Liar & Spy: Review Haiku

Newbery winner
tackles loss and lying with
Konigsburg-esque flair.

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead. Wendy Lamb/Random, 2012, 192 pages.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight: Review Haiku

How come I never
met the perfect hot guy on
a trans-ocean flight?

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. Poppy, 2012, 256 pages.

The Next Best Thing: Review Haiku

Yes, it's formulaic --
but who cares? I like
the formula. Sue me.

The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner. Atria, 2012, 400 pages.

Seating Arrangements: Review Haiku

I swear none of this
happened at my wedding* (or
I didn't notice).

Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead. Knopf, 2012, 320 pages.

* Thirteen years yesterday -- happy anniversary, dorkbutt!

Carry the One: Review Haiku

Well-executed,
but man, I did not like a
single character.

Carry the One by Carol Anshaw. S&S, 2012, 272 pages.

The Voluntourist: Review Haiku

Childless man seeks purpose:
No great insights, but
that was kind of the point.

The Voluntourist: A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem by Ken Budd. Morrow, 2012, 464 pages.

The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: Review Haiku

The "unreliable
narrator" concept gets
a whole new meaning.

The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone -- Especially Ourselves by Dan Ariely. Harper, 2012, 304 pages.

Making Babies: Review Haiku

Rehash of "smart woman
has baby; freaks" tropes, but
still wicked funny.

Making Babies by Anne Enright. Norton, 2012, 208 pages.

The Legend of Diamond Lil: Review Haiku

Quick, breezy read, but
still a bit too much sizzle
and not enough steak.

The Legend of Diamond Lil (A J. J. Tully Mystery) by Doreen Cronin. Balzer + Bray, 2012, 144 pages.

Dangerous Pumpkins: Review Haiku

Love me some Jenkins,
but undercurrent of meanness
spoils this series.

Dangerous Pumpkins (Invisible Inkling #2) by Emily Jenkins. Balzer + Bray, 2012, 160 pages.

Since You Left Me: Review Haiku

Sanskrit, I give you
permission to punch your mother
in the face. Hard.

Since You Left Me by Allen Zadoff. Egmont, 2012, 320 pages.

The Phantom of the Post Office: Review Haiku

Cute epistolary
series gets lost under
heavy messaging.

The Phantom of the Post Office (43 Old Cemetery Road #4) by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise. Harcourt, 2012, 160 pages.

Shine: Review Haiku

Even though I guessed
the ending halfway through, still
with her all the way.

Shine by Lauren Myracle. Abrams, 2012, 376 pages.

Wicked Business: Review Haiku

I can't even do
this anymore. Trash is fun --
but sometimes, just trash.

Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich. Bantam, 2012, 320 pages.

The Age of Miracles: Review Haiku

Awesome dystopia --
but there's no way that narrative
voice is twelve.

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. Random, 2012, 288 pages.