10.31.2020 - White Ivy

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read the debut novel by Susie Yang - 4 stars for a very intriguing book.  I'll be looking for more from this author in the future!

Ivy was raised by her grandmother in China when she was very young while her parents immigrated to the US to start their new life.  The grandmother introduced Ivy to stealing to get the things that you want or deserve.  When they moved to Boston to reunite with their parents, Ivy continued her habit.  Her parents had high expectations and Ivy was able to attend an exclusive high school because her dad worked there.  There she was introduced to the way the rich people lived and became obsessed with golden boy, Gideon.  However, after an indiscretion with an old friend, Ivy's parents sent her to China for the summer and moved the family to NJ while she was gone.  Years later, Ivy meets up with Gideon again and it seems that fate is finally shining on Ivy and she will get what she wants.  Or will she?

This is a somewhat dark coming of age story as we see the expectations put on Ivy from her family and culture and how she will stop at nothing to get what she thinks she wants.  Ivy presents one image to the world - they all see her as a good girl - but her inside turmoil is quite different and dark.  The book was wonderfully written - you feel all the circulating emotions in Ivy from a young age and how they have formed who she is, even while she struggles to figure that out herself.  The ending was inevitable but still quite surprising.

A very strong debut novel that deserves the buzz it's gathering!

10.27.2020 - The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me an ARC of Fannie Flagg's wonderful new book, The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop - 5 stars for a heartwarming book with wonderful characters!

Back in Whistle Stop, Alabama, the setting in Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes story, Bud Threadgoode grew up with his mom, Ruth, and Aunt Idgie, who ran the cafe.  But time marched on and the railroad industry decline left Whistle Stop mostly a ghost town except in Bud's memory.  

This book is told from many different viewpoints and times in the past while it fleshes out the story of Bud's family.  This is small town America at its best where people are committed to help each other.  It's the story of how one small act of kindness or interest has a ripple effect through generations.  It's also a good reminder to not put things off because time waits for no one.

I happily curled up with this book and these characters and felt at home and comforted.  Another great read by Fannie Flagg!

10.26.2020 - I'll Be Seeing You

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the beautiful new memoir by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Berg.  5 stars for a touching, real portrayal of dealing with parents as they age.

Elizabeth's dad was in the military and the only big soft spot he displayed was the love for his wife.  But when he developed Alzheimer's, even that relationship became strained as he didn't want his wife out of his sight for a minute and it was taking its toll.  Elizabeth and her siblings struggled to get their parents to see that it wasn't safe to stay in the home that they loved but that is never going to be an easy conversation.  We get a real portrayal of all of the emotions involved in these life-altering decisions.

If we are lucky to have our parents live long enough, we will be faced with these same decisions.  This was such a respectful but honest portrayal of a loving parent/child relationship and, of course, so beautifully written by Elizabeth Berg.  Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and the authors for writing and publishing this important book as well as gifting me a digital ARC to review.  5 stars - a must read for parents, teachers, administrators, and our youth.  As someone who has been personally touched by the suicide of my ex-husband, I can say first hand how much this story needs to be told.

Written in alternate chapters between mom and son, we get to really see the truth of mental illness.  It was so interesting to me to see how Josh interpreted his parents' questions and concerns and then see how difficult it was for Amanda and her husband to find the perfect way to interact with Josh.  

I do believe that no one wants to interject themselves in what is someone else's private struggles but that leads to ignoring situations by teachers and friends who may be the best to see what is sometimes hidden from parents.  I personally know the heartache of calling a university to check on my son who started exhibiting very concerning issues only to be told that he is an adult and they cannot provide any information.  While privacy is important, so is having correct information so that intervention can happen if need be.  This book outlines some of those changes happening in the UK..

Blessings and thanks go out to both Josh and Amanda for opening up their hearts and private struggles to help others.  In this instagram perfect world, showing flaws is not the norm so we are all starting behind the curve thinking we are the only ones struggling.  This is a beautifully written, raw account that is a must read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this novel by Cecily von Ziegesar - buckle up and prepare for a ride on the crazy side!  4 stars for an interesting character study.

The book is centered around 4 families living in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn.  There is writer Roy Clarke, his wife, Wendy, and teenage daughter, Shy.  Stuart Little is a former famous musician, living with wife, Mandy, and son, Ted.  Peaches is a nurse in Ted's school, married to Greg, with teenage son, Liam.  Then there are the artist couple, Tupper and Elizabeth.  These 4 families become very intertwined as we watch each of them go through their days, struggling for meaning and purpose, working on their relationships.  But it all adds up to some kind of funny/crazy!

I loved some of these characters - basically all the women were so relatable in their own ways.  Mandy was a hoot.  Feeling like her only purpose was to be the cheerleader in Stuart's life, she ends up faking a serious illness to explain why she stays in bed all day.  Be sure and guard your food delivery boxes!  Peaches wanted to be a drummer/writer and ended up being a nurse to help support the family.  Now she spends the days combing through kids' hair for lice.  She has a crush on Stuart from her younger days.  Wendy persuaded her family to move from London to NY where she grew up - now she's struggling at her magazine job and lying to Roy.  Shy is also trying to fit in her new world but is definitely an outsider.

Each of these stories winds in and out of each other.  I thought it was a funny, exaggerated view of what we all go through as women in life's various stages. 

10.17.2020 - The Heatwave

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC for Kate Riordan's new novel - 4.5 stars for a very Gothic-feel mystery.

Sylvie lives in London with her youngest daughter, Emma, but has to make a sudden trip to France and her family home when she receives word that a fire has been set.  Sylvie grew up in this home and lived there with her husband, Greg, and older daughter, Elodie, as well as young Emma, but hasn't been back in over 10 years since something happened to Elodie.  Sylvie has never told Emma the specifics of what happened to Elodie and she is afraid that being back will trigger memories for Emma.  But things start happening that leave all of them shaken.

This book has an eerie, ghost-story type feeling - what happened to Elodie?  Why is everything such a secret?  Told in alternating chapters in the past (beginning in late 1960s) and present (1993), the book is written from Sylvie's point of view as she is addressing Emma.  That took a bit of getting used to but I soon found myself enthralled with this story of a dysfunctional family with bad seed vibes.  I was a tad disappointed with the ending but really enjoyed this story.

10.16.2020 - First Date

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the gifted digital ARC of the latest thriller by Sue Watson - a definite must-read author for me.  4 stars for a twisted look into the dating world.

Hannah had a tough childhood but she's basically happy in her life now - she works as a social worker and she has a strong group of friends.  But she just broke up with Tom, her boyfriend of a couple of years, because he just wasn't very into her.  About to give up on love, her best friend/boss convinces her to give a dating app a try.  Her very first match, Alex, seems to be an absolutely perfect fit and Hannah starts falling fast and hard.  But is he too good to be true?

The first part of this book was like one of those horror movies where you scream at the characters to not go down into the basement alone at night.  There were so many red flags - but love is blind and things are easily explained away.  The second part of this book ramped up and became gripping as I raced through to see how things would end up - and was still surprised at the end.  Definitely a book to make you think about the internet dating world and how quickly infatuation can become obsession.

10.12.2020 - Invisible Girl

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of Lisa Jewell's latest thriller - I'm a huge fan and this is another 5 star read for me.

The story is told from 3 different points of view - Cate Fours is a mom of teenagers Georgia and Josh, and wife to Roan, a psychologist.  Owen lives across the street from the Fours in a home owned by his aunt.  Owen is a teacher and has just been suspended due to reports of sexual misconduct towards female students.  Owen is in his 30s and still a virgin - he gets pulled into an online forum for others in his situation - incels - involuntary celibates.  Saffyre had a tough childhood with a trauma that she still can't speak about.  But she was cutting herself and her guardian sent her to Roan Fours.  When Roan dismisses her saying that she is healthy now, even though she has never spoken to him of her trauma, she feels unseen and starts following Roan.  Then Saffyre goes missing - Owen is the last to have seen her.

As in all of Lisa Jewell's books, you have the mystery portion but she is a master at the character development.  You feel for these people - especially ones that are "invisible" to the rest of the world or judged as being unworthy.  Plus, as a society, we are so quick to judge others who appear different from us.  As the saying goes - everyone has a story.  Some hide those stories but they are still there, influencing behavior.  I couldn't put this book down until all these stories intersected!

10.11.2020 - In a Holidaze

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the writing team Christina Lauren for gifting me a digital ARC of their latest book - as always, such a warmhearted, feel good romance book - 4.5 stars!  I was in a bit of a holidaze myself - it's Halloween and I'm reading about a Christmastime Groundhog Day!

Mae spends every Christmas with her family and her chosen family in Park City, Utah, at a cabin owned by her parents' best friends.  Even though her parents are divorced, they both still come for the holiday.  Every day has a tradition and traditions cannot be broken.  But everything feels broken this year for Mae - she's at a job she hates, back living at home with her mom, and her childhood crush for Andrew, the son of the cabin's owners, is stronger than ever and seems destined to remain only a fantasy.  Worst of all - as the week comes to a close, the owners  tell of their plans to sell the cabin.  Leaving in the car with her family, Mae sends up a wish to be shown what will make her happy.  Then there's a car crash and the Groundhog's Day loop begins.  Will Mae be able to fix things?

I loved these characters, their family traditions, the setting and the romance!  Christina Lauren delivers another winning read no matter what the season!

10.8.2020 - The Lost Love Song

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this wonderful story by Minnie Darke - 4.5 stars! 

Diana Clare is a famous pianist, engaged to Arie for years.  Arie is pushing her to get married and as she leaves for a tour to Singapore and Paris, he asks her for an answer when she returns.  Diana started writing a love song to let Arie know better than her words how she feels about him, but he was never able to hear the ending.  In Scotland, Evie has been traveling around, not putting down ties, since she left Australia.  She writes poems and ekes out a living with whatever jobs she can get.  One day she hears a young couple play a song - a love song - and she can't get it out of her mind.  This song travels around from person to person, opening hearts and minds, giving second chances to those that hear it.

Just a wonderfully written story - I pretty much sat and read this book in one sitting.  I loved all the chance interactions between so many characters, all pulled together with one love song.  Isn't that what music does to us?  There was not an unlikeable character in this book - they are all charming in their own ways and you will be rooting for many happily ever afters.

10.7.2020 - Keep Moving

Many thanks to NetGalley, One Signal Publishers/Atria Publishing for the gifted digital ARC of this fabulous book of essays/thoughts from Maggie Smith.  5 stars - I read it in one sitting this morning and have already ordered a hardcopy to keep plus I know this will be a definite gift item for friends struggling with change/loss.

I loved everything about this book and its message - that you just need to keep moving to get through life.  Life will throw everyone punches and this book helps guide you through coming out of it a better person.  There are so many pages and thoughts that I highlighted that just spoke to me and will speak to everyone, because we all experience these issues.  Everyone has a story - some are similar, some vastly different, but we could all use some encouragement along the way and ways to look at others going through their stories.  My husband and I have already adopted the Beauty Emergency line - just a way to pause and be grateful for the world around us.

Bravo for a fabulous book!  Plus the author is from and continues to live in central Ohio - I grew up about an hour away and then spent decades living in northeast Ohio before moving to Upstate NY.  Go Bucks!

10.7.2020 - Cardiff, by the Sea

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the short story collection by Joyce Carol Oates.  4 stars for creepy stories that will leave you wanting more!

This book contains 4 short novellas all revolving around creepy, mysterious happenings to the female subjects of each story.  The first was my favorite - a young adopted woman gets a call that her biological grandmother left her an inheritance in Cardiff, Maine.  She travels there, stays with her two very eccentric great-aunts, and tries to investigate the past she knew nothing about.  There is the story of Mia, a teenager who is uncomfortable with her body and the attention it receives.  She only finds comfort in an abandoned lot overrun with feral cats.  Another story has a quiet college student  taken advantage of by a professor and in other ways by an elderly poet.  The last story involves a young woman about to move in her fiancé's house where a horrible tragedy took place leaving his son as the only survivor.

Each of these stories have twists that you won't expect, even though the ending may not be totally as fleshed out as you may wish.  That's always why short stories aren't my favorite genre but - Joyce Carol Oates!  Her writing is so beautiful and you won't be able to resist this collection.  You will find yourself caring about each of these female protagonists and their stories.

10.4.2020 - Magic Lessons

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this fabulous book by Alice Hoffman - it's the prequel to Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic, which are both must reads as well.  5 stars for such a fabulous read - and so appropriate to read about witches and magic as we head into the Halloween season.

This book finds us in the 1600s as Hannah Owens discovers a baby left in the field who she takes in and raises as her own.  Hannah recognizes the bloodline of witches in baby Maria and begins teaching her the valuable lessons of magic.  The first two - Do as you will, but harm no one and What you give will be returned to you threefold.  But then there's love and all the magic involved there.  When Maria falls in love a man who leaves her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts.  When things go wrong, Maria puts a curse over all the women in her family and anyone who may love them.  

Alice Hoffman is just the most gifted writer - while this book started off a bit slow for me, before long I was glued to the pages.  We learn history here too - of the Salem witch trials but also of the history of New York and the way women were treated in these times. So many life lessons here to be learned as well as to how we treat each other and how very important love is.  I loved how books were portrayed as magical - they sure are for me and this one definitely is!  Highly recommended!

10.2.2020 - Every Now and Then

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the gifted digital ARC of the new book by Lesley Kagen - 4 stars for a peek into the past coming-of-age story to lift you up.  This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed getting lost in her created world of Summit, Wisconsin.

Three best friends - Biz, Frankie and Viv - are as different as can be but each has strengths that the others may lack.  Together they form the Tree Musketeers, since their home base is a wonderful tree house built by Biz' dad in honor of his wife who died after giving birth to Biz.  It's the summer of 1960 and the girls have set up a list of things they must accomplish during the summer.  One of those is more investigation of the local mental health institute and what could possibly be happening in the basement.  But investigating could cause tragic consequences for the girls and possibly more in the community.

I loved reading about the naivety of the girls when it came to anything sexual.  Today, it's hard to imagine that you could find 11-year-olds who would be so wonderfully clueless.  Try not to laugh when an older girl explains what happens when you get your period!  While such ignorance probably isn't healthy, it still harkens back to a time of innocence which is sorely needed right now.  This was a time of unlocked doors, kids playing unsupervised until it was dark, having a healthy fear of God and disappointing parents.  On the opposite spectrum, it was also a time of racism and prejudice and terrible treatment of mental illness.  This book at its core is about friendship and loyalty and always trying to do the right things.  I loved the ending!