Occasionaly, I read pre-publication/ARC copies of soon-to-be-published books that I receive in exchange for my fair and honest reviews. I write reviews for every book I read, and publish them on Goodreads (you can find me here on Goodreads). In addition to Goodreads, I’ll also be posting my ARC book reviews here in the Field Notes section of my blog.
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Title: 33 Place Brugmann
Author: Alice Austen
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Publication date: March 11, 2025
My review:
I enjoyed reading an ARC copy of 33 Place Brugmann, Alice Austen’s debut novel, which will be published by Grove Atlantic in early March 2025.
Told through the voices of the residents of a large apartment building on Place Brugmann in Brussels, the story unfolds beginning in the days immediately preceding the Nazi occupation of Belgium in WWII and continuing until early 1943. While the multiple points of view can feel a bit confusing in the beginning, it really sorts itself out quickly as the reader gets to know the residents and how they interact with each other. (There is also a character listing at the beginning of the book, which I found helpful.)
The story is well-written and told from a unique perspective (the collection of residents in one building). I found it compelling and rather gritty; perhaps a more realistic portrayal of life under Nazi occupation than you get in many WWII historical fiction novels. The characters are well-drawn and intriguing; certainly a group you care about.
I look forward to future offerings from Alice Austen.
Note: The Kindle version of this ARC edition had some serious formatting issues that made reading a bit . . . challenging . . . from a visual perspective. I imagine this will be sorted when the book is published in March.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on March 11, 2025.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
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Title: Twist
Author: Colum McCann
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Publication date: March 25, 2025
My review:
Two of Colum McCann’s earlier novels – Apeirogon and Transatlantic – are among my all-time favorite reads, so I was eager to receive an ARC copy of his soon-to-be-released novel Twist, to be published in late March 2025.
Like all of Colum McCann’s novels, Twist is intriguing, a little mysterious, informative (but never dull), compelling, and . . . beautifully written. You never quite know where you’re heading, exactly, with a Colum McCann novel – and I think that’s always a good thing! In Twist, we learn about the extensive underwater cabling system that enables the world’s communication and information network – and the human know-how and manual labor required to maintain and repair that system when it ruptures. Symbolism and metaphor play brilliantly in any Colum McCann novel, and Twist is certainly no exception; there is much to chew on and think about here. The characters are all rather tortured, but fascinating. The setting is unusual and well-conjured (especially the underwater diving scenes). The storyline is compelling, and the pacing is perfect.
I very much enjoyed reading Twist, and I think fans of Colum McCann’s earlier work will too. Yes, it’s a challenging read – but worth the effort when you dive below the surface.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on March 25, 2025.
4.5 stars, rounding up to 5
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Title: Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create
Author: Elissa Altman
Publisher: David R. Godine
Publication date: March 11, 2025
My review:
I have been a fan of Elissa Altman’s since reading her first memoir, Poor Man’s Feast. I always seek out her writing, be it her books, essays, or Substack articles, so I was thrilled to be able to read an ARC copy of her soon-to-be-released memoir, Permission: the New Memoirist and the Courage to Create, to be published in early March.
Part memoir and part loving encouragement, Permission is a powerful, insightful, gift to writers and, in fact, to all creative souls merely trying to carve out time to practice their art. The writing is sensitive, deeply-personal, and inspiring. I appreciate Elissa’s willingness to share her own tender experience, both in her teaching workshops and in her own memoirs.
I would have to say that memoirists . . . are the most obvious audience for this book. But Elissa’s words reach far beyond that particular group of artists to serve anyone trying to live a creative life. I am not a memoirist myself, although I do a fair amount of writing. I’m also a garden designer, a watercolorist, and a mixed media artist. I found many, many nuggets of practical advice and encouragement for giving myself permission to step into my personal brand of creative life right there, within the pages of this gem of a book. Some sections of the book resonated with me (as a non-memoirist) more than others, but I found relatable advice and practical tips throughout. In fact, I’m looking forward to picking up a copy of this book when it’s published so I can highlight and write in the margins to my heart’s content.
Additionally, the cover is gorgeous.
Thank you to NetGalley and Godine for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on March 11, 2025.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
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Title: Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend
Author: Rebecca Romney
Publisher: Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books
Publication date: February 18, 2025
My review:
As a long-time fan of Jane Austen’s novels, as a feminist, and as a reader generally interested in understanding the literary canon, I was eager – but a bit intimidated – to read an ARC copy of rare-book collector Rebecca Romney’s soon-to-be-released work Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend,to be published in mid-February 2025.
Why intimidated? Well. I’m not well-versed in the literary canon, nor am I a rare book collector, and I was afraid the topic might require more knowledge and background than a feminist fan of Jane Austen might bring to the table. But thanks to author Rebecca Romney’s conversational (and definitely not intimidating) writing style, I found I was in good hands and had nothing to worry about.
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf is well-written, highly readable, and thoroughly researched. The work is interesting and fascinating, although it was quite a bit more detailed than a casual reader (like me) might actually . . . need. The author provides brief biographies, historical context, and critical summaries for each of seven women writers whose works would have been read by Jane Austen, as well as for Jane Austen herself. Interspersed throughout are stories from the author about her own life and work as a rare book seller collector.
I’m glad to have waded into this topic, despite my initial intimidation. I learned much about the formation of the literary canon, the fascinating world of rare book collecting, and the lives and works of seven women writers who’ve been cast aside by that literary canon.
(Additionally, the cover is beautiful.)
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 18, 2025.
4 stars.
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Title: Black Woods, Blue Skies
Author: Eowyn Ivey
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Publication date: February 4, 2025
My review:
Having read and enjoyed both of Eowyn Ivey’s previous novels (and especially To The Bright Edge of the World, which is among my top reads ever), I was eager to read an ARC copy of her soon-to-be-released novel Black Woods, Blue Sky, to be published in early February 2025.
I’ve seen Black Woods, Blue Sky billed as a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Although I can see where the comparison comes from, I don’t think that’s how I would describe this tale, which is wilder and much darker than the familiar fairytale. It is, though, a completely compelling novel with a strong emotional pull. Although there are more than a few hints and clues along the way, the tension and suspense builds throughout the novel, keeping readers turning the pages. The characters are well drawn, and realistic in the context of this particular story: Birdie is flighty and complicated, Warren is deeply conflicted, Arthur is elusive and guarded, Emaleen is a confused 6-year-old trying to figure out the grown-ups in her world. I thought Part 3 was a lovely surprise that worked well to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.
Bottom line: I enjoyed this story about love and family and place. Not as much as Ivey’s previous two novels – but nearly as much.
Additionally, the cover is beautiful, as are the interior illustrations by Ruth Hulbert.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Random House Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 11, 2025.
4 stars.
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Title: Three Days in June
Author: Anne Tyler
Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor
Publication date: February 11, 2025
My review:
I have read and enjoyed many of Anne Tyler’s previous novels, so I was eager to read an ARC copy of her soon-to-be-released novel Three Days in June, to be published in early February 2025.
I found this newest offering by Tyler immediately engaging and highly readable. Although quite short (less than 200 pages), I found the novel(la) complete. As is typical with Tyler’s novels, the plot is secondary to the characters, and Three Days in June is no exception. The slightly-quirky characters are well-developed, gradually unfolding over the course of the novel. Tyler reveals character backstories with perfect pacing, slowly unveiling her characters’ motivations and actions.
Primary themes: Family dynamics, coming to terms with an evolving self, acceptance of life as it IS, compromise
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 11, 2025.
4 stars.
