1.13.2018 - Everything Here is Beautiful

Many thanks to NetGalley, Paula Dorman Books, and Mira Lee for the opportunity to read and review this book.  What an amazing debut novel.

At its heart, this book is about mental illness and the toll it takes not only on the afflicted but the entire family.  Two sisters - Miranda, the oldest, and Lucia - immigrate from China to America with their mother.  Lucia was always the more free-spirited child but when that personality turns into mental illness, Miranda does everything she can to protect and get help for Lucia, even when that causes issues in her own life.

The story is told through different points of view - Miranda, Lucia, Lucia's boyfriend Manny - as well as in different locales.  This allows the reader to really see the world through Lucia's illness and what a scary struggle she faces.

Bravo to this author - while not every character was likeable, you truly fell into this story and felt so many different emotions.  Heartbreakingly good!

1.11.2018 - Lie With Me

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Mulholland Books, and Sabine Durrant for the opportunity to read and review this book.  I was unfamiliar with this author and, truthfully, found myself kind of plodding through most of this book.  However, the ending definitely bumped up my rating!

Paul is a liar.  He pretty much lies about everything and anything from where he lives, his writing successes, even his travel arrangements.  He meets up with an old school friend, Andrew, in London who introduces him to Alice.  Alice has a home in Greece and is planning on staying there in the summer with Andrew's family.  Paul is desperate to get invited, mainly because he's broke and out of his housesitting job.  He finally wrangles an invitation.  Alice is obsessed with the disappearance of an island girl 10 years ago and invites the girl's parents to the summer house also.

Things move very slowly in this book but once you read the ending, you'll understand the necessity of the slow build up.  None of these characters are likeable but the ending really redeemed this book for me.

1.9.2018 - Tell Me More

A million thanks to NetGalley, Random House and especially Kelly Corrigan for the opportunity to read and review this book.  I have been a fan of Corrigan's and read all her other books but this one brought me to my knees. 

This is such a truthful book - the author's telling of things she has learned or is learning.  Like the power of saying no - and yes..  I Was Wrong was one of the most powerful chapters to me - I would like to copy it and share it with every grandchild out there before it's too late.  The true life stories behind these lessons are just that - so truthful.  The good and bad side of parenting, how hard it is to lose someone we love, and how to honor that life. 

You will laugh and you will cry, you'll see yourself and others, and hopefully some of these lessons will imprint themselves on those who read it.  I will be buying a hard copy of this book to read again and share.

Besides the fact that Kelly is a Warriors fan (sorry, Cavs all the way!), she is the kind of friend you wish you had and the kind of friend you wish you could be. 

Glowing 5 star reviews don't seem enough - maybe this was just the right book at the right time, but I know it will stay with me.  Don't wait - read this book!

1.8.2018 - Only the Rain

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer, and Randall Silvis for the opportunity to read and review this book - thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Written as one long chapter, basically as emails from the subject of the book to his war buddy talking about how one decision changed the course of his life.

Russell is a war vet who came back with lots of internal scars and a drive to do well for his family.  When the plant he works for closes down, he sees all his hard work and future hope crashing down with no outs.  On his way home from work that day, he happens on a stranger, dancing in the rain.  When he decides to stop and help, he sets in motion a series of events from which he may not recover.

I liked the way the story spun out, as we learned about Russell's past as well as the current events.  I loved Pop - absolutely the best character of the book.

1.7.2018 - Where We Went Wrong

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Andi Holloway for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - it's a good one!

It took me awhile to get into the writing style of this book.  The book is centered around a husband and wife, both writers, and the story is told from the point of view of the wife but as she is talking to her husband about the events.  However, this style ends up being explained and perfect for the telling of this book.

This is one of those books that you don't want to give anything away because there are lots of lies, untruths, twists and turns that you will need to let unfold.  Bert is the husband, a once best-selling novelist, now struggling to finish his latest book.  Harper is his second wife who put her own writing career on the back burner to take care of Bert and his son from his first marriage, Matthew.  Life with Matthew hadn't been easy since he was accused of murdering his best friend when he was only a boy.  Add to that fact that Bert made his money writing a thinly-veiled book based on that murder.  It all starts to unravel with the knock on the door telling Bert and Harper that Matthew has been found dead.

Can't wait to read more from this author!

1.5.2018 - Little Fires Everywhere

There is a reason that this book is on the top of all of the Best of 2017 lists - it's well worth all the hype. I loved Ng's first book and this was another amazing read - I couldn't put it down. That being said, it's not a fast-paced action story. It's reminiscent of Jodi Picoult's earlier books - really exploring issues from all sides and making you think and feel the issue from each of those sides.

Life in Shaker Heights, OH, is ordered, with rules for everything, including the expectations put on those who live there. Elana Richardson grew up in Shaker and was a true believer that there was a right and a wrong side and if you followed the rules, things would all work out. She is happily married to her attorney husband and they have 4 teenagers - Lexie, Trip, Moody and Izzy. Izzy is the only child that didn't follow the rules and so that relationship is fraught with issues.

Mia and her daughter, Pearl, rent an upstairs apartment in a house owned by the Richardson's. Soon their lives become entwined, even though Mia is the complete opposite of Mrs. Richardson.

Add to all these characters comes the story of a little Chinese baby, left abandoned at a fire station by a mother who was unable at the time to take care of it. Friends of the Richardson's take in the baby and are ready to adopt it when the mother comes back into the picture. Sides are drawn around town - should the mother have rights to the baby or should she remain with the foster parents who are awaiting the adoption to go through?

This is an amazing book with so many layers and things to think about and sides to decide on, if that's even possible. Add to my enjoyment is the fact that Shaker Heights is real (the author grew up there) and I lived in NE Ohio for many years, so it was fun to read about the landmarks and the way things were in the 1990s in Cleveland.

Highly, highly recommended!

1.2.2018 - The Wife Between Us

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Greer Hendricks for the opportunity to read and review this great domestic suspense story!

Everything that makes this kind of book great is here - unreliable narrators, lots of twists, having empathy for some of the characters.  There were times that I just set the book down after a twist and thought - whoa, didn't see that coming!

The book begins by telling the story of Vanessa, the ex-wife of Richard, and Nellie, the soon-to-be-wife of Richard.  Nellie is a preschool teacher who alludes to a past experience that has left her frightened.  Richard sweeps in and literally takes care of everything for her.  Vanessa meanwhile, is distraught, drinking too much, and is forced to live with her aunt and work at Sak's after their marriage ends. 

The rest you will have to discover yourself because even a hint at some of the twists may be enough to ruin the ride.  I had a hard time putting this one down - highly recommended!