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Category: Book Reviews

Published on Leave a comment on Chef’s Kiss
Chef's Kiss Book Cover Chef's Kiss
TJ Alexander
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
May 3, 2022
Advance reader copy
320
Free from publisher

Simone Larkspur is a perfectionist pastry expert with a dream job at The Discerning Chef, a venerable cookbook publisher in New York City. All she wants to do is create the perfect loaf of sourdough and develop recipes, but when The Discerning Chef decides to bring their brand into the 21st century by pivoting to video, Simone is thrust into the spotlight and finds herself failing at something for the first time in her life.

To make matters worse, Simone has to deal with Ray Lyton, the new test kitchen manager, whose obnoxious cheer and outgoing personality are like oil to Simone’s water. When Ray accidentally becomes a viral YouTube sensation with a series of homebrewing videos, their eccentric editor in chief forces Simone to work alongside the chipper upstart or else risk her beloved job. But the more they work together, the more Simone realizes her heart may be softening like butter for Ray.

Things get even more complicated when Ray comes out at work as nonbinary to mixed reactions—and Simone must choose between the career she fought so hard for and the person who just might take the cake (and her heart).

My review:

3.5 stars

How adorable is this cover? Sometimes the artist gets it just right, and this is one of those times. This book is indeed about cooking, with a side of romance. I loved that the romance was sweet, slow burn, and not the main focus of the book. The main focus was on Simone, who ends up having to delve into an aspect of her job she never signed up for, and how her kitchen manager helps her grow into and accept her new role. There are numerous references to food in this book, and it was inspiring to see the way food was used to show care for another person. I truly appreciated the discussion of gender, and the biases from the higher ups at the company made me so angry! It was interesting to watch Simone and Ray navigate these issues in different ways, while also growing as characters as the novel progressed. This is one of a handful of books with a nonbinary main character, and I am here for the representation. There was great dialog throughout, the characters definitely found a way into your heart, and did I mention the food?

This was a well written book discussing career, gender identity, prejudice, romance, and of course food. Will be a great lighthearted read for the summer, but still educating and impactful with some more serious undertones. I'm excited to read more from this author.

Published on Leave a comment on Magpie
Magpie Book Cover Magpie
Elizabeth Day
Fiction
Simon & Schuster
May 3, 2022
Advance reader copy
336
Free from publisher

Marisa and Jake are a perfect couple, and Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate--and not just because her rent payments will give them the income they need to start trying for a baby. Except no one is perfect. Sure, Kate doesn’t seem to care much about personal boundaries and can occasionally seem overly familiar with Jake, but Marisa doesn’t let it concern her. Kate will soon be gone, and it will just be her, Jake, and their future baby.

Conceiving a baby is easier said than done, though, and Jake and Marisa’s perfect relationship is put to the test through months of fertility treatments and false starts. To make matters worse, Kate’s boundary-pushing turns into an all-out obsession--with Jake, with Marisa, and with their future child. Who is this woman? Why does she seem to know everything about Marisa and Jake?

In her quest to find out who Kate really is, Marisa might destroy everything she’s worked so hard to create: her perfect romance, her perfect family, and her perfect self. Jake doesn’t know the half of what Marisa has created and what she stands to lose. Magpie is a tense and twisting novel about mothers and children, envy and possession, and the dangers of getting everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

My review:

*Trigger warning*....I would look further into this one before reading if you are contemplating using a surrogate in creating your family! Having said that, this one is a wild ride if you choose to pick it up! This is a book where you are not really sure about anyone, and you find yourself frantically reading to figure out which of the characters are actually believable? Or are any of them? I loved the way the author dealt with Marisa's infertility grief. Having been through that part (and thanking myself for not going the surrogate route after reading this lol), I thought it was well done. Also of note was how well the plot had me spinning back and forth between who I thought was reliable. As you begin to get secrets and lies revealed the picture becomes clearer, and I did ultimately guess the main twist, but it sure was gratifying getting there (and the actual plotting that occurred). The ending was satisfying although I do wish there had been mention of what was to happen to the remaining four frozen embryos.

I flew trough this book trying to pick up clues as to who was being manipulated and who was to be believed. A well done thriller with infertility rep and some very unlikable characters!

Published on Leave a comment on Memphis
Memphis Book Cover Memphis
Tara M. Stringfellow
Fiction
Dial Press
April 5, 2022
Hardcover
272
Purchased

In the summer of 1995, ten-year-old Joan, her mother, and her younger sister flee her father's violence, seeking refuge at her mother's ancestral home in Memphis. Half a century ago, Joan's grandfather built this majestic house in the historic Black neighborhood of Douglass--only to be lynched days after becoming the first Black detective in Memphis. This wasn't the first time violence altered the course of Joan's family's trajectory, and she knows it won't be the last. Longing to become an artist, Joan pours her rage and grief into sketching portraits of the women of North Memphis--including their enigmatic neighbor Miss Dawn, who seems to know something about curses.

Unfolding over seventy years through a chorus of voices, Memphis weaves back and forth in time to show how the past and future are forever intertwined. It is only when Joan comes to see herself as a continuation of a long matrilineal tradition--and the women in her family as her guides to healing--that she understands that her life does not have to be defined by vengeance. That the sole weapon she needs is her paintbrush.

Inspired by the author's own family history, Memphis explores the complexity of what we pass down, not only in our families, but in our country: police brutality and justice, powerlessness and freedom, fate and forgiveness, doubt and faith, sacrifice and love.

My review:

A well written novel spanning about 70 years in the lives of three generations of the North family. The blurb for this book does a good job of explaining the major plot points, but for the most part this is a character driven book. The reader is given access to the thoughts and fears of this family as they navigate the joys and pitfalls that they experience in life. We see how each character deals with the hand they've been dealt, and the intense bonds of family. There are several historical events touched on throughout the narrative, among them the Civil Rights movement, and 9/11. There were wonderful descriptions of life in Memphis, so much so that you felt like you were there within the story. Keep in mind there are trigger warnings for abuse (physical and sexual). The women were all well fleshed out, and their relationships to each other were clearly the backbone of the novel. The story did dip back and forth between characters and time a lot, this was probably my only minor complaint.

Another well written debut novel, which was inspired by the author's family history. If you want a good character driven family saga that puts you right in the middle of the story, this one would be a great choice.

Published on Leave a comment on Lessons In Chemistry
Lessons in Chemistry Book Cover Lessons in Chemistry
Bonnie Garmus
Fiction
Doubleday Books
April 5, 2022
Hardcover
400
Purchased

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with--of all things--her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's unusual approach to cooking ("combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride") proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn't just teaching women to cook. She's daring them to change the status quo.

Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.

My review:

No question that this will be in my top books of the year, and at this point (although it's early in the year) it's hard to imagine anything topping it! I absolutely adored this book! It probably helps that I have several things in common with Elizabeth Zott. I lived through the 60's (albeit as an elementary student, not an adult), I majored in science so did have to take a lot of chemistry courses in college, and we are very similar in our takes on organized religion and feminism. I loved the way that Elizabeth was a take charge kind of woman, and used unorthodox methods to empower housewives of that era. She was a force to be reckoned with, and was not going to take any flak from some overbearing man who thought a woman's place was in the home. There were many humorous moments in the book, but also a lot of poignant ones as well. The interspersed narration from the dog kind of threw me at first, but ended up providing a lightheartedness to the novel that was quite welcome as the plot moved along. I really can't pick apart any of this delightful story, and the ending was the cherry on top.

All hail to my new fictional god (I'd say goddess, but I don't think Elizabeth Zott would approve)!! I very rarely re-read books, but that may have to change with this one. I believe this is a debut novel, I'll be waiting with baited breath for what comes next from this talented author.

Published on Leave a comment on The Patron Saint of Second Chances
The Patron Saint of Second Chances Book Cover The Patron Saint of Second Chances
Christine Simon
Fiction
Atria Books
April 12, 2022
Advance reader copy
304
Free from publisher

Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (population 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70,000 euros to fix the town’s pipes, the water commission will shut off the water to the village and all its residents will be forced to disperse. So in a bid to boost tourism—and revenue—he spreads a harmless rumor that movie star Dante Rinaldi will be filming his next project nearby.

Unfortunately, the plan works a little too well, and soon everyone in town wants to be a part of the fictional film—the village butcher will throw in some money if Speranza can find roles for his fifteen enormous sons, Speranza’s wistfully adrift daughter reveals an unexpected interest in stage makeup, and his hapless assistant Smilzo volunteers a screenplay that’s not so secretly based on his undying love for the film’s leading lady. To his surprise—and considerable consternation, Speranza realizes that the only way to keep up the ruse is to make the movie for real.

As the entire town becomes involved (even the village priest invests!) Signor Speranza starts to think he might be able to pull this off. But what happens when Dante Rinaldi doesn’t show up? Or worse, what if he does?

My review:

3.5 stars

Need a lighthearted book that is not a romance, one that will make you laugh and root for the characters as though they are real friends and neighbors? You've got to pick up this little gem! This poor old guy (my favorite to read about), the mayor to a population of 212, has to come up with money to save his town. Upon visiting a prosperous neighboring village he gets the idea to plant a rumor about a beloved actor coming to make a movie. The story takes off from there, with him trying to stay ahead of the snowballing effects this has on the townspeople. The way that he and his partner deal with the ever increasing lies put forth is delightful to read about. The interactions amongst the townspeople was endearing, even the curmudgeons get in on the act. I did find the actors involvement a bit too farcical, but the ending was just what I was hoping for.

I highly recommend this sweet story that will make you chuckle at the antics, while also wanting to visit these fictional characters in Italy. Such a refreshing story!

Published on Leave a comment on True Biz
True Biz Book Cover True Biz
Sara Novic
Fiction
Random House
April 5, 2022
Hardcover/Audio
400
Purchased

True biz (adj/exclamation; American Sign Language): really, seriously, definitely, real-talk

True biz? The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history final, and have doctors, politicians, and their parents stop telling them what to do with their bodies. This revelatory novel plunges readers into the halls of a residential school for the deaf, where they'll meet Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who's never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school's golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing; and February, the headmistress, who is fighting to keep her school open and her marriage intact, but might not be able to do both. As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to unravel each of them, Charlie, Austin, and February find their lives inextricable from one another--and changed forever.

This is a story of sign language and lip-reading, cochlear implants and civil rights, isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great persistence, daring, and joy. Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a universal celebration of human connection.

My review:

This book was not really on my radar, but I picked it as my Book of the Month selection mainly for the disability representation. I have not read many (if any) books centered around the deaf community, and it was time I rectified that. I found this book to be not only a really well crafted story about the lives of three wonderfully fleshed out characters, but also a learning experience about American Sign Language (ASL). I listened to this on audio, which was a great experience, but I was very glad that I had a physical copy of the book to refer to. In between some of the character chapters were different references to signing, with accompanying pictures to create a unique visual within the book. I've always been fascinated with sign language and wish that I had taken the time to fully learn it. When my oldest daughter was diagnosed with severe dyspraxia at age two, we used a few signs to teach her how to communicate things like eat, drink, more, etc. while she was undergoing numerous hours of speech therapy. I love that this book is an own voices story, as the author herself is a member of the deaf community. There was a very interesting commentary on the use (or non-use) of cochlear implants that I had never contemplated before. The only ultimate downfall of this book was that the ending did not have anywhere near enough resolution for me. I wanted to know more about what happens to these characters who I grew to care so much about.

An excellent look at the ever present issues presented to the deaf community, with lots of information to absorb and process. Jut go in knowing that you may not get the full resolution you want at the end.

Published on Leave a comment on French Braid
French Braid Book Cover French Braid
Anne Tyler
Fiction
Knopf Publishing Group
March 22, 2022
Hardcover
256
Purchased

The Garretts take their first and last family vacation in the summer of 1959. They hardly ever leave home, but in some ways they have never been farther apart. Mercy has trouble resisting the siren call of her aspirations to be a painter, which means less time keeping house for her husband, Robin. Their teenage daughters, steady Alice and boy-crazy Lily, could not have less in common. Their youngest, David, is already intent on escaping his family's orbit, for reasons none of them understand. Yet, as these lives advance across decades, the Garretts' influences on one another ripple ineffably but unmistakably through each generation.

Full of heartbreak and hilarity, French Braid is classic Anne Tyler: a stirring, uncannily insightful novel of tremendous warmth and humor that illuminates the kindnesses and cruelties of our daily lives, the impossibility of breaking free from those who love us, and how close--yet how unknowable--every family is to itself.

My review:

I'm at the point where I would read the phone book if it was written by this author! She has such a quiet way of inserting you into the lives of the people within her stories, and you wish they could never end! I will say that if you are not a fan of character driven plots, this (and most of her other works) will not be for you, but oh are you in for a treat if you are! Her descriptions of normal family life with all of its idiosyncrasies will have you caring about each of these characters whether you like them or not. Each of the main characters has a certain personality that you come to recognize without even having to see their name on the page. The main character Mercy was so interesting to me. I never really understood most of her motivations, yet I still loved that she stuck with her convictions over a lifetime. I loved that we got several generations, and that the book encompasses time from 1959 until the present. I think I could have spent a few more decades with this family. As is always true of her novels, Tyler has perfectly constructed sentences and descriptions, and settling down with her books is like welcoming an old friend for a catch up. The only nit pick I have is that the first chapter is not in chronological order, whereas the rest of the book is. I think I understand why it was constructed this way, but it still left me pondering. I also wish the novel had been longer, I wanted even more of Alice, Lily, and David's stories. Since the book ends in present time, I was as satisfied as I could be with the ending, some of the characters' lives are still open ended.

All hail to the queen of writing about the mundane aspects of life! This book is another masterpiece in character (family) studies. If you are a lover of family stories, please pick this one up!

Published on Leave a comment on The Younger Wife
The Younger Wife Book Cover The Younger Wife
Sally Hepworth
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
April 5, 2022
Advance reader copy e-book
352
Free from publisher via NetGalley

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?

My review:

Although this is being tagged as a thriller, it is so much more than that. Part of the novel takes place during a wedding. This part is being narrated by an unknown person, who is slowly revealed throughout the book. We know from the beginning that something goes completely awry at the wedding, and the rest of the story concentrates on the circumstances and characters leading up to this point. There is much to dissect in this one, issues of sexual assault, kleptomania, relationship abuse, and dementia are among the main topics. I loved the way the characters were fleshed out, and the fact that the happenings at the wedding are in the back of your mind as you explore each person and their motives in regard to each other. I changed my mind a few times over whether I thought any of these people were truly reliable narrators. I've heard some backlash over the ambiguous ending, but I really liked it! There was enough information given that I was satisfied with the resolution of the major plot points, and enough to make me think what happened was the way it should have been (that'll make sense once you read it). I thought it was fun that I went in with one attitude, and that changed as I got to know each character. This is a thriller type book, so I'm being rather vague as required by this genre, so as to not give away spoilers.

This book packs a lot of different topics into it's pages. The characters are the focal point, with the undercurrent of what happened at the wedding always prevalent throughout. Definitely worth the read, especially if you like a bit more substance from your thrillers.

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Published on 1 Comment on Nine Lives
Nine Lives Book Cover Nine Lives
Peter Swanson
Fiction
William Morrow
March 15, 2022
Hardcover
336
Free from publisher

Nine strangers receive a list with their names on it in the mail. Nothing else, just a list of names on a single sheet of paper. None of the nine people know or have ever met the others on the list. They dismiss it as junk mail, a fluke - until very, very bad things begin happening to people on the list. First, a well-liked old man is drowned on a beach in the small town of Kennewick, Maine. Then, a father is shot in the back while running through his quiet neighborhood in suburban Massachusetts. A frightening pattern is emerging, but what do these nine people have in common? Their professions range from oncology nurse to aspiring actor.

FBI agent Jessica Winslow, who is on the list herself, is determined to find out. Could there be some dark secret that binds them all together? Or is this the work of a murderous madman? As the mysterious sender stalks these nine strangers, they find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be crossed off next.

My review:

I'm not going to lie, my last two reads from this author have been less than stellar. I have had a bit of a hit or miss with his books, but I always come back hoping this will be one of the hits.........and this one was! Super fast paced (which I love in a thriller), this one kept me guessing from the beginning right up until the end. What in the world tied these characters together, and why are their murders not even committed in the same manner to give any clues? As always, the writing was superb, no extra words thrown in that weren't critical to the flow of the story. It also follows a linear time frame, which I always appreciate, sometimes going back and forth just adds to making the plot and characters confusing. There is also a handy guide to the nine strangers at the beginning of the book which was helpful at the start since there are a lot of characters introduced at once. I really appreciated the closure at the end of this book, it made for a satisfying end to the journey, and had an unexpected bonus twist that I was more than happy to see.

This author impresses me once again with this excellent thriller, and now I will anxiously await the next book. Will it be a hit or a miss? There is only one way to find out.........

Published on Leave a comment on Lockdown on London Lane
Lockdown on London Lane Book Cover Lockdown on London Lane
Beth Reekles
Fiction
Wattpad Books
February 1, 2022
Paperback
352
Purchased

For the inhabitants of London Lane, a simple slip of paper underneath each of their doors is about to change their lives in a hundred different ways.

URGENT!!! Due to the current situation, building management has decided to impose a seven-day quarantine on all apartment buildings on London Lane.

With nowhere else to go . . .

Ethan and Charlotte wonder whether absence really does make the heart grow fonder when they end up on either side of a locked door.

A fierce debate over pineapple on pizza ignites a series of revelations about Zach and Serena’s four-year relationship.

Liv realizes rolling with the punches is sometimes much harder than it looks after her bridesmaids’ party goes off the rails, leaving the group at each other’s throats.

Isla and Danny’s new romance is put to the test as they jump ten steps ahead on the relationship timeline.

And Imogen and Nate’s one-night stand is about to get six do-overs they never really asked for—not awkward at all.

Through make ups, breakups, love-ins, and blowouts, friendships are tested as everyone scrambles to make it through the week unscathed. Amidst all the drama, one thing remains constant: life is full of surprises.

My review:

This was one of the cutest books I've read in a long time! And I have to also give it bonus points for being one of the most clever plots as well! An apartment building in London is shut down for seven days during the pandemic, and we follow five of the apartments and the residents stuck inside each of them. Some super funny moments ensue, along with some more sentimental examinations of relationships. It definitely brought me back to the days of disinfecting groceries (remember that?) and being cooped up in one place. I will say that there a lot of characters to keep track of from the beginning, but just roll with it, and things will fall into place as you progress through the book. I loved exploring the different situations that arose, and the ending put a huge smile on my face with excellent resolution.

If you are squeamish about reading COVID related books, I wouldn't shy away from this one. It's all about the lockdown aspect, and not anything about the horrific disease that precipitated it. I had so much fun reading this, and I highly recommend if you enjoy a good rom-com with underlying real relationship issues. I guarantee you will be laughing after chapter one!