This is my online book club… Please let me know what you think about the books I’m reviewing. I’d love to hear your opinion!
I’m also always looking for the next book to read. Please help me compile a list of great books with your suggestions right here in the comments for this post…
Thanks and happy reading!
Margo and Ian have been searching for her dream house for months now. Thinking ahead, they’d bought an apartment in an up-and-coming neighborhood, anticipating that they’d sell at a higher rate and increase their money for a down payment on their “forever home.” Of course, this was all Margo’s idea; Ian could rarely be counted on to plot this far ahead, being consumed with his job solving the world’s climate crisis. And, as Margo reasoned, one cannot be too aggressive in this overwhelmingly frustrating market. After losing not one, not two, but ten houses because of being outbidden by entitled, cash-wielding competitors, she is ready to do what it takes. No matter the cost…
This is an outrageous story that begins benignly and builds to an utter “Gone Girl” crescendo. We learn of Margo’s repeated disappointments, her challenges growing up in a financially unreliable family, and her first taste of stability upon visiting her husband’s more privileged family. When Margo learns of a “perfect” home coming onto the market – the one she MUST have – she is determined to convince the owners to sell it to her and no one else. In Margo’s world, this perfect home equals happiness and she will make it her own – no matter the cost…
This is the type of novel you can swallow whole. It is that story that keeps you reading until the wee hours, perhaps sneaking it out during your lunch at your desk. Even while Margo becomes more and more unhinged, and Ian, her husband is more and more stumped by her behavior, we also see her humanity, her desperation. Her attachment to her friend’s dog, Fritter, is an example of her more tender and vulnerable side. When Natalie seems to ignore the needs of her own dog, Margo steps in to care for him. At the same time, Margo is also truly flying off the deep end.
If you were held captive by such books as The Girl on the Train or the Woman in Cabin 10, you will be excited to read this one as well. It is clever, twisty, and unputdownable.
Nora Stephens has been convinced by her younger and very pregnant sister Libby to come away with her for a few weeks to a small town made famous by a book Nora has actually promoted. While Nora is usually impossible to tear away from either her work as a literary agent or her home in NYC (and her Peleton…), she agrees to come because she will do anything to make her sister happy, as she’s done since their mother died when they were teenagers. So here she is, in this sad little town, still trying to sneak a bit of work into her day, in spite of the task list Libby has created for them to try to break out of their usual routines. And no good deed goes unpunished, for the only spot where she can find any bit of reliable wifi is where she runs into – to her utter shock – her absolute work nemesis, Charlie Lastra. Immediately, there is an email exchange between them which grows into an outright battle of wits. And even as Nora is focused on her sister and her sister’s welfare, she finds herself becoming more and more entangled in this mystery that is Charlie Lastra.
If you’re looking for a light, fun, and very summery/vacation-y read, this should be the first thing you pack to take along. While it is somewhat predictable – ok, very predictable – it is also replete with witty (giggle-along-with) dialogue, endearing family drama, and even a few steamy romance scenes. While Nora thinks of herself as being a “shark” and not exactly a people-person, she is actually someone who loves deeply and protects those she loves with the ferocity of a mother bear. She becomes the character we cannot help but love back – and this makes the story so utterly engaging.
So even despite the many romcom tropes to be found here, I still found this book a delight to read (or, in truth, listen to). I believe you will too!
Three timelines and three narratives come together in this mystical, haunting story of heartbreak and misguided love. We meet Maddy in 1999 who comes to London for her sister’s wedding and becomes entangled in a tragic love triangle. We then meet Frieda, a young woman mistaken for a rule-follower who goes to London in mutiny against the father she’s always idolized. And finally, we meet Lucy, a 12-year old girl who, while trying to overcome her mourning for the mother she’s lost, is brought also to London, where she is expected to participate in her stepmother’s sister’s wedding. Each of these women has in common their rebellious streak, their stark honesty, and their connection to London’s Lion Park Hotel.
As I struggle to sort my feelings about this novel, I have to go back to my inclination, initially, to abort it entirely. I am glad I did complete it, just to see where it would lead, but I have to admit it was more work than a book should be. While each story line had potential, I believe the characters were so unlikeable – or at best, difficult to engage with – that it was hard to feel invested. Their stories were also a bit contrived, and not only because of the mystical elements (which I often flinch at). Throughout each narrative, it was emphasized how strong and independent each of the women characters were. Yet, each, in her own way, was waylaid by a man of dubious virtue and usually selfish intentions. Of course, the earlier stories of both Frieda and Lucy, took place in the 50’s and 60’s, when women had less power, particularly within their family structures. But still… smart and “independent” women should not have been so easily duped by such utterly shady men.
So, all in all, not my favorite. there are so many other choices that would better fill your time, in my opinion!
Late on October 6, 2023, after having Shabbat dinner with his family, Hersh Goldberg-Polin traveled south to join his friends at a festival celebrating love, light, music and dance. Little did anyone in their family suspect that this would be their last Shabbat dinner, their last hug goodbye, their last anything. Because early the following morning, Hersh would experience an invasion of radical Islamic terrorists whose mission was to kill, maim, rape, burn and capture as many Jewish victims as possible, including Hersh himself. Attempting to hide, Hersh sought refuge in a bomb shelter with many others, until the terrorists threw in the grenade that would blow off his dominant left hand. He would then be taken into captivity, starved, tortured, and kept in subterranean tunnels for hundreds of days before being shot and killed at close range by these terrorists.
Immediately on hearing of his being taken captive, his family sprung into action, meeting with anyone and everyone to try to advocate for Hersh’s release. Even in their fog of unimaginable pain from loss and terror for his welfare, they traveled the world, spoke both publicly and privately, trying anything to gain the assistance of anyone who might be able to get Hersh released. What this did to his mother, Rachel, is laid out here in all its pure, raw, raging agony.
I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to bear witness, through these poetic, philosophical, and agonizing words of Rachel Goldberg-Polin, to what happened on October 7, 2023. Because it has affected not just her but thousands of others all over the world. Because it affected Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus. Because it affected people from Israel, Germany, Thailand, the US, Russia, and the UK. Because it was a demonstration of evil so public and so brazen that it changed the world. And because we are obligated to know, to comprehend the atrocities that occurred on that day as it affected individuals in order to understand the impact it has had on a global scale.
This is not just a MUST READ, but an obligatory one.
It’s been years, decades even, that Anna has been fighting in a German court to establish her identity as the Grand Duchess of the Romonov family. She’s been grateful for the support of her loyal childhood friends, who have shuffled her around from sympathizer to sheltering sympathizer. But she resents that she’s been abandoned by her extended family and her former teacher, who have accused her of being an imposter. Through this dual timeline, we learn both of Anna’s traumatic experience of living through the cruelty of the Russian revolutionaries, as well as her fight to survive the aftermath.
A huge fan of this author, I was somewhat disappointed by this particular novel of hers. I am always game for a dual timeline as well as most historical fiction. I was interested in the history and fate of Tsar Nicholas and the Russian Revolution. However, because this timeline skipped around so much, both in time and location – and never in a linear fashion – it became onerous to keep track of. Moreover, the story was relentlessly heartbreaking, with little in the way of lightness. Of course, it is a brutal story, but even the most brutal history can be relayed with moments of tenderness, some expressions of wit. There was poor little of relief in this telling and, so, a heavy load to carry.
That said, I absolutely learned from it and was, in fact, surprised at the ending. Glad I read it? I’m still not sure. But I certainly feel a bit smarter for having done so.
Joe appreciates his privileged life, with the opportunities and luxuries it affords; and at the same time, he also feels bogged down by the expectations it carries. His father, long dead but whose brave military service and philanthropy keeps him well in the minds of the public. Certainly it remains in the mind of Joe’s mother, who maintains the highest ambitions for her only son. And although he rebels against it, he also knows it is likely his destiny. Of course if he ever does forget, the paparazzi certainly remind him on a very regular basis.
Cate, on the other hand, has grown up with very little, but she still has fond memories of when it was just her and her mom. Her father having died when she was very young, Cate feels protective of her mom and watches carefully as she dates men who are not always nice. When Cate sees her mom considering marrying Chip, a cop who uses his power against both of them, she fears for her mother but also feels the urgency to escape their toxic home.
When these two characters’ lives collide, almost by accident, it feels like it could either be magic or heartbreak.
This Cinderella story is based loosely on the lives of John Jr (Kennedy) and Carolyn Bessette. It’s a story of how love can grow between two people even when their backgrounds differ so widely. While Joe is used to women falling for him – and all over him – he becomes dazzled by beautiful and mysterious Cate, who seems to be indifferent to his fame and fortune. And while Cate knows exactly what Joe’s background is, she feels insecure about her own. How will they continue their relationship? How will their respective parents react to their differences? How will the press react?
So many aspire to fame and fortune, but it carries a good deal of responsibility and anxiety. To be constantly under the scrutiny of the public is a burden, particularly with the press having so much access and when information can be distorted and distributed so widely. While it is certainly wonderful to have a financial cushion such that money is not a concern, it also carries the onus of what one does with that money. How it is managed, how generous one is with it.
This book is a delightful read, mixing in some of life’s ugly realities with both romance and glamor. Definitely one to pack with you for any upcoming spring/summer vacations!
Patrick knows it will be hard to return to his brother, Greg’s, home in Connecticut where Greg is about to bury his wife. He knows because not only has he himself lost the love of his life, but he also is losing his best friend (Greg’s wife Sara, whom Patrick knew first). What he doesn’t know is that Greg has a plan that involves Patrick. Unbeknownst to Patrick, Greg has, during his wife’s illness, become addicted to pills and he knows that now that he is on his own with his two small children, Maisie and Grant, he must get clean. In order to accomplish this, he plans to go into rehab and have Patrick care for Maisie and Grant for the summer. Patrick, in his mind, has barely been able to care for himself since his loss and he is flabbergasted by this request. Could he really do this? For his brother? For Sara? For their kids? Possibly even for him?
In spite of being rooted in sad circumstances, this narrative is told with sharp wit, endearingly tender scenes, and with great joy. The story is as funny as it is poignant. Patrick’s connection with Maisie and Grant is certainly not instantaneous; it is only because Patrick understands grief that he is able to show compassion without being patronizing, empathy without babying, patience without indulging. Because he is honest and sardonic and truly himself with them, they learn to trust and feel safe with him. And because of this, too, we the readers can laugh with them and even fall in love with them a little.
This story also speaks of how at some point, we all confront grief over a loved one. It can be all-consuming, and in the beginning, this may be functional. But it also can consume us, paralyze us, to the point where we give up living our own, very precious and limited lives. The message I see here in these pages is that we at some point have to wake up and begin our own living, even in a world that feels so drastically diminished. Because as we do, as Patrick learns, we will begin to fill up our world anew. It’s a beautiful message.
I have to deem this book a MUST READ! It is so well written, so very sweet, and honestly, we all need a good laugh right now!
Violet looks forward to her book club meeting each week. It has become the only time during her week where she can escape the mind-numbing routine of prison life. She finds that Harriet, the volunteer who leads the meetings, while quite a bit older (and who dresses even older than that) is actually pretty cool in her own way. As for Harriet, she feels blessed to be a part of this group; feeling as if here, in this claustrophobic room with a group of outspoken and demanding women, she can be utterly herself. Frank, who helps out in the bookstore where Harriet obtains her books for the group, is pleased to feel useful there. Especially if it might give him a chance to meet Harriet…
This story, with its rotating narrative between these three characters gives us a window into the life of a young woman who has and still is paying dearly for a tragic mistake she’s made. For even after she’s paid her dues, she still must contend with the impact of what she’s done. Whether it is in the challenge of finding employment with a felony record, the guilt she carries about her crime and the impact its had on others, or the abandonment she feels from everyone in her former life.
This is also a story of forgiveness. We see many unable to forgive, and we see how happiness comes to those who do.
It’s a truly heartwarming story stemming from an unlikely beginning.
The police of Manassus, Virginia, have their hands full. They are being forced to reopen a long-resolved (albeit sloppily processed) murder investigation as well as deal with a missing person. Are the two connected? It appears that the names that keep popping up in relation to both are those of Sarah Morgan, a high-profile criminal defense attorney turned non-profit founder, and her husband, Bob Miller, an attorney as well. As the two become more and more embroiled in their brutal divorce dispute, they both also become more and more connected to the investigation.
I defy anyone to claim they’ve figured this one out before all is revealed! There are more twists and turns in this novel than there are on the Amalfi Coastline! The vicious competition between Sarah and Bob over who will outsmart the other is the beating heart of the plot and with a rotating narration giving insight into their motives and frustrations, we think we will figure it out. But just when we believe we are onto them, the story is flipped on its head and we are given an entirely new perspective. It is an incredibly complex construction and it keeps us guessing until the finale.
Apparently, also, I did it again. I read this in the wrong order, as it is a sequel to The Perfect Marriage, which I didn’t realize. But it absolutely stands on its own and is a delightfully wicked read even without having the knowledge of the first book.
I highly recommend this novel – it’s the perfect escape!
Beatriz has been waiting… stewing actually. She has had to flee the home she adored, has been mourning the untimely death of her twin brother, and has been trying to see a way to extracting revenge for all of it. While her sisters have taken to the society life in Palm Beach, Florida – albeit at a lower social situation than they were used to – Beatriz has held fast to the belief that she’d return to Havana, that Fidel Castro will be ousted, and that they will see Cuba return to better days. When she meets a tall, broad-shouldered, extremely handsome stranger at the ball she’s been made to attend, she is shocked by how he so quickly rocks her world. At the same time, she struggles to remain firm in her desire to pursue justice for her brother and for Cuba.
This is a beautifully written historical fiction novel that enlightened me about this piece of history about which I admittedly knew too little. Written by the author of Next Year in Havana (which I’ve not yet read. I know, I’m going in the wrong order!), this book centers on the aftermath of the revolution that Fidel Castro led, focusing on those who fled mainly to Florida. We are given a close, personal experience of what it was like to live through the Bay of Pigs with family who were affected, followed of course by the Cuban Missile Crisis. We learn of the subterfuge, the Communist agenda, and the complicated spy network that Castro spun in order to hold onto power, and we come to understand why there was suspicion of Castro’s involvement in President Kennedy’s assassination. I certainly knew bits and pieces of this history, but learning about it from the Cuban perspective is extremely helpful.
I am also enamored by Beatriz’s character. She is staunchly independent, resists the comforts she might have felt entitled to, even risks her life in order to do what she feels is right. Particularly for the time she in which she is living and the family she grew up in, she is unusual and admirable.
I highly recommend this book. It’s exactly what I love about historical fiction: the opportunity to learn important pieces of our past but in the most entertaining way.
kindread spirits 