Uprooted

Uprooted Naomi Novik 4 / 5	Published 2015 First Sentence "Our Dragon doesn't eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley."
Publisher's Description: “Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.” Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood. The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
Dear Reader, I didn't see this one coming at all. Uprooted left me constantly surprised by its twists and turns. It began like a traditional fairy tale, and so the reader is lured into thinking it is going to follow a certain prescribed path, but it kept turning away from the expected into more and more adventure. While it did read somewhat slowly at times - even in the midst of nonstop action! - overall, it was a book I just kept looking forward to returning to. I really wanted to know what happened to Agnieszka and the Wood. Again, the beginning felt tired: a young girl who doesn't realize she is anything special is selected, despite all odds, as the Chosen One. This is something every girl her age has been preparing for their entire lives. Agnieszka is whisked away to a remote tower where she is tested...in some quite unusual ways. The reader could join in with the girl's own frustration as she worked to puzzle out exactly what was expected of her. When she does figure things out, though, in many ways it's "all wrong" - this is the first of many times that the book diverges from the reader's comfortable idea of a fairy tale. But it's a great branching off, and creates a much more enjoyable story. It's difficult to discuss this book's specifics without giving too much away, so I'll refrain from writing too much more. I will, however, add that I did think this was a YA book until I had it in my hands. There is some rather adult content in the book, which actually bothers me because otherwise it is so PG! I suppose a creative parent could read this book to an older child (I'm imagining the audience for The Princess Bride or Stardust, say) and simply gloss over the two rather unnecessarily graphic scenes (I didn't feel as if they added anything to the story, honestly). Otherwise, it's a really magical adventure story, full of sorcery and villains (some unexpected!) and monsters and castles and nature and the strong bonds of friendship. I also loved that it was steeped in a lot of Polish fairy tale history. Definitely worth the read. Yours, Arianna

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Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything Nicola Yoon 3 / 5	Published September 1, 2015 First Sentence "I've read many more books than you."
Publisher's Description: This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more. My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
Dear Reader, No. No, no, no. I was so disappointed - going into this, and even when I began reading, I thought: Great! I am going to totally dig this book, and fly through it, and it'll be a nice break from all the dense reading I've been doing this summer! And, well, it was the latter. But I was so thoroughly disappointed, especially given how great the ratings were on Goodreads! I was totally riding along on the premise, and then...it suddenly hit me, about 1/3 of the way through, The Twist. And I just spent the whole rest of the time reading going, "No. She wouldn't. Would she?!" Because this is essentially the plot of a movie. One that I've never seen, but while I was explaining the expected twist to my husband, he said, "Yeah. Like ______?" (I won't spoil anything for others, but that blank is clickable, if you'd like to see what I am talking about) and I said, "No way, for real?!" So on top of the book being predictable, it was kind of a copycat of a terrible premise of a movie. Blerg. I can see someone going into the book and not seeing the twist as being blown away by the ending, and that is awesome, and I am kind of envious of those people. Because had I been taken by surprise, I think I would have loved the book, too! I loved the characters, I loved the concept (in a strange love/hate way), and I loved the relationships. Everyone was believable and real and I flew through it over the course of two bedtimes. But. Yeah. Dang. I only rated it so highly because I could not put it down until the end. And I did thoroughly enjoy reading the book! I just hated that dread in the back of my mind...and was so frustrated when it was confirmed. Le sigh. Yours, Arianna

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Goodbye Stranger

Goodbye Stranger Rebecca Stead 3.5 / 5	Published August 4, 2015 First Sentence "When she was eight years old, Bridget Barsamian woke up in a hospital, where a doctor told her she shouldn't be alive."
Publisher's Description: Bridge is an accident survivor who's wondering why she's still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody's games--or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade?  This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl--as a friend?  On Valentine's Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?
Dear Reader, This is another one of those books I wish had been around when I was young. I really enjoyed it, and it was pretty unique. The story was the linear tale of a trio of girls growing into adolescence, but interspersed occasionally with an odd storyline told from the second person perspective: there is a little bit of a mystery thrown in. The reader begins to understand how the two stories are related as the book continues on, but I have to admit I was surprised by the reveal at the end! The book is a great introduction for young girls into the scary world of the teenage years. The group of three girls couldn’t be more different, and these contrasts are emphasized as they grow up. One loves to wear cat ears 24/7 and is becoming interested in theater tech. Another has a Hindu background and is learning to embrace feminism. And the third is blossoming into a beautiful young woman and hanging out with older girls (and boys). The three have made a pact from the beginning that they would never fight, but those promises become strained as they try to find their way forwards, while everyone grows up. The book explores how people and friendships change, and how it is okay to realize that sometimes you grow apart from people, and it’s not the end of the world. The way the author handles it, making it sound like a normal part of life, might help young adults as they struggle through similar situations.  This is the first time I’d also encountered any book address sexting, and I thought it was so well done. Nothing scandalous, but enough of a scare that it might teach young readers about the potential dangers of the activity and the idea that nothing you send digitally is private. A great lesson to impress upon people at a young age! Overall, I thought the characters were all great & unique, and I even learned something about a Hindu holiday that I had never even heard of before (I love when I get to learn something completely new from a book, any book!). I will most likely be passing my copy on to my sisters for when my nieces are old enough to appreciate it; maybe I’m just an out of touch old person, but I think it has potentially strong staying power for a middle-grade audience.  Yours, Arianna P.S. I picked this up at BEA this year and was through it inside of a day - a very quick read!

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My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale #1)

My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale #1) Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein (Translator) 4/5	Published 2011 First Sentence "This morning Rino telephoned."
Publisher's Description: A modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense, and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila. Ferrante’s inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, Elena and Lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and refracted in the other. They are likewise the embodiments of a nation undergoing momentous change. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her protagonists, the unforgettable Elena and Lila. Ferrante is the author of three previous works of critically acclaimed fiction: The Days of Abandonment, Troubling Love, and The Lost Daughter. With this novel, the first in a trilogy, she proves herself to be one of Italy’s great storytellers. She has given her readers a masterfully plotted page-turner, abundant and generous in its narrative details and characterizations, that is also a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight her many fans and win new readers to her fiction.
Dear Reader, This book was a delight and was completely unexpected. I took one look at the cover (not the one I used above, that one was changed for the paperback, thankfully) but this one: This looks like a book I would COMPLETELY avoid. Not only does it depict a woman in a traditional wedding gown and two little children following behind... but has a beautiful scenic view. Yeah, not for me at all. However, the cover of the girl amongst the shadows... now that is intriguing. After reading the book, the paperback cover definitely does justice to the book that the hardcover took away from. I don't want to focus on this, since it's been mentioned by a bunch of people reviewing this book, but I did have to speak my peace. Getting back to this epic Italian literary tale, I was completely ensnared into the lives of Elena and Lila. At first I thought this was going to be a cautionary tale of how careful you have to be picking friends, but while this might be a lesson early on, the story takes a bigger look at friendship. Part of the charm is the setting, Italy. When I think of Italy I see romance, gondolas, high fashion and great food (I have to admit that I've traveled to Italy a few times) but My Brilliant Friend gives you a sneak peek at a different Italy, one with rags, struggle, traditions and epic family battles. I've heard and experienced the powerful Italian personalities, but this book really brings it to light. All of the characters speak their mind, swearing at one another, professing love, throwing themselves into romance and passion. Who wouldn't want to read that? I have to apologize though, I might be mixing my feelings for the second book in the series with this one. Right after this book ends (on a cliffhanger), I picked up the next one and started reading it that same night (no sleep for the addicted reader). This novel follows the girls early childhood years, which is a great set-up but lacks the relatability with my current feelings and situations. I did connect with a few nostalgic childhood references but overall the charm was held within the differences. I loved experiencing and learning about the Italian traditions, the struggle the lower class Italians had to overcome was eye opening, from the challenges of keeping up good grades to remain in school to learning your work trade passed down from the family (giving you no room to create your own future). This book is very unique, I'm not very fond of being sucked into a series, my "too little books, too little time" motto gets in the way. However, this is a series that I don't regret starting and will eagerly anticipate the next one. Happy Reading, AmberBug

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The Story of a New Name (L'amica geniale #2)

The Story of a New Name (L'amica geniale #2) Elena Ferrante 4/5	Published 2012 First Sentence "In the spring of 1966, Lila, in a state of great agitation, entrusted to me a metal box that contained eight notebooks."
Publisher's Description: The Story of a New Name is an extraordinary novel about two young women, Lila and Elena, growing up in Naples in the early 1960s. At sixteen Lila marries the shopkeeper Stefano. She is filled with pleasure at her new wealth, and horror at the life she has chosen. Elena's own attempts at romance seem to be sabotaged by Lila's turbulent affairs. As she tries to plot her way out of poverty via academic and literary success, her constant anxiety is that she is just a shadow of the brilliant Lila. The sequel to My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name continues the enthralling chronicle of a friendship that is obsessive, loving, complicated, hurtful, enduring and constantly startling. It is an exhilarating reading experience.
Dear Reader, This is the second book in the Italian series done by Elena Ferrante. I'll admit that I usually shy away from series but I got caught up in this one (mostly thanks to the Tournament of Books). As much as I enjoyed the first book in the series, "My Brilliant Friend"... with this one I felt a little love and a little hate. I enjoyed the time the girls spent together on vacation by the beach. The friendship between the girls fascinates me and drives me to continue on with the series. As soon as the story split the two up, things went downhill for me. Maybe it was the academia sections but I started to realize that I don't really "know" who Elena is. I can pinpoint who Lila is without a doubt, so much focus is on her character. I wish we could almost see Elena from the perspective of another character to get a stronger feel from her. I don't feel that connected to her life (separately from Lila) and I couldn't wait for them to be brought together again. I only hope that the third book in the series brings back the magic that shines when the two girls/women are together. Happy Reading, AmberBug

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84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road Helene Hanff 4.5 / 5	Published 1970 First Sentences "Gentlemen: Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books. The phrase 'antiquarian booksellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive."
Publisher's Description: It all began with a letter inquiring about second-hand books, written by Helene Hanff in New York, and posted to a bookshop at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. As Helene's sarcastic and witty letters are responded to by the stodgy and proper Frank Doel of 84, Charing Cross Road, a relationship blossoms into a warm and charming long-distance friendship lasting many years.
Dear Reader,  How did this one little book break my heart so thoroughly?! It is only 97 pages long. And even those aren’t whole pages! I read this in little bits and pieces as I arrived at work every morning and drank my coffee while waiting for my computer to turn on. And it was an adorable copy, adorned with postmarks:  (like my cute coffee mug?) At first I found Helene Hanff rather off-putting in her rough edges and overly dramatic style, but I began to love her relationship with the Marks & Co. bookstore in London, particularly with Frank. Their rapport was almost immediate and so charming. And I cried through the last few letters. CRIED. When I felt as if I barely had any time to even get to know the characters! It’s incredible how much can really be said in a fairly short letter, taking into account of course all that is not written down. It’s one of the reasons I love writing letters.  And that brings me to the reason I picked this book up. I’d had it on my TBR, but I was compelled into reading it by the announcement of an LWA Book Club! I am eager for April 12 to arrive now, so that I can discuss all of the aspects of this endearing book. I will be in Minneapolis on the first day of a conference trip, but I am still going to make this happen. I must emote with others over this book! I don’t want to quote my favorite passage here like usual because there is so little content to discover already, but let me just say it involves pearl-handled fruit knives. There is still plenty of time to read the book before the deadline, so if you are a letter-writer and if you don’t piecemeal it like me, you could probably have it read inside of an hour. I strongly encourage everyone to engage with this little gem. Yours, Arianna -- Um, HOLY HELL. Is the audiobook of this made of SOLID GOLD? The prices for used copies run from $184.38 to $984.37! Unreal.

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The Girls from Corona del Mar

The Girls from Corona del Mar Rufi Thorpe 3 / 5	Published 2014 First Sentence "'You're going to have to break one of my toes," I explained."
Publisher's Description: A fiercely beautiful debut blazing with emotion: a major first novel about friendships made in youth and how these bonds, challenged by loss, illness, parenthood, and distance, either break or sustain.  Mia and Lorrie Ann are lifelong friends: hard-hearted Mia and untouchably beautiful, kind Lorrie Ann. While Mia struggles with a mother who drinks, a pregnancy at fifteen, and younger brothers she loves but can't quite be good to, Lorrie Ann is luminous, surrounded by her close-knit family, immune to the mistakes that mar her best friend's life. Until a sudden loss catapults Lorrie Ann into tragedy: things fall apart, and then fall apart further-and there is nothing Mia can do to help. And as good, kind, brave Lorrie Ann stops being so good, Mia begins to question just who this woman is and what that question means about them both. A staggeringly arresting, honest novel of love, motherhood, loyalty, and the myth of the perfect friendship that moves us to ask ourselves just how well we know those we love, what we owe our children, and who we are without our friends.
Dear Reader, This book had so much promise, I thought. It being about a pair of best friends who grew up in the '90s. But, ultimately I just wasn't sure what I was supposed to take away from it. Perhaps it was that Mia needed to learn to define herself separately from this woman who was once her best friend but had become a stranger? But she seemed to rely too much on schadenfreude*, which seemed to make her a truly bad person when she considered Lorrie Ann her best friend. Especially when she claims to have always considered Lorrie Ann "the good one" and considers the issues of who deserves what in life. And I struggled with the crux of this book, which seemed to revolve around whether a woman has the right to kill her child - not just have an abortion, mind you, but to put a living child (in this case, one suffering day in & day out from CP) out of his misery. The arguments on both sides were difficult for me to read. Perhaps it would be different if I were a mother, but I do wonder: would I be swayed by love to keep a suffering child alive, or to mercifully "save" him? Oh gosh, this book made me never want to have to find out that answer! What a difficult situation. I can't even. The book makes me wonder at Mia, as she struggles valiantly to hold a friendship together which proves increasingly difficult to even remember was once solid. Perhaps it is for the same reason she studies ancient translations of cuneiform: she wants to see everything as a story, something that's already happened, and isn't as good at looking at the here & now. I don't want to get too far into the story because it's easy to give big plot points away, but the reader has a difficult time telling if they were EVER truly best friends. What little we see of their "inseparable" teenage years isn't all that rosy, I don't think. Hmm, I wonder if the struggles of the friendship is why the book is titled "The Girls from..." and not "The Best Friends from..." Overall, an interesting book, but I kept wondering where it all was going. What small points the author made seemed to be shoved in at the end there. However, these girls are personalities which I don't think I will soon forget. Yours, Arianna *Holy crap I just checked, and I spelled that right on the first go!

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Girl Defective

Girl Defective Simmone Howell 3.5 / 5	Published 2014 First Sentence "The song 'Wishing Well' by the Millionaires (Decca, 1966) was as rare as it was weird, and my dad named his record shop after it."
Publisher's Description: In the tradition of High Fidelity and Empire Records, this is the literary soundtrack to Skylark Martin’s strange, mysterious, and extraordinary summer. This is the story of a wild girl and a ghost girl; a boy who knew nothing and a boy who thought he knew everything. It’s a story about Skylark Martin, who lives with her father and brother in a vintage record shop and is trying to find her place in the world. It’s about ten-year-old Super Agent Gully and his case of a lifetime. And about beautiful, reckless, sharp-as-knives Nancy. It’s about tragi-hot Luke, and just-plain-tragic Mia Casey. It’s about the dark underbelly of a curious neighborhood. It’s about summer, and weirdness, and mystery, and music. And it's about life and death and grief and romance. All the good stuff.
Dear Reader, This is definitely a case of me partially choosing a book by its cover - I loved the blend of record-bin vintage and cartoon drawings. Turns out this book was also nostalgic in another way, too: it felt like a more modern, Australian, novelized version of My So-Called Life in a lot of ways. Which of course I loved, MSCL being an old favorite. I could see the main character, Sky, as Angela Chase, and her tough and reckless friend Nancy as Rayanne. So that was pretty great. Plus, Sky's dad was a drunker version of Rob Fleming, which brings back another sort of nostalgia for me. Sans Championship Vinyl and top-ten lists. The book itself was enjoyable - another one I probably would have latched onto and loved were I still in high school (or anywhere NEAR high school age...hah!). As it was, it was an enjoyable story about misfits and family and friendship and love. And about finding yourself, and "your people" as Sky's mother puts it. I felt, though, like at times I was "out of the loop" because a lot of slang and local jargon was used in the book, and I have no familiarity with Australian-isms. So, that made the book a little rougher to read than it otherwise could have been. Not that I blame the author! I just wish I got more of the references... Overall, though, a fun and touching book about how everyone defines (and interacts with) family in different ways. Sky is "saddled" with the caretaking of her oddball younger brother because her father is usually too busy with running the record store - or too drunk. Luke wishes he had been able to take better care of his own sister. Nancy continually runs from whatever family she might have once had, opting instead to forge temporary (and often unhealthy) connections which she will forsake for the opportunity to "travel the world" (read: escape over & over again to other places). I did like the connections Howell built between Sky's father and his old friend, and how Sky's yearning for her estranged mother didn't become too cliched. Things didn't work out perfectly in this book; it wasn't intended to. But I like books where people figure out how they can find a way through. Ultimately, the entire Martin family is able to move forward in one way or another. No, this doesn't promise blue skies and rainbows forever. This isn't a sanitized Grimm tale. It's just a small slice of life, and one to learn from. A fun side note: the name of the record shop where the Martins live and work is the Wishing Well, named after the following (rare and elusive) tune: Yours, Arianna

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Me Before You

Me Before You Jojo Moyes 4.5 / 5	Published 2012 First Sentence "There are 158 footsteps between the bus stop and home, but it can stretch to 180 if you aren't in a hurry, like maybe if you're wearing platform shoes."
Publisher's Description: They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose.  Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life--steady boyfriend, close family--who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life--big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel--and now he's pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.  Will is acerbic, moody, bossy--but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.  "A Love Story" for this generation, "Me Before You" brings to life two people who couldn't have less in common--a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?
Dear Reader, I struggled with rating this book: I wanted to give it a 5, and I almost wish I could choose "4.75", but that would just screw up our system. This book made me feel so much, and like almost everyone else who read it, I was sobbing silently at the end, tears streaming down my face. It was an odd experience, especially because I was sitting in the same room as my fiance, and he turned around to ask me if I had a runny nose, then froze when he realized I was weeping. However, as much as I loved this book and I know it will stay with me for a long time, I just don't think it'll be up there in my "favorite books ever that I want to read again & again" canon. Close, very close. I'd recommend almost everyone read it - I was even shocked by seeing some male reviewers who were just as moved (to tears) by the story as I was! I don't like that it's apparently being touted as a love story, because as many have pointed out, it's actually more of a commentary on euthanasia. I didn't really know anything about this book going into it (it became available in my Overdrive queue and I had to pounce on it because ebooks expire after a few weeks!). I knew I had wanted to read it, but I couldn't recall the synopsis. I'm glad I couldn't, either, because it turned out to be a truly pleasant surprise. Lou is a girl who is afraid to push her boundaries, and thus settles into a very small and quiet life in her hometown. When she is forced to job hunt, her limited work experience leaves her faced with bleak prospects until she is told of a position where she would be helping out a quadriplegic man with everyday tasks. Now, when I first realized what this book was going to be about, I cringed a bit in anticipation: one of my very dearest friends in the whole wide world is paraplegic, and I am very sensitive about the issue and how the world at large views disabilities. However, the story turned out to be very engaging and real - almost too real, when the heart of the novel's conflict finally arose. When Lou realizes she is simply filling in time while Will and his family essentially wait for him to die, she is appalled. And understandably so, because she has really come to care for this man beyond the requirements of her job. The book takes a real look at the issue of assisted suicide, and it really left me uncertain about the whole thing. Of course, I hate the idea of suicide, but I can certainly understand feelings of despair and hopelessness regarding your own future, as well. While you might be hurting many you love, what about the misery you are feeling day in and day out? That is the heart of the title of this book: is it fair to put yourself first when you know it will hurt others? When you feel that you are only a burden, and think you are removing yourself from their lives in order to let them lead theirs without you holding them back? It's a VERY interesting and really awful question. I always, always lean toward life, but I also can't necessarily fault people who feel like euthanasia is the only way out. I don't think. I don't know! It's not something I like to think about often. Clearly, it leaves me too much in knots - and I am lucky not to have encountered this problem with any of my loved ones. I don't know what I would do if I did. This book certainly explored the problem thoroughly and respectfully, I think. You'll have to read it to learn how it all turns out. But - and this isn't giving anything away - bring along some tissues. Expect a good cry. Yours, Arianna

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Your Perfect Life

Your Perfect Life Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke 4/5	Published June 10th 2014 First Sentence "My mouth tastes like ass."
Publisher's Description: With “a delicious, page-turning premise, and sweet and surprising insights” (New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster), Your Perfect Life perfectly illustrates that old adage: Sometimes, you to have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to see what’s in her heart. Best friends since childhood, Casey and Rachel couldn’t lead more different lives. While workaholic Casey rubs elbows with celebrities daily as the host of Gossip TV and comes home nightly to an empty apartment, stay-at-home mom Rachel juggles an “oops” baby, two fiery teenagers, and a husband who barely seems the man she fell in love with two decades before. After an argument at their twentieth high school reunion, Casey and Rachel throw back shots to get the night back on track. Instead, they get a life-changing hangover. Waking up in each other’s bodies the next morning, they must figure out how to navigate their altered realities. Rachel is forced to confront the reason she gave up her broadcasting dreams when she got pregnant in college, and Casey finally steps out of the spotlight to face the truth about why she’s alone. And they soon discover that they don’t know themselves—or their best friend—nearly as well as they thought they did. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke bring humor and heart to every page of this novel that is sure to please fans of In Her Shoes and The Opposite of Me. Your Perfect Life is a story about two very different women, what they didn't know about each other, and how, by switching lives, they each learn to appreciate their own.
Dear Reader, How cute is this book? I was a little apprehensive (I'm not the romance or chick lit type of reader) and feared this would be the type of book made into a Lifetime movie... I was wrong. If this is made into a movie, they better steer clear of Lifetime! Your Perfect Life follows that old "switch-a-roo" plot line but these ladies do it right. One woman, Rachel, is a stay at home mom with three kids, the other woman, Casey, is trying to climb the ladder of journalism using her starring role as a TV Host for GossipTV. I found Casey's storyline very intriguing, but maybe that was because I'm not married with kids. I wonder if the Authors intended this to be the case, so that most readers can relate to one or the other. When they (Rachel & Casey) attend their High School Reunion, they find each other struggling to find common ground with one another, hardly finding enough time for their friendship nor recognizing the hard work the other goes through. Some unexplained magical bartender sees this interaction and decides to magically switch their lives, giving them the opportunity to see what life is like in the others shoes. Liz & Lisa, the Authors, have a great collaboration here. I love that these two came together and wrote this book, giving it uber charm. I liked all the little details they've thought of, for example: After the switch, the only person who might have an inkling that this has happened is Rachel's toddler who gives slight clues to the reader that the child is in-tune with the switch. This book made me think about my own relationships with my High School friends, and how we've grown apart but still keep in touch. I do think circumstances such as having kids, focusing on a career, traveling, can put a distance on a relationship. If we look at what High School means, everyone having that same life experience, you'll see we select our friends based on common interests. Those interests might not go away but as we grow-up our priorities DO change. We begin to think more about our day to day life, spend more time with the families we've created and those common interests tend to sit by the wayside. What I love about this book is how it got me to think about that, how it makes you think about what it would be like to be in someone elses shoes. If I had kids, lived a different life... would I be too busy, what about a mother who doesn't work 8 hours a day, would she feel just as exhausted? Sometimes changing things up breathes new life into things. I think everyone needs to have a refreshing look on their own lives every now and then, and wouldn't it be nice to be forced into appreciating your life like these two were. Okay, so maybe a magical bartender isn't going to switch things up for me... but I can do that on my own, and reading Your Perfect Life has reminded me that I SHOULD be doing just that. I should stop complaining that I don't have enough energy to call everyone back, to go out during the work week. I need to realize what is important in life and worth my energy. My friends are definitely worth that.. so thank you Liz & Lisa, for getting me to realize that. So yes, this is a book that follows a cliche, one that has been rehashed a million times over... but that one makes you think, brings some insight... and that is what I think makes this book shine. Happy Reading, AmberBug

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Astrid & Veronika

Astrid and Veronika Linda Olsson 3.5 / 5	Published 2005 First Sentence "There had been wind and drifting snow during her journey, but as darkness fell, the wind died and the snow settled."
Publisher's Description: Veronika, 32, a writer whose boyfriend just drowned in New Zealand, rents a house in a small Swedish village next door to recluse Astrid, 81. They share walks, meals, wine, and dangerous memories.
Dear Reader, My oldest sister sent me a copy of this book, because she had so enjoyed it.  I was already pretty sold just from the beautiful cover, haha!  But it took me a while to get around to this slim volume, strangely enough.  I finally picked it up and flew through it, as I'd expected I would. The story centered tightly on the lives of two neighbors, one new to the area, and one who had lived there all her life.  It took me several weeks after I finished it, but I finally realized why this book didn't sit entirely well with me: it reminded me a lot of a blend of chick lit and a Mitch Albom work.  I don't know.  It was good, don't get me wrong.  Very powerful and emotional, and told a beautiful story of unexpected but deep friendship, and it definitely made me cry a bit.  But it felt sometimes too much like it was trying to be preachy about how one should be sure to appreciate the little things, the here and now, and make the most of life.  How not to get trapped in unhappiness.  The women were good for each other, both having suffered terrible losses and struggling to find their way back from them.  I definitely liked how the story was almost exclusively focused on these two women, which worked because they lived in a pretty isolated spot.  So the author was able to keep the camera lens focused narrowly on these women and their pasts, as they began to open up to each other.  It was lovely the way Veronika found the mother she never had in Astrid, and ditto the daughter Astrid needed.  I did love the magical way the women's lives ended up weaving together and how they learned to lean on each other. Overall, I did like the book.  I actually DO appreciate when books send me messages, give me subtle (or not-so-subtle) reminders about why and how to enjoy the little things in life.  I think there was just something slightly off about the way this one was done, despite how well written it was.  Oddly, though, I WOULD recommend it - particularly to other women.  I don't think it would resonate so well with men; it was definitely written to reach out to the female sex. Yours, Arianna

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The Drowning House

The Drowning House Elizabeth Black 2013 3/5	First Sentences "If there was a sign, I missed it.  But I knew I was in Texas when I swerved to avoid a shape by the side of the road."
Publisher's Description: A gripping suspense story about a woman who returns to Galveston, Texas after a personal tragedy and is irresistibly drawn into the insular world she’s struggled to leave. Photographer Clare Porterfield's once-happy marriage is coming apart, unraveling under the strain of a family tragedy. When she receives an invitation to direct an exhibition in her hometown of Galveston, Texas, she jumps at the chance to escape her grief and reconnect with the island she hasn't seen for ten years. There Clare will have the time and space to search for answers about her troubled past and her family's complicated relationship with the wealthy and influential Carraday family. Soon she finds herself drawn into a century-old mystery involving Stella Carraday. Local legend has it that Stella drowned in her family's house during the Great Hurricane of 1900, hanged by her long hair from the drawing room chandelier. Could Stella have been saved? What is the true nature of Clare's family's involvement? The questions grow like the wildflower vines that climb up the walls and fences of the island. And the closer Clare gets to the answers, the darker and more disturbing the truth becomes. Steeped in the rich local history of Galveston, The Drowning House portrays two families, inextricably linked by tragedy and time.
Dear Reader, Wow. This book was nothing like I expected. I thought it was going to be a story about the history of a girl who had drowned during a hurricane, he hair entwined in a chandelier. That is what the book’s description led me to believe! However, it was NOTHING of the sort. It was a story about a woman who had lost her young child, and of her journey through finding understanding regarding the rest of her life, particularly her rather messy childhood. I have to admit, I didn’t particularly like the reader of this book (I was audiobooking it via Overdrive, from my local library). That probably didn’t help endear me to the protagonist. However, I also kept being constantly surprised by this novel, and not in a good way. I kept expecting things to happen that didn’t, and I felt a complete lack of empathy throughout the story, even after finding out the Truth. While I might have felt bad for the protagonist, I certainly didn’t feel much sympathy. It sucked what happened to her, but she was not terribly likable and certainly the story itself was paced in such a way that I kept waiting for things to happen, but when they did, it was kind of a let-down. While ultimately I liked the idea of the story, I didn’t particularly love the execution of it. The narrator basically let things happen TO her, which is understandable in the long run, but doesn’t make you like her much as she relates her tale. Additionally, I couldn’t relate to her reactions to things, nor to her discoveries themselves - they never seemed quite completed, and while they should have perhaps been obvious, the clues felt too muddied, to me. (A bit like this review! - I’m not quite sure what I’m even trying to say.) I did love the setting of this book: the intriguing island of Galveston, TX. I wanted to visit there, to become one of the looked-down-upon tourists who the narrator and other B.O.I. (Born On the Island) barely tolerate. But the author made the island sound so enticing, despite its decline from its heyday. I want to experience the place, particularly its vivid history which seems to linger long after it’s happened. Overall, my impression of the book was that it felt somewhat unfinished, which is weird because there were several times when I kept thinking that the story hadn’t even yet started. I wanted to know more about Clare’s photography exhibit, for one thing. And about where she went and what she did after her visit: what happened to her marriage, where did she live? I felt the author was vague and therefore distant regarding these details, ones which I found the most important. Perhaps that just means I was looking at the story the wrong way entirely. Yours, Arianna P.S. By the way?  GREAT first sentence of the novel, though!!!  I loved it.