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This is How It Always Is was emotional, touching and at times a bit saccharine but I loved every page!
This is a story of love, family and acceptance. It is also the story of young Claude who has gender dysphoria. Claude is the youngest of Rosie & Penn's five children and the result of their final attempt at having a daughter after 4 boys. Claude was a special child and a perfect addition to the family. He walked and talked at 9 months and was baking 3-tier cakes and writing and illustrating mysteries at age 3. By the time Claude was 5, what he wanted more than anything was to "grow up and become a little girl".
"You can't tell people what to be, I'm afraid. You can only love and support who they already are."
Rosie and Penn's lives had never been what would be considered "traditional" by most people. They saw that Claude's desire to wear a dress wasn't a curiosity or a passing fancy. Together the entire family forges ahead on the emotionally wrought path to support Claude as he becomes Poppy.
Although Frankel chose to make the family almost overly accepting (thus my comment about it being saccharine at times) the story was balanced by the honest confusion, fears and emotion displayed. It wasn't easy - the decisions made were fraught with worry from both Penn & Rosie, Poppy and even the other children. We see heartbreak and prejudice and mistakes made along the way.
There were lessons to be learned within the pages of this story. I applaud Frankel for not shying away from them but for presenting them with love and honesty. Frankel herself has a transgender child and you can clearly see this story was an honest work written from her heart and rooted in personal experience.
I leave you with one final thought made by Laurie Frankel in the Author's note:"I wish for my child, for all our children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed, appreciated selves." Me too, Laurie! Me too!
This is a story of love, family and acceptance. It is also the story of young Claude who has gender dysphoria. Claude is the youngest of Rosie & Penn's five children and the result of their final attempt at having a daughter after 4 boys. Claude was a special child and a perfect addition to the family. He walked and talked at 9 months and was baking 3-tier cakes and writing and illustrating mysteries at age 3. By the time Claude was 5, what he wanted more than anything was to "grow up and become a little girl".
"You can't tell people what to be, I'm afraid. You can only love and support who they already are."
Rosie and Penn's lives had never been what would be considered "traditional" by most people. They saw that Claude's desire to wear a dress wasn't a curiosity or a passing fancy. Together the entire family forges ahead on the emotionally wrought path to support Claude as he becomes Poppy.
Although Frankel chose to make the family almost overly accepting (thus my comment about it being saccharine at times) the story was balanced by the honest confusion, fears and emotion displayed. It wasn't easy - the decisions made were fraught with worry from both Penn & Rosie, Poppy and even the other children. We see heartbreak and prejudice and mistakes made along the way.
There were lessons to be learned within the pages of this story. I applaud Frankel for not shying away from them but for presenting them with love and honesty. Frankel herself has a transgender child and you can clearly see this story was an honest work written from her heart and rooted in personal experience.
I leave you with one final thought made by Laurie Frankel in the Author's note:"I wish for my child, for all our children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed, appreciated selves." Me too, Laurie! Me too!
4 Games Can Be Deadly Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amy has secrets she has spent years hiding. When new neighbor Roux shows up, determined to shake everyone's skeletons out of their closets, Amy finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat & mouse. Who has more to hide? Who has more to lose? Who will win - Amy or Roux?
I love a good twisty thriller and boy did Joshilyn Jackson deliver with the twists here! Just when I thought I had things figured out - another juicy tidbit came into light. The pace was a bit slow but it never bothered me here - it felt a bit like Jackson was playing a game of cat & mouse with the reader. I was hooked and determined to figure things out. I never did!
I loved Amy. She was full of layers - loving one minute and tough the next. She was smart, no nonsense & quite a formidable opponent for Roux. Roux was the kind of character that had me shaking my head in disbelief. I love an engaging female villain and Roux was exactly that. The two of them together were pure entertainment. One twist after another and an ending that left me shocked in the best way. Well done Ms. Jackson, well done!
Amy has secrets she has spent years hiding. When new neighbor Roux shows up, determined to shake everyone's skeletons out of their closets, Amy finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat & mouse. Who has more to hide? Who has more to lose? Who will win - Amy or Roux?
I love a good twisty thriller and boy did Joshilyn Jackson deliver with the twists here! Just when I thought I had things figured out - another juicy tidbit came into light. The pace was a bit slow but it never bothered me here - it felt a bit like Jackson was playing a game of cat & mouse with the reader. I was hooked and determined to figure things out. I never did!
I loved Amy. She was full of layers - loving one minute and tough the next. She was smart, no nonsense & quite a formidable opponent for Roux. Roux was the kind of character that had me shaking my head in disbelief. I love an engaging female villain and Roux was exactly that. The two of them together were pure entertainment. One twist after another and an ending that left me shocked in the best way. Well done Ms. Jackson, well done!
All I can say is - WOW! Layne Fargo absolutely entranced me with her seductive yet dark writing. I found myself in a constant state of foreboding while reading this book, yet I could not stop turning the pages - anxious for more.
I will not give anything away. I urge you not to even read the synopsis. When I picked this book up, I had forgotten what it was even about and it turned out to be the best thing. Go in blindly and savor every morsel. If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers - grab this one. You won’t regret it!
I will not give anything away. I urge you not to even read the synopsis. When I picked this book up, I had forgotten what it was even about and it turned out to be the best thing. Go in blindly and savor every morsel. If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers - grab this one. You won’t regret it!
3.5 Stars for J.M. Winchester's first thriller, All the Lovely Pieces
Drew is on the run from her psychotic, abusive husband, Adam. The world thinks she is a murderer and a kidnapper but there is nothing she wouldn't do to keep her son, Michael, safe and away from Adam. Having suffered mental, physical and psychological abuse Drew is desperately trying to keep one step ahead of Adam while building some semblance of a normal life for herself and Michael. But she knows the only way she can ever truly be safe, is by exposing Adam.
I had high hopes for this thriller. A mother on the run, doing whatever it takes to protect her child. A sadistic and ruthless husband who deftly hides his darkness from the world. I love a sexy and terrifying antagonist. Unfortunately, I felt that the character development here wasn't complete. Adam had so much potential - I would have enjoyed seeing more from his point of view and seeing what made him tick. It felt like we only scratched the surface of his story.
Although the story was told from multiple POVs, the strongest was definitely Drew's. I wish I had come to like her more but I was never fully invested. Michael's chapters were short and thoroughly chilling and creepy. I enjoyed the insinuation of a bad seed via genetics despite Drew's efforts to keep the truth from him. Overall, the story was twisty but unfortunately felt a bit rushed, surface level and predictable where it mattered.
Thank you J.M. Winchester, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
Drew is on the run from her psychotic, abusive husband, Adam. The world thinks she is a murderer and a kidnapper but there is nothing she wouldn't do to keep her son, Michael, safe and away from Adam. Having suffered mental, physical and psychological abuse Drew is desperately trying to keep one step ahead of Adam while building some semblance of a normal life for herself and Michael. But she knows the only way she can ever truly be safe, is by exposing Adam.
I had high hopes for this thriller. A mother on the run, doing whatever it takes to protect her child. A sadistic and ruthless husband who deftly hides his darkness from the world. I love a sexy and terrifying antagonist. Unfortunately, I felt that the character development here wasn't complete. Adam had so much potential - I would have enjoyed seeing more from his point of view and seeing what made him tick. It felt like we only scratched the surface of his story.
Although the story was told from multiple POVs, the strongest was definitely Drew's. I wish I had come to like her more but I was never fully invested. Michael's chapters were short and thoroughly chilling and creepy. I enjoyed the insinuation of a bad seed via genetics despite Drew's efforts to keep the truth from him. Overall, the story was twisty but unfortunately felt a bit rushed, surface level and predictable where it mattered.
Thank you J.M. Winchester, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
Three well-to-do couples/neighbors, a pricey vacation house on a private beach and secrets that they'll do anything to keep hidden...including murder!
The premise definitely captured my attention - couples getting to know each other and one ends up dead. I love a good whodunnit when it seems like everyone has something to lose or secrets to protect. That's when ALL the skeletons start tumbling out the closet and I am so there for it.
The story is told from various POVs and alternated between the day before, the day of and the day after revealing itself in little tidbits at a time. It's a twisty plot which definitely keeps you guessing and second guessing yourself.
I didn't really feel connected with the couples which lowered my overall rating a bit but this turned out to be an entertaining whodunnit with an explosive ending. I probably won't remember the book in much detail over time but I definitely enjoyed it while reading. 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The premise definitely captured my attention - couples getting to know each other and one ends up dead. I love a good whodunnit when it seems like everyone has something to lose or secrets to protect. That's when ALL the skeletons start tumbling out the closet and I am so there for it.
The story is told from various POVs and alternated between the day before, the day of and the day after revealing itself in little tidbits at a time. It's a twisty plot which definitely keeps you guessing and second guessing yourself.
I didn't really feel connected with the couples which lowered my overall rating a bit but this turned out to be an entertaining whodunnit with an explosive ending. I probably won't remember the book in much detail over time but I definitely enjoyed it while reading. 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 Haunting Stars for The Broken Girls
The Broken Girls is part paranormal story, part mystery and I enjoyed how Simone St. James blended the two together. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed the ghost aspect of the story.
The story unfolds via two separate storylines, set decades apart. At the center of each storyline stands Idlewild, a home for troubled girls. In 1950, a girl gets off a bus and goes missing. The only people who are convinced something is wrong are her roommates. Fellow troubled girls, Katie, CeCe and Roberta, know Sonia didn't just run away but no one cares enough to really investigate.
Years later in 2014, Idlewild is set to be reopened. Journalist, Fiona Sheridan is drawn to the land as it is where her older sister was found murdered 20 years before. She decides to write about the restoration for a local paper and uncovers so much more than she bargained for.
I was engrossed by the storyline and all its secrets. The mysteries of the deaths of these two girls with the added layer of a ghost haunting Idlewild kept me turning the pages. I really enjoyed the 1950's storyline and found each of the girls' backstory interesting. Their bond was touching and I appreciated their friendship in light of all the hardship they suffered.
There were several plot twists here and some I definitely didn't see coming! The Broken Girls was a suspenseful and haunting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The Broken Girls is part paranormal story, part mystery and I enjoyed how Simone St. James blended the two together. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed the ghost aspect of the story.
The story unfolds via two separate storylines, set decades apart. At the center of each storyline stands Idlewild, a home for troubled girls. In 1950, a girl gets off a bus and goes missing. The only people who are convinced something is wrong are her roommates. Fellow troubled girls, Katie, CeCe and Roberta, know Sonia didn't just run away but no one cares enough to really investigate.
Years later in 2014, Idlewild is set to be reopened. Journalist, Fiona Sheridan is drawn to the land as it is where her older sister was found murdered 20 years before. She decides to write about the restoration for a local paper and uncovers so much more than she bargained for.
I was engrossed by the storyline and all its secrets. The mysteries of the deaths of these two girls with the added layer of a ghost haunting Idlewild kept me turning the pages. I really enjoyed the 1950's storyline and found each of the girls' backstory interesting. Their bond was touching and I appreciated their friendship in light of all the hardship they suffered.
There were several plot twists here and some I definitely didn't see coming! The Broken Girls was a suspenseful and haunting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Take a trip back in time with me. Let's stroll down memory lane to summertime in the 80s! Is there anything quite like that coming of age time where everything seems possible - including ghosts? This book was such a perfect fit for me and my nostalgia for the 80s. A group of misfit kids banding together for a summer adventure involving ghost hunting - count me in!
You will fall in love with Jake, Billy and Dove - trust me you won't be able to stop it. You will feel so much emotion for Uncle C (Calvin). Craig Davidson's writing is so vivid, so descriptive that you are pulled right into the story/memories. The story is dark, filled with magic and slightly haunted. It's written about that magical time in childhood when everything is on the cusp - when childhood remains rooted but that adult awareness is there, still just slightly out of reach.
This is a quick read and one that I would urge you not to miss if you grew up in the 80s and embrace the nostalgia - it packs an emotional punch that will stay with you!
You will fall in love with Jake, Billy and Dove - trust me you won't be able to stop it. You will feel so much emotion for Uncle C (Calvin). Craig Davidson's writing is so vivid, so descriptive that you are pulled right into the story/memories. The story is dark, filled with magic and slightly haunted. It's written about that magical time in childhood when everything is on the cusp - when childhood remains rooted but that adult awareness is there, still just slightly out of reach.
This is a quick read and one that I would urge you not to miss if you grew up in the 80s and embrace the nostalgia - it packs an emotional punch that will stay with you!