Based upon the Mexican Dirty War, Moreno-Garcia has created a grimy historical fiction novel.  Politics and power make cringeworthy bedfellows, and this book is full of them.  I knew little of the rampant corruption of this time period in Mexico.  And I found the context created in this novel eye opening and detestable. 

 

Good characterization is the benchmark of all novels in my opinion.  And while Moreno-Garcia doesn’t create relatable and endearing characters here, she does hit the mark on developing quirky and unique ones.  Maite is a dowdy secretary living a solitary life that’s rooted in soap opera comics rather than reality.  She tells her friend about personal adventures and dates, but they are drawn from the fictional worlds she reads about rather than real life experience.   Elvis is hired muscle that detests violence.  His daily routine includes job enforced push-ups, reading the dictionary, and losing himself in American hit music.  Both characters long for more out of life.  I can’t say that I loved these characters.  But they were eccentric and flawed and written in such a style that made me want to know more about them.  

 

Moreno-Garcia adeptly weaves music into the plot, showcasing its power and significance, especially during tumultuous times. The playlist at the end of the book is worth note.   

 

I found this book to be more temperamental than noir.  Where it missed the mark on the edginess and bleakness of the Mexican Dirty War, I felt like it adeptly emanated moodiness.  It felt glum and sullen rather than desolate and horrific.  The storyline just never quite hit the mark of noir to me, in feel or in literary definition.  

 

That cover.  Oh how enticing and seductive!  And the title of the book!  So mysterious and alluring.  Boy does Moreno-Garcia know how to draw us in!  The cover and title deserve 5 stars for sure.  But the slow burn storyline, while enjoyable, gets 3 stars. 

 

Thank you Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, Del Ray, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

If you love reminiscing over by-gone eras, if you adore strong female protagonists that are flawed yet bold, and if you are in awe of how far society has come from old antiquated thinking, this book is for you.  

 

I love a good jaunt back into history.  And the Roaring 20s with all of its charm and mystique always appeals to me.  The jazz age atmosphere that Harrison creates throughout this book drew me in….The costumes, dresses, fur coats, red lipstick, and high heels!  The bath tub gin!   The music and the dancing!  It painted a vivid picture of the era, and I loved being immersed in each part.  Harrison also adeptly executes the dichotomy of the time period…from the working class family to the exorbitantly wealthy businessmen, from the kitchen table to the risqué nightclubs, from properness and manners to liberated morals and cosmopolitan ways.  

 

Olive is filled with ambition.  She is not cut out to be an idle housewife.  She longs for adventure and creativity.  Olive portrays the modern, independent woman longing to forge her own path and make her own money.   She might commence this journey in great naivete, but she is bold in doing so, even when turned out by her own family.  Ziegfeld was known to pick out the most perfect specimens for his follies, and Olive was no exception.  Her journey to stardom is both charmed and a bit torturous.  But it’s not all about how much the crowd loves her (Oh but they do!).  It’s also about overcoming past mistakes, learning who you are, and allowing yourself to be loved.     

 

Thank you Nicola Harrison, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Nope. Nope. Nope.  I love books about overcoming hardship.  I love books that lead you through a struggle to find a lesson that resonates.  But this…this is not one of those books.  This book is full of trauma and darkness.  It’s bleak and grim.  And just when you think it’s shifting from misery to hope, and you feel like there has been value in the gloom, it catapults you right back into the abyss.  The continual trauma in the book should’ve emoted deep feelings of sadness and buckets of tears.  Instead the storyline made me frustrated and angry.  There was no quality purpose to the continual suffering in this book. 

 

Sometimes a questionable storyline can be overcome with good writing and adept characterization.  However, I didn’t find that to be the case in this book.  The writing was choppy and stunted.  POV is changed at random intervals, often making the reader question which character is actually narrating.  I didn’t find the characters to be deeply complex or relatable, and I wasn’t drawn to them or endeared by them.  

 

The mystery component is slow (very slow) but adequate.  The foreshadowing is subtle but effective.  And the culmination along with the intertwining of the old mystery and new one is satisfying.  

 

Sometimes the hype for a book is spot on.  Sometimes it completely leads you astray.  For this book, I’m completely flabbergasted by the hype.   

 

“Life means having somebody care enough they protect you.”

“We have people we get to keep, who won’t ever let us go.  And that’s the most important part.”

 

A beautiful coming of age story that is gritty, raw, and wholly authentic.   Larkin’s writing drew me in and her adept characterization of April kept me spellbound.  I was profoundly invested in April, rooting for her and endeared to her. Larkin’s story took root in my soul and made me feel deeply.  I haven’t cried that many tears for a character in a very long time!  

 

We meet April as she hotwires her elderly neighbor’s car.  She’s headed to her very first gig, and she’s young…only 16.  But there’s a maturity to her…one that only people who have had to deal with adult things as a child can understand.  Of course an audience at a bar doesn’t know that.  How could they know the deep emptiness she feels and how she’s searching for something to remind her that she exists?  Oh but how she captivates that crowd...her songs and their message, her voice.  And from that moment on, she captivated me too. 

 

April’s story resonated with me deeply.  Her loneliness emanated through her story.  The feeling of abandonment and how she internalized it.  That feeling that everything good could just slip away. Believing that her worth was always conditional.  Larkin’s portrayal of April’s journey of self-discovery is poignant and relatable.  It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming.  It’s compelling and relatable.  

 

But don’t be deceived…in spite of the hardships and the anguish, April is not fragile.  She’s tough and courageous and determined.  And while she’s young and a tad naïve, she is also willing to be open and incredibly wise.  Even though she kept running from heartache, she also never gave up on the idea of home.  Maybe that hard and soft dichotomy is what made April so distinct and endearing. 

 

And the supporting cast of characters aren’t to be overlooked….so unique, so perfect.  (Ethan was my favorite!)

 

As someone who had a parent(s) that couldn’t be present (emotionally), I too struggled to learn that my worth wasn’t connected to their inabilities.  In reading April’s story, I felt seen and understood. What a cathartic gift Larkin has given to us!  

 

This book is a must read that reminds that good stuff comes after the storms.

 

Thank you Allie Larkin, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

 

Foreboding, ominous, and heart wrenching.  A perfectly executed mystery/thriller that I couldn’t put down.    

I found my chest tight and my breathing shallow. This intense mystery captivated me and took me on this daring journey with these brave women.  With every trauma Hailey and Beth experienced, I physically felt their fear, anxiety, and boldness.  

I love a strong female protagonist.  And with this story, you get not one but two kickass females.  Hailey and Beth are nothing alike, yet they share a common bond.  It was easy to relate to both and to empathize greatly with their situations. Even in moments that I questioned their choices, I was deeply invested in their stories.  

While this is a wild ride, it isn’t exactly fast paced.  I would consider this a slow burn with lots of backstory and plenty of insight into the characters’ thoughts and motives, and it worked incredibly well for me.  The characters were painted with a depth that kept me invested in their outcomes.   

Sometimes I forget the extent of evil that exists.  Books like this help me remember.  Vaughn is the perfect villain… Repugnant. Vile.   He evoked immense loathing. And while he is not real, he is based on actual monsters.   But don’t be deceived.  He’s not the only one.

But what really deserves a spotlight…the execution of the prologue and epilogue!  They are works of art!  It’s not just that they perfectly drew me in and left me fulfilled (They did!).  It’s the way they are intertwined.  The thread at the beginning of the book is masterfully connected to the one tying up the ending of the book, and it was extraordinarily satisfying.  

The author’s note at the end shouldn’t be missed.   This novel is a work of fiction.  But it is based on real events along the Highway of Tears in Northern British Columbia where women have been murdered or gone missing since the 1970s.  Just as Stevens paints this highway as a “desolate road haunted by the lost souls of women who search for the answers to their deaths,” so does the actual Highway of Tears.  

This thought provoking, adeptly executed mystery/thriller is not one to be missed!

Thank you Chevy Stevens, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Two people stuck together in a storm, enjoy eight glorious hours together, and then serendipitously continue to cross paths. It’s almost the makings of a modern day fairytale, right?  Oh but this is so much more than a lighthearted rom-com.  It’s also a book about overcoming deep-seated fears, forgiving yourself, and moving forward into possibility.  

 

Have you ever contemplated your life…really looked at where you are in comparison to where you thought you’d be?  Well, you’re not alone. Nellie, our main character, is at a point where she’s taking stock.  Not only is she stuck in a snowstorm, she feels like her life is as well.  

 

After reading two of Louis’ books, I’ve come to see her greatest talent is in characterization.  She is adept at creating characters that I want to be friends with.  Her multifaceted, real characters are ones I’d like to meet for coffee.  Nellie never seems perfect.  Her flaws are front and center and also very relatable. And the humor that we find in Nellie and how she approaches life is wholly endearing.  Some of my favorite Nellie contemplations throughout the book…the value of a good Krispy Kreme donut, the perfection of a Bon Jovi ballad, and likening a situation to Steve and Miranda in Sex in the City.   

 

This book deals with the complex issue of mental health with great poise.  Nellie is upfront about her struggles with grief, anxiety, and depression, and we also see her mom struggle to overcome fear and anxiety.  Louis’ approach to these hard topics is graceful, real, and tender. As Nellie overcomes old patterns and engages in healthy change, I empathized with her struggle.  Nellie’s struggle is relatable and realistic, and I rooted for her at each challenge.  

 

I read Dear Emmie Blue earlier this year and became utterly besotted with both Emmie and the book!  So any Lia Louis book became a must read for me.  And I’ll admit that I went into this book with extremely high expectations…probably unreasonably high.  While this book did not charm me exactly the way Emmie Blue did (I am forever an Emmie fan!), I still adored it.  

 

Thank you Lia Louis, Atria, Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Ruby is back.  The neighborhood thought they had 20 quiet years ahead.  But her conviction was overturned, and she’s settled back in just like before the Truetts were murdered.  Now everyone is a buzz.  This idyllic, quaint community is upended.  Speculation.  Fear.  Anxiety.  Judgment.  A convicted murderer in their midst.  What does she want?  Why is she back?  But maybe the most pressing question should be…is she really the murderer?   

 

This is an easy to follow mystery, albeit a bit of a bumbling one.  Ultimately the wild assumptions and utter lack of logic exhibited by every single character detracted from my overall enjoyment.  If even one character had sought out factual information or asked a modicum of questions, the whole premise of this story would have unraveled.  Unfortunately, I think Miranda’s portrayal isn’t that off the mark.  In the social media age, it seems more people lead by assumption and less seek truth.

 

So… the lesson is a necessary one:  assuming the worst in others, judging people harshly…that almost always ends with devastating consequences.  That evil that lurks might not be a monster at all.  It might simply be the people next door with ill intentions and some gossip. 

 

Overall, this is a light, easy read.  The premise is interesting, and the lesson is one to take to heart.  

 

Thank you Megan Miranda, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

“Guncle Rule #8:  Live your life to the fullest every single day, because every day is a gift.” 

 

ALL the STARS.  All the emotions.  I laughed.  I cried.  I laughed some more.  And when I turned the last page I was devastated it was over.  Rowley has created the absolute perfect summer read.  It’s full of heart and whimsy and life lessons.  It’s witty and endearing and heart melting.   

 

Patrick is adrift without an anchor.  His witty comebacks and perfectly styled caftans might make him seem at the top of his game, but he’s not.  He claims to be retired from acting, but the truth is that he’s stopped living a full life.  He’s settling for a solitary, lonely existence.  

 

Grant and Maisie, Patrick’s nephew and niece, should be engaged in all the joys of childhood.  But their mother just died, and their dad is heading to rehab.  

 

This motley band of misfits…Patrick, Maisie, and Grant… are thrown together in less than ideal circumstances.  Somehow though, it becomes the perfect dynamic for each of them to learn to overcome and thrive.   

 

Maisie and Grant are utterly adorable, completely pinchable, and expertly written.  But the star of the book is exactly who it says on the cover…Guncle.  I adored Gay Uncle Patrick, or GUP.  

His Guncle rules. His sarcasm.  His openness.  His eccentricities!  (I mean… Mrs. Roper from Three’s Company is his fashion icon!)  He’s certainly not your typical parental role model. He offers martinis to the 6 year old and regularly quotes Oscar Wilde and Grey Gardens.  But it turns out that his unorthodox ways were practically perfect in every way.  

The most beautiful part of the book is the relationship the three of them build.  The way Patrick learns to nurture the children and lean in to their needs and grief…it melted my heart.  He gives them the perfect mix of distraction (a pink Christmas tree, a Pegasus pool float, and plenty of cake!) and opportunity to process their feelings (getting them a dog, writing a last letter to Mom).  They laugh together, and they cry together.  Most importantly, he reminds them to live in the moment and be comfortable in themselves.  Together, they experience the sorrows of grief and the joy of healing.  

 

Rowley’s extrapolation of grief is poignant and cathartic.  New grief and old grief.  Learning to embrace it while also letting it go.  Despite Patrick’s own pain, he is able to comfort the kids, and somehow that frees him to deal with emotions he’s kept buried deep.  Rowley handles this hard subject in a lighthearted manner.  As someone who has been knee deep in grief recently, this story felt like the warm hug my heart needed.  

 

I can’t emphasize this enough…this is a must read.  It’s the perfect mix of humor and heart.  A perfect book hug.

 

“Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary.” —Oscar Wilde”

 

I was quickly swept away by the Brennans and their story.  Lange’s portrayal of this beautiful yet flawed family masterfully invites you into their fold.  I came to adore these people, even when I was occasionally flabbergasted by them.  And when the chips were down, I rooted for them hard.  

 

Sunday fled NY, her fiancé, and her big Irish family five years ago with a secret, and she outran that secret every day…until she hit a concrete barrier.  Waking up in a hospital room with her big brother looming over her bed, Sunday realizes that she can’t outrun shame and secrets never really stay buried.  The story revolves around Sunday’s secret.  But it was never hers alone.  Each member of the family suffers the ramifications of her decision.   

 

Each Brennan is unique and multifaceted…four distinct entities, yet they fit together perfectly and create an ideal (albeit a tad dysfunctional) team.  Lange expertly depicts the complexities of families…showing the ugly underbelly of family dynamics right alongside their beautiful bond.   

 

Lange’s writing drew me in and kept me hanging on.  But those chapter transitions…they deserve a spotlight all their own!  Lange is teaching a masterclass on how to seamlessly and creatively transition chapters.  Changing the POV in the midst of a scene kept me entranced.  It could’ve been messy.  It could’ve been convoluted.  But NO.  This worked.  And it kept me spellbound.  There was a necessity with which I had to follow the new perspective into the new chapter.  Utterly brilliant.  (I’ll also note that this brilliance destined me to finish the book in one sitting.)

 

I loved everything about this book.  The characters. The story.  The lesson.  Well, everything except that it had to come to an end.  

 

Thank you Tracey Lange, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

 

Scrumptious.  Full of gossip and drama.  Grab the popcorn and a bottle of red wine…this is the perfect book to lose yourself in.   

 

To me, a great summer read is one that lets you fully forget real life.  Soap operas often get a bad rap.  But nothing allows you to escape reality quite the same way as a dishy storyline portrayed by caddy women and unconscionable men living exorbitant lifestyles.  

 

The soap opera greats (think Dynasty and Desperate Housewives) have tossed the baton to Miller’s trophy wives, and I was there for every over-the-top, drama-filled moment.  

 

Georgia, Brooke, and Erin are divas with secrets.  Their lives look ideal on the outside.  Oh but the cunning and manipulation it takes to keep up those appearances!  The book begins at the end, in a hospital after a car crash.  Georgia is involved.  But who else was there?  And someone’s dead…but who?  Even more important, was it an accident or is this the result of a crime? 

 

Miller’s campy writing style was utterly engaging and worked perfectly for this fast paced drama/mystery.  She doled out clues at exactly the right interval to keep me hanging on for chapter after chapter, until I was reading the last page.  The foreshadowing was meticulously interspersed and the last twist was utterly brilliant.   

 

I’ve seen some criticism of this book’s soap opera-ish nature…particularly the grotesque wealth, the power of privilege, and the unnerving justification of all sins.  But I cut my teeth on the “trials and tribulations” of the Newmans (The Young and the Resless) thanks to *both* of my grandmas.  So I guess this book just felt like an old friend to me.  Somehow things that I abhor in real life can be overlooked for campy entertainment when presented in such an over the top manner.  My recommendation: take this for what it is…pure entertainment.  

 

Thank you Kristin Miller, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.