A Mother's Lie
Sarah Zettel
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
April 7, 2020
Paperback
400
Free from Publisher
Beth Fraser finally has her life together. She's built a successful career in the tech sector, has a bright fifteen-year-old daughter, and she's completely erased all evidence of her troubled past. At least that's what she thought.
Dana Fraser always wondered why she's the only kid with two backup phones, emergency drills, and a non-negotiable check-in time every single day. When a stranger approaches her on the street claiming to be her grandmother, Dana starts to question what else her mother has been hiding.
Soon Beth's worst nightmare is coming true: Dana is in grave danger, and unless Beth is willing to pull one last con job for her parents, she may never see her daughter again.
This one was a wild ride, that's for sure! I changed my mind so many times about who was the con and who wasn't, that my head was spinning! Told in alternating chapters by divorced mom Beth and her fifteen year old daughter Dana, we get the present day story as we also delve into Beth's past life with her con artist parents. I don't want to give away spoilers except to say that they've come back into their lives, but to what purpose? Do they really just want to get to know their granddaughter? Have they given up their previous lifestyle? Are they telling the truth or is it all a cover? What is going on with Beth's ex/Dana's father, and does he have anything to do with their reappearance? And what part does Beth have to play in all of this? These are the questions swirling throughout the reading of this book (I told you your head would be spinning). Despite the ending being a little far fetched for my liking, I flew through this story trying to figure out who were the good guys, and who the heck was telling the truth!
Another fast paced thriller with a con man theme I haven't really ever seen explored much in books I've read. Well worth a read.
All Adults Here
Emma Straub
Fiction
Riverhead Books
May 4, 2020
E-book
368
Publisher via Edelweiss
When Astrid Strick witnesses a school bus accident in the center of town, it jostles loose a repressed memory from her young parenting days decades earlier. Suddenly, Astrid realizes she was not quite the parent she thought she’d been to her three, now-grown children. But to what consequence?
Astrid’s youngest son is drifting and unfocused, making parenting mistakes of his own. Her daughter is intentionally pregnant yet struggling to give up her own adolescence. And her eldest seems to measure his adult life according to standards no one else shares. But who gets to decide, so many years later, which long-ago lapses were the ones that mattered? Who decides which apologies really count? It might be that only Astrid’s thirteen-year-old granddaughter and her new friend really understand the courage it takes to tell the truth to the people you love the most.
In All Adults Here, Emma Straub’s unique alchemy of wisdom, humor, and insight come together in a deeply satisfying story about adult siblings, aging parents, high school boyfriends, middle school mean girls, the lifelong effects of birth order, and all the other things that follow us into adulthood, whether we like them to or not.
My past experience with this author has been mixed. I liked Vacationland and found Modern Lovers to be meh. So I was excited to jump into this one and see which way this story took me. I really liked this one, in fact it may be my favorite of Straub's books that I've read! This had the two things going for it that I adore in a story, dysfunctional family and a character driven plot. In fact if you are someone who enjoys a book with a lot of action and plot, look away 🙂 Things do happen in this book, but they are more of the more mundane daily existence kind. There were side stories going on with all the characters and I really enjoyed all of them. Each was unique in its own way. While I can't say that all the characters were endearing, they each had their own good traits as well as fallacies. My favorite was August, who I think expressed the main theme of the book which was to always tell the truth to those you love. Some of the characters took the long way around this in their lives, but ultimately learned that to tell your truth is to be free from your psychological burdens.
A great character driven novel about family, with an emphasis on parenting, birth order expectations, telling your truth and being happy in your own skin. If you love a good family story, this one fits the bill nicely.
The Silence
Susan Allott
Fiction
William Morrow
May 19, 2020
Hardcover
304
Free from publisher
It is 1997, and in a basement flat in Hackney, Isla Green is awakened by a call in the middle of the night: her father phoning from Sydney. Thirty years ago, in the suffocating heat of summer 1967, the Green's next-door neighbor Mandy disappeared. At the time, it was thought she fled a broken marriage and gone to start a new life; but now Mandy's family is trying to reconnect, and there is no trace of her. Isla's father Joe was allegedly the last person to see her alive, and now he's under suspicion of murder.
Isla unwillingly plans to go back to Australia for the first time in a decade to support her father. The return to Sydney will plunge Isla deep into the past, to a quiet street by the sea where two couples live side by side. Isla's parents, Louisa and Joe, have recently emigrated from England - a move that has left Louisa miserably homesick while Joe embraces his new life. Next door, Steve and Mandy are equally troubled. Mandy doesn't want a baby, even though Steve - a cop trying to hold it together under the pressures of the job - is desperate to become a father.
The more Isla asks about the past, the more she learns: about both young couples and the secrets each marriage bore. Could her father be capable of doing something terrible? How much does her mother know? What will happen to their family if Isla's worst fears are realized? And is there another secret in this community, one which goes deeper into Australia's colonial past, which has held them in a conspiracy of silence?
The kind of mystery I'm drawn to, where there is a slow burn until you reach the ultimate answer, did Isla's father kill his next door neighbor thirty years ago? I liked the way this one was set up, with chapters alternating between the present story (with Isla trying to piece together what happened when she was just a small girl), and thirty years prior where we learn just what was going on in these neighbors' lives. The super short chapters kept me flying through them to figure out what could have happened. All of these characters certainly had flaws, which just added to the suspense of how it would all play out. There were some interesting facts thrown in about the displacement of Aboriginal children from their homes, and we had plenty of other people behaving badly to boot. While I did have a suspect in mind, it took until the very end of the book to find out if I was even remotely close, and I did waver several times on whether to change my mind.
A fast read, this is a really entertaining who-dunnit taking place in Australia, with some not so likable characters and a daughter just after the truth.
Big Summer
Jennifer Weiner
Fiction
Atria Books
May 5, 2020
E-book
368
Publisher via NetGalley
Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time—she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media—so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.
Drue was always the one who had everything—except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer. Letting glamorous, seductive Drue back into her life is risky, but it comes with an invitation to spend a weekend in a waterfront Cape Cod mansion. When Drue begs and pleads and dangles the prospect of cute single guys, Daphne finds herself powerless as ever to resist her friend’s siren song.
A sparkling novel about the complexities of female friendship, the pitfalls of living out loud and online, and the resilience of the human heart, Big Summer is a witty, moving story about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most.
Reviewing this book is going to be almost like talking about two separate stories. I adored the first part (49% since I read an e-book version)! It was quintessential Weiner at her finest, with a story about a plus size social media influencer who is just starting to accept herself and her life for who she is. We start to get a glimpse of how hard this has been when a blast from her school age past enters the picture. This brings back all sorts of memories of insecurities and wanting to belong no matter the cost to ones' self esteem. It was fabulous! I loved the character of Daphne, the description of her job, her parents, her roommate, and her newfound confidence. Then we move on to the second half of the book which ends up being a murder mystery. HUH?? The story was okay I guess, there wasn't a dropoff in the writing quality, but I just found myself saying "why did we have to go there?" I'm getting tired of writers feeling like they have to include some sort of mystery with a big twist in order to sell books. Have we really resorted to readers only having attention spans so short that we have to have something exciting happen to like a book? Anyway, you get the idea here, I'll get off my soapbox now 🙂
I recommend you read this one with the following in mind. If you love the first half, just know that you may feel a bit letdown by the direction it takes. If you are not a fan of the first half, skip over to part two and you'll hopefully find more of what you are looking for.
My Kind of People
Lisa Duffy
Fiction
Atria Books
May 12, 2020
Advanced reader copy
352
Free from publisher
On Ichabod Island, a jagged strip of land thirteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts, ten-year-old Sky becomes an orphan for the second time after a tragic accident claims the lives of her adoptive parents.
Grieving the death of his best friends, Leo’s life is turned upside down when he finds himself the guardian of young Sky. Back on the island and struggling to balance his new responsibilities and his marriage to his husband, Leo is supported by a powerful community of neighbors, many of them harboring secrets of their own.
Maggie, who helps with Sky’s childcare, has hit a breaking point with her police chief husband, who becomes embroiled in a local scandal. Her best friend Agnes, the island busybody, invites Sky’s estranged grandmother to stay for the summer, straining already precarious relationships. Their neighbor Joe struggles with whether to tell all was not well in Sky’s house in the months leading up to the accident. And among them all is a mysterious woman, drawn to Ichabod to fulfill a dying wish.
I've read this author's two previous novels, and this one, just as with her other books, shows her strength is in her characters. She does a fabulous job of taking you into their lives and giving you all the feels, as if you are a part of their day to day journeys. Of course these journeys include lots of secrets and angst, and she portrays their thoughts and feelings to capture your emotional connection to them. I really. enjoyed looking into the daily lives of this small town island community. There are several subplots going on that deal with friendships, infidelity, marital strife, loss, and the ultimate plot of what makes a family? A few interesting twists thrown in, one that was easy to predict, the others not as obvious. My only negative was that I felt the ending was just a bit too pollyannish, If things all end up too perfect, it's not as believable to me as when there are a few disappointments along the way.
Definitely a worthy read for the strong characters, the interesting storylines, and the unorthodox look into the modern makeup of families.
Best Behavior
Wendy Francis
Fiction
Graydon House Books
May 5, 2020
Advance reader copy
336
Free from publisher
A modern-day family gathers for a weekend to remember in a novel rich in both humor and heart... Meredith Parker has made the journey to Bolton, her twins' college, dozens of times. This weekend, though, is different. Dawn and Cody are about to graduate and move away to separate corners of the country. Meredith is proud of her kids, and she's proud of herself for helping them get this far. She just never expected the tidal wave of emotions sweeping over her--or the tangled family dynamics complicating everything. Meredith doesn't miss her cheating ex, Roger, one bit, but sitting across from his very young, very gorgeous second wife threatens to unravel the graceful facade she's trying so hard to maintain. Joel, Meredith's husband, can see she's feeling the first pangs of empty-nest syndrome and wants to soften the blow--but he's distracted by a familiar face. Meanwhile, Cody and Dawn are sitting on their own secrets, and Roger's new wife, Lily, wonders if she really wants to be a part of this wild, mixed-up family. As tensions simmer with each passing appetizer tray, Meredith's vision of the perfect weekend goes up in flames. But before the party's over, as best behavior gives way to brutal honesty, there'll be a chance for this new blended family to truly come together--in all its messy and glorious imperfection.
I jumped at the chance to read this book since I have a daughter graduating from college (her graduation ceremony would have been today....sigh). Of course, that is where the similarities to this book with my life end, but this one was a really great read! I loved all the drama (from the parents, the exes, the kids), but it wasn't so over the top as to not be believable. It may have veered a bit off the path at the very end, but it certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment, or cause me to wonder if it could happen in some families. Great characters, especially the mother Meredith. I've always been perfectly happy seeing my daughters make their way out into the world, but I found her empty nester story well done and very credible. There was also a nod given to how our perceptions of our children may not always be as we see them, which is a good life lesson for parents.
It will be interesting to see if future readers of this book will think back and say "wait, doesn't this take place in the year when there were no May graduations?" Obviously the author could not have predicted this while writing this novel, but it definitely gives the graduation year, and got me thinking about that 🙂
All in all a great extended family tale that could easily apply to any formal occasion where exes and parties are involved. Great beach read.
Hello, Summer
Mary Kay Andrews
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
May 5, 2020
Advanced reader copy
576
Free from publisher
It’s a new season...
Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks.
For small town scandals...
When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat—and she doesn’t exactly have warm feelings for Conley. Soon she is given the unenviable task of overseeing the local gossip column, “Hello, Summer.”
And big-time secrets.
Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman—a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets. As an old heartbreaker causes trouble and a new flame ignites, it soon looks like their sleepy beach town is the most scandalous hotspot of the summer. Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rear view mirror years ago. Now, after ten years of blood, sweat, and tears, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position at a New York City newspaper. That is, until she discovers at her own going away party that her new job is suddenly gone, disappearing overnight along with her hopes and dreams of a bright future in a big city. Dread in her heart and a sinking feeling in her gut, Conley ends up in the last place she ever wanted to be: The Beacon, now reluctantly run by her brother Garret whose own dreams of being a lawyer were put on hold with the death of their father. Covering a sleepy beach town with church news and the local funeral home director dictating the day’s obituaries to her over the phone isn’t exactly every reporter’s dream, and to make matters worse, she and her brother see eye to eye on almost nothing. Matters come to a head after Conley witnesses a car accident that ends in the death of a local politician – a beloved war hero with a secret shady history whose death may not be exactly what it seems.
I always say it's not summer until I've read my Mary Kay Andrews book, so now summer can officially begin! 🙂 Before I start my official review, I input the ISBN number for books to fill in some of the info you see at the top of the review. This includes the book summary, which I usually read in case there is something I don't want to include (like author quotes etc.). Imagine my surprise when I read this one that includes two glaring differences with the final book (and even the advanced copy I received). Conley's new job was in Washington DC, and she has a sister named Grayson! It gets me wondering how far ahead this info is input when clearly the author (or editor) changed their mind. Here is the blurb in case you find the publication process interesting like me:
Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rear view mirror years ago. Now, after ten years of blood, sweat, and tears, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position at a New York City newspaper. That is, until she discovers at her own going away party that her new job is suddenly gone, disappearing overnight along with her hopes and dreams of a bright future in a big city. Dread in her heart and a sinking feeling in her gut, Conley ends up in the last place she ever wanted to be: The Beacon, now reluctantly run by her brother Garret whose own dreams of being a lawyer were put on hold with the death of their father. Covering a sleepy beach town with church news and the local funeral home director dictating the day’s obituaries to her over the phone isn’t exactly every reporter’s dream, and to make matters worse, she and her brother see eye to eye on almost nothing. Matters come to a head after Conley witnesses a car accident that ends in the death of a local politician – a beloved war hero with a secret shady history whose death may not be exactly what it seems.
Ok, not on to the actual review. I really liked this one a lot! It's my favorite from this author for the past few years. It had everything going for it, humor, intrigue, relationships (family and other), politics, and jealousy to name a few. I loved the beach town setting (MKA is famous for this!) and the small town newspaper stories (the gossipy and the police reports) were so much fun! Lots of great characters in this one, I would love for some of them to get their own book some day. There was a little bit of romance for those who require it, but for others like me, it was very understated (YAY!) compared to the mystery aspect of the politician.
The perfect start to summer, and the perfect beach read (whether you are on the beach or just dreaming of being there), this book has a bit of something for everyone. Hats off Mary Kay Andrews, you've done it again!
The Sweeney Sisters
Lian Dolan
Fiction
William Morrow
April 28, 2020
Hardcover
304
Free from publisher
An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel yet--a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA. Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother's death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren't quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature. But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister. When Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a childhood neighbor--Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems Serena's chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney--one that has remained totally secret until now. Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William's literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he's stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister--a blond among redheads--fit into their story? By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration--a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family.
This was a solid, enjoyable read about family, the parts you think you know and the parts you have no idea about! The three Sweeney sisters come together when their famous writer father dies. In dealing with settling his estate they discover some big family secrets, not the least of which is a fourth step-sister. Add to this revelation the missing last manuscript their father wanted published upon his death, and plenty of other secrets each of the sisters brings to the table. It makes for an engaging read. I liked learning about each sister's personality, giving it that Little Women vibe (although it is not in any way a retelling). I really liked them all, although do be forewarned that other than the tragic loss of their mother at a young age, they have grown up in posh surroundings without wanting for material things. Their father's attention (or lack thereof) is another part of their story. There are lots of bookish references, and a few details about publishing and literary agents thrown in, which I loved. Of course there had to be some obligatory romance thrown in (WHY?), but it was understated enough that I could let it go in light of the bigger issues.
This was an engaging story about family and the secrets they all hold. It may not be memorable in the long run, but I definitely enjoyed it while reading.
Feels Like Falling
Kristy Woodson Harvey
Fiction
Gallery Books
April 28, 2020
Advanced Reader Copy
400
Free from publisher
It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy.
Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy.
Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.
With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.
Make no mistake about it, if you are a lover of southern romance and friendship novels, you are going to eat this one up! As everyone who reads my blog knows, romance is just not my jam. But let's look at what I loved about this novel. Y'all (and I never use that term, but her books just bring it out of me!) Kristy can tell a story! I find myself flying through her books, there is something about the writing that just flows like melted butter. I adore the little southern references she throws in seamlessly (I had to look up what crowder peas were?). I loved the friendships, and not just the major one between Diana and Gray. The secondary characters of Trey and Marcy were fun, and the scenes where they were all dishing with each other were a hoot! I definitely enjoyed Diana's story right up until the end (more on that later), but I can't say the same for Gray. I admired her business savvy (a bit more on that may have been interesting), but her choice of a man was just a BIG NO. I can't divulge too much without ruining the plot, but let's just say I wasn't buying into her relationship lasting long term, no way 🙂 Which brings me to the ending, where my, romance is not my jam, alarm bells were going off! Everyone forgave each other and they lived happily ever after. Let's just say it was so sugary sweet that my teeth were aching!
In conclusion, read this book for the southern charm, the wonderful writing style, and the friendship bonds. If you love a good romance, you'll be in seventh heaven, if not, read it anyway and just go brush the sugar off your teeth and move on.
The Night Before
Wendy Walker
Fiction
St. Martin's Griffin
April 28, 2020
Paperback
320
Free from publisher
First dates can be murder.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister's home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that's defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she's met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura's return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie's peaceful life with her husband and young son - a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She's not responding to calls or texts, and she's left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She's worried about what Laura may have done to him.
This one was a good thriller, although I'm still partial to one of the author's previous books All Is Not Forgotten. I loved the way this was told. The two sisters have alternating chapters, one told from Rosie's perspective the morning after Laura goes missing, and the other from Laura the night before. Eventually the two timelines converge and you are given the answers to what really happened to Laura. The chapters were short and concise, with great flow despite the disparate timelines. I flew through this one just wanting to find out what was going on. I will say that while I didn't know the how or why, I guessed the who very early on, which is unusual for me. There were also excerpts from Laura's therapy appointments thrown in between chapters. I know why they were there, but they took me out of the here and now story a bit, and were kind of distracting.
Overall a fast paced read. You'll have fun trying to figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying. You'll also probably want to stay away from dating site profiles for awhile 🙂 Not my favorite from this author, but worth the read.
A Mother's Lie
