The wedding people, by Alison Espach

 

This is a page-turner of a novel that I just couldn't put down. College professor and recently divorced Phoebe goes to a resort hotel in Rhode Island with the intention of committing suicide by overdosing on her recently dead cat's pain pills. When she arrives she finds that the rest of the hotel has been taken over by a wedding party for week-long festivities. Her plans for suicide are thwarted on the first night, and Phoebe gives up on the idea, but still not sure what to do next, she's drawn into the drama surrounding the wedding and quickly befriends the bride, Lila. When Lila's maid of honor has to cancel at the last minute, Phoebe is drafted for the job and she gets drawn more and more into Lila's family situation. Things get complicated when she realizes that both the bride and groom have doubts about their wedding plans, and Phoebe begins to have feelings for the groom. This is a funny but heartfelt exploration on grief and love. It's very well-written and I felt myself absorbed by the plot and characters. Highly recommended!

The power of habit: why we do what we do in life and business, by Charles Duhigg

In an engaging and entertaining collection of stories and research, author Charles Duhigg shares how habits form and how they can be changed. Claiming that habits cannot be eliminated, only changed, Duhigg says that one must identify the cue, routine, and reward cycle for any habit, then work to change the routine. In a manner reminiscent of many business self help books, Duhigg bolsters his and others' research with many anecdotes to illustrate how habits are formed by individuals, organizations, and societies. While interesting, I was hoping for something more instructive to apply to my own habits, but this book does lay the foundation for how to think about the habits we have and how we might change the cycle. This was a re-read, and my opinion is the same this time around.
 

Dead lions, by Mick Herron

 

I really enjoyed this second book in the Slow Horses series by author Mick Herron. The story begins when a retired spy notices a former Soviet agent; he follows him but ends up killed. When Jackson Lamb finds out about the death, he immediately suspects that it's murder and he begins to investigate, crossing paths with another MI5 agent who's trying to recruit a Russian oligarch to be an intelligence asset. As in the first book, some of the agents at Slough House are used by the central leadership of MI5 to support the recruitment effort, while others are working with Jackson to investigate the murder of his former colleague. This book was easier to follow than the first because so many of the characters were already introduced. The action and intrigue in this story are page turning and lead to a very exciting climax. I can't wait to read the next one!