Once again, we went to a place that looks like this, and for some reason we came back.

This year we took a shorter trip, but spent more time on the beach reading. I read 8 books, plus about a quarter of one that I decided not to finish.

The Mountain in the Sea, Ray Nayler: This ratio of plot to monologues about the concept being explored in the story was off for me, but this was still enjoyable.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, Charlie N. Holmberg: An absolutely delightful read involving a haunted house and a housekeeper who can deal with such things.

Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal: What if one of the womanly arts that women learned in the Regency period was how to use magic to make their house look nicer?

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas: I’ve seen a lot of buzz about this author lately, which got me curious. When a friend said it would be a great beach read I decided to give it a try. For me it didn’t live up to the hype.

Come Closer, Sara Gran: A wonderfully dark novella.

Smoke, Dan Vyleta: There is a great story in this novel, but it’s drowning in all the ruminating and philosophizing.

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, Kate Khavari: A plucky botanist in the ’20s decides to investigate a poisoning in the botany department because the cops have pinned it on her mentor, who’s basically been the only person to actually support her studies.

Your Driver Is Waiting, Priya Guns: Or, “unhinged rideshare” as we’re calling this in bookclub. This was very fun and kind of wild. The ending let me down but don’t let that dissuade you.

Silver Nitrate, Silvia Moreno-Garcia (unfinished): One too many conversations that were just a lot of exposition about stuff that may or may not have been related to whatever was trying to happen in the plot.