Have you heard about The Rumor... by Lesley Kara?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC that I received in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In Lesley Kara’s The Rumor, our main character has moved back to her home town after her son needs to leave the school where he is shamelessly bullied and tormented. When she gets to her hometown, she spreads a rumor to get in with the other moms out of desperation to keep Alfie from being victimized a second time. Predictably, the rumor spreads quickly and proves to be quite disruptive for their seaside town. 

The Rumor reminded me of a cross between Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies and TJ Stinson’s The picture of Innocence. One of those comparisons helped the book; the other made me like it considerably less.  The Mommy politics, drama starting, and gossip spreading in a small, seaside town was the part that was reminiscent of BLL and aside from being a bit more preachy (the admonishment of gossips was pretty consistent and a bit over done), that part worked well. It felt real and engaging, and I was very excited to find out who Sally was. Very excited that it, until I found out.

That’s the part that reminded me of TJ Stimson. I won’t go in to anymore details to avoid spoilers, but the two books were too similar for my taste. 

The Rumor was a well written book, although a bit plodding at times. To have a partner who is a reporter and seems to value her intellect, Joanna seems a bit dull witted sometimes. I will say this, though: I really thought I knew who the bad guy was and I was wrong. I also was completely shocked by the twist at the end, BUT I didn’t care for it. It was too gimmicky. 

3.5/5

Hello, (Nearly) Perfect: A Review of Goodbye Perfect by Sara Barnard

First, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC I was given in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did end up buying a copy because I could never figure out how to open the file, but it was well worth paying for.

Goodbye, Perfect is the story of a teenage girl named Eden whose best friend is a bit perfect. At least, on the surface (isn't that always the way?). She gets great grades while Eden flounders; her parents are steady, if a bit overbearing, while Eden was adopted after years of foster care, and she never gets in trouble, while Eden had a rough couple of years. then one day, Bonnie, Eden's best friend, shocks everyone by running away with her music teacher.

On the surface, this book is about Eden's struggle to navigate the ethics of a tricky situation. Who deserves her loyalty? Bonnie, who disappeared after keeping a huge secret from her best friend? Her mother, Carolyn, who has loved her with unwavering patience and compassion?

It turns out, though, that Goodbye, Perfect is about so much more than that. It's about realizing no one is perfect and that the people we love might not always meet our expectations. It's about learning sometimes the people we write off are the ones most deserving of our love. Mostly, though, it's about learning what love really is: love isn't selfish and reckless and while you might be willing to give up everything for someone you love, someone who loves you wouldn't ask you to.

This is a really lovely book with many layers that would make it a good read for basically anyone. 4.5/5

The Apology by Eve Ensler: a review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC of The Apology by Eve Ensler. I was given this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It’s that old dilemma: how do you review a book when you didn’t enjoy it, but you know, objectively, that it is very good?

I’ll confess: my issue while reading this book is my own. This is a book written by a victim of abuse, but told through the imagined words of her abuser. It is triggering, rage inducing, heartbreaking, and stomach churning. It was also beautiful. 

There was nothing but artistry in this book; somehow, the poisonous, abusive, cruel father becomes three dimensional and layered and his psyche is explored with the kind of skill that would make any writer envious. For most people, it would be impossible to revisit trauma so vivid and so raw and still look honestly and compassionately into the mind of the person who committed such cruelty upon you. Ensler not only does it, not only crafts a complex, rich character, she does it beautifully and with lyric, flowing prose that almost takes the stinger from the painful content. Key word: almost. 

While I can’t help but laud Eve Ensler’s talent, that didn’t mean the book was enjoyable. It was explicit and painful, so much so that at one point, I really didn’t think I was going to be able to continue reading. The writing is triggering for victims of sexual abuse, but empowering, too: Ensler’s scathing honesty sears through every page. I cannot tell you that you will love this book: it is painful. I also can’t tell you not to read it. I believe everyone must. It’s so important. This story is more common than we know and Ensler makes you feel her pain. She brings the issue to life. Ultimately, no matter how hard to read, this was a must read. After all, I couldn’t look away, even when I was desperate to.

5/5

What I Want to Talk About is What My Mother and I Don't Talk About

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC I was given of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This one had me at hello. Partially due to the hype surrounding it (it has been hyped as one of the books you can't miss this year), but also because there are very few relationships as fraught as the relationship between mother and child. As Michele Filgate writes in her beautiful, gut wrenching opening essay: "Our mothers are our first homes, and that's why we're always trying to return to them." Sure, some of the homes in this essay are dilapidated, drafty places that offer little comfort, but if that's not fodder for the essay, what is?

Like any anthology, there are some essays in this collection that standout a bit more than others and, for me, the brightest star in this collection was "Thesmophoria," an essay written by Melissa Febos about a daughter who continuously pulls away from her hippie mother, despite her mom's unconditional love and support. This essay stood out to because the content was compelling, but the author didn't rely on her salacious background; instead, she used a rich form of mythology weaving to create something poignant and new. Now, I will admit, I'm a big fan of the braided essay in general and mythology, as well, so this one was an easy to sell to me, but any time you have an essay that mentions the author's heroin addiction without the author relying on gritty details to make her case, I'm impressed.

Another standout for me was the second essay, "My Mother's (Gate)Keeper." I liked it because it felt so familiar without being familiar at all. I have never had a set of married parents, so I can't relate to the writer's parents dynamic of enmeshment at all, but somehow it felt so relatable to me as a reader. It was authentic and fun. Even though Cathi Hanauer was talking about saerious issues (the way her father's controlling nature has damaged her ability to have a personal relationship with her mom), you can feel her affection for her father and her own ability to poke fun at her family. It feels warm rather than dramatic and was very readable.

In terms of the weak essays, there weren't really in. Sure, there were a few that weren't as compelling to me, personally, but none of them were bad essays. They were really interesting and they highlighted a variety of voices and issues. I think this is an important collection and I would recommend it to anyone.

Sharpen Sticks and Get Ready for Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC I was given in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Girls with Sharp Sticks, the razor sharp, fiercely clever new book by author Suzanne Young, is the kind of book you will hate to put down. Be warned, though: once you read its final pages and do put it down, you still won't be free from the thrall of this book.

Philomena Rhodes is beautiful. All the girls at the academy are beautiful, poised, perfect--and when they aren't, their behavior is swiftly corrected by the men who rule them with iron fists. What happens when these perfect little girls start to question their own autonomy (or lack thereof)? what happens when you try to keep power from girls?

Girls with Sharp Sticks is a dystopian novel with a definite feminist twist, but don't let that stop you from getting your copy (not that it should, but I won't get preachy on that): the plot is so heart poundingly gripping that you won't be left with a lesson or moral lingering over your head. Instead, you'll be left with philosophical questions about the very nature of humanity. Without giving spoilers, after reading this book, it's definitely my belief that humanity is less black and white than we assume it is.

Do you know what I loved most about this book? It inspired me to ask questions that are so relevant to the direction technology is steering us. As I reached the conclusion, I held my breath as I waited to see where the book was going to take me, but I also texted my husband to ask him to enter into hypothetical situations with me that were completely inspired by the text. there's so much fodder for interesting discussion, so many things to think about. I really enjoyed getting lost in the academy, but I have a feeling that Philomena will be able to leave this world behind more easily than I will.

5/5: This book is a must read. Do not miss it.

Best Read of the Year: Review of The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

A big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC I was given of The Grace Year in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You might be wondering: what would a book that blended The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games look like?

That’s a very simplistic read of Kim Liggett’s beautiful, haunting novel, but the similarities are there. Every year, the girls in Tierney’s village are sent away to a secret destination to be rid of the “magic” that women have in order to allow them to successfully step into their roles as wives.  Of course a shrewd reader will know from the beginning that “ridding the girls of magic” really translates to breaking their spirits to form obedient wives. As you might imagine, The Grace Year (which is shrouded in mystery because it is protected by a Fight Club level rule of secrecy) is not fun. It is designed to break the girls down in unimaginable ways.

So, what would it look like? If Kim Liggett wrote it, it would look a lot like a masterpiece and no, I don’t think I’m overselling this. The book was hauntingly written in a lyrical, almost hypnotic style, but still managed to keep the tension physical and thick. I could not stop reading this book. First and foremost, this is the story of women and how we are taught from birth to see each other as competition. It is about our internalized misogyny. But it’s also about the way that can and will change if people continue to make changes when they can. Even the “villain” was well developed and deserving of sympathy. I fell in love with these girls and their pain, but man, Tierney. I was obsessed with Tierney and her story: she was strong and brave, but also beaten down by life. She was flawed: as her mother says early in the novel, “[her] eyes are wide open, but [she] see[s] nothing.” It is her experience that creates a deep inability to trust that at times really blurs her ability to see truth.

Small spoiler alert: there’s a love story here and it’s really, really lovely. Normally I hate love stories in this kind of book. Like, you’re dirty and starving and maybe gonna die, but why not take some time to get all swoony? This is not that. It felt authentic and natural, yes, but it also gave the first glimpse of hope in a novel that was readable bleak.

I know it’s only February and this is slightly premature, but this is for sure on the short list for my absolute favorite book of the year. It has been months since I’ve read anything that hit me this physically, this stayed with me this long, that affected me so profoundly. I truly loved this book.

5:/5: Must Read.

Horse and Rider? What? My Review of Tame Your Anxiety by Loretta Graziano Breuning

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book that I was given in exchange for a fair and honest review.

As a nearly lifelong anxiety sufferer (I was in fifth grade when I started having full blown panic attacks, but had anxiety stomach pain as early as second), I always love to check out new books that claim to help with the anxious mind. Anxiety sucks, y'all, and anything that can help is a lifesaver.

I was nearly thirty percent of the way through this book before Breuning started actually discussing ways to handle anxiety. Waiting to get past all the scientific explanations that I'd read a thousand times (and assume other anxiety sufferers will also know) to actually get to help with my anxiety gave me anxiety. Not only did I not like how slow this book was to get started, but Breuning uses this incredibly weird extended metaphor of a horse and a rider that felt totally unnecessary. Have you ever been trying to explain something, but you aren't sure if you are making your point so you keep providing more and more basic examples to try to make things clearer? That was the whole beginning of this book. Every couple [pages it was a new hypothetical scenario that would honestly have been much more appropriate had she been addressing children. Maybe Bruening should write a children's anxiety book.

Then, finally, we get to the meat of the book and Bruening starts to unveil her big strategy, which she says will tame anxiety if you do it every day. Awesome, right? We can finally get to the real heart of things. Except no, because immediately after revealing her strategy, we are in the jungle and rather than explaining how to implement her approach, she's back to convincing us it will work. there is way too much filler in this book and not even close to enough content. In a 160 page book, nearly half of it is useless to anyone who knows even the basics of how anxiety works.

I don't want to give a big spoiler alert and reveal her three steps, but no. they were not practical, they couldn't easily be applied while anxious, and they're less concise versions of books that have just explained it better.

Two summers ago, I read DARE: the New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks, by Barry McDonagh. It is my suggestion that you return Tame Your Anxiety and pick up Dare instead because it was actually easy to follow and contained implementable steps to dealing with anxiety. It was a life changer.

This Book IS the One: A Review of Keris Stainton's The One Who's Not the One

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC I was provided in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Let me set the stage: it was late. I had read yet another book of my favorite genre (thriller) only to be totally disappointed by the predictability and cliches. I decided it was time to branch out more, to make a push towards other genres of reading. This book, The One Who's Not the One, sounded like it was the exact book to expand my horizons.

It's a cute book. Honestly, if I sit here and write that it's an epic love story or a moving drama or something that makes it seem deep, you'll be disappointed. It's a fun, quick read that gives you a warm feeling when you read it.

Cat, the protagonist, is a fun, youngish (maybe, I don't actually know except that she's past college: maybe late twenties?) former stand-up comedian. She's a sweet person with a big heart, but she has "Daddy Issues." Because her father abandoned her as a child . . . or did he??? . . . she is afraid to put faith in love and pushes away anyone who gets too close.

Enter an unexpected love story.

Because of the kind of book it is, it's not a spoiler to say that there's a cute, happy feeling that will leave you feeling sort of sappy and happy. The plot is pretty basic, but there's some pretty adorable humor in it that sets it apart from the more generic romance offering. It's NOT a smut book, but there are definitely a handful of PG-13 scenes between our protagonist and her dimpled paramour.

Give it a try. I think you'll like it.

Darkly Funny, but Sort of Sweet: A Review of Mariah MacCarthy's Squad

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't what I got.

Mariah MacCarthy's Squad  is one of those rare books that has grown on me as time has passed and I've reflected on it.

It's an odd book because there's no way to really prepare for what it's about. Basically Jenna, a teenage cheerleader, begins to go through a friend breakup from her oldest friend and reacts poorly. When it begins, you think it's going to be a coming of age story about the way we change as we get older. then, for awhile, things get really . . . dark. Jenna decides to cope with the loss of her friendship by lashing out and plotting "revenge" on a girl that she has been close to since fourth grade. When the story shifts, your expectations shift, perhaps unfairly. At that point, you think the book is going to be dark throughout, when really it is just a coming of age story.

When I was first reading this and began to realize that this was really just a regular YA fiction novel, that it wasn't morphing into mystery or some other sub genre, I felt uncomfortable with my inability to categorize what was happening. It felt like such a subversion of genre conventions: surely this obviously troubled young girl should, if nothing else, be shown getting help for her break? After all, I thought to myself, she was overreacting so greatly to losing a friendship. I mean, it's life after all. People grow apart.

Then I remembered.

I remembered being young and how intense female friendship is in your youth. I remembered that feeling of being "best friends" and how, in many ways, that relationship is even more intimate than a romantic one because of the ability to be affectionate with no expectation of sex, because of the way you share every moment and detail of your lives, the note passing, the sleepovers, the feeling that you totally can't get enough of someone. . . . and I remembered friend breakups. Man, I swear they were worse than break up break ups. They were a person who you'd totally trusted just rejecting you. the self doubt, the sadness, the feeling that you couldn't even vent about it because no one else took friendship breakups nearly as seriously (even though they'd all probably been through the same thing).

this book is so important because it's about something that hasn't already been written about a million times. It's fresh and yeah, really dark in a way that feels over the top sometimes, but still honest. for me, this book took me back and made me remember my own youth and that, for me, is always the hallmark of really nice YA.

4.5/5: Definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this awesome novel.

All Seasons, Really: A Review of Cicada Summers by Jordan Graffis

"Cry if you must. And buckle up. Because sometimes, throughout this journey, all you're surviving on is Mountain Dew and Jesus"-Cicada Summers.

The above quote isn't the most insightful one in Cicada Summers, or even the best crafted one, but it is the best at highlighting the true strengths that Graffis brings to the table with her writing: with both humor and faith, she is navigating motherhood in an honest and devoted way. It might not always be pretty (motherhood, not the writing, which is very pretty), but it's real and it's raw.

In Cicada Summers, Jordan Graffis has set up an interesting format: she is a 60 year old mother to an adult young man and she is writing to him about her wishes and prayers for his life as he enters parenthood. The form works well, I think, because it allows Graffis to take on a very reflective tone that, for the vast most part, feels extremely authentic. Each chapter blends a message on parenting with an anecdote from Graffis's own life that highlights the lesson she wants her son to learn.

Because of this form, I will say that I suspect Graffis's work lacks an audience outside mothers, but that's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's definitely a strength. this book is not only geared towards mothers, but honest about motherhood and the struggles that come with it in a way that needs to be normalized. With refreshing candor, Graffis writes about days when her son wants to go to school in just underwear, days when poo trails through her house, and the many days she spends battling Postpartum depression. These are such necessary stories to be told, especially with such humor and joy. I think that, as a mother and a reader, that was my biggest takeaway: the joy of motherhood is so much greater than the struggles, so while we all get bogged down by the struggles, we shouldn't forget about the joy.

I think I should mention that there is another audience: full of scripture and references to faith, this book is definitely Christian literature. Now, I am a Christian, but I'm not a super devoted, church attending one and I found this book incredibly relatable. There is not one single lesson that couldn't be just as relevant to someone of another faith or with no religion at all. The major themes (overcoming huge obstacles, living life passionately and with zest) completely transcend the limits of religion, so I would have no qualms about recommending this to anyone of any faith. that said, if you are a person who would be put off by multiple references to faith and Christianity, then this isn't the book for you. However, if you are a mother and have had days where you "surviving on Mountain Dew" (or in my case, coffee), then I think you should at least give it a go. It's sweet, funny, and very uplifting, and I think we could all use a little more of that in our lives.

4/5: Definitely Recommend.

When it Rains, It Pours . . . A Review of Vera Greentea's Grimoire Noir

In an era where comics are cool and darkness reigns supreme, Grimoire Noir, the thrilling crime/fantasy graphic novel by Vera Greentea, is the perfect book for a leisurely read.

Let me admit that I'm by no means a graphic novel aficionado. I read them now and then, but no more than five a year and they really have to sound different and exciting to catch my eye. Grimoire Noir is worthy on both counts.  It's a fast read and with elements like witchcraft, mystery, dark themes and overtones, and some detective work, it immediately made me think of such tv dramas as Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Not only are some of the obvious aspects there--witchcraft, especially--there are also a lot of similarities in theme: the lure of power, good and evil, cliquishness, etc.

The darkness of the artwork was very appealing and it was the art that really set the book apart. Just in case anyone reading this review is unfamiliar with the crime noir genre, noir is by nature a darker type of mystery genre. Now, noir is typically categorized by the bleakness/cynicism of the characters and I don't think that part necessarily fits: each of these characters was very hopeful about something and they were all motivated by potential. I like this subversion from the norm, though; it puts a spin on the old conventions while still staying true to the artistry. Very enjoyable!

Essentially, the plot line of the story is this: a young man lives in a town where all the girls have magical powers and all the boys are normal. His little sister has a lot of power, which has led someone to kidnap her. His dad is caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of the investigation due to the town politics and so our protagonist is tasked with saving the day.

I will say that there were times when this story line fell a bit short for me, not because it wasn't entertaining and not because it didn't have a good backstory, but just because I wanted so much more depth. There were a lot of plot lines and while Greentea does follow every thread at some point, none of the subplots were explored in enough depth to make me feel satisfied. I don't know if this is a standalone or not--the book ends with closure, but also with the potential for more--but if it is a standalone, I would be very disappointed as I feel that there is a lot of story left untold. Even if it is going to be part of a series, many of the things I feel were only shallowly explored were super relevant to this plot line and should have been explored more thoroughly here, not saved as fodder for number two. That lack of depth is what makes me think this book would definitely be better suited to a tween or very young teenager than a more seasoned reader.

Overall, my rating of this book would really vary. For an adult or even young adult reader, I'd say this is a 3.5 star (out of 5) book: good, enjoyable, but to surface to be truly great. For  a middle grade reader? Solid 4. Definitely stands apart from similar books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC I was given in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Everybody Sucks and People are Awful: A Review of An Anonymous Girl

I am over it. Over it. All these thrillers lately seem to only serve one purpose: to see if they can top each other on creating empty, soulless characters that have no redeemable characters in order to be total Edgelords and An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is no different. 

I mean, I get why this one is so popular, I guess. It has a lot of twists and it is super fast paced. The tension is so well crafted that as a reader I actually felt it: fast heartbeat, catch of breath, sweaty palms. The writers are really good at pacing, which is kind of amazing because I would think it would be hard to get that down so cohesively when you have two writers working together.

 The writing is good here. The elements of good writing are mostly there. There’s even a nice symbolic falcon that dares the reader to be careful to notice any movements below the surface... It’s just the characters that had me over this book and that isn’t even the fault of Hendricks and Pekkanen. honestly, it’s not. That seems to be a new genre convention of the thriller. I just don’t like it. It has honestly gotten distracting because it really does feel like a competitive sport to see which author can create the worst cast of characters. The problem with that is there’s no one to root for because everyone’s so awful and listen, I’m no preacher over here. I had a crush on Hannibal Lecter. I totally empathized with Tony Soprano. I like a villain—-if they’re well crafted. If you see more underneath it all. I don’t expect perfection, I expect authenticity. There is not this much bad in the world and most people have more than one side.

3/5 

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC received in exchange for an honest review. 

The book I fell in love with: Review of Kate Field’s The Man I Fell in Love with

One of the things I’ve always believed about books is that there are different books for different needs and different occasions. That’s one of the reasons I’m always in the middle of a couple books at a time; I don’t want to have to read something that I like, but that I’m really not feeling. The Man I Fell in Love With by Kate Field is light and sweet, a bit sentimental, but overall, the perfect book for a weekend read or a rainy day. 

It starts with a moment that changes 

the protagonist’s life forever: at a Christmas party, Mary Black sees her husband holding hands with a man she’s never met. After he leaves her to begin his life with his new beau, Mary has to decide whether to continue her life playing it safe or to take risks for love.

Because of the type of book this is, I knew she was going to end up happy with a new love. I don’t even consider this a spoiler because you should know the conventions of a genre and this is the kind of book that pushes a “love conquers all” agenda. The only thing you didn’t really know as a reader was whether she was actually going to end up in love with a safe choice—basically a carbon copy of the ex—or the more dangerous choice.

This book was pretty charming. The romantic scenes were very sweet and everything gave you that kind of warm feeling in the pit of your stomach. There wasn’t much in the way of real drama or anxiety. The protagonist has a pretty good life and even after her husband leaves she is able to maintain the same lifestyle, not having to give up travel or the like. Still, as a character, Mary is very frustrating. She never seems to understand other people‘s intentions and she trusts the wrong people all the time. In all honesty, she’s just a bad judge of character and sometimes it’s a little hard to read. It’s the characters that are the only thing I would change about this book: it’s not that they’re poorly developed characters or even that they are unlikable. All in all they’re actually pretty well developed and for the most part felt like they were authentic. There were two exceptions: Mary‘s mother, I completely overbearing shrew, and her daughter Who is basically just a caricature of a teenage girl. Any time one of those two were in a scene, I was annoyed and just couldn’t really connect to what was happening. 

The best part about this book was how real Mary’s insecurities felt. After having kids, after your body changes, there are things that make A woman feel terribly self-conscious and I think Kate Field did a really nice job of depicting those feelings. I would recommend this book. There’s a lot of nice family interactions and romance and even a slight literary Mystery for those that don’t love the romance angle. It’s a quick read, very entertaining, and a good way to pass a lazy weekend day or maybe a beach trip. 

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book I was given in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

4/5