Review: Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

MRS. EVERYTHING
Jennifer Weiner
Publication date: Jun 11, 2019
Genres: Adult Fiction, Women's Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Atria Books and NetGalley



GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes, comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Mrs. Everything is a tale of two sisters, how circumstances fray their bond, and how they come together again. While Jennifer Weiner calls this her most ambitious work, I call it her best.

Sisters Bethie and Jo could not be more different. Bethie is pretty and popular. Jo doesn’t care about clothes or fashion, loves sports, and never seems to earn her mother’s approval. A childhood spent in 1950’s suburban Detroit leads to college in the 60’s and a time of civil rights, protests and experimentation. Their lives take dramatically different paths and their choices shape their lives in unexpected ways.

I was completely captivated by this story. Weiner breathed life into these characters and I felt as if I were experiencing every heartache, every joy, and every turn in the road with Bethie and Jo. From complicated family dynamics, to disordered eating, drug use, sex and marriage, these women struggled to find their way, both separately and apart. I sympathized with Jo who struggled for her mother’s approval and acceptance and who spent years hiding her true self. And my heart ached for Bethie who spent years running from her past.   

They lived through times of tremendous upheaval – the Viet Nam war, civil rights, women’s rights – and the roles of women changed over the years. They were redefining what it meant to be a woman in a changing world, while still being constrained by societal expectations, and with the knowledge that change comes slowly and there were still barriers to overcome. Their choices were so often colored by, and limited to, the options available at that time. They were alternately each other’s strongest supporter and harshest critic, proving that the author understands the complicated relationship shared by sisters.

Spanning more than six decades, Weiner has delivered a powerful story of sisterhood – both familial and that of all women. She strikes the perfect balance of telling Jo and Bethie’s stories while shining a light on the limitations, expectations, tragedies and triumphs of women over the past 60-70 years. Never preachy or political, but instead intensely readable, Mrs. Everything has skyrocketed to one of my favorite reads of 2019.

5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

Review: The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

The Christmas Sisters
Sarah Morgan
Publication date: September 25, 2018
Genres: Women's Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Holiday

In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high…

Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke…

As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas? 

This isn’t my usual kind of read but my mother loaned it to me (something she rarely does so I felt obligated to give it a try) and since it focuses on three sisters (and I’m one of three sisters) I figured that alone would be enough to draw me. And while this was a pleasant enough read, I was a bit disappointed that I rarely felt any connection with the McBride sisters or even between the sisters themselves.

Matriarch Suzanne is determined to host the perfect Christmas for her three adult daughters, despite Christmases past proving that her efforts never provide the desired results. Oldest Hannah is standoffish and makes excuses to not return home, middle daughter Beth is a frazzled, overprotective mother to her own daughters, and youngest Posy has never strayed from home but harbors feelings of wanderlust. What ensues is the story of each sister and frankly Posy was the only one who was particularly likable. Hannah was single-mindedly focused on her career and kept everyone at arm’s length. I honestly couldn’t figure out what love-interest Adam saw in her. While I sympathized with Beth and her need to have something more for herself beyond raising two children, her dogged insistence on returning to work for an absolute shrew (who had made her miserable in the past) made no sense and grew tiresome fast.

On the plus side, Posy was down to earth and likable and the way she wavered between loyalty to her parents and her desire to take off and have adventures felt honest and understandable. Interestingly enough, it was the male secondary characters who were the standouts for me. Hannah’s flame Adam was open about his feelings and in his pursuit of her; Beth’s husband Jason was quick to apologize and was incredibly supportive of Beth. Posy’s love interest, Luke, was the perfect match for her and patriarch Stewart was the steady presence in the background who loved and supported them all.

Morgan created a Scottish Highlands setting that was practically another character in the story. The small town with its close-knit residents, the pub where everyone gathered for a drink, a meal, and togetherness, and even the bitter cold, the swirling snow and the holiday season helped to create a cozy atmosphere.

The Christmas Sisters was an entertaining tale of the importance of family, making peace with the past, and having the courage to create a new (and better) future. 

3/5 STARS

Review: Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky

Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky

Genres: Women's Fiction

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Format: eARC

Source: St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends—and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made—though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.

Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself—or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.

Barbara Delinsky is a mainstay in women’s fiction and with good reason. Tackling complex issues while exploring family dynamics and relationships, Delinsky can weave a story that captures the mind as well as the heart. Before and Again is no exception.

Maggie’s life changed in an instant. After losing all that she loved most in a horrible accident, she has rebuilt a quiet existence in another town. She craves anonymity and has shared her past with no one, save for one trusted friend. When supporting a friend in need means being thrust back into the spotlight, and the risk of her past becoming known is all too real, Maggie must decide what she is willing to risk in order to do what she knows is right.

Who was I? I wasn’t a mother or a wife, and I was a daughter in name only. But I was a friend. Being a friend sometimes meant you left your own comfort zone for the sake of someone else. I wanted to be the kind of person who did that.

Maggie was a character that was still mired in grief and guilt. Outwardly, she gave the impression of having moved on, but in reality she was still stuck in a spiral of self-blame and recrimination. When her friend’s son is accused of hacking into the Twitter account of a high profile journalist, the national media descends. Maggie is terrified of being recognized and having her own past brought into the spotlight but she also cannot turn her back on her friend. At the same time, a face from Maggie’s past has reappeared and she’s reeling from the implications.

There were a lot of threads running through Maggie’s story: her job and her pottery, the scandal with her friend’s son, her estrangement from her family, her ex-husband, and Maggie’s overwhelming heartache. While at times the pacing did seem to lag, I was still invested in Maggie’s story. And despite the hacking scandal, which often seemed to take a backseat, the story felt more character-driven than the synopsis suggests. Along with its commentary on the role of the media (about which Delinsky seemingly has nothing but disdain), Before and Again also tackles issues of friendship, forgiveness, loss and second chances. Sometimes a bit slow, but ultimately a hopeful story of overcoming tragedy and finding happiness again.

3.5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is no way changes my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Review: Always by Sarah Jio

Always by Sarah Jio

Series: No

Genres: Women's Fiction

Release Date: February 7, 2017

Format: Audio

Narrator: Brittant Pressley

Source: OverDrive

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

While enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner with her fiance, Ryan, at one of Seattle's chicest restaurants, Kailey Crane can't believe her good fortune: She has a great job as a writer for the Herald and is now engaged to a guy who is perfect in nearly every way. As they leave the restaurant, Kailey spies a thin, bearded homeless man on the sidewalk. She approaches him to offer up her bag of leftovers, and is stunned when their eyes meet, then stricken to her very core: The man is the love of her life, Cade McAllister.

When Kailey met Cade ten years ago, their attraction was immediate and intense everything connected and felt "right." But it all ended suddenly, leaving Kailey devastated. Now the poor soul on the street is a faded version of her former beloved: His weathered and weary face is as handsome as Kailey remembers, but his mind has suffered in the intervening years. Over the next few weeks, Kailey helps Cade begin to piece his life together, something she initially keeps from Ryan. As she revisits her long-ago relationship, Kailey realizes that she must decide exactly what and whom she wants.

Alternating between the past and the present, Always is a beautifully unfolding exploration of a woman faced with an impossible choice, a woman who discovers what she's willing to save and what she will sacrifice for true love. 

WHAT I LIKED:

I’m a sucker for a second-chance romance so Always seemed like one that would be right up my alley. I really enjoyed the dual timeline that portrayed Kailey’s present but also shared, in bits and pieces, her past. In 1996 Kailey met Cade, a music executive with a talent for finding the next big thing in Seattle’s indie music scene. They clicked immediately, their romance was passionate, and they planned a future together. So why, a decade later, is Kailey planning her wedding to another man?

I was so drawn in by Kailey and Cade’s story, wanting to know what happened to them – what happened to Cade. I appreciated the way their story was told in snippets from the past and I found myself waiting anxiously for each “past” chapter. Kailey was a mostly likable character, loyal and determined, but it was Cade who captured my heart and had me wanting to take him by the hand and help him myself. Kailey’s fiancé’s reactions to her seeing Cade and her insistence in helping him rang true and I couldn’t help but empathize with him. This second-chance romance with a touch of mystery was an entertaining and sometimes emotional read.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

While I was invested in Kailey and Cade’s story, Jio’s heavy handed narrative covering the homeless issue became preachy and off-putting. The tone throughout the sections where homelessness was addressed made the pacing feel clunky. Additionally, some pretty significant plot holes that were never resolved or revisited also tampered my overall enjoyment a bit.

3.5/5 STARS

HAVE YOU READ ALWAYS?

Review: Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

Series: No

Genres: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 27, 2015

Format: Trade Paperback

Source: Purchased

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Rachel Blum and Andy Landis are eight years old when they meet late one night in an ER waiting room. Born with a congenital heart defect, Rachel is a veteran of hospitals, and she's intrigued by the boy who shows up all alone with a broken arm. He tells her his name. She tells him a story. After Andy's taken back to the emergency room and Rachel's sent back to her bed, they think they'll never see each other again. Rachel, the beloved, popular, and protected daughter of two doting parents, grows up wanting for nothing in a fancy Florida suburb. Andy grows up poor in Philadelphia with a single mom and a rare talent that will let him become one of the best runners of his generation. Over the course of three decades, through high school and college, marriages and divorces, from the pinnacles of victory and the heartbreak of defeat, Andy and Rachel will find each other again and again, until they are finally given a chance to decide whether love can surmount difference and distance and if they've been running toward each other all along.

It’s been years since I read anything by Jennifer Weiner but when I read the premise of this one I knew I had to read it. I think I fell a little in love with Rachel and Andy before I ever opened the book. I mean, that synopsis: a connection that forms in childhood, growing up in vastly different circumstances, re-connections, life experiences, and a timeline than spans thirty years. I was sold.

Andy and Rachel meet at the tender age of 8 when both are in a Miami hospital emergency room. Andy with a broken arm, Rachel with a heart defect. Rachel lives a privileged, if insulated, life and wants for nothing. Andy’s experience is harsher – the biracial only child of a single working mother in a gritty Philadelphia neighborhood. Their brief encounter isn’t forgotten by either of them and fate brings them together again as teenagers. And there begins a relationship that will test their love, make them question who they are, and will at times both comfort and falter.

I truly loved the evolution of Rachel and Andy’s story. I loved their precious first meeting (“Do you want to borrow my blanket? My nana made it.”). And I loved being present for the twists and turns their lives took, both together and apart. From the thrill of first love to the realization that sometimes just loving someone isn’t enough, Andy and Rachel live their lives both separately and together, experiencing highs and lows that truly touched my heart.

Weiner created a story that is so multi-layered, with complex characters who are oh so human and flawed, and with situations that have no easy answers. So many issues were seamlessly woven into the story – friendship, relationships, sex, marriage, divorce, race, class, success and failure – and it all blended to form one cohesive story that felt so true to life. Readers who demand an instant pay-off may be disappointed, but if you appreciate the journey as much as the destination you will surely fall in love with Who Do You Love.

4.5/5 STARS

Do you enjoy second-chance romances?

Wish You Were Here by Renée Carlino: Review + Excerpt

Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She’s had as many jobs as she’s had bad relationships, and now she’s feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.

Then she collides—literally—with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam’s spontaneity and joy for life. There’s promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam’s tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.

Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte’s still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime’s worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.  

AMAZON | B&N | iBooks

M Y    T H O U G H T S

Renée Carlino has become one of those rare authors that I know I'm going to read whatever she writes - and be emotionally impacted by it. She has a gift for writing stories that I slip into seamlessly and become fully immersed in the lives of characters that feel like they could be my friends, my sisters, my family. Wish You Were Here was no exception.

You know when you're looking at someone and you can't help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That's what was happening to me, and it was making me feel... happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we hed met in a previous life. Memories that didn't exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks.

Charlotte is coasting through life with a series of failed careers and failed relationships behind her. A chance meeting with Adam leads to a one-night stand and an intense connection. However, the morning after brings another side of Adam and Charlotte is left questioning how all they shared the previous night could have vanished so quickly. Six months later Charlotte is still shaken by her encounter with Adam and even a tentative new relationship with a seemingly great guy cannot shake her conviction that her story with Adam is still unfinished.

When I opened the door, he was standing on the other side with his shoulders slumped. He looked dejected. He raised his gaze from the floor to my eyes. "Hi," he said, his voice low.

"What's wrong? You were excited about donuts thirty seconds ago."

"I'm still excited about donuts. I just got sad thinking that this night will eventually have to end." 

There's little I can say plot-wise without giving away much of the story and it's best to experience Wish You Were Here without too much information - just let the story unfold. So instead let's talk characters. Carlino did her usual magic and created a main character so flawed and so human and it was impossible not to feel her uncertainty and lack of direction. Admittedly, the two main male characters at times fell into the too-good-to-be-true category but I loved them both so much that I couldn't hold it against them (or Carlino). Every interaction was filled with such heart and emotion and humor, often making me smile through tears. There were times when I was frustrated with Charlotte, wondering if she was being deliberately obtuse, but watching as she changed and truly came into her own made it all worthwhile. Yes, it could be argued that there is insta-love (or at least an insta-connection), but it was impossible not to fall under the romantic spell that Carlino cast. I was swept away by the sparks that were flying, by the grand gestures, by the quiet moments. Somehow, Carlino took the trope, added her signature mixture of realism and emotion, and made it work.

As long as there is love in this world, we will be a part of it.

Wish You Were Here puts a spotlight on not only romantic relationships but those with friends and family as well. As the story progresses, it was satisfying to see Charlotte's relationships with her best friend, her parents and her brother change and evolve as she herself changed.  Her relationship with her brother was a real highlight and their banter rang so true. Anyone with a sibling will understand and appreciate the love-hate relationship, the rivalry, the inside jokes, and the way the relationship (hopefully) evolves into something even stronger and deeper in adulthood.

Love is a wordless secret; it's an inside joke. Only the two of you have to understand it.

Wish You Were Here is about having the courage to choose love no matter what the cost. It's about soul mates and second chances. It's about growing up, finding direction, and living in the moment. Ultimately, Wish You Were Here is the perfect novel for those who are in love with love. 

“You’re making love sound tragic,” I said.

“No”—he shook his head—“I wouldn’t want it any other way. Tell me about us. What do we like to do?”

“Paint and sail and eat and drink. Just simple things.”

“Don’t forget about sex,” he said.

“Yeah, lots of sex. Before the children were born we were practically naked every second of the day.”

“I like that.”

“When they got older, we’d sneak away for weekends and leave them at my mom’s.”

“What are they like? Our children.”

“Happy. That’s all we wished for. We put our love first and it just spilled over into them and now they’re happy.”

Tears sprang from my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Isn’t that what we all hope for when it comes to our children?

His tone suddenly changed. “That’s beautiful, Charlotte.” It was like he was waking up from the dream. I didn’t want to go back to reality yet, but I knew these fantasies were just to help Adam get his mind off things. “I can imagine a long life with you,” he said.

“I can imagine what a great wife you’d be."

I pulled my hand out of his. “The story is about you and me.” He didn’t say anything; he just nodded and then continued to stare out the window. I bent and kissed the top of his head again, and whispered, “It’s about us. Don’t take that away from me.”

    

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com
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Sound Bites: Audiobook Reviews - Furiously Happy and Sisterhood Everlasting

I've really done an about face over the last year when it comes to audio books. I enjoy listening on my daily commute and I almost almost have one downloaded from my library's Overdrive app that I'm currently listening to (in addition to whatever I'm currently reading). But, I'm a total purist when it comes to reading and while audio books can be fun, for me it's never as rich an experience as actually reading the physical book. Because of that, my thoughts are pretty brief so I'm combining a couple reviews into one post.

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Narrated by: Jenny Lawson

Synopsis:  In FURIOUSLY HAPPY, Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. And terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.

According to Jenny: "Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos."

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"

FURIOUSLY HAPPY is a book about mental illness, but under the surface it's about embracing joy in fantastic and outrageous ways-and who doesn't need a bit more of that?

 

WHAT I LIKED: I rarely reach for non-fiction/memoirs but this came so highly recommended by Grace at Rebel Mommy Book Blog that I had to give it a try. And there's that cover, right? I was happy (not quite furiously happy but still happy) that I did because this collection of stories/random thoughts/vignettes from Lawson was Just. So. Funny. There were many times that I was actually laughing out loud at the random ridiculousness and the imagery it produced. And there were also times when I would stop and thing, "Wow, should I be laughing at this? It's actually pretty sad." But it goes back to Jenny's proclamation of being furiously happy out of sheer spite. :) Lastly, Jenny's narration of her own words was such a perfect touch. So much of the humor came not only from what was being said but how she said it. It just wouldn't have been the same otherwise.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: My only quibble is that sometimes it just felt like too much. The over the top quirkiness was fun in small doses but I found myself having to listen in bits and pieces because too much at one time started to feel like overkill. Every random thought was taken to such an extreme degree that it was a bit exhausting.

3.5/5 STARS

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Narrated by: Angela Goethals

Synopsis:  From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one.

WHAT I LIKED: Um... *crickets*. No, that's not really true. It was satisfying to see the series to the end. And I will admit that the ending, while not very believable, was emotional and mostly satisfying.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Oh where to start? I can't recall reading a book where the main characters were all so thoroughly unlikable. What a bunch of miserable people! They were all equal parts selfish, self-absorbed and and just plain unlikable. The major plot line is a major spoiler so I'm just going to talk about the characters. Three of them, in particular. 

Carmen was as insufferable as ever and now, as a professional actress, came across as an obnoxious prima donna. She seemed to care more about her iPhone than anything else in her life. Seriously. She obsessed over it constantly.

Lena never had much of a personality but even less so here. She was living the smallest life possible and was so passive and timid it was pathetic. And the never-ending back and forth with Kostos... after a decade? OMG, enough already. I was desperate for one of them to just do something. Someone have enough backbone to take action. Gah!

Bridget seemed to have barely progressed since we last saw her at 19. At first it seemed like she had changed but after a significant event she was right back to her old ways - as flighty and destructive as ever. Except now, at the age of 29, it just smacked of self-indulgence and I had little empathy for her, especially when her flightiness included disappearing for months on a boyfriend who adored her. Who does that?! Any warm and fuzzy feelings I had left for Bridget vanished as soon as she behaved so cavalierly with someone who loved her.

I will say that Sisterhood Everlasting has an average rating of 3.9 on GoodReads so obviously this is a "it's not you, it's me" situation. So if you're interesting in revisiting the sisterhood and learning what has become of them, don't let my issues sway you. Because I'm definitely in the minority here.

2/5 STARS

Are you a fan of audio books? Have you read either of these?

Review: Falling by Jane Green

Falling by Jane Green

Series: No

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

Release Date: July 19, 2016

Format: Kindle

Source: Overdrive

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

When Emma Montague left the strict confines of upper-crust British life for New York, she felt sure it would make her happy. Away from her parents and expectations, she felt liberated, throwing herself into Manhattan life replete with a high-paying job, a gorgeous apartment, and a string of successful boyfriends. But the cutthroat world of finance and relentless pursuit of more began to take its toll. This wasn’t the life she wanted either.

On the move again, Emma settles in the picturesque waterfront town of Westport, Connecticut, a world apart from both England and Manhattan. It is here that she begins to confront what it is she really wants from her life. With no job, and knowing only one person in town, she channels her passion for creating beautiful spaces into remaking the dilapidated cottage she rents from Dominic, a local handyman who lives next door with his six-year-old son.

Unlike any man Emma has ever known, Dominic is confident, grounded, and committed to being present for his son whose mother fled shortly after he was born. They become friends, and slowly much more, as Emma finds herself feeling at home in a way she never has before.

But just as they start to imagine a life together as a family, fate intervenes in the most shocking of ways. For the first time, Emma has to stay and fight for what she loves, for the truth she has discovered about herself, or risk losing it all.

In a novel of changing seasons, shifting lives, and selfless love, a story unfolds—of one woman’s far-reaching journey to discover who she is truly meant to be…

My Thoughts

Once upon a time, long long ago (in 2001), I came across a book called Jemima J. At the time a new genre was all the rage - a little thing called Chick Lit. And I was gobbling it up. Specifically Brit Chick Lit. And when I saw Jemima J and read the synopsis I knew I would love it. And love it I did. It remains very dear and meaningful to me. And in the years that followed I read everything Jane Green wrote. But then a darkness fell over the land and things began to change...  

Looking back over my GoodReads reviews of Jane Green's last four or five books there seems to be a common theme: I tend to start each review with "what happened to the Jane Green of old?" Because over the last several years her novels seem to have lost their charm and and their emotional pull. Instead they now all take place in Connecticut (not-so-coincidentally where Jane lives) and feature very similar female protagonists: women who once had high-powered careers but then find themselves living in the suburbs of Connecticut and trying to keep up with the high-maintenance ladies who lunch set. Or they find themselves divorced and starting over (still in Connecticut, of course) and trying to eschew the ladies who lunch for something more substantial. Book after book, it's all begun to feel a bit stale.

When Green's latest, Falling, was announced and touted as "pure old-school Jane Green, a return to her love story roots" I was firmly on board and ready to dismiss the last several disappointments as inconsequential blips. But, not so fast... because Falling was another disappointment. Big time.

Emma was a frustrating main character. Not only is the reader subjected to her every wishy-washy, contradictory thought but she could go from Point A to 
Point Z in 5 seconds flat in any given situation. 

"I don't mean to offend you, Emma. I hardly know you, but it seems to me that you have created a drama in your head that may have nothing to do with reality."

She consistently made snap decisions and judgments. And, despite her apparent desire for a quiet life, she had quite the flair for being emotionally dramatic. As Emma entered into a relationship with Dominic, her landlord next door, there were many references to the differences in their backgrounds.  Again and again the reader is reminded that Emma's oh-so-proper British upbringing was far different from Dominic's small-town blue collar childhood. So much was made of this fact that I began to wonder if this was really a contemporary novel or if they were actually in Victorian England where the classism would make sense. 

"Someone like you does not end up with someone like me. Even I see that."

To be fair, it wasn't all bad. In fact, with the exception of Emma's emotional histrionics and all the class talk, I was mostly enjoying the novel. Yes, it seemed to skim the surface rather than digging deep, and yes, there was an issue with telling instead of showing, but I couldn't help but be drawn into the day to day lives of Emma and Dominic and Dominic's son Jesse. I enjoyed the minutiae: the quiet evenings at home, the breakfasts they made together, the details about Emma's burgeoning design career. I found it interesting and it helped create this bubble around their relationship that made it all the more intense. 

And then came that ending. At the 90% mark I looked at my husband and said, "I am SO mad at this book. I can't believe she [the author] is doing this." But she did it, and then wrapped everything up incredibly quickly, and all my semi-good feelings about the book went poof. I think it's safe to say this will be my last disappointment from Jane Green. Whatever magic was once there is long gone.

2.5/5 Stars 

What author did you once love but finally quit reading? 

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?