What am I reading?
Reading more than one book at a time plus crushing on Stanley Tucci
Catherine House
Today’s book review is of Elisabeth Thomas’s debut novel Catherine House. I read this novel as an e-book, and the cover is so lovely and I liked the story so much that I am going to be buying a physical book for my collection. I don’t care if I there isn’t enough room on my…
The Truth About Grief
This book discussion/review about The Truth About Grief is the second blog post in my bibliotherapy and self-development series. In this series of blog posts, I will post about some non-fiction works I’m reading and what I get out of them, as well as how I think they are helpful and useful. Fiction books are…
Bibliotherapy and Me (and You)
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Do not take medical advice from this post or any Oak & River Books content. Please reach out to a medical professional if you have questions, need advice, or want help. This is for entertainment purposes only. I encourage you to do your own search into any topic…
Meet Me in Madrid
I love that the plot centers around two women who were passionate about their careers and love lives. Recognizing our own values and goals greatly determines the decisions we make in regard to work and relationships.
Into the Abaddon and Author Q+A
Wesley Newman makes his published novel debut with science fantasy novel Into the Abaddon. Read on for details about the book, my thoughts, and a special guest interview with author Wesley Newman! The BookVincent, Sarah, Grace, and Karl are working together on a teleportation project when Vincent finally makes a breakthrough. After his work is…
Crow Planet
Crow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt is an exploration of wildlife in the urban setting. What happens when wildlife and humans mix in the suburbs, in the city? Crow Planet is the 2009 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award winner. Their website calls Crow Planet, “A book that is a call to experience the wildlife in…
Things We Lost to the Water
Eric Nguyen’s debut novel Things We Lost to the Water is a breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking account of a family making their way in a new place, trying to hold on to the past while making room for the future.
Everything’s Trash, but It’s Okay
Through hardships such as financial struggles and workaholism, to successes like meeting Bono and Oprah and building a podcast following, Phoebe Robinson shares stories that are relatable and humorous.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s Coraline tells the story of a young girl named Coraline – adamantly not Caroline; people just can’t seem to get her name right! Coraline Jones, along with her mother and father, move into an old, large house that’s been refurbished into apartments. The one next to the Jones’ apartment is empty, and the…
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Can you tell I’m on a Ruth Ware kick? The first Ruth Ware novel I read was The Death of Mrs. Westaway, then In a Dark, Dark Wood, followed by The Woman in Cabin 10, and finally The Turn of the Key. Ware’s books present just the right amount of description without being mundane, and…
What Storm, What Thunder by Myriam J. A. Chancy
Myriam J. A. Chancy’s What Storm, What Thunder is a fiction novel that explores the lives of multiple characters as their choices and circumstances lead them to where they will be during the fateful 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti, which ultimately resulted in the injuries or deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Secrets and lies come together quite swimmingly in this chilling tale. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware is a suspenseful mystery about a woman named Lo Blacklock, a journalist who ends up with passage on a brand-new, sleek 10-cabin luxury liner called the Aurora. Right away, Lo is thrown off when she borrows…
A Clan of Wolves and Author Q+A
Emma Steinbrecher makes her author debut with the high fantasy duology A Clan of Wolves.
Malice by Heather Walter
Malice by Heather Walter is the fairytale story of Aurora, Sleeping Princess, spun on its head once again. Seriously, though, the history of Sleeping Beauty is kind of a whirlwind. Alyce – who her Grace sisters unaffectionately call Malyce – is the Dark Grace, part human, part Vila. The other Graces serve up blood elixirs…
Brave Love by A. M. Kusi
In today’s post, we have a review of Brave Love and a Q+A with Ash and Marcus Kusi, the husband-and-wife duo who comprise A. M. Kusi and have over a dozen stories under their belts. Brave Love Brave Love is part of A. M. Kusi’s Shattered Cove Series and can be read as a standalone.…
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
Are you looking for your next winter read? I enjoyed The Holiday Swap so much, I read it in one day! The Holiday Swap is a fun and light-hearted holiday romance by duo Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley, who both have successful independent careers as writers. The Holiday Swap features twins Cass and Charlie, two…
Q+A and Review! Sequenced by Elayna R. Gallea
Happy publication day to Sequenced, Book 1 of the Sequencing Chronicles! In today’s post, you’ll get a synopsis of Sequenced, my review, and a Q+A with our special guest, Sequencing Chronicles author Elayna R. Gallea! As with all citizens of Tiarny, Nellie is due to be sequenced when she turns 18. The sequencing process places…
Hooked by Emily McIntire
(content warning for Hooked: 18+ content, kidnapping, death) While I’m getting more into romance in general, dark romance is not a wagon I have hitched myself to in the past. Emily McIntire’s Hooked may have me… intrigued. You thought I was going to write “hooked” didn’t you? In Emily McIntire’s retelling of the classic Peter…
The Demon of Yodok – Adria Carmichael
The Demon of Yodok tells the story of Areum and her family as they are taken from their home and brought to live in a re-education facility far removed from the society they are used to in the capital city. At this facility, they are put to work to enforce the core values that they…
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
Fifty Words for Rain is at once achingly sad and poetically beautiful. I love a heart-wrenching plot and complex characters, and Asha Lemmie delivers in one sweep with her debut novel. Prepare to get lost in the range of emotions you’ll feel at every turn. Whether it’s friendship, siblinghood, parenthood, hope, or survival, there is…
Viaticum by Patrick Morgan
“Paradise has a price. It isn’t just a job, it’s his dream job. This is everything he’s worked for and everything he deserves. One job offer, and Ethan Birch’s life changes forever. Given immense creative control, power, and perks, Ethan falls deeply under the company’s spell. His Beverly Hills office is a modern mecca, complete…
Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
Can you repair a betrayal before it even happens? Should you even try? Half Sick of Shadows is a reimagined, magical story of the Lady of Shalott, also known as Elaine of Astolat. As a child, Elaine is plagued by visions which her mother – not wanting her to face the hardships of being an…
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Have you read The Lost Apothecary? If not, add it to your tbr! In present-day London, Caroline goes mudlarking and finds an old apothecary bottle that leads her on an exciting journey of personal and historical discovery. At the end of the 18th century, apothecary Nella finds an unexpected friend in young Eliza. When a…
The Last Tree Town by Beth Turley
In The Last Tree Town, Cassi Chord is coming to terms with growing up – identity, culture, heritage, sisterhood, friendships, family dynamics, and mental health are all important elements of Beth Turley’s latest work. “It’s been forty-seven days since our last night of s’mores and scary stories. The number forty-seven has too many sharp edges.”…
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Things The Sanatorium has: murder, mystery, history, anticipation, and an unforgettable ending. I finished this book on a cold, grey, drizzly night. Definitely spent the next hour or two feeling like there was someone watching me. Thanks a lot, Sarah! *accusatory but secretly thrilled stare in her direction* One of the reasons I like this…
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam is not your typical suspense novel. The best way to describe Leave the World Behind is that it is somehow both subtle and specific. Human nature + the unknown + what we do when we are put to the test are themes throughout. I will not lie -…
Happiness Week + Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies
Over the course of multiple weeks, I read Tara Schuster’s Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies while working out on my treadmill. It took some adjusting, I assure you. I’ve read on a stationary bike before but the treadmill was a new ballgame. I would definitely recommend that you do not read this book while on…
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman tells the story of Maria Owens – a young witch, afraid to fall in love, afraid to let anyone have power over her being. I remember watching Practical Magic with my mom and my sister, thinking – obviously – how cool it would be to be able to do magic.…
The Binding by Bridget Collins
Happy 2021 to friends old and new! Oak + River Books’ first post of 2021 features historical fiction-meets-low fantasy novel The Binding. The author, Bridget Collins, has over a decade of published writing under her belt. Exploring more of her work is on my 2021 list of to-dos (note: not resolutions 🙂 ). I purchased…
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Two romance reviews back-to-back? Who even am I?? In a Holidaze by the duo known as Christina Lauren was part of my December Book of the Month box. I chose it to be my Christmas day read for obvious reasons. (The holiday theme? The need for romance in 2020? You get it.) And wow! I…
Book Review: The Last Story of Mina Lee
“What would the world look like if she made it her own, even temporarily, for a moment, fleeting, so that she could experience again the throb, the hunger of being alive, eyes wide, teeth showing?” The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim is a gripping tale. It’s addictive, edgy, and so full…
Book Review: THICK and Other Essays
THICK and Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom, PhD, was one of my August Book of the Month Club selections. It is eye-opening, descriptive, and academic (the 20 pages of notes and references rocked my world). THICK is not a history book. While McMillan Cottom draws on personal experiences, it is not specifically autobiographical enough…
Nature in the Novel: Mexican Gothic
*ATTENTION* This is not a book review. It is a post about ecocritical topics within the novel. Do not read any further if you want to read Mexican Gothic with fresh eyes! Save this post to come back and delve a little deeper. 😊 To see a spoiler-free review, click here. Thanks! Synopsis reminder: Noemí Taboada travels to a mansion in…
The Creator
“Heather, you’re not very creative.” About six years ago, a friend said those words to me. And I just laughed it off. “Haha, I know!” It wasn’t funny, though. When I was a kid, I loved reading and writing. In the fifth grade I shared a short story with my teacher after I was inspired…