What a treasure we have in Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her novels are so compelling and readable, and although they may seem fluffy, they have always made me think. She creates vivid characters and places them into such thought provoking situations. Maybe in Another Life had me thinking: if I could do my life over again, would I make different choices? One True Loves certainly makes you think about just that: is there only one true love for each of us? They are really great conversation starting novels, putting yourself in the character's shoes. Her latest is somewhat of a departure from her previous contemporary women's fiction, with a throwback, old Hollywood narrative. But the thought provoking themes are still present. What stayed with me from this novel was the struggle of the LGBTQ community, female empowerment, women's roles and how those roles have changed over time.

Evelyn Hugo and her journey of empowerment is absolutely captivating. I felt as if she were a real celebrity and I was indeed reading a memoir. Although I couldn't imagine a more riveting tell-all, which means there's got to be one out there, as the truth is usually stranger than fiction. Until then, this exquisitely complex character can fill that void. Reid peppers Hugo's dialogue with some stellar witticisms and keen observations.

'I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, considering both how beneath me this opportunity was and how lucky I was to be given it. It's a hard business, reconciling what the truth used to be with what the truth is now.'

It grabbed me right from the beginning. The mystery of why Evelyn chooses inexperienced Monique as her biographer is the immediate mystery. Then, as she tells the 'pulling up her bootstraps' beginning of her Hollywood story it feels so real, I was absorbed immediately and had to learn more. There are short flashes back to present day Monique dealing with the separation from her husband, while she interviews Evelyn and struggles with how this 'big break' will affect her current job and career. But the bulk of the story is Evelyn reminiscing as she weaves her way through Hollywood, and her many husbands. I think that there might have been one too many husbands, making things slightly more complicated than necessary. Yet they each played a role and none of them in the way it would seem on the surface. Yes, there is a grand love story. In fact, I would argue there are at least three, and not in the way one would assume from the title. Reid portrays such genuine relationships in her writing, illustrating perfectly that the love of your life can come in many different forms: romantic, or otherwise.

The last section, including the reveal of Monique and Evelyn's connection, was packed full of surprising wallops to my heart: terrible and wonderful all at the same time. It is reminiscent of some of my all time favorites like Beaches and Beautiful Ruins, one of very few books where I had misty eyes and a huge grin on my face as I read the last sentence. It would make for an excellent and absorbing beach read. However, in true Taylor Jenkins Reid fashion, it's just as suited to the gravitas of a whiskey drink and a good cry.

Many, many thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy for my review!
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The description I read about this being a mashup of Back to the Future and Dark Matter was spot on. I enjoyed the cheeky misfit protagonist in this book, and appreciated the lighter tone. Mastai also had some great observations about family and love; I like that this story wasn't 100% centered around a romance. However, it felt silly at times and got bogged down in some ridiculous science. Overall, though, a solid read.
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Since the buzz around this book really seems centered around the audio version, and I could listen to Nick Offerman read the phone book, I went that route. Thank goodness, because now that I've finished it... I would say that the phone book might have been as stimulating to me. Is it a novel? Is it a play? Is it an annotated history book with some maudlin storytelling thrown in? Is it esoteric poetry for Civil War enthusiasts? I paged through the print version at the library the other day and I'm glad I listened to it, because the way it is written is rather like a screenplay and there are over 164 characters. There's no way I would have picked it up. Or if I had, I wouldn't have finished it, as I did with the audio. The dramatization of the (164!) characters helped me keep them straight, to a degree. There is a great deal of quoted material, and it felt like pages upon pages of a boring history book, with all sorts of completely useless bits: the conflicting weather reports on the day of the party at the Lincoln home, the weather the day of Willy's funeral, the color of Lincoln's eyes (how many ways can people say grey-brown? A LOT.), commentary on Lincoln's appearance (so many ways to convey: ugly) and his demeanor (which belied said ugliness). There were so many pages dedicated to outside sources, I wonder what would have been left standing of this novel without them. As for the fiction, it felt meandering and lacked any kind of real plot or urgency until the very end, which was indeed poignant and captivating. I concede that I also loved the character development of Bevans and Vollman, as well as the thought provoking way in which the dead affected Lincoln. Yet none of this was enough for me to actually like the book overall. If atmospheric, introspective and cerebral are your jam? This is the book for you! For a lovely, haunting and ENGAGING novel about the afterlife, I would recommend The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier.
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You can't go wrong with a book by Kate DiCamillo and I read this with my son recently, as well as on my own. When I end up grilling my husband about the parts I missed while he read with the kids, I know I need to add the book to my list. The story of Flora and the miraculous squirrel named Ulysses is full of heart, humor, beautiful nuance, a lovable cast of quirky characters and lilting poetry. Yes, the squirrel writes poetry. It's one you can't explain and just have to read. Additionally, it would also be a perfect read for kids who have experienced divorce.
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Ooof. This was a gut wrenching story. Fair warning: not at ALL a light summer read! The first half moved slowly, and ominously, towards a terrible event while Backman set up the backstory for what seemed like a dozen pivotal characters. Juuust as it was starting to feel tedious, things moved at breakneck speed towards the conclusion of how the townspeople came to grips with their reality. It's full of triggers, so I'd do some research before reading if you think it might be necessary. Backman has a way with painting harsh realities, but the ending felt somewhat hopeful, despite the oft repeated revelation that 'we cannot protect our children.'
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This was my latest attempt in finding a good audiobook and I certainly thought it was worthwhile to hear it read by the author. The wry tone in her voice was so clear as she talked about her dad, and I enjoyed her almost imperceptible Southern accent. The story of Walls' childhood is a heartbreaking and eye opening tale of poverty and neglect. The portrait of her family, mostly her father, is beautifully written. I just wish that her life, and her siblings lives, in New York was more fleshed out. To me, the fish out of water story is much more compelling stuff. I sense that the film version may hone in on this more, and I'm glad I listened to the audiobook first.
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Both main characters grabbed my heartstrings from the beginning of this novel, and never let go. I felt an immediate connection to young Robin as a tomboyish bookworm growing up in the 70s, and loses her parents at a very young age. (I suffered the loss of my father at a similar age, and there was much of Robin's psyche that resonated with me.) Her inner life was equal parts hilarious, infuriating, and heartbreaking. As a mother, I immediately identified with Beauty and her anguish as she does everything in her power to find her missing daughter.

I am duly impressed with this debut and the author's ability to create such suspense, drop a few well timed plot twists, all while deftly weaving together plot lines. Some of action as the story came to a dramatic end felt a little far fetched, and the links between some of the peripheral characters were tenuous. However, it was a enthralling story of love, loss and strength in adversity. The ending was a little nebulous about the future of the characters, almost in a purposeful way, making me wonder if there will be a sequel. If so, I am ON BOARD.

Knowing little about apartheid in South Africa going into this book, I felt as though I learned more, as well as more about my own culture with the very obvious racial and political parallels to the United States. I found myself googling information about the Soweto uprising and, although it is hard to digest, it is important to bear witness to the history. This would be a perfect companion read with Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, which has been on my to-read for too long and is moving up in the queue, for sure.

Many thanks to Putnam Books for an advance copy to review!
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Definitely a good pick for a summer read: a love triangle which predominantly takes place in a seaside community on Rhode Island. I did get a little infuriated with the main character's willful ignorance about the nefarious players in her life, and it was pretty easy to figure out the plot twist by at least halfway through. But, I didn't predict the wild and dramatic way it all came together in the end with the very real hurricane of 1938. Overall, it was a fun book - it read like Elin Hilderbrand decided to write a historical fiction novel.
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When it comes to historical fiction, I'm a sucker for the dual timeline narrative and this one did not disappoint. It is set in present day and 1921 in Tulsa, the latter leading up to the massacre and burning of the black neighborhood Greeenwood. Rowan, a young black girl finds a skeleton in the cottage house floor that her parents are renovating one summer. Then the story bounces back and forth in time as the clues come together to solve the mystery of the body. I furiously turned the pages and waffled on who I thought it was, hoping for it to be certain characters and not others. At the same time, it was a well told coming of age story as Rowan learns about the past, while dealing with an unforeseen tragedy in the present.
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My Newberry pick for the month did not disappoint, just as it hadn't when I read it nearly thirty years ago! I had forgotten the gist of the story, and it was wonderful to rediscover such a great character in Kit. Not only does Speare create such a fantastic visual contrast between Kit's home of Barbados and Connecticut, but she takes on really heavy issues that are still so very relevant today: slavery, religious persecution, and feminism. Absolutely a classic for all ages.
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