Book Reviews - All in the Feels

Whew, y'all, this is a round that was so darn full of feels!

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones was a book I read in one sitting because I was so drawn into the story. The characters and relationships were so beautifully written that I just needed to know what happened. The story begins with Celestial and Roy. As newlyweds, Roy is arrested and sentenced to jail for a crime he didn't commit. The next 12 years are the couple figuring out their relationship in such difficult circumstances. They were just beginning a marriage, and now they have this unimaginable challenge standing between them. The story is told from multiple perspectives as the years pass, and as we all know, this is a storytelling device I love. It is especially powerful here as you see marriage and relationship and emotion from multiple perspectives. This is just masterful and wonderful storytelling that I absolutely loved. Even through heartbreak and pain, it is so beautifully done.

Breathing Underwater by Sarah Allen is a middle-grade novel just overflowing with emotions in such a wonderful way. The story is about two sisters on a road trip with their aunt and uncle. Olivia has seen her sister Ruth navigate depression her whole life. She sees Ruth's depression is especially bad, and she wants to help. She devises a scavenger hunt to remind Ruth of good times. She hopes these moments will bring joy to her sister as they search for treasures that allow them to reminisce. This was an honest and emotional look at what it's like to navigate someone else's mental health struggles. It was told in a way that was accessible to the target audience, but also got someone many years past that audience in her feels. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2021 release!

It's Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst is a book I read back in March just as the pandemic was beginning. Back then, I listened on audiobook, but I purchased a physical book, so I could mark my favorite passages. I do prefer the audio version as the author reads it in a way that had me all up in my feels. This was a book I loved revisiting because so much of 2020 was nothing like it was supposed to be.

Outlawed by Anna North was such a unique read! I mean, y'all, it's a feminist spin on a western! Admittedly, I don't read a lot of westerns, AND I really dug this one! The Hole in the Wall Gang is a group of women who have been fled and/or been shunned by their communities. For some of these women, it's because they can't bear children which is an expectation of them as wives and/or allegations of witchcraft. The story focuses on Ada who finds her way to this gang led by The Kid, and the story is then told from her point of view. With her story, Ada explores the dynamics of the gang and the stories she's able to learn about some of its members. It's sad to hear how they've had to leave their homes, and it's also about how they were able to find a community. With this gang, there is a risky plan that develops to gain some power, and it creates some divisions. Again, this was such a different way to experience the west, and it also had the added dynamics of identity and relationships to add more layer and depth to the story being told. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 release!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Couldn't Wait To Read!

Said simply, this was a quartet that I was so very excited to have in my life. I'm going to keep this introduction short because I just want to rave about these reads.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle is a re-read as I first listened to this back in April. I bought a physical copy of the book because I wanted to bookmark and be able to return to my favorite passages. This book is incredible, and I cannot recommend it enough. The authenticity and vulnerability and truth that fills these pages is just the greatest gift of a read.

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ana Friedman was a book I heard about on an episode of the Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast. I haven't ever listened to their Call Your Girlfriend podcast, so everything in this one was new to me! This book focuses on adult friendships centered on the two co-authors' friendship. While they were hosting their podcast together, they realized their actual friendship was suffering. This book is then a reflection of how they got to that point. So often we explore and reflect on romantic relationships forgetting there is care and concern and work that we need to do with friendship as well. These authors bring such honesty to exploring what their friendship has looked like, and they have some powerful individual and collective reflections. With this, they also share overall information on the realities of adult friendship. I love that they have given a voice to this because adult friendship can be hard y'all!

Promised Land by Barack Obama was quite the undertaking of a read in the best way! When I put this book on hold long ago, I definitely didn't know how long this was! With this length, I appreciated the level of detail that meant this book was as long as it was! President Obama brings an honesty to this memoir that makes it an especially captivating read. Rather than doing quick recaps of the events of his presidency or skipping the stuff where he was critiqued or had regrets, he takes the time to reflect and explain situations from his perspective. This is truly a window into Obama's presidency AND him as a human. He talks about policy, but also his marriage, his family, and just him as a person to give a complete picture of what these years were like. This is the first of two volumes, and I will definitely keep reading. Also, while I did/always enjoy reading a physical book, given Obama narrates the audiobook, I think this would be an even better way to experience this memoir!

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline was a book I have been waiting to read since the literal moment this was announced. While I then wanted to race through, I also wanted it to last forever. It was so wonderful to be back in this world. This one picks up literally right where the first book leaves off. It is the aftermath of Wade's win, and he's navigating what this means. With this, new technologies are also revealed. As Wade is now in charge, he has to decide what direction he wants to go. I won't say too much because part of the excitement of reading is seeing what is revealed. I will say this does focus more on the moral and ethical considerations around technology. Wade has to grapple with some tough questions, and there is variance in how his friends feel about the choices before them. Once again, this one was peppered with eighties nostalgia - Some I knew, some I didn't, but I love this thread throughout. When I re-read this one (and my book club has talked about reading this, so I may get the chance), I will definitely go audiobook. I first entered the world of Ready Player One with Wil Wheaton as narrator, and I feel like I need to have the experience of this book with him leading me through. Go into this one knowing it's going to be different, and it can never be the first book, but it's still a captivating journey!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Old and New Friends

Oh, hey there. For this round, I was able to revisit some stuff that was repackaged in a new way, and I had the joy of finding my way to some new stuff. I'm pretty sure that's just what reading is, but you know, I have to banter here somehow. Anyway. . .

Fangirl: The Manga #1 by Sam Maggs was a delightful re-imagining of Rainbow Rowell's book that I just absolutely love. My only critique of this book is I definitely didn't realize this was the first of several volumes. I was so drawn into the revisiting that I was so bummed to realize this oversight. That said, this is my first manga EVER. This is a format that's been on my list to check out, and y'all, there was truly no better way to do that than through this story. This story is such a delight, and to find my way back to it through these illustrations was an extra special treat. For me, this manga kept the humor, joy and emotion that is Fangirl while also adding something new and fun. I'm ready (literally, y'all, can everything be out tomorrow?) for the rest of these volumes to be released!

Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself by Jill Biden was an honest and wonderful memoir by the former Second Lady/incoming First Lady. What I loved about this was that this was truly her story. Obviously, Joe (as in the president-elect) is part of this story, but this centered her. In telling this story, she was also honest. She talked about her childhood, her young adulthood (including her first marriage), her career, and the family and love she found her way to with Joe and the boys - and then their daughter. What shines through in this is her love of being an educator. She isn't just someone who teaches, but she loves her students and learning, and y'all, what a beautiful thing that is. I also loved her commitment to causes, especially the work she's doing around veterans. I also loved her honesty around faith. She and the Biden family have experienced incredible tragedy, and she talked authentically about what that has meant for them, and specifically for her heart. This was just a wonderful read about a human who I wanted to learn more about, and I was offered a huge window into her world!

The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition by Brene Brown was a book I just loved revisiting. I mean, who doesn't fangirl over the amazing work of Brene Brown. While this is the tenth anniversary edition, the original content is here because y'all, her work endures. However, what I also loved is the new introduction where she reflects on how she's grown as a human. She also shares how she reads books for learning and growth. I don't feel like I have a lot to say about Brene Brown because she's just, well, Brene Brown. If you haven't read this in a minute, this is worth the revisit. I needed to hear these words and re-anchor in these guideposts, especially in 2020.

Meet Me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft was an incredibly emotional historical fiction read. Y'all, this one was some kind of ride with my feels. The story begins in 1913. Maddy is in Bombay, and she meets Luke. He isn't who her family might expect her to fall in love with (and in fact, there are some other individuals that come into play with the plot), but she is absolutely swept away by him. Their love is deep and true, and they are so enamored by each other. As they are finding love, the world is in turmoil as World War I looms. This has a huge impact on Maddy and Luke, and the story then explores what this means. This is a story that drew me in, as I was rooting for Maddy and Luke. However, being drawn in meant I was emotionally captivated, and this one put me through some twists and turns with that journey. This is one that kept me reading as I rooted for love, but also had to wade through the challenges they found along the way. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 release. This is definitely one to get on your list!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Unexpected Stories

This round of reads was a quartet where each book was unexpected in one way or another. That included subject matter, timelines, characters and/or twists. Each drew me in for a different reason, and it was in a way that a book hadn't before!

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson was such a heartbreaking and powerful read. The story is written in verse and takes place in the late nineties. ZJ's father plays professional football. ZJ is proud to have his father play and so many consider his dad to be a hero. Then, things start to get different. ZJ's dad forgets things he should remember and has emotional reactions and outbursts that aren't normal. What you realize is happening is that ZJ's dad is experiencing the impacts of CTE. This is written a time before the impact of playing football on the brain was talked about, so to read the pain in this way was particularly heart-wrenching. ZJ struggles to understand what is happening and why his dad is acting so differently. This is really a story about the resilience of a family in the face of pain and struggle. It was so beautifully written, and it gave voice to impacts that many families undoubtedly felt due to the horror of CTE and still do. This is a short book (<200 pages), but it gave me so many feels and still sits on my heart.

We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper is some kind of ride. The book focuses on the unsolved murder of Jane Britton, a Harvard student in 1969. The author spends TEN years committing to a deep dive into Jane's life to finally figure out what happened. She looks at the initial investigation that was done and retraces what they discovered. She also further explores leads that may or may not have been fully followed in the earlier investigation. In other words, this woman legitimately leaves no stone unturned. She does a deep dive into who Jane was, and she is committed to stopping at nothing to give Jane the closure she deserves. In addition to the research on Jane's murder, this is a book about systems, power and problematic cultures. She does an additional dive into the history of Harvard as it connects to Jane's experience. This is meticulously researched in a way I've very rarely seen as the author takes readers along on her incredible journey to truth and closure. I was fortunate to read an advanced copy, but the good news for y'all is that this is out now! 

The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick was historical fiction with a very unique spin on the dual timeline story. What was unique was the times that each took place was so different. The first vignette is in the 1500s. This explores a real-life mystery connected to the family of Elizabeth I. Then, there's the present day. This focuses on Lizzie Kingdom, a child star, who is drawn into a scandal when her best friend (a rock star)'s wife Amelia is killed. It was interesting to read two stories that were so far apart, yet also see the connections as they were slowly revealed. I was more drawn into the present day storyline, BUT I also learned a lot from the story in the Tudor era as I honestly don't read about it ever. This one had some unexpected turns and definitely some connections I didn't see coming. It was a neat adventure to read something so different from my usual lanes. Thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House Books for letting me go on the journey for this recent release!

Unplugged by Gordon Korman was a middle grade read about a group of kids who become connected due to needing to disconnect (#seewhatididthere) at a "wellness' camp. Each kid finds themselves there for a different reason, and these are revealed as the story goes. The kids also start to realize there are some interesting things happening at camp, and all is not what it seems. They realize they must band together to make it through, and they band together even more so to discover the truth of what's really going on with the adults and activities who are there. This is one of those stories I could see kids totally digging as it has some unexpected twists in relationships and in what's actually going down! Let's just say, there's more to that lizard on the cover than I would have ever guessed, and that's part of the thrill of this one! Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 release!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Reading in the Future Again

For this round, I tried to make a (small) dent in my advanced copies stack/list. It was a quartet that brought lots of unexpected twists and compelling stories that are worth checking out once they're released!

Alone by Megan E. Freeman was a phenomenal middle grade read. It gave me major Hatchet vibes which I so loved. The story focuses on Maddie. Wanting a night alone, she and her friends scheme to have a sleepover at her grandparents' abandoned home. When her friends aren't able to go, Maddie decides to spend the night relaxing solo. However, overnight, there is an evacuation of the area, and Maddie wakes up literally alone. Her family and friends have left. There are signs of the evacuation, but no way to get in touch with anyone. With no other choice, Maddie must figure out how to fend for herself in a world where she is truly and utterly by herself. This was a story written in verse that was so emotional and captivating and beautiful. It is a story of determination and hope and even despair that is just outstanding. As a kid, I loved survival reads, and I loved that this was an updated version of that realm that is truly wonderful for readers of all ages. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 release that y'all are going to need to experience.

Too Good to be True by Carola Lovering was a thriller with some major twists. I would offer the caveat that I found the suspense to be better before the reveals, but a solid plot! It still kept me reading, but the build was the best part as sometimes happens in a thriller. The story focuses on Skye who falls in love with Burke, an older man. He seems perfect - too perfect at times, but she is thrilled to have found love. Heather is introduced as an additional narrator. She seems to have some connection to Skye and/or Burke, but it isn't immediately clear what that might be. The story then builds as two stories are told, and you know there is some intersection, but you just can't figure out what or how. The twists in this one are wild, and I did a legit jaw-drop as it played out which is what always makes me love a thriller. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2021 release.

The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay was a (literal) magical middle grade read. The story focuses on a blended family who moves into a mysterious new home. The home has a strange appeal and vibe, and that's why they are drawn to it. And then things start happening. The story then focuses on the kids trying to understand the magic. Some of it is good, and some of it is bad, so it's navigating what's what and their plan of action. I found it to be a nice, light read. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the advanced copy of this now released read!

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner was historical fiction with all kinds of twists and turns along the way. The historical "happening" that the story focuses on is the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The main character of the story is Sophie. Sophie moves to San Francisco after seeing a newspaper advertisement. Martin is a widower who is looking for a wife to help him with his daughter Kat. Sophie is looking for a fresh start, and this seems like just what she needs. Sophie knows only what her husband tells her about himself. When a stranger shows up at her door when Martin is away, Sophie realizes there is more to Martin than she could have ever realized. The story is focused on all kinds of secrets and lies. The twists were so good as it weaves together the stories of women who discover their connections and must figure out what's next. This is one with twists into its very last pages, and it was such a compelling tale. If historical fiction is your jam, this is one that'll suck you in for sure. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this February 2021 release!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Women I Adore

The thing I will say about this quartet is there were women I just absolutely love connected to 75% of what I read. They gave me feels in so many different ways, and they were just so darn good. 

Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly was a re-imagining of Snow White. One thing you need to know about me is Snow White is my all-time favorite princess. Growing up, I had a Snow White themed bedroom, and I continue to build my collection via antiquing which has become the theme for one of our guest rooms. Anyway, let's talk about the book. But I think the context is important because what I really love about Snow White re-imaginings is how they tap into who she really is. The Disney version only scratches the surface of her bravery and resilience, and I love that a book like this does! This is a story that focuses on Sophie. The story starts with Sophie going into the forest with the huntsman. However from there, the story starts to look a little bit different. It's all the same characters, but there are slight tweaks to how things progress. This is what drives the drama and the emotional connection, and y'all, it's just so well done. The villain in this is also different, but that is what makes this great! As you think about the story of Snow White, this all makes so much sense. Snow White is forever my girl, and I love that she has this new retelling to explore her tale in a powerful and special way. Thanks to Scholastic for the look at this recent release! 

This Secret Thing by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is a story that is literally just secrets on secrets on secrets in the suburbs. There is a prostitution ring, a return from college, a girl just holding secrets of other neighbors, forbidden love, a mystery body, and just so many damn things. What I liked about the story was the multiple narrators who were holding multiple secrets from others who then shared what was really going on. For me though, there was almost too much going on. As I'm reflecting back, I almost feel like I read multiple books instead of just one! However, if you want a domestic thriller with literally all the twists, this is where you need to turn. Even though it was a lot, it kept me reading as I wanted to know how it all (and all was so much) played out. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this recent release!

Nothing Like I Imagined (Except for Sometimes) by Mindy Kaling is a six essay collection. When it comes to Mindy Kaling, my default setting for her work is love. I knew going on that this was going to be something for me. What I especially loved about these was the honesty of this collection. With her humor, she talks about what its like to be a mom, what it means to be a friend, her mental health and just how she is navigating world right now. This is a quick read as I read all of these in under an hour. However, it was just the right amount of Mindy that I needed in my life right now!

Everything Beautiful In Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager was just a beauty of a read. It was a book that had me in tears at times, other times I was smiling as I could relate, and sometimes I just nodded along as I read her amazing words. The book is a tribute to her four grandparents and the life lessons she learned from each of them along the way. As someone who has been fortunate to grow up close with my grandparents, I could relate to so much of what she shared about their connection. This book was just such an incredible tribute to the people who made Jenna who she is today. It also is a tribute to the life each of these humans lived and the impact they had on the family. This book resonated in my heart and soul, and I absolutely loved it. 

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Read in (Almost) One Sitting!

Here we go with another round! These were books that were so good I read them in one sitting - or close to one. They're the kind of books you cannot read fast enough, but also you're bummed when they're over and want them to keep going!

Three Keys by Kelly Yang is the sequel to Front Desk, and it picks right up where the first book left off. The good news for me is I read the first book not so long ago, so I was also fresh on the details. In this one, Mia and her parents are running the Calivista Motel. With this, they are continuing to do all they can to help other immigrants. This group is particularly impacted when Proposition 187 is an upcoming election issue. This is a policy that specifically impacts undocumented immigrants, and it specifically impacts people Mia knows. Things are further complicated when Mia's new teacher critiques her writing, and Mia feels she's promoting anti-immigrant views. Said simply, it's a lot for one girl to navigate, but Mia does. Y'all, these books are so good. This takes place in the nineties, but it is so very relevant for today, and I love how these stories put these issues front and center for kids. Mia is such an incredible character as she fights for what she believes in, and she doesn't give up. I am in love with this author's work!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a book I've finally found my way to. I mean, y'all, I have checked this out from the library so many times, and so many people I've raved about it. This is the selection for my online book club's monthly read, so I finally read this. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?!? The story focuses on Kya, otherwise known as The Marsh Girl. It is both the story of her past and a murder that has happened in the present day of 1969. There are intersections of the stories, and you start to wonder who might be involved. This was such an interesting exploration of love and family and growing up and nature, and it was also a thriller of sorts. It took me a moment to get into it, but once it sucked me in, I couldn't read fast enough. This is such a beautiful read. Don't be like me, and wait - Read this one soon!

Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner focused on a girl with a sensory processing disorder that had such heart and so many feels. Lou is a girl who is doing so much. Her mom is convinced she's going to be the next big country star and pushes her to go to gigs. With this, Lou doesn't really go to school, and she also drives her mom's truck. The latter becomes an issue when Lou (who is TWELVE) crashes the truck. Child Protective Services gets involved, and after the investigation, she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Nashville. Here she goes to school where she falls in with the theatre crowd, and she starts to find stable friends for the first time. However, she's still navigating her SPD - although she finally starts to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. She also is trying to figure out what her relationship with her mom looks like. This is one that dealt with some deep issues, but as I do with so many middle grade reads, I love how it made this accessible for kids. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's for the look at this recent release!

Together, Apart edited by Erin A. Craig was a delightful collection of YA short stories set in the time of COVID. It was a new and interesting experience to read a collection set in "real time," and I so appreciated these stories. I've read a few other books set in 2020 (obviously written before 2020 was a thing), and they obviously just don't work. It was an odd comfort to then read these stories that authentically considered how love happens right now. Each story was unique - in its plot, in its characters, and in the relationship that developed. These each showcased the challenges of relationships in the time of COVID, AND they showed how the characters found opportunity and connection in their situations. This was something different and light, and I needed that. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this recent release!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Reading Through Ruts

Somewhat related to these reads (but more so not), I hit a weird reading rut. Maybe it was because what I read last round was so darn good. I know every book can't be that, but WHY NOT?!? Some stuff in this round was really good, some kept me reading, and some left me wanting more. I also may have had a few I abandoned along the way that won't get a review. I had to have that hard conversation with myself that it's okay to give up a book that's not working. Anyway, here's what I did make it through!

Kent State by Deborah Wiles was such a captivating read told in such an intriguing way. Honestly, I've known something happened at Kent State in the seventies where lives were lost, but I couldn't really explain in depth of what happened that day. This book, written in verse, is an exploration of what happened before, in the moment, and after. It's absolutely beautifully written with multiple perspectives being brought in as it goes. It's almost conversational in nature as different individuals who have a role in the escalation of violence offer their viewpoint. Within these views, there is disagreement and sadness in the outcome. It is such an incredible tragedy what happened on this campus, and it was so powerful to learn about history in such an emotional and thoughtful piece. 

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren is a Christmas story with a Groundhog Day twist. Every Christmas, Mae and her family spend the holidays together with two other families in a Utah cabin. This is a time Mae looks forward to it every year. Mae also looks forward to seeing the subject of her unrequited love - Andrew. This Christmas, Mae instead ends up hooking up with Theo. Mae is frustrated by Andrew's reaction and just where her life is in general. Leaving the cabin, she's very upset and ends up crashing her car into a tree. Everything goes black, but then she wakes up back on the plane before the trip began. This is Mae's moment to get a do-over! This is a light little Christmas romance, so if you're looking for something like that as the holiday season approaches, this is a good place to go. I will say for me that when I read/watch things with a Groundhog Day spin, I expect quite a few iterations of the same day. This version didn't have THAT many. It wasn't a bad thing, I just found I was waiting for more twists to come, but instead it was more romance. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this October release.

Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis was a thriller that had been on my list for awhile. And well, y'all, everyone say this with me, I. Don't. Like. Procedurals. This wasn't fully procedural, but it definitely had that spin, and I just cannot make these work for me. Again, that's about me as the reader. A professor's wife and children are found murdered in a college town, and the professor is nowhere to be found. Detective DeMarco is assigned the case. He knows the professor, and something just doesn't add up. Maybe the answers lie in the professor's unfinished manuscript. And so the investigation begins. . .

The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory was a unique, new genre for me as it combines romance with a thriller, and I liked the spin. The story begins with Princess Thea, part of the monarchy for the country of Drieden, being left at the altar. She doesn't know what has happened, and obviously everyone is talking about the royal wedding gone wrong. Alone in a bar, she runs into Nick. They immediately connect, but she soon learns he's not who he says he is. Nick is the estranged (and presumed dead) brother of her former fiance who is also a spy. That's a lot of things, right? However, Nick lets Thea know he believes there is more to the story of her runaway fiance, and they agree to work together to figure out the truth. What follows is an uncovering of all the secrets. They have to figure out what these all mean, who they can trust, and what they're going to do with what they find out. This again was a different take on a thriller. It kept me reading and guessing as I wanted to know what was at the core of what was going down!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Absolute Must Reads!

Y'all, three of the books are recent releases that I couldn't read fast enough. So much so that I read them in one sitting. You NEED these reads in your life!

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole was a thriller built around the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood. Sydney notices her Brooklyn neighborhood is changing. She is frustrated by the shift, and she also gets the sense something is awry. When she delves further into the history of this place, she becomes even more committed to saving the neighborhood. She also finds an ally in her work in Theo although she does wonder if she can fully trust him. However, she needs help in her quest, so she decides she must work with him. Y'all, this was brilliantly done. It was a deep dive into what gentrification is and does which was really informative. Layered on this gentrification was this eerie suspense-filled plot of what was really happening. Yes, the neighborhood is changing, but why? And where are these people going? This is one that was so darn captivating. It was a different spin on a thriller, and I just loved it!

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds grabbed me by the feels so hard. It was such a unique premise and such a wonderful and emotional story of friendship. Jamal and Q are estranged best friends. Then, Q dies in a tragic accident. Through an experimental procedure, Q is able to come back to life. The only thing is this is a time-bound return, and he has a limited number of days left. During this return, Jamal commits to reconciling with Q and making the most of this time. This means working through the reason the relationship was fractured in the first place. The story then explores the past where the friendship fell apart and what Q's real-time return looks like. This was just so, so well done. I was so drawn into the characters, and I was in literal tears by the end. I don't want to delve too, too much into what really drew me in because that's where the power of this story lies. This is my second Justin A. Reynolds (and I'm ready for me), and I love the masterful way he uses time as a plot device.

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger is a book I featured on a recent blog tour stop here.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson was a powerful and difficult read. The story begins with the murder of R&B singer Korey Fields. Enchanted Jones wakes up covered in blood with no memory of what happened. Surely, she's not responsible for this? The story then treks back through how Korey and Enchanted became connected. Enchanted was a young aspiring singer with dreams of making it big. Korey spots her at a talent competition and takes her under his wing. Taking her under his wing begins to evolve into a very toxic relationship. Korey controls Enchanted's every move through isolation and power plays. Enchanted is literally trapped, and Korey uses lies to further exert his control over her, but also reminds her he's doing it to give her a big break. This was a heavy read given its subject matter, AND it's so important a story like this told. This author covers tough topics in her books in such a captivating and compelling way. 

Onto the next ones! 

Blog Tour - Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

Hey there, y'all! I'm excited to have another blog tour stop. Today, it's for Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger. It's well documented (right here on this blog) how much I love a good thriller, so I was real excited to check this one out!

Confessions on the 7:45 focuses on an informal conversation. You know that random conversation you strike up with that person beside you on public transportation? That's where this story begins! The thing about this exchange is it's not exactly light banter. Martha tells Selena she's having an affair with her boss. Having a big secret of her own, Selena decides to share that her husband is having an affair with their nanny. Selena assumes this is going to be like every other one-off conversation with a stranger and goes on her way. Except, it's not - A few days later, Martha reaches back out and wants to meet up with Selena. 

Then, the plot (literally) thickens as the nanny goes missing. What could have happened? And could this Martha character be involved? Or maybe it's Selena's husband? Selena is left with all the questions, and she isn't sure where she can turn.

This is a story told through multiple narrators which from a thriller perspective is my #1 love. There is Selena's story, and then there are other women involved. Who these women are isn't immediately told, but as they go, you start to see their potential connections to Selena, Martha and/or the nanny. I also liked that one of Selena's kid is a narrator. Having him hold some of the clues to the story was a unique angle I hadn't seen.

Overall, I found this to be a good reliable thriller. It had some good twists and then it had some bonus twists that further showed character connections. If you're like me and just need that good thriller fix in your life, get on this train (#seewhatididthere) and pick this one up! 

And as I sometimes do, here's an excerpt to check out!

***

Chapter Two

Anne

It had been a mistake from the beginning and Anne certainly knew that. You don’t sleep with your boss. It’s really one of the things mothers should teach their daughters. Chew your food carefully. Look both ways before you cross the street. Don’t fuck your direct supervisor no matter how hot, rich, or charming he may happen to be. Not that Anne’s mother had taught her a single useful thing.

Anyway, here she was. Again. Taking it from behind, over the couch in her boss’s corner office with those expansive city views. The world was a field of lights spread wide around them. She tried to enjoy it. But, as was often the case, she just kind of floated above herself. She made all the right noises, though. She knew how to fake it.

“Oh my god, Anne. You’re so hot.”

He pressed himself in deep, moaning.

When he’d first come on to her, she thought he was kidding – or not thinking clearly. They’d flown together to DC to take an important client who was considering leaving the investment firm out to dinner.  In the cab on the way back to the hotel -- while Hugh was on the phone with his wife, he put his hand on Anne’s leg. He wasn’t even looking at Anne when he did it, so for a moment she wondered if it was just absent-mindedness. He was like that sometimes, a little loopy. Overly affectionate, familiar. Forgetful.

His hand moved up her thigh. Anne sat very still. Like a prey animal. Hugh ended the call and she expected him to jerk his hand back. 

Oh! I’m so sorry, Anne, she thought he’d say, aghast at his careless behavior.

But no. His hand moved higher.

 “Am I misreading signals?” he said, voice low.  

Stop. What most people would be thinking: Poor Anne! Afraid for her job, she submits to this predator.

What Anne was thinking: How can I use this to my advantage? She really had been just trying to do her job well, sort of. But it seemed that Pop was right, as he had been about so many things. If you weren’t running a game, someone was running one on you.

Had she subconsciously been putting out signals? Possibly. Yes. Maybe Pop was right about that, too. You don’t get to stop being what you are, even when you try.

They made out like prom dates in the cab, comported themselves appropriately as they walked through the lobby of the Ritz. He pressed against her at the door to her hotel room. She was glad she was wearing sexy underwear, had shaved her legs. 

She’d given Hugh – with his salt and pepper hair, sinewy muscles, flat abs -- the ride of his life that night.  And many nights since. He liked her on top. He was a considerate lover, always asking: Is this good? Are you okay? Confessional: Kate and I – we’ve been married a long time. We both have – appetites. She couldn’t care less about his marriage.

Anne didn’t actually believe in the things other people seemed to value so highly. Fidelity – really? Were you supposed to just want one person your whole life? Marriage. Was there ever anything more set up to fail, to disappoint, to erode? Come on. They were animals. Every last one of them rutting, feral beasts. Men. Women. All of society was held together by gossamer thin, totally arbitrary laws and mores that were always shifting and changing no matter how people clung. They were all just barely in line.

Anne neither expected nor encouraged Hugh to fall in love. In fact, she spoke very little. She listened, made all the right affirming noises. If he noticed that she had told him almost nothing about herself, it didn’t come up. But fall in love with Anne he did. And things were getting complicated.

Now, finished and holding her around the waist, Hugh was crying a little. His body weight was pinning her down. He often got emotional after they made love. She didn’t mind him most of the time. But the whole crying thing -- it was such a turn off. She pushed against him and he let her up. She tugged down her skirt, and he pulled her into an embrace. 

She held him for a while, then wiped his eyes, kissed his tears away. Because she knew that’s what he wanted. She had a special gift for that, knowing what people wanted -- really wanted deep down – and giving them that thing for a while. And that was why Hugh – why anyone – fell in love. Because he loved getting the thing he wanted, even if he didn’t know what that was.

When he moved away finally, she stared at her ghostly reflection in the dark window, wiped at her smeared lipstick.

“I’m going to leave her,” Hugh said. He flung himself on one of the plush sofas. He was long and elegant; his clothes impeccable, bespoke, made from the finest fabrics. Tonight, his silk tie was loose, pressed cotton shirt was wilted, black wool suit pants still looking crisp. Garments, all garments – even just his tennis whites -- hung beautifully on his fit body.

She smiled, moved to sit beside him. He kissed her, salty and sweet. 

“It’s time. I can’t do this anymore,” he went on.

This wasn’t the first time he’d said this. Last time, when she’d tried to discourage him, he’d held her wrists too hard when she tried to leave. There had been something bright and hard in his eyes – desperation. She didn’t want him to get clingy tonight. Emotional.

“Okay,” she said, running her fingers through his hair. “Yeah.”

Because that’s what he wanted to hear, needed to hear. If you didn’t give people what they wanted, they became angry. Or they pulled away. And then the game was harder or lost altogether.

“We’ll go away,” he said, tracing a finger along her jaw. Because of course they’d both lose their jobs. Hugh’s wife Kate owned and ran the investment firm, had inherited the company from her legendary father. Her brothers were on the board. They’d never liked Hugh (this was one of his favorite pillow talk tirades, how Kate’s brothers didn’t respect him). “We’ll take a long trip abroad and figure out what comes next. Clean slate for both of us. Would you like that?”

“Of course,” she said. “That would be wonderful.”

Anne liked her job; when she’d applied and interviewed, she honestly wanted to work at the firm. Numbers made a kind of sense to her, investment a kind of union of logic and magic. Client work was a bit of a game, wasn’t it – convincing people to part with their cash on the promise that you could make them more? She also respected and admired her boss – her lover’s wife -- Kate. A powerful, intelligent woman. 

Maybe Anne should have thought about all of that before she submitted to Hugh’s advances. He wasn’t the power player; she’d miscalculated, or not run the numbers at all. She made mistakes like that sometimes, let the game run her. Pop thought it was a form of self-sabotage. Sometimes, sweetie, I think your heart’s not quite in it. Maybe he was right.

“Ugh,” said Hugh, pulling away, glancing at his watch. “I’m late. I have to change and meet Kate at the fundraiser.”

She rose and walked the expanse of his office, got his tux from the closet, and lay it across the back of the couch. Another stunning item, heavy and silken. She ran her fingers lovingly along the lapel. He rose, and she helped him dress, hanging his other clothes, putting them back in the closet. She did his tie. In his heart, he was a little boy. He wanted to be attended to, cared for. Maybe everyone wanted that.

“You look wonderful,” she said, kissing him. “Have fun tonight.”

He looked at her long, eyes filling again.

“Soon,” he said. “This charade can end.”

She put a gentle hand to his cheek, smiled as sweetly as she could muster and started to move from the room.

“Anne,” he said, grabbing for her hand. “I love you.”

She’d never said it back. She’d said things like “me, too” or she’d send him the heart- eyed emoji in response to a text, sometimes she just blew him a kiss. He hadn’t seemed to notice, or his pride was too enormous to ask her why she never said it, or if she loved him. But mainly, she thought it was because Hugh only saw and heard what he wanted to.

She unlaced her fingers and blew him a kiss. “Goodnight, Hugh.”

His phone rang, and he watched her as he answered. 

“I’m coming, darling,” he said, averting his eyes, moving away. “Just had to finish up with a client.”

She left him, his voice following her down the hall.

In her office, she gathered her things, a strange knot in the pit of her stomach. She sensed that her luck was about to run out here. She couldn’t say why. Just a feeling that things were unsustainable – that it wasn’t going to be as easy to leave Kate as he thought, that on some level he didn’t really want to, that once things reached critical mass, she’d be out of a job. Of course, it wouldn’t be a total loss. She’d make sure of that.  

There was a loneliness, a hollow feeling that took hold at the end. She wished she could call Pop, that he could talk her through. Instead her phone pinged. The message there annoyed her.

This is wrong, it said. I don’t want to do this anymore.

Just stay the course, she wrote back. It’s too late to back out now.

Funny how that worked. At the critical moment, she had to give the advice she needed herself. The student becomes the teacher. No doubt, Pop would be pleased.

Anne glanced at the phone. The little dots pulsed, then disappeared. The girl, younger, greener, would do what she was told. She always had. So far.

Anne looked at her watch, imbued with a bit of energy. If she hustled, she could just make it.

Excerpted from Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger, Copyright © 2020 by Lisa Unger. Published by Park Row Books.

***

About the Book

Be careful who you tell your darkest secrets...

Selena Murphy is commuting home from her job in the city when the train stalls out on the tracks. She strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat, and their connection is fast and easy. The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she's been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena's station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.

But days later, Selena's nanny disappears.

Soon Selena finds her once-perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she'll discover.

Expertly plotted and reminiscent of the timeless classic Strangers on a Train, Confessions on the 7:45 is a stunning web of lies and deceit, and a gripping thriller about the delicate facades we create around our lives.

About the Author

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of eighteen novels, including CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (Oct. 2020). With millions of readers worldwide and books published in twenty-six languages, Unger is widely regarded as a master of suspense. Her critically acclaimed books have been voted "Best of the Year" or top picks by the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, IndieBound and others. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

Buy Links:

Harlequin 

Indiebound

Barnes & Noble 

Books-A-Million

Target

Social Links

Author Website: https://lisaunger.com/

TWITTER: @lisaunger

FB: @authorlisaunger  

Insta: @launger

Book Reviews - Connecting with ALL the Feels

Y'all, I'm keeping the introduction short here as this quartet was just wonderful. The common thread was the emotions they evoked, and these are books you absolutely need in your life!

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen was a book I just connected with and loved so very, very much. The story focuses on Codi. Codi's teenage years aren't what she imagined. Namely she hasn't ever been kissed, has never been in a relationship, and she isn't into the party scene. Instead she spends her time with her two best friends Martiza and JaKory mostly watching TV in their basement. One night, Maritza and JaKory go to a party, and they call asking Codi to pick them up. On her way to do this, she stumbles on Ricky, one of the "cool kids" kissing another guy in the dark. Ricky isn't out, so this is a secret he needs Codi to keep. As a gay woman, Codi understands why this is necessary and agrees. With this secret, Ricky and Codi also form a real friendship, and Ricky starts inviting Codi to hang out with his friends. Codi loves this new world, but she also doesn't let her old friends know what she's doing. The story then weaves through Codi navigating the new life she's found, as well as who she was before and just who she is as a human navigating the world. Y'all, Codi just had my heart in this one. I resonated with the shy girl who was trying to figure out who she was. Back when, I also thought I was missing out on some part of my experience - 20 years later, I can assure that I'm just fine, but I transported back to that place through Codi. I also just loved the emergence of the friendship between Ricky and Codi. This was just a wonderful gem of a story all around.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart was one emotional ride. WOW. The story focuses on Coyote and her father. They are traveling the country in a school bus that's been repurposed as their residence. They have been on the road since Coyote (and her dad who goes by Rodeo) lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash. Then, Coyote finds out that a park in her hometown is being demolished. This wouldn't be a big deal except her mom and sisters had buried a secret box there together. Coyote knows she has to go back for this, but she knows her dad won't be on board. She devises a plan to get them there. This plan starts to involve others as they encounter other wayward travelers who need a ride to their next stop. Y'all, this was such a beautiful story of grief and resilience and memory and healing. Quite frankly, I was blown away just how much emotion was plugged into this one, but I also loved how much heart was in Coyote's story. This is one you must pick up as it's absolutely, completely beautiful in its feels and authenticity.

When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert was a book that drew me in mostly because it had an orchestra connection. Anything that involves a high school orchestra is going to take me back to my own happy place and just connect with my heart. Anyway, this isn't about me. At its core, this is a story about growing up, but wanting things to say the same. Beth very much wants that with her groups of friends. Things start to become more difficult when they see an act of violence occur in Jason's home. Seeing his reality creates worry and concern and complexity. Additionally, they're each trying to figure out what's next. The group has a want to enter into the next chapter of life together, but the universe (or college admissions) may have other plans. This was one that was so real in its portrayal of the emotions that come with high school friendship and growing up. I mean, y'all, I really, really felt this one as I read. If I think back to teenage me (who still is inside of me in many regards), I would have loved and very much connected with this angst. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2021 release!

Majesty by Katharine McGee was a sequel I have been craving ever since the last pages of American Royals. This one picks up the moment where the first book stops. I won't tell you what that moment is as I don't want to spoil the journey. Once again, the book focuses on the (love) stories of four young women - Beatrice, Samantha, Nina and Daphne. I don't want to say too much because the joy is again in the journey, and I wouldn't want to give too much away. I will say that this did not play out as I expected. If you would have asked me after the first book what I wanted to happen, I would have very definite answers. Well, this one still had some twists and turns in these stories up its sleeve. I mostly need my friends who read this one to read this now, so I can discuss the many, many feels I have at this one. Specifically, I have strong feelings about one particular outcome. Also, I hope there is another book in this series as I am so darn captivated by this crew!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Made Up and Growing Up

Okay, y'all, for this round, I read so many different rounds - in the best of ways. There was a thriller, there was a thriller with a bit more of a horror spin, there was a novel in verse about growing up, and there was a novel about growing up with a fantasy spin. I loved each of these because of their uniqueness - in characters, in plot twists, in format, in literally everything. They couldn't have been more different, but I couldn't have collectively loved them more!

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was such a beautifully written story. Honestly, I want to read this one again just to be swept away in the author's words again! The story focuses on Noemi. Noemi gets a concerning letter from her newly married cousin. After receiving the letter, Noemi decides to head to her cousin's mansion to figure out what's happening. She doesn't exactly know what she's going to do, but she knows she needs to do something. Once she arrives, she realizes something is definitely up, and it seems to possibly be in the realm of haunting/evil. The story is then "stuff" happening, and Noemi trying to find out the truth. I don't want to say too, too much because I want y'all to get the full effect of the twisty journey. This again is so wonderfully written. While it focuses on horror, I was just so darn captivated and swept away by the storytelling! 

The Places We Sleep by Caroline DuBois Brooks was such a wonderful and emotional middle grade novel written in verse. On September 11, 2001, there are the terrorist attacks, and Abbey gets her period. Because there is a family connection to the attacks, Abbey's mother is not able to be there for her as she might normally be, so Abbey is navigating what has happened alone. In addition, there is added anxiety for Abbey as her father is in the Army, and she worries what this attack means for him. Also, Abbey is the new girl as her father has recently been assigned to the base, so she doesn't yet have friends she can turn to as she navigates all the feels. This was so, so beautifully written. Given the target audience is kids who weren't alive to know what 9/11 was like, this does a great job of capturing the emotion of that day and the days following through the eyes of a kid. Additionally, it also focuses and names what it's like to get your period. I've noticed this as a topic that is being covered more and more in middle grade reads, and y'all, thank goodness. It's something that's important to normalize! This was just such a wonderful journey through Abbey's eyes and with such beautiful words!

Breadcrumbs by Anna Ursu was a truly captivating modern-day fairy tale. Hazel and Jack have been best friends forever. However, they're getting to the age where people start to question a boy and a girl being best friends, and that has an impact on them. Hazel notices they've started to drift apart, and that's hard for her. Then, Jack completely vanishes. Even though they haven't been spending much time together lately, Hazel just knows something is awry. She commits to figuring out what has really happened to her friend. This means she has to go into the woods after him. Y'all, in the woods, it is a literal other world, and Hazel encounters all the things. However, she's committed to finding Jack, so she treks through it all. This was such a unique blend of a real-time story with the elements of a fairy tale fantasy, and I was so drawn into this angle. I loved the driving force of friendship with a side of magic and mystery throughout. This is truly one that's a story good for all ages that I just adored!

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley was the latest read for my book club. I opted to do the audiobook. With that, I loved the narration, especially because it used different readers for different characters which is my personal audio preference. That said, it also took me some time to really "get" which voice was which person as there were multiple timelines and threads at play, but once I did, it was a wild ride y'all! The story focuses on a group of thirtysomething friends who have gotten together for a trip out in the country. The core group has known each other since college, and this trip has become an annual time to reconnect. However, this trip involves a death. The death is revealed early, but you aren't told who has been killed, and there is obvs also a killer involved. The story then backtracks through their time at the resort, as well as where their relationships have been. As the different narrators share their perspective, you start to see the cracks in the foundation of some of these friendships. With these cracks, you start to consider who might have been the perpetrator and victim of the crime. Y'all, the twist on this one was so darn good. I'd been craving a good jaw-dropping twist, and this was just what I needed. This was just a solid thriller all around!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews- Reads from the Future

This round of reads was all advanced copies. I love reading ARCs because I feel like I'm a reading time traveller. It also means I get to hype up books that aren't yet out, and I then get to hype them up again when they're released. So, here are some reads for your future!

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake was a book that just made me smile. This is an absolute delight of a story. Badger reluctantly gets a roommate in Skunk. The two could not be more different, and Badger really struggles with this. However, with time, he softens to this unlikely pal. For me, this was reminiscent of Frog and Toad, another unlikely duo I adore! These were just such wonderful adventures (and I cannot wait to read more) that would be great for kids, families and really anyone who loves woodland creatures and/or opposites attract stories.

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate was a really interesting exploration of the author's experience with group therapy. Going into this, I knew very little about what group therapy actually looked like. That said, this was also a very unique therapy experience, so the book is really about exploring the author's specific experiences versus a commentary on any type of group therapy. The book covers years and a number of groups that Christie enters into at the directive of her therapist Dr. Rosen. At times, she doubts his advice and his facilitation, but she sticks with his process. Throughout, she is candid about what she is going through with regard to her mental health, with her group, and with the assignments and realities she must navigate. Honestly, I don't know that I would be willing to go this deep into my own mental health as a memoir, so I have respect that someone else was able to do this. Overall, this one was interesting in that it's a focus I didn't know much about and within that focus, it was about one woman's full, honest and complete journey. Thanks to Avid Reader Press for the early look at this October 2020 release.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins was just the thriller I had been craving y'all! I have needed something that was full of all the twists and drama, and this was so much of that. This story starts with a focus on Jane. Jane is a dogwalker in an upscale neighborhood. She has many clients in the gated community, and then she meets Eddie. Eddie is a wealthy widower, who doesn't even have a dog, but gets one just to connect with Jane. The two quickly connect and before long, Jane is living with Eddie. With Eddie, however, there is mystery and secrets around Eddie's wife Bea's death. The story is mainly told from Jane's point of view, but there are stories from Bea's point of view to slowly reveal the truth behind what really happened. This is one that kept me reading - literally I stayed up way too late one night because I was so drawn in. And the twists of this one were just so, so good! I could say a million ways how brilliantly this one was pieced together. You know there are secrets, but the characters are also so damn good at hiding them and making you believe their lies as you read. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 read. This will be one you're going to need to check out in the new year!

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay was a thriller that drew me in right away, and it didn't let me go until its very last pages. Matt, a college student, finds out his whole family has been murdered in Mexico as this story begins. This is now the second time his family has made headlines. His brother Danny was the subject of a true crime podcast focused on his brother's murder conviction. While Danny confessed to murdering his girlfriend, the podcast was about a potential wrongful conviction. With this new tragedy, Matt is thrown into figuring out what actually happened to his family and who is responsible. There seems to be more to the tragedy, and Matt also wonders if this connects to his brother Danny. The story focuses on the present day crime (and investigation) that has happened, but also looks back at Danny's story. The past and present weave together to help the reader figure out what might have really happened in both instances. This kept me reading as clues were revealed along the way. Multiple family members served as narrators, so it was especially captivating to piece together what happened (with both crimes) through their eyes. This one was so well done, and it is a literal page turner that I devoured. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2021 release!

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Captivating Characters

Oh, hey. So, the title of these reviews should really be called - Half captivating characters and half "meh" reads. You should be able to tell what's what because you do get honest reviews from me. So, here's what's what!

A Burning by Megha Majumdar is the story of three people with choices that intersect and impact one another. It was such a captivating read that I literally devoured it in one sitting as I needed to know how it all ended, and I was emotionally invested in so many ways. The story focuses on Jivan. Jivan is a Muslim girl who is accused of a terrorist attack based on a Facebook comment she made. With her thrust into the spotlight, PT Sir sees an opportunity. PT is her former teacher, and he aspires to be recognized within the right-wing political party. He feels he can use his connection to Jivan to further his own agenda and status. Then, there is Lovely. Lovely is an aspiring actress. She is Jivan's alibi as Jivan was on her way to tutor her in English to help her get more acting jobs. However, to sympathize with Jivan could ruin her career, so she must decide if she wants to speak up. This was one about all the dilemmas through the eyes of each character. At times, it was frustrating because as the reader I knew what Jivan did and didn't do, but the drama was built by the twists of Jivan AND Lovely AND PT's stories. It also is a brilliant exploration of right versus wrong and the allegiances we choose. This one guaranteed to get you thinking and processing as there's just so much to explore!

Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella was a read I have mixed feelings about. The story begins at a writer's retreat. As part of the retreat, the attendees don't reveal their true identities and instead take on aliases. At the retreat "Aria" (Ava) and "Dutch" (Matt) form an electric connection. With this, they know very little about who the other person really is, and they like it that way focusing instead on their chemistry. As the retreat ends, they realize they both live in London. They decide to keep seeing each other outside of the retreat, and that's where things get quite complicated. The complexities are honestly where I struggled as a reader. I think when you read a rom-com-esque book, there's something that you find yourself rooting for. Honestly, y'all, I knew what I was supposed to be rooting for, and I just couldn't get there. I anticipated where things were going to end, and I found myself seriously questioning if that was what was best. Independent of all the issues before, the ending was cute. However, because of all the mess before then, I didn't end this reading with that "Awww" feeling of a love story. I have loved so many of Sophie Kinsella's stories, and I'll definitely be back for more, but this round just didn't land for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an early look at this October 2020 release.

The Woods by Harlan Coben was a book I picked up because I was craving a good thriller in my life. Coben is generally an author I can turn to in this genre to get that fix. This round of Cohen focused on a prosecutor's past (and present). Twenty years ago, his sister and other teens were murdered in the woods. Her body was never recovered. In the present, Paul is approached by detectives about a murder victim. This victim appears to be one of the other teens whose body was never recovered. Could it be possible that what was thought to be true in those woods back when wasn't? Paul then begins to re-explore this event and finds out the woods have more secrets than he realized. This kept me reading as I did want to know what the truth was - I know, I know, that's what thrillers are meant to do. I will say the twists came late in this one - almost too late. And y'all, they were some big twists. I actually found they were so big I wanted more of that and less of the other stuff that'd come before!

Front Desk by Kelly Yang was just a delight of a middle-grade read. The story focuses on Mia. Mia and her immigrant parents are managing the front desk at a local motel. Mia hides this information from her classmates as she worries she will be judged. Mia's family keep additional secrets from the owner of the motel as they are helping other immigrants by giving them shelter at the motel. The story focuses on Mia's experiences working at the front desk. Some of this means she is faced with some really intense situations that most kids shouldn't have to go through. However, this also means the readers gets to see these real-life scenarios through Mia's eyes. I loved that this book was one that brought honesty to the story in this way. This story is also about Mia becoming comfortable with who she is. Being an immigrant, she struggles, especially with how she learns English. It shows the work she puts in to becoming more comfortable with the language and how this connects to her passion for writing. I love, love, LOVED this one y'all. It had so much heart and was full of feels along the way. I'm thrilled the story of Mia and her family is going to continue because I just adored their journey.

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Need to Read

For this round of reads, these were books I "needed to read for one reason or another: Darius was because it was a sequel, and I needed to know what happened next, Hamilton was for my online book club, Burnout was because I wanted to more on the topic. Beneath the Ashes was because I needed a thriller in my life. And here's the results/reviews of those needs. . .

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram is (obviously) the sequel to Darius the Great Is Not Okay. The nice thing for me is I read the first book not too long ago, so Darius' story was fresh in my mind. I was really happy to have the opportunity to reconnect with Darius as a character so soon. The way he's written with such authenticity and around his emotions is just so, so outstanding. This story is shortly after Darius has returned from visiting his family in Iran. Darius is now on the soccer team, and he has his first boyfriend who works with him at a tea shop. In addition to this, he's still navigating being teased at school and some complexities in other relationships. Y'all, I absolutely love how real Darius is written. There is an honesty and relatability to his story, and I truly feel the feels he endures. I also am so drawn in by the stories around his family - Again, these are full of emotion, and it's just so darn captivated. Darius is a character I have grown to love so very much. If you've read the first book in this story, Darius is a character you'll love coming back to. If you haven't yet met him, read the first book to get to know Darius, then I guarantee you'll be ready for the next one.

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs was an interesting read. This is historical fiction from both Hamilton and Eliza's points of view. I  have to note that it is impossible at this point for me to not read/think about Alexander Hamilton without thinking about Hamilton. As I read, I found myself making the connections to songs from the musical. I did appreciate that this book also shared additional pieces from Hamilton's story that aren't covered as wholly in the musical. I liked that this gave more voice to those stories, as well as more about Eliza. More than anything though, I found this left me with a yearning to turn on Disney+ and watch the musical yet again.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski was a fantastic piece about how women experience stress and more so burnout. It examined how our culture has actually set women up for burnout. It named the unhealthy norms and expectations that have led us to here. It first names what women are asked to give and how that giving is what leads to burnout. With this, it explains this phenomenon using science. It helps you to understand how you body is (mis)managing stress and what you can do to make it better. Throughout, it doesn't shame anyone that they have landed in the world of overwhelm and exhaustion, rather it names that this has become too normal, and there are things we can do to change the narrative. Throughout, I found "nuggets" for my own life, as well as ones I want to use to educate others. I so appreciate these sisters doing the intentional work to talk about something that is such an issue for so many.

Beneath the Ashes by Dea Poirer was a book I picked up because I hadn't read a thriller in a while. I've said this many times, and I'll say it here once more - Procedural thrillers are just not my jam. It's nothing against this genre or this specific book, but I've learned that for my reader profile, this isn't where I get maximum thriller thrills. Anyway. Quick summary for those who do like procedurals - This focuses on a detective named Claire. She's called a motel where a woman has been murdered, and some of the components looked eerily similar to the murder of her sister. Claire is then trying to piece together any connections as she works to find this woman's killer. I think what I ultimately wanted her was a few more "breadcrumbs" to follow Claire's work. I love those jaw-dropping reveals as a character does their work, and this just didn't build enough suspense for me in that way. I do owe a thanks to NetGalley for letting me check this one out.

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - Four Kinds of Feels

Y'all, what a ride this quartet provided - literally four very different books that evoked four very different types of feels. Read on to learn more. . .

Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone was a fantastic middle grade read about the ridiculousness that are dress codes that unfairly target girls. I can even remember my own high school dress code from twenty years ago! That said, I'm glad there is a book girls can read that gives voice to how problematic these are. The story focuses on Molly. Molly has decided to start a podcast after Olivia is "dress coded." Olivia has to take her sweatshirt off and tie it around her waist. When she's asked to put it back on, she cannot because of something else that has happened. Due to this, their class trip is canceled as the deal with the administration was the class would get a special trip if no one was "dress coded" all year. Molly then connects with a number of other students who have had negative experiences with the dress code and spotlights them on the podcast. She and other students also look at another avenues to enact change. This was just such a smart and powerful story. It got real REAL about the damage these codes cause and how they impact girls. I love that there is a book for this age group about this important topic!

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousins was a story about two people who'd always been connected. Quinn and Minnie (Cooper - yes, that's her real name) were born in the same hospital over New Years' Eve/Day. Minnie's name was actually supposed to be Quinn until Quinn's mother "stole" the name, so Minnie's mom had to go with something else. Minnie has heard this story for years, and it isn't until New Years' Eve 2019 that she finally meets Quinn. The story then progresses through "real time" with Quinn and Minnie, while also showing New Years' Eves and Days past. What the flashbacks reveal is there two stories have unknowingly intersected before, and it also shows where Minnie in particular has struggled with the day to the point she believes it's cursed. In real-time, Quinn and Minnie keep running into each other and build a relationship. I will say I could kind of guess how this was going to play out, BUT I still really enjoyed the journey getting to that point. Sometimes you need some love and predictability, and this so met that need for me. This was a delight of a read! Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this December 2020 release.

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb is a book I've known about forever, but have not read until (obviously) now. I can even remember my mom buying this book when it was an Oprah's Book Club selection way back when. I do think it was a book best read by thirtysomething me. This is such an emotional journey with captivating writing. The story focuses on Dolores who goes through some stuff, then more stuff, and then even more stuff. Y'all therewas so much emotion and feels reading through this. I'm glad to have finally had the experience of reading this one even 28 years after its initial release.

Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar was such a throwback. I loved the Wayside School books as a kid, and I didn't even know there was a fourth in the series until my sister-in-law posted about it. To be honest, I probably should have re-read the others to reconnect with the source material, and I would recommend this for maximum enjoyment. However, it was still the same ol' Wayside shenanigans. It was ridiculousness and quirkiness, and it's just what made me as a kid love this series.

Onto the next ones!

Book Reviews - A Round of Feels

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick was kind of like the parts of Annie where she's in the orphanage, but there wasn't any music, and it was just really, really sad. The story focuses on two sisters Luella and Effie. One day Luella disappears. Effie suspects that Luella might have gone to the House of Mercy, a home for wayward girls in their neighborhood. So, Effie decides she's going to get admitted to the house to find and rescue her sister. Except here's the thing, she's not there. However, Effie cannot just leave the House. This is her new reality, and she must do the work expected of her. The environment of the House of Mercy is rough, and it was hard to read about this place that was offering anything but mercy. It was also hard to read about the anguish Effie's family felt as they tried to find her. This was a really, really heavy read. I knew this might be the case when I read the description, but it was also more feels than even that led on. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this recent release. 

Happily Ever After and Everything In Between by Debbie Tung was another delightful comic set by this creator. I've read all three of her collections, and I just love everything about them. This one focuses on the realities of love and marriage. The beauty is in the way it spotlights the everyday love that is present in relationships. It spotlights the "lovey" stuff, but also the quirkiness and the laughs. These collections do such a fantastic job of giving voice/illustration to what life is like. There were so many of these vignettes where I nodded and chuckled as I read. These collections I turn to when I just need a smile, and yet again, this one hit the spot.

The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun King was spotlighted on a recent blog tour available here.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett was such a unique and captivating read. The story starts with twins - Desiree and Stella. As teenagers, they decide to run away from their small Louisiana hometown. With time, the sisters go different ways. The story then picks up years later. One sister has moved back to that small town with her black daughter, while the other sister is living a lie as everyone in her life believes she is white, including her husband and daughter. The story then goes through the years as these stories unexpectedly intersect. I'll be honest that this one started a little slow as I wasn't quite sure what I was reading, but once I was sucked in, I couldn't read fast enough! The story really built as it went, especially as the sisters' paths converged once more in ways I just did not see coming. This was such a wonderful story about identities - both the ones we have, the ones we choose, and of course, the ones we hide. This was also a story unlike any I'd read in such a great way. Also, I really, really wanted to know more. I was so drawn into their worlds that I wanted more of their lives, and I would love to know what's next! 

Onto the next ones!

Blog Tour - The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

I'm excited to once again be hosting a blog tour stop. Today's stop is for The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim.

I went into this book not quite knowing what to expect. Was it more a mystery? Was it going to have some twists? Was it a drama? What is going to be full of secrets? The answer is it was a little bit of all of these things, and that's what made it work.

When Margot's mother won't return her calls, she begins to worry something isn't right. She drives to LA with her friend Miguel, and there she finds her mother is dead. The question is then of course, what happened? Margot feels there has to be more to the story, and she looks for answers.

In addition to Margot's present-day experience, there is the story of Mina's past. Margot never knew her father, and this backstory explores who that man was. In addition, the backstory is about when Mina first came to LA and what she left behind. The look into the past is really about who Mina was before she was Margot's mom. The reality is there were many secrets and stories Margot never knew. 

With the past and the present alternating, the story creeps closer to what the truth about Mina's death is. But more than that, it creeps toward an understanding of who Mina truly was. What I really liked about this is how it showed how much Mina hadn't told Margot. It was really about how much of her identity and story she had kept hidden. It was an interesting reflection to think about how we often have a "before" of who we are. Before we were in a relationship or have a family or start a new job and/or move somewhere new, we had another version of ourselves. We choose how that previous iteration of self is part of our new identity/experience, and this was a spotlight on what that looks like.

Y'all, this is a story full of feels. It is a daughter navigating tragedy, but it's also about a mother trying to find where she and her daughter fit into the world. It was an emotional ride for sure.

And as I often do, here's an excerpt to help you see more of this powerful story!

***

Margot's final conversation with her mother had seemed so uneventful, so ordinary—another choppy bilingual plod. Half-understandable. 

Business was slow again today. Even all the Korean businesses downtown are closing. 

What did you eat for dinner?

Everyone is going to Target now, the big stores. It costs the same and it's cleaner.

Margot imagined her brain like a fishing net with the loosest of weaves as she watched the Korean words swim through. She had tried to tighten the net before, but learning another language, especially her mother's tongue, frustrated her. Why didn't her mother learn to speak English?

But that last conversation was two weeks ago. And for the past few days, Margot had only one question on her mind: Why didn't her mother pick up the phone?

****

Since Margot and Miguel had left Portland, the rain had been relentless and wild. Through the windshield wipers and fogged glass, they only caught glimpses of fast food and gas stations, motels and billboards, premium outlets and "family fun centers." Margot’s hands were stiff from clenching the steering wheel. The rain had started an hour ago, right after they had made a pit stop in north Portland to see the famous 31-foot-tall Paul Bunyan sculpture with his cartoonish smile, red-and-white checkered shirt on his barrel chest, his hands resting on top of an upright axe.

Earlier that morning, Margot had stuffed a backpack and a duffel with a week's worth of clothes, picked up Miguel from his apartment with two large suitcases and three houseplants, and merged onto the freeway away from Seattle, driving Miguel down for his big move to Los Angeles. They'd stop in Daly City to spend the night at Miguel's family's house, which would take about ten hours to get to. At the start of the drive, Miguel had been lively, singing along to "Don't Stop Believing" and joking about all the men he would meet in LA. But now, almost four hours into the road trip, Miguel was silent with his forehead in his palm, taking deep breaths as if trying hard not to think about anything at all.

"Everything okay?" Margot asked.

"I'm just thinking about my parents."

"What about your parents?" Margot lowered her foot on the gas.

"Lying to them," he said.

"About why you're really moving down to LA?" The rain splashed down like a waterfall. Miguel had taken a job offer at an accounting firm in a location more conducive to his dreams of working in theatre. For the last two years, they had worked together at a nonprofit for people with disabilities. She was as an administrative assistant; he crunched numbers in finance. She would miss him, but she was happy for him, too. He would finally finish writing his play while honing his acting skills with classes at night. "The theatre classes? The plays that you write? The Grindr account?"

"About it all."

"Do you ever think about telling them?"

"All the time." He sighed. "But it's easier this way."

"Do you think they know?"

"Of course, they do. But..." He brushed his hand through his hair. "Sometimes, agreeing to the same lie is what makes a family family, Margot."

"Ha. Then what do you call people who agree to the same truth?"

"Uh, scientists?"

She laughed, having expected him to say friends. Gripping the wheel, she caught the sign for Salem.

"Do you need to use the bathroom?" she asked.

"I'm okay. We're gonna stop in Eugene, right?"

"Yeah, should be another hour or so."

"I'm kinda hungry." Rustling in his pack on the floor of the backseat, he found an apple, which he rubbed clean with the edge of his shirt. "Want a bite?"

"Not now, thanks."

His teeth crunched into the flesh, the scent cracking through the odor of wet floor mats and warm vents. Margot was struck by a memory of her mother's serene face—the downcast eyes above the high cheekbones, the relaxed mouth—as she peeled an apple with a paring knife, conjuring a continuous ribbon of skin. The resulting spiral held the shape of its former life. As a child, Margot would delicately hold this peel like a small animal in the palm of her hand, this proof that her mother could be a kind of magician, an artist who told an origin story through scraps—this is the skin of a fruit, this is its smell, this is its color.

"I hope the weather clears up soon," Miguel said, interrupting the memory. "It gets pretty narrow and windy for a while. There's a scary point right at the top of California where the road is just zigzagging while you're looking down cliffs. It's like a test to see if you can stay on the road."

"Oh, God,” Margot said. “Let's not talk about it anymore."

As she refocused on the rain-slicked road, the blurred lights, the yellow and white lines like yarn unspooling, Margot thought about her mother who hated driving on the freeway, her mother who no longer answered the phone. Where was her mother?

The windshield wipers squeaked, clearing sheets of rain.

"What about you?" Miguel asked. "Looking forward to seeing your mom? When did you see her last?"

Margot's stomach dropped. "Last Christmas," she said. "Actually, I've been trying to call her for the past few days to let her know, to let her know that we would be coming down." Gripping the wheel, she sighed. "I didn't really want to tell her because I wanted this to be a fun trip, but then I felt bad, so..."

"Is everything okay?"

"She hasn't been answering the phone."

"Hmm." He shifted in his seat. "Maybe her phone battery died?"

"It's a landline. Both landlines—at work and at home."

"Maybe she's on vacation?"

"She never goes on vacation." The windshield fogged, revealing smudges and streaks, past attempts to wipe it clean. She cranked up the air inside.

"Hasn't she ever wanted to go somewhere?"

"Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. I don't know why, but she's always wanted to go there."

"It's a big ol' crack in the ground, Margot. Why wouldn't she want to see it? It's God's crack."

"It's some kind of Korean immigrant rite of passage. National Parks, reasons to wear hats and khaki, stuff like that. It's like America America."

"I bet she's okay,” Miguel said. “Maybe she's just been busier than usual, right? We'll be there soon enough."

"You're probably right. I'll call her again when we stop."

A heaviness expanded inside her chest. She fidgeted with the radio dial but caught only static with an occasional glimpse of a commercial or radio announcer's voice.

Her mother was fine. They would all be fine.

With Miguel in LA, she'd have more reasons to visit now.

The road lay before them like a peel of fruit. The windshield wipers hacked away the rivers that fell from the sky.

Excerpted from The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim,
Copyright © 2020 by Nancy Jooyoun Kim Published by Park Row Books

***

About the Book

THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE (on sale: September 1, 2020; Park Row Books; Hardcover; $27.99 US/ $34.99 CAN). opens when Margot Lee’s mother, Mina, doesn’t return her calls. It’s a mystery to twenty-six-year-old Margot, until she visits her childhood apartment in Koreatown, Los Angeles, and finds that her mother has suspiciously died. The discovery sends Margot digging through the past, unraveling the tenuous and invisible strings that held together her single mother’s life as a Korean War orphan and an undocumented immigrant, only to realize how little she truly knew about her mother.

Interwoven with Margot's present-day search is Mina's story of her first year in Los Angeles as she navigates the promises and perils of the American myth of reinvention. While she's barely earning a living by stocking shelves at a Korean grocery store, the last thing Mina ever expects is to fall in love. But that love story sets in motion a series of events that have consequences for years to come, leading up to the truth of what happened the night of her death.

About the Author

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nancy Jooyoun Kim is a graduate of UCLA and the MFA Creative Writing Program at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, Guernica, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s The Margins, The Offing, the blogs of Prairie Schooner and Kenyon Review, and elsewhere. Her essay, “Love (or Live Cargo),” was performed for NPR/PRI’s Selected Shorts in 2017 with stories by Viet Thanh Nguyen, Phil Klay, and Etgar Keret. THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE is her first novel.

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