There’s no doubt that Molly Shannon is a bonafide Superstar!  Her quirky and unique characters have brought countless laughs. 

 

But it’s apparent through her memoir that there’s truth to the adage, “comedy is tragedy plus time.” 

 

The book opens with Shannon detailing the devastating car accident that killed her mother, baby sister, and cousin while leaving her father fully incapacitated for months.   From that moment in time, Shannon was destined a survivor.  And she never stopped fighting.  

 

While candid about the grief and trauma she experienced even into adulthood, what stood out most to me was Shannon’s hustle and positive attitude. She saw purpose in obstacles.  Her determination was emboldened in the struggle.  And eventually, that resolve opened doors for her, allowing her talent to shine.  

 

Channeling her emotion into performance, Shannon created hysterical characters that are fully human and vulnerable. Hearing how the success of her creations was born from deep personal experience gave me a greater appreciation of her comedy.

 

I especially enjoyed hearing behind the scenes stories of her (potentially bone breaking) stunts and experiences with fellow actors…licking Steven Tyler on stage and upstaging Whitney Houston were particular favorites!  

 

As I read, I found myself googling old skits and characters.  It was a treat to relive those scenes while understanding Shannon as a full person.  

 

Shannon narrates the audiobook, and her story became even more vivid listening to the emotion in her voice as she talked about everything from the loss of her mom to smelling her armpits.   

 

Thank you to Harper Audio for this advanced #gifted audiobook.  

 

Intense, twisty, and OH so addictive.  If you like a dark and disturbing read that balances right on the line between psychological thriller and horror, this book is an absolute *must.*  

 

Right from the beginning, this ominous and unsettling story grabbed ahold of me.  Many books are entertaining.  This book is spellbinding.  @catward66 found a way to unnerve me and keep me invested!  From the unique plot to the adept characterization to the cinematic atmosphere, this is Ward at her very best.  (And yes, I did love this one more than The Last House on Needless Street!)

 

You can’t escape what’s in your blood…

 

Rob knows that her daughter, Callie, has always been a difficult child.  But the collection of dead animal bones she just found indicates a much more troubling picture.  And Rob knows it’s time to intervene.  This is very reminiscent of the past, and Rob has to do something.  

 

Callie is watching her mom closely these days.  Something’s off.  Her mom is giving her weird looks.  She’s acting impulsively and oddly.  She’s never been her mom’s favorite.  But would her mom actually hurt her?  

 

Both Rob and Callie are on high alert as they embark on a dark, desert journey to the past in hopes of redeeming their future.  

 

I could NOT put this book down.  It pulled me in and took hold of me.  And even when I everything in me told me to look away, I just plugged along with all the more zeal.  

 

And the heart pounding conclusion did not disappoint.  

 

*While phenomenally executed, this book is quite graphic.  Head trigger warnings if this bothers you. 

 

Thank you to Catriona Ward,  Tor Nightfire, and Storygram Tours for the #gifted copy of this book to read and review. 

No one writes quite like Quinn.  She has a way of taking historical fact and weaving it into a compelling, unputdownable read that feels fresh and inspired.  She is in a league of her own, and it would be a disservice to this book to simply consider it “more WW2 historic fiction.”

 

309 kills.  That’s Ludmila Pavichanko’s official kill count.  That number doesn’t include kills she couldn’t verify, and, most importantly, it doesn’t tell her full story.  Devoted mother, book worm, budding historian.  Mila is not the cold-hearted heroine you’d expect.  She’s steely yet tender.  She’s devoted to the mission yet sensitive.  

 

I was fully endeared to Mila and her story… laughing at her jokes, swooning alongside her as she discovered love, fearing for her safety, and sitting with her in the trenches as she resolved to fight for a better future for her son.  This is a memorable portrait of a real heroine who deserves a bold spotlight in history.         

 

It’s not lost on me that Mila is a {badass} Ukrainian fighting against an invader.  It appears Ukrainians have always been born of hearty, brave stock. 

 

Well over 400 pages, I was fully engrossed in this riveting story… from adept character development to cinematic atmosphere to beautiful prose, I couldn’t put this book down until I turned the last page.  And even then, I wasn’t ready to be done.  

 

Much like our protagonist, Quinn has hit the mark with her latest novel.  

 

I partnered the physical book with the audio.  The narration by Saskia Maarleveld is nuanced and gave Mila a distinct voice.  My one qualm would be that the narration of the marksman was not set apart, and therefore necessary to notate that distinction in the print.  

 

Thank you to Kate Quinn, William Morrow, and Harper Audio for the advanced #gifted copies of this book to read and review.  

 

“Saffy had spent her whole life so steeped in the examination of pain…what a disappointment…only to find his pain looked just like everyone else’s.  The difference lay in what he chose to do with it.”

 

Ansel has twelve hours left to live.  He knows the exact time of his death.  But his death won’t as brutal as it was for the three women he killed.  

 

Kukafka’s writing is compelling, and she paints a story we know well… a serial killer that walks the line between charismatic and monstrous.  This book details the complexity of a killer, often born from trauma, while not allowing the trauma to be an excuse to exercise free will.    

 

But ultimately, I wanted more from the book.  More from the women changed by him.  More about the victims.   Especially more about the victims.  While the women narrate Ansel’s story, it is his story at the heart.  And with the author’s goal of allowing the women to “exist beyond the men,”  these misses felt particularly big to me.  

 

While I was left wanting from the book, I was not from the discussion this book elicited with my #maliboozyreaders book club!  We spent nearly 3 hours in deep, thought-provoking conversation regarding the messaging, the symbolism (usage of the color purple and names of the main female characters), and the writing style.  This is a book made for buddy reads and book clubs!

 

Many thanks to @bookclubgirl and @williammorrowbooks for the #gifted copies of this book.  We had the best discussion this month!

“This is not a fairy tale.”

 

I finished this book on Tuesday.  And I’m still sitting here ruminating on it days later.  

 

Powerful, dark, thought provoking, and completely unique.  This is a book that will sit with me, and I have no doubt that if I read it a second time, I will glean even more from it.  

 

Hawley is a master storyteller.  He has delivered an adventure with a Prophet and his motely gang of teenagers up against murderous clowns and zealots of the God-king that seems entirely realistic.  Too realistic.  The premise he paints is disturbing.  

 

Yet I couldn’t look away.  I was entirely devoted to this quest and hopeful of its potential.  The teenager characters evoked optimism even in a grim setting.  And that buoyed my aspirations for my son and the role he can/will play in the future of our country.   

 

The social commentary is strong.  It explores themes of political division, racism, the opioid crisis, mental health, and the gun epidemic.  And for that reason, this book won’t suit everyone.  Sometimes it’s easier to leave these issues on the news channels.  But for me, it actually felt refreshing to see these themes explored, taking their power away and reworking the narrative.  

 

This is in no way a fairy tale.  It’s a call to action.     

 

Of note:  I partnered the audio with the text, and it worked beautifully.  Maybe even better than reading the text alone.  The essay-like portions of the text are read by Hawley and set them apart uniquely (unlike in the book alone).

Whatever modality you choose, don’t overlook this compelling and addictive read!

 

Thank you to #noahhawley and @grandcentralpub for the #gifted copy of this book.  

 

Have you ever been afraid to give your heart away?  Jane’s past makes it really hard for her to open up to any kind of love, friendship or lover.  But after a near death experience with a flirty and handsome man where she is catapulted into the role of fake girlfriend, she starts to reevaluate, even if against her will. 

I was fully charmed by this heartwarming story.  These were characters I wanted to root for, and the setting made me wish I was snuggled up by a roaring fire in one of the Tahoe ski resorts. 

But it was the flirty banter and easy chemistry between Jane and Levi that kept me hanging on for “one more chapter” until I reached the HEA. 

Was the storyline a tad syrupy sweet? Yes.  Was the plot totally predictable?  Again, yes.  Did that impede my enjoyment?  Nope.  This is the kind of book that fills your heart and reminds you of the meaning of family.  And that should always be a bit predictable and very, very sweet. 

I’m not one to read straight romance, but I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series, The Friendship Pact, which will be out this summer.

Thank you to @tlctours @williammorroowbooks and @jillshalvis for this #gifted copy.  

A budding romance and an inside look into the publishing/editing industry? YES, please! 

 

Savannah longs to be an author of romance novels. But since her own romantic life came to a fast and furious halt when her boyfriend decided to become her sister’s fiancé instead, her writing falls a bit flat.  Just when all seems lost, a mystery editor starts leaving her notes in the margins of her manuscript. 

 

Is it possible she might come away with a worthwhile debut and her own personal romance?

 

I feel as though this book is ripped from the dreams of booklovers everywhere.  While there is a sweet, closed door romance that slowly bloomed, this reads much more like a love song to books and the process they go through to get into our hands. 

 

This was a warm, charming read perfect for when you need a bit of an uplift.  And with the world feeling so heavy right now, this book felt like the nicest of escapes!

 

Many thanks to @our_friendly_farmhouse and #booksparksbookclub for this #gifted copy!  It was the perfect way to close out my February.

Fully immersive, eerie, and haunting.  

 

Sometimes I need to escape.  Life and its stresses can become a burden.  And in those times, I long for a whole new world… One filled with clearly defined lines of right and wrong.  One filled with magic.  One that takes me on an adventure.  And I can always count on Schwab to take me there.

 

A mute orphan.  Most people overlook her, expecting very little from her.  She clings to her lost mother’s journal and the hope of one day finding a home.  Just as she’s about to age out of the orphanage that’s raised her, a mysterious letter arrives beckoning her to an uncle and a house filled with otherworldly secrets.

 

At its core, this is a novel about a girl fighting darkness and yearning for a place to belong.  Her journey to found family is full of impossible decisions steeped in years of longing.  As she fought to understand who she was and how to protect the good around her, I was at her side championing her each step.   

 

Schwab’s world building and atmosphere setting are second to none.  I was fully absorbed into her imagining of this enchanted manor and its mirror image.  The lush and descriptive writing gave me a vividly detailed picture of this mind bending world with strong gothic vibes.  The prose is beautiful and the storytelling meticulous.  Everything I’ve come to expect of Schwab.  

 

My one wish is that the ending hadn’t felt so rushed.  After investing so deeply in Olivia’s story, I was left wanting in the end.  This book felt like the start to a great series, one that would satisfy that wanting in the next installment.  Sadly, Schwab intends for this to be a singular storyline.  Maybe we can convince her otherwise? 

 

Even with that, this is a heroine who deserves to shine, and the themes of found family and belonging resonated strongly.  

An emotionally raw jaunt through grief and picturesque Italy.  

 

Katy’s mother has just died, leaving Katy in a downward spiral.  The life she’s lived for 30 years now feels foreign, and nothing in her life make sense without the connection to her mother.  

 

In a depth of grief, she ventures off to Italy hoping to get a sense of the place her mother once loved.  But magically…impossibly, Katy finds her 30 year old mother… fully alive and youthful again.  

 

Serle made me love the Amalfi Coast all over.  She perfectly captures the ambiance of the region… from the delectable food to the pace of life and the enchantment you feel when visiting.  She brings the area to life in vivid detail, and I felt as though I was there in person once again.  

 

The journey to healing after grief is one I know deeply.  And while I couldn’t connect with Katy’s complete obsession over this loss (it’s a lot), I did appreciate her journey of self-discovery at the end.  The lessons she learns make it worth sticking through her continual ruminations over the (potentially unhealthy) relationship she once had with her mother.   

 

This one is best partnered with a full glass of wine and a full plate of pasta! 

 
Many thanks to Rebecca Serle, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Fun and outrageous.  If you’re looking for a break from reality, Finlay delivers.

 

You know the story… Husband has an affair and leaves wife.  Wife is floundering.  Wife accidentally gets hired to kill someone while meeting with her literary agent.  *Wait*  That’s actually where Finlay’s story differs from most and begins this wild ride.  

 

Cosimano delivers a completely unique mystery that is both hysterical and heartfelt.  This clever look at motherhood, the demands of life, and how to muddle through when life gives you lemons entertained and resonated, leaving me to wonder why I hadn’t read this one sooner.    

Of note… this isn’t a mystery you go into expecting plausibility.  It’s over the top and wholly unrealistic. This is one to sit back and just enjoy.    

 

I have the next book already cued up and waiting for me.