Short Take Reviews: The Flatshare, Getting Played, and Red, White & Royal Blue

THE FLATSHARE
Beth O'Leary
Publication date: May 28, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Hardcover, 325 pgs
Source: Library Loan
3.5 STARS
GOODREADS 

After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art.

Desperation makes her open minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.

Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more.

But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you've never met.

What if your roommate is your soul mate? A joyful, quirky romantic comedy, Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare is a feel-good novel about finding love in the most unexpected of ways.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

My feelings for The Flatshare run the gamut. Some things really worked for me: Tiffy's quirky personality and willingness to put herself out there, the humor which was spot-on, and the dialogue that flowed like honey. Other things, not so much: Tiffy's memory issues regarding a relationship that just ended (yes, I understand gaslighting), and Leon's passiveness. While it took me two weeks to read The Flatshare (and it's not a lengthy book), I don't think it was the book. (It's not you, it's me. Really.) There was a lot to enjoy and I loved seeing Tiffy and Leon's relationship evolve from flatmates who communicated via post-it notes, to friends, and then tentatively moving towards more. I adored Richie, and his story, along with the search for Johnny White, converged with all the rest to make an enjoyable story with (mostly) sweet, funny, and lovable characters.

RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE

Casey McQuiston

Publication date: May 14, 2019

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, LGBT

Format: Trade Paperback, 421 pgs

Source: Purchased

4.25 STARS

GOODREADS

When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.

Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through?

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Red, White & Royal Blue had hype. I'm talking serious, over the moon, crazy-insane hype. And while this wasn't a 5-star read for me (gasp!) I still enjoyed it from start to finish. Mainly because there was just so much to love. Brilliant yet sometimes remarkably clueless Alex, oh so precious Henry, a heart stopping first kiss, text messages that were both hilarious and revealing, the most clever/snarky/witty banter ever, young women who were brilliant and ambitious, politics and campaigns, laugh out loud moments (killer turkeys!), angst, scandal, romantic declarations, epic speeches, and so much more. My main quibble is that it felt overly long and at 400+ pages the pacing did sometimes lag. Even so, RW&RB was incredibly smart and the perfect blend of serious issues and swoony rom-com. 

GETTING PLAYED
Emma Chase
Publication date: June 11, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook, 6 hrs 57 min
Source: Purchased
4.25 STARS
GOODREADS 

Dean Walker is all about keeping life simple. He's effortlessly talented and intelligent - spending his summers playing drums in the local band and the rest of the year teaching high school in the same Jersey town where he grew up. He likes his love life simple too, enjoying the commitment-free hook-ups his good looks and sexy charm have always made oh so easy.

Then he meets Lainey Burrows. And his simple, easy life gets turned upside down.

One wild one-night stand was all it was ever supposed to be, so Lainey is shocked when she discovers that her sizzling summer fling is also her son's new math teacher. But that's nothing compared to the most unexpected twist of all - their hot hook-up left Lainey knocked up, and now they're about to become parents. Together.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

I tend to forget about Emma Chase when I think about my favorite go-to authors but then I read another one by her and I instantly think, "Oh yeah, this is why I love her books so much!" In Getting Played, Chase created two main characters that were so incredibly likable. Lainey and Dean were stable, intelligent adults who (shock!) acted like adults. When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, there was no big drama or hysterics - just two adults who actually talked and listened, were honest with each other, and worked together instead of running away. Imagine that! It was so easy to care for these two people and pull for them. Lainey's teenage son was sweet and I really enjoyed the interactions between him and Dean. I can see myself listening to this one again and again when I'm in the mood for a swoony/sexy/sweet feel-good romance.

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS? 

Review: Watching You by Lisa Jewell

WATCHING YOU 
Lisa Jewell
Publication date: December 26, 2018
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Adult
Format: Audio (10 hrs 50 min)
Source: OverDrive

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you.

As the headmaster credited with turning around the local school, Tom Fitzwilliam is beloved by one and all—including Joey Mullen, his new neighbor, who quickly develops an intense infatuation with this thoroughly charming yet unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenaged son Freddie—a prodigy with aspirations of becoming a spy for MI5—excels in observing people and has witnessed Joey behaving strangely around his father.

One of Tom’s students, Jenna Tripp, also lives on the same street, and she’s not convinced her teacher is as squeaky clean as he seems. For one thing, he has taken a particular liking to her best friend and fellow classmate, and Jenna’s mother—whose mental health has admittedly been deteriorating in recent years—is convinced that Mr. Fitzwilliam is stalking her.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, a schoolgirl writes in her diary, charting her doomed obsession with a handsome young English teacher named Mr. Fitzwilliam…

M Y   T H O U G H T S

I seriously love Lisa Jewell’s brand of mystery/thriller. Maybe because they are less thriller and more domestic drama/character study with a mystery woven into the mix. And Jewell manages to combine all of those elements so well.

Watching You starts with a crime scene – a murder. Only we don’t know who was murdered, or who did it, or why. I love a thriller that starts with a murder and then takes the reader back and allows the events to slowly unfold. You know what’s coming and it adds this feeling of being on the edge of your seat with the tension mounting chapter after chapter.  

There’s a wide and varied cast of characters that we follow in Melville Heights. Among them:

Tom: The charismatic headmaster at the local school.

Nicola: Tom’s much younger wife.

Freddie: Tom’s teenage son who watches everyone from his bedroom window.

Joey: A disillusioned 20-something, newly married and living with her older brother.

Alfie: Joey’s husband.

Jack: a successful surgeon and Joey’s brother.

Rebecca: Jack’s pregnant wife.

Jenna: A student at Tom’s school.

Told from multiple points of view, each character brings pieces of information that moves the story forward. Just as I started to make assumptions and form theories more information would come to light, forcing my perspective to shift again and again. By the second half of the book my feelings about some characters had completely reversed. Police interviews interspersed throughout the book provide even more information and give clues about where the investigation is heading.

In Melville, there are eyes everywhere. Always watching. But things are not always how they seem – and people are not always who they appear to be. And you never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Or who is capable of murder. With hidden threads that formed unseen connections, the narrative was paced perfectly and delivered twists and turns that made for a totally addictive read. 

4.5/5 STARS

Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Series: No

Genres: Contemporary, Historical, Women's Fiction, Romance

Release Date: June 13, 2017

Format: Audio

Narrator: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan, Robin Miles

                                     Source: OverDrive

                                     Find it here: GoodReads 

Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950's to her decision to leave show business in the late 80's, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds through the decades—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. 

It was more than a year ago that I was first introduced to the writing of Taylor Jenkins Reid. I read One True Loves and was utterly captivated by the story. And when I finished the book my first thought was: I have to read more by this amazing writer! And yet somehow it wasn’t until recently that I picked up my next book by TJR. And what a book it was. You know how you see critics throw around the term “tour de force?” Well, that’s exactly the phrase I thought of when I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This one is not to be missed.

Monique is a staff writer for a magazine and is surprised when she is summoned to the luxurious home of Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo. She’s positively stunned when she learns why. Evelyn Hugo has chosen Monique, a virtual unknown, to write her biography. A book she says is to be published after her death; one that is guaranteed to be a bestseller. Monique, having no idea why Evelyn would seek her out for such a task, and getting no real answer from Evelyn (other than “By the time we are through, you won’t have any questions.”), agrees to the arrangement. And it is there, with Evelyn’s history, and Evelyn’s unflinching delivery, that the real story begins.

Evelyn is one complex, commanding character. She is bold, ambitious, fearless and unapologetic. She makes it clear that her motivations were usually self-serving – and that she would do it all again. This was no starry-eyed ingénue who ran when times got tough or when doors were slammed in her face. Evelyn was a force to be reckoned with and when her career was on shaky ground she fought her way back to the top. She didn’t always do the right thing, she used people to her advantage, but even so, I respected her drive, her unwillingness to give up, and her devotion and loyalty to those she loved.

Evelyn’s career spanned decades and the ‘insider look’ at Hollywood through the years was fascinating. Starting in the 1950’s, with the all-controlling movie studios where star were under exclusive contracts, Evelyn chronicles both her career and her turbulent personal life – including the eponymous seven husbands, and the true love of her life.  And I gobbled up every morsel. Her rags to riches story was totally engrossing and I loved the way she delivered the overarching story of her life, both the titillating and the mundane, with such candor. And the eventual revelation of how her life intersects with Monique’s was one that I never saw coming.

I loved the addition of tabloid reports and newspaper articles interspersed throughout the story.  Not only did it offer an outside point of view to Evelyn’s life, but it was a fitting inclusion considering so much of Evelyn’s life was lived in public and chronicled in print. In addition, the narration was top notch and made for an incredible listening experience. Alma Cuervo was captivating as the title character and her delivery brought Evelyn to life. Several times I found myself wanting to go watch all of Evelyn’s old movies and had to remind myself (more than once) that she was, in fact, fictional.

Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was a totally immersive experience, with so many topics that were woven in seamlessly, but never at the expense of the story. If you like a character that is so richly drawn that she begins to feel like a real person, if you enjoy the glamour of old Hollywood, if you want to immerse yourself in a juicy tale that spans decades, pick this one up and prepare to meet Evelyn Hugo.

4.5/5 STARS

Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Series: No

Genres: Contemporary, Women's Fiction, Romance, Adult Fiction

Release Date: June 7, 2016

Format: e-book

Source: Edelweiss

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

My Thoughts

Warning: Prepare for much gushing because One True Loves has shot to the top of my favorites of 2016.

As soon as I read the synopsis for One True Loves I knew it was one that I had to read. I was instantly intrigued and wanted more. So imagine my delight when I began reading and found that it was even better than I had hoped.

"You are my one true love. I don't even think

I'm capable of loving anyone else." - Emma

Emma had loved Jesse since high school. From her crushing on him from afar in her freshman year, to their first date over two years later, I loved seeing the start of their relationship. Getting to know Emma and Jesse, and being a witness to Emma and Jesse getting to know one another, laid an incredible foundation for the story to come. Ten years of love and laughter - until suddenly it was gone.

I cried for him, and for what I'd lost, and for 

every day left of my life that I had to live without him.

Reid does an amazing job of leading the reader through Emma's very emotional journey. The angst-ridden adolescence when she yearns for more from her life, the heady excitement of first love and the contentment in a relationship she cherishes, the shock and devastation over Jesse's apparent death, the overwhelming grief, the acceptance and eventually the willingness to move forward - and then the feeling that her entire world has shifted yet again when she learns Jesse is alive. Through every event, every phase of Emma's life, I was completely invested and felt such an emotional connection with her. 

I don't think that true love means your only love.

I think true love means loving truly. Loving purely. Loving wholly.

With Jesse's return, after Emma has finally found her footing in her new life and also found love again, Reid created a situation with no easy answers. There was no bad guy and no matter what choices were made, everyone involved was hurting. About halfway through the book I knew what I wanted to happen. I knew what choice I hoped Emma would make. The fact that it didn't happen that way (was, in fact, the exact opposite) and that I was still so completely satisfied with the ending is a testament to Reid's amazing storytelling.

One True Loves wasn't just the next book I picked up - it was a reading experience. One that was bittersweet but completely worth the journey. And I hope you'll experience it for yourself. Because in case it isn't obvious, I highly recommend reading this amazing story. It moved me, it bruised and battered my heart, it made me laugh and cry, and it provided such an incredible message of healing and hope that it was impossible not to put the book down feeling like I had just read something unforgettable.

This was the first novel I've read from Taylor Jenkins Reid but it won't be the last. I'm ready to dive into every novel she's written and hope that every single one will be as exceptional as One True Loves. Because this was an absolute gem. 

5/5 Stars 

Have you read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid?

What was the last 5-star book you read? 

Review: 9 Letters by Blake Austin

9 Letters by Blake Austin

Series: No

Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 22, 2016

Format: e-book

Source: Provided by the Author

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife's tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.

Until the letters arrive on Luke's doorstep.

Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back.

Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she's ready for something different--something true. She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he's different. 

Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts--one letter at a time.

Discover Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.

My Thoughts

9 Letters was not what I was expecting. From the synopsis I was anticipating a rather typical tale of love, loss, and love found again. And that's not a bad thing. But what I got instead was a deeply moving, thoughtful story of a man dealing with grief, guilt, and life-altering loss. I'm not even sure I would classify 9 Letters as a romance. It's there, but it's not the focus. Instead, this is very much Luke Cawley's story. It's not always easy to read and bear witness to his journey but I'm so glad I did.

9 Letters begins one year after the death of Luke's wife, Emily. The last year hasn't been easy. He's working as a bartender, drinking too much, and isolating himself from family and friends. And then, on the anniversary of Emily's death, a package is left on his doorstep. It contains nine letters from Emily, each one with a message for Luke and a task to complete before opening the next letter. It's just the lifeline Luke needs to find his way back to the land of the living.

I truly felt for Luke as he just tried to make it through another day. There were times when my heart broke for him - when he was missing Emily so much and feeling so alone. There were times when I got frustrated with him for shutting people out and refusing help. And there were times that I cheered him on for every little step forward.

9 Letters is an emotional story that feels so honest and completely real. There are no fireworks here, no over the top dramatics - just a truly moving story of a man trying to find his way again after a devastating loss. Despite the themes of loss and grief, 9 Letters had an overall feeling of healing and hopefulness, and that, even after loss, there is always the possibility of finding happiness and a new beginning.

4/5 Stars 

*Note: I was contacted by the author and provided a copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Review: Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

I went into Kaleidoscope Hearts with huge expectations. I'm not even sure why. But for some reason, between the cover (gorgeous) and the synopsis (so, so good) and the reviews (gushing), I had it in my mind that it was going to be one of those books that just blew me away and I would totally love it. I realize it's not fair to go into any book with those kind of expectations. That's not allowing the book to stand on its own and be judged for what it is. Instead I'm now trying not to judge it against what I expected/wanted it to be.

Kaleidoscope Hearts is the story of Estelle (Elle) and Oliver. Oliver is best friends with Elle's older brother, Vic, and has been a part of Elle's life since childhood. As they mature there are mutual feelings of attraction but both consider a relationship impossible, mainly because Elle is "Vic's little sister" and therefore off-limits. Several encounters over the years meant they both maintained that connection despite moving in separate ways. Now Oliver is back in Elle's life and she is conflicted by her feelings for him. Does she accept that any chance they had has passed and the timing was never right, or does she take yet another chance on the man she never forgot?

"It's a heart. They always break at some point. 

Sooner or later someone will come along 

and shatter it anyway - might as well be you."

Elle and Oliver both had qualities that I liked but I also found them both to be plenty frustrating at times. Particularly Elle. Despite the fact that it had been years since they first connected (9 years, I think?), Elle continued to judge Oliver by the person he was then. It was as if he was unable to be all that she wanted when he was a young man of only 19-20 and she continued to hold that against him even now, when he is a 28 year old man. As if it were unthinkable that he could possibly have changed at all. She was certainly in a different place in her life at that point, but I felt she continued to judge Oliver so harshly. There was also a maturity (or, rather, immaturity) issue with Elle. This was a woman in her early/mid 20's but some of her actions smacked of a teenager. She would do/say things specifically to make Oliver jealous... and then be surprised or angry when he got jealous. It just smacked of high school antics/drama and gave their relationship a one-step-forward-two-steps-back feel. Lastly, Elle was possibly the most obtuse character ever when it came to Oliver's feelings for her. Here was a man who was actively pursuing her, was plainly interested, was crazy about her and wasn't quiet about it, but Elle always seemed confused about his feelings for her. I understand that some of that could be because of their history together, but come on... this guy was knocking himself out to spend time with her and make her happy, begging her for "just one date." Does he need to hire a skywriter? I often felt like Elle ran hot and cold with Oliver and it was frustrating at times.

As for Oliver, my only real issue was his continual feelings of not being good enough for Elle. Lines like 'that made me want to be a better man for her, even though I knew I couldn't' or 'she looked at me like I was somebody, even though I knew I wasn't' left me a little confused. I didn't feel it was adequately explainedwhy Oliver felt that way. Besides that, it was impossible not to fall for such a charmer. :)

"We live in a galaxy of our own. 

Where the storms pass, and the light fades, 

and everything ceases to exist except for us."

With all that being said, I don't mean it to sound like I didn't like Kaleidoscope Hearts. I really did enjoy this story and was definitely pulling for Oliver and Elle. I think it would have been easy for Contreras to make Elle bitter and cynical after what she experienced (no spoilers) but she never resorted to that. Elle's grief and feelings of acceptance and moving forward rang completely true and never felt false or rushed. I loved the ease that was between Oliver and Elle (when she wasn't doubting his feelings for her). They were friends and so much more. With shared childhood memories, they were able to tease and bicker like the friends they were, but there was also amazing chemistry. I also loved how open they could be with one another, especially when they had their dates where they asked each other question after question. There shared things with each other that they shared with no one else. I loved seeing them connect like that.

Kaleidoscope Hearts was a sweet/sexy second-chance romance. I will definitely read more by Contreras because her writing is beautiful. And when I do, I will go into it with reasonable expectations. :)

Every second counts. Live in this moment. 

This is life. This is what matters.

Review: The Story of Us by Dani Atkins

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Release date: June 9, 2015

The Story of Us is so much more than meets the eye. I was expecting a pleasant contemporary romance but what I got was an emotional tale that touches on themes of grief, infidelity, love, friendship, family, and so much more.

Emma is days away from marrying childhood sweetheart Richard but the night of her bachelorette party takes a tragic turn when an auto accident ends with a horrific loss. Thankfully, Emma was pulled from the wreckage by Jack, who happened upon the scene of the accident, and quite literally saved her life. The impact of the accident is far-reaching as truths are revealed even as Emma is struggling to deal with her grief.

The aftermath of that night includes the postponement of Emma’s wedding to Richard. As Emma struggles to adjust to life after the accident, she finds herself drawn to Jack and feeling a connection to him that has her questioning her feelings for her fiancé. Is it gratitude she feels toward Jack for saving her life… or something more?

Dani Atkins is a remarkable storyteller and I was captivated from the very beginning. What I loved most about The Story of Us is how completely realistic it felt. It wasn’t angsty or melodramatic but instead felt totally plausible. Emma was faced with situations where there were no easy answers. Atkins never took the easy way out by creating heroes and villains. Characters were imbued with human flaws and weaknesses but also love and compassion and kindness. There were times I truly wanted to dislike certain characters and it’s a credit to Dani’s writing that I was often conflicted and felt empathy for those same characters.

The few flash-forward sections interspersed throughout the book were so cleverly done. Kudos to Atkins for those just-vague-enough snippets which kept me guessing and ultimately led to a conclusion that had me shedding tears.

My only quibble: I would loved to have seen the aftermath of Emma’s decision and been able to enjoy more of the couples’ life together beyond the journey of them coming together. But this in no way detracted from my reading experience. The story was realistic and heartbreaking and heartwarming and I loved it.

The Story of Us is top-notch contemporary romance/women’s fiction with substance and I highly recommend it.

*Note: ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and RandomHouse/Ballantine books in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

Find at: GoodReads | Amazon

I have a feeling of deja vu or maybe it's more like What the heck happened to one of my favorite authors? Last month it was Saving Grace by Jane Green (who up until recently was an auto-buy author for me). And now Lisa Jewell, as well? What happened to the charm from Thirtynothing and Vince & Joy and 31 Dream Street? Even The Making of Us and The Truth About Melody Browne, while dealing with dealing with more serious subject matter, retained the same warm, likability factor that I have always enjoyed from Jewell. Sadly, it was nowhere to be found here.

The House We Grew Up In is the story of the Bird family. Or, more accurately, the utter breakdown and dissolution of the Bird family. The book spans more than 20 years with a shifting timeline as details and truths are ever so slowly revealed. Layer upon layer is pulled away as the reader learns more about the past while also seeing the destruction of the character's present-day lives. For me, there was no connection with any of these sad and damaged people. The aftermath of a tragic event had ripple effects that continued to lap at their lives for years and years. Each had their own way of coping or, more accurately, not coping and it was this that took the family further and further apart from one another until the gulfs between them all seemed too wide to ever cross.

Not only did I not have any connection to any of the characters, but none were particularly likeable. I have no problem with unlikeable characters but it's difficult to truly invest in the story when you cannot elicit any true empathy for anyone. Each of them made horrible choices and bad decision after bad decision which made much of their drama feel self-created.

The House We Grew Up In deals with themes of grief and guilt and forgiveness and acceptance. A family saga that shows that family ties do not always bind but sometimes fray and fall apart. While this was an interesting look at family dynamics, ultimately it was just too dark for me and I found myself wishing for Jewell's lighter, less heavy handed tone that I have loved in the past.

Review: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Originally read/reviewed February 2015

This is one of those reviews that I am hesitant to write because despite my best efforts there is nothing I can say that will do this remarkable story justice.

The Nightingale is a historical fiction novel that takes place during World War II in Nazi-Occupied France. Vianne is a young wife and mother living a quiet life in the town of Carriveau. Her younger sister Isabelle has been expelled from her latest boarding school and is eager to make her way to Paris to reunite with her emotionally distant and seemingly uncaring father. As the Nazi's invade France and the war shapes their lives in unimaginable ways, both women are faced with great challenges and impossible choices.

Isabelle started off an impetuous, reckless young woman. Still a teenager and full of passion and ideals without any understanding of the implications of her actions. The change and growth in her over the course of the book was astounding. She did not lose her passion or her ideals, nor did she ever stop taking risks, but living under the constant strain of discovery turned Isabelle from flighty to steely in determination to do her part.

Vianne is content with her life in Carriveau but when her husband is sent to fight the Germans invading France, she suddenly has only herself to rely upon. Through food shortages and harsh winters and a Nazi officer living in her home, Vianne has no choice but to find the strength to protect her family any way she can.

Both sisters are faced with unthinkable choices and hardship. Whether for the greater good or for daily survival, each is forced to sacrifice. Both live daily with fear, danger and the uncertainty of the future. My heart broke again and again for these women, for their circumstances, for their hardships and losses. I was sickened by the atrocities committed by the Nazi's, the brutality of the concentration camps, but also in awe of the courage and bravery shown by ordinary people who had so much to lose but took action anyway.


"For us [women] it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over.”


Unlike many other novels about WW II, The Nightingale focuses on women. Their contributions and the impact on their lives. It tells the story of their courage, their bravery, their sacrifice. Women who joined the Resistance, women who hid Jewish friends or helped them escape, women who did without so their children (and the children of others) would not have to, women who endured unspeakable horrors and yet found the strength to stay alive. Just stay alive.

The Nightingale was a slow read for me. This is not a book to fly through. There was a slow progression of the story in the beginning. And I was reading even slower at the end because the events were so heart wrenching I was only able to read a few pages at a time before setting the book down in order to collect myself and try to keep the tears at bay. But even that was impossible. I was reduced to gasping, hiccupping sobs more than once in the last 30-40 pages. And it wasn't even possible to step back and tell myself it was just a story. Because it *did* happen. Maybe not to a woman named Vianne or a woman called Isabelle. Maybe not in the exact same way. But these events and these stories played out time and time again, in many different, horrific ways over the course of WW II.


“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”


The Nightingale is powerful, emotional, and heartbreaking. It took me on a difficult journey, one I don't regret, and will stay with me for a long time to come.

Wounds heal. Love Lasts. We remain.

Review: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Originally read/reviewed in September 2013

Having just finished The Bronze Horseman this afternoon, I am feeling utterly shattered and unsure I can write a coherent review, but want to write while everything is still fresh.

I don't often resort to hyperbole, but I can honestly say this has instantly become my favorite book ever. I was moved beyond measure, drawn into the lives of the characters, and emotionally invested as with no other book. Roughly two hours after finishing the book I am still sitting here slightly shell shocked and with an aching heart for Tatiana and Alexander as if they truly existed and their story was, in fact, real.

The Bronze Horseman had much going for it before I ever opened the cover. Russian history? Check. An epic love story? Check. A gripping story with characters that leap from the page? Check, check. Paullina Simons tells a tale that starts slowly, building a relationship between Tatiana and Alexander that is seemingly impossible with every odd stacked against them. But despite it all, their love flourishes and then ignites amidst the horror and destruction of WW II and the siege of Leningrad.

Tatiana + Alexander = the greatest hero and heroine I've encountered. Theirs truly is an epic love story. The intensity of their love... the sacrifices they made for one another... it is beyond compare. The obstacles they endured, the hardships, the separations, the secrets and deceptions... it broke my heart time and time again.

The character growth in Tatiana is appropriate and amazing. From a shy and naive 17 year old girl to a young woman who has seen and endured more than most will in a lifetime. Yet through it all, her strength, optimism, stubborn nature, and her intense and selfless love for Alexander sees her through.

And Alexander... this man, oh this man. He is a young man but one who has already experienced much and grown up early. The burdens he bears, the responsibilities he takes on, the weight on his shoulders, often seemed crushing. But he did it all willingly and never complained. His every thought, every action, was for the safety and protection of Tatiana. I'm not sure I've ever encountered a more honorable character than Alexander Belov. His love for Tania is pure and unselfish and passionate.

Simply put, I loved everything about this book. And at 894 pages I was nowhere near ready for it to end. This is one that will stay with me and, while I would love to reach over and pick up the next book in this incredible saga, I think I may need a day or two to recuperate and pull myself back together.

The Bronze Horseman is exquisite and heart-wrenching and sweet and tragic and joyful and devastating and achingly beautiful.

Sadly, I'm left knowing nothing I write, no amount of breathless gushing, will do this book justice. But, on the plus side, having finished this extraordinary novel today, my birthday, I feel as though I've been given a remarkable gift that I will not forget.