Book Review
Book Review
KMUW
Journalist and book reviewer Suzanne Perez reviews the latest books and such for KMUW on air and right here. Discover new reviews on Mondays.
Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler’ is a nod to the power of storytelling
Ann Patchett's new novel, "Whistler," is not a horse book. But it is a tender account of a family’s past, including secrets, misconceptions, and traumas both major and minor.
Jun 22
2 min
'Dear Monica Lewinsky' is part comedy, part cultural reckoning
Julia Langbein's new novel, "Dear Monica Lewinsky," is part comedy, part fairy tale, part historical reckoning — a clever and creative work that will have you rethinking much of what you have come to believe.
Jun 8
2 min
'Small Boat' inspires readers to examine their own moral failings
"Small Boat" by Vincent Delecroix is a fictionalized account of a real-life tragedy, during which 27 migrants died after their inflatable dinghy capsized in the English Channel. It was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2025.
May 25
2 min
Live from New York, it’s … a pretty great novel, especially on audio
"The Midnight Show," by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne, tells the story of a 'Saturday Night Live'-style comedy show and the decades-long mystery surrounding the death of its rising star.
Apr 27
2 min
Lauren Groff’s ‘Brawler’ is a gut-punch of a story collection
All nine stories in Lauren Groff's new collection, "Brawler," are bold and emotional. Many feature shocking endings. And there’s not a dud in the bunch.
Apr 13
1 min
Poet Maggie Smith explores body and mind in her new collection
Maggie Smith is best known for her poem Good Bones, which went viral in 2020. Her new collection, A Suit or a Suitcase, is an emotional, mind-opening study on the relentlessness of time.
Mar 30
3 min
'Good People' reveals itself through myriad narrators
Fans of Liz Moore's "The God of the Woods" will love Patmeena Sabit's debut novel, "Good People," which is another literary mystery-thriller that keeps you wondering and guessing until its final pages.
Mar 16
2 min
'Evil Genius' is a dark and clever feminist fantasy
Claire Oshetsky's new novel, "Evil Genius," explores complex themes of obsession and desire, with a darkly comic style and a storyline that twists, turns and goes places you never expect.
Mar 2
3 min
'Blob: A Love Story' offers a surreal look at love and identity
Maggie Su's debut novel, "Blob: A Love Story," tells the story of a young woman who tries to transform a sentient blob into the man of her dreams.
Feb 16
2 min
Jennette McCurdy's debut novel explores misguided yearning
Jennette McCurdy's debut novel, "Half His Age," is the story of a 17-year-old girl who craves a sexual relationship with her high school creative writing teacher.
Feb 2
3 min
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