2.28.2021 - The Family Ship

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this fabulous book by Sonja Yoerg.  5 glowing stars!

In the 1980s, the Vergennes family of parents Arthur and Maeve and their 9 children, live in a rural area of Chesapeake Bay Virginia.  An old oyster boat was on the property when they bought it, and the family turned it into an imaginary destroyer called the USS Nepenthe.  Envisioned as both playhouse and a way to teach the children discipline and responsibility, each of the children had strict roles to play daily on the ship.  The oldest, Jude, had gotten into a huge fight with his dad 5 years ago and had left the family to live with an uncle.  Verity, the next oldest, yearned to go off to college and start her life without all the responsibility of her siblings.  But life for all of them didn't turn out as planned.

I had never read anything by this author before and only requested this book because of an instagram recommendation.  After the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure exactly what I was reading but as it went on, I absolutely fell in love with this book and its characters.  The story is told from different points of view of some of the children and their mom, so we get to see the family dynamics from other perspectives.  This story will break your heart and then put it back together again with hope and love.  This is a must read novel available now!

2.27.2021 - Too Good to be True

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Carola Lovering - 4.5 stars for a twisty love story!

Skye Starling has OCD and it has hampered her love life, even though she's beautiful and well-off.  When she meets Burke, a handsome older man, they both fall hard.  Burke understands her issues and loves her completely.  After only a few months, they are living together and engaged.  However, Burke might just be too good to be true as we read his diary excerpts and find out his real intentions.  We also hear from Heather 30 years ago, as a teenager growing up in a small Upstate NY town and Burke's boyfriend.

You really need to go into this book as blind as possible for full enjoyment.  The story is spooled out from the three different perspectives of Skye, Burke and Heather, and will leave you twisting.  Definitely a fun escape read that will keep you turning the pages to find out how all these worlds collide!

2.25.2021 - We Begin at the End

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing novel by Chris Whitaker.  5 glowing stars - this book will take every part of you and leave you with characters you won't soon forget.

Duchess Day Radley is a 13-year-old who has been forced to be the adult at home, taking care of her younger brother, Robin, because mom, Star, is an alcoholic.  Duchess is a self-proclaimed outlaw and woe be it to those to bully Robin or comment about her family.  Walk grew up in small coastal Cape Haven, CA, was in a tight group with Star growing up, and is now the Chief of Police.  Dealing with his own health issues, Walk is also living with regret because he testified at the trial of his best friend, Vincent King, decades ago upon the death of Star's sister, and sealed his fate in prison.  Walk has made it a mission to look after Star and her family and is the only adult that Duchess has some faith in.  Everything changes for all of them when Vincent is released from prison.

This is a beautifully written book that will totally grip you.  All of the characters are so fleshed out that you can see them and feel their emotions.  I'm not sure you will find a character like Duchess anywhere and you feel every ounce of her pain, strength, reliance and righteousness.  Besides the main characters, you will also fall in love with Hal, Dolly and Thomas, and experience the atmospheric beauty of the settings.  The mystery part of the story will keep you twisting until the ending.  While it's a very emotional story, there is much hope and redemption in these characters.

Highly recommended - do not miss this one!

2.22.2021 - Good Apple

I recently read an article in Real Simple written by Elizabeth Passarella and loved it.  I immediately sought out the book and was thrilled to receive a digital copy thanks to NetGalley and Nelson Books.  5 stars for a book that I know I will return to again and again.

This is a series of essays about Elizabeth's life as a wife and mother of 3 living in NYC after being raised in the south.  She has a strong evangelical Christian faith, was raised in a mixed religious family (her father was Jewish) and is a Democrat.  Needless to say, there is a lot of material here!  Elizabeth has such a completely honest description of her life including admitting to yelling at her kids and her husband - you know, those things we all do but don't always tell everyone about.  This book was like having a glass of wine with a friend and spilling all your secrets with the added bonus of a spiritual twist.  Not smack in your face, my way is the only way, religious words but comforting, thought provoking ones.  As a cradle Catholic, I valued her thoughts.  And humor - so many laugh out loud moments!  It's also a love letter to NYC - while I live in NY, I'm 3 hours away, squarely in the upstate, mountainous part of the state and happy about it!  But it was still an interesting perspective.

This book offers so much and I highly recommend it!

2.21.2021 - Good Eggs

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut novel by Rebecca Hardiman - 4 stars for a redeeming family tale!

Living in Ireland, the Gogarty family are basically all "good eggs" - doing their best, not always succeeding, but trying again to set things right.  There's Millie, the octogenarian mom of Kevin.  Millie is caught shoplifting again and Kevin insists on bringing in a home aide to assist Millie and keep an eye on her.  Kevin is married to Grace and father of 4 kids.  He's unemployed and trying to keep the family going while Grace works long hours and is away from the home frequently.  One of his twin daughters, Aideen, gets into trouble at school and they send her to a girls boarding school where she finds even more trouble.

The story of this family was cute and I fell in love with both Millie and Aideen - both spunky characters with good hearts.  There are lots of fun moments in this book.  I especially enjoyed the Irish take on Americans and their lifestyles.  A great debut that at its heart shows how families come together to love and support each other.

2.19.2021 - Every Last Fear

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this fabulous debut thriller by Alex Finlay - 5 stars for a book you won't be able to put down.

Matt is away at college when he receives word that his entire family, save his older brother who is in prison, has been killed while vacationing in Mexico.  Mexican authorities are claiming it's an accident; the FBI is less certain.  Matt is dispatched to Mexico to claim his family's bodies and bring them back to Nebraska for burying.  This headline isn't the first for the Pine family - Danny is in prison for killing his high school girlfriend and a popular crime podcast was made, featuring his family and causing rifts in their hometown as they try to say that Danny is innocent.  But Matt remembers what he saw on the night that Charlotte died and he's never told anyone his secret.  Matt now has to figure out exactly what happened to his family, facing all his fears.

This book will grab you from the first line and you won't be able to stop reading!  The characters are fully developed and I loved so many of these personalities!  The storyline is taut and suspenseful, with short chapters beginning you to read just one more.  We are privy to multiple points of view as well as a timeline in the present and "before" as the mystery unfolds.

Highly recommended - can't wait to read more from this author in the future! 

2.17.2021 - Float Plan

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital copy of this heartwarming book by Trish Doller.  4.5 stars rounded up because reading about sunny tropical island and romance were the perfect antidote to a freezing February in Upstate NY!

Anna is devastated by the suicide of her fiancé, Ben.  They had been making plans to take his sailboat on an adventure from Florida through the Caribbean islands to Puerto Rico.  Against the advice and wishes of her family and friends, Anna decides to make the trip solo.  After a scary first day, she decides she needs help and hires an experienced sailor, Keane, who is grieving a different kind of loss.  

This is a wonderfully written story of dealing with grief and moving through it, knowing that you can't forget the past but you can have a new future.  I really felt like I was experiencing the sights, tastes and smells of the ocean and island life, although I could do without the seasickness!  These characters felt real and true and I loved the slow buildup of their relationship.  Great read!

2.15.2021 - An Ordinary Life

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Amanda Prowse - 4.5 stars for another winner - how does she keep putting out such great reads?

This book opens on Christmas Eve 2019, with Molly, age 94, writing a letter that she has put off writing for decades.  But before she can tell anyone where it is, she has a stroke and is taken to the hospital.  In the 1940s, Molly's story begins in London as an 18-year-old desperate to help make the world a better place and do her part in the war effort.  She meets the love of her life, Johan, her best friend's brother, when he's home from the service for a brief time.  But their dreams come to a tragic end, leaving Molly with the hardest decision of her life and a secret shared by sisters to the end.

This is a beautifully written story of a woman's life.  So many sacrifices were made by so many during wartimes and Molly's quiet acceptance of her life is a testament to her strength.  It reminds me of the saying that everyone has a story - from the outside, we have no clue what someone's story may be.  Molly was so grateful for her "ordinary life" and accepted her path with grace.  Definitely some life lessons there!

2.13.2021 - Dark Horses

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books Scout Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the amazing debut novel by Susan Mihalic.  5 stars for a tough to read but absolutely must read book!

Roan Montgomery was born and raised to become an Olympic equestrian, following in her grandfather's and father's footsteps.  Monty, her dad, controls every part of Roan's world from her school schedule to chores to coaching, riding and even the most personal aspects of her life.  But her father's attention has long veered towards the horribly inappropriate.  Her mom drinks to escape their home life and ignores Roan when she tries to confide in her.  Roan is trapped with no escape if she wants to continue her dreams of competing.  When she starts developing feelings for a boy at school, Will, she starts seeing that there could be a different path for her.  

This book deserves all the wonderful hype it is receiving and I can't wait to read more from this author.  Even though it is a dark and troubling story, it is so beautifully written that you will not be able to look away.  This book will make you FEEL so much - fear, anger, disgust, suspense, hope.  It is a painful coming of age story fueled with such well-developed characters and a storyline set in an environment that will transport you.  You will be rooting for Roan long after you turn the last page.

Highly recommended!

2.11.2021 - Do No Harm

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my favorite authors - Christina McDonald.  If you haven't read her previous books, do so now!  This is another 5 star read.

Doctors live by the credo, Do No Harm, in all their actions with patients.  Emma is a physician in a small town and her husband is a detective on the police force.  While Emma has always tried to live by that credo, things change when their young son, Josh, is diagnosed with leukemia.  The only treatment that can save him is not covered by their insurance and the cost is totally out of their budget.  She makes the decision to sell opioid prescriptions to quickly raise the money that she needs, believing that the ends justify the means.  But that decision puts her at odds with her husband's job and his own push to become a lieutenant to help the family's finances.

Christina McDonald has written another fast-paced thriller that you will have a tough time putting down.  This would make a fabulous book club pick because there is so much to discuss here - trust, ethics, addiction, family.  Do all moral boundaries blur when it involves saving the life of someone we love?  This is a must read!

2.10.2021 - The Echo Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan/Tor Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Sarah Gailey - 4.5 stars for a genre-crossing great read!

Evelyn is a scientist at the top of her field, specializing in cloning.  Her husband Nathan wishes Evelyn was less work-focused, more focused on him, and willing to start a family.  Enter Martine, her clone, created by Nathan with Evelyn's research.  Nathan divorces Evelyn and plans on marrying Martine.  And let the games begin!

I'm keeping my synopsis very short - this is a great, fun read that takes future science possibilities and really twists them into a domestic drama.  You'll enjoy the book more knowing as little as possible.  Don't let the sci-fi aspect stop you from reading it - it's more sci-fi light, with enough science to feel real without making your head spin.  The fun part is all of the moral dilemmas created with having clones and the relationships between Evelyn, Nathan and Martine.  Full of surprising twists, you need to put this on your to be read list right now!

2.7.2021 - The Burning Girls

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me a copy of C.J. Tudor's new novel - another 5 star book and reason why she is a must-read author for me!

Because of an event that happened at her parish, Vicor Jack Brooks is forced to move with her daughter, Flo, to small town Chapel Croft to fill a temporary assignment after the death of the previous vicar.  Chapel Croft has a history - 500 years ago, 8 martyrs were burned at the stake.  Then 30 years ago, 2 town girls went missing.  Jack and Flo soon discover that there are many secrets, traditions and creepy happenings in the town and they aren't sure who they can trust.

I don't want to give anything away because the author is so good at playing out the suspense and creep factor in this story, complete with ghost sightings.  I absolutely loved the characters of Jack and Flo - both fully fleshed out as well as their typical mother/teenage daughter relationship.  Jack is not your typical vicar which I loved.  I also really liked the religious notes in this book, giving you much to think about.  But the twists and turns will have your head spinning (kind of like in an exorcism?).  Highly recommended!  Preorder this now so that you can read it as soon as possible!

2.5.2021 - Truly Like Lightning

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by David Duchovny - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Bronson Powers is a former Hollywood stunt man who learns that he will inherit a huge piece of land in Joshua Tree, California, if he can prove himself to be Mormon.  He immerses himself in the religion and becomes a true believer in the early teachings of the church.  He builds a life totally off the grid with 3 wives and 10 children away from any contact with the outside world.  Until Maya, working for a real estate development company, comes across their compound and has visions of turning a huge profit from the land, enough to position herself near the top of her company.  She comes up with a plan - she tells Bronson that the State is aware that they are not properly educating their children and they could be taken away from him.  But, she proposes an experiment - send 3 of the children to public school.  If they thrive in their environment, proving that the Powers' education was not complete, Maya's firm would buy part of their property.  One of the mothers accompany the children and get a crash course in 21st century living.

When I first started this book, I thought - I'm not smart enough to read it and I'm not sure I want to plow through 450+ pages like this.  But never fear - Duchovny has written a complex, smart tale with so many layers that I was soon glued to the pages.  I still am probably not smart enough to get full meaning out of everything but this is quite the story.  Bronson has raised his children to live off the land, following him and his beliefs.  They work hard for the good of the family and the adults all take active roles in the children's education.  But imagine children who have been totally isolated thrust into today's world.  The story is told through many of these characters' voices and you will be totally immersed in their feelings and decision-making.  Lots to talk about with this book - religion, family, politics, sex.  Don't miss this one!

2.2.2021 - Between Two Kingdoms

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing memoir by Suleika Jaouad - 5 stars!

Suleika was in college when she first started feeling symptoms - intense itchy and fatigue.  After graduation, she moved to Paris and her boyfriend, Will, soon joined her.  Life was good except that Suleika kept feeling worse.  Finally, a doctor diagnosed her with leukemia and the world she knew was over.  She flew back to New York and Will soon followed, being a constant presence with her and her parents as she began to fight for her life.  For four years, she endured numerous rounds of chemo, a bone marrow transplant, clinical trials before finally being considered cured.  But then the next phase of her life began - trying to create a new path, a new normal, a new reason to get up in the morning.  While in the hospital, she began writing a column for the New York Times called Life, Interrupted.  As a form of healing, she embarked on a solo 100-day road trip visiting people who had written to her in response to her columns.

This is a beautifully written book on an obviously difficult topic - a young person just starting her life being given only a 35% chance of survival.   Suleika is brutally honest about all that she had to endure as well as the emotional toll it took on her, her family, and her relationships.  She was honest about all of her feelings which was amazing to me that she could verbalize them - even at times entertaining the notion that it was easier when she was sick because then there was a plan and everyone had their assigned roles.  It was a gripping story with so many life lessons for all of us.  I live in the town right next to Saratoga, where Suleika spent most of her childhood and where her parents still live; on a personal note, I loved reading her thoughts about this area in her writing.

I hope this is only her first book - I can't wait to read more about the next chapters of her life after cancer.  Highly recommended!

2.1.2021 - The Love Proof

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of Madeleine Henry's new book - 4.5 stars!  I was a big fan of Breathe In, Cash Out - Henry's debut novel - and definitely was thrilled with her sophomore book!

Sophie is a child prodigy ready to put Yale University's physics department on the map as she enters for her freshmen year.  She is interested in the theory of time - she believes you should be able to see time like you can see life's other properties.  But when she meets Jake, a determined finance freshman, her focus changes.  For better or worse, they become inseparable.

I'm being purposely vague on the synopsis of this book.  Part of the enjoyment is seeing how the book plays out these characters' stories.  This is a smart book (lots of physics thoughts!) that really makes you think about what's important in life and how our relationships can help or hinder our dreams.  Henry's writing is spot on - you will feel for these characters and their intentions, especially knowing their backstories.