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anabel_unker
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Living in a disgusting apartment and struggling to make ends meet, friends Libby and Jean decide to come up with an online persona-- Love, Lillibet-- to make fun of the influencers that swarm their island of Oahu, and also practice their photography and writing skills. However, when given the opportunity to create a magazine by up and coming mogul Hildy Johnson, Lillibet suddenly has to become a real person with a real husband and real mansion and real goats.
Libby suddenly has to pretend to be someone she's not to help out not only her best friends, but herself. Lillibet (and Hildy) could be everyone's ticket to getting out of poverty and fulfilling their dreams-- but as Libby she sinks deeper into the lies, it becomes harder and harder to keep everything straight and her growing feelings for Hilda's photographer certainly muddy the waters...
I wanted to enjoy this book so much. I loved Seller's BY THE BOOK and BELITTLED WOMEN, so I figured this book would be a slam dunk. It was not. The plot failed to grip me, I hated Libby's friends, and I didn't buy her relationship with Jefferson-- even Libby herself annoyed me with her inability to do much of anything except complain about the decisions she let other people make for her. This book was supposed to be a love letter to Hawaii, but this book could have easily taken place anywhere with a beach (and honestly, even that would be negotiable). The only part that felt Hawaiian was Keiko's recipes and ingredients, nothing else felt authentic. I struggled to get through this one, but I'll given Seller's next book a shot.
Living in a disgusting apartment and struggling to make ends meet, friends Libby and Jean decide to come up with an online persona-- Love, Lillibet-- to make fun of the influencers that swarm their island of Oahu, and also practice their photography and writing skills. However, when given the opportunity to create a magazine by up and coming mogul Hildy Johnson, Lillibet suddenly has to become a real person with a real husband and real mansion and real goats.
Libby suddenly has to pretend to be someone she's not to help out not only her best friends, but herself. Lillibet (and Hildy) could be everyone's ticket to getting out of poverty and fulfilling their dreams-- but as Libby she sinks deeper into the lies, it becomes harder and harder to keep everything straight and her growing feelings for Hilda's photographer certainly muddy the waters...
I wanted to enjoy this book so much. I loved Seller's BY THE BOOK and BELITTLED WOMEN, so I figured this book would be a slam dunk. It was not. The plot failed to grip me, I hated Libby's friends, and I didn't buy her relationship with Jefferson-- even Libby herself annoyed me with her inability to do much of anything except complain about the decisions she let other people make for her. This book was supposed to be a love letter to Hawaii, but this book could have easily taken place anywhere with a beach (and honestly, even that would be negotiable). The only part that felt Hawaiian was Keiko's recipes and ingredients, nothing else felt authentic. I struggled to get through this one, but I'll given Seller's next book a shot.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
Fun and shockingly educational, THE DANISH SECRET TO HAPPY KIDS reads like a conversation between friends on the key points of raising children in Denmark. Russell, and American ex-pat living and raising her own gaggle in Denmark, casually discusses the reasoning and benefits of traditional Danish practices-- including over sixteen pages of sources at the end of the book, interspersing her own anecdotes and experiences as a mother.
This book acts as a mainly a conversation starter-- it doesn't take itself too seriously, and recommends you don't either. It offers solid advice for child development (such as the classic, "There's no such thing as bad weather" and encouraging parental community involvement/volunteering), but continues to remind the readers that what fits for one might not fit for all-- however it could be worth a try.
Fun and shockingly educational, THE DANISH SECRET TO HAPPY KIDS reads like a conversation between friends on the key points of raising children in Denmark. Russell, and American ex-pat living and raising her own gaggle in Denmark, casually discusses the reasoning and benefits of traditional Danish practices-- including over sixteen pages of sources at the end of the book, interspersing her own anecdotes and experiences as a mother.
This book acts as a mainly a conversation starter-- it doesn't take itself too seriously, and recommends you don't either. It offers solid advice for child development (such as the classic, "There's no such thing as bad weather" and encouraging parental community involvement/volunteering), but continues to remind the readers that what fits for one might not fit for all-- however it could be worth a try.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
When the strait-laced, no-nonsense Claire Walker is unexpectedly swept off her feet by a romantic and passionate artist, Matías de León, the couple fall into a whirlwind romance. Within a year, they've become utterly devoted to one another... until Claire starts to question why Matías-- who is handsome, funny, charismatic, and chaotic-- would ever love her, his exact opposite. After a horrible accident that leaves Matías comatose in his home country of Spain, Claire is forced to face what life without him would be like. Until a chance encounter with him on the streets (while his body is still unresponsive at the local hospital) may give her a chance to set everything right.
This book was funny and sweet and so sincere. I loved Matías' love for Claire, and the author's wonderful descriptions of art, food, and the Spanish culture. The concept was original and intriguing, and I think certain ideas were pulled off successfully (i.e. the magical realism v. realist character). However, my biggest complaints are the lack of upfront romance development (the vast majority of the book takes place one year after their initial meeting and their relationship is already well established, with a few flashback chapters thrown in) and the multiple POVs. Many of the chapters were one-offs from supporting characters, which provided unique outsider perception of the situation, but didn't add to the story much.
Overall, ONE YEAR AGO IN SPAIN was fun and refreshing-- not a book to be taken seriously, but enjoyed as a palette cleanser with a good sangria.
When the strait-laced, no-nonsense Claire Walker is unexpectedly swept off her feet by a romantic and passionate artist, Matías de León, the couple fall into a whirlwind romance. Within a year, they've become utterly devoted to one another... until Claire starts to question why Matías-- who is handsome, funny, charismatic, and chaotic-- would ever love her, his exact opposite. After a horrible accident that leaves Matías comatose in his home country of Spain, Claire is forced to face what life without him would be like. Until a chance encounter with him on the streets (while his body is still unresponsive at the local hospital) may give her a chance to set everything right.
This book was funny and sweet and so sincere. I loved Matías' love for Claire, and the author's wonderful descriptions of art, food, and the Spanish culture. The concept was original and intriguing, and I think certain ideas were pulled off successfully (i.e. the magical realism v. realist character). However, my biggest complaints are the lack of upfront romance development (the vast majority of the book takes place one year after their initial meeting and their relationship is already well established, with a few flashback chapters thrown in) and the multiple POVs. Many of the chapters were one-offs from supporting characters, which provided unique outsider perception of the situation, but didn't add to the story much.
Overall, ONE YEAR AGO IN SPAIN was fun and refreshing-- not a book to be taken seriously, but enjoyed as a palette cleanser with a good sangria.
*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*
On an ordinary afternoon on an ordinary domestic flight, Cherry Lockwood stands up and begins predicting the age and cause of her fellow passengers deaths. While most of the passengers remain skeptical (after all, who predicts a seven-year old's death by drowning? Or new bride's death by intimate partner homicide?), when deaths begin to occur as predicted, people have to make a decision. Are they going to live like the predictions are set in stone, or are they going to fight until the end?
The story follows seven main characters, including Cherry "The Death Lady" herself, with impending demises. Told in alternating points of view, as more of Cherry's past is revealed and odd coincidences begin to occur to our narrators, Liane Moriarty tackles the idea of fate versus free will. How much do our everyday decisions impact our longevity? Is it impossible to fight against destiny, or does it change based on choice?
Complicated, twisting, and interwoven, the seven main characters each have a vivid and meaningful story to tell. Some in particular, Allegra, Ethan, and Paula, were particularly compelling. However, it was difficult at times to keep track of all the character-- and since there was no marker at the beginning of each chapter, it was sometimes confusing who's point of view I was reading.
By the end of HERE FOR A MOMENT, I was completely enthralled and I thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful connections of. each character's story. However, much of the book could have been cut back-- perhaps even entire character's. While the first few chapters of the book were intriguing, the plot slowed way down until the last third of the book as impending deaths loomed closer.
This book was more philosophical and literary than fast-paced thriller. It gave me plenty to think on about life and gratitude, as well as whether or not I believe in psychics.
On an ordinary afternoon on an ordinary domestic flight, Cherry Lockwood stands up and begins predicting the age and cause of her fellow passengers deaths. While most of the passengers remain skeptical (after all, who predicts a seven-year old's death by drowning? Or new bride's death by intimate partner homicide?), when deaths begin to occur as predicted, people have to make a decision. Are they going to live like the predictions are set in stone, or are they going to fight until the end?
The story follows seven main characters, including Cherry "The Death Lady" herself, with impending demises. Told in alternating points of view, as more of Cherry's past is revealed and odd coincidences begin to occur to our narrators, Liane Moriarty tackles the idea of fate versus free will. How much do our everyday decisions impact our longevity? Is it impossible to fight against destiny, or does it change based on choice?
Complicated, twisting, and interwoven, the seven main characters each have a vivid and meaningful story to tell. Some in particular, Allegra, Ethan, and Paula, were particularly compelling. However, it was difficult at times to keep track of all the character-- and since there was no marker at the beginning of each chapter, it was sometimes confusing who's point of view I was reading.
By the end of HERE FOR A MOMENT, I was completely enthralled and I thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful connections of. each character's story. However, much of the book could have been cut back-- perhaps even entire character's. While the first few chapters of the book were intriguing, the plot slowed way down until the last third of the book as impending deaths loomed closer.
This book was more philosophical and literary than fast-paced thriller. It gave me plenty to think on about life and gratitude, as well as whether or not I believe in psychics.
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