Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever
Fiction
William Morrow
July 30, 2019
Advanced Reader Copy
352
Publisher via BookExpo
In this game, even winning can be deadly... Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it—teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club. Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son. And, of course, the steadfast and supportive Charlotte. But Amy’s sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night. Sultry and magnetic, Roux beguiles the group with her feral charm. She keeps the wine flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets. Everyone thinks it’s naughty, harmless fun. Only Amy knows better. Something wicked has come her way—a she-devil in a pricey red sports car who seems to know the terrible truth about who she is and what she once did. When they’re alone, Roux tells her that if she doesn’t give her what she asks for, what she deserves, she’s going to make Amy pay for her sins. One way or another. To protect herself and her family and save the life she’s built, Amy must beat the devil at her own clever game, matching wits with Roux in an escalating war of hidden pasts and unearthed secrets. Amy knows the consequences if she can’t beat Roux. What terrifies her is everything she could lose if she wins. A diabolically entertaining tale of betrayal, deception, temptation, and love filled with dark twists leavened by Joshilyn Jackson’s trademark humor, Never Have I Ever explores what happens when the transgressions of our past come back with a vengeance.
My review:
I knew from reading the synopsis that this was not likely to be the same kind of novel for this author, and my premise was correct. Despite the fact that her last book The Almost Sisters was a huge favorite of mine, I'm going to try and review this as though I had never read this author before. I think that is the best way to go into this one, so you will not do the comparison game. First of all, there is no doubt that Ms. Jackson can spin a story no matter what genre she may choose! This story is definitely on the dark spectrum (at least for me), but it does still have some characters and plot points that shed light into the darkness. I loved what I learned about scuba diving, and of course there is the little matter of the neighborhood bookclub (not a very big part of the story, but enjoyable nonetheless). There was a ton of tension in this one, and lots of head scratching while you tried to figure out just who was the villain? Ultimately it's a story about how you can never really bury your past. Even if you aren't found out, you will always carry the weight of your secrets!
This was really enjoyable, I'm not going to say that I didn't miss the sassy wit that has been present in the other books I've read by this author, but go into it blind and you will be rewarded with an engrossing read.
Meet Me in Monaco
Meet Me in Monaco
Fiction
HarperCollins
July 23, 2019
E-book
384
Publisher via Edelweiss
Set in the 1950s against the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s whirlwind romance and glamourous wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb take the reader on an evocative sun-drenched journey along the Côte d’Azur in this page-turning novel of passion, fate, and second-chances. Movie stars and paparazzi flock to Cannes for the glamorous film festival, but Grace Kelly, the biggest star of all, wants only to escape from the flash-bulbs. When struggling perfumer Sophie Duval shelters Miss Kelly in her boutique, fending off a persistent British press photographer, James Henderson, a bond is forged between the two women and sets in motion a chain of events that stretches across thirty years of friendship, love, and tragedy. James Henderson cannot forget his brief encounter with Sophie Duval. Despite his guilt at being away from his daughter, he takes an assignment to cover the wedding of the century, sailing with Grace Kelly’s wedding party on the SS Constitution from New York. In Monaco, as wedding fever soars and passions and tempers escalate, James and Sophie—like Princess Grace—must ultimately decide what they are prepared to give up for love.
My review:
First off, let us take a moment to admire this gorgeous cover! I want to be where she is, and I had my chance when I visited Monaco this spring as part of a cruise I took. I knew I had to get my hands on this book pre-release to read about some of the sights and history of the place. This book was a fabulous read (much the same as this author duo's previous collaboration Christmas in Paris)! There were two story lines going on that intersect around Grace Kelly. Sophie is a perfumer trying to keep her late father's business intact despite her alcoholic mother and dwindling cash reserves. I loved all the descriptions of the intricacies of what goes into making a new perfume fragrance. James is a photographer who despite wishing he could take artistic photos must play paparazzi in order to keep his job. They meet thanks to Grace Kelly. The courtship and marriage of Grace to Prince Rainier of Monaco plays out throughout the book. I loved the descriptions of Monaco, the royal courtship, wedding preparations, and the twists and turns to Sophie and James' lives. I was a bit leery that the romance aspect was going to ruin the book for me, but because of the way it played out, I ended up feeling it was a true to life ending (as opposed to eye roll inducing fairytale romance).
A definite winner for me. Wonderfully readable, good pacing, great characters, well researched, and well written. I can recommend to all historical fiction fans, with special interest to those lovers of royal courtships and weddings, or the making of perfumes.
Under the Table
Never Look Back
Miracle Creek
The Bookshop on the Shore
This Is Home
Searching for Sylvie Lee
Mrs. Everything
Mrs. Everything
Fiction
Atria Books
June 11, 2019
E-book
480
Publisher via NetGalley
From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives. Do we change or does the world change us? Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise. Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect “Dick and Jane” house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life. But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women’s lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after? In her most ambitious novel yet, Jennifer Weiner tells a story of two sisters who, with their different dreams and different paths, offer answers to the question: How should a woman be in the world?
My review:
I've enjoyed the previous books I've read by this author, and would probably put them in the "chick lit" category if pressed to pick a genre. This book is a bit of a diversion for her, and I think definitely crosses into the more mainstream fiction realm. While still maintaining her style of writing about women, Mrs. Everything ends up being so much more of a commentary on all sorts of women's issues that are front and center newsworthy. The story of two sisters that spans multiple decades, this one explores issues of sexuality, societal norms, the Me Too movement, communes, and much more. How these issues effect the two sisters and their relationship, is at the core of this one, and I thoroughly liked what I read. I was completely invested in both sister's stories, and despite a few slow spots, I thought the flow and pacing was great. There was a lot going on, and a lot to think about with this one. Upon reading interviews with Ms. Weiner and finding out that the book was loosely based on the life of her mother, I was even more impressed with the content. I was born in the late 50's, so a lot of the newsworthy events discussed were things that I lived through, making it a bit of a trip down memory lane.
I really liked this one (although All Fall Down still remains my favorite of Weiner's works). I though it was a great multi-generational story about the expectations put on women, and their ability to adapt and survive despite obstacles put in their way. Well done!