I enjoyed books in a similar vein, but after a strong start, the pace of The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper slowed down

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey depicts the harsh life in the Alaskan frontier, but also the an homage to the enormous and stunning wilderness

The Story of the Forest is a lively, thought-provoking and poignant exploration of diaspora and identity from the point of view of strong women

The Axeman’s Carnival tackles serious issues, however the story often is funny. Tama, the bird narrator, just interprets and does not judge

Through the eyes of Frankie, we get to a moving experience, told with honesty and conviction about the struggles of women veterans

The book is enjoyable, and I can see why people like it. For me it was more like a beach read, pleasing and agreeable but neither challenging nor introspective

I found the book quite boring in the beginning, but the story got better when the narrative was moved from San Francisco to Chile

The highlight of the book was when it explored issues such as privilege, responsibilities, and what happens when all things you though secure were taken away

Save What’s Left can best be described as the “un-beach read.” It pulls back the curtain on life in a beach town, revealing the true cost of a pretty view

The Rain God by Arturo Islas is a complex and layered novel beautifully portrays family dynamics and assimilation struggles in a small immigrant town.