7.30.2021 - Where the Truth Lies

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital copy of the debut novel by Anna Bailey - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Small town Whistling Ridge, Colorado, is like many small towns - teenagers anxious to leave taking risks they shouldn't, small minds scared of people and things unlike them, and lots of secrets behind closed doors.  When her best friend, Abigail, goes missing after a party in the woods, Emma feels guilty for leaving her and determined to find out what happened.  Abi's family, the Blakes, are a product of their father's abuse and are all holding secrets, even while the town sees the signs on their bodies.  The local preacher stirs up his own brand of hate.

This is a dark book, filled with characters behaving badly but sadly it feels so incredibly real.  I loved the slow burn of discovering all the secrets in this book and thought Anna Bailey was masterful at teasing out this story, told in two timelines.  You feel the tension and the suspense for all the characters as they both try to hide and uncover secrets.  While the ending may not have been wrapped in a bow, I was a huge fan of how there were hints as to the futures of the characters without coming out and stating it all in an epilogue.  Bravo for a fabulous debut novel - can't wait to read more from this author!

7.28.2021 - Did I Say You Could Go

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of this thriller by Melanie Gideon - 4.5 stars!

Two single moms - Ruth and Gemma - and their two daughters - Marley and Bee, respectively - meet at a kindergarten meet-and-greet.  On the surface, the two moms are polar opposites.  Ruth is divorced and very wealthy and Marley is socially awkward; Gemma is a widow with limited means but Bee is very pretty and popular.  But it works - the two women and two girls become the best of friends until they aren't.  Fast forward to when the girls are freshmen in high school and Ruth offers to help Gemma out of a scandal with her company.  They gradually get back to being tight friends, although the teenagers are too far apart socially to really connect again.  Ruth is Gemma's savior but she starts feeling that the. price tag of being indebted to Ruth is too much.

This is mean girls in two generations!  Told in alternating POV with all four women, we see how the obsessions play out, jealousy reigns supreme, and friendships are tested.  Definitely showcases the difficulties that can spring up with mom and daughter relationships as well - even with the best of intentions at heart.  This is also a cautionary tale of social media and how spreading gossip and rumors has such devastating consequences.  This one kept me glued to the pages and the ending was perfect!

7.27.2021 - The Dare

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Lesley Kara - 4.5 stars!

Lizzie and Alice were best friends.  Lizzie has epilepsy and her classmates ostracized her; Alice watched out for her and made her feel normal.  Until they went on a walk one day and Alice was hit by a train.  Lizzie woke up after having a seizure with no memory of the accident.  But everyone else blamed her for Alice's death.  In the present time, Lizzie has finally gotten her epilepsy under control with close monitoring of her health and the right medications.  She's engaged to be married to Russ, a doctor.  But suddenly someone from her past has come back into Lizzie's life along with long-buried memories.

The story is told in different timeframes from the past to the present, mostly from Lizzie's point of view.  This draws the reader into her state of mind both as a teenager and a young woman.  This was one of those books that had a twist that made me gasp out loud - love when a book can do that!  Go into it with as little info as possible and enjoy all the twists and turns!  Another great book by Lesley Kara!

7.27.2021 - Goldenrod

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and One Signal/Atria Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of Maggie Smith's new poetry collection - 4 stars!

Maggie Smith's poetry collections are the only ones that have ever really spoken to me and not left me thinking I just never got what the author was trying to say.  She speaks in real language and sees the beauty and wonder in the every day.  This collection focuses on that as well as parenting and the status of the world today.  Her previous Keep Moving collection, spoke loudly to me and I find myself continually going back and rereading things.  I have bought the book for myself and others.  Goldenrod didn't touch me in quite the same way but it's still a wonderful book to make you think and look at things a bit harder.

7.26.2021 - Then She Vanishes

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for gifting me a digital copy of this thriller by Claire Douglas - 4.5 stars for a book that's tough to put down!

Jess and Heather were best friends when they were teenagers, up until the night when Heather's older sister, Flora, didn't come home.  The secrets and lies that Jess has kept since then have haunted her.  Now, Jess is a journalist and is sent back to her hometown to investigate the story that Heather has killed an older copy and tried to kill herself.  

This story will pull you in from the very beginning and you won't be able to come up for air until it's finished.  The author takes you back in the past when Jess and Heather were younger, as well as hearing the perspective of Margot, mom of Heather and Jess.  There are lots of questionable characters in this book to keep you guessing.  Plus, the author is so skilled at putting you in the scene - you can picture the atmosphere of the fair and feel the angst of young girls on the cusp of adulthood.  

7.25.2021 - The Turnout

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Megan Abbott - always a must-read author for me.  4 stars for a slow burn book you won't be able to look away from!

Dara and Marie are now the owners/operators of a prestigious dance studio, following in the footsteps of their mother.  The sisters inherited the studio and the family home after their parents were killed in a car accident on their anniversary.  The story unfolds along with the preparations for the biggest event of the dance year, The Nutcracker.  Dara, married to former dancer, Charlie, who does the business end of the studio, and Marie are well versed with their roles in life as well as preparing their dance students.  When Marie leaves the family home and starts living in the attic of the studio, she inadvertently starts a chain of events that will affect all of them.  A fire brings a contractor into their lives and into Marie's heart threatening the delicate balance of their lives.

This is a wonderfully-written character study with so much tension just dripping off the pages.  There is the relationship between Dara, Marie and Charlie now upset with the onset of Derek, the contractor.  There is the tension between the dancers, all vying for the key roles in the ballet.  There is the sexual tension and secrets seeping through every page.  There are the feminine tensions between power and submission, light and dark.  A bit of a different book from this author but once again a winner!

7.24.2021 - We Are the Brennan's

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me the audiobook of Tracey Lange's debut novel - 5 stars!

The Brennan's are a large Irish Catholic family in New York.  They were shocked when only daughter, Sunday, suddenly left NY for Los Angeles 5 years ago.  When she wakes up in a hospital after a drunk driving accident, her oldest brother, Denny, is there encouraging her to come back home.  She swallows her pride and heads back.  Back at home, she has to deal with her brothers' resentment for not being there to help out and her ex-fiancee is now remarried with a son and still active in the business.  All of the family are keeping secrets and when the business is in trouble, they are forced to reveal them and deal with them together.

I really loved this book!  I was drawn immediately into the family saga and loved the interaction between all the characters.  This family felt real - they were flawed, resentful, secretive, loving - but they were family above all else.  The writer was so skilled at making this novel flow.  Each chapter ended with a conversation and a snippet of that conversation was carried over into the start of the next chapter, voiced by a different character.  I listened to the audiotape, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, who voiced all the characters so well; I had no issue following along.  Her voice was smooth and pleasant and enhanced the wonderful writing.  Hard to believe this is a debut novel and I can't wait to read more from this author!  Highly recommended!

7.23.2021 - Together We Will Go

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for gifting me a digital copy of this book by J. Michael Straczynski - 5 stars!

Mark has been depressed for so long and sees no other option than suicide.  But as a writer, he comes up with a plan to immortalize not only his suicide but a group of like-minded people as well.  He gets an old bus, a driver, Dylan, and briefly posts an ad.  Then they're off, picking up people along the way with the end trip being a drive off a cliff in San Francisco.  Each passenger is tasked with keeping journal entries of their reasons, their experiences, their story which no one else will read but will be uploaded to the cloud.  

We get to know each of the passengers through their entries - emails, journal writings, conversations.  And you will fall in love with these characters, empathize with them and be rooting them on for whatever may await them.  Be clear - this is a book about suicide ideation so it's definitely not for everyone.  But it's worth it - my biggest takeaways were that (kudos to the title) we are all in this together and that everyone has a story.  Both are well worth remembering every day to give us more compassion towards our fellow travelers.  This story will definitely make you cry but will also make you laugh - kind of like life does.  Highly recommended!

7.21.2021 - Safe In My Arms

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Sara Shepard - 4 stars!

Silver Swans Preschool is THE place to send your child - if you can afford the up to $20,000/year tuition.  And of course everyone from Piper, the director, to the moms are all instagram perfect.  But three moms - Andrea, Lauren and Ronnie - meet at the welcome breakfast and each find kindred spirits.  They are each keeping secrets - although notes in their kids' backpacks the first day make them wonder if those secrets are out.  When the director is attacked and the three friends are suspects, the moms really need to trust each other.

This was a good mystery to sit down with on a rainy day - there were lots of twists and plenty of goings on in this neighborhood.  It was also a great look into parenthood - the struggles especially in the days of social media.  We as women are too quick to put blame on ourselves and hold those feelings and secrets close.  Would be a great book for a mom's book club!

7.20.2021 - Couple Found Slain

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for gifting me a digital ARC of this nonfiction book by Mikita Brottman - 4 stars!

Brian was the last of five children born into a very dysfunctional family.  He was just 22 when he walked into a police station in Florida and confessed to killing both parents at their home in Maryland.  He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, found not criminally responsible and sent to a maximum security psychiatric hospital and where he remained for 27 years.

I admit to liking to read true crime; this book explores more of the after.  It showcases how far we have to go to truly treat mental illness.  The author skillfully laid out not only Brian's story but countless others.  Why are some people released after a few years where others remain for decades?  Brian hated to take medications, especially the ones that are typically given to psychiatric patients, leaving him not much more than a zombie.  But refusing to take medication, even when he showed no further sign of illness, was cause to say he was exhibiting mental illness.  Everything was a catch 22.  Those in prisons have more rights than those in institutions; many committed crimes in hopes of being sent to prison.  Very eye-opening book I would recommend for anyone interested in this subject.

7.19.2021 - The Book of Accidents

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital copy of this book by Chuck Wendig - 4.5 stars for a creepy book that will keep your heart in your throat throughout.

Nate grew up in an abusive home and his father left him the family home when he died.  Nate's wife, Maddie, is an artist and their son, Oliver, a teenager who feels other people's pain deeply, move into Nate's childhood home.   Each of the family is holding tight to the strange happenings around them - sculptures that come alive, seeing ghosts, and magical books.  The past is colliding with the future and all of their lives are in danger.

I think you're best going into this with less info - this is an early Stephen King type read, with escalating fear and dread creeping in as you read the story.  You can't look away and have to keep reading to figure out if good will rule over evil or not.  The writing is superb - Wendig is obviously a master at keeping you engrossed from the beginning chapter with his creation of a world that leaves you feeling like you are wandering through a haunted house, scared of what will be around the next corner.  These characters come to life - especially Oliver - and you will be rooting for the lot of them (mostly).  Don't miss this one!

7.17.2021 - The Guilt Trip

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio version of the latest suspense novel by Sandie Jones - 4 stars!  I alternated between the audio and digital versions of this book.  The audiobook narrator, Claire Corbet, did a great job with this cast of characters - I was easily able to differentiate between the characters speaking and her voice had a great quality with good pacing.

The story takes place with 3 couples headed to Portugal for one of their weddings.  Rachel and Jack, married for 20 years; their good friends, Paige and Noah; and Jack's brother Will and fiancé Ali.  There is history between the couples - Rachel and Noah have been best friends since university, even close to making it more than friends.  Jack introduced Will and Ali, as Ali once worked at his company.  Ali's addition to the couples' friendship is a bit grating - she's quite outgoing and everyone seems to be questioning her actions.  Then those actions become too much for any of them to ignore any longer.

This was an enjoyable read and I was anxious to find out how it would all play out.  Everyone was keeping secrets and motives to themselves and there were lots of questions along the way as to the truth.  Since the prologue opened with one character in the hospital after an incident, you knew it wasn't going to end well for all of the characters.  Another good read by this author!

7.16.2021 - The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review Kristin Miller's latest book - 4 stars for a fun escape book.

Three couples - Georgia and Robert, Erin and Mason, and Jack and Brooke - are neighbors in a. prestigious neighborhood in. San Francisco.  The three women soon find themselves friends, although they are an unlikely group.  Georgia, also known as the Black Widow, is the widow of two wealthy husbands who both died at their home.  Is wealthy Robert next?  Erin is a newscaster who feels the age clock ticking, even though she is married to a plastic surgeon.  The sight of young Brooke sets her off.  Brooke is a writer and married to her much older wealthy tech company husband but their marriage seems off and who is using her friends' lives as inspiration for her latest novel.  When another tragedy happens, the three women must come together for all their sakes.

This is just like watching Real or Desperate Housewives - we get a peek into how the other half live their very over the top lives.  It's fun to just go along for the ride!  There are no real likable characters here and everyone has a secret or two or three.  I never saw that twist coming at the end either!  This is a quick, entertaining, campy read!

7.15.2021 - The Other Passenger

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Louise Candlish - 5 stars - her books keep getting better!

Jamie takes the riverboat to his job as a barista at a coffee shop in London along with a group of friends who have dubbed themselves the "river rats."  But on the morning of December 27, 2019, Jamie's friend Kit doesn't get on board and his wife, Melia, reports him missing.  Soon the police are at the coffee shop questioning Jamie - another passenger on the boat saw him arguing with Kit the Friday before and Jamie is the last one to see him alive.

The less you know going into this book, the better.  The story is told over a short period of time but as Jamie talks to police, the story goes back in time to fill in all the blanks.  This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse story and the twists had me glued to the pages - I never saw them coming!  Highly recommended!

7.14.2021 - Shoulder Season

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Christina Clancy.  I was a huge fan of her debut novel, The Second Home, and with Shoulder Season she has given us another finely-crafted, atmospheric novel.  4.5 stars!

Sherri has had a difficult life, never quite fitting in at school and eventually losing both parents by the time she was out of her teens.  On a lark, she accompanied her best friend, Roberta, to an audition at the Playboy Club in nearby Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  When she is surprisingly hired, she quickly learns that the job is not as glamorous as anticipated but still opens up doors she never dreamed of.  For the first time, living in dorms with the other bunnies, Sherri gets quick lessons in sex, drugs, money, friendship.  When she meets Arnold, she feels love for the first time but can't quite navigate both her worlds.  

This book took me back in time to the early 1980s and the author is skilled at putting you into the atmosphere of her settings.  I really felt for Sherri who was experiencing as a young adult things she should have experienced earlier when she was forced to grow up and take care of her sick mom.  She wanted to be the life of the party to make up for never fitting in.  But all her decisions would come to weigh heavy on her heart and soul.  I really raced through this novel, engrossed in another world!

7.12.2021 - Such a Quiet Place

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Megan Miranda - a must-read author for me.  4.5 stars!

It's such a quiet place - who wouldn't want to live in Hollow's Edge?  A lakeside community of mostly young professionals who work at the nearby college and who routinely get together for parties and generally look out for each other.  But when a couple dies and another resident, Ruby, is convicted of her murder, things begin to change.  When Ruby is released from prison on a technicality and returns to the community to live with her former roommate, Harper, things really get tense.  Suddenly, everyone is questioning each other and what really happened the night the couple died.

This is a great who done it - I found myself questioning almost all of the residents at one point or another and was still surprised at the ending.  This is also a cautionary tale about rumor spreading, being quick to judge and the perils of keeping things quiet.  A perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day - I couldn't put it down until I reached the end!

7.11.2021 - Embassy Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus & Giroux for gifting me an advanced copy of this marvelous book by Katie Crouch - 5 stars!

Persephone Wilder's husband, Adam, is an American diplomat working at the Namibia, Africa, US embassy.  Persephone takes her job as an embassy wife very seriously and takes newly-arrived Amanda Evans under her wing.  Amanda's husband, Mark, is there on a Fulbright to write a book but it's obvious to Amanda that he has other motivations for being in Namibia.  Amanda left a powerful position at a Silicon Valley company but now feels like she's alone in her marriage.  These two women, along with a local woman, Mila, meet at the International School where all their children attend.  Each of. these women have secrets themselves as well as secrets to undercover.

I absolutely loved this book!  There is the perfect combination of humor, smart writing, political and class commentary, and all kinds of relationships - those between spouses, children, and friends.  You feel transported to Namibia, with its red dirt, heat and proud people.  There are so many great characters in this book and I loved going along on their journey to living their best and honest lives.  High recommended!

7.10.2021 - We Were Never Here

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital copy of the latest thriller by Andrea Bartz.  4 stars!  I loved Bartz's previous book, The Herd, and couldn't wait to read this one.  

Kristin and Emily have been best friends, almost to the exclusion of everyone else, since they first met in college.  Now living in different countries, they meet up once a year for a vacation in an exotic location.  When Emily is the victim of a sexual assault in Vietnam, Kristin steps in to protect her, with dire consequences.  The next year on a trip to Chile, a very similar incident happens.  Back home in the US, Emily starts questioning Kristin as well as her own memories of the incidents and can't let any of it go.  Then Kristin suddenly moves back and rents a place right down from Emily, leaving Emily with more questions about Kristin's behavior.  

This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last line in the book and even after that!  It's a wonderfully-written thriller, exploring the relationship between friends, our perceptions and memories, and the ability to manipulate others.  Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down.  It was a great escape book as you go along on the friends' vacations - although not a vacation I would want to be a part of!  Be sure to pick this one up and add it to your beach bag!

7.9.2021 - The Final Girl Support Group

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a copy of the latest novel by Grady Hendrix - 3.5 stars rounded up for a gory but intriguing novel.

Final girls are those survivors of deadly massacres and a group of them meet with a therapist to learn to cope.  But when one of their group goes missing, it appears that someone knows about the group and is threatening their lives once again.  Lynette has made her life as safe as possible, living in a reinforced cage and allowing no one in her life.  When horror literally comes smashing into her life again, she is determined to not let anyone else die.

Be warned, there is a lot of gore in this book but enough dark humor (those chapter titles!) to make it more palatable.  It is ripe with tension as you will struggle to see who is chasing whom and whether good will triumph over evil.  Lots of life lessons buried in here too - we can't isolate ourselves from danger, we are always better together, and strong girls rule.  I typically cover my eyes over any gore but this was so over the top as to make it easier to read.  Fans of the horror/slasher movies have just found their book.

7.8.2021 - The Therapist

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by B.A. Paris - 4 stars for a book that will have you turning the pages quickly to figure out the mystery!

Alice and Leo move into a gated community, The Circle, finally being able to spend time together after a long-distance relationship of sorts.  Alice is anxious to fit in with her neighbors and make new friends, especially since Leo still travels frequently for business.  When Alice learns a disturbing secret about her new home, she becomes obsessed with Nina, a therapist, who lived there before Alice.  But no one living in The Circle wants to talk about Nina and Alice starts questioning everyone.

Even though this is one of those books that has you screaming at the protagonist to mind her own business, B.A. Paris is so skilled at drawing you into the story that you must find out all the secrets.  There is a big cast of characters and I think I questioned all of them at some point.  A fast-paced thriller that includes some "past" chapters to further muddy the waters - be sure to pick this one up for your beach read!

7.7.2021 - The Forest of Vanishing Stars

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for gifting me a digital copy of this amazing book by Kristin Harmel - 5 stars!

Yona was taken from her parents' home as an infant and raised in the woods of Eastern Europe by a wise old woman.  When her protector dies, Yona is alone in the woods until she comes across a group of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.  Yona is horrified to discover the atrocities that are going on in the world and she vows to protect the group and teach them to survive in the woods.  But the group also teaches Yona to open her heart to other people, even when that may cause pain.  

What an incredible story based on true events, with Jewish people hiding in the woods to escape the Nazi's.  The atrocities of that time never cease to appall and there are a never-ending number of stories from that era.  This is an impeccably-researched book and so well written.  It is gripping, suspenseful and celebrates the human spirit and drive to survive.  I loved the author's note at the end quoting a survivor of one of those living in the woods - Be nice if at all possible.  In these days of such racial and societal discourse, sage advice to be sure.  Highly recommended!

7.6.2021 - Kill All Your Darlings

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by David Bell - an automatic must read author for me!  4.5 stars for a must-read thriller.

Ever since the tragic death of his wife and son a few years ago, Professor Connor Nye has struggled in many ways, not the least of which has been his writing.  With the possibility of not receiving tenure because of not publishing, when the perfect manuscript comes to him, he publishes it as his own.  But it is really the work of one of his students, Madeline, who went missing shortly afterwards and was presumed dead.  Suddenly Madeline is back on his doorstep with her handwritten copy of her book as proof that she wrote it, threatening to expose him to the university and his publisher.  That's not all - the book seems to implicate Connor in the death of another young woman.  With the police questioning him, his life is blown up no matter what direction he takes.

With short chapters and alternating timelines, this book had me at the edge of my seat.  Almost. all of the characters are easy to empathize with and you can see how one bad decision leads to another.  It's also a good discussion on sexual harassment at the college student level and the no-win situations so many find themselves in.  As always with a David Bell novel, this is a must read!

7.5.2021 - Fallen

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books and Goodreads for gifting me an ARC of the latest in the amazing Amish suspense series by Linda Castillo - 5 stars.  This series is my favorite and keeps getting better!

In Amish Country, Ohio, Chief Kate Burkholder is called to the scene of a motel where a young woman has been savagely beaten to death.  Kate is shocked to see that she knows the woman from her childhood.  Kate always felt a draw to the victim, Rachael Schwartz, because Kate too knows the pain of being outcast from the Amish fold.  But investigating this murder has a killer on the loose and puts Kate squarely in harm's way.

I love everything about this series - the author continues to keep each book suspenseful and current and I can't put them down until I finish -  then I'm anxiously awaiting the next book.  Returning to this series is like falling back with old friends - if you started from the beginning, you know all the back stories of the characters and understand them.  If you haven't, the author gives plenty enough information to read each one as a stand alone.  Castillo is so good and respectful at explaining Amish beliefs and translating language phrases.  This one had lots of twists and turns - don't miss this book or series!

7.3.2021 - Silver Tears

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Camilla Lackberg - a sequel to one of my favorites, The Golden Cage.  4 stars for another winner!

This book finds Faye  at the top of her game, running the company she started, Revenge, after she took down her ex-husband, Jack.  She has her mom and daughter hidden away in Italy so that Jack, currently in prison, can never find her.  But suddenly, several investors have sold their shares in Revenge, leaving ownership of her company in peril.  And that's just the beginning of Faye's troubles.

While this book is more enjoyable after having read The Golden Cage, it could also be read as a stand alone since the author gives all the information needed to enjoy this one.  We learn more about Faye's past in this book and it's obvious another book is on its way to complete this story.  It started a bit slow for me but ramped up so that I couldn't put it down.  A sexy, smart mystery awaits you with plenty of twists.

7.3.2021 - The Woman They Could Not Silence

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for gifting me a digital copy of the latest nonfiction work by Kate Moore, author of The Radium Girls.  5 stars for an impeccably-researched book of this incredible woman's story.

In the 1860s, Elizabeth Packard, married for over 20 years to Theophilus and mother of their 6 children, was deemed insane and committed to the Illinois State Hospital.  The reason?  She had different political views from those of her pastor husband.  She never dreamed that this would be the beginning of a long stay where she discovered that she was not the only sane person committed by their husband.  In those days, women had zero rights and husbands could commit them due to reasons such as reading novels, thinking too much, irregular menstrual cycles.  Once Elizabeth realized that she had nothing left to lose, she did everything in her power to change laws so that women had more of a voice.

The author stated that every line of dialogue came from an actual record - I was astounded the entire time I read this book.  The conditions in the asylum and the treatment of the patients is horrific.  The power that husbands and men in general had over women appalling.  But the amazing fortitude of Elizabeth Packard to rise up and make a difference for women was astonishing.  While. so much has changed, the stigma and treatment of real mental illness still has so much more to go.  This book is a must read!

7.1.2021 - Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut book by Emily Austin - 4.5 stars - I loved it!

Gilda is a depressed young woman preoccupied with death. She has just been fired and has no money to pay her rent. She finds a flyer advertising free therapy - when she goes to the address, it’s a Catholic Church. The priest greets her and thinks she is there to apply for the job as church secretary to replace the recently-deceased Grace. Gilda gets the job, hiding to Fr Jeff the fact that she is an atheist and a lesbian. When it is determined that Grace did not die of natural causes, Gilda also becomes obsessed with finding out who killed her. 

This was a laugh-out loud book for me with a non-believer’s look into Catholic rituals. Being Catholic myself, I loved her observations. But it is also a glimpse into living with anxiety and depression, including the sad fact that Gilda struggled to get any help for her mental illness, even though the ER personnel knew her by name. A dark humor novel that I really enjoyed. I cant wait to read more from this author.