30. Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood – Phryne Fisher is a wealthy and intrepid amateur sleuth in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1920s – in this book she solves two crimes that both involve characters she meets at the local airfield where she likes to practice wing-walking – second in the series but can be read on its own – I liked it fine but have no interest in catching up/continuing
31. Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes – spurred by a conversation with her sister at Thanksgiving dinner, the successful TV producer embarks on a year of saying yes to new opportunities and unexpected invitations – very accessible writing that sometimes approaches cutesy/cliché but never goes over the line – much food for thought including a chapter on the importance of sometimes saying no
32. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – “a grumpy but lovable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous family moves in next door” – story is a just-right mix of sweet and salty as readers gradually learn just why Ove is so grumpy – audio book read in suitable deadpan style – September’s book club selection that was popular and also provoked interesting discussion – one of my favorites of the year
33. Books for Living by Will Schwalbe – engaging essays on reading in general and specific books that relate to particular topics – eclectic but manageable mix of books discussed (for those of us obsessed with reading lists *coughs*)
