4.30.2023 - Before We Were Innocent

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Ella Berman - 4 stars!

In 2008, three friends - Bess, Joni, and Evangeline - went to Greece for the summer after high school .  Tragedy happened and Evangeline died.  Bess and Joni were eventually cleared in her death, but the ensuing press was brutal.  Joni ended up writing a book about the situation and became a famous motivational speaker.  In contrast, Bess basically lived off the grid by herself.  Ten years later, Joni shows up at Bess's house asking Bess to help her after Joni's girlfriend goes missing.

This story unfolds slowly, going between both timeframes.  It's less a mystery than a coming-of-age, toxic friendship story.  It's well written and the plot unfolds nicely, showing just how trauma affects people differently and how long lasting it can be.  To me, it's also another social media cautionary tale and reminded me of the Amanda Knox story.

4.29.2023

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Teresa Driscoll - 4 stars!

Hannah and Sam are trying to save their marriage after a betrayal.  They book a remote cabin, hoping that the time away with their young daughter, Lily, will set them back on the right track.  But from the beginning, things at the Owl Cottage don't seem right - Hannah finds dead owlets on the doormat and hears knocks on the door when no one is there.  Sam dismisses these issues which makes Hannah wonder all the more.  

This was a great thriller with a possible unreliable narrator, a creepy cabin, and Hannah's mysterious past all coming into play.  Told in both the present and past, you learn just enough to keep you guessing and turning the pages as quickly as possible.  You'll find yourself questioning everyone and everything.  I'm a fan of Driscoll's books and this one is another winner!

4.28.2023 - In the Lives of Puppets

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Macmillan Audio for the privilege to escape into the newest TJ Klune world by gifting me both a digital and audio ARC.  The audiobook was amazingly narrated by Daniel Henning - 5 stars!

Gio leaves the City of Electric Dreams and finds a house in the woods where he starts his new life.  Gio becomes dad to Victor, the last human on the planet, as well as his companions Nurse Ratched and Rambo.  They find a robot in the junk yard, Hap, that Victor brings back alive.  When Gio is taken, the group go off to rescue him.

This book is reminiscent of PInocchio and I loved this book and these characters - plus the narration is just wonderful so you will feel like you know them (especially Rambo).  Everything has a touch of magic and humor, but at the heart of all TJ Klune's books is the sense of inclusion, acceptance, friendship, loyalty, and love.  This is an absolute must read (and listen to!) if you are a fan of TJ Klune!

4.27.2023 - Cloud Girls

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Harper Via for gifting me a copy of the new novel by Lisa Harding - 4.5 stars!

Nico is beautiful, bright, at the top of her class and barely a teenager when her father sells her off to a man who promises her family that he will take care of her.  Sammy is a streetwise teenager who can't tolerate life at home any longer due to a neglectful, alcoholic, abusive mother and a father who's barely there and doesn't believe how bad her home life is.  These two young women's lives intersect at a brothel, where they are forced into a horrid existence.  

This is a dark, disturbing look into human trafficking.  Both of these girls had families that failed them, a support system that collapsed, and had all hope and dignity taken away from them.  But they managed to form a vital friendship that kept them going.  This is such a sad look at a society that looks the other way and at men who can take such advantage of children.  The statistics of trafficking are appalling - this is a stark look at its very human consequences.

4.25.2023 - Only Love Can Hurt Like This

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Paige Toon - 5 stars!

Wren was living in the UK, working as an architect, and engaged to be married.  But then she glimpsed a look shared between her fiancé and his coworker and she knew it was over before he even told her.  Hurting, she escapes to Indiana, to stay with her dad and stepmom.  Her dad left her mom when Wren was very small and she has a tenuous relationship with them and her half-sister, Bailey.  She meets her parents' neighbors, Anders and Jonas, who work on the family farm in addition to their other jobs.  There's an instant bond between Anders and Wren, but with Anders still mourning for his wife and Wren still smarting from her rejection, is it the right time?

This is much more than standard rom-com fair.  It's a look into family, familial expectations, doing the right thing at all costs.  It's looking at situations with a different eye and not being quick to take offense - definitely a lesson for all of us.  All of these characters have issues they are dealing with and each one felt real and totally fleshed out.  It was odd that Wren always wore dresses to do mucky work - is that how they dress in the UK?  But I loved spending time with this group, seeing Indiana through their eyes, seeing Bambi come to life (you just have to read it to figure out that reference!).  Great read!

4.24.2023 - The Eden Test

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for gifting me an audio ARC of this twisty read by Adam Sternbergh and wonderfully narrated by Carlotta Brentan - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Seven days, seven questions.  That's the premise of the Eden Test, a marriage retreat located in Upstate NY for troubled couples.  Daisy booked the retreat as a surprise anniversary gift for her husband, Craig.  She knows their marriage is in trouble and wants to do what she can to save it.  Craig has different plans.  While he's on his way to the retreat, he has his bags packed for a Mexican getaway with another woman and plans to tell Daisy when he arrives.  But soon the peaceful setting, the alone time, and even the questions push Craig in a different direction.  He just doesn't know that Daisy is keeping her own secrets from him.

I thought this was a great read with a perfect premise.  A getaway weekend in a remote location to just focus on each other - what could go wrong?  The book goes back for a look into Daisy's past and to explore some of her secrets.  There are lots of twists here, including some that are over the top, as well as trigger topics, but reading is escapism for me and I loved getting lost in this world!  

4.23.2023 - Where are the Children Now?

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the sequel to Where Are the Children? by the wonderful Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke - 5 nostalgic stars!

Melissa, a successful lawyer and now true crime podcaster, is newly married to Charlie and stepmom to 3-year-old Riley.  Melissa and her brother, Mike, were kidnapped when they were small children but thankfully found.  Their mother, Nancy, was accused of murdering her first two children as well as Melissa and Mike, but was eventually cleared.  Now it seems like history is repeating itself - while Melissa, suffering from insomnia due to her unresolved past trauma, naps, Riley disappears.  Soon Melissa is the prime suspect.

While you certainly don't need to have read the book that started Mary Higgins Clark's illustrious writing career, it's the perfect re-read before starting this sequel.  There is a lot going on in this book but the short chapters and crisp writing keep you glued to the pages.  Didn't expect that ending but all the twists are neatly resolved.  So fun to revisit these characters!

4.22.2023 - An Autobiography of Skin

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Pantheon for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Lakiesha Carr - 4 stars!

A middle-aged woman feed slots at a secret, back-room parlor. A new mother descends into a devastating postpartum depression, wracked with the fear that she is unable to protect her children. A daughter returns home to join the other women in her family waging spiritual combat with the ghosts of their past.

These three stories explore Black womanhood in a very intimate, raw, and powerful way.  I loved the first two stories and especially the second, while the third seemed a bit too long and I was confused about the characters (but that may just have been me!).  But oh that second story - a new mother scared for her two small boys in a world that is not very kind to Black boys.  Combine that with postpartum depression and you have such a real, scary world.  Anxious to read more from this author!

4.21.2023 - The Lie

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Kathryn Croft - 4.5 stars!

Lucy and Tom have moved to Surrey with their children, Jacob and Ava, for a clean start after Ava experienced bullying in school.  On a beautiful day, they decide to have a BBQ in their backyard and invite their friends and neighbors., including Jacob's girlfriend, Rose.  The next day, Lucy receives a call from Carrie, Rose's mom, that she never returned home after the BBQ.  Jacob walked her home and said he saw her go into the house and she was never seen again.  But things just aren't adding up.

This story is told mostly from the POV of the two moms, Lucy and Carrie.  Both are anxious to believe only the best of their children and Lucy especially won't listen to any talk of Jacob being guilty.  Everyone seems to be hiding secrets and withholding information.  There are plenty of twists and turns in this one and I had a tough time putting it down!  

4.19.2023 - Games and Rituals

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of the new short story collection by Katherine Heiny - 5 stars!

I typically am not a huge fan of short stories but absolutely loved this collection involving all things human, told with a sense of humor and love.  I think there's a story here that everyone will relate to.  My favorite was Twist and Shout, the story of a woman dealing with her elderly father.  I also loved Damascus, dealing with parenthood, and Chicken Flavoured and Lemon Scented, a hilarious look at driving test examiners.  561 is the story of exes still being somewhat involved in each others' lives and had a very poignant side story.  Highly recommended!

4.18.2023 - Life and Other Love Songs

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new release by Anissa Gray - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Deborah and her daughter, Trinity, are at home waiting to celebrate the birthday of their respective husband and father, Orzo.  But he never comes home.  In the time to come, we learn of their past and future and how they dealt with this disappearance.

This is a wonderful family saga spanning decades and told from the viewpoints of these three characters.  We learn their family histories, their shared past, and their new lives going forward.  This is a character-driven story that shows the characters dealing with so many different topics and time periods, from the Detroit race riots to the Vietnam War to AIDS to personal family traumas.  You can feel the pull of these characters' choices and dreams - the secrets they kept and shared.  It's how you move forward in life.  It's raw, powerful, and wonderful storytelling.  

4.18.2023 - The Wisdom of Morrie

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for gifting me an audio ARC of this inspiring book by Morrie Schwartz and Rob Schwartz, narrated by Steven Weber - 4 stars!

Morrie, the subject of the wonderful book Tuesdays with Morrie, wrote this book before his death and his son found the manuscript.  This book explores how to live and age better.  It gives ways to rethink aging and how we can find joy in each day, even while facing challenges.  Besides just voice platitudes, it gives concrete suggestions on how to find purpose in each day and how to deal with grief and loss.

A great companion piece to Tuesdays with Morrie, and the narration by actor Steven Weber was wonderful!

4.17.2023 - If We're Being Honest

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this debut book by Cat Shook and wonderfully narrated by a favorite, Kathleen McInerney - 4.5 stars!

The story opens at the funeral of Gerry, the patriarch of the Williams family.  Gerry's friend, Fred, delivers the eulogy that includes a bombshell for the gathered family.  Over the next week, we are privy to all the family drama affecting Gerry's family as a result.  In addition, a scheduled family wedding is planned for the next week so all the cousins who came in for the funeral stay for that event.  

I love messy family stories - maybe it makes mine less messy?  There are a lot of characters here, but eventually you can keep them straight as everyone has a particular issue as well.  I thought the writing was spot on and the narration of all those characters great.  Families are all complicated in various ways and this book kept me engaged until the end.  Full of heart and hope, with humor to pave the way!  Looking forward to more from this author!

4.16.2023 - Small Joys

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Elvin James Mensah - 4 stars!

Harley is a young Black gay man who just dropped out of university because of his anxiety issues.  His religious father never accepted Harley because of his sexual orientation and they are estranged.  The book opens with Harley in the woods contemplating suicide when a housemate, Muddy, finds him.  Muddy is straight, in a relationship with another housemate, and is now on a mission to help Harley.  He introduces him to the things he loves - birding, rugby, the band Oasis.  Along with their other core friends, Finlay, Chelsea, Noria, they form their own found family.

This is a quiet book with strong characters.  It's filled with difficult subjects such as mental health, suicide ideation, abuse, but also filled with hope, friendship, acceptance, and love.  Great debut!

4.15.2023 - Love & Other Scams

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of this entertaining read by Philip Ellis - 4 stars!

Cat is single, living with two friends who need her to move, trying to get by on freelance work.  All of her friends seem to be getting married and having expensive weddings that she can't afford to attend, so she's taken to picking pockets to supplement her meager income.  But then Jake, a bartender at one of the wedding venues, notices and has his own scam going.  When Cat's frenemy, Louisa, announces her wedding into one of the wealthiest families in London, Cat and Jake decide to team up to steal her 10 million dollar engagement ring.  

You have to put morality issues on the back burner here.  Yes, it's wrong to steal, even if someone deserves it.  This is a fun, cat-and-mouse heist tale with a side of romance.  There are a lot of good side characters as well, and I really enjoyed this fun book and rooting for this pair of thieves.

4.13.2023 - Romantic Comedy

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Curtis Sittenfeld - 4.5 stars!

Sally is a writer on The Night Owls (basically Saturday Night Live) and has given up on love, settling for a friends with benefits arrangement and spending time with her stepdad, Jerry, and his dog.  Enter Noah, who is appearing on TNO as both the musical guest and host.  Sally and Noah spend time together working on skits and seem to have chemistry, until Sally blows it at the after-party.  Fast forward 2 years to Covid lockdown, and the two start an email relationship.

While I was a fan of Saturday Night Live forever ago and enjoyed getting basically a behind-the-scenes look at preparing the show during the first part of this book, what I really enjoyed where the chapters afterwards.  The email exchanges were great, and I loved the rest of the book.  There is an interesting theme of men being able to date women out of their league, but it doesn't typically work the same way for women.  Very entertaining read!

4.13.2023 - Adelaide

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Genevieve Wheeler and wonderfully narrated by Caitlin Kelly - 5 stars!

Adelaide is an American living and working in London.  When she meets Rory at a bar, she tells him he looks like a Disney Prince.  When she runs into him again by chance, she quickly falls in love.  But does Rory feel the same way?  

I really loved this book - it's an honest look at grief, mental illness, sacrificing and losing yourself for another, the power of friends.  Adelaide's character felt very real to me.  She's young, in a new place, thinks that if she just tries a bit harder, Rory will love her the way she wants to be loved.  I also really liked how the author gave glimpses into the future in her writing style.  While there are definitely triggers here, this is an important book but also very readable and enjoyable.  I can't wait to read more from this author!

4.12.2023 - Those Empty Eyes

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Charlie Donlea - 4 stars!

Alex is the only survivor of an attack on her family, where she was accused of the crime and vilified in the press..  After a much-publicized trial against the city, she changed her name and her look and moved to London.  Ten years later, she's back in the US, working as an investigator for a law firm.  Her latest client is the boyfriend of a missing college journalist, who was about to break a story about rapes and their coverups on campus.  During her investigation, Alex discovers some weird connections to her own family.

Charlie Donlea knows how to write thrillers and keep you guessing, and this book is no exception.  It did seem to be a bit convoluted and over the top at times, but still kept me intrigued.  You won't be able to put it down when all the different plot points come together.  I definitely never saw that ending coming!

4.11.2023 - You Could Make This Place Beautiful

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and One Signal Publishers/Atria for gifting me a digital ARC of this beautiful memoir by a favorite, Maggie Smith - 5 sparkling stars!

This book is a compilation of thoughts, essays, quotes, and so much beautiful prose all about the good, bad, and ugly of a life well lived so far.  Keep Moving was Smith's journey through the ending of her marriage in poetry; here we get more of the story.  But we don't get what we don't need - this is not a trash-the-ex book; it's one her children will read one day and underscore all that she did for them.  I have purchased copies of Keep Moving and sent to grieving friends; You Could Make This Place Beautiful is for everyone.  Because everyone has stuff they are dealing with.  I will be going back and rereading this one many times.  Highly recommended!

4.10.2023 - This Isn't Going to End Well

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this nonfiction book by Daniel Wallace, and allowing me to participate in the blog tour prior to its publication - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Daniel Wallace (author of Big Fish) grew up idolizing William Neely, his older sister Holly's boyfriend.  William was everything more that Daniel wanted to be - fearless, a writer, an adventurer, a seeker, a helper.  When William died by suicide at the age of 48, he broke many hearts, including David's.  Years later, Daniel goes against his conscience to try and discover more about his idol.

This is an unflinching memoir that reads like fiction, with the added touch of William's own illustrations.  It's honest, real, and shows the interior struggle that we all feel, but those with mental illness even more so.  Having lost someone to suicide and left to answer questions alone, I can't help but feel alternately envious that Daniel got to peek behind the curtain of William's mind and also grateful that I didn't have to have all those feelings laid out when it was too late.  We all hide so much behind our outside veneer, so this is a reminder to treat everyone a little more gently.

4.9.2023 - The House is On Fire

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Rachel Beanland - 5 stars!  I was a huge fan of her debut, Florence Adler Swims Forever, and this book is just as wonderful.

In 1811, in Richmond, Virginia, on the night after Christmas.  More than 600 of the Virginian elite as well as some of their slaves in the colored gallery, gather to watch a performance in a theater.  When the theater goes up in flames, the true character of many are shown.  

Based on a true story, this is a beautifully-written engrossing look into a tragedy and its aftereffects.  Told through the voices of 4 very different characters - Sally, the widowed daughter of Patrick Henry; Cecily, a young slave; Gilbert, a slave who becomes a hero; and Jack, the young stagehand.  This book will keep you gripped to the pages as you read of the horror experienced by the slaves, as well as decisions made to blame the slaves for a fire that they had nothing to do with.  You'll go along the journey with each of these four characters as the fire changes their focus and shows their strength.  The afterword by the author is not to be missed as it describes the real fire and people who inspired these characters.  Don't miss this one!

4.9.2023 - The Lonely Hearts Book Club

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Lucy Gilmore - 5 stars!

Sloane is a librarian in a small town, engaged but not really in love, and without enough friends to act as bridesmaids in the wedding her in-laws insist on. When curmudgeon Arthur, whom she engages with at the same time every day, fails to show up for a few days, she becomes worried.  Against the rules, she looks up his address in the library system and goes to see if he is okay.  She meets Arthur's neighbor who tells her that he's run off all the home nurses because of his attitude.  Eventually, Sloane creates the Lonely Hearts Book Club.

I adored this book and the members of the book club.  A book about books is always high on my list, but this one will really tug at your heart.  The book club members are all struggling with love and loss, and come together to form their own small community.  It's a story about being true to your feelings and being there for others.  A must read!

4.7.2023 - Dirty Laundry

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Disha Bose - 4 stars!

Three couples in the neighborhood - Ciara and Gerry are successful, and Ciara is the queen bee of the social set as well as an instagram influencer.  Lauren and Sean just don't quite fit in, and Lauren can't help voicing her opinions.  Mishti and Parth, together thanks to an arranged marriage, have little in common except their daughter.  When Ciara is murdered in her own home, all the secrets come out and it seems everyone has a motive.

While there are few likable characters here, this was still an entertaining story.  Why does it seem that women can be their own worst enemies and we judge others on their choices?  This book is sort of like watching Desperate Housewives (which I loved!) - everyone has secrets and is actively trying to hide them from everyone else, especially social media.  Loved the title - there's a lot of dirty laundry airing here.  Looking forward to more from this author.

4.6.2023 - A Spell of Good Things

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ - 4 stars!

The story follows two main characters living in Nigeria from very different backgrounds - Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. Because his father has lost his job, Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor, collecting newspapers, begging when he must, dreaming of a big future.  Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of an ascendant politician.  When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola and Eniola's lives become intertwined. 

This is a beautifully written book but it did take me awhile to get involved or see where these two characters' paths would intersect.  This is one of those novels that highlights the glaring divide between the haves and the have-nots, and how our destinies are entangled with where, when, and what families we are born into.  It's difficult to read the struggles that Eniola faced - getting beaten in class because his parents couldn't pay tuition, the hunger and poverty, and the family loyalty that runs deep.  But Wuraola's path is also hard - more familial expectations lead her down a path where she loses herself.  An important read.

4.6.2023 - Love Like This

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Vine Leaves Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this new novel by Cynthia Newberry Martin - 4.5 stars!

Angelina is looking forward to an empty nest for the first time in decades.  She stopped working as a nurse to raise her three girls while her husband, Will, worked outside the home.  Now she wants to spend time figuring out her new life and looks forward to her empty house.  But nine days after they dropped their youngest off at college, Will announces that he quit his job and is looking forward to spending time at home with Angelina.  

I can relate to this couple and their feelings of figuring out their lives after so long being mostly associated with being someone else's parent.  The author's writing style pulled me in and made me feel the longing and struggles this couple felt, even while they were still in love.  The ending is left open just like our own endings are still to be told.  Great book!

4.5.2023 - Stuffed

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing cookbook by Heather Mubarak, who is the blogger behind Browned Butter Blondie, one of my favorite baking blogs - 5 stars!

What an amazing cookbook - filled with fabulous cookie recipes that could be enjoyed singly or stuffed with her amazing filling recipes as well.  Every recipe has a glorious picture (a must for me in a cookbook) along with a wonderful description and hints - you will want to try each one.  I'm definitely ordering a hard copy of this one - it's a must in your kitchen!

4.5.2023 - Wonderland

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the audio rerelease of this thriller by Jennifer Hillier and wonderfully narrated by Eunice Wong - 4.5 stars!

Wonderland is a retro amusement park located in Seaside, Washington.  It's an important tourist draw to the town and a rite of passage for employment of Seaside teens.  But then a strange combination of events happens - a young teen worker climbs the Ferris wheel as a social media prank and then disappears.  Meanwhile, a decaying body is found at the base of the wheel.  Vanessa Castro just arrived back in Seaside for her first day as Deputy Chief of the Seaside PD.  It's her job to investigate all the strange happenings - hopefully before her family gets hurt.

What could be creepier than a Clown Museum and The Doll House in an old amusement park?  Just what is happening in the park?  I thought this was a fast-paced thriller that had me guessing and then shocked!  This book was initially released in 2015 and just now being made available as an audiobook - and the narration is fabulous!  I didn't read this one when it first came out even though I'm a Hillier fan, so was happy to be able to listen to it.

4.4.2023 - The Soulmate

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Sally Hepworth - 5 stars!  

Pippa and Gabe have moved to their dream house with their two young daughters.  They didn't realize that the cliff behind their house was called The Drop, and was a popular place for people to jump to their death.  Gabe was becoming known as a hero because he had talked down quite a few people since they moved in.  But when a woman was on the cliff one evening, Pippa watched her fall from inside their home.  When it turns out that Gabe knew the woman and didn't tell the police the truth, it's just the start of the questions.

Sally Hepworth has done it again and written a twisty thriller that you won't be able to put down.  I loved the different points of view of both Pippa and Amanda, the dead woman, as we learn all the secrets and backstories.  There's a central theme running through both women's lives and marriages of loyalty and fidelity, although at what cost?  Don't miss this one!  As an unsolicited aside, if you aren't on Sally Hepworth's newsletter email list, you must change that!  Not sure I've ever met an author, or any woman, who is so honest along with her trademark dark humor.  

4.3.2023 - The Nursery

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Szilvia Molnar - 4.5 stars!

A new mother is at home with her baby, called Button in these pages.  Before the baby, she worked as a translator of literature.  Now she feels her only purpose is to feed Button.  Now she doesn't go outside.  Now she wonders how her world got to be this way.

This is a stark, blunt portrait of new motherhood, postpartum depression, and isolation and the slow return to life after giving birth.  It's so beautifully written and highlights the wide range of emotions new mothers feel.  While this mother was married, her husband's life barely changed, while her life was forever altered.  I love that more books are showing more of the reality of giving birth, rather than the Pinterest story.  It also is an important societal topic on how best to support new mothers.