11.29.2021

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me the latest novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde - a must-read author for me.  4.5 stars rounded up.

In 1941, Steven didn't fit in at home or at school.  Then he met a group of friends who became tight - Ollie, Nick and Suki.  Steven's family were landowners; the other boys' dads were field workers.  Steven also began to realize that he had feelings for Nick that went beyond friendship.  After the attack at Pearl Harbor sent the US to war, more things changed for the friends.  Suki and his family were sent to an internment camp, Ollie enlisted in the war, and Nick was charged with a crime he didn't commit.  

Every book Catherine Ryan Hyde writes touches emotions, teaches you, and makes you really think..  Even though you know that the characters all wouldn't be so self-aware and say just the perfect things, every challenging topic is handled in such a wonderful and insightful way.  This book deals with racism, classism, homophobia as well as parental abuse and neglect.  But it also deals with the power of friendship, family, loyalty, and love.

11.26.2021 - Dava Shastri's Last Day

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut novel by Kirthana Ramisetti, beautifully narrated by Soneela Nankani (with a surprise recording at the end!) - 4 stars.

Dava Shastri has assembled her 4 children and their families to her remote island.  Unbeknownst to them, she has a terminal illness and has decided to end her life on her own terms with her family present - and so that she can be alive to read her obituaries.  She is a self-made billionaire philanthropist and expects to read glowing reports of all her many accomplishments.  But word of her death is leaked to the media early and she must now tell her children as well as deal with some of the press fallout, which deals with secrets Dava wanted to take to her grave.

This is a multi-generational family saga with each of the 4 children having an assigned role in their family and the family business with varying degrees of success and fulfillment.  It's the story of family secrets and how they are almost impossible to keep quiet.  But it's ultimately a love story on lots of different levels, with all its inherent complications.

11.23.2021 - My Mother, Munchausen's and Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thread Books for gifting me both a digital and audiobook ARC of this true story by Helen Naylor - 4 stars!

Helen grew up in a dysfunctional family - both her parents were always ill and she suffered neglect as a result.  However, as she grew up, it started to become clear that her mother was making up her illnesses to get attention.  While never diagnosed, she had Munchausen's and was a narcissist.  It was difficult for Helen to be a good daughter to her mother when her mother was obviously not a good mother and she suffered much guilt and blame by others.  In addition, her mother resented any attention Helen showed to her own family instead of towards her, causing more guilt and blame.  The audiobook was narrated by the author, which added a layer of truth and sadness to the story.

While I have read many stories of Munchausen's by proxy (where an adult harms a child to get attention), this is the first account I've read of someone suffering themselves and how it affected the entire family.  It was heartbreaking that Helen's dad and the many, many physicians her mother went to never supported Helen or got psychiatric help for her mother.  I would hope that today we would be more aware but these people are also perfect manipulators.  Hopefully writing this book was cathartic and will help Helen move forward with her life.

11.20.2021

Many thanks. to NetGalley and St Martin's Publishing Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut suspense novel by Hannah Morrissey - 4 stars!

Hannah got a job as a night shift police transcriber when her and her husband, Tommy, moved to Black Harbor, Wisconsin, a town known only for its crime.  Hannah wants desperately to be a writer and she finds herself drawn to the voice of Detective Nik Kole.  He is the lead investigator on a murder that involves her neighbor, who dumped the body of a teenage boy who died from an overdose.  Detective Kole is investigating the drug trail, supplied by someone known as the Candy Man.  As Hannah gets closer to Nik and the investigation, the rest of her world starts falling apart.

This was such a wonderful, atmospheric novel - you can feel the bleakness of the area, the scariness of the bridge where so many jumped to their death, and the fear and tension throughout is palpable.  Hannah's husband is a piece of work and you can't help but root for Hannah to have her chance at happiness.  I absolutely loved reading the transcriptions as Hannah heard them from the police recordings - really put you in Hannah's mindset.  Plus, as someone who transcribes tapes for a living, it was so interesting to see that there are people who actually speak punctuation (wonder if my boss could be trained?).  Loved the cover too.  A wonderful debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

11.18.2021 - A Little Hope

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Ethan Joella - 5 stars - don't miss this debut!

In Wharton, Connecticut, Greg and his wife, Freddie, are faced with his medical diagnosis of multiple myeloma and what it means for their family.  Ringing out from this family are a community of individuals, all facing their own issues and challenges.  

I loved this novel and all the emotions it brought out.  The story plays out in short chapters focusing on different characters at increasing periods of time.  I was slightly confused in the beginning, but quickly grew to love the way the author gave us glimpses into these people's lives as time marched on.  Beautifully written, we quickly see that small connections add up to big impacts in the lives of those around us.  While these characters face illness, bad decisions, grief - you know, life! -  it's a reminder that as long as there is life, there is hope.  There are second chances around the corner if we open ourselves to them and let other people help us on our way.  

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

11.16.2021 - Wish You Were Here

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by one of my absolute favorites, Jodi Picoult.  5 stars!

Diana has had her life all planned out and things are going along just as planned.  She is working at Sotheby's as an art specialist, almost engaged to Finn, a surgeon resident.  She finds a ring he's hidden and she is sure he's going to propose on their upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands.  But it's March 2020 and as they plan to leave, Finn says he has to stay and work.  He encourages Diana to go on the vacation alone - and she does.  But the world shuts down when she gets there and she misses her last chance off island.  Alone, not speaking the language and with no money, Diana has to figure out how to survive.  But survival makes her reconsider all those plans she made.

I loved this book.  While the thought of reading a book about Covid while we are facing yet another holiday season wondering if it's safe to gather with our family even when everyone is vaccinated, don't miss this book.  In Jodi Picoult's talented hands, she gives us another look at the pandemic through the eyes of those on the front line as well as those recovering.  There are also so many gems here about what is important in life.  You'll be best served going into it not knowing too much about the story and experiencing the turns for yourself.  Be sure to read the author's notes at the end as well.  Highly recommended!

11.13.2021 - The New Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital copy of the latest thriller by Sue Watson - 4.5 stars rounded up for a story filled with characters you won't completely trust!

Sam and Lauren have been tight since their first day of nursery school and their parents have been family ever since.  Sam's single mom, Georgie, has loved a male role model for him in Tim, Lauren's dad. and Helen is her best friend.  When Sam and Lauren get married, both families are thrilled.  The couple buys a remote cottage which fits in well with Sam's job as an environmentalist but less so for Lauren, who has to make a long commute to her job as a doctor.  When Lauren is found dead only weeks after the wedding, everyone is shocked and soon fractions are evident and sides are taken.

This was just a roller coaster of emotions that will leave you not trusting anyone.  I kept changing who I thought the guilty party was and enjoyed all the unreliable characters.  This book certainly is a reflection of the old adage that you never know what goes on behind closed doors.  Another great read by Sue Watson!

11.11.2021 - The Secret Next Door

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital copy of the domestic thriller by Rebecca Taylor - 4.5 stars!

Alyson, her husband, Justin, and their 5-year-old son, Andrew, have just moved into the Enclave - an exclusive development in Boulder CO.  Their home is more of a starter home and doesn't compete with the multi-million dollar homes a street away.  Alyson is desperate to give her son the childhood she didn't have and to have a good group of girlfriends she can rely on.  Bonnie Sloan is the queen of the neighborhood in addition to running for Senate, with the nicest house, successful husband, the son headed to Yale.  But things aren't always as they seem to outsiders.  Progress is threatening to encroach on the wonderful neighbor views and tensions are escalating.  When a teenager is found dead, gossip and rumors erupt.

This was just a fun book to get lost in - easy reading, with relatable characters even when they made questionable decisions.  Alyson is so insecure and desperate to fit into her new world that she ignores what's going on inside her own home.  Meanwhile, Bonnie is desperate to hold onto her own crumbling world.  A good reminder not to judge others on outside appearances.  Definitely pick this one up! 

11.9.2021 - Everything We Didn't Say

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me the latest thriller by Nicole Baart - 4.5 stars!

When Juniper was a teenager, her next-door neighbors were brutally murdered and her brother, Jonathan, considered the prime suspect in their small town.  Juniper was destroyed by all the events that summer and started a new life elsewhere.  But she has come home to Iowa to help an old friend battling breast cancer with the hopes of improving the relationship with the daughter she left behind to be raised by her mother.  Juniper wants to solve the mystery of the murders and clear her brother's name but she's not the only one still investigating.  Someone has started a podcast bent on proving Jonathan's guilt and the local police are investigating.  Is the past coming back to once again ruin her family's lives?

Told in alternating chapters of when Juniper was a teenager that fateful summer and the present day, Nicole Baart has woven a wonderful tale of mystery and family drama.  Everyone is carrying secrets they've held close for years - is the truth buried in those lies?  The author really put you in the scene and you could empathize with  these characters.  Tense and suspenseful - don't miss this one!

11.9.2021 - The Cookie Bible

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the gorgeous new cookbook by Rose Levy Beranbaum - 5 stars!  If you don't have a copy of The Cake Bible, you need to get one and this is the perfect companion book.

Filled with gorgeous pictures of cookies that sound to die for, along with lots of hints and suggestions, this is a book that will have you drooling.  With recipes like Chocolate Studded Truffle Cookies and My Dream Chocolate Chip Cookie, how can you go wrong?  I also love that both weights and measures were included in each ingredient list for those who like to be especially accurate and weigh their ingredients.

Highly recommended!

11.7.2021 - Doctors and Friends

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my favorite authors, Kimberly Martin - 5 stars!

A group of doctors met during medical school and have remained a tight group, including meeting once a year for a girls getaway.  This year, all but 2 of the group headed to Spain.  The main characters - Kira is an infectious disease doctor, working at the CDC; Compton an emergency room doctor; Hannah an OB-GYN.  Kira's two children joined them on the trip and they met up with her ex-boyfriend as well.  Little did they know, they were at Ground Zero with the start of a worldwide pandemic (not COVID).  All of the friends experience complete upheaval in their worlds as they try and battle their professional and personal worlds in a new time.

Written before COVID (be sure and read the Author's Note at the end!), this book still mirrors our current pandemic fight.  Kimmery Martin is a former emergency room doctor and really shows us what heroes first responders are (in case we didn't already know).  This also shows the personal and ethical battles that go along with new vaccines and treatments.  If you've read the author's other books (and you must!), you'll recognize a few of these friends' names, which was fun to see and left me anxiously awaiting more books.  I couldn't put this one down - don't miss it!

11.3.2021 - The Hidden

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the follow-up book to Little Darlings, the debut novel of Melanie Golding.  4.5 stars rounded up!

Leonie, not quite 2 year old, is found abandoned at a seaside storefront.  When Ruby (Mamma B) shows up after authorities are called, they chalk it up to a one-time accident and don't investigate further.  Meanwhile, Gregor Franks, is found bludgeoned and barely alive in his apartment.  As we get glimpses into the past, Ruby gazes from her apartment window into Gregor's apartment, watching him do yoga in the early morning hours.  She soon meets him and his family, Constance and Leonie, and becomes entangled in their lives.  Constance believes she is a Selkie, a mythological seal creature, who needs to get back to the sea.  This book also features Detective Joanna Harper, featured in Little Darlings, who has a complicated history with Ruby.  

I really enjoyed this book and loved the mythical elements involved, including the quotes at the beginnings of the chapters.  Add that to the wonderful writing of Melanie Golding and you have another winner!  There are multiple points of view as well as the different timelines, so that the reader learns the backstories of the characters.  The theme of motherhood interlaced with the mythology is really intriguing - what is a mother and what lengths will mothers go to for their children?  This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages to find out how it will all end.  I hope there are more stories featuring Detective Harper and Ruby in our future!  

11.2.2021 - The Selfless Act of Breathing

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel by JJ Bola - 3.5 stars rounded up.

Michael is living in London, working as a teacher, but becoming increasingly depressed and hopeless about his future.  He makes a decision to quit his life, withdraw all his savings, fly to America and end his life when his money runs out.  Along his travels in the US, he meets a variety of people - but does it give him a reason to keep living?

I had mixed feelings about this book.  It was gorgeously written - you can tell the author is a poet yet none of the prose is too lyrical.  I liked the premise of the book as well - that Michael needed a new view on life to carry him forward.  However, it was a confusingly-written book for me - the chapters alternated with Michael in the UK before and Michael in the US now.  That would be fine except that the chapter titles only included place and time, not date, so you had to pay strict attention to timelines.  As someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, depression and suicide weren't portrayed correctly, in my mind.  Even the title, though beautiful, seems to say that suicide is selfish and living selfless.  I still felt the writing beautiful and was intrigued to see how it would all end.