Dean has created an intensely horrifying novel about the trauma of human trafficking.  This book was so well executed that I felt trapped within, unable to put it down in spite of how dark and twisted it was. It was imperative for me to know what happened to Jane, which made me finish the book in one sitting.  

Jane is a victim of human trafficking.  She is imprisoned, tortured, and dominated.  Each day she fights to remember who she was before she was forced to become Jane.  Her emotions are raw and powerful.  With every trauma she encountered, I physically felt her despair and fear as if it were my own.  My chest felt tight.  My stomach turned.  

But it wasn’t all anxiety and terror.  I also felt a deep loathing.  There are few characters I have hated with such vehemence as I did Lenn.  Dean has perfectly crafted Lenn as the most vile and manipulative of creatures.  No amount of hatred felt sufficient for him.  

While incredibly well executed, this book is one of the hardest I’ve read so far this year.  I was drawn in to this suffocating and anxiety causing story even when I didn’t want to be.  And ultimately, given the subject matter, that reveals the adeptness with which Dean has written this book.  It will haunt me for some time to come.  

Many thanks to Will Dean, Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes you just want a good, easy story to sink into.  One that seems both familiar and removed from your real life.  A book about the complexities of life…so dramatic that your own life is given a chance to feel boring for a change.  Or maybe where the complexities feel a little close to home.  That is what Sweeney has created here.  A book you can read in one effortless sitting.  

Sweeney’s storyline is well executed.  She utilizes the characters’ backstories to bring a depth to the plot while also creating an acuity in the characters.  Use of inner dialogue also drew me in and allowed me to feel what the characters were feeling in those moments.  

While the storyline was well executed, the ending was not.  Ambiguous endings work well for many books.  But in this case, it felt as though the symphony had reached its crescendo only to then set down its instruments and walk away.  The drama and betrayal of this novel had slowly built to a precipice and suddenly was just over.  (I mean… who can face betrayal head on only to just shrug your shoulders at it?!)  Not realizing I was at the actual end, I tried to turn the page and was left wanting.  The fuse had been lit but I was left with no fireworks.  

Ultimately, this is not a riveting book. But it was good and entertaining.  It’s a book that highlights inner struggles.  It’s a book about secrets, betrayal, and lies and deciding how to overcome them.  It’s a book about marriage and friendship at its best and worst.  

Many thanks to Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, Ecco, and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The music of the 70s was iconic, and this fictional rock-n-roll, afro-punk duo vividly and seamlessly fit right in with that progressive and revolutionary music scene.  Walton has delivered a bold debut that takes you on a journey through time, music, and the tragedy of racism both past and present.  

Told like an old episode of Behind the Music, interviews and news clippings give us an intimate look at the beginnings of this duo, including a tragedy that accompanied their start up, their brief rise to fame, and the potential of a modern day reunion.  But this isn’t just a pop culture music history.  This is a gritty and raw detailed account of how racism has played out across the decades set amongst the backdrop of the music industry.  

Walton meticulously crafted these characters, particularly Opal.  Her descriptions had me so entranced and felt so real that I found myself wanting to search Google for pictures and album covers and snippets of old hits.  And if I’m honest, I was a bit star struck by Opal.  There was an authenticity to the characters that made them as real in my mind as any other 70s phenom.  

I also appreciated the connection that the interviewer, Sunny, had to the the story.  Her desire to know her dad was raw. I felt her emotion as she unraveled his connection to this duo. It gave a depth, an extra layer that further expanded the veracity of the story as a whole.  

Many people liken this book to Daisy Jones and the Six.  While the format is very similar, the books themselves couldn’t be more different.  Whereas Daisy Jones focused on character relationships and pop culture, this book is a story of our times with important cultural relevance.     

Many thanks to Dawnie Walton, Simon & Schuster, 37 Ink, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Moody and atmospheric.  I was completely immersed into this slow build mystery.  French has done a masterful job of developing multi-layered, complex characters in the vivid backdrop of lush, rural Ireland.  

Cal went looking for a slow, peaceful life in the beautiful and isolated countryside….the complete opposite of where he’s come from in Chicago.  But Cal isn’t quite set up for the laid back lifestyle.  He is a fixer. It’s in his blood.  So when a local kid tells him about a missing brother, well, those old cop instincts can’t stay buried.  And Cal soon learns that all towns, even beautiful, rustic ones, have grimy secrets.  

The story unfolds steadily and methodically.  It’s nuanced and rich in detail.  If you love being captivated and immersed into a story with vibrant characterization and atmosphere, this book should be your next read.

Have your stars ever dimmed or gone dark?  Grief, longing, tragedy…each of us have experience in these depths of despair, some more than others.  McLain has created a devastatingly heartfelt novel exploring trauma and survival.  

I was quickly swept up by McLain’s beautiful prose and powerful utilization of words. The prologue is shocking and consuming.  Her lyrical style hooked me and kept me captivated.

While there is suspense and intrigue in this novel, I would not consider it a typical mystery or thriller.  As a matter of fact, I would say the mystery is secondary in this novel.  The mystery becomes a means of exploring our main character.  It was fairly obvious to me early on who the captor was.  Normally that would irritate me greatly.  There also were a few scenes that were a bit too perfect, too coincidental.  Another typical frustration point for me.  However, those things (surprisingly) didn’t bother me in this book.  I was deeply invested in Anna’s journey, which was so well executed that they mystery was allowed (some minor) blunders.  

McLain’s characterization of Anna is artful and masterful.  As pieces of her past are excavated, we come to see the fullness of Anna’s complexities: hardened and strong on the outside while troubled and fragile on the inside.  It’s ironic and prophetic that Anna is accomplished at solving other people’s problems while struggling with her own.  

Maybe the reason Anna’s voice is so strong is because Anna’s journey is one known to McLain.  McLain has laid her own soul bare as she interlaced hidden connections from her own life (foster care, sexual abuse, trauma) into Anna’s story.  This is a deeply personal story for McLain, and it is evident through the emotional and raw journey she takes the reader.  
(*Don’t miss the author’s notes at the end of the story to learn more about her personal connection to this story.) 

But don’t despair.  Though dark at times, the stars never really stop shining.  

Many thanks to Paula McLain, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always had a love of words.  Words are complex, layered, and nuanced.  But as much as I adore words, I have never given much thought to the proper organization and documentation of words.  In short, I’ve sorely taken for granted the mammoth undertaking which was the assembling of the first Oxford English Dictionary.

This meticulously researched novel intertwines the historical chronology of the compilation of the first dictionary alongside the fictional tale of a young girl growing up amongst the pigeon holes filled with words.  We meet Esme as a precocious young girl.  As the dictionary slowly progresses and fascicles are printed, we watch Esme journey through life’s joys and hardships (many hardships) to gain a greater understanding of the complexity of words.    

Early on, Esme realizes the limitation of the dictionary.  Not only is it being written solely by men, it also excludes words deemed unimportant or obscene.  Esme begins her own collection of words, starting with those discarded from the OED, and compiles a wealth of language that is both colorful and meaningful.  The author uses this fictitious side story to highlight the importance of all words throughout history and people groups.  Esme’s dictionary of lost words validates and gives voice to women.  

The author has given a compelling voice to the history of the Oxford English Dictionary while also objecting to its unilateral authority upon which words were most valuable.  

Many thanks to Pip Williams, Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Spooky, haunting, and suspenseful.  Be careful what you wish for because the water gives and it takes.  

Grief can do funny things to the mind, especially when it’s laced with guilt.  And Jax is both- grieving and guilty.  She’s returned home to the family estate upon the death of her estranged sister.  But nothing seems to make sense.  How did her sister, Lexie, who was an accomplished swimmer, drown in the very pool she had learned to swim?   And what caused Lexie’s manic behavior right before she drowned.  Nothing seemed to add up.  As much as Jax tries to make sense of it all, she can’t seem to.  Was grief unraveling her- or was there more?  This question kept me hanging on until the very end.  

The secret to understanding the present was in looking at the past.  The author adeptly intermingles Esther’s journal from the 1920s into Jax’ story.  Fleshing out what the two timelines had in common, beyond the setting, added an appealing extra dimension to the plot.  

The story starts out as a mystery with a thriller component mixed in, but fairly quickly the storyline begins to dabble in the supernatural.  If you like mysteries that involve the metaphysical, this should be your next read.  It pulled me in and kept me fascinated, even though I am not normally a fan of the paranormal.  I think this book will have a niche following that will greatly enjoy it.  

The author did a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere around the pool.  It took on a life of its own creating a creepy backdrop.  Deep, murky waters can be a bit unnerving as it is, and McMahon definitely took that a step further.  I certainly didn’t feel comfortable whenever a character would get a touch to close to the pool.  

Ultimately, while the book kept me interested, in spite of my distaste for the paranormal, the ending left me dissatisfied and disappointed.  And for that reason, this book fell flat to me.

Many thanks to Jennifer McMahon, Gallery Book, Scout Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A circus is generally known for its mystique.  But this circus, Le Cirque Secret, isn’t just magical.  It’s dark and sinister.  This is a story of love, magic, mystery, and family legacy.  But don’t be fooled.  This is a very macabre and otherworldly story.

Fantasy or magical realism are not my preferred genres, and this book was also nothing of what I expected based on the synopsis.  But Sayers’ writing style made it easy to believe that something fantastical and surreal was once a part of the fabric of Paris.  The Secret Circus intermingled art and magic.  And Sayers believably painted it into the gay Paris atmosphere right alongside Picasso and Hemmingway sipping champagne and absinthe.     
  
The story pulled me in from the beginning.  I love a good mystery, and the idea of Lara’s fiancé disappearing mere hours prior to their wedding lured me in.  But that was just the beginning of the mystery, for Lara had many more family secrets, dark ones about the women in her lineage, to uncover,  By the time I came to understand the darkness within this novel, I was already hooked and couldn’t turn away…much like the spectators of Le Cirque Secret!   

Step right up…be enraptured by this intensely dark yet magical tale of a circus, mysterious murders, a heritage of brave women, and maybe even a dance with the devil.  

Many thanks to Constance Sayers, Redhook Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometime a book just resonates deep inside your heart. I had plans for last Sunday. But Benny and his songs completely upended them in the best way

Sometimes a book just resonates deep inside your heart.  I had plans for my day. But Benny and his songs completely upended them in the best way.  This book pulled me in hard and took root.  My soul hung on every note.

Benny skirted all attachment.  Growing up in a mob family made you skittish after all.  But the piano was reliable. It was his oldest and dearest friend.  Esther was feisty and spirited and destined to use her voice to break free from the chains that held her back, even the chains she didn’t know about.  Between his ability to write songs and her ability to croon, they were destined for both trouble and success.  You can’t enjoy the resolution without a little dissonance after all. 

This book is about good music..the kind that makes you tap your toes and sing along…the kind that changes society.  It’s about learning the meaning of family.  It’s about prejudice and stereotypes. But most of all, this book is about overcoming obstacles, learning who you are, and accepting love. 

Just like good music can create a whole mood, this book struck a chord with my soul.  It made me swoon, broke my heart, took my breath, and left me longing.  Benny and Esther will stay with me for a long time to come.

This is a story of tenacity and hope. It’s a story about standing in the abominable depths of hell and choosing kindness and love instead.  Based on the true story of Auschwitz prisoners, Mala (inmate #19880) and Edek (inmate #531), Midwood masterfully brings to life their unexpected love story as well as their inspirational resistance to their oppressors.  

In a place where death hangs in the air and it’s a crime just to exist, love seems both foreign and unlikely.  Yet Alma and Edek find hope, tenderness, and affection in one another.  Midwood skillfully draws the reader in to this unique and heartbreaking love story.  I became deeply invested in their relationship and its ability to bring them a ray of light in such dark circumstances.   

But this isn’t just a love story.  It’s also a story about self-sacrifice and inspiration.  Hardship can either bring out the best or worst in people.  In this case, we see the very best of Mala and Edek, dedicated to helping others survive and bringing fellow inmates a bit of peace to distract from the surrounding horrors. Their willingness to fight against the oppression became an inspiration throughout camp and catapulted the Underground Resistance’s successes.   It’s one thing to survive hell.  It’s quite another to overcome it. 

Having read Midwood’s previous book, The Violinist of Auschwitz, I was thrilled to see Alma and Zippy woven in to the fabric of Mala’s story.  While the two stories can absolutely be enjoyed separately, it was very gratifying to see the stories intertwine.  

Additionally, I greatly appreciated the Note on History at the end which indicated Midwood’s dedication to maintaining historical accuracy and the depth of research put into this book.  

Mala and Edek’s story deserves to be told.  They bravely defied fate and inspired others.  Midwood has adeptly and beautifully given them voice and honored their lives.

Many thanks to Ellie Midwood, Bookouture, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.