Many thanks to #stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies

 

In all of the analyzation of The Scarlet Letter done in my high school lit class, none of the discussion considered whether Hawthorne might have written it from personal experience. 

 

I think that’s why Albanese’s premise for Hester, where Hawthorne himself takes on the role of Dimmesdale, is so utterly intriguing.  

 

Yet.  

 

Labeled a feminist reimaging, I had high hopes for a female protagonist fighting against the patriarchal society. Someone bold.  Someone determined and strong.  

 

Instead, Isobel came across as whiny and stunted.  While talented and skillful, her success was largely based on other’s kindness.  The cycle of fear and poor judgment inhibited Isobel from crafting a future.  Rather than rescuing herself, she was continually saved by others.  

 

In contrast, it was her talent that created the most engaging plotline.  The usage of embroidery as a vehicle for self-discovery was exceptionally executed.  Deeply symbolic, Hester’s sewing allowed her to embrace the past (familial and self) while moving towards a different future.  I could almost envision the stitches as she laid bare her soul into the fabric.  

 

Too important not to mention:

-Artistic license is expected in fiction.  However, revisioning an historic figure in a way that vilifies without factual basis feels cringeworthy. 

-Equating the experience of immigrants (particularly Scottish) and black enslaved is not only historically inaccurate but also highly problematic.  

 

The usage of synesthesia as explanation of the mystifying felt unique and fresh.  However, I couldn’t quite flesh out whether the author leaned in to the magical (seen in side characters) or on explainable quirks. 

 

In spite of these criticisms, I was fully entertained by the story. And I wonder if that was largely due to the fabulous discussion I had with buddies @thats.one.for.the.books and @itslizreading

 

The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. And I found that I preferred it, with Maarleveld’s Scottish lilt, to the print version.  

 

 

Many thanks to @macmillan.audio and @tornightfire for this #gifted copy.

“The dead don’t walk.  Except, sometimes, when they do.”  

Bizarre and creepy.  Kingfisher’s reimagining of Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” is a solid horror read. And even when you want to look away (Those mushrooms! Those hares!), you can’t quite manage to! 

Retired nonbinary soldier, Alex Easton, rushes to the family home of their friend, Madeline, upon receiving word of her impending death.  Not only does Easton find Madeline and her brother in varying states of illness, they also find the House of Usher going to ruin, covered in fungi.  Joining forces with a British mycologist and American doctor, Easton is determined to unravel the unsettling mystery.  

Why you should read this one:

🪦Unique reimagining that pays homage to its inspiration while remaining original

☠️ATMOSPHERE- no one does atmosphere better than Kingfisher! Completely eerie and totally ominous 

🪦Well executed nonbinary character with unique pronouns

☠️Dark, dry humor... particularly towards those “silly Americans” created the perfect juxtaposition to the disturbing mystery

That ending!  

This short audiobook is exceptionally performed by Avi Rocque.  While I’d like to have a physical copy of this for my shelves, Rocque’s narration perfectly executed to the tense and disconcerting ambience of this gothic tale.  It was a total winner for me, and I’d definitely recommend the audio.

Thank you to @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for these #gifted copies. 

 

Disturbingly dark and twisted.  Look no further for a horrifyingly traumatic spooky season read.  This is the stuff of nightmares.

 

I’ve come to expect Ward’s books to be masterfully convoluted and steeped in confusion.  A mind bending journey through the ominous, if you will.  

 

And this one is no different but to the point that I’m not sure if it was brilliantly executed or total madness and chaos.  

 

Set on an isle off the coast of Scotland, this sinister tale of family and abuse wreaks of true horror.  Told through multiple pov, none of which were particularly likeable, I was never quite sure if any could be trusted.  

 

While the atmosphere is strong and the writing is intricately detailed, the content is hard to swallow.  Violence.  Religion.  Domination.  Not only is it the stuff of true terror, it actually gave me nightmares.  

 

So why did I continue on?  Because as dark as it was, it was also compelling.  I couldn’t look away.  I needed to know.   

 

I can’t say that I’m sure I feel any more clear after finishing this one.  But the amount of time I’ve spent thinking “WHAT did I just read?!” tells me that it was a worthy journey anyway.    

 

I think it’s fair to note that though this book is a new release in the US, it was actually written prior to The House on Needless Street or Sundial.  In my assessment, Ward’s writing only gets stronger with time (Sundial is my favorite of hers.), and I’ll be the first to grab her next release.  

 

Shout out to @thats.one.for.the.books and @bookmarked.by.becky

I always enjoy our discussions, but I don’t think I could’ve managed this book without them!   Trust me, you’ll want to read this one with a friend(s).  

 

I partnered the physical and audio copies of this book, and it created a complete experience.  With such a complex story, I found the print version necessary for annotation.  But the narration by Carolyn Bonnyman was so nuanced and well executed that it shouldn’t be missed.    

 

 

 

Clever, twisty, and totally propulsive.  

 

I couldn’t help but devour this duplicitous cat and mouse game between Meg, a con artist, and Kat, the journalist set on exposing her. 

 

Clark’s sophomore novel solidifies that she is #masterclass at developing multifaceted female characters that are dynamic.  In the midst of so many thrillers with unreliable (read: crazy, alcohol/drug fueled) female leads, Clark writes strong and savvy protagonists that are worth rooting for--- yep, even the con artist!  

 

And the plot… that juxtaposition between revenge and justice… not only was it unputdownable, it also gave me a lot to ponder. Add to that themes of taking down the patriarchy, you’ve got a solid suspense/thriller worthy of praise. 

 

Oh @julieclarkauthor …I can’t wait to see what you do next!  

 

Many thanks to my partner @sourcebooks for this #gifted copy. 

 

The Middle East. It’s always fascinated me.  

 

My generation has grown up with an ever changing understanding of that region.  From war to rebuilding to somewhere in between.

 

It’s not the politics that interests me, though important.  It’s the women.  While the cultural differences are seemingly vast, driven Afghan women continue to prove that at the heart, we are much the same.   

 

In Double Exposure @authorjeanne uses her experiences as a photojournalist to give us a look into the complexities within Afghan society and the women that steer it towards a brighter tomorrow.  

 

Annie Hawkins has just returned from being deeply imbedded in Yemen for her last assignment.  But there will be no relaxing bathtub for her.  Rather, she steps off the plane to find catastrophes in her personal and professional life await.  Six weeks later back on Afghan soil, none of those problems have resolved.  And this trip, with its focus on going against the Taliban in order to rebuild a school for Afghan girls, may just exacerbate each one.  

 

In spite of the subject matter, this was a quick and easy read.  I appreciated the submersion into Afghan life: their homes, their beliefs, their food, their dress, their dreams.  And as a teacher, I valued the focus on the importance of education for a better tomorrow.  It is the most worthy of all fights. 

  

While easy to read and rich with culture, the writing itself felt undeveloped.  Repetition, uninspired dialogue, and lots of forced storytelling made the overall prose feel stilted.  

 

Still, go into this book for the glimpse into Afghan society.

 

This is the second book in the Annie Hawkins series.  I was able to read it as a stand-alone.   

 

Many thanks to @getredprbooks  and @ten16press for the #gifted copy.

 

 “Josie, who'd be covered in blood on bathroom tiles in nine months' time, met me at the Greyhound station.”

 

An unfiltered and raw look at the women behind the bands.  

 

Faun is looking for a fresh start when she reconnects with childhood friend, Josie, in LA.  Josie is already deeply entrenched in the 70s music scene and quickly pulls Faun into the sex, drug, and rock-n-roll mix.  The men are the talent.  But the women are the energy behind the success. 

 

Gritty and unflinching.  This backstage storyline proves that not all things that glitter are gold.  That first sentence (quote above) adeptly set the atmosphere.  Adoration. Fame.  Self-destruction.  Immature blunders.  Depravity.    Some coming of age lessons are learned the hard way.  

 

While this book does have strong Almost Famous vibes, it would be a disservice to go into it looking for a Daisy Jones connection.    

 

Narrated by Alex McKenna, her portrayal of the text added depth to the physical read.  I’d recommend this book in either format.  

 

Many thanks to my partners @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks @harperaudio @librofm for the #gifted copies

With a fresh domestic suspense storyline, this book was a quick read that allowed quality discussion in my buddy read with @book_wine_and_thinker

 

Two strong, competent women find themselves victims of domestic abuse.  But maybe one favor could create a catalyst for the change they both need.  

 

With a focus on domestic violence within the home, Murphy’s acknowledgment of its prevalence alongside the difficulties of seeking help within society is applaudable. 

 

I enjoyed the ease with which this book read and look forward to the next book by Murphy.  But it’s necessary to note that while enjoyable, the plotline is not actually plausible and realistic.

 

As I often prefer, I combined the physical book with the audiobook.  The audiobook was narrated by a cast and was well executed.  

 

Many thanks to my partners @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies. 

 

Having adored The Love Hypothesis, I was ecstatic to see this novella featured as an L-arc by my friends at @prhaudio and immediately downloaded it. 

 

While there were parts I enjoyed and parts that made me laugh (the Mars references), it just wasn’t long enough for me to feel an overall connection.  In fairness, I tend to prefer a nice, long novel over something short and sweet.  

 

This is the only one in this set of three STEMinist  novellas that I’ve read.  

 

Savannah Peachwood was the perfect narrator for this story, and it was her depiction that kept me hanging on in spite of the lack of depth to the storyline.   

 

Many thanks to my partner @prhaudio for this #gifted copy.  

 

Wahala means trouble.  And that’s exactly what Boo, Ronke, and Simi get when Isobel intrudes their circle.  

 

Drenched with Nigerian culture, this debut explores the complexities of strong, diverse women at varying stages of life and the dynamics found in their friendships.  But the women and their bonds are put to the test when manipulated by new, toxic addition to the group.  

This debut truly shines in its rich culture and character development.  These characters, all so unique and each with a distinct voice, drew me in.  They were multi-faceted with struggles that were deeply honest and often relatable.  But it was the immersion into the Nigerian culture that really made this novel shine.  The language, the food, the ideology… each aspect was well executed.  

 

This book provided a great platform for discussion with my book club back in May. 

 

The audiobook narration added an extra layer to the culture, particularly with the accurate pronunciation of the Nigerian language.  I would highly recommend this audiobook narrated by Natalie Simpson

 

Many thanks to my partners @williammorrow @bookclubgirl @harperaudio  and @librofm for these #gifted copies

 

A completely accurate title.  This was a quick and easy read that I couldn’t look away from, even having predicted the twists and turns that lie ahead.  

 

This one doesn’t fit neatly in any one genre box.  Part suspense, part romance, part women’s fiction, I found it a unique mix that made me ponder the connections we make over time and how we change as we age.  

I flew through the audiobook narrated by Caitlin Davies, Karissa Vacker, and Zachary Webber. If you’re looking for a quick listen while you get *all the things* done, I’d recommend this one.  

 

Also of note, this was a @gmabookclub pick in July.  

 

Many thanks to @stmartinspress and macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies.