“Success pales in comparison to healing.”

 

Gut wrenching. Raw. Brutally honest. 

 

With vulnerability and an unimaginable well of strength, Viola Davis holds nothing back as she recounts the trauma she experienced early in life.  Bullying, abuse, racism, extreme poverty.   At times, it felt like a weight too heavy for any one person.  

 

And yet Davis proved resolute on breaking deep seated generational patterns and moving beyond the scars.  But to do so meant she had to first find herself.  

 

Radical honesty.  That’s how Davis refers to this unflinching look into her soul.  She leaves nothing out, at times seeming too trusting, too visible.   

 

Exposed in a way few of us dare to, not just the lows but also the humiliations… peeing her pants well beyond what is generally deemed acceptable… Viola claimed it all.  She gave it meaning.  And she overcame.  

 

There is a rawness in her voice as she courageously reveals this transformation… from learning who she is to finding peace within.  

 

On a set years ago, Will Smith asked Viola, “Who are you?”  That question stumped her then.  Now, after much soul searching and therapy, she knows exactly who she is and is unapologetic about it.  

 

And yet, if this book is only seen as the story of Viola Davis, the larger point is lost.  This story needs readers, not because of who she is but because her lessons are applicable to all.

 

🎧 I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Davis.  This book is formidable in any format, but hearing her voice recount her story was intense and powerful and perfect.  

 

 

Many thanks to @delacortepress for the #gifted copy.

 

A hauntingly beautiful island.  Fated lovers.  And a murder mired in secrecy.  

This is the kind of book I love getting lost in…

 

🌿Lyrical prose

🌿Cinematic atmosphere 

🌿Meticulously plotted mystery

🌿Unique and multifaceted cast of characters

 

From the very beginning, Young enchanted me.  

 

“Every tree on Saoirse had turned in a single night. I knew better than to dismiss such things.  It was the time of year when the veil between worlds was thin, and in that moment, I could feel the tingle of the otherworld tiptoeing lightly up my spine.” 

 

Much like the island of Saoirse, Young held me captive.  It was the longing between Emery and August.  It was the island, ominous and brooding.  It was the undercurrent of danger fed by long held secrets.  It was that ever present yet slight twinkling of magic.  

 

As the story unfolded, I found myself deeply invested… needing to get to the conclusion and yet not wanting it to end.  

 

Even as I sit, long after reading, I can feel the pull of Saoirse and this story.  

 

Many thanks to @atriabooks for the #gifted copy.  

 

YES.  I know the holidays are over.   I also  know this review is long overdue.  But the flu completely messed up my December.  And with this book deserving all the praise, I figured you’d allow one last dip into the yuletide cheer. 

 

Full of longing and completely swoon-worthy.  This sapphic romance with a fake engagement and boozy grandmas was the perfect holiday read for me.

 

I remember watching While You Were Sleeping years ago.  There was something about that movie that resonated so deeply within me.  It tapped into the utter loneliness I felt as a young person, not quite independent but also not quite included in (crazy, messy) family situations.  The hope and fulfillment of seeing Lucy (Sandra Bulloch) welcomed and adored absolutely filled my heart (and gave me hope).

 

Years removed from that situation.  Years after watching that movie on repeat ad nauseum.  

Somehow, completely unexpectedly, Cocrun managed to tap into that deep connection and return me to that same place… a heart full of longing yet filled to overflowing in the end.  

 

An absolutely perfect 24 hours… full of chemistry and connection.  But just like the dream job that didn’t last, that blip of love didn’t either.  Now broke, Ellie agrees to spend Christmas with her new, fake fiancé and his family.  The agreement that would get her out of debt was palatable, right up until Ellie realized that her fake fiancé’s sister was also the woman of her dreams from last Christmas.  

 

Things I loved:

*The boozy grandmas

*The obligatory, scheduled festivity

*Perfect rom-com references

*The truly horrible playlists

*An ugly Christmas tree

*Adept usage of Dolly Parton lyrics

 

While Kiss Her Once for Me is perfectly humorous and full of yuletide cheer, Cocrun doesn’t shy away from the fact that the holidays can be quite difficult.  From messy family dynamics to a fear of failure and lack of self-worth, we see Ellie’s profound inner struggle.  And it’s deeply resonant.  But even more fulfilling is seeing her growth.  Support (even at the hands of boozy grandmas) gives her a platform through which to believe in herself and gain confidence.   

 

And that ending!  Oh my.  Don’t take my word for it.  Grab your own copy.  You’ll thank me.  

Many thanks to my friends at @randomhouse for the #gifted copy of this book. 

When a pastor and a bar owner switch places at Christmastime, the meaning of Christmas takes on a new perspective.  

This was a sweet (potentially overly sweet), faith based book that made for an easy and quick holiday read.

It's worth noting that I really enjoyed Dear Santa, Macomber's 2021 holiday book.  It put me right in the spirit of Christmas and delighted me.  Somehow I missed that same charm in this one but will be looking for it in next year's book.  

Thank you @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies. 

My absolute worst nightmare… my son going missing. It’s the not knowing. It’s also the heartbreak that he might think I’m not trying to find him. 

I’m anxious as it is. I overthink absolutely everything. So if one day, my son vanished with no clues, I’d find myself on the very edge.

And that is what Willingham does best in this story. Her execution of Isabelle Drake portrays every mother’s potential: Teetering on the edge of sanity. Not sleeping. An inability to participate in normal life. Constantly demanding updates from police. Taking things into her own hands. Doubting what’s true. 

While I thought the character portrayal was spot on, I had expected a story about a missing baby to feel intense and thrilling. For me, it didn’t. It’s possible that if I’d gone in expecting a mystery, I would have been more engaged. I also found the writing to be a bit too over the top and flowery, which, for me, didn’t quite fit the overall premise. 

But, that unreliable narration will definitely keep you guessing. And that ending was satisfying. 

🎧Karissa Vacker narrates the audiobook. She’s quickly become one of my favorites to depict women in thrillers, and her narration kept me hanging on. I’d recommend the audiobook for this one. 

Many thanks to my friends at @librofm and @tordotcom for the #gifted audiobook.  

 

Mysterious, fantastical, tragic, and yet deeply romantic.  

 

With stunning prose, a 1940’s Chicago noir backdrop, and an urgent storyline,

this novella had a magical hold on me.  

 

This was an edgy read with an intriguing premise:  Helen is a gumshoe detective in search of the city’s most deadly serial killer.  But the stakes are even higher given that the primary players are angels and demons and the outcome holds significant personal interest.  

 

As the title indicates, I knew the ending.  And yet, I was dedicated to seeing it through.  

 

🎧January LaVoy is one of my favorite narrators, and as usual, she had me hanging on the edge of my seat as this short tale unfolded.  I could’ve kept listening to her and this story for hours more

Many thanks to @dreamscape_media for the #gifted audiobook. 

 

I am a sucker for an adorably awkward book.  Especially a Christmas themed one.  

 

I love watching friends become lovers, particularly when they have the kind of off-the-charts chemistry that Stella and Luka have.  

 

The parts of the story where Luka and Stella are together… pure kismet. 

 

But the parts where Stella is in her head…constantly doubting, constantly overwhelmed…  those parts left me frustrated.  Stella stalled my love of her love story.  

 

I liked this one.  I really did.  Oh but Stella.  I could’ve adored it.  

 

🎧I listened to this one on audio.  And while the narration by Pippa Jayne was good, I wonder if it also accentuated my frustration with Stella.  

 

Many thanks to my partners @grandcentralpub @hachetteaudio and @librofm for the #gifted copies.  

 

Stunningly beautiful.  Deeply affecting.  This is a powerhouse of a book.

 

 

This is the story of Wanda.  A girl born in the fiercest part of the fiercest hurricane.  Not just any hurricane, her namesake.  And like the elements that heralded her birth, Wanda was a mixture of power and adaptability.  Her life was tinged with grief and loneliness, but her story is one of resilience. 

 

It’s also the story of a changing world.  Brooks-Dalton creates a luminous picture of nature reclaiming control that resonates with potential for a not-so-far-off future.  The details painted a vivid, cinematic scene of otherness that I became lost in, sometimes wondering if the world she created wasn’t superior to the one we now inhabit.  

 

A story full of loss…  The complete collapse of life as we know it.  

 

And yet, this is a commanding tale that resonates joy and hope.  This look at a girl who grew into a new kind of life in a new kind of place… it filled me and uplifted me. 

 

From the lyrical prose to the vivid scenescapes to the poignant messaging.  The intimate portrayal of Wanda.  The symbiotic connection to creation when it’s properly respected.  I was wholly devoted to this story.  

 

It is a masterfully executed piece of art that sits deeply in my soul.  

 

🎧 For my reread, I listened to the audiobook.  Rosemary Benson’s narration was engaging and perfectly captured the essence of Wanda’s voice and situation.  

 

Of note: Lily joined @bookmarked and I for a book club author chat last month, and not only was it a thrill to connect with her, it accentuated the deep love and appreciation I already had for this story. Author chats are one of my favorite parts of bookstagram! 

 

 

Fun fact:  Iceland isn’t actually made of ice like you’d expect.  It’s really quite green. In fact, Greenland has more ice.  There’s an old Norwegian tale as to why these names are reversed that’s quite fun, even if not accurate.   

 

My husband traveled to Iceland several times with work when we lived in Germany.  I was always jealous.  The harsh beauty of a raw and largely untouched place fascinates me.  

 

From the language to the local food and drink to the beauty of the surroundings, this book only solidified my desire to travel to Iceland in real life someday.  

 

Catherine lives an ordinary, steady life.  She won’t admit it, but it’s centered around grief and guilt.  Mack has a vibrant and ever changing existence focused on the beauty of art.  But it’s actually a cover for what he won’t reveal.  When Catherine meets him on an assignment, she is mesmerized by how different they are.  There’s something in him that she’s deeply drawn to.  

 

… “is to stop being in such a hurry to produce something.  If I’ve learned anything over the ears, its that you need to let an experience transform you before you can translate it into an object.”

 

The romance between Mack and Catherine is much the same.  Sometimes unsettling and often mystifying, the pull between the two isn’t apparent.  But over time and through experience, it begins to transform both parties.  

Sweet but overreaching.

There was a lot to like in this book.
*Look into motherhood
*Interracial adoption
*Complex, relatable family dynamics
*Generational trauma explored
*Learning to accept yourself 

But like Mika’s life, it felt a bit too messy for me.  Maybe it’s because I had a lot going on in my real life.  But likely, it was the addition of a romance that felt icky and detracted from the dynamics that were working well.

I will note that the perspective on adoption was well executed and made me feel deeply for the whole situation.  And I craved my old life in Japan as nods to food and culture were dropped throughout the storyline.