Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for gifting me a digital ARC of this collection of quotes by Nora Ephron. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
Nora Ephron was the queen of looking at everyday life and giving us a reason to smile. I loved this little collection of her quotes - there will be something for everyone in here. You'll nod your head in understanding, smile, and maybe even tear up a bit. Because isn't that life? Loved it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful book by CG Drews, with the audio narrated perfectly by the wonderful Saskia Maarleveld. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!
Elodie is a single mother to Jude. They've been rescued from a bad situation by Bren, who whisked her away to a whole new life. He's renovating his parents' old home and they have a new baby on the way. But Jude starts hearing voices in the wall. What's going on?
Okay – wow – that was crazy good! I never knew what was happening and what was coming next, but the creepy feeling is so strong throughout the entire book. Is the house haunted? Is Elodie an unreliable narrator? Is Jude? Bren? It was brilliantly written so that I questioned everything and everyone up until that ending. Lots of themes explored but especially motherhood and past trauma. I think I was traumatized in the best possible way after reading this – don’t miss it! I had both formats, but I'm such a huge fan of Saskia Maarleveld's narration that I mostly listened to this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster | Atria Books | Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the adult debut by Alyssa Sheinmel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!
Rush’s Recovery the Hamptons promises its wealthy guests the utmost discretion. But when a body is discovered, how long can the center’s secrets stay buried? The current guests are a British aristocrat, Lord Edward; Amelia Blue, daughter of a 90s rock legend; and Florence Bloom, a pop star. There are strict rules of interaction between the guests, but they don't always listen.
This was definitely a slow-burn mystery, but I loved the premise and setting. A recovery center in the Hamptons for the wealthy? It's a look into those issues that affect humans no matter their bank statement - addiction, mental health, self-worth, and family problems. The characters appeared unlikeable in the beginning, but as the story progressed, my feelings towards them changed. It's also a look into these recovery centers and the control they wield over people. Very atmospheric!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by a favorite, Rebecca Serle. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
The three women in the family share a special gift - they are each given a silver ticket at birth that allows them to go back in time and change events - but only one time. The three women also share a complicated relationship with their mother, with each feeling not quite enough. The matriarch, Sylvia, lives in a cottage on their Malibu beach home, with Marcella and Dave in the main home. The daughter, Lauren, is now married to Leo and living in West Hollywood. But one summer changes things for all of them.
I love Serle's writing and this magical realism book about second chances and the impact of the choices that we make every day is the perfect example of why she's a favorite. It was more of a quiet book, focused more on Lauren, motherhood, and the relationship between the women. But it's also emotional and will make you cherish the present and the people in your life. Even though the women characters take the main stage, there are plenty of good male characters in here as well, and Lauren's relationship with her dad is special. Keep your tissues close!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Saturday Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful novel by Delphine Seddon, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Cherise Silvestri, Mei Mei MacLeod, and Milly Oldfield. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
Eva is just 18 years old and an intern at a record label when she discovers 16-yer-old Alora online. When no one at her label is interested, Eva takes matters into her own hands. She offers Alora representation as her manager, with neither of them knowing what's involved. But Eva was right and Alora is soon a superstar. But fame is difficult and soon their lives start to unravel.
Novels set around music acts are a hit or miss for me, because it's sometimes hard to relate to that world. But this novel pulled me in from the beginning as these two teenagers take on the male-dominated music industry. There are heartbreaking moments, past trauma that rears its head, and ambition taking center stage over friendship. This is a cautionary tale in a profession that values fame at all cost, and we've seen real life examples forever. There are a lot of trigger warnings to pay attention to if needed, but the darker parts of this book were important and the ending was pitch perfect. The audiobook production was wonderful and included songs, which further pulled me in, and I would highly recommend this book in that format.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster | 37 Ink for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Jung Yin. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
This book follows three main characters who were scheduled to take a cruise to the Bahamas, leaving out of NYC, the week following the 9/11 attacks. They leave instead on the Sonata out of Boston, boarding with all the weight of the world. We meet Franny, who has gathered her family on the cruise to celebrate their mother's 70th birthday. Doug is an aging actor and former star of Starlight Voyages, the Love Boat-style tv series filmed on the Sonata. Lucy is the only Black female grad student in her department at MIT, who took her roommate up on the offer of a free cruise, right when tech companies are trying to hire her.
While this is not a 9/11 book per se, the way the world changed on that day hangs over the pages and characters. But even so, life goes on, and we follow these characters with their own personal baggage. While these characters' storylines don't really interact, I was invested in each one. It reminded me once again that all those revolving around us have private stories behind the facade presented to the world. I also appreciated how the end of the book was an update on the world after 9/11, bringing the novel back into the real world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by M.L. Stedman, author of the wonderful The Light Between Oceans. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
This is a sweeping and epic story of a family, a tragedy, and the aftermath that reverberates for decades set in remote Western Australia beginning in 1958. The MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station, Meredith Downs, comprising of over a million acres. The lives of the family are changed on a sunny afternoon when a tragedy befalls them. Matt, the youngest MacBride, is plunged into a moral and emotional dilemma that will haunt him throughout his life. How do you choose between love and duty, sacrifice and happiness?
At its heart, this is a book about people just trying to do the best they can in their circumstances, not even knowing what the right path would be, and the secrets they hold dear to protect those they love. I was transported to a different time and place, and felt the weight of the characters' decisions along with them. While this could be a depressing story, it was hopeful and showed the strength and resilience of our human souls. I loved the multi-generational aspect of this story and these characters will stay with me. Highly recommended!
