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Category: Book Reviews

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Published on 1 Comment on Best Behavior
Best Behavior Book Cover Best Behavior
Wendy Francis
Fiction
Graydon House Books
May 5, 2020
Advance reader copy
336
Free from publisher

A modern-day family gathers for a weekend to remember in a novel rich in both humor and heart... Meredith Parker has made the journey to Bolton, her twins' college, dozens of times. This weekend, though, is different. Dawn and Cody are about to graduate and move away to separate corners of the country. Meredith is proud of her kids, and she's proud of herself for helping them get this far. She just never expected the tidal wave of emotions sweeping over her--or the tangled family dynamics complicating everything. Meredith doesn't miss her cheating ex, Roger, one bit, but sitting across from his very young, very gorgeous second wife threatens to unravel the graceful facade she's trying so hard to maintain. Joel, Meredith's husband, can see she's feeling the first pangs of empty-nest syndrome and wants to soften the blow--but he's distracted by a familiar face. Meanwhile, Cody and Dawn are sitting on their own secrets, and Roger's new wife, Lily, wonders if she really wants to be a part of this wild, mixed-up family. As tensions simmer with each passing appetizer tray, Meredith's vision of the perfect weekend goes up in flames. But before the party's over, as best behavior gives way to brutal honesty, there'll be a chance for this new blended family to truly come together--in all its messy and glorious imperfection.

My review:

I jumped at the chance to read this book since I have a daughter graduating from college (her graduation ceremony would have been today....sigh). Of course, that is where the similarities to this book with my life end, but this one was a really great read! I loved all the drama (from the parents, the exes, the kids), but it wasn't so over the top as to not be believable. It may have veered a bit off the path at the very end, but it certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment, or cause me to wonder if it could happen in some families. Great characters, especially the mother Meredith. I've always been perfectly happy seeing my daughters make their way out into the world, but I found her empty nester story well done and very credible. There was also a nod given to how our perceptions of our children may not always be as we see them, which is a good life lesson for parents.

It will be interesting to see if future readers of this book will think back and say "wait, doesn't this take place in the year when there were no May graduations?" Obviously the author could not have predicted this while writing this novel, but it definitely gives the graduation year, and got me thinking about that 🙂

All in all a great extended family tale that could easily apply to any formal occasion where exes and parties are involved. Great beach read.

2

Published on 2 Comments on Hello Summer
Hello, Summer Book Cover Hello, Summer
Mary Kay Andrews
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
May 5, 2020
Advanced reader copy
576
Free from publisher

It’s a new season...

Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks.

For small town scandals...

When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat—and she doesn’t exactly have warm feelings for Conley. Soon she is given the unenviable task of overseeing the local gossip column, “Hello, Summer.”

And big-time secrets.

Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman—a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets. As an old heartbreaker causes trouble and a new flame ignites, it soon looks like their sleepy beach town is the most scandalous hotspot of the summer. Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rear view mirror years ago. Now, after ten years of blood, sweat, and tears, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position at a New York City newspaper. That is, until she discovers at her own going away party that her new job is suddenly gone, disappearing overnight along with her hopes and dreams of a bright future in a big city. Dread in her heart and a sinking feeling in her gut, Conley ends up in the last place she ever wanted to be: The Beacon, now reluctantly run by her brother Garret whose own dreams of being a lawyer were put on hold with the death of their father. Covering a sleepy beach town with church news and the local funeral home director dictating the day’s obituaries to her over the phone isn’t exactly every reporter’s dream, and to make matters worse, she and her brother see eye to eye on almost nothing. Matters come to a head after Conley witnesses a car accident that ends in the death of a local politician – a beloved war hero with a secret shady history whose death may not be exactly what it seems.

My review:

I always say it's not summer until I've read my Mary Kay Andrews book, so now summer can officially begin! 🙂 Before I start my official review, I input the ISBN number for books to fill in some of the info you see at the top of the review. This includes the book summary, which I usually read in case there is something I don't want to include (like author quotes etc.). Imagine my surprise when I read this one that includes two glaring differences with the final book (and even the advanced copy I received). Conley's new job was in Washington DC, and she has a sister named Grayson! It gets me wondering how far ahead this info is input when clearly the author (or editor) changed their mind. Here is the blurb in case you find the publication process interesting like me:

Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rear view mirror years ago. Now, after ten years of blood, sweat, and tears, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position at a New York City newspaper. That is, until she discovers at her own going away party that her new job is suddenly gone, disappearing overnight along with her hopes and dreams of a bright future in a big city. Dread in her heart and a sinking feeling in her gut, Conley ends up in the last place she ever wanted to be: The Beacon, now reluctantly run by her brother Garret whose own dreams of being a lawyer were put on hold with the death of their father. Covering a sleepy beach town with church news and the local funeral home director dictating the day’s obituaries to her over the phone isn’t exactly every reporter’s dream, and to make matters worse, she and her brother see eye to eye on almost nothing. Matters come to a head after Conley witnesses a car accident that ends in the death of a local politician – a beloved war hero with a secret shady history whose death may not be exactly what it seems.

Ok, not on to the actual review. I really liked this one a lot! It's my favorite from this author for the past few years. It had everything going for it, humor, intrigue, relationships (family and other), politics, and jealousy to name a few. I loved the beach town setting (MKA is famous for this!) and the small town newspaper stories (the gossipy and the police reports) were so much fun! Lots of great characters in this one, I would love for some of them to get their own book some day. There was a little bit of romance for those who require it, but for others like me, it was very understated (YAY!) compared to the mystery aspect of the politician.

The perfect start to summer, and the perfect beach read (whether you are on the beach or just dreaming of being there), this book has a bit of something for everyone. Hats off Mary Kay Andrews, you've done it again!

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Published on 1 Comment on The Sweeney Sisters
The Sweeney Sisters Book Cover The Sweeney Sisters
Lian Dolan
Fiction
William Morrow
April 28, 2020
Hardcover
304
Free from publisher

An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel yet--a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA. Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother's death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren't quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature. But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister. When Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a childhood neighbor--Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems Serena's chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney--one that has remained totally secret until now. Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William's literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he's stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister--a blond among redheads--fit into their story? By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration--a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family.

My review:

This was a solid, enjoyable read about family, the parts you think you know and the parts you have no idea about! The three Sweeney sisters come together when their famous writer father dies. In dealing with settling his estate they discover some big family secrets, not the least of which is a fourth step-sister. Add to this revelation the missing last manuscript their father wanted published upon his death, and plenty of other secrets each of the sisters brings to the table. It makes for an engaging read. I liked learning about each sister's personality, giving it that Little Women vibe (although it is not in any way a retelling). I really liked them all, although do be forewarned that other than the tragic loss of their mother at a young age, they have grown up in posh surroundings without wanting for material things. Their father's attention (or lack thereof) is another part of their story.  There are lots of bookish references, and a few details about publishing and literary agents thrown in, which I loved. Of course there had to be some obligatory romance thrown in (WHY?), but it was understated enough that I could let it go in light of the bigger issues.

This was an engaging story about family and the secrets they all hold. It may not be memorable in the long run, but I definitely enjoyed it while reading.

3

Published on 3 Comments on Feels Like Falling
Feels Like Falling Book Cover Feels Like Falling
Kristy Woodson Harvey
Fiction
Gallery Books
April 28, 2020
Advanced Reader Copy
400
Free from publisher

It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy.

Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy.

Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.

With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.

My review:

3.5 stars

Make no mistake about it, if you are a lover of southern romance and friendship novels, you are going to eat this one up! As everyone who reads my blog knows, romance is just not my jam. But let's look at what I loved about this novel. Y'all (and I never use that term, but her books just bring it out of me!) Kristy can tell a story! I find myself flying through her books, there is something about the writing that just flows like melted butter. I adore the little southern references she throws in seamlessly (I had to look up what crowder peas were?). I loved the friendships, and not just the major one between Diana and Gray. The secondary characters of Trey and Marcy were fun, and the scenes where they were all dishing with each other were a hoot! I definitely enjoyed Diana's story right up until the end (more on that later), but I can't say the same for Gray. I admired her business savvy (a bit more on that may have been interesting), but her choice of a man was just a BIG NO. I can't divulge too much without ruining the plot, but let's just say I wasn't buying into her relationship lasting long term, no way 🙂 Which brings me to the ending, where my, romance is not my jam, alarm bells were going off! Everyone forgave each other and they lived happily ever after. Let's just say it was so sugary sweet that my teeth were aching!

In conclusion, read this book for the southern charm, the wonderful writing style, and the friendship bonds. If you love a good romance, you'll be in seventh heaven, if not, read it anyway and just go brush the sugar off your teeth and move on.

2

Published on 2 Comments on The Night Before
The Night Before Book Cover The Night Before
Wendy Walker
Fiction
St. Martin's Griffin
April 28, 2020
Paperback
320
Free from publisher

First dates can be murder.

Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister's home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that's defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she's met on an Internet dating site.

Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura's return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie's peaceful life with her husband and young son - a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.

When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She's not responding to calls or texts, and she's left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She's worried about what Laura may have done to him.

My review:

This one was a good thriller, although I'm still partial to one of the author's previous books All Is Not Forgotten. I loved the way this was told. The two sisters have alternating chapters, one told from Rosie's perspective the morning after Laura goes missing, and the other from Laura the night before. Eventually the two timelines converge and you are given the answers to what really happened to Laura. The chapters were short and concise, with great flow despite the disparate timelines. I flew through this one just wanting to find out what was going on. I will say that while I didn't know the how or why, I guessed the who very early on, which is unusual for me. There were also excerpts from Laura's therapy appointments thrown in between chapters. I know why they were there, but they took me out of the here and now story a bit, and were kind of distracting.

Overall a fast paced read. You'll have fun trying to figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying. You'll also probably want to stay away from dating site profiles for awhile 🙂 Not my favorite from this author, but worth the read.

1

Published on 1 Comment on The Glass Hotel
The Glass Hotel Book Cover The Glass Hotel
Emily St. John Mandel
Fiction
Knopf Publishing Group
March 24, 2020
Hardcover
320
Purchased

From the award-winning author of Station Eleven, a captivating novel of money, beauty, white-collar crime, ghosts, and moral compromise in which a woman disappears from a container ship off the coast of Mauritania and a massive Ponzi scheme implodes in New York, dragging countless fortunes with it. Vincent is a bartender at the Hotel Caiette, a five-star glass and cedar palace on an island in British Columbia. Jonathan Alkaitis works in finance and owns the hotel. When he passes Vincent his card with a tip, it's the beginning of their life together. That same day, Vincent's half-brother, Paul, scrawls a note on the windowed wall of the hotel: "Why don't you swallow broken glass." Leon Prevant, a shipping executive for a company called Neptune-Avramidis, sees the note from the hotel bar and is shaken to his core. Thirteen years later Vincent mysteriously disappears from the deck of a Neptune-Avramidis ship. Weaving together the lives of these characters, The Glass Hotel moves between the ship, the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and the wilderness of northern Vancouver Island, painting a breathtaking picture of greed and guilt, fantasy and delusion, art and the ghosts of our pasts.

My review:

2.5 stars (rounded up for the writing)

I've been finding myself reading a lot of novels lately that have been written by authors whose previous book I loved. I'm always a bit nervous going in because maybe I've set the bar too high? I'm happy to report that most have hit the mark or exceeded it......until this one (sigh). I was a big fan of Station Eleven, and with this book I'm still a fan of Mandel's writing! She has a way of transporting the reader into a dreamy, ethereal setting like few authors can. So this one gets high marks for the writing, but the plot and characters fell short for me. A lot of the problems I had with this one have more to do with me than what other readers will likely experience. The book almost felt at times like a series of short stories with interconnected characters. I'm not a fan of short stories, I've tried them a million times and now I just avoid them. There were a lot of ghost references, particularly in the ending, and that is another miss for me. The part that I did enjoy was the Ponzi scheme and watching that play out (imagine my surprise that this part of the book was what a lot of high praise reviewers didn't like). I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, particularly Vincent. There were some that I wanted more of (like Paul) and some I could have done without completely.

In summary, don't take my word on this book! It's gotten high praise from lots of reviewers, and the writing is well worth the read. If I could have gotten over the short story-ish style and the ghosts, I'm sure my rating would have been higher.

2

Published on 2 Comments on The Holdout
The Holdout Book Cover The Holdout
Graham Moore
African Americans
Random House
2020
Hardcover
336
Purchased

In this twisty tale, young juror Maya Seale is convinced that African American high school teacher Bobby Nock is innocent of killing the wealthy white female student with whom he appears to have been involved and persuades her fellow jurors likewise. Ten years later, a true-crime docuseries reassembles the jurors, and Maya, now a defense attorney, must prove her own innocence when one of them is found dead in Maya's room.

My review:

In doing a bit of research into this book before writing my review, I discovered that the idea for it was formed when the author served on a jury in 2008. His jury found the defendant guilty, but he always wondered what if they were wrong? Learning that makes the book even more interesting. One woman on a jury convinces the others to acquit a man of murder. A decade later the jury is brought back together to film a documentary and one juror claims to have information that proves they gave the wrong verdict. Before he reveals that information, tragedy strikes and the woman is accused of his murder. I loved the way this book was structured. We had the current timeline interspersed with chapters from each of the jurors during the trial ten years earlier. I thought this was a brilliant way to tell the story of the trial through various viewpoints! I wouldn't necessarily call this a true crime novel or a mystery thriller, it definitely had aspects of both and there were slight twists and turns to have you guessing all along the way. It's an interesting look at the judicial system, and what it means to serve on a jury in a high profile case. Good writing, a strong plot, and believable characters all set the stage for this to be a winner. It does get a bit far fetched toward the end, but I was already down the rabbit hole by that point so I went along for the rest of the ride.

I loved this crime drama/ mystery thriller/ courtroom saga, and the structure of the book was a true highlight. Definitely pick this one up if you are in the mood for an interesting look at the jury system and who decides guilt or innocence.

2

Published on 2 Comments on If You Want to Make God Laugh
If You Want to Make God Laugh Book Cover If You Want to Make God Laugh
Bianca Marais
Fiction
G.P. Putnam's Sons
2019
Hardcover
448
Purchased

In a squatter camp on the outskirts of Johannesburg, seventeen-year-old Zodwa lives in desperate poverty, under the shadowy threat of a civil war and a growing AIDS epidemic. Eight months pregnant, Zodwa carefully guards secrets that jeopardize her life.

Across the country, wealthy socialite Ruth appears to have everything her heart desires, but it's what she can't have that leads to her breakdown. Meanwhile, in Zaire, a disgraced former nun, Delilah, grapples with a past that refuses to stay buried. When these personal crises send both middle-aged women back to their rural hometown to lick their wounds, the discovery of an abandoned newborn baby upends everything, challenging their lifelong beliefs about race, motherhood, and the power of the past.

As the mystery surrounding the infant grows, the complicated lives of Zodwa, Ruth, and Delilah become inextricably linked. What follows is a mesmerizing look at family and identity that asks: How far will the human heart go to protect itself and the ones it loves?

My review:

I really enjoyed this author's debut novel Hum If You Don't Know the Words, so was excited to see how her follow up would be. As you know, second books can sometimes be a let down after being hyped after the success of the debut. Well not in this case! In fact while the writing style was stellar in both books, I think I liked the plot of this one even more! It's hard to review this one without giving too much away, but suffice it to say it's a story about three women in South Africa during the time of Mandela's election, and a baby that ties their stories all together. The book is written in alternating chapters from the viewpoint of each of the three women, and their characters were believable, relatable, and uplifting. While I didn't always agree with their actions, their thought processes were written to make sense for their personality and circumstance. I bought into these characters and story hook, line, and sinker 🙂 Their lives and decisions were not always easy or maybe even correct, but I was rooting for them at every turn! I thought the ending was satisfying as not everything turned out rosy (if it had it would have bordered on the unbelievable), but gave me hope when I closed the cover.

An incredible story of survival and what constitutes family, I would tell you not to miss this one!

1

Published on 1 Comment on The Jetsetters
The Jetsetters Book Cover The Jetsetters
Amanda Eyre Ward
Fiction
Ballantine Books
2020
Hardcover
352
Purchased

"When seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins submits a sexy essay to the "Become a Jetsetter" contest, she dreams of reuniting her estranged children: Lee, an almost-famous actress; Cord, a handsome Manhattan venture capitalist who can't seem to find a bride; and Regan, a harried mother who took it all wrong when Charlotte bought her a Weight Watchers gift certificate for her birthday. Charlotte yearns for the years when her children were young and she was a single mother who meant everything to them. When she wins the cruise, the family packs all their baggage--literal and figurative--and spends ten days traveling from sun-drenched Athens through glorious Rome to tapas-laden Barcelona on an over-the-top cruise ship, the Splendido Marveloso. As lovers new and old join the adventure, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the Perkins family is forced to confront the defining choices in their lives. Can four lost adults find the peace they've been seeking by reconciling their childhood aches and coming back to each other? In the vein of The Nest and The Vacationers, Ward has created a delicious and intelligent novel about the courage it takes to reveal our true selves, the pleasures and perils of family, and how we navigate the seas of adulthood to cruise--we can only hope--toward joy"--

My review:

If I'm being honest, I think my expectations for this book were set a little too high. I loved a previous novel by this author (The Same Sky) and was looking for more of the same. Sadly, while this kept me entertained while reading, its not going to leave much of a lasting impression. It's a typical family saga where the grown children all have secrets that come out when they embark on a cruise with their mother. None of the main characters were very likable, and sometimes this is done on purpose (think The Nest, which I adored!), but I think in the case of this book we were supposed to like them. My favorite character was actually the boyfriend of the son, and he has a very minor role. The thing that kept me interested and reading this book is that I have been on several cruises, and the descriptions of cruise life were fun to revisit. I also have been on a cruise where we stopped at many of the same ports as this family does. It was fun to pick out some of the landmarks talked about.

In summary, there is really nothing bad about this book, it's a light read that deals with some rather heavy topics (maybe that bothered me a bit as well?). I think if I had liked the characters more, I would have had a better experience, but that is such a subjective thing as not everyone reacts the same to various characters. It definitely was fun to relive the cruise experience!

1

Published on 1 Comment on You and Me and Us
You and Me and Us Book Cover You and Me and Us
Alison Hammer
Fiction
HarperCollins
April 7, 2020
Advanced Reader Copy
432
Free from publisher

Alexis Gold knows how to put the “work” in working mom. It’s the “mom” part that she’s been struggling with lately. Since opening her own advertising agency three years ago, Alexis has all but given up on finding a good work/life balance. Instead, she’s handed over the household reins to her supportive, loving partner, Tommy. While he’s quick to say they divide and conquer, Alexis knows that Tommy does most of the heavy lifting—especially when it comes to their teenage daughter, CeCe.

Their world changes in an instant when Tommy receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, and Alexis realizes everything she’s worked relentlessly for doesn’t matter without him. So Alexis does what Tommy has done for her almost every day since they were twelve-year-old kids in Destin, Florida—she puts him first. And when the only thing Tommy wants is to spend one last summer together at “their” beach, she puts her career on hold to make it happen
even if it means putting her family within striking distance of Tommy’s ex, an actress CeCe idolizes.

But Alexis and Tommy aren’t the only ones whose lives have been turned inside out. In addition to dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with being a teenager, CeCe is also forced to confront her feelings about Tommy’s illness—and what will happen when the one person who’s always been there for her is gone. When the magic of first love brings a bright spot to her summer, CeCe is determined not to let her mother ruin that for her, too.

As CeCe’s behavior becomes more rebellious, Alexis realizes the only thing harder for her than losing Tommy will be convincing CeCe to give her one more chance.

You and Me and Us is a beautifully written novel that examines the unexpected ways loss teaches us how to love.

My review:

This book seemed like three stories combined into one. First there was the working Mom angle, where the protagonist works super long hours to prove her worth to her company often at the expense of her family. Then there was the dying spouse story to tug at your heartstrings. Thirdly we have the problem teenager story and all that it entails. That pretty much sums this one up. It was a good read, fairly fast paced and flowed well. While I never really got that invested in the characters, they were well written and parts of the book did pull me into their orbit. Despite the part of the ending that you know is coming, I felt a decision from Alexis seemed a bit sudden, but it did provide some closure to the book.

A fairly light (despite the subject matter) read that kept me entertained while reading, but not one that will probably stick with me long term. Consider this one if you need a break from some heavier material.