Review: For Your Own Good

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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**spoiler alert** As a teacher, I’m always intrigued by novels set in an academic environment. The book blurb for this convinced me it was a must read. It wasn’t.

Teddy is a private school teacher, at the onset presented as an “odd bird”. He is introspective enough to realize he must maintain a specific persona at work (one of the consummate professional educator, working to better the lives of his students). On the other hand, he is a raging psychopath, navigating his own little world though a lens of misguided and narcissistic justifications conjured to assuage his periodic guilt. As he plods ahead, annihilating everyone in his path, his detached manner eventually becomes rather tedious. In fact, his lengthy reign as a self-identified judgy grim reaper is so clinical that it alienated me as a reader. We are told about most of the murders after the fact and without ever being witnesses to the events themselves. In lieu of taking the reader into the horror of Teddy’s actions, we are instead treated to myriad mundane details about Teddy’s idiosyncrasies: he drinks milk only out of bottles, he is overly attached to his “teacher of the year” plaque, and he maintains a quasi-lab in his basement where he cooks up all manner of poisons. The sometimes laser-like focus on Teddy’s self-absorbed quirks and motivations is ringed-around-the-edges with dark humor, but it’s not blatant enough to know if it’s intentional or just a cynical interpretation. 

Overall, a strange, detached read. 

Review: The Maidens

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review

I was surprised to see this make it to the “best of” finalists in the mystery genre for 2021. Granted, it’s been a barren year in terms of blockbusters, but there are so many contenders more worthy of the honor. Alex Michaelides begins with a storyline created, it would appear, as a way to showcase his extensive knowledge of Greek tragedy through contrived allusions. Unfortunately, while he may be well-schooled re: the “classics” (by both the general and conventional definitions), he fails to transfer that to a plot that is either accessible or engaging. For those familiar with the Greek literature referenced, the book is monotonous and moves at a snail’s pace. For those without that background, the whole thing reads as an exercise in author arrogance. From Fosco to Mariana, Fred to Zoe, each character lays flat on the page, never emerging as personalities worthy of a read. They behave in ways that directly contradict the personas initially crafted, giving the reader little chance to become invested in any of them before they change direction. They also fumble about in ridiculous scenarios, clearly designed to be red herrings that, well….just aren’t. Anyone who has read myriad examples of the genre will have the murderer pegged in short shrift, making the entire book an exercise in futility.  In the end, I was left with the impression that the author had written what he had hoped to be a high brow mystery that ended up as little more than a dime store paperback. Was it the worst of the year? Certainly not. It was also far from even the mediocre.

Review: Quiet in Her Bones

Quiet in Her Bones by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review

I found this gem to be among the best of 2021. Singh’s atmospheric writing simmers, never truly reaching a boil, but instead treating the reader to myriad sensory details that gently and sensually breath into one’s psyche.  The plot is fairly straightforward. Aarav is the product of two Indian parents, currently living in the lap of luxury in New Zealand. When we meet him, his mother, Nina, has been gone for ten years, though it’s a mystery to everyone whether she absconded with a quarter million of her husband’s money or disappeared involuntarily due to the nefarious actions of….well, someone. When she is then found, in the clothes in which she disappeared, nestled in her emerald green Jaguar less than a mile from her home, she has been reduced to a skeleton—and a homicide victim. The book weaves through introductions to each of those living in the cul-de-sac Aarav calls home. He pokes at his memories of the night Nina disappeared and recalls her complicated relationship with each neighbor, as he simultaneously battles a leg injury—the result of an accident that has left him muddled and confused. Aarav’s own relationship with his mother is also examined as he remembers it, complete with vivid images of her as she laughs, smiles and dances her way through his memories. The unreliable narrator is clearly an issue for the reader, as one attempts to separate fact from fiction when it seems as if Aarav himself is unable to do so. The genius here is the way in which Singh crawls into Aarav’s mind and explores the world through a misty lens that leaves the reader off-balance and unsure. It’s an almost poetic read. If you’re looking for a barn burner with action and suspense, this is not the best choice. If, however, you are willing to follow Singh through Aarav’s journey, you will be rewarded with top notch writing that tickles the senses and challenges one’s sensibilities.

Review: PANIK

PANIK by Chris Selwyn James
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Well folks, here it is—the first read of 2020 to grace the “OMG Bad” list. It is an honor richly deserved. This is one of those books where the author tried entirely too hard to be intellectual and clever and instead comes off as nothing more than a novice with a pen. Take, for example, the juxtaposition of the names of two of the therapists—Godly and Fersatan. Really? That’s just lazy, not to mention wrong on so many levels. And that’s just the beginning of the writing that had me rolling my eyes so far it hurt. I could write a dissertation about why this piece should have gone straight to the trash, but it just doesn’t warrant one more minute of my time. Seriously. Find something else.

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Review: The Silence

The Silence by Daisy Pearce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another case of a bridge too far, this is a decent book that could have been great but for the heavy-handed prose. Pearce takes a straight forward story that builds suspense and turns it on its ear, drowning in self-indulgent writing that takes itself far too seriously. Characters spend too much time opining in paragraph after paragraph of over-written narrative.

“I study him. He has a day’s worth of stubble peppering his jaw, shocks of grey in his hair. We’ve been together just two months and are still at the stage of our relationship when we want to devour each other, sinking our teeth into each other’s names, the details, the rich smell of him in the crook of his neck. Perhaps that’s why I can’t tell him where the money went. Perhaps that’s why the lie slips from my mouth like ribbon being pulled from between my lips. ‘I don’t”

Beyond just the morose text that drips like thick, wet seaweed from the page (what can I tell you—it must be contagious), there is just no great mystery here as to what is simmering between the lines. The gathering suspense isn’t the result of some tremendous secret suddenly revealed, as even the least astute of readers will see through the gaslighting and wonder why Stella, the main character, is so ridiculously naive.

Clearly, Pearce is a talented author, able to create incredible tone that resonates and builds. She is just in desperate need of an editor to reel her in when she gets lost in melodrama that steals the spotlight and disengages the reader.

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Review: And Then She Vanished

And Then She Vanished by Nick Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A couple of notes to preface this review. First, the book appears to be a rewrite/serious overhaul of a previous edition by author Nick Jones. Whomever suggested the rebranding/packaging was SPOT ON. It was a combination of the title and the cover that drew me in, and I can guarantee you, after looking at the original, that I would have walked right past it in its original iteration. Which leads me to my second note—this novel was COMPLETELY outside my wheelhouse. I rarely read sci-fi, unless it’s post-apocalyptic, so again, kudos on the enticing changes and redirection in marketing.

With all of that said, I dove into this not realizing it landed smack in the middle of the science-fiction genre and in fact wouldn’t have been able to identify it as such until well into the story. When the improbable elements of science-fiction did emerge, I was already in neck deep, inhaling pages as quickly as I could turn them. In fact I was so engaged in the reading that I had little difficulty suspending my disbelief and bought in to the time-travel premise hook, line and sinker.

Jones proves himself to be a major contender in the arena of modern literature, as he brilliantly conveys tone and mood in a way that is both rare and beautiful. I found myself holding my breath, laughing and crying right along with the major players, who are all interesting, well-defined characters. The ambiance of each scene is brought to bear through some of the best writing I’ve had the privilege to read in a very long time. The heaviness that is built around the protracted grieving of the protagonist, Joe Bridgeman, is something that is so real and so alive it’s almost as if the reader can reach out and touch the sadness.

The conclusion here was where the sci-fi crowd will find pay dirt, and also where I found the book lost a bit of traction. It was difficult to follow the convoluted finale, as it seemed to spin in a thousand directions. The onslaught of details, and the flash-forward/flash-back structure, became disorienting and sent me back through a few pages seeking clarification on more than one occasion. I am putting this down to my inexperience with the genre rather than any missteps on the part of the author.

In the end, I was left breathless and fulfilled, a state that left me longing for just one more chapter. Lucky for me, this appears to be a part of a series. I can’t wait to dive in to the next volume!



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Review: The Fall in Love Checklist

The Fall in Love Checklist by Sarah Ready
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Clumsy writing, characters built on stereotypes and awkward dialogue are actually the highlights here. When these three fatal flaws barrel headlong into an ill-conceived plot, the result is a story as inane as it is implausible.

Here’s the worst offense committed by this author—instead of digging in and owning her characters, author Sarah Ready attempts to use cheap dialogue gimmicks to carry the weight of their individuality. This taints every page of what may have otherwise been at least a mediocre story. One woman says “bah” every single time she opens her mouth to speak. A youngster moves between roles, seemingly borne of the author’s inability to commit—portrayed as both a petulant girly girl and a tomboy with a two word vocabulary—“dude” and “bro”. In yet another iteration, the author attempts to give her an “impish” allure and infers that she is surely headed for a life of con games and crime.

In the end, rather than imbuing each player with distinct characteristics that are subtle and well placed—aspects of themselves to drive their actions—Ready instead brow beats the reader with her “dialogue-carnage”. This approach is hammered home in line after line making the reading stilted, amateurish and exaggerated.

Two stars for a coherent, albeit unlikely, plot.

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Review: Good Neighbors

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After finishing this book and perusing these reviews, I think it’s quite possible that I read something COMPLETELY different than the writing upon which so many of you bestowed 4 and 5 stars. Suburban horror? Domestic noire? While the genre may be unclear and up for debate, the prose “I” read was quite clearly an overzealous attempt by a writer to appear profound and insightful; a series of stylistic choices that smacked of self-indulgence in the form of overplayed metaphors, surreal dialogue and stereotypic characters. Passages of clipped conversation hint at layers of meaning but only truly deliver hazy and obscured inference. I felt like I was missing some underlying text and was seeing the plot unfold from behind a layer of gauze. I repeatedly blinked to try to clear my field of vision, to no avail. Entire sections here were related in the form of thinly veiled PSAs as well—statements of politics and mental illness, of pedophilia and the implications of socio-economic life stations. It was as if the book needed to be all things to all people—an overly ambitious reach that resulted in confusion and chaos.

It’s clear Langan has chops and can craft an intriguing tale. Taking on less would have resulted in so much more.

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Review: Beautiful Lies

Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Until ten minutes ago, this was the best of 2021 thus far. Until ten minutes ago, I was hoping that this was one in a series so that I could inhale the next. Until ten minutes ago, I was mentally drafting and revising my letter to author Lisa Unger’s publicist asking to be officially named as a recognized “super fan”. And then.....oh, and then. ::sigh:: And then I read the final pages...and I’m pretty hacked off.

Now here come the spoilers folks. The first 99% of the book is brilliant. Seriously. Well-written, well-drawn characters, well-developed plot. So things are going along swimmingly. As a reader, you get that little tingle—you know, the one that is strangely sad, knowing the end is right around the corner; but, also exhilarating, to be finally getting some answers after the investment you’ve made in the story. Suddenly, and without warning, the narrator—our beautifully smart and just as beautifully flawed protagonist—is using the “let’s wind this thing down” time to utter phrases that amount to “we may never know”, and “that remains unanswered”. Oh sure, she is using far more engaging vocabulary, and her style is still there, but she is basically telling us, us invested readers, that she has just plum run outta time, sugar! Every damn question that had urged me forward and propelled me through the pages sat quidam, orphaned and alone, of absolutely no consequence EXCEPT TO ME. You just can’t suck me in, then, as I get close to the finish line, say “oh man, I can’t believe I told you so much....and now, well just LOOK at the time! I GUESS YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO BUY MY NEXT BOOK!”

So Ms. Ungar, when you can tell me who killed Teresa; when you can tell me how Max ended up with the baby; when you can set me straight on how, exactly Jake ended up back in the system—when you can begin to address these burning questions, only then can I possibly consider “super fan” status. Really, now. This was just.....soul-sucking.

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Review: The Apocalypse Seven

The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book—from the diverse characters to the realistic dialogue and settings, everything was masterfully developed and seamlessly integrated into the story line. What most appealed to me, however, was the unexpected humor this author infused into many of the high stress scenarios. Unfortunately, it all fell apart when the author attempted to bring this one to its conclusion. I had a very difficult time wrapping my head around what actually transpired, and while I’m fairly sure I got the gist, the details remain murky. It was a disappointment, at that point, on many levels, including the author’s tech-laden geek explanation as well as my own clearly subpar intellect. So a solid 4, bordering on a clean 5, immediately bore the brunt of my frustration, resulting in a 3.

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Review: Logging Off

Logging Off by Nick Spalding
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nick Spalding is an acquired taste. At least that is what I am led to believe when I read all the rave reviews of his work. Seemingly well-adjusted, intelligent people are incredibly dedicated Spalding fans, forging a fiery path of cult-like loyalty and leaving scorched earth beneath the ashes of Spalding detractors. This being the case, I am awarding the book a full three stars, which should be enough to keep the over-zealous Spalding groupies from blowing up my social media. I do, however, fear there MUST be something I am missing—that the whole world is in on a joke and refuses to clue me in. Instead, I’m left shaking my head in wide-eyed wonder at the plethora of worshipping reviewers.

So all in all, this was a long way to travel to say that, in the end, while admittedly not a popular opinion, I found this novel to be droll, juvenile and filled with jokes about bodily functions that, seriously boys, JUST AREN’T FUNNY after the age of 12. I hope Spalding continues to write as he matures past the frat boy phase. He has some great chops that would be an asset to a writer for grown-ups.

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Review: Ready Player Two

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, I will give Ernest Cline this—he has one hell of an imagination. And while I’ve now read Ready Player One and Ready Player Two, I am still not fully onboard the Cline fan club train. Yes, his references to 80s pop culture, particularly the obscure ones, did make me feel like I was part of the “cool-kid” crowd, but equally his video game references made me feel very, very old. Therein lies the problem folks—I have no idea who the target audience for this book might be. It reads too mature to be considered adolescent lit, and I have a difficult time believing Cline would write for readers on whom so much meaning would be lost anyway. By that same token, I believe the more intellectual crowd, regardless of age, would feel that much of the content (seriously, Queen Itsalot?) is just plain silly. Perhaps, then, the target reader would be a 50-60 year old single virgin (male or female), living out their days with both hands on a video controller and a VR headset strapped over their eyes, emerging only to read a few mindless paragraphs, order pizza and piss before returning to their own world of make-believe. For me, now that Cline has ruined my memories of Prince and the Breakfast Club, I’m swearing off any more of his books. I prefer my recollections of the 80s to remain colored by the drug and alcohol haze in which they were created instead of bleached and sanitized by the spotlights of Cline’s books.

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Review: Forgotten in Death

Forgotten in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have read every one of the 53 books in this series, and I can honestly say that this is the first to disappoint me. The premise is intriguing—the skeletal remains of a pregnant woman and a fetus are found walled within an aging building that is being rehabbed. Add to that the body of a “quirky” homeless woman, a family with myriad secrets and a retired Russian mobster, and the stage is set for what originally promised to be another J.D. Robb blockbuster. Unfortunately, the pacing, character development and overall tone here were lackluster and maddeningly “average”. The fiery passion Roarke and Eve have so often shared is barely smoldering, and even Peabody is missing some of that spark that makes her such an integral part of the entire body of work. Additionally, Summerset seems to have discovered a filter for his witty and biting running commentary(which is a shame really), and Nadine is all but absent.

If you’re a fan of the series, I wouldn’t necessarily skip this volume and would read just for the sake of continuity. If, however, you are new to the work of J.D. Robb, aka Nora Roberts, I certainly wouldn’t start here.

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Review: One Summer Sunrise

One Summer Sunrise by Shari Low
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Initially, I found this novel to be intriguing. The opening was unique and immediately drew me into the eclectic cast of characters. As the story progressed, however, I found that I really just didn’t “like” any of the players. I didn’t find the underlying themes of self-sacrifice and self-discovery to be in any way noble or even particularly notable. Instead, I was troubled by the forever-changing allegiances; forgiveness offered for nearly unforgivable offenses; the stereotype of the forgotten senior citizen; the seemingly cavalier attitude toward the sanctity of marriage; and the list goes on. It just wasn’t, for me, the uplifting beach-read it professed to be. Three stars for the infused humor alone, but beyond that you can color me confused by the stellar ratings.

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Review: The Locked Door

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m just not fully understanding the plethora of brilliant ratings for this very mediocre novel. The entire story is reminiscent of In My Father's Basement, but without the intense character development and attention to detail that made Payne’s tale a solid stroke of genius. Instead, the brusque, straightforward style employed by author Freida McFadden is almost too simplistic. The attempt here to portray Nora as a potential heir to her father’s murderous throne comes across as elementary in technique and is never completely convincing, while the final epilogue seals the book’s fate as a valiant effort, minus the “valiant”.

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Review: The Layover

The Layover by Lacie Waldon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In spite of the sometimes over-the-top characters and unrealistic portrayal of life as a flight attendant, I enjoyed the kitschy romance. This is the type of book that if you look too closely, you will become mired in details that just don’t always make a great deal of sense—so if you’re a deep thinker, eager for a volume that allows for multiple levels of interpretation, you may find yourself profoundly disappointed. If, however, you are in this for a quick feel-good read that will make you giggle, this is positively perfect! This is my first exposure to this author, but it certainly won’t be the last.

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Review: Utopia Project: Everyone Must Die

Utopia Project: Everyone Must Die by Billy Dering
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Rife with stilted dialogue, editing errors and nonsense that includes melting humans. No word of a lie. I just couldn’t bring myself to finish.

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Review: More of Us to the West

More of Us to the West by Trinity Dunn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I could get past the narrator speaking to herself in italics. I could look over the shoulder of the sometimes ridiculous scenarios. I was even able to skirt the often offensive stereotypic characters. What I could not suffer, however, was the fact that this entirely too-long novel was, in the end, nothing more than chum—bait to sell the next episode. The conclusion was so insanely ridiculous as to have left me wanting to toss the whole lot straight in the pool. If I hadn’t been reading on my Kindle, the waterlogged volume would have then been summarily deposited in the fireplace, where, after drying out I would have incinerated it to ashes. Two stars for the fact that this author’s publicist managed to make this sound like a good read.

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Review: The Girl They Took

The Girl They Took by Leslie Wolfe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I closed the cover on this one with an “eh”, and even after ruminating on it for a few hours, I’m just not able to find a whole lot more to say. This was my first Wolfe book, and sadly, it may also be my last. Perhaps if I’d had an investment in the series, I would have been more inclined to overlook what were, for me, choices in the narrative and/or vocabulary that removed me from the story. Although petty, one of those choices that most irked me was the development of the character who was a tweaking junkie, ballsy enough to situate herself right in the middle of a high stakes kidnapping. This rough, unpolished street rat, when making her outrageous demands to be cut in on the action, suddenly finds her filter and blurts out “what the heck?” to display her frustration. It felt sanitized and synthetic, like watching a Disney version of a gritty crime drama. Additionally, Miriam, mom of the kidnapping victim, was completely unlikable and just didn’t elicit the sympathy needed to engage the reader in her plight. I found myself wanting to smack her off of her pedestal when I should have been sharing her fear and angst.

Overall, a very mediocre read that may have more of an appeal for fans of the Winnett series.

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Review: Don't Trust Her

Don't Trust Her by Elizabeth Boles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Innovative premise with a lot of moving parts. The characters are well-developed, and much of what initially reads as, perhaps, “awkward”, eventually gives the reader an “ohhhhhh” moment as it comes together. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, but when this author wrapped things up, she did so by providing a long and exhausting narrative that, to me, read as a lazy summary of what could have been written as a profound conclusion.

Good beach read with revolving perspectives that will definitely keep you guessing!

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Review: Competitive Grieving

Competitive Grieving by Nora Zelevansky
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I really wanted to love this—the writing is just beautiful. Unfortunately, 300 pages of grieving couched in sophomoric humor just didn’t appeal. Next?

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Review: The Missing

The Missing by Kiersten Modglin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those reads that you just know is completely far fetched, with a plot that is fantastical and action that is unfeasible, and yet...you find yourself wholly engaged and invested. Kiersten Modglin may be one of the most underrated contemporary suspense authors publishing today. I find her work to be compelling and immersive—the kind of books that you swear you’re only going to read a few pages at a time, then suddenly you glance at the clock and realize you’re an hour in and don’t want to close the cover.

Five unsuspecting strangers are lured, under false pretenses, onto a luxury yacht for a “free boat ride” and end up stranded on a deserted island, fighting for their lives. I know, I know—I can almost hear you sneering and insisting this whole premise has been done to death. I can promise you, however, that it’s never been done like this. Just when you are convinced you’ve figured it all out, Modglin hits you with a punch you will never see coming. She then lulls you into a false sense of security before once again pulling the rug right out from under any scenario you’ve constructed.

If you’re looking for believable characters that defy stereotypes, plot twists that will raise you out of your chair, and stories you will think about long after you turn the final page, don’t miss this one. Well done, Ms. Modglin. Well done.

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Review: He Started It

He Started It by Samantha Downing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once again, I absolutely loved a book that many others just didn’t. In fact, I devoured it in one sitting, inhaling every word. Samantha Downing has truly mastered the art of the unreliable narrator and uses it to great effect here by presenting a narrator who, at first blush, appears to be forthright and self-aware. Downing needs this foundation to build a house of cards that is forever just one sway away from collapse.

When the book begins, we learn that three siblings, and two of their spouses, are embarking upon a journey to satisfy the stipulations in Grandpa’s will—to fully recreate a road trip they all took together many year prior. Do so together and without being arrested, and Grandpa’s estate, worth millions, is theirs. From the time the reader learns of the premise, he is lulled in a false sense of almost complacency when things seem to progress slowly and without incident. Just when one is certain that the plot is plodding towards an unremarkable end, Downing serves up a series of twists that are nearly impossible to predict. The reader learns to pay close attention to everything and believe nothing.

This is the second novel I’ve read by this author, and in both, the artistry carries the story, though definitely with a better outcome here. The interwoven plot lines, furthered by narration that seems to be just slightly left of center, left me wanting to follow the characters through to see what they experienced once the story ended. I hated leaving their lives, knowing that with the turn of the final page, they would be forever silenced—unless, of course, Downing can be convinced to write a sequel. I’d be first in line for the release.

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Review: My Lovely Wife

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS

What a disturbing piece of work. The premise is full of promise—a husband and wife who together fantasize about and then plan the murder of young women in their community. From the beginning, however, there is something just a tad askew, and this author makes deliberate choices to foster that feeling of imbalance and unease.

The initial choice is in the format—a first-person narrative, told by an unreliable, self-centered father of two. His style is almost “simple” as he periodically drifts into a retelling of the past that is disjointed and served in bite-sized snippets sprinkled generously over the pages. He makes the leap so often as to create a dizzying and sometimes surreal reading experience.

The second choice is in making the narrator so damn unlikable. His entire life is clearly a series of events controlled by his wife, though he is supposedly blissfully unaware of just how completely he is being manipulated. The reader, however, is permitted to glimpse this lack of awareness as his story unfolds and his world systematically and deliberately shrinks, threatening to suffocate him in the process—or at least that’s what he tells us. It is as if he is sleepwalking through a fog, though if the reader chooses to do so, he can squint and just make out what’s hidden there. In this way it is a tale of two halves—a straightforward story that can be, if desired, examined for myriad not-so-hidden clues as to what lies just around the bend.

Another interesting and disconcerting choice by the author is to render the narrator somehow “less” by never even giving him a name. This makes it difficult for the reader to fully engage, as without a name we are left with the knowledge that we really don’t know him at all beyond what he is willing to share. Every fact, story and recollection is suspect, as they are offered only after being processed through his filter, possibly full of omissions and half-truths. It is impossible to believe that the narrator is as gullible and naive as he presents himself to be.

In the end, though I can’t say I “liked” this book, I did appreciate the author’s artistry, particularly her ability to keep me from ever feeling “sure-footed”. I questioned everything, making the reading more mental-gymnastics than enjoyable.

Four stars for a unique approach and flawless follow-through. Just not my cuppa joe.

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Review: The Guest List

The Guest List by Lucy Foley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lucy Foley is an absolute genius! I love an author who can take a series of unrelated facts, sprinkle them liberally into the main plot, then bring them together in a conclusion that is both jaw-dropping and brilliant—and Foley has done so beautifully!

There isn’t a single thing about this novel that I disliked, but I was most impressed with the character development. This author has created a cast as diverse as they are engaging. Each has a story and carries baggage that is seemingly just extraneous information meant to add interest. Nothing, in the end, however, is trivial or included without intent, and these people, brought to life under the watchful eye of Foley, collide in ways the reader never sees coming. The structure switches narration from chapter to chapter, allowing us to invest fully in the story as we are guided to make predictions based on the insight each character provides. Nothing, however, can prepare us for the myriad twist and turns which leave the reader unsettled and slightly off-kilter.

This is definitely a well-written mystery that will grab you and take you along for the ride. Make sure you set aside a few hours, as you won’t want to put it down until the last page has been turned! Four big stars!

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Review: The Night Swim

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been far too long since I’ve encountered a five-star read, though it’s not been for lack of trying. This year, I’ve scoured reviews and read dozens of books that others rave about, only to be disappointed in not only public sentiment but also the bar that seems to have been lowered in order to award that prestigious top-shelf rating. Finally, FINALLY, I’m able to join the majority in heralding a breakthrough. The Night Swim was, indeed, a read worthy of all five stars.

The book is a tale of two halves—two meticulously married plots running along parallel tracks until in the final moments their paths converge. I can’t say there were any real surprises here for me, so it wasn’t necessarily the story itself that warrants the rating. What earned those stars was the craftsmanship of the writing. Author Megan Goldin brilliantly develops just enough of her characters to lure us in, leaving the question of guilt or innocence to the reader’s discretion, but not without her chumming the waters. She tells a modern day tale of a young girl accusing a hometown hero of rape. At face value, this storyline is presented without bias—a reiteration of the facts of the case as presented at trial. The second plot, however, is emotion-laden and portrays the tragic story of a young girl who, 25 years earlier, perished—the townsfolk calling it an accidental drowning, her younger sister insisting it was murder. As the two plots unfold, the circumstances surrounding the second story brilliantly and almost imperceptibly color the reader’s perceptions of the first. The reader’s anger at a misogynistic society that thrives on victim-blaming is stoked to a fiery blaze that carries over as the plot focus swings back and forth. This imprinting on the reader renders one hard-pressed to separate one victim from the other, assigning unassailable guilt to the golden boy accused of viciously and brutally raping his young victim, long before the evidence is heard and the final verdict revealed.

For anyone who finds brilliant writing to sometimes be more important and enjoyable than the content itself, this book is a MUST read. To be fair, at its heart, the story stands on its own merits as a mediocre legal thriller. Couple it with Goldin’s incredible talent, however, and what emerges is a book worthy of all the stars.

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Review: Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing

Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was difficult to finish, as it just failed to engage me on a number of fronts. First, the plot seemed cliche and predictable. Second, most of the characters were stereotypes with added traits that attempted to render them more modern or PC. Finally, I just didn’t like ANY of the characters. Not a single one.

I won’t again summarize the plot, as many here have already done so much better than I ever could. Suffice it to say, the conclusion could be written by damn near anyone who had read the first twenty pages. This predictability was fairly routine throughout the book, and so nothing that happened was either unexpected or engaging. I found myself thinking, “Pffft. Big surprise” and punctuating those thoughts with eye rolls. What was NOT predictable, however, were some of the nuances that ran counterintuitive to the stereotypes perpetuated by the characters themselves.

WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD

Cleo is a woman who, according to her own diatribes, is successful and fiercely independent. For someone so intent upon being self sufficient, she sure lamented her lack of relationships—over and over and over. The other characters were cliches with PC attachments. Gaby is the strong black woman who values her reputation then sleeps with and subsequently sexts a white man she barely knows. Emily is a housewife who is admittedly and outwardly bi-sexual. Doug is a happily married gay man. Bowen is a gorgeous womanizer with a conscience. Lucas is a broody teenager, mature enough to call an ambulance rather than his own mother when he gets sick. Each is a caricature with at least one trait that makes him, or her, a bit unbelievable and difficult to “like”. Perhaps no character, however, is as unlikable as Cleo herself.

Cleo spends a great deal of time telling us three things. One, she is strong and independent. Two, she was a young, driven single mother. And three, that she has regrets. These three pieces form the basis of the novel, and of each page within each chapter. She repeats them so often that I almost gave up on the reading. She came off as arrogant, self-absorbed and unfriendly. The author does such a good job at painting her as a female piranha, when she tried to work in Cleo’s change of heart about damn near everything she has said she stands for, it falls horribly flat. Her “Only Forward” campaign slogan is laughable in light of the amount of time she spends in her past; her disingenuous attempts at apologies read as being only thinly veiled attempts to get ahead in the public eye; and her cut-throat antics never seem to bite back. Instead, every regret turns out to be a step forward for her. Though she purports to address her life regrets to “make things right”, she never seems remorseful and simply spins her mistakes to her advantage.

Overall, this took me almost three days to read, as I kept putting it back on the shelf. Once finished, I had my own regrets—at having invested so much time in a book that never really paid off. Three stars, and that’s being generous,

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Review: One to Watch

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have a confession to make—I am a reality show addict. It’s a guilty pleasure that has both entertained and plagued me over the years, so this, a book ABOUT my vice, called to me like a siren song.

Bea is a plus size blogger—and not that “I’m a size 14 and too big for the catwalk” kinda plus. No, Bea is truly a large gal, and she has the scars of humiliation to prove she’s been to war because of it. When a reality show that generally caters to the thin and self—absorbed (think Bachelorette) asks Bea to come on board and shake things up as the single lady looking for love, the stage is set for Bea’s emotional journey to tv stardom. She hesitantly accepts the challenge, is introduced to a field of 25 eligible men who have not been told she isn’t the typical contestant, and through a series of elimination rounds is expected to choose just one—a man who could potentially become her husband.

As a woman who has been both rail-thin, morbidly obese, and every conceivable weight in between, this hit home for me and triggered some feelings that were as difficult as they were painful. Author Kate Stayman-London doesn’t shy away from examining public prejudice when it comes to being overweight, and the result is gritty and sometimes tough to read. She draws back the curtain on what it means to be fat in a world that worships anorexic-looking models who look like they haven’t enjoyed a meal in months, and she taps in to the misogynistic “boys club” whose members, even as adults, snicker, sneer and bully large women.

Though the book is at times dark and sobering, it is also a story about learning who you are and to love the person in the mirror. It’s about taking a chance and discovering you are enough. Four stars for a solid read!




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Review: Unspeakable Things

Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book—and was so sad to turn the final page. I wanted to continue to peer into the lives of the characters author Jess Lourey penned into life. With this enthusiastic recommendation, however, come a few caveats.

*First, if you’re looking for a beach read that is all fluff, you’re out of luck here. The story is, at its heart, gritty and powerful, sobering and sometimes painful to read.

*Second, the reader needs to be schooled in the art of inference, as Lourey depends heavily on one’s ability to read between the lines. Nothing is laid bare, though the truth is there, simmering just below the surface, almost too horrific to say out loud.

*Third, those born with the proverbial silver spoon may have a profoundly difficult time feeling the empathy for the main character, Cassie, that makes this such a powerful read. If, however, you know or have known poverty, her experiences will pierce your heart and certainly bring tears. When Cassie is invited to a birthday party, she has no way to purchase a gift for the birthday girl. Instead, she wraps up her own necklace—a gift that is so dear to her that she kept it protected in its original box instead of daring to wear it. You can almost feel her desperate need to be liked and accepted, at whatever it costs her personally. My heart broke.

*Fourth, if you like your reads all to be wrapped nicely with a neat and tidy conclusion, you will want to sail past this offering and not look back.

WARNING: semi-spoilers ahead!

I’ve seen some reviews that complained about unanswered questions. That’s the beauty of the read, and what made it SO haunting. There ARE no answers, no fairy tale endings. The world is full of monsters, and life can be messy and unfair, even for a child. The ending was exactly what the story demanded—more inference, more predicting, more hope for salvation for two children caught in the web of their parent’s debauchery.

If you want to think—and feel—and most certainly hurt, read this now, tonight. It will surely stay with you long after you put it aside and turn out the lights.

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Review: The Bone Jar

The Bone Jar by S.W. Kane
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ok, you’re going to need a few things before you even THINK about starting this book. First, you will need to read in an environment that is wholly conducive to COMPLETE concentration. Second, you will need, at a minimum, a writing utensil and a sheet of paper, preferably a grid. Better yet, a digital spreadsheet, with an unlimited number of rows and columns. NOW you can sit down and give it a go. Seriously. Without the aforementioned requirements, there is simply no way to track the myriad characters and intersecting plots. After awhile, I simply gave up trying to remember who killed whom, when and where; who gave birth to whom and when. I just wanted to finish the damn thing.

The writing itself is sound—well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. It’s sad when that is the most positive thing I can offer. The characters are one-dimensional and once established begin to behave in ways that are in direct opposition to their development. The plot has more holes than a sponge, and the suspense is lost in a confusing tangle of relationships. So much of what is here is just a series of extraneous subplots—the book would have fared far better without them.

I had high hopes for this one and am still smarting over the bait and switch of the blurb. Pick another way to spend an afternoon.

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Review: Size Zero

Size Zero by Abigail Mangin
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Still reading, but I honestly can’t tell whether this is worthless drivel, biting satire that takes aim at the fashion industry and organized religion, or a hormonal teenager’s attempt to exorcise his inner demons and angst. Struggling to finish and am hoping for a payoff that makes it worth the effort. The blurb held such promise. ::sigh::

Edited to add:
I. Just. Can’t. This is a DNF and has earned a spot on my “OMG Bad!” shelf. Five stars for whomever promoted the hell out of this. One star for the book itself.

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Review: The Authenticity Project

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up The Authenticity Project after watching it slide past several times on my Amazon suggested reading list—and I am so glad I did. There are literally dozens of reviews that rehash the plot, so I won’t ply you with redundant details. What I will say is that I enjoyed the reading, though at times Clare Pooley seems to revert to cliched and hackneyed phrasing and improbable scenarios that, in the end, made this a three star, rather than a four star novel. Even with these negatives, there were plenty of positives to balance the scales. The characters were “interesting” and engaging, and I found myself rooting for each of them in spite of their inherent flaws. Julian, the elderly gentleman with the vivid imagination and wardrobe to match, was by far my favorite in this cast of players, and it is he who rescues the book when the plot becomes a bit muddied.

The overall premise is original and promised, from the start, a introspective journey that begged the question, “Everybody lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth?” When the masks are removed, and the pretenses are dropped, what remains is one’s authentic self. Pooley examines this unveiling and acknowledges that knowing, and owning, what is revealed is a difficult process that can take a lifetime.

If you’ve ever found yourself fed up with trying to be everything to everyone, this book may cause you to reevaluate all you thought was important. An easy read with a predictable conclusion—set aside an afternoon, as you will want to devour it in one go!



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Review: The Dream Job

The Dream Job by Kiersten Modglin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This page-turner grabbed my attention and kept me glued to my seat—until it didn’t. The plot is intriguing. Autumn is a woman running out of options. She is taking care of an ailing mother, working a dead-end job and facing an ever-mounting stack of bills. Her string of job interviews have been dead ends, and her self confidence is taking a beating. When she is informed that she has made it to round two of the interview process for a job that pays a cool half million a year, Autumn sees it as her last chance at salvation. This interview, however, will be like no other. The applicants who have made the first cut are taken to a remote location where they remain for five days, during which time they participate in challenges that will test their resolve. None know anything about the nature of the work or even the name of the company, and all proceed on blind faith. Autumn is suddenly faced with a dilemma that brings her face to face with the core of who she is and leads her to question how far she is willing to go in the pursuit of the almighty dollar.

So the plot was most certainly engaging and built suspense that was all encompassing. The characters were well-developed and believable, diverse in spite of their common goal. The let down was in the final reveal. Without spoilers, suffice it to say I found the climax and denouement rather ANTI-climactic and hugely disappointing. After the time invested in reading, and the rollercoaster of emotions, I just couldn’t swallow what Modglin was serving. The wrap up felt forced and seemed to count on an emotional response to carry it through. Absent that engagement, it, for me, fell flat.

Overall, a promising premise with a poorly executed conclusion. I could only manage three, overly generous stars.


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Review: The Oracle Year

The Oracle Year by Charles Soule
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m a little surprised at the lower ratings on this novel. I am usually a harsh critic and often find myself perplexed by the higher ratings. This time, however, I found myself completely engaged from beginning to end and struggling to understand those who didn’t share the experience.

Will Dando is a relatively young, part time musician when one morning he awakens after a very strange dream. In it, he heard spoken a series of 108 “predictions”—some seemingly innocuous and others with implications for the entire world, each with a date as to when it will transpire. He immediately jots them down, and it isn’t long before Dando realizes that the predictions are, without fail, actually spot on. He and a friend then conspire to anonymously release some of the more mundane predictions via a website, building an audience of believers suddenly willing to pay millions for information that will benefit the bottom line for themselves and their companies. Dando is known only as the Oracle and is a raging global phenomenon, as the entire world anxiously anticipates the release of more “predictions”. When the consequences of releasing, and selling, the byproduct of Will’s dream begin to globally wreak havoc, he questions his role in the big picture, if there IS a big picture, even as he dodges those searching to discover his identity.

Are there holes in the logic here? You bet. Reading takes a willing suspension of disbelief in order to fully enjoy the story. The writing, however, is sound; the characters, secondary to the book’s themes. Below the surface lies a running social commentary that takes on power, authority and organized religion. It is in this commentary that the strengths of the novel lie. The conclusion is rather anti-climactic, but after the rollercoaster ride of the read, that wasn’t such a bad thing at all.

Overall, an enjoyable few hours spent reading while on the drive to the lake.

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Review: Dear Edward

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So here’s a book that is incredibly well-written—structurally unique, engaging characters and captivating plot. Ann Napolitano is simply brilliant. Why not five stars then? Because this book wasn’t an “enjoyable” read. From the first page, there was a heaviness that settled onto my chest, like a great weight that made it difficult to breath. I was in tears for much of the reading, and the rest of the time was spent anxiously awaiting the next heartbreak. There is just nothing positive about a 12 year old boy losing his parents and beloved brother—nothing happy or exciting or even smile-worthy.

When I read academically, I am more apt to be open to morose, sobering subject matter, but when I read for pleasure, I am torn in two by tragedy. Don’t avoid this one if you can handle the emotional turmoil. If, however, you find that you are, like me, negatively impacted by this kind of read, I might suggest thinking twice.

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Review: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this, and for the first hundred or so pages, I did! Lydia experiences the loss of her fiancé, Freddie, and is given pills to help her sleep. What she finds when she takes them, however, is that while asleep she is transported to a world where Freddie is alive and well and their relationship is intact. The chapters then randomly switch between alternate universes for Lydia—one in which she grieves and another in which she and Freddie are a couple.

The premise, though far fetched, is attractive for its possibilities. Anyone who has loved and lost certainly has thought about the “what if’s”, and Lydia actually gets to experience them first hand. Beyond the premise, though, the book just falls short of being engaging and instead slogs along, mired in melodrama and angst. Additionally, Josie Silver’s use of the color pink, over and over, fails to serve a clear purpose and feels redundant. Beyond that, the chapters are slow, and the progress is so leisurely that it’s painful. Finally, the conclusion is predictable and cliche, obvious from the first ten pages. Perhaps a hundred less pages and a more condensed version of the story would have helped.

Overall, great idea poorly executed.

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Review: Beach Read

Beach Read by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the perfect read for a warm summer afternoon. Though at first blush this novel would appear to be a light piece of chick lit, the undertones were sometimes dark, and always insightful. Beach Read offers up a plot that begs the question of how well we really know one another, even when the ties that bind us seem to be well-knotted.



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Review: Big Summer

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a definite departure from what I have come to expect from author Jennifer Weiner and, as such, a tad puzzling. As I was reading. I kept trying to find a frame of reference re: genre, but the focus seemed to change so frequently that I was just never able to affix a label. On one hand, the main character’s self-deprecating humor and insecurity made this a chick lit natural. The introduction of BFFs and a love interest had nearly sealed the deal. Then suddenly, an untimely murder cranked this book square into the category of the mystery. Somewhere in that mix is also an attempt at social commentary. I have to say, I wish Weiner had stuck to the script.

Once the murder had occurred and main character Daphne donned her Sherlock Homes hat and jumped aboard the Mystery Machine with Scooby and Shaggy, I disengaged and remained apart from the action for the remainder of the story. I wasn’t able to buy in to the sudden character shift, and when it was time for the big reveal, the whole thing took on a Clue vibe that was more “hokey” than suspenseful.

The parts of this novel that were really polished to a shine were Daphne’s moments of introspection and retrospection. It is this incredible ability to bring her characters to life that sets Weiner apart as a world-class writer, and, had she stuck with her strengths, this novel would have been a sure fire winner. Instead, the piece veers off course and never recovers enough momentum to cross the finish line.

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Review: Sorry I Missed You

Sorry I Missed You by Suzy Krause
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Where to begin, where to begin. When I first dove into this read, I really enjoyed the premise—three women, ages representative of different stages in a woman’s life, end up renting different floors of the same house. When a letter asking for a meeting arrives, fairly mangled and nearly unreadable, in their jointly shared mailbox, each is secretly hopeful that the letter is meant for her. They quickly discover that all three have been “ghosted” in different ways, whilst at the same time they discover what appear to be ghosts living in the attic. The rest of the book unravels the back story of each woman, bringing them closer to one another and to the ultimate truths they seek

So the plot works...until it doesn’t. Warning—minor spoilers ahead.

The author’s attempt to offer parallel stories for the three main characters is unbalanced and uncomfortable. Some of the explored elements of each backstory are extraneous and over explained, adding nothing to further the action, while others are deemed critical but then never followed through to a resolution. The backstories are, in fact, so unbalanced as to make at least one of them seem petty and trivial. A woman jilted at the altar is developed as a stereotype of the bitter old maid who just can’t navigate new technologies, while the murder of a teen sibling is treated in a manner that wholly diminishes and marginalizes the tragedy. I found myself angry with the treatment of BOTH stories, though for completely different reasons. To even juxtapose them simply didn’t work, making this approach feel artificial and forced. The remaining thread being pulled throughout examines one woman’s inability to reconcile her own failures with the widely recognized successes of her friends. This piece of the book lacked a solid foundation upon which to build and engage me, so each time it was mentioned, I found myself thinking, “So what?”.

In the end, I was able to look past most of the inconsistencies—until the book moved to its conclusion. It seriously felt like the author had poured heart and soul into the first 3/4 of the book and then had nothing left to wrap it up. It ends on such a ludicrous note as to ruin any enjoyment the rest of the book may have offered. Instead of “oh, how cute” that the author seemed to be pushing for, I was left with “WTF? Really?”...and that is just never a good place to stop.

Read for the journey—it’s a fun ride in spite of the lax treatment of some serious subjects. Just don’t expect much of the destination.

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Review: The Last Flight

The Last Flight by Julie Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lots has been said about the plot, so I won’t reinvent the wheel. I will say that while I really enjoyed this read, I did feel that sometimes the author got bogged down in the narrative exposition. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once, frustrated with the flash-back format, and just wanting to get on with the story. I have to give Clark credit, however, for creating believable, sympathetic characters who were incredibly engaging. This is a solid beach read that will stay with you!

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Review: Writers & Lovers

Writers & Lovers by Lily King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For me, this novel was a tale of two halves. I will admit to ALMOST initially chalking it up to a flop. Whilst the writing was sound, the story seemed to meander into nothing and back again without any threads to grasp and follow. There was a lot of character introspection, but it was redundant and seemingly overplayed. Somewhere just shy of the halfway point, however, I realized with some surprise that I was hooked. I had started to root for Casey, the almost tragic main character, and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Certainly Casey is suffering far more than mild depression, and it’s clear that her frequent breakdowns warrant some intervention, but she is isolated and insulated by choice, carefully choosing which aspects of her life to reveal and to whom. This dichotomy is followed through to a resolution that was both satisfying and healing—bravo, Lily King. Bravo.

For anyone who has suddenly looked up and realized that fleeting youth is in the rear view, this novel will be relatable and perhaps instructional, if not inspirational. When do we pack up unfulfilled dreams and move on, and how much do we sacrifice in the process? This one is definitely worth a read.

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Review: Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just closed the cover on this gem and am breathless and exhausted! Author Max Brooks has definitely hit another one out of the park with Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre.

As a child of the 60s and 70s, Bigfoot was a cultural phenomenon that captured the imagination of every kid I knew, so when I saw that Sasquatch was at the heart of this book, I knew I had to read it. I waded in wary of how “campy” it might be, and climbed out with the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end and looking over my shoulder. No camp here. Instead, the horror was doled out generously, offered up in a format that lent to the believability.

If you enjoy reading a novel that makes your heart race and that scares the bejesus out of you, purchase this and set aside a few hours. You won’t want to put it down!

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Review: The Invitation

The Invitation by Rachel Abbott
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I am, yet again, perplexed at the number of 5 star ratings awarded this book. Until the last thirty pages, I may have been able to understand a reader having an appreciation of Abbott’s craftsmanship; however, any redeeming qualities were lost to one of the most inane conclusions ever penned. I just don’t understand a prolific author like Abbott ever thinking that this in any way worked. I am so disgusted with the betrayal of reader trust that I am loathe to spend even one more minute bothering to write a review. Listen, when someone invests hours reading a lengthy piece of work, the expectation is a payoff of at least a plausible finale. Unfortunately, Abbott falls so far short that I wonder if she simply tripped over the finish line and threw her hands up, yelling, “I give up!” Seriously. It’s the only explanation that makes any sort of sense. Read to enjoy the journey, but be aware that the destination is a profound disappointment.

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Review: Find Me

Find Me by Anne Frasier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you’ve read In My Father’s Basement, you may at first be lulled into a false sense of deja vu. Don’t become complacent, however, or the twists and turns may just knock your legs out from under you! Frazier does a brilliant job creating characters we both like and root for, whilst at the same time planting seeds of doubt about each of them. Without offering spoilers, I will say that for me the only place this one fell short was in the incomplete closure, though I suppose that leaves the door open for a sequel.

Definitely worth the read.

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Review: Romeo's Rules

Romeo's Rules by James Scott Bell
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If you are searching for a book full of testosterone and Fight Club antics performed by a pretentious wannabe-intellectual, this is DEFINITELY the right read for you! On the other hand, should you prefer things like a believable plot and well-developed characters, with a minimum of unwarranted machismo, avoid this at all costs. If Mike Hammer, Hulk Hogan and Noam Chomsky had a weird threesome and simultaneously impregnated Jerry Springer, the result would be Mike Romeo, title character and a man able to engage in myriad pissing matches and win each and every one. He must have a seriously huge....amount of inner fortitude. Any further commentary on my part would probably consist of snippy little barbs, so before I go there....oh, wait...

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Review: The Guest List

The Guest List by Lucy Foley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lucy Foley is an absolute genius! I love an author who can take a series of unrelated facts, sprinkle them liberally into the main plot, then bring them together in a conclusion that is both jaw-dropping and brilliant—and Foley has done so beautifully!

There isn’t a single thing about this novel that I disliked, but I was most impressed with the character development. This author has created a cast as diverse as they are engaging. Each has a story and carries baggage that is seemingly just extraneous information meant to add interest. Nothing, in the end, however, is trivial or included without intent, and these people, brought to life under the watchful eye of Foley, collide in ways the reader never sees coming. The structure switches narration from chapter to chapter, allowing us to invest fully in the story as we are guided to make predictions based on the insight each character provides. Nothing, however, can prepare us for the myriad twist and turns which leave the reader unsettled and slightly off-kilter.

This is definitely a well-written mystery that will grab you and take you along for the ride. Make sure you set aside a few hours, as you won’t want to put it down until the last page has been turned! Four big stars!


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Review: The Grey Woman

The Grey Woman by M.J. Hardy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I went into this one blind, as I saw it pop on my Amazon feed and just purchased it. Lesson learned. Always read the reviews.

This is a book of two halves. The first half is full of teasers, promises and suspense, and I found myself at the 53% point before I even took a breath. From there, however, the whole thing just fell apart—and when I say “fell apart”, I mean it went so totally off the rails as to have been a complete train wreck. Instead of the action telling the story, the narrator just tells us what happened. It was as if this author wrote a summary to sell the book, contracted for the first few chapters, then found herself (himself?) at a loss and simply relied on that summary to meet a looming deadline. The last 20% or so of the book was an almost expository piece in which each character behaves so far afield of what had been established as to leave the reader feeling like they’ve actually been secretly redirected into another story altogether.

I feel cheated out of what had promised to be a wild ride of a thriller. Instead, I was spoon fed two unlikable main characters who deserved to be held accountable for their unsavory actions, yet were dropped smack into the middle of a happily ever after fairytale full of unicorns and rainbows. Just....no.

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Review: The Class Reunion

The Class Reunion by N.L. Hinkens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Strictly mediocre story with scenarios that stretched the ability of this reader to suspend disbelief. The convoluted and round-about resolution were, together. just a bridge too far. Beyond the chaotic plot, the characters themselves were one-dimensional and under-developed, none particularly likable nor engaging. By the time the final page was turned, I was disinterested and wanted it to end. Three stars for the author being able to keep track of the plot amid the tangled web of intersecting storylines.

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Review: Who's That Girl?

Who's That Girl? by Mhairi McFarlane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I honestly enjoyed this read, with a few painful caveats. I won’t rehash the plot, as plenty of other reviews here cover that in spades. What I will say, however, is that author McFarlane took far too long to get things moving, then made some questionable choices in the denouement—choices that left me feeling a bit bitter, very cheated and just generally dissatisfied.

Main character Edith “Edie” Thompson is portrayed as a thirty-five year old woman who never really matured emotionally past the age of about twenty-one. She is self-deprecating, exceedingly insecure and is notoriously poor at assessing the character of those with whom she socializes. Her questionable life choices, and subsequent inability to self-reflect with any degree of success, dominates more of the novel than the relationship in which she becomes entangled and which, presumably, is the crux of the novel. I may have respected the story line more had the book been sold as an introspective narrative instead of a quirky rom-com. While her journey towards a deeper understanding of self is noble and at first blush has great potential, it is fraught with missteps and miscues that ruined the magic of the budding romance.

Overall, I wish the author had focused more on either Edie’s “coming of age” or the development of a romantic relationship with actor and heart-throb Elliott Owen. Either of these may have worked independently as the focus, but with the attention split between the two, both were found to be lacking in both breadth and depth.

If all this weren’t bad enough, this book featured more British colloquialisms than two East-Enders engaging in Cockney rhyming slang. Without my Brit husband to translate, much of the local dialect would have been lost on me, though I will admit to eventually just giving up and skipping past the local references. To have understood them all would have meant far too much work for a light read.

Three and a half stars, rounded down for the cheap ending.

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Review: Rocket Science

Rocket Science by Emily Mayer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you’re looking for a book so saccharine sweet it may even damage your teeth, look no further. This book is sure to satisfy any need for superficial rom-com. All in all, I will admit it was an easy read that I breezed through in an evening, though I failed to truly invest in any of the characters along the way.

The story is that of a geeky, bespectacled woman (Lennon) wooed by a hunky athlete (Sebastian). Lennon is an aerospace engineer, portrayed as socially awkward to the extreme. In fact, although her quirky mannerisms and backward behaviors are explained away as consequences of having been a medically-fragile child, the overall impression left me wondering if perhaps the author had either over-reached or intended the reader to suspect Aspergers. Sebastian, on the other hand, is an aging, though publicly recognized and wildly successful, soccer star, recently traded from Manchester United in the UK to the Supernovas in the US. Lennon and Sebastian end up doing a courtship tango that, for me, simply didn’t ring true. Not for a minute was I able to get past my cynical first impression, which was, WHY?

Lennon, at numerous points throughout the book, seems to be closer to 18 than her actual 26 years, and the book fails to move me past that sticking point. Sure, she’s smart, but Mayer never develops her beyond a geeky stereotype. Lennon enjoys Harry Potter, LOTR and Netflix teen rom-coms, and is content to build LEGO architecture in lieu of going out. Sebastian, however, has a playboy reputation, is hounded by paparazzi and lives in a minimalist apartment—a stereotypic professional athlete. The chemistry between the two is supposed to be vibrant and all encompassing, but it felt lukewarm at best, as I struggled to understand the connection. The reader is never privy to Sebastian’s thought processes regarding the relationship, so we are left to rely on Lennon’s skewed perspective. As such, there never felt like any frisson existed between them—no spark to explain their relationship.

Most good stories pivot on some time of conflict that offers the reader a seat at the table as that conflict is examined and, on some level, resolved. Rocket Science just never really offers anything beyond “girl meets boy and lives happily ever after.” Even the few social situations explored, offering a plethora of opportunities to give the reader insight into Lennon’s struggles and Sebastian’s reactions, always ended on a positive note with zero issues—unicorns and rainbows for everyone.

It’s quite possible that my mindset just wasn’t where it needed to be for this feel-good, life-is-a-bed-of-roses story. In the end, however, I was left with lingering doubts as to Sebastian’s motivations and Lennon’s sudden ability to seamlessly slide into a lifestyle so different from the one she knew. Just not for me.

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