The Best Book I Read This Month: The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

The best book I read this month packed quite a gut punch. The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson imagines a second pandemic on the heels of COVID-19, one in which people are prone to inexplicable bouts of homicidal violence. For Chelsea Martin and her daughter Ella, the Violence becomes a way to escape domestic violence.

I have to admit, I almost did not finish this one. I found it hard to stomach the scenes of abuse early in the story. Some just hit too close to home, and all of them were visceral.

But I’m glad I stuck with it. Watching Chelsea and Ella find themselves and remake their lives was worth it. Even more rewarding was seeing their abusers get their comeuppance or change their ways. Such arcs rarely happen in real life.

Meeting the support cast was another reward, especially the crew that Chelsea takes up with. Mensches, every one, and each colorful in their own way.

I normally recommend books whole-heartedly, but this time I recommend The Violence with a caveat: add this to your TBR only if you can handle scenes of explicit violence and abuse.

The Best Book I Read This Month: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

The best book I read this month was a romp featuring four 60-year-old assassins. Yes, you read that right—I used the words romp and assassins in the same sentence. I never thought I’d describe a book about murder as fun, but that’s exactly what Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age is: fun.

Billy, Natalie, Mary Alice, and Helen are celebrating their retirement—from nearly forty years of working as assassins—when they discover they themselves are targets for assassination. What follows is part murder mystery, part buddy road comedy, part revenge drama.

It was a delight to read about women “of a certain age” without the focus being on divorce or loss or aging. Loss and aging play a role here, but these women are not going quietly into that good night. They are action heroes—smart, sassy, capable, and kick-ass. I loved it. I want more books with characters like these women—mature, strong, and badass.

The Best Book I Read This Month: Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry by Sara Read

The best book I read this month was a rollicking read about a middle-aged woman reclaiming her life. Seriously, Sara Read’s Johanna Porter Is Not Sorry was a RIDE. Like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Twists, turns, close calls, near misses, highs, lows—this story has it all.

Johanna Porter is the divorced mother of a spirited teenage girl. She was once the lover and muse of a famous painter—as well as a promising artist herself. These days, she’s the art teacher at her daughter’s school. When the famous painter comes to town, Johanna is talked into attending his show, where she sees his most renowned painting of her on display. Impulsively, she steals the painting.

What follows is a cat-and-mouse journey of self-discovery that changes Johanna’s relationship with herself, her daughter, and others.

I could not put this down. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read, with one particular twist that surprised and amazed me.

The Best Book I Read This Month: Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

The best book I read this month was a refreshing break from my usual line-up of murder mysteries and Stephen King horror stories. I picked up Hana Khan Carries On because of its cover. It’s bright and colorful and a visible contrast to all the black covers on my bookshelves. (Apparently, black is the color of choice for books about murder.)

Hana Khan Carries On tells the story of a young Muslim Canadian woman and her quest to save her family’s restaurant and launch her own radio career. Along the way, she deals with visiting relatives, the owners of a rival restaurant, an online flirtation, and a boss with her own agenda. In the story’s climax, Hana must come to terms with a hate crime. Of course, because this is ultimately a romance, the story ends with Hana finding her version of a happily ever after.

I found Jalaluddin’s story and writing delightful. Hana is a compelling main character. Her cousin, Rashid, is part hero and part comic relief. Her visiting aunty is equally colorful.

This book just was the bit of sunshine I needed.