As much as I tried to enjoy this book-which overall is a decent thriller-I just couldn't bring myself to read it in a rush. It disturbed me on many levels. Maybe it is because I have young children, maybe it is because Ms. Barton paints such a grim view of the whole crime-but I just couldn't enjoy it. I read it and finished it for my book club, but could only read it during the day. At night I would just sit and ponder the disappearance of little Bella and how scary the world can be-yes I know this is fiction, but things happen in real life too.

This was a fast paced thriller that led the main character on a wild goose chase emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, as the reader, I pretty much guessed the ending after 50 pages. Not that I didn't enjoy the ride, hence the 4 star review. A great beach read and definitely recommend it to friends who need a quick, enjoyable thriller. Iris thinks she has everything in her loving husband Will, until the day he leaves for a business trip and his plane crashes in a corn field. But wait, he wasn't supposed to be on that plane. Iris's life is completely thrown for a loop as she tries to piece together the information that her dead husband left her and the strange texts that are being sent to her from a mystery person. Can she figure out what is real and who exactly her husband was/is before his secrets claim her too?

I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book. I did slog through most of it, but ended up skimming the last 30%. I didn't enjoy the author's style, the characters and I had a hard time actually deciding what the plot was. I'm happy this one is over.
Thank you First2Read for the galley in exchange for an honest review.

Slow at times, but very worth the read. An immigrant couple moves to NYC from Cameroon to make a better life for themselves and their children. The husband, Jende, lucks out and successfully gets a job as a chauffeur for a powerful man on Wall Street. The reader becomes immersed in Jende's family life as well as the life of the Wall Street family. As luck would have it, Wall Street crashes and both families are put into total tailspins. An interesting read on dreams, how we impact others and the immigration problem here in America. Lots to talk about at book club!

Chick lit at it's best. There are no surprises with this book, just a well written story about finding yourself, the power of female friendship and learning to love again. Throw in a few great recipes and food writing and you have a great story. I loved reading about Eloise and watching her grow into a confident adult-even at almost 40. At almost 40 myself, I could relate to much of what she was going through-even reconnecting with friends. Female friendships are so very important, you need a partner in crime to lean on when the life gets messy. I loved how Eloise's friends, even though they had their own issues, helped her become a better version of herself. A worthy read for anyone needing a chick lit book to get through these long Fall nights. The recipes at the back are a huge bonus!!
Thank you First to Read for a galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book of a dysfunctional family trying to function after the mother dies in a drowning accident. Told by Elvis, an 11 year old girl, this story was sad, entertaining, funny and just down right weird. I loved trying to figure out what would happen to Elvis, her Dad and her sister as they navigated the first 18 months of losing her Mom. Going to be a very entertaining book club discussion.

A very sweet story about the death of a marriage and how sometimes going home can help you find your future. Katelyn is served divorce papers from her husband of 20 years the summer before their twins start college. All of the sudden without any responsibilities to her old life, except for her annoying mother in law, Katelyn is able to return home. She sets out with Shirley, her mother in law, to visit her Mom Birdie in her home town in Texas. There she reacquaints herself with her high school boyfriend, old neighbors, and her love of painting. Why did she give all this up for a husband who no longer wants her? Katelyn discovers herself again and to the reader's advantage, with the help of the crazy town characters. A very light read about finding your true self. And how going home again could actually help not hinder. Thank you First to Read for the galley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a love hate relationship with this book. Probably because I expected different things. I got a teen/first love story with a hug amount of family drama. I wanted a sweet teen/first love story. I put this book down for an extended amount of time. I should have just finished it in one huge swoop. Oh well.

I really was thinking that this was going to be a trilogy, all these types of books seem to be. And this book had a ton going on, lots of characters, lots of plot points, magic, war, you name it. I think a lot that could have been expanded and stretched out. Instead it seemed rushed, crammed everything just sort of ended. Yes, all my questions were answered, but still. I enjoyed the characters enough to want more. Thank you First to Read for a galley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this work, not as much as Ms. Ng's first work, but I am still a huge fan. So many characters and maybe that is why it felt like it took me ages to read. We found out about each character's life and because of this I felt like the middle of the book dragged a bit. But, what an emotional rollercoaster! We read this book for my book club recently and it lent itself to a wonderful discussion. So many layers! Even as a Mother, my most important role, I could find myself understanding the emotions of both sides of the story. Give this one a read and discover a brilliant author for yourself! Thank you first 2 read for the opportunity to read this work in exchange for an honest review.