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The Top 50 Books of the Last 5 Years
Inspired by an underwhelming list from Goodreads, this counts down a far superior list of the Top 50 books of the last 5 years (2020-2024).
Greg Barlin
Oct 16, 20248 min read


The Storyteller
★★★★★ Dave Grohl -- former drummer for Nirvana, and founding member of the Foo Fighters -- shares stories of his life in rock in this memoir
Greg Barlin
Sep 21, 20243 min read


The Women
★★★★★ A historical opus that examines the horrors of the Vietnam War and its turbulent aftermath through the eyes of a young female nurse.
Stephanie Barlin
Jun 21, 20243 min read


First Lie Wins
★★★★★ A twisty plot-driven novel about a woman who manufactures a relationship, only to find she might be the one being played.
Greg Barlin
Jan 29, 20244 min read


The Best Books of 2023
A running tally of my "Best Books of 2023", updated each time I finish a book throughout the year.
Greg Barlin
Dec 23, 202314 min read

All the Sinners Bleed (#1 of 2023)
★★★★★ Another tightly crafted Southern Noir novel from Cosby packed with social commentary and memorable characters. Possibly his best yet.
Greg Barlin
Dec 22, 20234 min read

The Covenant of Water (#2 of 2023)
★★★★★ It's long, but it's also a brilliant tour de force, presenting a multi-generational character study spanning nearly 80 years in India.
Greg Barlin
Dec 21, 20234 min read

Chain-Gang All-Stars (#3 of 2023)
★★★★★ Set in a near-future society that feels all too possible, prisoners fight in gladiatorial death matches for a chance at freedom.
Greg Barlin
Dec 20, 20233 min read

Small Mercies (#4 of 2023)
★★★★★ A masterful book, Lehane's best since Mystic River, set against the racial tensions of Boston school busing during the summer of '74.
Greg Barlin
Dec 19, 20233 min read

Still Life (#5 of 2023)
★★★★★ A beautifully written character study of a cast of memorable souls that spans 30 years from the end of World War II until the mid-70s.
Greg Barlin
Dec 18, 20234 min read

Fourth Wing (#6 of 2023)
★★★★★ Perhaps the most-hyped book of 2023 lives up to it, as we follow the journey of a young girl as she attempts to become a dragon rider.
Greg Barlin
Dec 17, 20234 min read

Rubicon (#7 of 2023)
★★★★★ A stand-alone novel unrelated to her "Divide" series, author Dewes elegantly explores immortality, AI, and what it means to be human.
Greg Barlin
Dec 16, 20233 min read

Starling House (#8 of 2023)
★★★★★ Harrow returns to top form with a genre-blending story of a young woman trying to scrape by in a town haunted by its past and secrets.
Greg Barlin
Dec 15, 20235 min read

Exiles (#9 of 2023)
★★★★★ A stellar offering from author Harper about a missing woman and a history of complicated relationships among friends in a small town.
Greg Barlin
Dec 14, 20233 min read

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (#10 of 2023)
★★★★★ Both entertaining and helpful, Duckworth systematically lays out a plethora of evidence for why passion + perseverance = success.
Greg Barlin
Dec 13, 20233 min read


Fear Is Just A Word
★★★★★ When a young woman goes missing, kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, her mother makes it her life's mission to bring them to justice.
Greg Barlin
Dec 9, 20233 min read


The Art Thief
★★★★★ A thoroughly researched examination of the exploits of Stéphane Breitwieser, the most prolific art thief the world has ever known.
Greg Barlin
Dec 7, 20233 min read


Being Henry: The Fonz...and Beyond
★★★★★ An honest autobiographical account of a showbiz life, infused with humor, self-deprecation and a joie de vivre oozing from every page.
Greg Barlin
Nov 18, 20234 min read


Only If You're Lucky
★★★★★ A story of a four tight knit girls at a small college turns dark when it seems they might have been involved with a frat boy's death.
Greg Barlin
Aug 29, 20234 min read


The Battle Drum
★★★★★ El-Arifi builds on her stellar debut The Final Strife (my #3 book of 2022), and does so both ambitiously and successfully.
Greg Barlin
Aug 19, 20234 min read
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