Pretending to Dance is the first book I have read from Diane Chamberlain. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I did anticipate more tension and reveals based on the cover. This tends far more towards literary than mystery, and I think it will read as YA or New Adult to some readers. 

Told in two timelines, 1994 and 2014, we learn about Molly's family then in Swannanoa, NC and her family to be now in San Diego. Molly has been out of touch with her NC family for many years and we spend almost the entirety of the book unsure as to why. I felt most connected to the 1994 chapters because that's where the character development and plot points were the most compelling and this is where I think some readers will feel the YA style- but that's not a bad thing. 

Now that I know what to expect from Chamberlain, slow, reflective, slice of life stories with some drama that builds gradually to a subtle crescendo, I am open to reading from her again. 

A Welcome Reunion is a novella follow up to the full length book The Perfect Child. Lucinda Berry writes top notch psychologically twisted stories, all the more disturbing because of her background as a child psychologist specializing in trauma. I won't get too much into the plot of this novella as that would spoil some of the Perfect Child. 

In The Perfect Child, Hannah and Christopher adopt a very malnourished and abused little girl named Janie. Literally everything hits the fan, and the book leaves us with a hauntingly open ending. A Welcome Reunion takes place years later, and I immediately felt connected to these characters again and very invested in their wellbeing. Berry really knocked it out of the park with drawing readers back in and creating so much depth with so few words. 

I felt the ending of this novella was extremely abrupt and didn't really match the writing style of the rest of the piece. However, I flew through this and dropped every other book I was currently reading so that says a lot about how compelling it was. I highly recommend this and it's predecessor, The Perfect Child.

After reading many reviews that thought this was a middle of the road thriller, I was pleasantly surprised by a great time reading. The character development was great and I loved how it continued to grow and deepen until the very end. The use of past narrative and flashbacks were effective in both storytelling and increasing intrigue. Is this life changing or ground breaking? No, but it's fun. The audiobook is well done with two great narrators. 

Flamer is everything I was told it would be and more. Be aware, this book has dark themes and shares without censoring what it is like to be closeted, depressed, and suicidal. This biofiction is brimming with heart and sincerity, and I hope you'll give it a read after looking at content warnings. 

Aiden Navarro is in the year between middle and high school, struggling with his self image, and spending the summer at Boy Scout camp. Many of the boys call him a flamer (and worse), but Aiden thinks he can't possibly be gay. Gay boys like boys, and he can't stand how mean and insensitive boys are. Never shying away from the cruelty that adolescents can demonstrate and the LGBT discrimination common in Boy Scouts at the time, Flamer shows us just how dark this time was for Aiden and how he comes out the other side. 

Artistically, the illustrations match the tone of the exposition so well. Most of the book is in black and white, and color is used almost exclusively to show flames and fire- with significant visual and emotional impact. This book is an absolute gem, so do yourself a favor and give it a read if you are ready for the emotional impact. 

Lo and Behold is a new middle grades graphic novel about Addie, a young girl who has to spend a summer away from home for her father's job as a traveling professor. Reluctant to be somewhere new or meet anyone new, Addie is frustrated with her father's advice (and expectations) that she leave the apartment every day and meet new friends. 

Weaving in virtual reality, Lo and Behold was just interesting enough to hold my attention for the first two thirds. I wanted more character development early on rather than the focus on technology projects, but the art was incredible. In the final third, the character development really ramped up and I felt invested in Addie and her new friendships. 

I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive is a beautiful nonfiction and memoir blend about Dolly Parton and the author. At first glance Lynn Melnick seems an unlikely Dolly fan, but is that even possible? Don't most people love Dolly? And this book looks at why we love her without being overgenerous. Melnick is honest about Dolly's flaws and what makes her exceptional. 

Told in chapters titled after Dolly's songs, Melnick begins each section with information about that song and its background and then moves into how the lyrics or context relate to her own life. Melnick began her fight with addiction as a teenager and she shares candidly what that was like and how it has impacted her as an adult. 

I really loved this book and I can't help but also recommend She Come by it Natural by Sarah Smarsh which is a similar nonfiction mashup about the great Dolly Parton. Read by the author and naturally lending itself to a new playlist for you, this audiobook is not to be missed.