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Published on Leave a comment on People We Meet On Vacation
People We Meet on Vacation Book Cover People We Meet on Vacation
Emily Henry
Fiction
Berkley
May 11, 2021
Paperback
384
Purchased

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.

Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

I've been sharing some rather heavy reads for the last week or so, it's time to change it up a bit and recommend what I would call a true "beach read". Everyone has a different criteria for what they consider a beach read, but mine is usually something that involves a beachy location, and most often a romance. Summer is the only time that I seem to gravitate to romance reads, so get ready for a few of them over the next few months.

Now just because I tend to read more romance books over the summer, doesn't mean they all work for me (even in the season). I have very high standards for a romance to work, and this one fit the bill perfectly! I loved the characters of Poppy and Alex. For me to enjoy this type of book, the characters have to be skillfully crafted, and I have to become fully invested in them individually before I'm ever going to come close to believing in their romance. The banter between these two was some of the best I've read, it was cute without being cutesy (and there is definitely a difference when it comes to grown adults). I enjoyed the format of how this was written. We have the present day vacation interspersed with the previous vacations starting twelve years back and continuing until the ill fated one two years prior. The present day vacation has its share of pitfalls, but these two navigate it hilariously. While I was rooting for them to work things out, I would have been happy with any ending where they maintained a friendship and kept going on vacation!

One of my first beach read recommendations of the summer season (see also The Newcomers, The Siren and Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, which I reviewed previously and would also make great choices). I loved these two characters and would love to see what they are up to down the road (a sequel would be great!).

Published on Leave a comment on Unsettled Ground
Unsettled Ground Book Cover Unsettled Ground
Claire Fuller
Fiction
Tin House Books
May 18, 2021
Hardcover
327
Purchased

At fifty-one years old, twins Jeanie and Julius still live with their mother, Dot, in rural isolation in the English countryside. The cottage they have shared their entire lives is their only protection against the modernizing world around them. Inside its walls, they make music, and in its garden, they grow everything they need to survive. To an outsider, it looks like poverty; to them, it is home.

But when Dot dies unexpectedly, the world they’ve so carefully created begins to fall apart. The cottage they love, and the security it offered, is taken back by their landlord, exposing the twins to harsh truths and even harsher realities. Seeing a new future, Julius becomes torn between the loyalty he feels towards his sister and his desire for independence, while Jeanie struggles to find work and a home for them both. And just when it seems there might be a way forward, a series of startling secrets from their mother’s past come to the surface, forcing the twins to question who they are, and everything they know of their family’s history.

In Unsettled Ground, award-winning author Claire Fuller masterfully builds a tale of sacrifice and hope, of homelessness and hardship, of love and survival, in which two marginalized and remarkable people uncover long-held family secrets and, in their own way, repair, recover, and begin again.

Another review of a book that is all about the characters, with very little plot. This one is very dark, and extremely sad, while at the same time hopeful and beautiful. The writing in this book immerses you into the story so that you can feel the earth under your fingers and the desolation in your heart. These two characters were so memorable, and so well written, and I don't know if I've ever wanted everything to work out more than I did with this book! Jeanie and Julius were put into situations that I don't know if even I would know how to deal with, and I feel I have a lot more "worldly knowledge" than they did. I spent the entire book waiting for someone to care enough to help them help themselves. There is a twist toward the end that I had already figured out, so that wasn't anything revelatory for me, but may add extra intrigue for some readers. The ending was certainly not happy, but it was hopeful, and with all that happens to the characters, I was grateful settling for that.

A beautifully written, very quiet account of the devastating lives of sheltered twins left to navigate their world after the death of their mother. This book is nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and that honor is very well deserved.

Published on Leave a comment on Olympus, Texas
Olympus, Texas Book Cover Olympus, Texas
Stacey Swann
Fiction
Doubleday
May 11, 2021
Hardcover
336
Purchased

A bighearted debut with technicolor characters, plenty of Texas swagger, and a powder keg of a plot in which marriages struggle, rivalries flare, and secrets explode, all with a clever wink toward classical mythology.

The Briscoe family is once again the talk of their small town when March returns to East Texas two years after he was caught having an affair with his brother's wife. His mother, June, hardly welcomes him back with open arms. Her husband's own past affairs have made her tired of being the long-suffering spouse. Is it, perhaps, time for a change? Within days of March's arrival, someone is dead, marriages are upended, and even the strongest of alliances are shattered. In the end, the ties that hold them together might be exactly what drag them all down.

An expansive tour de force, Olympus, Texas cleverly weaves elements of classical mythology into a thoroughly modern family saga, rich in drama and psychological complexity. After all, at some point, don't we all wonder: What good is this destructive force we call love?

At first glance, the words family saga made this a novel I was highly interested in. Then I read the part about the tie in to Greek mythology and took a giant step back. I know nothing about mythology, nor do I care to learn! I decided to give this a try anyway, and honestly forgot about the connection by the time I picked it up to read. All this is to let you know that you don't have to know a thing about Greek mythology to enjoy this book! This was an excellent dysfunctional family story, my personal favorite genre (I always say I'm not sure what that says about me?). I can't even tell you that the characters are even that likable, but the family dynamics are written such that it didn't matter to me. I couldn't put this down until I found out who ended up where, with who, and did any of them forgive each other? While the ending didn't tie everything up with a bow, there were enough answers given that I was satisfied. The writing was well executed, and the story did not drag on as some family sagas are known to do. The family drama was out in full force, and I was there for it!

While this book is certainly not plot heavy, the characters and their family issues propel the story. If you are a fan of Greek mythology, I can only imagine that enhancing the characters even more, although I can't say this with any certainty. I just loved it for the family dynamics and characters, who will stay with me for a long while.

Published on Leave a comment on Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel Book Cover Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Elyssa Friedland
Fiction
Berkley
May 18, 2021
Hardcover
384
Purchased (Book of the Month edition)

In its heyday, The Golden Hotel was the crown jewel of the hotter-than-hot Catskills vacation scene. For more than sixty years, the Goldman and Weingold families - best friends and business partners - have presided over this glamorous resort which served as a second home for well-heeled guests and celebrities. But the Catskills are not what they used to be - and neither is the relationship between the Goldmans and the Weingolds. As the facilities and management begin to fall apart, a tempting offer to sell forces the two families together again to make a heart-wrenching decision. Can they save their beloved Golden or is it too late?

Long-buried secrets emerge, new dramas and financial scandal erupt, and everyone from the traditional grandparents to the millennial grandchildren wants a say in the hotel's future. Business and pleasure clash in this fast-paced, hilarious, nostalgia-filled story, where the hotel owners rediscover the magic of a bygone era of nonstop fun even as they grapple with what may be their last resort.

What a great story! If you've been with me here for awhile, you know how much I adore family sagas. This one was the intermingling of three generations of not just one family, but two! And yes, that means there are a lot of people to keep track of, but the author does include a handy family tree of both the Goldman and Weingold families at the front of the book. Trust me though, you will be caught up in the story quickly, and won't need it after the beginning pages. Each character has their own distinct personality, and it's very easy to tell them apart as the story progresses. My absolute favorite part about this book was the interactions between the generations. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion when the elderly hotel owners and their children had to be schooled by the youngsters. At the heart of the story is how, or if, the Golden hotel can be saved and attract clients like it did in its heyday back in the 1960's. Back in those days people would flock to the Catskills from the sweltering cities for some fun, food, and relaxation. Not much has changed at the hotel since then, and the grandchildren have the pulse on what needs to be done to bring back the glory. But is it too much of an undertaking, and at what cost? The families come back to the hotel to decide its fate, and the fun begins. Of course, as there is with any family saga, there are secrets to be exposed, and liaisons to be made. The whole thing gets wrapped up in a big bow at the end, and I was there for it!

Another great summer read, this one is for the nostalgia buffs who remember the grand hotels of summer, or for anyone who enjoys a fun multi generational tale.

Published on Leave a comment on The Siren
The Siren Book Cover The Siren
Katherine St. John
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
May 4, 2021
Hardcover
416
Free from publisher

In the midst of a sizzling hot summer, some of Hollywood's most notorious faces are assembled on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Genesius to film The Siren, starring dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power playing opposite his ex-wife, Stella Rivers. The surefire blockbuster promises to entice audiences with its sultry storyline and intimately connected cast.

Three very different women arrive on set, each with her own motive. Stella, an infamously unstable actress, is struggling to reclaim the career she lost in the wake of multiple, very public breakdowns. Taylor, a fledgling producer, is anxious to work on a film she hopes will turn her career around after her last job ended in scandal. And Felicity, Stella's mysterious new assistant, harbors designs of her own that threaten to upend everyone's plans.

With a hurricane brewing offshore, each woman finds herself trapped on the island, united against a common enemy. But as deceptions come to light, misplaced trust may prove more perilous than the storm itself.

I'll admit, being the cover snob that I am, that this cover is fabulous! The colors are so vibrant, and the retro look to it just made me want to explore further. Once I read the synopsis, I was very excited to dive in. I had read this author's previous book The Lion's Den, which I really enjoyed, but I have to say that this one, in my opinion, is even better! There was a lot going on in this one, so the pacing was brisk (perfect for a summer read). There was the revenge plot, the resurrection of careers (a couple characters fall into this plot point), the unscrupulous behavior of the dashing actor, and perhaps even a romance or two (and they didn't even annoy me!). Take all of that and plunk it down on a Caribbean island, which as the story progresses, ends up in the path of a hurricane, and you've got yourself an addicting fun read. Told from the viewpoints of three women, with a flashback to the life of one of them, there are even tabloid articles thrown in to provide gossip fodder. Did it get a tad unbelievable at the end? Maybe, but just ignore that voice in your head saying "could this really happen?", and go with it. I loved all the characters, minus one, and the ending (while maybe a bit far fetched) was completely satisfying. This was well written, and pretty much had all the qualities of things I enjoy in an engaging, compulsive read. Was most definitely a 5 star for readability, but the ending, while satisfying, did impact it being a perfect book.

Get the sunscreen and head out to your beach chair to savor this perfect summer read.

Published on Leave a comment on The Audacity of Sara Grayson
The Audacity of Sara Grayson Book Cover The Audacity of Sara Grayson
Joani Elliott
Fiction
Post Hill Press
May 25, 2021
Advance reader copy
384
Free from publisher

What happens when the world’s greatest literary icon dies before she finishes the final book in her best-selling series?

And what happens when she leaves that book in the hands of her unstable, neurotic daughter, who swears she’s not a real writer?

Sara Grayson is a thirty-two-year-old greeting card writer about to land the toughest assignment of her life. Three weeks after the death of her mother—a world-famous suspense novelist—Sara learns that her mother’s dying wish is for her to write the final book in her bestselling series.

Sara has lived alone with her dog, Gatsby, ever since her husband walked out with their Pro Double Waffle Maker and her last shred of confidence. She can’t fathom writing a book for thirty million fans—not when last week’s big win was resetting the microwave clock.

But in a bold move that surprises even herself, Sara takes it on. Against an impossible deadline and a publisher intent on sabotaging her every move, Sara discovers that stepping into her mother’s shoes means stumbling on family secrets she was never meant to find—secrets that threaten her mother’s legacy and the very book she’s trying to create.

Lots of things to love about this book. First let's talk about the cover. A woman with bunny slippers and a book, sign me up to read this please. Second, it's a book about writing a book, another yes please. Third, while it may look like a fluffy read without a lot of substance, it actually had a lot more serious stuff to offer along with the humorous parts. It's really a story about coming to accept that you may be capable of more than you think. Sara's mother obviously knows this when she leaves her to write the fifth volume in a highly successful book series upon her sudden death from cancer. Sara doesn't believe that she is up to the task, and worries about the repercussions from all the series adoring fans who are clamoring to know how the story will end. Some of her publishers are not even on board with Sara's qualifications, causing a rift among the people she needs to please before the book goes anywhere near the readers. Also, Sara believes that with the timeline that her mother worked under, that book five would have already been penned before she got sick, so where is it? A little bit of intrigue, a little humor, a great sibling relationship, and a coming of age story, make this a satisfying read. And of course there are secrets about her mother's life revealed along the way, that add to the narrative. I do wish that we got to see what was in the box, just to see if I was correct in my prediction, but all in all that didn't effect the well constructed ending.

A book about books and the publishing industry, with a character who discovers a lot about herself along the way, make for an enjoyable read. You will be hard pressed not to root for Sara in her book journey!

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Published on 1 Comment on Other People’s Children
Other People's Children Book Cover Other People's Children
R.J. Hoffmann
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
April 6, 2021
Hardcover
384
Purchased

Gail and Jon Durbin moved to the Chicago suburbs to set up house as soon as Gail got pregnant. But then she miscarried—once, twice, three times. Determined to expand their family, the Durbins turn to adoption. When several adoptions fall through, Gail’s desire for a child overwhelms her.

Carli is a pregnant teenager from a blue-collar town nearby, with dreams of going to college and getting out of her mother’s home. When she makes the gut-wrenching decision to give her baby up for adoption, she chooses the Durbins. But Carli’s mother, Marla, has other plans for her grandbaby.

In Other People’s Children, three mothers make excruciating choices to protect their families and their dreams—choices that put them at decided odds against one another. You will root for each one of them and wonder just how far you’d go in the same situation. This riveting debut is a thoughtful exploration of love and family, and a heart-pounding page-turner you’ll find impossible to put down.

Let me start this review by saying that THIS BOOK is the reason my husband and I adopted our daughters from China! Obviously there are so many adoptions that go according to plan, and I don't think that I, or this book, is speaking to try and sway someone from choosing this method of creating a family. I just know that in our case, this would probably have happened, and I can 100% say that I would have been Gail! While I did have sympathy for Carli, her mother was the wicked witch of the west personified! Ugh! I think this book was very well written in that you were supposed to feel for each of the three mother's equally, but given my situation, I found it hard to do. If you do not have as close of a connection to adoption as I did, this book will give you many things to ponder with regards to what makes a mother. Some of the scenarios did get a little far fetched, but I think it was like a snowball rolling down hill, one thing led to another as the plot picked up speed. This was well written, with alternating chapters from the three mothers, and the plot moved very quickly once the baby was born. I wasn't entirely on board with all parts of the ending, but I felt that it was handled sensitively and didn't make me want to hurl the book across the room 🙂

A believable take on the ups and downs of the adoption process, this one will definitely make you wonder what you would do if dropped into any of these women's lives.

Published on Leave a comment on The Good Sister
The Good Sister Book Cover The Good Sister
Sally Hepworth
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
April 13, 2021
Hardcover/Audio
320
Purchased/Audio gifted from libro.fm

From the outside, everyone might think Fern and Rose are as close as twin sisters can be: Rose is the responsible one and Fern is the quirky one. But the sisters are devoted to one another and Rose has always been Fern's protector from the time they were small.

Fern needed protecting because their mother was a true sociopath who hid her true nature from the world, and only Rose could see it. Fern always saw the good in everyone. Years ago, Fern did something very, very bad. And Rose has never told a soul. When Fern decides to help her sister achieve her heart's desire of having a baby, Rose realizes with growing horror that Fern might make choices that can only have a terrible outcome. What Rose doesn't realize is that Fern is growing more and more aware of the secrets Rose, herself, is keeping. And that their mother might have the last word after all.

My review:

I've been reading this author since her first book The Secrets of Midwives debuted. She never disappoints, and with this novel (her sixth) she has clearly outdone herself! The story of two sisters, this book delves deeply into the concept of what you see from the outside may not be the whole truth. Rose has always been super protective of her sister Fern, who suffers from a disability that we are never given a name to, but causes her to have certain tendencies probably most closely linked to forms of autism. I absolutely loved the way Hepworth crafted Fern, especially as the novel progresses and we see her emerge as perhaps not as hapless as her sister thinks. Also, Fern works in a library, so bonus points for that from us bibliophiles 🙂 Rose was also well crafted, and I loved the unique way we were given her story as diary entries. Given that this contains lots of twists in the plot, I'm afraid that I have to be very vague in discussing that aspect of the book. Suffice it to say, that I had no idea what to expect, and I powered through this in two days, I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

A fantastic character study of two sisters and the lengths they go to help each other. Told in a unique format, with an ending I couldn't have predicted, this is one not to miss!

Published on Leave a comment on It Had to Be You
It Had to Be You Book Cover It Had to Be You
Georgia Clark
Fiction
Atria/Emily Bestler Books
May 4, 2021
E-book
384
Publisher via NetGalley

For the past twenty years, Liv and Eliot Goldenhorn have run In Love in New York, Brooklyn’s beloved wedding-planning business. When Eliot dies unexpectedly, he even more unexpectedly leaves half of the business to his younger, blonder girlfriend, Savannah. Liv and Savannah are not a match made in heaven, to say the least. But what starts as a personal and professional nightmare transforms into something even savvy, cynical Liv Goldenhorn couldn’t begin to imagine.

It Had to Be You cleverly unites Liv, Savannah, and couples as diverse and unique as New York City itself, in a joyous Love-Actually-style braided narrative. The result is a smart, modern love story that truly speaks to our times. Second chances, secret romance, and steamy soul mates are front and center in this sexy, tender, and utterly charming rom-com.

To say that I am super picky about rom-com books would be an understatement. Whenever I start one (and I inevitably do, because gosh the covers are almost always so darn cute) I question why I'm doing so? This book is why I do it! They don't come along often, but this one had the perfect ingredients to be a winner. The cast was one of the most diverse I've seen in this type of story. The best part was that it felt natural, not like the author was trying to inject diversity for diversity sake. All of the romances felt real, no enemies to lovers (a trope I hate), and they were dealing, for the most part with real life problems (first world problems, but it is a rom com after all). I will say that there are a lot of characters to keep track of, sometimes that bothers me, but in this case I thought it gave the perfect blend to see a wonderful cross section of life in the 21st century in a city like New York. I loved the wedding planner aspect, the wide spectrum of ages amongst the characters, the questioning of when a relationship is right, and just generally finding your path in life. Let's also not forget to talk about the obvious in the newer rom coms I've read, the smut (or steam as some would call it) level. Sorry, not sorry, but I hate it! I do not need an anatomy lesson on making love. I can provide my own details in my imagination without the author giving me every minute detail. This book was the perfect level for me. It happened within a sentence or two, not four pages of graphic uncomfortableness. The ending was perfect, with every character getting their closure. It may have been a bit too cheesy, but here again, we're talking rom com (have I said that enough yet?).

I loved this light hearted, wonderfully diverse, look at the lives of several characters involved with a wedding planning company. It had all the qualities of what I'm looking for in this genre (including an adorable cover) and I would highly recommend as long as you aren't someone who is daunted by a large cast of characters.

Published on Leave a comment on That Summer
That Summer Book Cover That Summer
Jennifer Weiner
Fiction
Atria Books
May 11, 2021
Advance reader copy
432
Free from publisher

Daisy Shoemaker can’t sleep. With a thriving cooking business, full schedule of volunteer work, and a beautiful home in the Philadelphia suburbs, she should be content. But her teenage daughter can be a handful; her husband can be distant, her work can feel trivial, and she has lots of acquaintances, but no real friends. Still, Daisy knows she’s got it good. So why is she up all night?

While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction, she’s also receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. While Daisy’s driving carpools, Diana is chairing meetings. While Daisy’s making dinner, Diana’s making plans to reorganize corporations. Diana’s glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy’s simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?

From the manicured Main Line of Philadelphia to the wild landscape of the Outer Cape, written with Jennifer Weiner’s signature wit and sharp observations, THAT SUMMER is a story about surviving our pasts, confronting our futures, and the sustaining bonds of friendship.

I'll be the first to admit that while I love this author, I was not a fan of Big Summer (last year's release). After reading that book, I was afraid that another of my favorite contemporary writers was abandoning ship and heading for thriller writing (here's looking at you Lisa Jewell and Joshlyn Jackson). I breathed a sigh of relief after reading this one, because while it does have a mysterious vibe, it's quintessential Weiner, and I am very happy about that! Very much like a lot of her previous novels, this one tackles a timely subject (in this case the #MeToo movement). That may be the main plot point of the book, but there is always so much more to delight within the context of the story. The characters and settings are always spot on, and I always feel invested in what happens, to the point of inhaling the story within a couple of days. Weiner always has such great representation for plus size women, and I am here for that. She also does a great job of giving you all sides to a controversial topic, so you as the reader, while you may have an opinion, can be open to all sides of the issue and those effected by it. I was satisfied with the ending of this one, and so happy to add another enjoyable Weiner to my shelf.

This one will be big for the beach this summer, as it has all the great qualities this author is known for.....a gripping ripped from the headlines plot, fabulously written characters and settings, and an unputdownable vibe. Also, does this cover not scream summer read?