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Published on Leave a comment on The Wishing Game
The Wishing Game Book Cover The Wishing Game
Meg Shaffer
Fiction
Ballantine Books
May 30, 2023
Hardcover
305
Purchased

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it.

My review:

This is one of those books that could be described as a warm hug (in book form). This story is loosely based on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but with books instead of chocolate. Such an absorbing tale, starting with the reclusive author and his illustrator down to the little boy looking for a forever home. The story starts with a bit of background on author Jack and protagonist Lucy. Interwoven with their stories we also get those of Hugo and Christopher. Once the game started on Clock Island, I wasn't sure if my interest would wane a bit, but instead I was fascinated with how the author came up with the game tasks. As the game progresses we finally learn why the author stopped writing, and the ending was so worth the read. I could have done without the semi romance between two of the characters, but luckily it was not a huge focus so I could overlook it.

If you need a feel good book that will probably bring you back to all those book series you read as a child (here's looking at you Nancy Drew!), with some gamesmanship and lovable characters thrown into the mix, you need to get your hands on a copy of this. And with a book cover like this, how could you not want to pick it up?

Published on Leave a comment on Yellowface
Yellowface Book Cover Yellowface
R. F. Kuang
Fiction
William Morrow
May 16, 2023
Hardcover/Audio
336
Purchased/Library

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars: same year at Yale, same debut year in publishing. But Athena's a cross-genre literary darling, and June didn't even get a paperback release. Nobody wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena's death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena's just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena's novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song--complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn't this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That's what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can't get away from Athena's shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June's (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang's novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

My review:

This one reminded me a lot of another favorite from a few years ago, A Ladder to the Sky. The same idea of a writer using someone else's work, and passing it off as their own. There were definitely some differences between the two books, but both were 5 star reads for me! This book dealt much more with the actual publishing industry, and the ins and outs of who gets more pre-publication industry "help" to rack up sales. Fun to read about from someone on the receiving end of publicists and book hype! This also was much more of a look at race, and how that effects the writing/publishing process. There has certainly been lots of buzz lately about books needing to be written as own voices (remember the American Dirt controversy?.....google it). The author of this book goes as far as using a more Asian sounding name and an ambiguous author photo to not be called out. And when she is, the dark and tense part of the story takes hold.

This was a riveting read! Even though none of the characters were likable, they were still written in a way that made you not sure who you wanted to come out on top. Definitely worth a read as long as you don't have to like your characters.

Published on Leave a comment on Super Bloom
Super Bloom Book Cover Super Bloom
Megan Tady
Fiction
Zibby Books
May 2, 2023
Paperback
312
Free from publisher

If only there was a spa treatment for heartbreak.

In this sparkling, heart-warming debut set at a luxury Vermont spa, massage therapist Joan Johnston is wallowing in grief over the accidental death of her boyfriend, Samuel, and it’s now seriously jeopardizing her job and her friendships. Will she ever be able to move on?

Enter Carmen Bronze, a hotheaded bestselling romance novelist and the most demanding massage client Joan’s ever faced. When Carmen offers Joan a chance to pay down her debt and save her job, it’s hard to say no—even though it means funneling Carmen inside dirt on the spa for her next novel.

The task unexpectedly reawakens a dormant talent in Joan, and she’s irresistibly drawn to writing her own romance novel based on her relationship with Samuel that stretches into the bright future they didn’t get to share. Writing proves to be the therapy Joan desperately needs, and her heart begins to open to new romance... and even the possibility of becoming a successful author herself. But none of this is easy, not with a lunatic like Carmen breathing down her neck and threatening to steal Joan’s manuscript.

A heartfelt, hilarious look at taking second chances, in life and in love, Tady’s uplifting debut will have readers rooting for Joan on every page—and laughing out loud at her one-of-a-kind wit.

My review:

When I read the synopsis of this book, not only did it sound like something I would be interested in plot/character wise, but it's set in Vermont (where I was born and lived until my mid 30's). I really enjoyed this one! It was the perfect blend of humor and grief, with lots of friendships thrown in. The small references (ok, let's call them digs) of the visitors to Vermont was hilarious and spot on! I loved seeing the growth that Joan went through as she struggled to overcome her devastation over the death of her boyfriend, and finding her new path/passion in life. The writing was well defined, the characters well fleshed out (haven't we all encountered a Carmen in the service industry?). I enjoyed the descriptions of massage therapy (with its various types of clients), the double meaning of the title, and the important place that reading/writing had within the story.

If you want a sweet story that is more than just a typical rom-com, with themes much more devoted to overcoming grief, along with great friendship and character growth, with humor thrown in, I would suggest this book. This is by a debut author, and I'm excited to see where she takes readers next!

Published on Leave a comment on Symphony of Secrets
Symphony of Secrets Book Cover Symphony of Secrets
Brendan Slocumb
Fiction
Anchor
April 18, 2023
Hardcover/Audio
449
Purchased/Library

Bern Hendricks has just received the call of a lifetime. As one of the world’s preeminent experts on the famed twentieth-century composer Frederick Delaney, Bern knows everything there is to know about the man behind the music. When Mallory Roberts, a board member of the distinguished Delaney Foundation and direct descendant of the man himself, asks for Bern’s help authenticating a newly discovered piece, which may be his famous lost opera, RED, he jumps at the chance. With the help of his tech-savvy acquaintance Eboni, Bern soon discovers that the truth is far more complicated than history would have them believe.

In 1920s Manhattan, Josephine Reed is living on the streets and frequenting jazz clubs when she meets the struggling musician Fred Delaney. But where young Delaney struggles, Josephine soars. She’s a natural prodigy who hears beautiful music in the sounds of the world around her. With Josephine as his silent partner, Delaney’s career takes off—but who is the real genius here?

In the present day, Bern and Eboni begin to uncover more clues that indicate Delaney may have had help in composing his most successful work. Armed with more questions than answers and caught in the crosshairs of a powerful organization who will stop at nothing to keep their secret hidden, Bern and Eboni will move heaven and earth in their dogged quest to right history’s wrongs.

My review:

This author's debut novel was a huge hit with me earlier this year, but could he achieve the same accolades with his sophomore offering? I'm pleased to say that yes, yes he did! I love the way music is used as a part of the plot, and there is also an underlying mystery within each of these first books. In this case, it's whether a highly acclaimed composer actually wrote his own pieces? We follow a university professor as he and a savvy assistant try to uncover a missing last opera piece from the composer, but they end up finding a whole lot more. In alternating timelines the story takes the reader back to a woman who becomes close to the composer, and may be contributing more than just her friendship. The fact that she is a black woman also brings up the race issue, since in the 1920's blacks were not recognized for meaningful contributions that could be passed off as coming from a white person. The writing flowed so well, there was never a place where I thought the plot meandered, and the back and forth timeline (which doesn't always work if not done correctly) was handled seamlessly.

It's very rare that an author can wow me with consecutive books, but this one has. I highly recommend this story, as well as The Violin Conspiracy, both are fascinating in their own ways. I cannot wait to see what Mr. Slocumb comes up with next!

Published on Leave a comment on Only the Beautiful
Only the Beautiful Book Cover Only the Beautiful
Susan Meissner
Fiction
Berkley
April 18, 2023
Hardcover
400
Purchased

A heartrending story about a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the winds of fortune that tear them apart.

California, 1938—When she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresser’s daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvert’s spacious house with a secret, however—Rosie sees colors when she hears sound. She promised her mother she’d never reveal her little-understood ability to anyone, but the weight of her isolation and grief prove too much for her. Driven by her loneliness she not only breaks the vow to her mother, but in a desperate moment lets down her guard and ends up pregnant. Banished by the Calverts, Rosanne believes she is bound for a home for unwed mothers, and having lost her family she treasures her pregnancy as the chance for a future one. But she soon finds out she is not going to a home of any kind, but to a place far worse than anything she could have imagined.

Austria, 1947—After witnessing firsthand Adolf Hitler’s brutal pursuit of hereditary purity—especially with regard to “different children”—Helen Calvert, Truman's sister, is ready to return to America for good. But when she arrives at her brother’s peaceful vineyard after decades working abroad, she is shocked to learn what really happened nine years earlier to the vinedresser’s daughter, a girl whom Helen had long ago befriended. In her determination to find Rosanne, Helen discovers that while the war had been won in Europe, there are still terrifying battles to be fought at home.

My review:

Ms. Meissner is an auto buy author for me, you can always count on a great historical fiction story that has rich characters and important historical roots. While I always want to learn something from this genre, I get bored easily if there is too much information and it doesn't read like a story. I never have to worry about that with Meissner's novels. In this one, a subject that I have previously read about is explored (eugenics), but also one that I had not (synesthesia). There is also an interesting format. Typically when a story is told by two main characters, their chapters alternate, but in the case of this book they are in two parts, Rosie is part one, and Helen is part two. I really appreciated this subtle difference which made it unique. I will say that I was more enamored with Helen's story after she came back to America, but that is a me thing, I'm really a bit burned out on WWII (although this was a completely different angle). Rosie's story was tragic, but was written so that you always had hope for her life to get better. I thought the ending was well executed, and the incorporation of Rosie's special gift gave it a nice touch.

This is a well written and interesting novel about a somber time in history, but this author has a way with her characters that make her books a delight to immerse yourself in. Still doesn't overtake my favorite by her (As Bright as Heaven), but a very engaging read.

Published on Leave a comment on Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Book Cover Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Jesse Q. Sutanto
Fiction
Berkley Books
March 14, 2023
Paperback/Audio
352
Purchased/libby

Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet).

But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer.

Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.

My review:

I don't read many of what I would call cozy mysteries (although I have been trying to fit a few Miss Marple books in my reading). However, as much as I loved this authors two previous books about Chinese "aunties", I knew I had to make an exception. This book was a hooot, and even better if you are an audiophile, the narrator is superb! For me, the mystery wasn't even the entertaining part of the book, it was the character of Vera and her various idiosynchrasies. She takes on the role of sleuth because she thinks the police are being completely inept in how they handle the dead body found in her tea shop. Her general advice to those around her on how they should live life, such as admonishing all those who don't go to bed early and rise at 5AM, just made me giggle. And of course there is extra advice for her single son. You definitely have to suspend some disbelief on how involved Vera ends up getting with the murder suspects, but the whole book is just such a barrel of fun that I was happy to go along for the ride. She did remind me a bit of Miss Marple in the way people would open up to her, thinking she is just a doddering old lady and not someone whip smart and always one step ahead.

Take a break from some heavier reads with this kick butt little Asian lady. You'll be glad you did. I want to be friends with a real Vera and I would certainly frequent her shop even though I hate tea!

Published on Leave a comment on If We’re Being Honest
If We're Being Honest Book Cover If We're Being Honest
Cat Shook
Fiction
Celadon Books
April 18, 2023
Advance reader copy
304
Free from publisher via BookishFirst

When Gerry, the beloved Williams patriarch, dies suddenly, his grandchildren flock from across the country to the family home in Eulalia, Georgia. But when Gerry’s best friend steps up to the microphone to deliver his eulogy, the funeral turns out unlike anyone expected. The cousins, left reeling and confused, cope with their fresh grief and various private dramas. Delia, recently heartbroken, refuses to shut up about her ex. Her sister Alice, usually confident, flusters when she spots her high school sweetheart, hiding a secret that will change both of their lives. Outspoken, affable Grant is preening in the afterglow of his recent appearance on The Bachelorette and looking to reignite an old flame with the least available person in town. Meanwhile, his younger brother Red, unsure of himself and easily embarrassed, desperately searches for a place in the boisterous family.

The cousins’ eccentric parents are in tow, too, and equally lost—in love and in life. Watching over them all is Ellen, Gerry’s sweet and proper widow, who does her best to keep her composure in front of the leering small town.

Clever and completely original, If We’re Being Honest reminds you that while no one can break your heart like your family can, there’s really no one better to put you back together.

My review:

I had a feeling I was going to love this book based on the opening line of Chapter One:

Gerry Williams's funeral was a shit show.

It only got better from there as we found out why. This book is exactly what I want in a family story. Characters who appear to be just normal (okay, subjective as they have to make the plot interesting) small town folks with a secret that effects them in differing ways. There were family spats, angst over futures, and lots of camaraderie (particularly around the matriarch Ellen). The story has many laugh out loud moments, but it's coupled with lots of poignant ones as well. I will say that if there is not a family tree included in the finished copy (I had the privilege of reading it early), you may want to quickly jot one down. Because of the circumstances, pretty much all of the characters are introduced at once. It gets much easier as the book progresses, since they all have their particular voice and style, but it did take me a while to keep everyone straight. I also wish the chapters had been shorter, but that's just a me thing since I don't like to stop reading in the middle of one. Despite these qualms, I rated this book 5 stars, I couldn't get enough of this family and their week spent together (with a funeral at one end, and a wedding at the other). This had one of the sweetest endings I've read in a long time, I absolutely loooooved it!

This book will make you smile, make you swoon at the end, and mostly make you root for this family to thrive and grow, as well as help each other along the way. I can't wait to see what this debut author comes up with next.

Published on Leave a comment on The Soulmate
The Soulmate Book Cover The Soulmate
Sally Hepworth
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
April 4, 2023
Advance reader copy
336
Free from publisher via NetGalley

There’s a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn’t.

When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral...Did the victim jump? Was she pushed?

And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate...lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel.

My review:

3.5 stars

Not my favorite from this author, but man was it ever bingeable! I love this author, and was thrilled to meet her on her US book tour last year. Her writing is captivating and I literally can't tear myself away from reading, even if the overall book isn't jiving with me. The main problem I had with this book is that I didn't like any of the characters, and I think you were supposed to feel something for at least some of them. I wanted to shake some sense into Pippa (who must have Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man on internal repeat!). The book alternates between Pippa and Amanda, in both past and present times. There is a little bit of a ghostly element, which is not really my thing, although I can see how it added to the story. I'm also left feeling kind of icky about the mental health representation. It was done well, but not handled well by the characters. The conclusion was mostly satisfying, so I was left with a better feeling about the book in general.

An absolutely riveting read, but not entirely my cup of tea. Overall exploring themes of marriage, fidelity, workplace, shady business practices, suicide, and the idea of having a soulmate. I've decided after reading this that I don't want one!

Published on Leave a comment on The House Is On Fire
The House Is on Fire Book Cover The House Is on Fire
Rachel Beanland
Fiction
Simon & Schuster
April 4, 2023
Advance reader copy
384
Free from publisher

Richmond, Virginia 1811. It’s the height of the winter social season. The General Assembly is in session, and many of Virginia’s gentleman planters, along with their wives and children, have made the long and arduous journey to the capital in hopes of whiling away the darkest days of the year. At the city’s only theater, the Charleston-based Placide & Green Company puts on two plays a night to meet the demand of a populace that’s done looking for enlightenment in a church.

On the night after Christmas, the theater is packed with more than six hundred holiday revelers. In the third-floor boxes, sits newly widowed Sally Henry Campbell, who is glad for any opportunity to relive the happy times she shared with her husband. One floor away, in the colored gallery, Cecily Patterson doesn’t give a whit about the play but is grateful for a four-hour reprieve from a life that has recently gone from bad to worse. Backstage, young stagehand Jack Gibson hopes that, if he can impress the theater’s managers, he’ll be offered a permanent job with the company. And on the other side of town, blacksmith Gilbert Hunt dreams of one day being able to bring his wife to the theater, but he’ll have to buy her freedom first.

When the theater goes up in flames in the middle of the performance, Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert make a series of split-second decisions that will not only affect their own lives but those of countless others. And in the days following the fire, as news of the disaster spreads across the United States, the paths of these four people will become forever intertwined.

Based on the true story of Richmond’s theater fire, The House Is on Fire offers proof that sometimes, in the midst of great tragedy, we are offered our most precious—and fleeting—chances at redemption.

My review:

I loved this historical fiction account of the Richmond theater fire of 1811. Not surprisingly, because it's usually the case with most of my historical fiction, I had no knowledge of this devastating fire that killed hundreds, until reading this book. As with most novels of this type, while it is based in fact, and a few of the characters were in fact real people, the four people we follow (and their stories) are fictional. I definitely felt Cecily's story was the most compelling, and the tension that built surrounding her circumstances made for major page turning to get back to her sections. The other three character's stories (which are told in alternating chapters) were also very interesting and engaging, but hers was by far the one I was most invested in. All of the characters were really well drawn, and the parts we got about caring for the injured (who made it out), and the investigation into what started the fire were really interesting. I thought the pacing was great, the chapters are short, which for some reason keeps me reading longer (it's that "just one more chapter" concept). I loved that we were given closure for each of the four characters we followed, but it was not necessarily done up with a big red bow (which can often make the ending cheesy in my opinion). The last paragraph brought me to tears and gave me chills.

I was a fan of this author's previous work Florence Adler Swims Forever (check out my review of that one if you haven't read it), but I think this one was even better as far as the writing style and plot. I definitely recommend if you are a historical fiction fan!

Published on Leave a comment on Hang the Moon
Hang the Moon Book Cover Hang the Moon
Jeannette Walls
Fiction
Scribner
March 28, 2023
Advance reader copy
368
Free from publisher

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

My review:

I've read a few books set during Prohibition, but it's been a while, so this was very entertaining for me. I love a feisty woman and Sallie Kincaid was that and more. From the time she was a young daredevil riding her wagon, to hanging with bootleggers later in life, she was a fantastically written character! Throughout the novel the shadow of her larger than life father (known as the Duke) looms large. She is also very protective of her younger half brother, who doesn't quite fit into the family mold as well as Sallie seems to. There are some humorous parts to this story, as well as lots of drama and sadness. The only part I was a bit bored with were the fights among the various bootlegging factions, however they did add to the authenticity of the story (and were based on real life events). I should point out that my violence level tolerance is very low so take that with a grain of salt. I was totally invested in this story and can imagine it making a great movie someday. The characters and setting were very well drawn, and the parts about bootlegging made for interesting reading (minus the fights 🙂 ). There is lots of drama in this one to push the plot along, and I appreciated that Sallie had a different perspective on things by virtue of being a woman in those times.

A really well written historical fiction set in the Prohibition era, with a protagonist you will want to root for. Issues of inheritance, class, loyalty, and gender inequality are prevalent throughout.