Holiday Country was an interesting read because it explores Turkish culture, mother-daughter dynamics, and the desire to belong, among other 3.5 stars
Holiday Country was an interesting read because it explores Turkish culture, mother-daughter dynamics, and the desire to belong, among other things. Even though I struggled to understand some of the main character's decisions, I don't consider that a total negative. I'll take a complex character over one who is picture perfect any day of the week.
Every summer Ada along with her mother, Meltem, travel to her grandmother's villa in a Turkish seaside town. Meltem grew up in Turkey but after getting married she moved to the United States which is where Ada was raised. Since coming to the US, Meltem has pretty much lost her identity and feels stuck between two countries. Ada struggles with this feeling of not truly belonging in Turkey. When Ada meets, Levent, a man from Meltem's past, he might further complicate matters.
By the time I picked up this book after winning it in 老虎机稳赢方法 giveaway, I had long forgotten the publisher synopsis. So yeah, I was thrown for a loop when the story goes in a direction I had not forseen. Up until that point I felt like I was understanding the story the author was trying to tell. This is one of those times I'd greatly benefit from either a book club discussion or reading an interview with the author and talking about the characters' motivations.
Murder By Degrees piqued my interest because I love mysteries and the 19th century Philadelphia setting offered something different. I liked 3.5 stars
Murder By Degrees piqued my interest because I love mysteries and the 19th century Philadelphia setting offered something different. I liked this book quite a bit and am hoping the author sees the potential for a series here as it features a strong female lead character.
In 1875, Dr. Lydia Weston sees patients but also is a professor at a women's medical college. When the body of her patient, Anna Ward, is found in a river, Lydia helps with the police investigation.
The time period allowed the author to explore topics like gender roles, social class, etc. which gave the story depth. While the actual mystery is decent, Lydia herself is just as much of a reason to give this book a chance. A woman who is not afraid to speak her mind during a time when it certainly wasn't popular to do so.
Recommend if you enjoy historical mysteries.
Thank you Book Club Favorites for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed my honest opinion....more
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons is the 7th book in the Millennium series, aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Stieg Larsson created th3.5 stars
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons is the 7th book in the Millennium series, aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Stieg Larsson created the series and wrote the first three books but sadly passed away before they were published. David Lagercrantz was hired by the publisher to write the next three books. This book is Karin Smirnoff's first crack at continuing the story of Lisbeth Salander.
In my opinion, book 7 is comparable to the fourth and fifth books written by David Lagercrantz. By that I mean, there's enough going on to hold my interest and a decent attempt is made to remain true to foundation of the characters. They don't hold a candle to that original trilogy but that's next to an impossible task in my view. Karin Smirnoff did a good job moving things in a bit of a new direction and that has left me reenergized at what's to come with future books.
Thank you Knopf for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a epistolary novel which means it was written in the form of things like emails, text messages,3.5 stars
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is a epistolary novel which means it was written in the form of things like emails, text messages, transcripts, etc.. The Alperton Angels is a cult who convinced a teenage girl her baby was the anti-Christ. Some people wind up dead and the mom and baby basically disappeared. Approximately 18 years later and true crime writer Amanda Bailey is researching the case for a book and is hoping to discover the whereabouts of the baby who would now be an adult. But that鈥檚 probably going to be easier said than done.
I absolutely loved Janice Hallett鈥檚 The Appeal and The Christmas Appeal which were epistolary mysteries as well. Unfortunately, the Alperton Angels didn鈥檛 hold my interest quite as much. The story can be challenging to follow at times because it鈥檚 complicated and not exactly straightforward. So it does require some patience to see how it will all play out. I was completely shocked, but in a good way, as Hallett made a bold move towards the end. It鈥檚 honestly what elevated my opinion of the book as a whole.
A little bit of a bumpy reading experience but I appreciate the creativity in this mystery.
Thank you Book Club Favorites Insiders for providing a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
One of the reasons I love the historical fiction genre is it gives me the opportunity to learn about a person or event. In this instance, I w4.5 stars
One of the reasons I love the historical fiction genre is it gives me the opportunity to learn about a person or event. In this instance, I wasn't familiar with midwife Martha Ballard before picking up The Frozen River. Wow, what a fascinating woman! Highly recommend checking this book out.
Martha Ballard was a midwife in Maine back in the late 1700s. She keeps a diary noting her work as well as various things going on in the Hallowell community. After a man is found in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha is certain he was murdered. The dead man is one of two men accused of raping a woman a few months ago. Martha's diary could provide key evidence if the rape case against the other suspect is brought to trial.
While the story has heartbreaking moments, it's also an incredible tale of a woman fighting for justice. The laws in place and the general attitudes during this time period made it no easy feat, but Martha refused to back down. Her work as a midwife was also interesting to read about as well as all the work it took to keep the household running as smooth as possible.
The Author's Note is worth reading after you finish the book as it provides good insight into the writing process. I think she did a fantastic job brining Martha Ballard's story to life.
Thank you Doubleday for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
As a big fan of Peter Swanson's writing, I jumped on the chance to read an early copy of his novella, The Christmas Guest. I was curious how he'd manaAs a big fan of Peter Swanson's writing, I jumped on the chance to read an early copy of his novella, The Christmas Guest. I was curious how he'd manage with this shorter storytelling format but let me tell you, he was up for the task. This novella fits in perfectly with the rest of his works.
Ashley Smith is an American student living in London and she has been invited by Emma Chapman to spend Christmas at Starvewood Hall, the country estate owned by Emma's family. And that's all you are getting from me in regards to the plot. Just sit back and watch everything unfold.
The Author's Note is worth reading after you finish the novella. He brings up a good point that most of the holiday themed stories out there are romances or cozy mysteries. Why not add thrillers to the mix? I'm glad he stuck to what he's good at and that's coming up with a sinister plot with crazy characters. Given the shorter page count and a story that held my interest, it was a fun way to spend an evening.
Thank you William Morrow for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
What We Could Have Been has a little bit of everything including love, loss, friendship and mystery. Rather than bog down the story with too much goinWhat We Could Have Been has a little bit of everything including love, loss, friendship and mystery. Rather than bog down the story with too much going on it all flowed seamlessly and that's a credit to the writing. Given the setup it was easy to feel invested in the main character from the get go and maintain that interest as she deals with her past, present and future.
Bluebelle Shea left her hometown ten years ago, soon after her mother died. With her marriage in shambles, Bluebelle takes her young son, Murphy, and flees to the small fishing community where she grew up. Even though she's been estranged from her father for many years, he allows his daughter and grandson to move in with him. One person surprised to find out Bluebelle is in town is her childhood friend, Enzo. He hasn't been in contact with her since she left and let's just say they have plenty of history together.
Even though the story deals with some serious subjects, it's not darkness all the time. There's a nice balance of light moments so it didn't feel like such an overwhelming heavy read. (However, that's just my perspective so check out trigger warnings ahead of time if there are topics you prefer to avoid.) The drama doesn't feel manufactured and as a reader even if you haven't gone thru what some of these characters have faced, you can still relate to them on some level.
Simply put, it was a good read.
Thank you to the author, Kristyn, and Negalley for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Women鈥檚 wartime contributions is a topic I鈥檝e been interested in for awhile now. For this historical fiction novel, I was pleased to see Kris3.5 stars
Women鈥檚 wartime contributions is a topic I鈥檝e been interested in for awhile now. For this historical fiction novel, I was pleased to see Kristin Hannah chose to focus on the nurses who served during the Vietnam War. She was able to capture the extreme working conditions as well as post war life. Its well-known veterans during this time period were not exactly welcomed back with open arms due to public sentiment about the war. Female veterans also didn鈥檛 receive much support from fellow veterans or even the US government.
Unfortunately, the story has a soap opera quality to it at times. The main character, Frances 鈥淔rankie鈥 McGrath, has an interesting character arc but there is one particular storyline that could have been eliminated. Doing so serves the overall story better as the ending would pack more of an emotional punch. (Yes, I鈥檓 trying to be vague so I don鈥檛 dip into spoiler territory.)
Even though The Women isn鈥檛 my favorite book by this author, it still was a good read because of the historical content and depiction of women who served during this time period.
Thank you to St. Martin鈥檚 Press and Netgalley for providing a free advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of Henry Winkler's memoir partly because I like the genre but also because I realized despite seeing him I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of Henry Winkler's memoir partly because I like the genre but also because I realized despite seeing him in various acting roles over the years, I didn't know much about his life. It turned out to be an interesting read and a book I'd recommend if you are a fan of his work.
Born to German parents who fled to America right before World War 2 started, Henry didn't grow up in the most loving environment. When I read memoirs I don't expect the author to necessarily go into fine detail about every aspect of their life. Henry chose to keep things semi-close to the vest but it's enough for the reader to see the broader picture that unfortunately he did not have a great relationship with either one of his parents. It shaped who he was as a person but in a positive way as he is very close with his wife, children, and grandchildren and seems to be a wonderful friend to many.
Henry struggled in school and as an adult he was diagnosed with dyslexia. It's very inspiring he went on to co-author a series of children's books in which the main character also has learning differences. It's a great example for kids that you can face challenges in life and find success. This is just one of many examples of how he truly is a decent man who enjoys helping others.
It was interesting to me that he felt after his most famous role as The Fonz on Happy Days, that he had a massive career slump. In my view he popped up in so many memorable roles such as the principal in the first Scream movie or as the coach in The Waterboy, I thought his career was always in great shape. In general, from reading this memoir I do think Henry can be his own worst enemy and overthink things. As someone who tends to worry too much, I can totally relate.
Thank you to Celadon Books for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
It's not surprising I enjoyed Shoot the Moon as the story incorporated some subjects I'm interested in like space exploration and women making advanceIt's not surprising I enjoyed Shoot the Moon as the story incorporated some subjects I'm interested in like space exploration and women making advancements in male-dominated career fields. This book took me on a unique and unexpected journey. As an avid reader it's something I truly appreciate as that's not the case with every book I pick up.
The story alternates between different time periods of Annie Fisk's life. You get to see parts of her childhood growing up in New Mexico, her college years and close relationship with someone who eventually becomes more than just a friend, and her work at NASA during the Apollo space mission era. This non-linear storytelling method worked well. It's like the author was giving you puzzle pieces along the way and the end is when you see the big picture.
At some point things go in a for lack of a better word, sciencey direction. The basic concept is easy to understand but some of the stuff went over my head. Interestingly enough, this is the heart of the story and there are some really beautiful and heartbreaking moments especially towards the end of the book.
Glad I read it and hope other readers put this one on their tbr lists.
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
When I first picked up Save What's Left I was prepared for a story centered around a woman who is newly single after her husband of 30 years leaves heWhen I first picked up Save What's Left I was prepared for a story centered around a woman who is newly single after her husband of 30 years leaves her. While that is certainly an aspect of the plot, I was pleasantly surprised that retirement was a key focus as well. It's an interesting subject to explore as it can be a difficult transition.
Out of the blue, Kathleen Deane's husband, Tom, announces he is not happy and he's done with their marriage. She ends up moving from her Kansas home to a small beach community on the East Coast. Sounds like an ideal place for retirement but nobody told her there would be non-stop construction going on at the property next door to her cottage. Perhaps she can file a formal complaint...
I enjoyed the humor in this book but it wasn't enough to overcome a slow moving story. The emails were funny at first but become redundant after awhile. It was a bit of a bumpy reading experience. Kathleen is a character I didn't completely understand for much of the story. Things came together by the end though so at least it went out on a high note. I can appreciate what the author was trying to do here even if it wasn't a perfect read.
Thank you Anchor Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
After reading Magic: The Life of Earvin "Magic" Johnson I have gained even more respect for the man. A good son and friend, Hall of Fame basketball plAfter reading Magic: The Life of Earvin "Magic" Johnson I have gained even more respect for the man. A good son and friend, Hall of Fame basketball player, smart businessman, and an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention, which I believe is his most significant role. While I grew up watching him play basketball, at least in the later stages of his career, I still learned a ton about him from this biography.
At 800 some pages, it's certainly a thorough look at his life. I was amazed at how the author was able to dig up so much info about his junior high and high school playing days. A good amount of family history dating back quite a few generations is also included. Some key takeaways I got from reading this biography are Magic is an active listener, placing value on others' opinions, and he really has a great supportive system when it comes to family, friends, coaches, etc.. His basketball talent was going to take him far but those other things were contributing factors to his success. He keeps a positive attitude at all times and uses disappointments and devastating news to fight harder which is truly admirable.
Highly recommend this biography.
Thank you Celadon Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
I always look forward to reading the latest book by B.A. Paris. She鈥檚 creative and her stories manage to be a little bit disturbing but enter3.5 stars
I always look forward to reading the latest book by B.A. Paris. She鈥檚 creative and her stories manage to be a little bit disturbing but entertaining at the same time. Bust out a bowl of popcorn and sit down and enjoy the show type reads.
While The Guest is not my favorite of her domestic thrillers it still is a solid read. My main issue was with the characters. With this genre I don鈥檛 mind unlikable characters but the problem is when they veer into annoying territory. It makes for a frustrating reading experience at times. Thankfully there are some surprises along the way that did keep me interested in the story and it does end on a strong note.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free advance digital copy. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion
The Quiet Tenant is a harrowing but good read. I'm beyond impressed the author was able to craft an engrossing story considering English is not her fiThe Quiet Tenant is a harrowing but good read. I'm beyond impressed the author was able to craft an engrossing story considering English is not her first language. It's one of those can't look away, got to see things through type of books.
The story alternates between the perspectives of a few different characters. There's really no reason to go into too much detail about the plot. Simply put, it involves a woman who has been held captive for years.
Part of the reason the story works is it's not so far rooted from reality. It's a scary world out there and from time to time you do hear about these horrific stories on the news of someone being held against their will. The author came up with this perfect scenario in which you feel invested in the character from the get go.
Thank you to Knopf Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
There's a lot to love about The Heiress. It has that fun, devious mystery thriller vibe to it which is what I'm looking for when I pick up a book fromThere's a lot to love about The Heiress. It has that fun, devious mystery thriller vibe to it which is what I'm looking for when I pick up a book from this genre. Having read the author's three previous books, I'd say this one is her best yet.
The bare bones of the story is 3 year old Ruby disappeared and months later she is found living in Alabama. She is brought home to her wealthy parents' estate, Ashby House, located in North Carolina. She accumulates more and more wealth as she gets older, and when Ruby dies, she leaves basically everything to her adopted son, Camden. Ruby's sister and her family ain't too happy with that decision. Camden doesn't want anything to do with his relatives or the money and flees to California where he meets and eventually marries, Jules. Fast forward a decade, and he will be setting foot in Ashby House once again.
I enjoyed the storytelling method as you get Camden's and Jules' POVs as well as Ruby's via letters she wrote. Newspaper articles are also sprinkled in throughout the story. The pacing was good and it was a quick read as I never once lost interest.
There are many components to this story so it's not like you are just working your way to the ending. You are getting plenty of juicy stuff along the way. The weak spot is it was lacking any jaw-dropping moments. I'm racking my brain but I don't recall any key moments that I hadn't considered a possibility at some point. I wouldn't go so far to say the story is predictable but the author leaves quite a few clues. And in her defense, some stuff you are only a beat or two ahead of before she reveals it. Maybe nothing truly shocking, but it still was a fun binge read.
Recommend as a good weekend/vacation thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Bye, Baby certainly has some thriller and suspense elements going on in the story but it's also a tale of friendship and motherhood. The rel3.75 stars
Bye, Baby certainly has some thriller and suspense elements going on in the story but it's also a tale of friendship and motherhood. The relationship between the best friends is really what stood out the most to me.
Billie and Cassie have been friends for over 20 years although lately they aren't as close as they once were. Cassie is married and has a baby while Billie is single and devoted to her career. At the beginning of the story you find out Billie has kidnapped Cassie's kid. So how did it get to this point? Well, you'll get the backstory, trust me.
The book has a good hook to reel you in as I was definitely curious about why Billie had Cassie's kid. The other thing driving my interest in the story is wanting to find out the details about why the friends had drifted apart. Was one person at fault or both? While the book doesn't earn high marks when it comes to specific things I want in the thriller genre, as regular fiction it works pretty well.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
KISS ME IN THE CORAL LOUNGE is a hilarious collection of essays centered around Helen Ellis鈥檚 life with her husband. If you are married or in4.5 stars
KISS ME IN THE CORAL LOUNGE is a hilarious collection of essays centered around Helen Ellis鈥檚 life with her husband. If you are married or in a long-term relationship I鈥檇 put this book on your tbr pile. So much relatable content. (All these years I thought my husband was a weirdo for discussing a game plan if there鈥檚 an alien invasion so it鈥檚 nice knowing other couples do this as well. ...more
When an advance copy of Alex Michaelides' newest book, The Fury, arrived on my doorstep, I did a little happy dance. He is one of the most talented thWhen an advance copy of Alex Michaelides' newest book, The Fury, arrived on my doorstep, I did a little happy dance. He is one of the most talented thriller writers out there right now as he always manages to bring something different to the table. The Fury has that fun, binge read quality to it which makes it ideal as a weekend or vacation read. It practically begs you to keep reading as you wonder what kind of journey will the author take you on.
An in-depth synopsis is not really necessary before diving into this one. Basically an ex-movie star, Lana, has invited a group of people to vacation with her on a private Greek island. Someone will be found murdered. That's the gist of it.
The characters aren't the most likeable bunch but that enhances the story as anyone could be a suspect or a victim and you just wait for it to play out. Elliot Chase, Lana's guest, is the one leading you through the story and he has quite the tale to tell. The last quarter or so of the book was a mixed bag. Even though I was surprised at certain aspects, it didn't get to that jaw-dropping awe I was hoping for when I picked up this thriller. Good, but not fantastic in terms of the conclusion.
Overall, it was an enjoyable reading experience and I do recommend checking this one out especially if you liked The Silent Patient.
Thank you Celadon Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
The River We Remember was a stellar read. A gripping novel I couldn't put down. It's like I was transported into this 1958 small Minnesota to4.5 stars
The River We Remember was a stellar read. A gripping novel I couldn't put down. It's like I was transported into this 1958 small Minnesota town and watching everything unfold as if I lived there. I've now read two books by this author and I'm appreciative his stories have substance and give readers the opportunity to learn about parts of this country's history that often has been swept under the rug.
Sheriff Brody Dern is investigating the death of Jimmy Quinn as it's not yet clear if it was murder or if the man took his own life. The rumor mill is churning in this small community and the popular opinion is Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran, murdered Quinn. The story alternates between various characters living in the area.
The mystery itself is pretty good and I believe most fans of the genre will find the book to be a satisfying read. However, I wouldn't say this is your typical mystery because there is so much else going on that bring added value to the story. The wounds of war, the immigrant experience coming from countries like Germany and Japan to a post-war America, substance abuse, grief, and the abhorrent treatment of American Indians are just a few of the subjects the author explores in this story.
A well-written book and one I don't hesitate to recommend.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites for sending me an advance copy!...more
I have mixed feelings about The Breakaway. While there were many things I liked about the novel, in some ways it missed the mark. Most of my3.25 stars
I have mixed feelings about The Breakaway. While there were many things I liked about the novel, in some ways it missed the mark. Most of my issues can be traced back to the main character. The story does follow a few other characters along the way but it's a tough read when you find yourself increasingly irritated by basically the star of the show.
Thirty three year old Abby Stern is in her element when she hops on her bicycle and hits the wide open road. She agrees to lead a multi day cycling trip thru New York. Abby is in for quite the surprise as her overly critical mother has joined the trip. As if that wasn't bad enough, Abby learns a one night stand from a few years back, Sebastian, will also be a part of her group. Well, I'm sure this will be totally fun and not at all awkward for Abby.
One of the better aspects of the book is Abby feeling comfortable in her own skin. She's plus size but recognizes health is what matters and the amount of exercise she gets from bicycling means her fitness level is better than most. It was nice having a self-confident character who doesn't let others dictate how she should feel about her body.
With that being said, Abby is self-involved. Yes, she has her kind moments doing stuff for others but there are instances where it's like she doesn't grasp other people have feelings too. Or if she does she more brushes it off without much self-reflection. The second half of the book I really started losing interest in her. Oddly enough it's the mother's backstory that ticked me off the most as it really showcased that apparently Abby has never had any desire to get to know her mother better and who she is as a person. I'm trying to tiptoe around spoilers but what kid isn't at least somewhat curious about their parents and how they grew up? The whole thing was just weird to me and I guess I will leave it at that.
Not my favorite Jennifer Weiner novel but still an okay read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
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