No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
Blurb: An explosive, deeply reported exposé of Johnson & Johnson, one of America’s oldest and most trusted pharmaceutical companies—from an award-winning investigative journalist.
My thoughts: This book was captivating and enraging when you learn of all the terrible things this company has done over the decades. I love investigative journalism, and this book delved into the many scandals J&J has been at the center of. It’s horrible to think of all the innocent patients and consumers who have had to suffer the consequences. This book was thorough and really well written.
Strangers by Belle Burden
Blurb: In March 2020, Belle Burden was safe and secure with her family at their house on Martha’s Vineyard, navigating the early days of the pandemic together—building fires in the late afternoons, drinking whisky sours, making roast chicken. Then, with no warning or explanation, her husband of twenty years announced that he was leaving her. Overnight, her caring, steady partner became a man she hardly recognized. He exited his life with her like an actor shrugging off a costume.
In Strangers, Burden revisits her marriage, searching for clues that her husband was not who she always thought he was. As she examines her relationship through a new lens, she reckons with her own family history and the lessons she intuited about how a woman is expected to behave in the face of betrayal. Through all of it, she is transformed. The discreet, compliant woman she once was—someone nicknamed “Belle the Good”—gives way to someone braver, someone determined to use her voice.
With unflinching honesty and profound grace, Burden charts a path through heartbreak to show the power of a woman who refuses to give up on love. Strangers is a stunning, deeply moving, compulsively readable memoir heralding the arrival of a thrilling new literary talent.
My thoughts: This book is everywhere right now, and it was recently announced that Gwyneth Paltrow will be starring in the film adaptation. I really enjoyed this read and finished it in two days, which says it all. Highly recommend!
How They Get You: Sneaky Everyday Economics and Smart Ways to Hold on to Your Money by Chris Kohler
Blurb: In this sharp, funny, and empowering guide, journalist Chris Kohler takes you through the rigged carnival of modern life, where the games are broken, the prizes are fake, and somehow you’re paying $28 to park near the entrance.
From loyalty schemes to late fees, gift cards to sneaky supermarkets, How They Get You pulls back the curtain on how the systems work and how to outsmart them. Written for anyone who has ever looked at their bank account and thought, I swear I didn’t buy anything, this is the ultimate handbook to understanding how the game is played – and how you don’t have to lose every single time.
You’ll laugh, you’ll groan, and you’ll probably cancel a few subscriptions. But most of all, you’ll walk away with the clarity and confidence to make better choices about how to spend and save your hard-earned money.
My thoughts: The title of this book intrigued me. There were some parts that I felt didn’t fully apply to me personally, but it was written in a humorous, easy-to-understand way, which I always appreciate. It makes you realize how many aspects of our daily lives are frustratingly nickel-and-diming us!
I Don’t Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer
Blurb: This is Judy Greer’s story, from her self-described childhood as “Ugly Judy” in suburban Detroit-ish, Michigan, to trying out for drama school to get even with her frenemy, and then breaking into movies as the ultimate best friend. Judy is a refreshingly honest, self-deprecating, and totally relatable guide to Hollywood life, speaking candidly about what it’s really like to shoot on location, to go to the Oscars, and to feel like you’re building a tortoise career in a town full of hares.
Beneath the Spanx, Judy is like the best friend you’ve always wanted. She chills out with her giant, gassy bulldog, Buckley; meets the love of her life on a blind date; happily dives into being a stepparent; and through it all maintains an unshakeable belief in the restorative power of a late-night drugstore run.
My thoughts: This was a fun and cute read! Even the title is endearing. We can all say we’ve undoubtedly seen something Judy Greer has been in. For me, I most associate her with 13 Going on 30, one of my favorite movies. She plays the bitchy mean girl flawlessly and is easy to dislike in this film. But the real Judy seems so fun and doesn’t take herself too seriously. I had no clue she grew up in Detroit and has a lot of family in Ohio. It made me like her even more, knowing she has Midwest roots! I highly recommend the audiobook because Judy narrates it, and her bubbly tone elevates an already fun read.
You can check out my other book recommendations here, or shop them below!
