The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

• I absolutely loved this book.  The storytelling and characters were so engaging.
• It is a warmer version of the road.
• With all the post-apocalyptic movies, TV shows, and books published recently, this one stands out as solid literary fiction.

Trump Revealed by Michael Kranish & Marc Fisher

• This book repeatedly demonstrates how Trump created and used his image to his advantage.  Big surprise!
• Kranish and Fisher dig into the details of Trump's Atlantic City properties and their financial performance.
• I found the details about his early career most interesting, as I was least familiar with them.

The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes

• I'm generally skeptical about pop-culture health books. There are so many fads.
• In the end I'm not sure how much of Taubes' work is legimate, or a very reactionary response to fallout after the low-fat diet craze.
• Taubes makes a convincing case looking at sugar consumption and related health indicators over time.
• I was most intrigued by the section of the book focusing on the tobacco industry's use of sugar.

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

• Being a Kansan, I was interested in this novel set in Kansas.
• Engel captures the close and long-term relationships between community members in a small town.
• All in all, the premise was so extreme, it was hard to find believable.

Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven

• This novel is told from two points of view.
• It is a quick and enjoyable read that feels much like a John Green novel.
• This novel is about personal challenges, seen and unseen.

What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin

• This novel jumps between nearly present day and 1980, and between crime scenes.
• This novel is about the price of fame and celebrity.  It also looks at what aspiring celebrities are willing to sacrifice for their goals.
• I enjoyed the first 80% of the novel, and was disappointed by extremely tidy ending.

You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein

• This down-to-earth memorior shares the experiences of comedy writer Jessi Klein.
• Klein's deadpan delivery while narrating the audiobook adds endearing charm.
• This book isn't about Klein's brushes with celebrities.  Instead, it is about a girl, and then a woman, who doesn't feel like she fits in.