Phoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She can’t take it anymore
* don’t reaPhoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She can’t take it anymore
* don’t read the synopsis and think this is a depressing read. I promise you it is not. It’s joyful and life-affirming.
Phoebe goes to the swanky Inn in Newport RI, the Inn she expected to visit with her husband.
Things don’t quite go as Phoebe intended. Turns out she won’t have a final blow-out splurge before departing this world. Instead she’s the only guest at the Inn who is not part of the wedding party and she can’t even get room service for a final meal.
Lila, the bride, isn’t thrilled that Phoebe may ruin her wedding and has a heart-to-heart with her. She has no boundaries and is disarmingly honest. Which makes her completely endearing.
Phoebe suddenly finds herself caught up in the wedding people, the wedding party that are at the inn for a week long celebration prior to Lila’s OTT nuptials.
I won’t ruin the fun but I’ll say this was completely delightful! It was fabulous and completely entertaining with plenty of humor & heart. The dialogue was snappy & witty. And not to be maudlin, but the overriding message was wise and tender and wonderful.
The characters were all delightful. 100% refreshingly funny and tender.
Don’t miss this one. A 5+ star read!! I loved everything about this story and was sad when it ended. It’s a rare book that completely captivates me the way this book did.
* I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
This is a character-driven slice of life story that could be described as a slow burn but I prefer the term thoughtful, the kind of writing that reachThis is a character-driven slice of life story that could be described as a slow burn but I prefer the term thoughtful, the kind of writing that reaches down to my core and touches my soul.
Jack runs a restaurant, an establishment owned by his family for generations, a place where everyone knows your name. It’s a beach location but Jack’s beach chair is gathering dust in his closet. Who has time to lounge at the beach?
He has a string of failed relationships with no time for hobbies or his own interests but Jack is a good guy who cares deeply for the town and the people in it. This makes me care deeply for Jack.
He simply rarely gets this care and attention returned to him in kind. He’s approaching an age where he considers selling the restaurant but what will this mean for the town, his employees, and for himself?
Then Jack receives shocking news from his past that has him questioning his life choices and his path to the future. Jack is kind and generous to all, the type of good man we can and do admire. We get to know his employees and the townspeople, warts and all.
The story is interspersed with snippets from a guidebook on Rehoboth Beach, which were delightful. We are treated to bits of Jacks past life, current life, and his hopes for the future. There are deep issues touched upon but the overall tone and message is one of hope.
This is a quiet story that took hold of my heart. It’s the kind of writing that I absolutely love and I can’t recommend it enough!. This was my first book by this author and I’m including him in my short list of authors who write about the ordinary in extraordinary ways.
5+ stars!
* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. * The audiobook was flawlessly narrated by Chris Henry Coffey ...more
Two young boys, Ethan and Billy, are having a backyard sleepover. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the side of the tent in slit open and Bil4.5 stars
Two young boys, Ethan and Billy, are having a backyard sleepover. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the side of the tent in slit open and Billy is gone.
Billy is never found. Time passes, neighbors move away….fast forward 30 years, and family circumstances brings Ethan back to his childhood home. Creepy things begin happening in the middle of the night. Someone is lurking around the neighborhood at night and there are signs of Billy’s presence in Ethan’s yard.
Ethan is determined to find out the truth of what happened to Billy all those years ago. As he investigates, the quiet neighborhood of Hemlock Circle has plenty of secrets to reveal, and then there’s the strange Hawthorne Institute deep in the woods. Did they play a part in Billy’s disappearance?
Some readers didn’t think it had enough chills & thrills but Sager’s writing always draws me in. Surprisingly, for a thriller, there were even a couple of moments that brought tears to my eyes. I really enjoyed the dark atmospheric, the “paranormal lite” vibe, the nostalgic flashbacks to the 90s, and the trademark Sager twists & surprises that made this a fun summer read that I flew through.
I love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible waI love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible way. If you like characters who are snarky, and off their rocker, then you will enjoy her as much as I did.
The story is told from 3 POV: • Dr Caroline Strange • Ellen Garcia, a woman who has been kidnapped and held hostage. She may have questionable morals but she’s a badass and I enjoyed hearing her thoughts too • Gordon Strong, a person who may be more unhinged than Dr. Strange. It’s unclear at first the part he plays in the story but trust the author to bring it all together.
Dr Caroline, as she prefers to be called, has a patient who confesses that he is thinking about killing someone and tells the doctor ‘I know who you really are”. When she hears reports of a missing reporter, she wonders if her patient has made good on his threats of murdering someone.
But mostly she’s concerned about the latter part of his message. Just what does he know and how much of a threat is he to her? Dr Strange has a troubling incident from her childhood that she would prefer remain hidden.
When police discover the kidnapped woman is a reporter who named Dr Strange as one of the worst 10 doctors in their area, they set their sights on the doctor as their main suspect. Dr Caroline decides to do her own investigating and in doing so, her past seems to have caught up to her.
Did I ever love this one! The dark humor and Dr Caroline’s thoughts were an utter delight. If you love to hate unlikable characters who nonetheless makes you laugh, you will love living inside this character’s head too.
The plotting, the red herrings, and the characters made this a page turner with plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was satisfying while managing to take me completely by surprise.
Pop the popcorn and settle in for a fun read. The audiobook narrators were excellent: Megan Tusing, Robb Moreira, and Stephanie Németh-Parker
• I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ...more
Two lifelong friends, Jess & Storey, at the end of their annual hunting trip in rural Maine, leave the woods to head home but find a world in chaos anTwo lifelong friends, Jess & Storey, at the end of their annual hunting trip in rural Maine, leave the woods to head home but find a world in chaos and violence.
While they were off the grid, civil war erupted, towns are burnt to the ground, and destruction and death is everywhere. While attempting to make their way home, they are met with secessionists and military who intend to kill anyone they meet who are not one of them.
Their trek becomes even more treacherous when they find a little girl hidden away who is frightened and crying for her parents and her dog. The scenes with the little girl are some of the most heartfelt and emotional of the book.
As they attempt to make their way home, they try to make sense of what happened. Who are the bad guys here? Secessionists or the military? Or both?
Heller never gives us the details of the political divide that led to civil war, and I was thankful he didn’t make it political, which would do nothing but divide readers.
This is a wilderness and survival story like no other. It’s a thriller but a quiet literary one. There’s an emotional depth with themes of male friendship, love, courage, and moral responsibility.
I love Heller’s portrayal of good men, men who are thoughtful and do the right thing at great risk to themselves, men who are tender and protective of children. He writes of men, through no fault of their own, who are tested to the limits. More than once I was brought to tears.
This is a beautiful story I won’t soon forget. 5+ stars
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room foOutlier opinion!
There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room for books that are.
I usually know fairly quickly when a book isn’t for me. But once in a while I ignore my instincts and power through, especially when I see a lot of glowing reviews.
This was one of the times I fell victim to the hype. This book was most definitely not for me:
* Unrealistic situations. Be prepared to suspend a massive amount of disbelief. It’s fiction, I don’t expect complete realism but this reached my tipping point * Too long. At 600 pages, 250 could have been cut. I don’t think I would have liked it any better but I would have wasted less time * The writing style kept me from becoming invested in the characters. This type of writing appeals to many, but not me. * The characters failed to move me emotionally. Zero emotion, and I’m easily moved and brought to tears. I stopped caring what happened to any of them * The author jumped around in time with every chapter and there are 261 chapters * The story is S-L-O-W. It’s not a thriller which is fine. I love a character driven story, I just didn’t love THIS one * So many pages where nothing of interest happens filled with lots and lots of description * What some readers call beautiful language, I call overwrought and flowery with many nonsensical sentences * I have a lot to say about the religious overtones but I’ll refrain * I couldn’t buy into most of the situations. To list them would involve spoilers but my eyes rolled * But surely there would be a huge payoff in the end, right? Nope!
What I liked: the author’s last book
Many readers have loved this book, so be sure to check out their reviews.
* I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own...more
A very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarianA very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarian who thinks she’s destined to be alone, until she finds quiet, nerdy Alan, a salesman who travels for work. Life isn’t all that exciting after they marry, and she wonders how well she really knows Alan, but she’s content.
Until she finds a spot of blood on one of Alan’s shirts, and she witnesses him acting strangely. She does some sleuthing and discovers a pattern of unsolved murders in the cities Alan traveled to. Could she be married to a serial killer?
Martha enlists the help of her old friend Lily Kintner to assist her in the investigation, and eventually Henry Kimball is brought in as well. What they find is more twisted and darker than anyone could imagine.
I flew through this book and had to pick my jaw up off the floor more than once. I loved the characters and the dynamic between Kintner & Kimball.
Endings are difficult but Swanson nailed this one. It was perfect!
I highly recommend the audiobook. The full cast audio performance was excellent. ...more
True crime content by its very nature addresses the pain and suffering of individuals. The best true crime, for me, is when the focus is on the psychoTrue crime content by its very nature addresses the pain and suffering of individuals. The best true crime, for me, is when the focus is on the psychology of the perp, and the investigation to get these monsters off the street, piecing together parts of the puzzle.
In this case, a victim escaped while the monster slept, police arrived and arrested him. Then details came out. The investigation was identifying the scope of his victims, identifying the women, and discovering just how depraved he was.
I read true crime, not as a voyeuristic endeavor, but as an effort to understand the psychology of why monsters do what they do, and to read about the intricacies of the investigation to bring them to justice.
The detective seems like a wonderful person and a highly competent investigator, and I greatly admire her expertise in bringing this serial murderer to justice for his atrocities. But I would have preferred less memoir/less of the author’s voice, which bogged the story down.
* I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
This was smart, fun, and a wild ride. Breanna is supposed to be on a romantic vacation with her new boyfriend Ty in a luxurious rented house. EverythiThis was smart, fun, and a wild ride. Breanna is supposed to be on a romantic vacation with her new boyfriend Ty in a luxurious rented house. Everything is great until she wakes one morning to find Ty gone and a dead body in the living room.
In recent days, the disappearance of a young woman, Janelle, has gone viral and the public and the Internet is obsessed with the case. A famous influencer conducts her own investigation on social media.
When a dead white woman shows up in Breanna & Ty’s apartment you can imagine the mob mentality.
Meanwhile, Bree is all alone in a new city while being treated like the perp by the police and in the court of public opinion. She’s on a mission to figure out what really happened.
The plot is fast-paced and engaging, and for a popcorn read (meaning just enjoy the ride but don’t look too closely), this was great fun. ...more
How did the author manage to make a serious book about a woman shot in the head so FUNNY?!
Dr Charly McKenna is a dermatologist with a successful careHow did the author manage to make a serious book about a woman shot in the head so FUNNY?!
Dr Charly McKenna is a dermatologist with a successful career, a handsome husband, and an apt overlooking Central Park. Life is good until the night she’s shot in the head, leaving her with left neglect and no memory of what happened.
As she spends her days at a rehab hospital we get to know more about Charly as well as several of the patients & staff. The author is a physician, which lends authenticity to this part of the story.
I LOVED IT!! This is the most fun I’ve had listening to a book in a long, long time.
Although there is a mystery, don’t read this expecting a thriller. It is not, as the resolution is pretty obvious. Come for the characters, the charm, and the humor.
The narrator was superb. She had just the right tone and brought the characters to life. I absolutely recommend listening to those one!...more
This is a fun one, perfect for an escapist summer read.
The authors describe it as “Succession-esqe” and more than one reviewer has described the stor This is a fun one, perfect for an escapist summer read.
The authors describe it as “Succession-esqe” and more than one reviewer has described the story as Pretty Woman meets Succession.
Of course it’s much more light-hearted than Succession. Anna Green is our quirky but sweet Pretty Woman. She enters into a fake marriage in order to get student housing but they barely see or know each other when they part ways 3 years later.
She thought she was divorced but it seems she didn’t read the papers and she discovers she is still very much married to Liam.
Turns out Liam’s wealthy family thinks they are still married and his inheritance is dependent on him staying that way. So he makes Anna an offer she can’t refuse and they take off for a lavish family wedding weekend on a tropical island.
Anna is the yin to Liam’s yang, which makes for a fun dynamic. Anna is an extroverted pink-haired starving artist while Liam is strait-laced and buttoned up. But we discover there’s so much more to both of them.
This, combined with the lush tropical setting, the OTT wedding, and the Succession- type family dynamics, made for a fun engaging read.
Note that the bedroom door is wide open - very spicy! I don’t understand the need to include such explicit sex scenes. I’m no prude but this was OTT and cringey, what I would call erotica. The story would have been stronger if the authors had toned it down. ...more
Five years ago, Lucy was found walking by the side of the road covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood and suffering from amnesia. The town is convinFive years ago, Lucy was found walking by the side of the road covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood and suffering from amnesia. The town is convinced of her guilt, although police were unable to find enough evidence to charge her. Lucy moves away to escape the suspicion, but has now returned for her grandmother’s birthday.
Ben Owens, who has a true crime podcast, Listen For the Lie, arrives in town to cover the cold case and hopefully solve Savvy’s murder. Lucy’s grandmother’s convinces Lucy to help Ben.
I loved the humor and snark, and the short chapters and podcast sections worked particularly well on audio, and contributed to the fast pace. What I didn’t love was the voice in Lucy’s head grew tiresome after a while, and the denouement was somewhat less than satisfying.
However, the plusses outweighed the negatives, and it was an enjoyable read.
The audiobook narrators, January LaVoy and Will Damron, were excellent....more
When children’s librarian Daphne is dumped by her fiance Peter for his longtime best friend Petra, Daphne finds herself stranded in a small Michigan tWhen children’s librarian Daphne is dumped by her fiance Peter for his longtime best friend Petra, Daphne finds herself stranded in a small Michigan town and moving in with Petra’s ex-boyfriend Miles.
Sound convoluted??
It is. And you know where this is going. The joy is in the journey. I love a fluffy summer read with substance, with humor & snark, and this book delivers. A lighter read with substance is one of my favorites.
I loved the Michigan setting, the friendship plotline, and the emphasis the author puts on the MC learning to make a life for herself without a partner.
Another winner! I can’t wait to see what next summer brings! ...more
I loved the PEI setting and the characters (who wouldn’t love a hunky guy who is an avid reader?) but I usually prefer more comedy or snark in my rom-I loved the PEI setting and the characters (who wouldn’t love a hunky guy who is an avid reader?) but I usually prefer more comedy or snark in my rom-coms and I prefer the bedroom door firmly closed (this was wide open).
Bridget’s BIG SECRET was annoying after a while and even more annoying when finally revealed. The story would have been strong enough without this side plot.
BUT, and this is a big BUT….the story left me with all the feels at the end so there’s that. It was sweet, I was rooting for the characters, and I was completely charmed. I especially loved the author’s note at the end. ...more
I was very into Jane and her personal struggles but then at 35% the plot meanders along into various tangents that felt like preaching and read like aI was very into Jane and her personal struggles but then at 35% the plot meanders along into various tangents that felt like preaching and read like a textbook.
The MC calls people “dumb” but then says that was harsh, it was probably due to their education. She, however, went to Wesleyan where her classes focused on marginalized voices and talked about reparation, allyship, and gender fluidity twenty years ago so now she has a lens through which to see the world.
Unlike us plebeians, she’s so much better and more enlightened than the rest of us.
Sorry but this book is boring and reads like a lecture.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own (obviously)....more
It’s a curse: every woman Justin dates goes on to find her soul mate when they break up. Emma, a traveling nurse, is a victim of thWhat a fun premise!
It’s a curse: every woman Justin dates goes on to find her soul mate when they break up. Emma, a traveling nurse, is a victim of the same curse, and they find each other on Reddit.
So, they hatch a plan: date each other for the summer and break up. Then, voilà, their next date will be “The One”.
What could possibly go wrong? Haha
I really appreciate the depth of the characters and their emotional issues. I found myself rooting for both Justin & Emma. Fans of the author’s will recognize characters from previous books (unless you’re like me and have a brain like a sieve). Don’t miss the author’s note at the end - so fun!
The author gets people and relationships and provides the perfect light read with depth. Theres a realism to her characters with no automatic HEA. It’s all hard won and relatable.
I loved it and now I will read anything this author writes. Highly recommended, don’t miss it if you need an uplifting read with substance. ...more
Some sequels should never be written, and this is a prime example.
First, in order to accept this premise, you must accept a woman who is dumber than Some sequels should never be written, and this is a prime example.
First, in order to accept this premise, you must accept a woman who is dumber than a box of rocks. Matter of fact, she’s so stupid that comparing her to a box of rocks is insulting to the rocks.
I realize characters often do dumb things to move a plot forward but there is a tipping point.
If you accept the premise, you then have to constantly suspend disbelief and somehow stop your eyes from rolling out of your head as you read. I’d give examples but I don’t want to ruin anyone’s reading pleasure if you still want to read it.
I enjoyed book #1 so I gave it a very generous extra star.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own (obviously)...more
I’ve never been a fan of most contemporary historical fiction. Why read fiction when the true story is riveting 5+++ stars!
And this is how it’s done!
I’ve never been a fan of most contemporary historical fiction. Why read fiction when the true story is riveting and rivals anything an author could imagine?
This book is the perfect example of narrative non-fiction at its finest.
Every word, every thought, every conversation is corroborated in the historical record, and Larson brings the characters to life for his readers. I was riveted from beginning to end, and felt I was living this time period alongside them.
Just as the author brought the events preceding WWII alive in his book, In The Garden of the Beasts, the author brings the events preceding the Civil War alive in this book.
I went into it thinking I knew the nuances and the history from the time prior to Lincoln’s election to the firing on Ft Sumter, the official beginning of the Civil War. I was wrong. My knowledge was incomplete.
What a treasure we have in Erik Larson. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. It was also excellent on audio....more
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