BOOK 'EM, DIVA: FIVE FICTION FAVES OF 2022

Now that I am a government-sanctioned Diva of Leisure, (I've got a Medicare card as proof!) I have more time to pursue my favorite hobby - reading. I was that kid who hid in the bedroom closet when I was supposed to be sleeping so I could squeeze in another chapter of my library book. As a full-grown Diva who can pick her own bedtime, I read at least eight novels a month. So, like Reeces with its peanut butter cup, I'm combining my two favorite things, reading and blogging, by writing book recommendations of my faves.  There's no time to waste so, let's get started with my Top 5 Novels of 2022. 

1. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The author is one of the finest contemporary writers of literary fiction, as evidenced by this modern retelling of David Copperfield. Before you start whining that you aren't interested in reliving your required reading list from high school, let me remind you that Charles Dickens wrote the entirety of David Copperfield with a British accent. Very off-putting to us Yanks! Fortunately, the lead character in Demon Copperhead, Damon Field, was born in a trailer in Appalachia, swamp deep in rural poverty, to a drug-addled teenaged mother. Nary a British accent to be found. He gets nicknamed Demon for his ornery ways and Copperhead for his red hair,  inherited from his deceased father.  Soon enough, he becomes an orphan and endures cruelty and abuse in foster care. But, this ginger is a survivor, and we are given glimpses of hope for his future. Of course, this happens only half-way through the book, so there is turmoil ahead. You'll root for Damon, even when he seems to give up on himself. I'm looking forward to being highly disappointed when this is adapted into a film so I can smugly shout:

2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 I assumed this was a Jackie-Collins type novel with Liz Taylor as the inspiration. I did not expect an engrossing tale of an aging actress who wants to lay her story down before she dies. She requests a particular young journalist to handle the interviews. We learn that Evelyn was, indeed, married seven times, and that there was a purpose behind each of her nuptials. Through each marriage, we see her advance in her career, as well as experience the world and its changes. But, Evelyn has a deep secret that she only wants made known upon her impending death. She entrusts this secret to the journalist she has hired. I might suggest you enjoy most of this novel while sipping wine in a lavender-scented bath. But, please be fully dressed and in close proximity to a fainting couch for the final chapter, as this is when the secret is finally revealed.  Because -YOWZA!

3. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 

I'm sorry to report that those of you who have actually feasted on octopus at some swanky restaurant in the Mediterrain will wallow in guilt once you read this absolutely lovely novel. Marcellus is a giant octopus who lives in a tank in an aquarian on the Pacific Coast. Being both intelligent and bored, he amuses himself by escaping his container each night and maneuvering his way around the building, helping himself to the other fish as a midnight snack. Meanwhile, recently widowed Tova takes on a job cleaning the aquarian after hours. It's a way for her to get through the long, lonely nights as well as to come to terms with her son's disappearance, 30 years ago, off the Puget Sound. She and Marcellus have an immediate connection which leads to a deep companionship. I strongly advise that you have a box of Kleenex available for the ending. 

4. The Maid by Nita Prose

A twenty-something maid at a hotel which aspires to swankiness discovers the body of a wealthy guest when she arrives to clean his room. Who done it? If this were an ordinary mystery, that would be the focus of the novel. But, this is really the story of Molly Gray, the maid in question. There are plenty of medical terms to to describe Molly - neuro-atypical, high-functioning autistic. But, the reader will see a kind, devoted woman who is dealing with the loss of the granny who raised her. Without Gran, Molly is left to navigate the world of bill-paying and social norms while lacking the guidance she was dependent upon. Her naivety and inability to read social cues leaves her vulnerable to sinister characters who will take advantage of her lack of guile. Because the story is told in the first person, we readers (or at least this reader) want to reach right into the pages and shout, "Molly, no!"Check it out. You will be entranced by Molly. 

5. Counterfeit by Kristen Chen 

As a follower of The Real Housewives franchise, this is my kind of novel! Two former college friends reunite only for one of them to give the other an offer she can't refuse - work with her to seamlessly exchange authentic designer bags with knockoffs. To work this con, they each have to be able to present themselves as the kind of woman who wouldn't think twice about spending upwards of $5k on a small clutch, or $20K on a delightful summer tote. While it's a fun romp into the lives of the almost rich and famous, it also gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of the high-end purse industry. Spoiler alert: Just buy your bags at TJ Max. 

                                       

Happy reading!