New year, new books!
Happy reading! 📚
20+ years of books. The description "First Monday" should be held loosely, but the "Reading Group" part is faithful and true.
All the Pretty Horses
[October 2025]
All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy
Readers: 5
Average rating: 7.6
Highest rating: 8.75
Lowest rating: 6
Overheard:
The pacing was akin to "going for a walk and being forced to slow down"
"Like being back in AP lit"
The author "assumes you're paying attention"
Side note:
A 2000 movie version with Matt Damon & Penelope Cruz has a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Names
[September 2025]
The Names, by Florence Knapp
Readers: 16
Percentage of readers who finished the book: 100%
Average rating: 7.7125
Highest rating: 9.4
Lowest rating: 3
Overheard:
"It was interesting that someone pays with their life in every story"
"The names were less important than the actions"
Notable discussion point:
What would it be like to read each timeline separately on its own?
Likely unanimous opinion:
Well-written!
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
[October 2023]
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
By Jamie Ford
Average rating:
Highest rating: 7.336
Lowest rating: 6
Number of voters: 11
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
[January 2022]
The Overdue Life of Amy Byler
Kelly Harms
Average rating: 6.4642
Highest rating: 7.5
Lowest rating: 4
Number of voters: 7
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
Depending on how you look at it, this is either an easy-breezy, fun summer read or an unrealistic and underwhelming look at identity and motherhood.
Or maybe it's both!
Quick takes:
"A very shallow way of looking at very real struggle for moms." –Megan D
"The most skimmable book you'll read this year!" –Angie
"A fun concept and a good blend of dreamy." –Emily
Question of the night:
What would your #momspringa consist of?
The Nature of Fragile Things
[December 2021]
The Nature of Fragile Things
Susan Meissner
Average rating: 6.949
Highest rating: 8.5
Lowest rating: 5
Number of voters: 9
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
An engaging work of historical fiction that could have used more in-depth writing
The Rose Code
[November 2021]
Kate Quinn
Average rating: 8.975
Highest rating: 9.5
Lowest rating: 8.4
Number of voters: 4
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
A fictionalized account of the women of Bletchley Park that is light on code-breaking details but heavy on the gossip
The Midnight Library
[October 2021]
Matt Haig
Average rating: 7.88125
Highest rating: 8.75
Lowest rating: 6.75
Number of voters: 8
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
The literary equivalent of "Sliding Doors" meets "It's a Wonderful Life"
Key quote: "Never underestimate the big importance of small things"
Restart
[September 2021]
Gordon Korman
Average rating: 8.2857
Highest rating: 9
Lowest rating: 8
Number of voters: 7
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
An slightly-predictable tale of getting a second chance in life
The Sun Down Motel
[July 2021]
The Sun Down Motel
Simone St. James
Average rating: 6.37
Highest rating: 7.2
Lowest rating: 5
Number of voters: 5
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
A suspenseful thriller with some plot holes that somehow keeps you reading until the end
Fun activity: Your "going into hiding name" is: A random girl's name + The last name of your high school celebrity crush
Nothing to See Here
[June 2021]
Kevin Wilson
Average rating: 8.55
Highest rating: 10
Lowest rating: 8
Number of voters: 5
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
An unpredictable little allegory about caring for others and ourselves when life throws us unexpected challenges
"A perfect summer read" — Lindsay
The Yellow House
[May 2021]
Sarah M. Broom
Average rating: 8.9
Highest rating: 10
Lowest rating: 8
Number of voters: 4
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
Beautiful story of a house, a family, a life ponders how we let people into our lives and what we protect and hide
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
[April 2021]
Anissa Gray
Average rating: 8.25
Highest rating: 9
Lowest rating: 7.25
Number of voters: 5
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
An engaging story about family, relationships, and the ripple effects of incarceration
"Things are complicated and that's just how life is."
The Indigo Girl
[March 2021]
Natasha Boyd
Average rating: 6.08
Highest rating: 6.4
Lowest rating: 6
Number of voters: 5
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
"A really interesting person but not a very good book"
Sea Wife
[February 2021]
Amity Gaige
Average rating: 5.607
Highest rating: 6.75
Lowest rating: 3.5
Number of voters: 7
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
A great read for people who enjoy isolated couples arguing with one another and ambiguous endings
"The idea was great, but the ending… I don't know why or what." —Emily
The Henna Artist
[January 2021]
Alka Joshi
Average rating: 6.629
Highest rating: 7.5
Lowest rating: 5.5
Number of voters: 7
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
An interesting but underwhelming look at a woman business owner in India
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
[December 2020]
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Lori Gottlieb
Average rating: 8.75
Highest rating: 10
Lowest rating: 5
Number of voters: 8
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
A wonderful memoir that is like reading a good book and getting free therapy at the same time
Fun fact: This book received three ratings of "10" from our group... the most of any single book we've read
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