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Published on Leave a comment on The Family Experiment
The Family Experiment Book Cover The Family Experiment
John Marrs
Fiction
Hanover Square Press
July 9, 2024
Hardcover/Audio
384
Purchased/Library

Some families are virtually perfect…

The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

My review:

I love a good speculative fiction story, and does this author ever deliver! His book The One made my favorite books list last year, and this one is set in the same universe (along with The Passengers and The Marriage Act, which I have yet to read). I'm not a fantasy reader because the world is just not something that I can relate to, but these stories are more believable to me. This one deals with AI generated babies that can be rented. When the parent puts on a virtual reality headset and a hepatic suit, they can have the full child experience without the prohibitive cost of raising an actual child. After this trend takes off, a reality tv show is created where five couples and a single dad raise their AI children within a condensed time frame (it takes nine months for the child to go from newborn to 18 years). Viewers vote with red and black hearts on how they feel the parents are doing and people are voted off. The winner gets to either keep their virtual child, or be given enough money to afford to raise a biological child. Doesn't that sound intriguing? It did take a while at the beginning to remember who was who since there are a lot of characters introduced, but I found as the story went on it was not an issue for me. Each couple was uniquely different, and so was their style of parenting. The book included news segments and forum remarks from the viewers, and these were such a great addition to the story! And of course what would reality tv be without a bit of manipulation behind the scenes? As always, lots of social commentary to discuss, and this keeps you thinking about it well after turning the last page.

Such a great social commentary combining parenting and reality television. I'm definitely on the Marrs hype train and look forward to not only what comes next, but his backlist titles.

Published on Leave a comment on Worst Case Scenario
Worst Case Scenario Book Cover Worst Case Scenario
T J Newman
Fiction
Little, Brown and Company
August 13, 2024
Advance Listener Copy
336
Free from publisher via NetGalley

When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, which becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications.

The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters. It has seven levels. Level 7 is a Major Accident, with only two on record: Fukushima and Chernobyl. There has never been a Level 8. Until now.

In this heart-stopping thriller, ordinary people—power plant employees, firefighters, teachers, families, neighbors, and friends— are thrust into an extraordinary situation as they face the ultimate test of their lives. It will take the combined courage, ingenuity, and determination of a brave few to save not only their community and loved ones, but the fate of humanity at large.

My review:

I am in awe at this author's ability to have your heart pounding within the first few sentences of a book! This is the third book I've read by this flight attendant turned author, and they have all been stellar! While the first two took place primarily on an airplane, this one is more what happens after an airplane crashes....into a nuclear power plant!! Be sure to catch the author's note with how she came up with the story, fascinating look into airline pilot thoughts. This book was consumed in almost one sitting, I was that invested in what was going to happen. There were two plots going on simultaneously, one at the scene of the crash, and the other at a bridge where one of the plane's wings landed upon impact. Both were super compelling and fast paced. I learned something about nuclear power plants, but it wasn't written in a way that was text book-y. If it sounds like this is only a plot driven story, the characters were so well done! There are quite a lot of them, but you will definitely know who is who by the end. Not only did I experience the pulse pounding emotion, but I also cried at a point toward the end (if you read it, you'll know!).

If you are looking for an edge of your seat, adrenaline inducing thriller, that also has great characters and people who rally during the worst of scenarios (see what I did there?), pick this one up. At this point I'm ready to read the phone book if it's written by this author!

I listened to this book on audio, and I highly recommend that format if that is a format you like. The narrator was phenomenal! He added drama and emotion to the scenes and characters, and I will seek out other books he narrates in the future.

Published on Leave a comment on The Same Bright Stars
The Same Bright Stars Book Cover The Same Bright Stars
Ethan Joella
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
July 2, 2024
Hardcover/Audio
304
Purchased/Library

Three generations of Schmidts have run their family’s beachfront restaurant, and Jack has been at the helm since his father's death. He puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can’t remember the last time he sat on the beach or enjoyed a moment to himself.

Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast, and it is pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands. Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders whether closing the door on the restaurant might open a window for him—but who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that it will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?

My review:

This is what i would call a quiet book that packs a punch. Definitely a character driven story, it follows a man who runs a restaurant that has been in his family for decades. His whole life is tied up in this venture, and as the story opens he starts to question if this is enough? Does he want and deserve more out of his life? I loved the characters in this story! From the friends, to the employees and loyal customers, it encompasses a lot of different pieces that show the inner turmoils not always visible on the surface. The found family aspect is one that I thoroughly enjoy in novels, and this one had that in spades. The beach setting was of special significance since I also live in a beach city, and could relate to the tourist season aspects of business.

This is a book that will have you rooting for the characters to find their happy ever after! Wonderfully written and highly memorable, this is a book that has earned a bunch of bright stars. If you like thoughtful character based stories, don't sleep on this one!

Published on Leave a comment on Swan Song
Swan Song Book Cover Swan Song
Nantucket #4
Elin Hilderbrand
Little, Brown and Company
June 11, 2024
Hardcover/Audio
384
Purchased/Library

In the grand finale of "queen of the beach read" Elin Hilderbrand's beloved Nantucket novels, there's a new couple in town... and they instantly shake things up. Amid the extravagant parties on land and sea, there's trouble on the island, forcing Chief of Police Ed Kapanesh to postpone his retirement and changing the fabric of life on the picturesque island forever...

After thirty-five years serving as the Chief of Police on the island of Nantucket, Ed Kapenash's heart can no longer take the stress. But his plans to retire are thwarted when, with only three days left to serve, he receives a phone call. A 22-million-dollar summer home, recently purchased by the flashy new couple in town, the Richardsons, has burned to the ground. The Richardsons are far from hurt—in fact, they're out on the water, throwing a lavish party on their yacht—but when news of the fire reaches them, they discover that their personal assistant has vanished. The Chief is well-acquainted with the Richardsons, and his daughter is best friends with the now-missing girl, leaving him no choice but to postpone his retirement and take on the double case.

On a small island like Nantucket, the Richardsons shook things up from the second they stepped on to the scene, throwing luxurious parties and doing whatever they could to gain admittance to the coveted lunches at the Field & Oar Club (with increasing desperation). They instantly captured the attention of local real estate agent Fast Eddie, and the town gossip Blond Sharon, both dealing with their own personal dramas. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce, and in order to avoid becoming a cliché, she's enrolled in a creative writing class, putting her natural affinity for scandal towards a more noble purpose. To solve the case of the fire and track down his daughter's best friend, the Chief will have to string together the pieces of the lives of all of these characters and more, rallying his strength for his final act of service to the tight-knit community he knows and loves.

The last of Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Nantucket novels, Swan Song is a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the return of some of her most beloved characters, including, most importantly, the beautiful and timeless island of Nantucket itself.

My review:

Was this truly worthy of 5 stars? Objectively maybe not (although it would easily make 4), but it's the last of the Nantucket novels (oh please let Elin hate semi retiring, and have her return in a few years!)! So for nostalgia sake, this is me saying congratulations on decades of summer beach read novels, and all the stars are deserved for the entertainment they have provided! While almost all of the author's previous books have been set on Nantucket, this one is listed as #4 because that is how many Chief Ed Kapanesh has been in. My favorite thing about these novels is how familiar you get with a place you have never visited (but do these novels ever make you want to!). It's so fun when the characters head to local bars and restaurants that you have read about as though they are in your own neighborhood, and you can pop on down anytime. At the end of her book The Five Star Hotel there is a great guide curated by Elin with all the places to stay/visit/eat at. This book had intrigue, mystery, people with questionable motives, and much more. The last chapter is particularly poignant for those who have read most of Elin's novels, there are tons of past characters mentioned! I listened to this on audio, and Elin narrates the last chapter herself, which darn near brought a tear to my eyes! Speaking of the ending, it is a bit ambiguous, and I can't wait to hear what others think about it?

One of the queens of the beach reads is putting away her pen (although word has it she is working on a boarding school series with her daughter, I'm not big on young adult so I'll have to evaluate before reading). The title aptly says it all, this is the swan song for the Nantucket stories 🙁 Your final

Published on Leave a comment on One Perfect Couple
One Perfect Couple Book Cover One Perfect Couple
Ruth Ware
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
May 21, 2024
Hardcover/Library
400
Purchased/Library audio

Lyla is in a bit of a rut. Her post-doctoral research has fizzled out, she’s pretty sure they won’t extend her contract, and things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor, aren’t going great. When the opportunity arises for Nico to join the cast of a new reality TV show, The Perfect Couple, she decides to try out with him. A whirlwind audition process later, Lyla finds herself whisked off to a tropical paradise with Nico, boating through the Indian Ocean towards Ever After Island, where the two of them will compete against four other couples—Bayer and Angel, Dan and Santana, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana—in order to win a cash prize.

But not long after they arrive on the deserted island, things start to go wrong. After the first challenge leaves everyone rattled and angry, an overnight storm takes matters from bad to worse. Cut off from the mainland by miles of ocean, deprived of their phones, and unable to contact the crew that brought them there, the group must band together for survival. As tensions run high and fresh water runs low, Lyla finds that this game show is all too real—and the stakes are life or death.

My review:

I confess that I have never watched Survivor, not even one episode. But that certainly doesn't stop me from enjoying survivalist stories, this one included. This one takes off fairly quickly, just a small bit of backstory before we are on the island and the competition has begun. What starts as a game turns in a different direction when a storm erupts essentially cutting the couples off from communication and supplies. Add to that, someone among them is not what they seem, and you have the makings of a tense, exciting thriller! I loved the pacing, the writing, and the character set up. Even when I thought I had things figured out, I was sure that I was probably wrong in my hunch, so was waiting for the twist to fall. I really don't have any quibbles with this one, although the number of times we heard about how thirsty they were got a little tiresome. As with most thrillers, it probably didn't have anything that will make it stand out a few years from now (the only way a thriller earns five stars from me), but I very much enjoyed my time while listening.

A fast paced survivor story that will be perfect if you are a fan of the show, or these types of stories. Fast paced and intense, I think this will be the perfect summer read if you're tired of true beach reads.

Published on Leave a comment on The Rom-Commers
The Rom-Commers Book Cover The Rom-Commers
Katherine Center
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
June 11, 2024
Hardcover/Audio
336
Purchased/NetGalley

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?

My review:

How fitting that a writer of rom-coms would aptly title her book The Rom-Commers! This was such a sweet (no spicy scenes....not my thing) story about a very headstrong woman willing to take on the task of helping a famous screenwriter fix (or completely overhaul) his latest rom-com. The issues lie in the fact that said writer has no interest in working on a rewrite since he doesn't believe in love, and our woman protagonist has had an infatuation with this man and his work for a vey long time. The way they interact and work through their problems in at the heart of the book. However, there are some side issues that really worked for me as well. Emma's dad has a chronic condition causing him to need round the clock care, and her guilt over having to leave him in the care of her sister while she jets off to LA take their tole in more ways than one. Charlie also has some health issues that are at the crux of the quintessential romance third act conflict. I really loved how strong Emma remained throughout the process. She clearly believes in her ability, and wanted to see it to completion. My only quibble would be that I questioned why she would be such a huge fan of Charlie's work when she is really only interested in rom-coms? Just a bit of a stumbling block that was easy to overlook once the story got rolling.

Great characters with witty banter, and some deeper issues also explored, made this a really enjoyable read. This will be a perfect book for your summer vacation if you like a bit more depth than just a fluffy love story.

Published on Leave a comment on Summers at the Saint
Summers at the Saint Book Cover Summers at the Saint
Mary Kay Andrews
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
May 7, 2024
Advance reader copy
448
Free from publisher

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart.

My review:

It's that time of year again! As the saying goes (and I'm paraphrasing), it's not summer until the new MKA book comes out! This one had all the things going for it that this author is known for, and why I always faithfully read her books each year. I love how she draws characters, I just loved Traci in this one. A girl from the wrong side of the tracks that you couldn't help but root for. As usual there are also some unscrupulous characters, and those that you grow to care for even if they don't start out quite on the right foot. I also loved the pacing of this book. At over 400 pages for a summer beach book, that is quite hefty, but it sure didn't feel like that while reading. Between all the goings on with the hotel, as well as a decades old mystery to solve, this one had me turning pages at a fast clip. There are a number of subplots that keep the readers interest high. And while I'm never a fan of the obligatory romance, this one wasn't too bad. If I had to quibble about any aspect it would be that it did wrap up rather quickly, then again a beach book at over 500 pages is probably not going to fly, so I get where the author was going.

If you want a great book to start your summer reading, look no further than this one. Fast paced, great storylines and well crafted characters, you will want to pack your bags and check in to the cute St. Cecelia (Saint) hotel.

Published on Leave a comment on Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade Book Cover Miss Morgan's Book Brigade
Janet Skeslien Charles
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
April 30, 2024
Advance reader copy
336
Free from publisher

1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, this group of international women help rebuild devastated French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Then she disappears.

1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. In her obsessive research, she discovers that she and the elusive librarian have more in common than their work at New York’s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time.

My review:

This book could not have come up in my reading plans at a better time. I was literally in Paris as I was reading about the women who helped the French mothers and children during the First World War. As is most often the case when I read historical fiction, I come across something that I had no prior knowledge of. In the case of this book, it was a group called the CARDS (American Committee for Devastated France). Headed up by Miss Morgan (daughter of J. P. Morgan), the book focuses mainly on a young woman named Jessie Carson, who creates a roving library to get books into the hands of the children of the war, most of whom have lost their homes, schools, and all their possessions. While Jessie works tirelessly to not only read to the children, she grows close to the other women in their group, who all have a part to play in the assistance effort. While there is a fair amount of sorrow regarding the awful war conditions, the book also offers hope and a whole lot of caring for the people left behind from the fighting. Told in two timelines, I definitely gravitated more to Jessie's story, but I understand how the more current timeline was important to the overall storytelling. While I did appreciate the small romance section for Jessie, I found the one for Wendy to be not as believable, and didn't feel it added much to the plot. Lots of great characters in this one other than Jessie, my favorite of course had to be Marcelle, the little French girl who grows up to be a CARD.

An informative look at an aspect of WWI not much has been written about. Be sure to read the author's note, which expands on each of the women and what became of them after their service. This one is a win for historical fiction fans, or those who love books about books!

Published on Leave a comment on The Princess of Las Vegas
The Princess of Las Vegas Book Cover The Princess of Las Vegas
Chris Bohjalian
Doubleday
March 19, 2024
Hardcover/Audio
400
Purchased/Library

A Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister find themselves drawn into a dangerous game of money and murder in this twisting tale of organized crime, cryptocurrency, and family secrets on the Las Vegas strip.

Crissy Dowling has created a world that suits her perfectly. She passes her days by the pool in a private cabana, she splurges on ice cream but never gains an ounce, and each evening she transforms into a Princess, performing her musical cabaret inspired by the life of the late Diana Spencer. Some might find her strange or even delusional, an American speaking with a British accent, hair feathered into a style thirty years old, living and working in a casino that has become a dated trash heap. On top of that, Crissy’s daily diet of Adderall and Valium leaves her more than a little tipsy, her Senator boyfriend has gone back to his wife, and her entire career rests on resembling a dead woman. And yet, fans see her for the gifted chameleon she is, showering her with gifts, letters, and standing ovations night after night. But when Crissy’s sister, Betsy, arrives in town with a new boyfriend and a teenage daughter, and when Richie Morley, the owner of the Buckingham Palace Casino, is savagely murdered, Crissy’s carefully constructed kingdom comes crashing down all around her. A riveting tale of identity, obsession, fintech, and high-tech mobsters, The Princess of Las Vegas is an addictive, wildly original thriller from one of our most extraordinary storytellers.

My review:

Let me start by saying why this author is an auto buy for me. I have followed his work for decades, since his novel Midwives was picked as an Oprah book club selection. I remember it was such a big deal since he was from my little home state of Vermont, and back in the days of her talk show, getting picked definitely put your name on the map. That book still remains one of my favorites, along with Close Your Eyes Hold Hands, and Hour of the Witch. I love that he writes many genres, and no two books are the same with regards to plot or style. While I have enjoyed many of his thriller books, I'm very stingy when it comes to rating any thrillers 5 stars, this one being an exception! What I loved about this book and what made it stand out as not just an ordinary thriller, was that it had an extra element other than the mystery that I could sink my teeth into. It's no secret that I'm a Royals follower, and I was a huge fan of Princess Di. Having part of this story about a Diana tribute performer at a fictional Las Vegas casino called Buckingham Palace transformed this into more than the mobster/cryptocurrency/family story. Crissy is a very flawed and vulnerable character, and when her distant sister shows up in town, toting her newly adopted foster teen and boyfriend you know is up to no good, things get way more interesting. I was worried that I was going to be lost in the cryptocurrency aspect, as I know nothing about it, but it was explained well enough that it turned out to not slow down my enjoyment. The end got a little messier than I would have liked, but being that this is targeted as a thriller, it had to have some tense moments.

I loved this book! I'm familiar with Las Vegas, so all the nuggets of places on the strip were really fun to read about. The story of sisters and found family was important, and of course the Lady Di references. I may even know a tad bit more about crypto (believe me, not much!) than I did before reading. I highly recommend this book, along with the author's backlist (pick a genre and it's likely he's written it). Another fun fact, I listened to the audio, and his daughter is one of the narrators.

Published on Leave a comment on The Women
The Women Book Cover The Women
Kristin Hannah
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
February 6, 2024
Hardcover/Audio
480
Purchased/Library

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

My review:

This one ended up being a tale of two parts for me. Part one of the book takes place with Frankie headed off to Vietnam as a nurse. With very little experience under her belt, the tales of what she encounters dealing with the casualties of war (not for the faint of heart) were engaging and intense. Even her mistakes on a personal level I could forgive because of her age (21 when she arrived). I thought the author did a wonderful job shedding light on not only what transpired in Vietnam, but the aftereffects of the war when the men and women returned stateside. I loved the way women were depicted as heroes, even though a majority never even thought about there being women who served. I loved her friends, who were always there for Frankie (and I mean always, stay tuned for my part two thoughts), I wish we had more written about them. The first part of the book was a 5 star read. Then we get to part two, where things start to slide on the ratings scale. I absolutely appreciated the portrayal of the PTSD many enlisted experienced. I was not terribly old at the end of the war so did not realize what kind of a reception the soldiers returning home were given, and that was enlightening. However, by the time she gets home, Frankie is now older and should be wiser, but she keeps making stupid decisions, and constantly relies on others (those friends I was talking about) to fly to her rescue (no small feat in those years). It got a bit tedious with her relationships, and then something happens not once, but twice (I can't give spoilers, but you'll know if you read it) that totally put the story into soap opera mode.

Overall a really masterful account of the Vietnam War, and those who served. While I liked the exploration of life for those after the war, I could have used less of Frankie's woe is me attitude, and definitely less of her relationships. Definitely still a solid read, and it appears I may be in the minority when it comes to my quibbles 🙂