18?

It's mid-May. I've read 18 books this year so far.

Not TOO bad, considering, I've also had a baby, work full time (well, I'm currently on maternity leave), and have a wild and active 2 year old....

But last year I had read 18 books (and reviewed all of them!), by mid-February!

What a difference a year makes...

Review: The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, by Maggie O'Farrell

Summary from Barnes and Noble:

In the middle of tending to the everyday business at her vintage clothing shop and sidestepping her married boyfriend's attempts at commitment, Iris Lockhart receives a stunning phone call: Her great-aunt Esme, whom she never knew existed, is being released from Cauldstone Hospital—where she has been locked away for over sixty years. Iris’s grandmother Kitty always claimed to be an only child. But Esme’s papers prove she is Kitty’s sister, and Iris can see the shadow of her dead father in Esme’s face. Esme has been labeled harmless—sane enough to coexist with the rest of the world. But Esme’s still basically a stranger, a family member never mentioned by the family, and one who is sure to bring life-altering secrets with her when she leaves the ward. If Iris takes her in, what dangerous truths might she inherit?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, and hard to put down (although with a baby and a toddler, I had to put it down more often than I would have liked!!). I thought I had it all figured out, but I definitely didn't! It was heartbreaking at times, and I liked the different perspectives it was told from, so you got several sides to the story.

Overall, a really great read! I have another book on my shelf by O'Farrell, and I'm looking forward to reading it!

Rated: 4.5/5