The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon

5/5

This book is a gripping thriller about a serial killer with murders 25 years apart. Neptune kidnaps women in a sleepy suburban town. He cuts off their right hand, which he delivers to the police station in a milk carton. He keeps his victim alive for four days before strangling them and leaving their body in a public location. The story follows Reggie as a girl and as a woman 25 years later. Her mother is the fourth victim of Neptune. Her mother is the one whose body was not found on the fourth day. This book can be quite graphic at times dealing with drug use, cutting, prostitution, and of course murder but it is still a great book.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

5/5

This is a story about a girl named Darling. In the beginning, she's growing up in poverty in Africa. She talks about what it will be like when her aunt takes her to America all while spending time with her friends and getting into trouble. She's hungry and they get into trouble frequently. Still, she misses Africa once she moves to America. She realizes quickly that she won't be rich once she's in America. She has to work hard and she can never go back to her mother or her friends. It is a very moving story about how hard life can really be.

                                                 

The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich

3/5

This is the story of the creation of Facebook. I thought the story did a great job separating each character's view of the situation. He would write things like "[this character] believed [this event] happened because of [this reason]." It was wonderfully written and it had decent twists and turns for a real event. It was obvious in the story that the author did not interview Mark Zuckerberg because the character came off as extremely aloof and mysterious. He also came off as a jerk. I don't know if that's how he really is but that is certainly how the book portrayed him. I took off points because the book was hard to get into in the beginning and it ended very abruptly. It was still a decent story though.

                                                            

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophia Kinsella

2/5

The beginning of this book is like a stereotypical rom com: girl meets boy on plane, girl is scared of flying and blabs all her secrets in fear of death, boy turns out to be her boss. Then the book turns into a watered down version of the plot of 50 Shades of Grey (not that that plot wasn't watered down to begin with...) He expects  her to be completely open with him while revealing nothing about himself. She walks out rather than working on issues in the relationship. He uses his billions to win her back every time. It's a very familiar read, nothing special.

                                                            

The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

4/5

This is a book about a couple, Leslie and Wesley, who have been married for over 30 years and have just entered couples counselling. The book then takes us back to look at their marriage, including how it got in trouble. Les and Wes had both conformed completely to their respective gender stereotypes, which leads to a rocky relationship with little to no communication and respect. Wes' friends have both taken on new wives half their age hence the title. Will the cutely named couple be able to make their relationship work? Do the readers even think they should work out their problems? Anyone will be able to appreciate this lighthearted book that gives a perspective on mature relationships.

                                                           

Disclosure by Michael Crichton

5/5

This is a book about a sexual harassment accusation in a workplace. The twist is that it is a male being harassed by his female boss while the company is in the midst of a major merger. The characters are believable and the story line is gripping. Crichton keeps you guessing right up to the end about what the verdict of the case will be. I'll admit that I am a fan of Michael Crichton's books; this one is as great as all of his others. Although the language can get graphic at points, I highly recommend this one for everyone!