top of page
.png)
Welcome to my favorites list — a continuation of “Novel Ideas,” a book review column I wrote for 18 years.
I’ll regularly suggest new books here, presented in a snappy new format.
These are the stories I’ll share when you ask, “read anything good lately?”
These are the books that have captivated me with well-drawn characters and plots that move like runaway trains.
Each favorite has a place of honor on my bookshelf, cherished friends I’m happy to suggest.
Page On! Enjoy!
cstucky2
4 days ago3 min read
"Nesting" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Irish author Roiani O’Donnell tackles the complex issues women face escaping their abusive husbands in the searing must-read, “Nesting: A...
8 views
cstucky2
Mar 42 min read
"Broken Country," Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The lush beauty of North Dorset comes to life in “Broken Country,” a brilliant, creatively structured novel by Claire Leslie Hall certain...
22 views
cstucky2
Feb 252 min read
"We Would Never" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Families have bonds that cement them for life, despite troubles that might arise between siblings and parents. But sometimes the thread...
18 views
cstucky2
Feb 182 min read
"The Dollhouse Academy" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Suspend reality and dive into the “The Dollhouse Academy,” an addictive thriller by Margariita Montimore. It’s a heck of a lot of fun,...
24 views
cstucky2
Feb 102 min read
"Three Days in June" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
There are writers whose work we never miss—favorite authors we return to, revisiting them like old friends. Anne Tyler is at the top of...
25 views
cstucky2
Feb 42 min read
"Isola," Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Heart in my throat, I absorbed “Isola,” a riveting work of historical fiction, a novel of survival, its characters experiencing the...
32 views
cstucky2
Jan 232 min read
"What Happened to the McCrays?" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Author Tracey Lange knows families, as evidenced by a favorite of mine, “We Are the Brennans,” (2021). In her recent literary offering,...
12 views
cstucky2
Jan 142 min read
"The Business Trip" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Readers will be in for a wild, unpredictable ride with “The Business Trip,” a mystery/thriller by Jessie Garcia who states in her...
16 views
cstucky2
Jan 72 min read
"The Heart of Winter" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
They only come around only so often, books that call you to your reading spot, demand your attention, beckoning to you like a siren....
78 views
cstucky2
Nov 30, 20243 min read
"Cher: The Memoir"
The beat goes on for the indomitable Cher in her new release, “Cher: The Memoir,” published in two parts, the next book hitting...
17 views
cstucky2
Nov 16, 20242 min read
"Ina Garten: A Memoir, Be Ready when the Luck Comes" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
If you’re like me you have some of her cookbooks, which include down-to-earth recipes for everyday meals. There’s not a hint of fussy in...
19 views
cstucky2
Nov 7, 20242 min read
"Intermezzo" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Beautifully written, “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney, opens with Peter, age 32, a Dublin lawyer, and his brother Ivan, age 22, a chess...
15 views
cstucky2
Oct 17, 20242 min read
"The Mesmerist" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Caroline Woods takes a page from history, combining fact with fiction, to create “The Mesmerist” an absorbing historical fiction novel...
16 views
cstucky2
Oct 9, 20243 min read
"The Sequel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It takes quite an imagination to conjure up and carry through the complicated plot line and wicked surprises in “The Sequel,” by Jean...
31 views
cstucky2
Sep 11, 20242 min read
"Here One Moment" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I had a good cry after I finished “Here One Moment,” so touched by the wisdom and wonderfulness of Liane Moriarty’s new novel. I loved...
295 views
cstucky2
Sep 3, 20242 min read
"Madwoman" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Domestic abuse is center stage in “Madwoman” a gripping mystery/thriller by Chelsea Bieker. Though this subject is frequently written...
25 views
cstucky2
Aug 30, 20242 min read
"Five-Star Stranger: A Novel"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Imagine renting yourself out—acting a part and when the gig’s over checking your reviews on the Five-Star Stranger App. As a seasoned...
16 views
cstucky2
Aug 22, 20242 min read
"Peggy" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim makes a fascinating subject for the page turner “Peggy: A Novel.” This marvelous, intimate...
18 views
cstucky2
Aug 6, 20242 min read
"Hum: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
A mother makes a supreme sacrifice that changes her life in “Hum” by Helen Phillips, a dystopian novel that grabs you by the throat and...
18 views
cstucky2
Jul 28, 20242 min read
"The Lion Women of Tehran" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It’s magical to pick up a book and become one with the story. I knew I had a goodie in my hands with “The Lion Women of Tehran,” by...
43 views
cstucky2
Jul 9, 20243 min read
"The God of the Woods," | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
As soon as I started “The God of the Woods,” I was mystified and held captive. Author Liz Moore was immediately in control of my psyche,...
843 views
cstucky2
Jul 3, 20242 min read
"The Bear" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Twenty-something sisters Elena and Sam live with their ailing mother on San Juan Island in the “The Bear,” by Julia Phillips, a novel...
24 views
cstucky2
Jun 25, 20243 min read
"All the Colors of the Dark"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I finished “All the Colors of the Dark” with a sigh knowing I’d been immersed in an upcoming classic, a novel that would be one of my...
479 views
cstucky2
Jun 18, 20242 min read
"Same as It Ever Was" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Domestic bliss is something Julia Ames doesn’t have in “Same as it Ever Was,” a thought-provoking novel about love, marriage, parenthood...
30 views
cstucky2
Jun 4, 20242 min read
"When We Were Silent" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“When We Were Silent” is an addictive novel by Fiona McPhillips about a subject that’s all too common, appearing in headlines we discuss...
48 views
cstucky2
May 21, 20243 min read
"Daughters of Shandong" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
A heartfelt family story set in China in the 1940s, when the Communists and Nationalists vehemently vied for power in the country. In a...
25 views
cstucky2
May 7, 20242 min read
"The Return of Ellie Black" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Hikers in Washington State find her—the teenager who goes missing from her home in Coldwell, Washington. The girl was supposed to be...
36 views
cstucky2
May 1, 20243 min read
"Real Americans" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
This week marks the publication of a certain bestseller—“Real Americans,” by Rachel Khong. It’s a beautifully written novel with rich...
37 views
cstucky2
Apr 23, 20243 min read
"Safe and Sound" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Missouri author Laura McHugh returns with her newest thriller “Safe and Sound,” a page turner set in the Show Me State. Local readers...
41 views
cstucky2
Apr 17, 20243 min read
"Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Salman Rushdie’s just-released memoir “Knife” details the horrific assault and subsequent recovery from a near-fatal stabbing two years...
10 views
cstucky2
Apr 5, 20242 min read
"What Happend to Nina?" Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Promoted as a thriller, “What Happened to Nina?, by Dervla McTiernan, is a compelling read, but unlike other books in this genre it...
20 views
cstucky2
Mar 27, 20242 min read
"Here After" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Somber, personal, heart-wrenching and wise describes Amy Lin’s gripping memoir, “Here After.” The Canadian author was widowed at 31,...
46 views
cstucky2
Mar 18, 20242 min read
"James" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The ingenuity, heart and craftsmanship of “James” left me aghast in amazement. Author Percival Everett, a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, will...
84 views
cstucky2
Mar 14, 20242 min read
"Annie Bot" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“Get outside your box,” I told myself, picking up a copy of “Annie Bot,” by Sierra Greer, a contemporary novel about A.I., featuring a...
35 views
cstucky2
Mar 6, 20243 min read
"The Great Divide" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
In “The Great Divide,” a historical fiction must-read by Cristina Henríquez, readers are treated to an immersive story about the building...
129 views
cstucky2
Feb 27, 20242 min read
"After Annie" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
We all have favorite authors we follow, waiting for another of their treasures to feed us as we sit transfixed, amazed at their craft....
37 views
cstucky2
Feb 13, 20242 min read
"The Teacher" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“The Teacher,” by Freida McFadden, is a read-it-in-one-sitting thriller that I totally raced through. While I thought a couple of times...
109 views
cstucky2
Feb 6, 20242 min read
"The Women" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Popular, prolific author Kristin Hannah has made a name for herself with a long list of bestsellers over the years, including “The...
90 views
cstucky2
Jan 26, 20242 min read
"Small Town Sins" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
News about "Small Town Sins" just reappeared because it’s been nominated for a Mystery Writers Edgar Award, in the debut category....
23 views
cstucky2
Jan 16, 20242 min read
"The Fury" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The narrator alone is reason enough to dig into “The Fury,” by Alex Michaelides, a bestselling author known for his psychological...
109 views
cstucky2
Jan 9, 20242 min read
"We Must not Think of Ourselves" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
In the gripping historical novel “We Must Not Think of Ourselves,” set in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, the main character, an...
45 views
cstucky2
Jan 2, 20242 min read
"The Storm We Made" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Kick off the New Year with a stunning book from novelist Vanessa Chan. Her debut, “The Storm We Made,” is an absolute gem, historical...
52 views
cstucky2
Dec 11, 20232 min read
"The Mystery Guest" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
She’s back—Molly Gray, the endearing main character who debuted in “The Maid," published in 2021, a marvelous, fun mystery by Nita Prose....
25 views
cstucky2
Dec 3, 20232 min read
"The Berry Pickers: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Indigenous people from Nova Scotia, who annually journeyed to Maine to pick blueberries, are center stage in the page turner, “The Berry...
31 views
cstucky2
Nov 24, 20232 min read
"The Little Liar" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The cover of Mitch Albom’s newest book, “The Little Liar,” foreshadows its compelling narrative. Autumnal light fades into the sunset as...
45 views
cstucky2
Nov 12, 20233 min read
"Absolution: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Alice McDermott offers readers a beautiful literary experience with her new novel “Absolution” a thought-provoking, nostalgic story set...
53 views
cstucky2
Nov 8, 20232 min read
"All the Light We Cannot See" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Memorable and literary, I had double the pleasure with “All the Light We Cannot See,” which I read and listened to when it was first...
18 views
cstucky2
Nov 3, 20233 min read
"The Woman In Me" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Shocked. That’s the reaction I got when I told my daughter I was listening to the new book by Britney Spears. Though this autobiography...
44 views
cstucky2
Oct 3, 20232 min read
"Night Watch" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It’s 1874, a buckboard makes its way to an insane asylum in Weston, West Virginia. A Civil War veteran drives the wagon. Beside him is...
216 views
cstucky2
Sep 25, 20232 min read
"Bright Young Women" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
An engrossing blend of true crime and fiction makes “Bright Young Women,” by Jessica Knoll, a page turner that pulls you in as soon as...
42 views
bottom of page