Luanne Oleas
This is the first time I've read a paranormal romance. It's the first time [a:Colleen Hoover 5430144 Colleen Hoover https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464032240p2/5430144.jpg] has written one. I have no clue whether she followed the appropriate tropes, but I stayed hooked on the story, just as I always do with her books. While the story centers on the couple, Leeds and Layla, but it's told from Leeds' point of view. I think this is a real departure both for the author and for romances in general. While Hoover did a masterful job of thinking like a guy (I think), I was often left wondering about his reasoning. Not enough to put me off the story, but enough to wonder if he was not as nice a guy as he was initially portrayed to be.The spiritual depth attracted me. Where do we go, if anywhere, after death? Do we move on or just move over? Can some people sense spirits that might still be around without a body? Are there folks that know more about this phenomenon than most?I don't want to give away any of the plot. I'll just say I enjoyed the struggle between the two (or is it three?) main characters. Now, when something falls over near me for no discernible reason, I'm left wondering why—and if I'm really alone. Great read! One I might actually read it again, just like I rewatched the movie, The Sixth Sense, once I knew the ending.
This is my favorite [a:Elinor Lipman 63681 Elinor Lipman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1482327276p2/63681.jpg] book so far. (I'm trying to read them all.)Maybe the best start to a book. Spoken like a true lawyer, Jane finds herself convicted of indecent exposure and sentenced to six months of house arrest simply for having sex at midnight on the roof of her apartment building with a younger colleague. While the guy gets off with a slap on the wrist, Jane not only loses her freedom, but her job and her bar license is suspended.What does an intelligent woman, barring one lapse in judgment, do for six months home alone? She can't even take in work in her profession. How she handles her “downtime” is really the heart of the story. One can only watch so much TV. Jane's passively aggressive twin sister helps by paying for food while suggesting possible hobbies. As a dermatologist/plastic surgeon, she enlists Jane's help in finding nutritional “face-saving” recipes. It's Jane who makes the leap making those recipes on TikTok and baring her soul. “Hi, I'm Jane. My license to practice law was suspended, so here I am, about to make boiled onions for your dining pleasure.” Her sister's other suggestion was to cater meals for Perry, who is also under house arrest at the same, sprawling apartment complex and has been ordering takeout 7 days a week.What should have been a boring six months turns into a real romp for someone who can't leave the building. There's the story of the prude who turned in Jane for her midnight escapade. The Polish siblings of dubious heritage who were the prude's charges. There's Amanda, a dentist and Jane's socially inept neighbor who is ready to marry any man and have his baby. Perry's weird foot-in-mouth mother, Jane's supportive parents, and all those lousy coworkers who dropped Jane like a hot rock after her conviction. . . all except one.Every twist and turn in this book was equally unexpected and perfect. Need a break from your life? READ THIS BOOK!
Like all [a:Elinor Lipman 63681 Elinor Lipman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1482327276p2/63681.jpg] books, it took me a bit to get into it, but, as always, it was worth it. It has all the charm, classic dialog, and quirky characters that makes each of her books a winner.How strange it would be to grow up in the dorm of a private women's college in Boston. Frederica did that and her parents were just what you would expect: scholarly counselors who used the ‘how does that make you feel' technique like two pros. Frederica goes from favored campus mascot to intellectual, overly mature teen as one might expect. However, the arrival of her father's ex-wife (a little detail her usually open parents forgot to mention) stirs up their up-to-this-point unflappable college life. And what a character Miss Laura Lee French turns out to be. One never quite knows if she is a blatant liar or just the most open person that ever existed. She manages to turn the campus upside down in a matter of months, taking Frederica, her parents, and the entire population of Dewing College for a wild ride.For me, it wasn't so much what happened, but how the characters reacted that tickled me and kept me reading. From Laura Lee's best friend priest (and what's really going on there?) to the illicit affair that leads to Frederica's father almost losing his job, it's a total romp.
It was fascinating to read the continuation of Lily and Atlas' story. It had been months since I read [b:It Ends with Us 27362503 It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1) Colleen Hoover https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470427482l/27362503.SY75.jpg 43940889] which was actually the beginning of their story. I was surprised how much of the original story came back to me. (I've read a lot of books since that one.)I really thought that Ryle, Lily's first husband—but not her first love—would be less of a factor than he was in this story. However, it seems leaving an abusive relationship isn't the end of the victim's problems, particularly when you are still co-parenting with the abuser.My daughter works with victims of domestic violence and it's insane how difficult it is to escape an abusive relationship. (And how deadly the consequences can be.) I thought this book portrayed that aspect well. Having supportive family members is a huge help and not something that always happens in real life. One part of the book that seemed unrealistic revolved around the character Atlas. He's overly perfect. Good-looking, great cook, endless patience, super understanding. In fact, he didn't seem like the product of an abusive home, which he's supposed to be. That aside, I thought the book was excellent and the lack of personality flaws in Atlas wasn't enough for me to even deduct a star. Worth the read for sure.
Okay, I think I might have figured out why I love [a:Colleen Hoover 5430144 Colleen Hoover https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464032240p2/5430144.jpg]'s books. It's simple really. I care about what happens to her main character—and not in a superficial way. It's more in a “if I don't find out, I'll go nuts” kind of way. But why?In [b:Heart Bones 51007311 Heart Bones Colleen Hoover https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580936060l/51007311.SY75.jpg 75856512], the first chapter introduces 19-year-old Beyah, who comes home to find her mother dead from an overdose. We find out that Beyah has basically been raising herself, though her “real” father did send support checks. He had little visibility into Beyah's existence. Not trusting men became a way for a young girl to stay alive in her household. So, even if she visited her father once a year, she told him nothing about her home life. Only a heartless creep wouldn't care what happens to Beyah. Just to flip the script, the author takes the main character from the depths of poverty to a very comfortable lifestyle in the matter of 24 hours. Crazy!But still, I found myself overly concerned about Beyah in her new world and what she didn't know to expect there. Just having regular meals was a real treat for her. She isn't the least bit interested in Samson (or any guy) at the beginning. It's takes a lot to turn that around. Almost every chapter holds a new nugget of information about Beyah (and Samson) until the reader starts to get comfortable with their connection. Then, BOOM, the slap in the face you didn't expect. Overall, I loved this book. I read it in 24 hours, not bad for a 324-page novel. Make sure you have the time to devote to it. You won't want to put it down.
The yearbook might be the best character in this book. It's definitely the best character that never says a word.
Daphne inherits a high school yearbook from her mother. It turns out to be the yearbook on which her mother served as an advisor early in her teaching career. The annual didn't seem overly precious to Daphne, who followed the Marie Condo advice of tossing out what doesn't give you joy when you MUST downsize. A downsize demanded by her divorce to a man who married her to get an inheritance, then dropped her flat.
However, it turned out that yearbook held secrets. No one knew quite what they were. Daphne's mother attended every class reunion of the Pickering High School, Class of ‘68 and made notes in the yearbook about the senior class members. Successful. Fat. Happy. Bald. Divorced.
However, it seemed at least one student, who later became a State Senator, was particularly close to Daphne's mother. Close enough to be a relative to Daphne.
Daphne's life increases in difficulty when her neighbor, Geneva, fishes the old yearbook out of the recycle bin and explores its contents with more scrutiny than Daphne ever gave it. Geneva begins to loosely assemble the puzzle, determined to make a documentary out of the yearbook. In a “finders keepers/losers weepers” enforcement of the law, Daphne is unable to regain possession of the yearbook.
Daphne's across-the-hall neighbors learns of Daphne's plight. Jeremy's an understanding, sympathetic, good lucking minor star in a TV series. (This is probably the most unbelievable aspect of the story. Who gets that kind of neighbor?) Still, he and Daphne become friends with benefits.
I was all in on this story until the very end. I didn't understand why the yearbook ended up the way it did. But the dialogue is so witty and spot on, I'll let that go. Great book.
This is my first [a:Elinor Lipman 63681 Elinor Lipman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1482327276p2/63681.jpg] book, but it won't be my last. I've already got [b:Good Riddance 37569327 Good Riddance Elinor Lipman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524763503l/37569327.SX50.jpg 59180034] lined up next.I was fascinated by the main character's (Alice Thrift) personality, which was well-described and so realistic. Her mother insists she must be on the autism spectrum. Perhaps. But she seems to only be able to focus on her profession (her residency at a Boston hospital) and nothing else. Still, Alice knows something's missing in life and in her own awkward way, she tries to compensate.Enter Ray Russo, chocolate salesman, who just might be selling something else. At the time they meet, Alice has a roommate, a nurse named Leo, with whom she gets along with quite well. But since he's so popular, she automatically assumes he wouldn't be interested in her. Others notice the opposite. Still, she moves out when he consistently brings Meredith into their apartment, thinking he needs the privacy. Alice's parents, Alice's new best friend, Sylvie, and even Leo all question Alice's judgment when it comes to Ray. The book makes the reader wonder if they could all be wrong and only naïve Alice can see Ray's good side. He's smart, attentive, good in bed, and doesn't mind all the hours that Alice puts in at the hospital. What's not to love? I think Alice's growth is particularly well done in this novel. It happens not just in her personal life, but in her professional life too. Her essence doesn't change, but she does find a way through life with a little help from her friends—and her own good sense. Can't wait to read Lipman's next book. So much so, I actually streamed and watched a movie if her first book on my phone [b:Then She Found Me 483369 Then She Found Me Elinor Lipman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348466722l/483369.SY75.jpg 902699]. I'll have to read that one too. The movie was very well done. I imagine the book will be better.
At first, this didn't feel like a typical Colleen Hoover book. It took a while for me to warm to it, but boy, when I did, what a great story.
I like the slow reveals of the characters' issues. It was a little like reading a mystery. In fact, I thought I had it all figured out, but I didn't, which made me like it even more.
Auburn and Owen are outcasts. Parts of their history, despite their innate goodness, make them seem like bad guys. They aren't. But that bonds them even more. And their problematic pasts also limit their future options, making their present path narrow and uncomfortable.
They tend to get along from the start which turns out to be a big problem with Auburn's extended family and also for Owen too, who only has a father left. I like the details that Owen only had three contacts in his phone: his father, the local bartender, and a distant cousin he never calls.
Because so may layers are revealed slowly, it almost feels like any details are apt to be spoilers. So, I'll just say, stay with this one to the very end. You won't guess it, though it is very believable.
I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I was tired and needed sleep, but instead, I kept reading.
I don't know if I was more fascinated with the book's main character, Merit, or her bizarre family. To think of a family living in a repurposed church was odd enough. The fact that they kept the crucified Jesus on the wall because it was built-in was even weirder.
Merit and Honor are identical twins in their last year of high school, but that's sort of where their similarities end. It doesn't help that Merit is attracted to the guy she thinks is her twin's boyfriend. This is only one of Merit's misperceptions, but it's hardly her fault. No one tells anyone anything in the family. Dad never says why he divorced mom, who still lives in the church/house basement. Or why he married his ex-wife's nurse.
The twins' older brother, Utah, is as confused as everyone else, especially after their step-uncle, Luck moves in. But then, Sagan, who Merit believes to be her sister's boyfriend, has also moved in—not that anyone told Merit. And I won't even try to tell you how the former church's former pastor's dog plays into all this, but he/she/it does.
What starts as a book of a calamity of people turns into a book about the truth about family. Hoover does a masterful job of never leaving us wondering about anyone in a book full of strange motivations.
Needless to say, I had to finish it, just to know if these crazy (but basically nice) people made it through the chaos. Get the large print edition of this book so you can read it when your eyes are tired because putting it down isn't an option.
After a busy December, I was happy to find time to indulge in another [a:Colleen Hoover 5430144 Colleen Hoover https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464032240p2/5430144.jpg] book. [b:Ugly Love 17788401 Ugly Love Colleen Hoover https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632597571l/17788401.SY75.jpg 24878172] takes ‘friends with benefits' to the next level. Like all her books, she focuses on a strained relationship and an unlikely resolution.The female protagonist, Tate, when attempting to move in with her brother in San Francisco, finds Miles passed out drunk against her brother's apartment door. She can't get in without moving him and he's too heavy and unconscious to move. The 80-year-old elevator operator can't help, but he turns out to be Tate's good friend. Especially when she finds out Miles is her brother's friend, loathe to commitment, and wants a sex-without-strings relationship with Tate.The majority of the book leaves Tate in the dark about Miles' aversion to showing love or being loved. But the reader gets glimpses of the problem when Miles' memories from six years before are revealed in chapters interspersed throughout the book.Maybe it's just me, but I enjoyed Tate's ponderings of how she might break through Miles' lack of attachment and then how she finally convinces herself that no matter how much she loves him, he will never let her in. Hoover is a master at toxic relationships, and Miles and Tate seem to have an extremely potent one. It only exacerbates the problem that they are ideal together in bed.I didn't think the ending would be realistic or satisfying, but I was happy to be wrong.
Good ol' [a:Anne Tyler 457 Anne Tyler https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1529285150p2/457.jpg]. She never disappoints. I love her characters and their realistic conversations and situations. In this case, poor Ian thinks he caused his older brother's death and it changes his entire life as he tries to make up for his perceived mistake.I guess in Ian's shoes, I might also join some whacked-out church and hope for redemption, though he's not sure what that looks like. What his life becomes is one of sacrifice as he, at age 19, leaves college to raise his brother's children, two of which (and maybe all three) aren't biologically related to Ian. He's such a good guy, trying so hard to do the right thing. In fact, doing the right thing becomes an obsession with Ian. Agatha, the oldest of his brother's children, seems to be the one most in tune with Ian. Thomas, the second oldest, seems fine to skate through life without a care. Then there's the youngest, Daphne, who is more spiritually in line with Ian and maybe has the most realistic expectations of life. I love how the story takes the characters through 20 years in the blink of an eye, or so it seems. Tyler's sparse descriptions convey just enough about the other members of the Second Chance church, the foreigner neighbors, dear Mrs. Jordan , and Reverend Emmett as well as Ian's aging parents. Ian seems to be there for everyone, but who will be there for Ian? It's a question that a long last is answered in a surprising way. Overall, a lovely book about a good man.
I love all the Irish characters in Tana French's novel, especially when she details them talking to one another. Oh sure, occasionally I had to re-read passages. Irish isn't my native tongue. But overall, I think she did a commanding job of expressing the euphemisms used.
That said, I'm not giving her my usual five stars. It's still an awesome story, but at time she got carried away adding her well-drawn characters. I struggled to keep them straight and it detracted at times from the story.
It's interesting how she has an American moving to Ireland and trying to leave his old job as a cop behind, only to have it follow him across the pond. Cal still suffers the PTSD most cops have, from seeing too much and neglecting family to see it. When 14-year-old Trey comes along, it's a relief and a curse. Trey wants Cal's help to look for a lost brother, Brendan.
Or is he lost? Some folks think Brendan just skipped town, but Trey isn't convinced. Trey and Cal become the odd couple, refurbishing his neglected cottage while they explore each other and the townspeople.
Their idyllic village in the West of Ireland has a pub and a grocery store, but it's not as pleasant as it might seem. Everyone has a secret and no one is giving up any information about the missing Brendan. The search for clues requires every ounce of Cal's experience and even more. Trey isn't patient with his long, slow investigation.
Some interesting details reveal the difficulty of getting a gun and permit in Ireland as well as getting accepted into the community. Not everyone who moves to Ireland becomes a permanent resident and many don't last the first winter, but Cal is determined to make it. His loneliness is often a factor and he occasionally calls his grown daughter or thinks of what advice his ex-wife might give him.
Overall, the story was satisfying, if at times a little drawn out. It had all the wrong turns and twists needed in a good mystery.
Olive Kitteridge was a surprise to me. I expected a novel and ended up with a bunch of connected short stories. Some featured Olive as the main character while others had her make brief guest appearances. By the end, I found that Olive was both wonderful and terrible. She was kind and she was thoughtless. In essence, she was a real human being.
Somewhere between when I started the book and just after I finished, my laptop blew up and I waited for it to be fixed or to get a new one before writing this review. As such, my memory about the book is a little foggy. Still, I did like it
Another great, captivating novel by [a:Colleen Hoover 5430144 Colleen Hoover https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464032240p2/5430144.jpg]. I'm on a tear, trying to read all her books this year. [b:Regretting You 44582454 Regretting You Colleen Hoover https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559332442l/44582454.SY75.jpg 69199213], like many of her other books, had me from page one. I'm always grabbed by how the author creates an emotional connection with the reader immediately and then goes on to exploit that by putting her characters in barely believable, but plausible situation that make us want to find out how they fare.This story seems to start simply enough with two sisters, Morgan and her younger sister Jenny, both in high school and dating Chris and Jonah respectively. We find out that Morgan is pregnant, the child is Chris', and he wants to name her Clara if it's a girl. But the personalities of these four characters are ones that almost seem to clash. Where Chris and Jenny are the party animals, their dates, Morgan and Jonah are better at being supportive, deep-thinkers. The very next chapter starts with Clara, that baby is now in high school, facing some of the same pressures her young parents faced. While she is starting to date Miller, a boy her father disapproves of, she's generally a good kid. Chris and Addie are both very cautious parents, ever worried that Clara might make the same “mistake” they did and not get to pursue her dreams. However, in a twist, Clara's dream is her parents' worse nightmare. She wants to be an actress. They prefers she have a more stable profession.All of their worrying about Clara's future comes to an abrupt end when Clara's father and her aunt Jenny have are both killed in a car accident. Together. At first, that's not too odd because they both work at the same hospital. But as the story progresses, their deaths are only the beginning of the unraveling of Clara, Morgan, and Jonah's lives.Hoover's well drawn characters combined with her excellent dialogue make this story unputdownable. I would have finished it in one sitting if I had the time. I'm off to get another Colleen Hoover books. There's a reason why she has four on the NY Times bestseller list. They're addictive.
Initially, someone gave me a copy of [b:Odd Hours 2029927 Odd Hours (Odd Thomas, #4) Dean Koontz https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388204532l/2029927.SY75.jpg 2313023] by [a:Dean Koontz 9355 Dean Koontz https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1581963714p2/9355.jpg]. It's about fourth or fifth in his “Odd” series. I only got 25 pages into it, but it felt as though I was missing information. I went to a 2nd-hand store and purchase a discount copy of [b:Odd Thomas 14995 Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, #1) Dean Koontz https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388245669l/14995.SY75.jpg 4574034], so I could start the series from the beginning.I'm a Dean Koontz virgin, a little embarrassing to admit since he's a well-known author, I consider myself well-read, and I've never even cracked one of his books.So, Odd Thomas was my first foray into the mind/world of Koontz. It wasn't at all what I expected. I liked some of his asides that show his philosophy of life. Like, when speaking of God, he says:“He'll also cut you some slack if you're astonishingly stupid in an amusing fashion. Granny claimed that this explains why uncountable millions of breathtakingly stupid people get along just fine in life.”I struggled to understand his character, Odd Thomas. The author hinted at his “weird childhood” but waited until 3/4th of the way through the book before exposing what the weirdness was. At that point, Odd Thomas went from being a semi-reliable narrator (well, as reliable as one can be who sees dead people) to a semi-unreliable narrator. I didn't know if what he was searching for throughout the book was even something that would come to fruition. It does.However, in the end, there was a heartbreak I didn't expect. I will have to check out the next book to see if I want to continue.I attended a talk given by Koontz, who explained his authoring style. He simply starts at the beginning of the story, and rewrites as he goes. By the time he reaches the end of the story, it's ready to go to an editor. He doesn't write 1st, 2nd, or 3rd drafts. Just one draft that he modifies along the way. This was interesting to know before reading the book, and somewhat believable.Overall, I think it's worth a read, but I couldn't get emotionally connected to the characters. People were often introduced just to be killed off, a la GAME OF THRONES.
Do not read this book if you think you want to do something else. . . particularly the last half of the book. Reading it was like running downhill. I couldn't stop. I needed to sleep, but I tried several times to put the book down after finishing a chapter and I couldn't. That's quite a recommendation for a nearly 400-page book.A stunning fact about this book it is really takes place in 24 hours. Sure, there's backstory, mostly in the first half, but the second half is more like a description of 12 hours and a ticking clock. Add that to the explosive family dynamics and you've got a real adventure in your hands.The whole book centers around the Riva family and their legendary party. And, trust me, [a:Taylor Jenkins Reid 6572605 Taylor Jenkins Reid https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1645653842p2/6572605.jpg] knows how to show a family coming unglued and how to write a party into legend. The setting itself is an evolving character. The Malibu she depicts used to be a sleepy surf town that got discovered and suffered the same fate as most of the movie stars who inhabited it. If you need a real romp, [b:Malibu Rising 55404546 Malibu Rising Taylor Jenkins Reid https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618293107l/55404546.SY75.jpg 74581401] fills the bill. Just give yourself the time you need to read it. Stock up on food and drink. Lock the door. It's a masterpiece.
Now I've read the entire three-book series and I can't choose a favorite. It's probably a tie between book #3, [b:Portrait of a Scotsman 55053187 Portrait of a Scotsman (A League of Extraordinary Women, #3) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607447624l/55053187.SY75.jpg 85846250] and book #1 [b:Bringing Down the Duke 43521785 Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554743971l/43521785.SX50.jpg 67688634], but book #2, [b:A Rogue of One's Own 49202118 A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women, #2) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578931679l/49202118.SX50.jpg 73028567] is a close second. I'm glad there's a fourth coming in March 2023, [b:The Gentleman's Gambit 55053196 The Gentleman's Gambit (A League of Extraordinary Women, #4) Evie Dunmore https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png 85846264], because I love the convergence of politics and sex that [a:Evie Dunmore 18775709 Evie Dunmore https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1548783382p2/18775709.jpg] has in all of her books. I'm addicted to her League of Extraordinary Women. It's perfect that each book adds a detailed backstory behind women's rights and what it was like before women could vote or own property. It's amazing how much a woman lost just by getting married. In [b:Bringing Down the Duke 43521785 Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554743971l/43521785.SX50.jpg 67688634], the main character, Annabelle Archer, a commoner, and Sebastion Devereux, the 19th Duke of Montgomery, have an instant attraction even if he is opposed to Annabelle's cause of amending the Married Women's Property Act.Unfortunately, the times dictate that their relationship be on the quiet or preferably not at all. This in a society where a single woman must have a protectorate with her at all times when she is out of her home. Annabelle would actually have a better life if she agreed to be his mistress, but the question would be “better compared to what?” Like her sisters in the The Cause, she's hoping for the day when Parliament will consider voting in their favor and change the laws that keep women from being free. And so begins the massively unsuccessful avoidance between the Duke and Annabelle. It doesn't help that she's appointed by the head of The Cause to create a detailed profile of him with hopes it will help them get his vote in the House of Lords. She sets out to find his weaknesses without exposing her attraction to him and fails miserably on both counts. He seems to have no weakness and she's hopelessly overwhelmed by her emotions for him. And it's mutual. Beyond the politics, the sexual tension between the characters grows, magnified by the society's taboo on them having a relationship. With the passage of any women's rights act appearing years (decades?) away, it seems pointless to wait until they are allowed equal footing to express their true feelings.The author not only does a credible job of keeping them apart, with a stolen kiss here or there, but lots of self-examination and commitments to not let it go any further by both. But the writer also does an excellent job of detailing what happens next, which I won't reveal, but for readers who believe that love can conquer all—you won't be disappointed.Love this book!
I'm now reading the first book of the series ([b:Bringing Down the Duke 43521785 Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554743971l/43521785.SX50.jpg 67688634]), having stumble on the book #3 ([b:Portrait of a Scotsman 55053187 Portrait of a Scotsman (A League of Extraordinary Women, #3) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607447624l/55053187.SY75.jpg 85846250]) first. So even having read them completely out of order, I'm in love with them. Apparently, book #4 is coming in March 2023 (The Gentleman's Gambit). I mean, something needs to happen with Catriona, right?However, I love [b:A Rogue of One's Own 49202118 A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women, #2) Evie Dunmore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578931679l/49202118.SX50.jpg 73028567] not just because of the chemistry between Lucie and Ballentine, but because of the political setting as well. What was it like for women not to have the vote? To not own property? To lose what few rights they did have if they married? In this book, Lucie is shouting from the rooftops and still she has no voice. Maybe that frustration led to great sex, but it didn't resolve much else. Despite her love for Ballentine, she doesn't believe that marriage to anyone is in the cards for her unless she wants to become even more of a person non gratis than she already is because she was born female.So much of the author's appeal comes from her depth of characterization. I love that she gives her heroes and heroine real fault as well as outstanding good looks and principles. Overall, a great history lesson and a stimulating story.
I know why this book has been on the best seller list for SOOOOO long. From the moment you start to read it, you're hooked. I spent all last night wishing I could put it down. Who thinks of this stuff? Who has seven husbands and why?
Evelyn Hugo has a larger than life persona that refuses to apologize for her actions. I think I know why I'm not famous. I'm not cold, aggressive, or calculating enough. I can't put aside what I feel is right in order to do what will help my career. But Evelyn can, and she's not shy about it.
Born in Hell's Kitchen (where else?) and escaping through her first marriage in her teens, she gets her fabulous boobs to Hollywood where that's all she's got. She's never had an acting lesson and she's not well educated. But she is smart and she knows what to do with that chest.
Before you know it, she divorced and remarried to an actor with BIG NAME. Of course. Why not? She accidentally fell in love with him which shocked Evelyn as much as anyone. And so went her remaining relationships. She was rarely alone for a week before stumbling upon another smart (read: career-enhancing or reputation-salvaging) reason to get married again. Of course, she's relaying all this information to a writer who will produce her biography. The true story. And the real question becomes, who was the real love of Evelyn's life?
If you pick up this book, you won't want to put down until you hit the last page.
After reading it, I must admit it made me feel sad, learning Evelyn's secrets and then seeing where they led her. But few books can give you the emotional gut punch that THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO does.
I don't read a lot of historical fiction and I'm not a fan girl when it comes to Jane Austen. However, this third in a series of Victorian fiction really captured my interest. From its prudish start to its sexy ending, I enjoyed it all.
I'm a big fan of Outlander (the TV series) so the title made me want to read this book. Unfortunately, it's #3 in the series and if I had known, I would have started with #1, which I haven't read yet. The author does an excellent job of describing why the characters are acting as they do in relation to the time period. Also, I found I could read this book quite well having not read the other two. So. . . it you ever wanted to jump in bed with a hot Scottish man, this book is for you.
I picked up the book partly because it had an endorsement from Jodi Picoult on the cover. It said: “ Portrait of a Scotsman sits squarely at the unique intersection of history, romance, and women's rights . . . a spot where I could happily stay forever.” One back cover, there was an endorsement by Emily Henry. How could I resist? I think I'll have to read Bringing Down the Duke next.
What an awesome concept for a novel. I'm impressed (again) with Hoover's ability to pull me into the story and keep me on pins and needles when it comes to the characters' motivation and outcome.
For various reasons, Ben and Fallon only see each other once a year. On November 9th. It's the anniversary of the house fire that scarred Fallon very visibly. To the point where she thinks that is all people—especially men—when she meets them. But as Ben put it toward the end of the book, “But anyone who sees your scars before they see you doesn't deserve you.”
Ben has a few hidden scars of his own, which threaten to undo the fragile relationship he and Fallon forge during their brief encounters. Both characters are deeply influenced by their own parents. Fallon's mother says Fallon shouldn't fall in love until she's 23. When the book opens, Ben and Fallon are 18. Fallon's father is less than helpful when it comes to helping Fallon overcome the trauma from the fire. Ben's father is really not in his life, but he had brothers who try to help. His mother had a poet's soul with all the joy and tragedy that entails.
So, to one another, they are “Ben the writer” and “Fallon, the transient.” For having spent very little time together, they develop an overwhelming connection that weathers all the days of the year they are apart. Several small impediments, and one HUGE one, prevent them from finally fulfilling what they both want, to be in love with each other.
Overall, it's a touchingly impactful book.
This is the third Emily Henry book I've read in the past month/six weeks, basically all of her adult fiction that's currently available, although HAPPY PLACE is coming out in the Spring of 2023 and I look forward to that.
I enjoy her storytelling. I especially like her insight into the characters' reasoning for feelings as well as her snappy, quirky dialogue. The reader gets a great view of why the character is acting as she does and what her motivations might be.
In BOOK LOVERS, Nora and Charlie are frenemies of the first order. Known to each other by reputation before they meet, their anti “cute meet” confirms what everyone has told them about each other. She's a shark. He's a cold fish. But outward appearances can be deceiving when characters' motivations are hidden.
While Nora is driven to protect what little family she has left, Charlie has the same burden, but by duty, not choice. As such, their feelings toward the commitment of helping family differ. While Nora is nearly pathological about controlling her remaining sibling's well-being, Charlie is more curmudgeonly about being trapped into helping his family through hard times.
Oddly enough, this paradox worked for me. The author gave substantial reasons why the characters acted the way they did toward family members. Nora's ill-fated family losses were revealed later in the book, but hints were dropped along the way.
The burden of extra family responsibility has led both characters to either shun personal relationships. or compartmentalize them in such a way that emotion stays on the back burner. The “been hurt before, not going through that again” reasoning is a viable philosophy to both. So, it's believable when both feel an attraction but immediately know their connection isn't going anywhere if they can help/stop it. Being colleagues in the publishing industry also presents its own barriers to romance.
What I love about this book was how it played out the story recognizing and obliterating all the tropes used in every Hallmark romance. It made it all laughable. Nora's sister's checklist for their small town vacation includes: saving a business, skinny-dipping, dating a handsome local guy, camping under the stars, going horseback riding, wearing a plaid shirt, etc. All attempts at fulfilling this checklist of course go horribly awry.
Overall, I recommend this book for those who enjoy their romance with spice, crisp & intelligent repartee, and a certain irreverence.
Wow, I'd give this book ten stars if I could. It's a great story about a widow reinventing herself, a young man who is lost, and a ticking time bomb of an octopus. Yes, that's right. An octopus. It's said when this story was submitted to a publisher for consideration, an editor wrote in the margin: “This is either brilliant or bananas.” Let me clear up any doubts. It's brilliant.When Tova starts working at the local aquarium near Puget Sound, she's already lost her husband to cancer, and her only son, who died in an unexplained drowning, has been gone for 30 years. She has taken a part-time job cleaning floors and fingerprints from fish tanks at night to stay busy. It's how she deals with all she's lost. Speaking of loss, Cameron is losing his band, his best friends married and are having a baby, and the aunt who raised him is involved with someone in the trailer park where she lives. He's also lost his latest in a string of unfulfilling jobs. When his aunt gives him some artifacts from the mother he never really knew, he decides he might as well go looking for the father he never knew either.And then, there's the octopus, Marcellus. He's been held captive most of his life. He tends to be a clever guy who sneaks out of his enclosure when the aquarium is closed. He can stay out of the water for 20 minutes before what he calls “The Consequences” start to affect him. He's extremely perceptive, as you might expect from an octopus who knows how to escape his tank and keep an eye on the clock.The author takes these three characters as her main ingredients, throws in some locals from the small community where Tova lives and creates magic. I am not normally a crier when reading and I have to admit, Shelby Van Pelt almost got me. Nothing actually streamed down my cheeks into my ears—I read in bed—but the words got pretty blurry on the page. For a feel good story that will make you glad you read it, read [b:Remarkably Bright Creatures 58733693 Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651600548l/58733693.SY75.jpg 90375164]. You will be glad you did.
It took a bit to get vested in this book, but when I realized I had a day to finish it, it was a blessing. I sat for hours with the story of January and Augustus, enjoying each tearful, angsty, delirious, sexy moment.
I love how the author delves deeply into the emotions of her main character, pondering the curveballs that life throws at everyone and how the characters reach tiny resolutions along with way.
It would seem that a book titled BEACH READ would be destined to have a happy ending, but it is by no means a shoe-in here. And what is a considered a happy ending to one could be completely different to someone else.
I appreciate the premise of two writers challenging each other to write in the other's genre. In real life, there seems to be so little time to write what writers want to write, that it wouldn't leave time to dabble elsewhere, but it works great in this story.
I love how Emily Henry brought January's whole family into her character makeup. We are many times the sum of so many disparate and cracked parts. This comes through glowingly, as well as the influence and stability we receive from our best friends. Overall, a wonderful book.
Who am I to give [a:Colleen Hoover 5430144 Colleen Hoover https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1464032240p2/5430144.jpg] 4 stars? I read the book as fast as my spare time would allow. However the constant ruminating over the inability to solve the primary conflict (reuniting a child with a bio mom) got redundant. Hence, four stars. Kenna and Ledger were well-painted characters. The premise of the story is so universal (a parent kept from a child) that the author couldn't decide where the story should take place, and, in the end, decided not to pick a city. In her words: “You might have noticed there was never a location specified for where this story actually takes place. I've never had this issue in a book—solidifying a location for the characters. I just kept placing Kenna in different towns while writing her story, and none of them felt right because they all felt right.”I did feel Ledger was too altruistic. I've only met a few men in my life who care deeply enough for someone else's child to drop a girlfriend, donate most of their free time to coaching their T-ball, and drive them to ballet, as well as keep scads of pics and videos of said child on their phone. All this and incredibly good-looking with a stable job and two houses? Of course, I loved Ledger. Who wouldn't? But he's the stuff of fairy tales. I think if he'd had a bad habit it might have made him more realistic.Kenna was fully believable for me. Maybe a bit more forgiving than the average bear (or former jailbird) but all her attempts to make nice with her daughter's paternal grandparents and her unending guilt for a horrible accident seem spot on to me.Side note: I did love Ledger's parents. Nice, secondary characters.I was happy with the ending.