We’re not quite half way through the year, but a ton of books have been published so far in 2017! In previous years, I haven’t made an effort to read new fiction. Partly because I already have so many books on my list, but mostly because of cost.

I was gifted a subscription to Book of the Month for Christmas, which is a reader’s dream come true! At the beginning of each month, members are given five new releases to choose from. Most months, I’ve never heard of the books or authors. Initially I was a little grumpy about that but it has turned out to be a lot of fun. I’ve been exposed to authors and genres I may not have heard of on my own.

Thanks to Book of the Month, I’ve gotten my hands on new books much sooner than I would have otherwise, so here’s how you benefit. Out of my BOTM selections for 2017, I’ll tell you: Which one to savor, meaning get your hands on it ASAP and curl up with it. Which one to skim, meaning it’s worth the read but there’s no rush. And, which one to skip, which is self explanatory!

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

In an unnamed country on the brink of civil war, a young couple meet and fall in love. The story is fascinating and moving. A war time setting makes this love story much different than it would be otherwise. This is a gorgeous novel, unlike any I’ve encountered before. The story is beautifully told in a unique writing style, I went back over some paragraphs multiple times because they were stunning.This is definitely a novel to savor.

Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk by Kathleen Rooney

On New Year’s Eve 1984, 85-year old Lillian Boxfish is out for a walk in her beloved New York City. As she walks, she contemplates her life as a woman working in advertising in the 1930’s and ’40’s. This is fiction, but is based on a real person. Lillian’s story is fascinating, but a bit slow. It’s a book to save for when you’re not needing a compelling read. This is one you might want to skim. 

The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphy

This was my first Book of the Month selection. It has a gorgeous cover, and sounded like a sexy thriller: Our protagonist works as a “body,” channeling the dead so their loved ones can have a chance to spend time with them again. She works for a business which provides this opportunity, but there’s a black market for it as well. This is an incredibly interesting concept that fell totally flat. There wasn’t much of a mystery and I never grew to care for the characters or the business of what they were doing. You can skip this book, and won’t miss out on anything groundbreaking.

What do you think of my choices? I’d love to hear from you if you’ve read any of the above.

Is this a feature you’d like to see me continue?