Book Comparisons: Not Always Accurate

You know that book that suddenly pops up EVERYWHERE? Everywhere you turn, there it is; on TV, in magazines, on the Internet. Once I see a book everywhere, I always need to read it (good job, marketing people!) and lately, this book is The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Sometimes these books are worth the hype, and sometimes they're not. The Girl on the Train fell into both categories for me.

Goodreads says this about the book, "Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories."

Clearly you can see the comparison to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, and Before I Go to Sleep; all novels that I've read. Do I think that The Girl on the Train can be lumped with those other books? No. Book comparisons are tricky. I loved Gone Girl and Before I Go to Sleep. The Silent Wife was 'meh' for me, and I liked The Girl on the Train much more than that. I failed to see many (if any) comparisons to those books, which isn't a bad thing, but going into the book, I expected it to be like Gone Girl, and it wasn't.

I did really enjoy the book. It kept me reading past my bedtime, and I was suspicious of all three main characters, which is what a good thriller is supposed to do. I do think, however, that I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't had all those comparisons to other books. Had I gone into this book by just reading the synopsis, I think it would have been a 5/5 rating for me. Since my expectations of it being the next Gone Girl were not met, I rated it 4/5. This is not a flaw on the book itself, but rather the marketing.

Sometimes comparisons are accurate, but sometimes they're not. I understand that they can be used to drum up interest for a book, but I think The Girl on the Train would have done great even without the comparison. If you're looking for a great thriller, read The Girl on the Train because it's a great book, not because it's been compared to other, different great books.

Blown Red by Susan Philpott

When I heard that there was a Canadian author releasing a book that takes place in and around the Toronto area, I knew I had to read it. I received a signed copy of the book from the author, Susan Philpott, but that did not affect my review in the slightest. I would have read this book free copy, or not.

From Goodreads: Like a runaway train, Signy Shepherd has been blowing through danger signals all her life.
Recruited to the Line, a shadowy underground railroad dedicated to helping women in peril, Signy has no idea that her first solo case will set her on a a collision course with a renowned photographer concealing a murderous past; a relentless tracker with an explosive secret; and her own violent demons.
Set during the height of a brutal heat wave, the pressure mounts as Signy and her young passenger race across Canada toward a sanctuary that proves to be a deadly illusion.

My thoughts: This book was a road trip across Canada, beginning in Vancouver and ending in the Toronto area, and you can tell how much love Philpott has for her country. As a Canadian, I especially appreciated this.

Signy Shepherd is a bad ass, who can handle anything thrown at her, and I loved her. Found in a dumpster on Yonge St. in Toronto at the age of two, Signy has had a life that has hardened her, but not defeated her. She is tough, sharp, witty, and the exact kind of person who is perfect for the Line.

The Line is an underground 'railway' of sorts to help women and children escape bad situations. We meet Elena when Signy is assigned to drive her from Calgary to the Toronto area. Elena is in a tough spot, and one that becomes even more tough the closer they get to the safe house.

I enjoyed the way the story progressed. It was fast-paced, and left me wondering what was going on and who could be trusted, even when I wasn't reading. I found myself flipping through the pages as quickly as the girls were racing across Canada. I appreciated the relationship developing between Signy and Elena, and loved both of their spirits. Life has knocked them both down, but they're both strong females.

There were a few scenes that I found hard to read, but they're short scenes and did not detract from my enjoyment of the rest of the book. I expect those type of scenes in thrillers, so it wasn't that shocking.

Pick this one up if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with strong female characters. You won't be disappointed.

Best of 2014

This survey was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner

 

Number Of Books You Read: 75

Number of Re-Reads: 1

Genre You Read The Most From: Contemporary

1. Best Book You Read In 2014? This is the hardest question, so I will break it down by genre.

Adult Contemporary: Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult. Chances are, if she has a new book out, it will be my favourite of the year. A close second are both books by Lucy Clarke - Swimming at Night & A Single Breath

 

Young Adult: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. It was heartbreaking, beautiful, and real.

 

Thriller/Mystery: Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas kept me guessing until the very end, and beyond.

Fantasy: City of Bones & City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. I just loved the urban fantasy setting, and the banter.

 

Non-Fiction: I only read two non-fiction books this year. That's terrible, especially since I really enjoy non-fiction. From the two I read, I loved 'The 13th Gift' by Joanne Huist Smith. Definitely a good story to read at this time of year.

 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? The Silent Sister by Diana Chamberlain. It was good, and thrilling, but I didn't like it as much as I liked her other novels. It didn't quite hit the mark for me. Also, We Were Liars got a lot of hype and I didn't love it nearly as much as others.

 

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2014? City of Bones. This book is a love or hate book/series, and I'm a little surprised how much I loved it.
 

4. Book you read in 2014 that you recommended to people most in 2014? Leaving Time (always recommending Jodi Picoult) & I forced my mom to read quite a few books.
 

5. Best series you discovered in 2014? This is hard because I started a few series this year: The Mortal Instruments, Outlander, Throne of Glass, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Greatcoats series. For contemporary, I'm really enjoying the Lowcountry Summer series by Mary Alice Monroe. This was a year all about series apparently.
 

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014? Lucy Clarke for adult, Morgan Matson & Cassandra Clare for YA.

 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you? I read Chasers of the Light: Poems from the Typewriter Series by Tyler Knott Gregson, which was definitely out of my normal genres. I enjoyed it, and found some of the poems really inspiring. It's a beautiful, visual book.
 

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2014? I hate to repeat, but Second Chance Summer. I read the majority of that book in one night.

 

9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year? I don't really re-read any books other than the Harry Potter books, and I did re-read the first one this year. I want to re-read the last one because I haven't read that one since it came out. Plus, the movie marathons on TV this time of year are making me crave a re-read.

 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014? That Night by Chevy Stevens. That cover is just beautiful. The Mortal Instrument covers are really pretty, too.
 

11. Most memorable character in 2014? Magnus Bane.

 

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014? While I didn't love it as much as everyone else, We Were Liars was beautifully written.

 

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2014? The 13th Gift really made me remember what Christmas is about. I think of it when the holidays seem to be too much, which is often.

 

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? Anne of Green Gables! I read a childrens version of this when I was a kid, but it took me until 2014 to finally read the full book.
  

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014? It's actually a poem from Chasers of the Light. "Will you follow me down that old dirt road and get lost inside those mountains? Will you rip up that map and dance inside the confetti? Let's chase the horizon and find ourselves along the way. These are wandering feet and they wish for yours to join them."

 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2014? Longest was Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon at a whopping 947 pages. Shortest was Chasers of the Light at 144 pages.
  

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!: Many scenes in Outlander.

 

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2014 (be it romantic, friendship, etc). Romantic: Jamie and Claire
Friendship: Rachel, Emilie, and Matthew from The Single Girl's To-Do List.
Family: The Edwards' family in Second Chance Summer

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously: The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain. It's an older release, but I really liked it. Little Mercies by Heather Gudenkauf was really good, too. 

20. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else? Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.
  

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2014? Contemporary, but I found myself picking up a lot of fantasy this year.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014? I feel too old to have crushes on literary characters. I read a lot of YA, and it feels pervy to crush on a 16-18 year old.  

23. Best 2014 debut you read? You by Caroline Kepnes. That book was disturbing, but so good.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2014? Any of the fantasy books I read - Throne of Glass, The Mortal Instruments, Traitor's Blade.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2014? The Single Girls To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk was a lot of fun to read, and got me out of a reading slump.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014? Second Chance Summer definitely made me weepy.
 

27. Book You Read in 2014 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out? A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke, That Night by Chevy Stevens.

  

LOOKING AHEAD

 

 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015? The rest of the Mortal Instruments. I would have read them all in 2014, but I ran out of time.
  

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)? Probably The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. She is another of my favourite authors. For YA, it's Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen.

3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating? Probably An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

4. Series Ending You Are Most Anticipating in 2015? I don't think I have any series that are ending in 2015.
  

5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging in 2015? Be more consistent. There are months where I hardly blog at all. I also want to keep a paper journal with all the books I read, and include my favourite quote of the book.

I really want to read more non-fiction this year, and maybe some classics. I've never read The Great Gatsby! Crazy, I know, but my classes never had to read it.

This was fun! It was interesting to go back over my Goodreads and see what I read early in the year. It's easy to forgot those early in the year reads, but I definitely read some good ones early on.

The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant: a review

 

The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant is a captivating look at what it was like to be a Jewish girl navigating her way through America in the early 1900s.

From Goodreads: Addie Baum is The Boston Girl, born in 1900 to immigrant parents who were unprepared for and suspicious of America and its effect on their three daughters. Growing up in the North End, then a teeming multicultural neighborhood, Addie's intelligence and curiosity take her to a world her parents can't imagine - a world of short skirts, movies, celebrity culture and new opportunities for women. Addie wants to finish high school and dreams of going to college. She wants a career and to find true love.

Eighty-five-year-old Addie tells the story of her life to her twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, who has asked her "How did you get to be the woman you are today." She begins in 1915, the year she found her voice and made friends who would help shape the course of her life. From the one-room tenement apartment she shared with her parents and two sisters, to the library group for girls she joins at a neighborhood settlement house, to her first, disastrous love affair, Addie recalls her adventures with compassion for the naïve girl she was and a wicked sense of humor.

My thoughts: While I was reading this historical fiction, I felt like Addie was in the room with me telling me her story. Honestly, if I didn't know it was fiction, I would have thought it was a non-fiction memoir - that's how well written it is.

The book seems simple, however, it is anything but. Addie lives in a complicated time with unfortunate standards that women are meant to follow. Help out at home, obey your parents, get married, have babies, obey your husband. Addie wants more than that, and is able to surround herself with likeminded women. I like to think that had I grown up in this time, I'd be friends with Addie.

The writing style is fairly simple and it's a quick read, but I think that's how the story shines. There's no detail that seems out of place. The reader is able to get to know Addie and her family/friends, and can understand the world they lived in. The book spans over many years, and I loved getting to see how Addie changed, but how she ultimately stayed true to herself. It was refreshing to read about a strong woman remaining a strong woman.

This book is not all happy. There are some terrible things that happen to Addie and her family, but that's the realty of the times, and life in general. I appreciated the terrible things because these things happen to all of us, and made the book even more relatable. It's a testament to Diamant's writing that I was able to connect to a character whose story takes place in the early 1900s.

This book goes on sale Tuesday, December 9th and is one that you should definitely go out and buy immediately, or add it to your Christmas wish list.

Blog Tour: The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

 

Marian Keyes is one of those authors that I've been hearing about for years, but haven't actually read anything by her. When Penguin Canada offered me the chance to read her newest release, I jumped on it.

From Penguin Canada: 'Name: Stella Sweeney. Height: average. Recent life events: dramatic.'
One day, sitting in traffic, married Dublin mum Stella Sweeney attempts a good deed. The resulting car crash changes her life. For she meets a man who wants her telephone number (for the insurance, it turns out). That's okay. She doesn't really like him much anyway (his Range Rover totally banjaxed her car). But in this meeting is born the seed of something which will take Stella thousands of miles from her old life, turning an ordinary woman into a superstar, and, along the way, wrenching her whole family apart. Is this all because of one ill-advised act of goodwill? Was meeting Mr Range Rover destiny or karma? Should she be grateful or hopping mad? For the first time real, honest-to-goodness happiness is just within her reach. But is Stella Sweeney, Dublin housewife, ready to grasp it? 

The book opens with Stella back in Dublin after a stint in New York. We learn that she is separated from her husband, Ryan, and that her son, Jeffrey, is a frustrating teenager. The book then steps into Stella's past, where she developed a life threatening disease that left her completely paralyzed for months. In the first half of the book, one chapter is about the present, and the next is about Stella's hospital stay. Enter Mannix, Stella's neurologist who ultimately changes the course of her life.

I really enjoyed the chapters where Stella was in the hospital. I liked reading the thoughts that she couldn't physically voice herself. It's interesting the observations you can make about your own life when you're stuck and mute. Once Stella is out of the hospital, her whole life changes. She and her husband separate, and oh yeah, she has somehow written a book! Becoming a somewhat known author leads to the wrong person taking notice of her new life, which is when her life starts falling apart.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but I did have a few issues with it. I hated Jeffrey, Stella's son. He was rude, disrespectful, and spoiled. I think he was emotionally stunted by Stella's illness, but he was very difficult to like. I also didn't like Ryan, Stella's ex-husband. I feel like his storyline about giving away his things was a bit out of place. Perhaps there was an underlying message in that particular storyline, but I didn't get it.

I found this book quite funny, which is always a plus in my mind. Stella can be hard to like at times, but she's funny and self-deprecating, and at her core, has a big heart. I liked Mannix a lot, too, as well as the secondary characters like Georgia.

I would recommend this to those who are looking for a quick read (it's a chunker, but it reads quickly), or those looking for a story that will leave you feeling content.

This was my first Marian Keyes book, but now I'm interested in checking out her others. Does anyone have any suggestions on which book I should check out next?

The Woman Who Stole My Life is available now, and you should definitely check it out.

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult: a review

I don't even remember when I read my first Jodi Picoult book, but once I did, I was immediately hooked. There is something about the way she writes that leaves you wanting more. If you've read her books, you know that there is usually a twist of some sort that leaves you breathless with anticipation. Leaving Time was no exception.

When I heard that there was a new book coming out, it became my most anticipated read of the year, and I could not wait until October 14th. I think my husband got tired of listening to me prattle on about how a new Jodi Picoult book was coming soon (this started in January)!

Leaving Time tells the story of 13 year old Jenna Metcalf who is looking for her mother, a scientist who has spent her life studying elephants. Jenna was born on her parent's elephant sanctuary, which while a safe place for elephants, was not a safe haven for people after an accident left one worker dead, and Jenna's mom, Alice, missing.

Jenna lives with her grandma because after the accident her father has a mental breakdown and lives in a psychiatric facility. Jenna knows that her mother would never leave her, and sets out to find her. In her quest, she befriends two very unlikely allies. Virgil is a retired police detective who originally worked on the accident at the sanctuary. Serenity is a disgraced psychic who has lost her psychic abilities, but doesn't have the heart to turn Jenna away.

One of the (many) reasons that I love Jodi Picoult's books is because I always learn something. The story is told from Jenna, Alice, Serenity, and Virgil's perspectives with Alice's story detailing her work with elephants. Elephants are absolutely fascinating creatures. Did you know that they grieve like humans, and recognize people they haven't seen in years?

Because this is a Jodi Picoult book, I knew there was a twist coming, and come it did! I realized the twist a page before it was revealed, but even if you figure it out sooner, it won't take away anything from your reading experience. Once it was revealed, I went back and re-read some parts of the book that were now enhanced because of the reveal.

I really can't gush about this book enough. It is intelligent, engrossing, and moving. You will not be able to put this down until you finish. Before you read this, you can read the two companion novellas (Larger than Life focuses on Alice, and Where There's Smoke focuses on Serenity). They will definitely leave you wanting to read Leaving Time even more!

Now that I've read this, I guess I have to go back to waiting for her next book. This book will stay with me for a long while, though, and will make the wait easier.

If you're interested in learning more about elephants and ways to help them, visit www.elephants.com, which is the site for an actual sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee. Some of the elephants in Leaving Time are based on elephants at the sanctuary.

You by Caroline Kepnes - Review

It's been forever, again. My husband and I recently moved into a bigger apartment, so much of August/September has been all about moving. I hate moving with a passion, but I love this place so much, so I guess it all balances out.

Before the moving craziness started, this showed up in my inbox from Simon & Schuster Canada:

 

 

I was instantly intrigued. How creepy does that sound?! It's called You and it's Caroline Kepnes' debut release. The book showed up, and I regret not reading it right away because oh my, it was so good!

 

Guinevere Beck (she prefers Beck) is an aspiring writer who happens to catch the glance of Joe, who is one of the creepiest characters I've read. Beck is an attention-seeking, lazy girl who has daddy issues and comes across very naïve. Joe quickly becomes obsessed with Beck and will stop at nothing in order to make her his, including stealing her phone after she leaves it in a cab.

 

It's told entirely from Joe's perspective, and much of it is his internal thoughts, which I think made it all the more creepy and disturbing. It was scary because Joe doesn't come off as crazy in his everyday life. He's just that guy you pass on the street and don't give a second thought to. He, on the other hand, is thinking about you. You'd never know that he has a cage in his book store where he sometimes keeps more than just rare books.

 

I loved the parts where Joe was reading Beck's emails because you got a better glimpse of how messed up Beck was. Joe is a crazy stalker, but Beck definitely her issues as well. She's so wrapped up in herself that she doesn't even really notice when people around her begin disappearing for long periods of time.

 

I spent a lot of time reading this book with this expression on my face:

 

It was almost uncomfortable to read, but I could not put this book down. I'm trying not to give anything away because this book is best to go into blind (most books are), but if you like disturbing, uncomfortable reads, then this is a great book for you. This is the perfect fall read, and definitely perfect for Halloween.

 

This may be Kepnes debut release, but you wouldn't know it by her writing style. She has definitely been added to my auto-read list of authors.

 

5 out of 5 stars. This book is available September 30th from Simon & Schuster Canada. Definitely add it to your to-read list!

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday: Leaving Time

My Waiting on Wednesday is Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult. Jodi Picoult has been one of my favourite authors for years, and when asked who my favourite authors are, she is always first.. She is an auto-buy, and I push her books on everyone I know. Even if they didn't ask for a recommendation. My first Picoult book was My Sisters Keeper (well before the movie came out), and then I quickly devoured The Pact, Nineteen Minutes, and every other book I could get my hands on. I have even made my mom read a lot of her books, and she has loved them all, too.

Her newest, Leaving Time, comes out October 14th, and you have no idea how excited I am for this book! To keep you excited and wanting more, Picoult has released two short stories involving Leaving Time characters. Where There's Smoke and Larger Than Life are both available now as e-books.

From Goodreads:

For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe that she would be abandoned as a young child, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice’s old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother’s whereabouts.

Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest. The first is Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons—only to later doubt her gifts. The second is Virgil Stanhope, a jaded private detective who originally investigated Alice’s case along with the strange, possibly linked death of one of her colleagues. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they’ll have to face even harder answers.

As Jenna’s memories dovetail with the events in her mother’s journals, the story races to a mesmerizing finish. A deeply moving, gripping, and intelligent page-turner, Leaving Time is Jodi Picoult at the height of her powers.

Sounds so intriguing, right?! Are you a Jodi Picoult fan?

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

From Goodreads: Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

My Thoughts:

This will be more of a discussion than an actual review.

I just got married (just as in July 5th), so Rowell's latest, Landline, really hit home. Georgie is a successful TV comedy writer who is married and has two little girls. Her husband, Neal, is a stay at home dad as Georgie works long hours with her writing partner and best friend, Seth. 

This was a book about what can happen to those of us with the best of intentions. No one gets married, or enters into any relationship, with the intention of being a inattentive partner, but it happens so frequently. We all have things in our lives (jobs, kids, hobbies, etc.) that may lead us to choose our partners second, or third, or even last. We don't mean to do this, but it's life, and we all assume that because they love us, they understand. Perhaps they do, but it doesn't mean it's right. No one can put someone first all the time. That's not reasonable, but it's not unreasonable to ask to be put first sometimes.

For Georgie, she's put her career before Neal countless times, and it's finally bitten her in the butt. Truthfully? I cheered when Neal left for Omaha with the girls. Not because I wanted Georgie to suffer or hurt, but because she needed him to do that for the sake of their marriage. For her own sake as a person. I'm not going to pretend to be a seasoned wife who knows all, as I've only been a wife for a few weeks, however, I've been a human for 27 years. My husband and I may be very co-dependent on each other, but if we have a few busy days where we don't have that much time for each other, we get cranky. We need our time together, and I honestly hope that never, ever changes. We don't have kids yet, so that very well may change, but I hope it doesn't change to the point where we become complacent. In any relationship, it takes two and Neal is definitely part of the problem. He never seemed to ask much of Georgie. I think there was a lack of communication, that is, until the magic yellow phone. 

I love Rowell's characters because they're always so real. They're you, me, and the man next door. I can always find at least one character to relate to, and usually find myself in each character in some way. This book read a bit like a warning to me. I don't want to be Georgie. Yes, I want to be a successful career woman and I always wonder how I'll be when we do have kids and if I'll want to return to work, but I want so much more than that. I want a family. I want a relationship with my husband, and our kids, and those around us. The thought of becoming Georgie and feeling like an outsider in your own family scares me. I can see myself thinking about this book and Georgie years from now. The story, minus the magic phone (though how cool would that be?!?), can happen to anyone, and I refuse to let it happen to me.

I would recommend this book to those, like me, who are newly married, but especially to those who have been married for years and who are in the throes of busy. Heck, you don't even have to be married to relate to Landline and that is what makes Rowell such a great writer and one I will always return to. 

4 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system. 

A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke

Last week, I raved hard about Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke, and today I'm here to rave about Lucy Clarke's newest novel A Single Breath. I loved Swimming at Night so much that I reached out to Simon and Schuster Canada and they graciously provided me with a copy of A Single Breath, so thank you Simon and Schuster Canada!

From Goodreads: Eva has only been married for eight months when her husband, Jackson, is swept to his death while fishing. Weighed down by confusion and sorrow, Eva decides to take leave of her midwifery practice in London and visit Jackson’s estranged family in Tasmania with the hope of grieving together.

Instead, she discovers that the man she loved so deeply is not the man she thought she knew. Jackson’s father and brother reveal a dark past, exposing the lies her marriage was built upon. As Eva struggles to come to terms with the depth of Jackson’s deception, she must also confront her growing attraction to Jackson’s brother, Saul, who offers her intimacy, passion, and answers to her most troubling questions.

Will Eva be able to move forward in life, or will she be caught up in a romance with Saul, haunted by her husband’s past? Threading together beautiful, wild settings and suspenseful twists, A Single Breath is a gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, and new beginnings.

My Thoughts: This book has rocketed Lucy Clarke right onto my auto-read list of authors. I loved this book so much, and think it will appeal to many different people. It explores the depths that people will go to to feel connected to those we love, even after their gone. You will become emotional invested in Eva.

My heart broke a few times for Eva throughout this story. After falling deeply in love and marrying the man of her dreams, she has to deal with his tragic death after less than a year of marriage. I'm getting married on July 5th, so this really made me emotional. I don't even want to imagine losing my almost husband before we're both old and gray! Considering what happened, I think Eva handled herself much better than I ever would.

Needing to know more about the man torn from her far too soon, Eva decides to go to Tasmania to visit Jackson's family; a family he has lost touch with. Her reception in Tasmania is not nearly what she imagined it would be, and she finds herself living in a shack down the beach from Jackson's seemingly moody, brother, Saul, unwilling to give up. Eva is thrown for another loop when she finds out that she's pregnant with Jackson's baby.

Part of the reason I loved this book so much was because of the characters. Not only Eva, but Saul and Callie, Eva's best friend. Saul was everything that Eva needed him to be, and more. He was her link to Jackson, even after he delivered the unexpected news about the man she thought she knew. I won't share Jackson's secrets because I don't want to spoil the book, but he definitely had his secrets. It made me wonder if we can ever really know someone entirely. Two people can be married for 50 years and still not know absolutely everything about each other. I think that's what makes relationships so great, but with the wrong kind of unknowns, can also be disastrous and lead to heartbreak.

Lucy Clarke knows how to help the reader paint a picture. The descriptions in this book made me want to a.) jump into a plane and head for Tasmania, and b.) learn to free dive. This is amazing because open bodies of water kind of freak me out, but Clarke describes scenery so beautifully. You will find yourself lost in this book.

If I haven't convinced you to read this book, then I clearly haven't done my job well, but trust me, you'll want to pick this up. It has romance, suspense, twists, and beautiful descriptions. The ending is unexpected and a twist may even make you gasp out loud. It's been a few days since I finished this book, but I still find myself thinking about it. I was happy with the ending, but I selfishly want more. I already can't wait for Lucy Clarke's next book.

5 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Then and Always by Dani Atkins: Blog Tour

 

From Goodreads: Rachel Wiltshire has everything she’s ever wanted: a close group of friends, a handsome boyfriend, and acceptance to the journalism program at a top-choice college. But one fateful evening, tragedy tears her world apart. Five years later, Rachel returns home for the first time to celebrate her best friend’s wedding. Still coping with grief, she can’t stop thinking about the bright future she almost had, if only that one night had gone differently. But when a sudden fall lands her in the hospital, Rachel wakes to find that her life has completely changed. Now she has her dream job as a writer and a stylish apartment, but the people she loves most are not the way she remembers them. Unable to trust her own recollections, Rachel tries to piece together what really happened, and not even she can predict the astonishing truth.

My Thoughts: Rachel is a girl who seemingly has it all, until she doesn't. Or does she? After a tragic accident claims the life of Rachel's best friend, Jimmy, she is forced to accept a life without him in it. I hurt for Rachel while reading about the accident. You could feel the love that Jimmy had for her, and while she was in a relationship with Matt, you could also feel the friendly love Rachel had for Jimmy.

Fast forward to five years later, and Rachel is heading home to celebrate her best friend's wedding. This is where we learn that in the past five years, Rachel and Matt have broken up, Rachel's dad is very ill, and Rachel is suffering some severe headaches. After taking a walk, Rachel is mugged and wakes up in the hospital. This is where the story really begins because we discover that Jimmy is alive, and Rachel is engaged to Matt! Crazy, right? Rachel definitely thinks so, and so did I.

This twist made me wonder about what I would think if I woke up and suddenly my entire life was different. How would I react? I think I'd get a lot more hysterical than Rachel did. Rachel cannot remember anything about her past life. All she remembers is that Jimmy is dead, but he's not. He is very much alive. Right?

The book then journeys into Rachel essentially trying to prove that Jimmy is dead, though he's standing right there with her at all times. I felt for Rachel throughout the whole novel. She loses her best friend, but then finds out she hasn't, but doesn't recognize anything else from her life. I think she felt conflicted because obviously she didn't want Jimmy to be dead, but she also couldn't imagine the life that everyone was telling her was hers.

The ending of this book will be what everyone talks about and remembers. Truthfully, I kind of suspected it, but when I reached the end, I still found myself pleasantly surprised. This would make the perfect book club book. I found myself trying to explain the book to my fiancé, but it's one of those books you need to read to be able to talk about it with anyone. I definitely recommend making someone else read this because you'll want to have someone to discuss it with. This really would be a perfect book club pick.

I would give this 3.5 stars out of 5 because I did see the end coming, and I did find it a bit confusing at the beginning. Definitely check it out, though. It's the perfect book to lay out in the sun with.

Then and Always will be available May 20th, 2014. Check it out on Goodreads, Penguin Canada, and Amazon Canada.

The lovely people at Penguin Canada provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but this did not sway my opinion in any way.

Why You Should Be Reading Morgan Matson

I'm a mood reader. I have to be in a certain mood to be able to enjoy certain books. I find that this helps me read different genres because I can't just read one genre over and over without getting tired of it. If I'm not in the right mood, it won't matter how good the book is. The poor thing will probably get abandoned without any fault of its own. Good thing I'm not like this with people!

 

That being said, this weekend I found myself craving a good summer read, and something with a road trip. My fiancé and I are taking a road trip to the Canadian east coast this summer for our honeymoon, so road trips have been on my mind for months. Add in the nicer weather, and BAM! I needed a road trip fix.

 

 

Enter Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, which I devoured in two days. Amy's family is moving from California to Connecticut and Amy is responsible for getting the family car there, along with the help of the son of her mom's friend, Roger. The thing is, Amy is not driving for reasons, so Roger drives. When you're stuck in a small space with a stranger for a long time, you become acquainted pretty quickly.

 

This is not a review because the book is a few years old, but more why you should read it.

 

1.) The format. It's told from Amy's POV, but what I loved even more was that it had a small scrapbook style. There were play lists, postcards, and other little things you collect on a road trip. LOVED this aspect of the book.

 

2.) The romance. It wasn't cheesy. Sometimes I find YA romance to be cheesy and unbelievable. This was believable and sweet, and right for the book. It was nostalgic.

 

3.) The reason why the Curry's are moving. It will break your heart.

 

4.) The characters. I loved them all, except for Hadley. They all seemed like real people, and people I'd want to be friends with. It made me excited for the people we could meet on our upcoming trip.

 

5.) Wanderlust. It will definitely make you want to just pack up the car and take off. It made me even more excited for our honeymoon! Hurry up, July!

 

Once I finished Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, I knew I had to read Morgan Matson's second book Second Chance Summer.

 

I loved this book, too. This one was devoured in less than a day, as I spent most of last night reading it. This one broke my heart into a million pieces, and kept me up well past midnight. When I finally finished it, I had tears rolling down my face. Taylor and her family head up to their lake house because her dad is sick and the family wants to spend one last summer together. Once there, Taylor runs into her ex boyfriend, Henry, and ex best friend, Lucy.

 

You should read this one because:

 

1.) The lake house. I had vivid pictures in my head of what it may have looked like, and I spent much of the book wishing I was laying on a dock reading it with the water beneath me.

 

2.) Again, the characters. I loved them all. Taylor's dad has to be one of my favourite father's in YA books. He is what I think a good father should be.

 

3.) Both books had really great father-daughter relationships. I find with a lot of books, there's a bad relationship between the father and daughter, but not in these books. The relationship is secure, and celebrated. It was a refreshing change.

 

4.) The reconnection between Taylor and Henry and Taylor and Lucy. It wasn't immediate, or corny. Taylor was forced to confront what she did to her former friends, and it wasn't an easy road back to being friends. It was believable, and I appreciated that.

 

5.) The flashbacks. I'm a big fan of flashbacks in novels, as I find they give you perspective you may not have otherwise. You get to know the characters in a different way, and I love it.

 

In a matter of four days, Morgan Matson has become one of my new favourite authors. Not YA author, as while she may write for young adults, I think anyone could enjoy her books. I would recommend her for fans of Sarah Dessen, John Green, Jane Green, and Kristin Hannah.

 

Matson has her third book, Since You've Been Gone, set to release in May and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

 

 

Definitely check out Morgan Matson if you're a fan of well-written contemporary stories!

 

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die

 

I'm going to start by saying something that may not make me the most popular person: I am not a fan of The Wizard of Oz. I'm just not and never have been. Sure, I've seen the movie a few times, but was never really into it. I haven't read the books, and have no desire to. When I first started hearing about Dorothy Must Die, I was 'meh' about it. The premise sounded interesting, but not interesting enough for me to add it to my TBR pile. But then I saw a tweet with a link to the first few chapters and decided to read it. Awesome decision, self! I loved it! Then I eagerly awaited the rest of the chapter releases and found myself needing more, so I pre-ordered it. I haven't pre-ordered a book since Harry Potter, so you know this was a huge book in my mind.

If you haven't read a synopsis yet, here's one from Goodreads:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Intriguing, right? Definitely not the Oz we all know from the movie/books. I loved this version of Oz. It's not sparkly or colourful. It's dark, and gritty, and full of dark magic. Magic that is literally being sucked from the ground for Dorothy's own personal use. People have moving tattoos, the flying monkey's talk, and some have cut off their own wings so they can't be controlled by Dorothy.

Enter Amy Gumm, the other girl from Kansas who arrives the exact same way as Dorothy, but who finds herself in not quite the same predicament. Amy was a bit annoying at first, but she eventually grew on me. She started off very whiney and kind of bratty, but I found myself liking her as the story went on.

There are a lot of characters in this book. The ones we all know are there, but there are lots of new ones, some of whom make up the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. Gert is a seemingly crazy old witch, Glamora is Glinda's twin sister (Glinda is part of Dorothy's entourage), Mombi is another witch who seems to be hiding things, and Nox is a mysterious orphan and one of the only male members of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and therefore, Amy's love interest.

I don't even really know how to review this book without giving anything away. The Order is badass, Dorothy is super evil and creepy, walking around in tight dresses and forcing her minions to wear PermaSmile (aka Oz's botox?) and changing night and day to suit her needs. She is the worst kind of crazy because I think she genuinely thinks what she does is normal. She sees herself as a princess after all.

The Order has given Amy one mission - to kill Dorothy, so Amy enters Dorothy's palace as an undercover maid and of course, all sorts of things happen. Not limited to a moving picture that can show you whatever you want to see, the Scarecrow's terrifying lab where he literally reconfigures people, and the weird maze in the garden. Oh, and Pete who Amy meets when she first gets to Oz who seems to show up in not-so random situations and has more to him than what we find out in this book.

I'm so glad that there's at least two more books planned because I need more. More action, more answers, and more Oz. This book will appeal to those hardcore Wizard of Oz fans and those like me who aren't really fans. Just don't go expecting the Oz we all know. Though, with a title like Dorothy Must Die, I don't know how you can expect to find the Oz from The Wizard of Oz.

If you're not convinced, go here to read the first twelve chapters. I bet you'll be hooked after.

5 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Unique Books I've Read

It's been far too long since I've written a post here. I blame wedding planning (87 days!) and working full-time hours. Here I am, though, and I hope to make this a more regular thing again.

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies at The Broke and the Bookish, and is one of my favourite book memes out there. Today's theme is the ten most unique books I've read. This is actually a hard topic and I'm not even sure I can come up with ten.

1.) The Book Thief - has anyone else even written a book in Death's perspective? I don't think so, and I can't even image how difficult this was to write.

2.) If I Stay - Mia has to decide whether or not to stay alive, or to die. This was a beautiful book about how life really can change in an instant.

3.) The Lovely Bones - Susie was murdered and tells her story while in heaven, hoping to lead her family to some answers. I read this years ago, and was captivated the entire time. I never saw the movie (I heard it was terrible - shocker), so if you decided not to read this because of the movie, read it.

4.) Room - This book is narrated by a 5 year old boy being held captive in Room with his mama. He's never been outside the room, and it's so interesting to see life through his very narrow, limited perspective.

5.) Where'd You Go Bernadette - Bernadette is an eccentric woman who has gone missing, and it's up to her daughter, Bee, to decipher the clues she's left behind in order to find her.

6.) The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window & Disappeared - Allan has decided he's had enough of living in the nursing home, and literally climbs out the window and disappears on his 100th birthday. Along the way, he meets murderers, a suitcase full of cash, and an elephant. Oh, and Allen knows how to make Atom bombs.

7.) Life on the Refrigerator Door - This was told entirely through notes between a mother and a daughter. This was more beautiful than you'd think and actually had a poignant message at the end.

8.) The Storyteller - Told in the present day and during life in Nazi Germany, I loved this book. It's heartbreaking, beautiful, and so interesting. Definitely not a happy, go lucky book, but worth a read.

9.) The entire Harry Potter series - Because it's Harry Potter and it opened the door to reading for so many people.

Apparently I can only come up with 9, but that's okay because they're all really great books and should be checked out!

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

From Goodreads: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.
My thoughts: This was such a fast read and one I really enjoyed. This book shows what happens when a rumour rapidly flies through a high school - what it does to those involved directly, and even those who are not directly involved. Everyone knows that there's usually only a smattering of truth in rumours, but when you're in high school and your popularity is on the line, truth doesn't seem to matter. Even when someone gets hurt.

Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective (something I really love), and each chapter reveals more about that fateful night. It also reveals more about the different types of people in high school, from the popular people, to the not so popular people. I really liked Kurt, the quiet genius who doesn't have a lot of friends, but who knows what happened that night. Kurt befriends Alice while the whole school turns away, and while his intentions may not be as pure as you'd think, it all works out for him.

I liked the way the story unfolded. It was a short read, but that worked well in this story because too many more details or more characters might have made the story too jumbled. Instead, it read at the perfect pace with details being released at the right times.

The ending was what made the story for me. I was hoping that Mathieu would throw in an Alice chapter, and was happy when I finally got there. Having the story told from everyone but Alice's perspective made it a unique way to read the story because you have to form your opinion about Alice without actually hearing from her until the very end. I liked Alice before I read her chapter, but I really liked her afterwards.

I rated this four out of five stars based on Goodreads rating system, and I think that teens and people who enjoy YA will really like it.

Review: Tempting Fate by Jane Green

From Goodreads: When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

My thoughts: I've read a few Jane Green books over the last few years, and I've found that they're either really great, or just average. Unfortunately, this one falls into the average category for me. I felt like it was one big cliché. Average older woman getting older while feeling unfulfilled, falls for a younger man who makes her feel beautiful. Happy, doting husband who clearly loves her goes out of town, and voila, her life changes forever.

Part of my issue with the book wasn't the book itself. I think that having an affair is one of the absolute most cruel things you can do to someone you reportedly love. It takes someone really special and great to be able to move on after an affair. I would not be that someone. I knew an affair happens in this book, so to be fair to the book, I went into reading it with a bit of a negative attitude, which shouldn't reflect on the book itself at all.

I ended up giving this three out of five stars because while predictable, Green is still a good writer, and I did enjoy reading this. I will say, though, that she kind of overuses the phrase "for ....". The characters were all obviously flawed, and though Gabby does have an affair, I found it hard to completely hate her. I hated her actions, but I didn't hate her character. She wasn't my favourite, but Green wrote her in a way that I almost (almost) felt sorry for her. I can see how women (even men) could relate to her situation and feelings.

While this may not have been my favourite Jane Green novel, I'm not sorry that I read it.

Me Since You by Laura Wiess: Book Review

Are there any answers when someone you love makes a tragic choice?

Before and After. That’s how Rowan Areno sees her life now. Before: she was a normal sixteen-year-old—a little too sheltered by her police officer father and her mother. After: everything she once believed has been destroyed in the wake of a shattering tragedy, and every day is there to be survived.

If she had known, on that Friday in March when she cut school, that a random stranger’s shocking crime would have traumatic consequences, she never would have left campus. If the crime video never went viral, maybe she could have saved her mother, grandmother — and herself — from the endless replay of heartache and grief.

Finding a soul mate in Eli, a witness to the crime who is haunted by losses of his own, Rowan begins to see there is no simple, straightforward path to healing wounded hearts. Can she learn to trust, hope, and believe in happiness again?

My thoughts: This book will rip you apart and tear your heart into pieces. There is so much grief and sadness in this book, but there are tiny glimpses of hope throughout.  If you're looking for a feel good book this is not the book you want to read; however, it is a great book and worth a read.

Rowan skips school not realizing what is about to happen after a stranger makes a decision that changes his life, but also the life of Rowan's entire family. The tragic event that occurs is not at all what I was expecting, and I'm glad the book synopsis doesn't give it away. It's not something that you think would have consequences for strangers, but it definitely does.

While I liked this book, it seemed to take a while for the other big event to occur. I had already figured out what was going to happen, so I kind of feel like I spent half of the book waiting for it to happen. That may be fine if you don't see it coming, but if you've figured it out, you just want it to happen so you can read the after.

Eli is such a great character. He's a teenager still reeling from the death of his soldier father, and he is so good for Rowan in the before and after. He's one of those guys that if he were a real person, he probably wouldn't have a lot of friends because teenagers wouldn't be able to appreciate him.

Rowan, at times, is a bit hard to like, but I guess that's what extreme grief does to a person. She is frustrating, but at the same time, I just want to hug her and tell her that life won't always be hard. It seems silly, but sometimes reading her was exhausting. There was so much sadness in this book. I kept waiting for something really good to happen to break up all the sadness, but it never really happened.

I would recommend this to those who are looking for a good book to make them cry, but I would definitely recommend having something happy to read afterwards because you'll need it. And tissues. Lots of tissues.

4 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Book Review: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

I picked this book up because it said it dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder. Being a psychology major in University, I have a huge fascination with mental illness. Perhaps 'fascination' is a poor choice of word, but mental illnesses interest me.

Hayley's dad, Andy, is a war vet with severe PTSD. Since his return from Iraq, they've spent years driving around in a rig trying desperately to escape Andy's memories. Unfortunately, PTSD is not an illness that lets you run away from it.

Andy and Hayley finally settle in their hometown so that Hayley can attend school for her senior year of high school. Being home schooled by her ill father hasn't exactly left Hayley with the best school skills, but she has found friends in Gracie, Topher, and the adorably strange Finn.

When I finished this book, I honestly didn't know how I felt. At times while reading, I just wanted to be finished because the PTSD issue was so strong, it was sometimes hard to read. I found myself wanting to curl up with the happiest book on the planet to recover from this. It was raw, heartbreaking, and honest. Halse Anderson really did a great job in portraying the pain both Andy and Hayley were dealing with.

I really just wanted to hug all of the characters. Almost all of them had some big issue to deal with, and I just wanted to hug them and tell them that life won't always be this hard. That, or give them a chocolate bar the size of their fictional heads.

I did have a slight issue with the ending. The build up to the end was so large, and when the big thing happened (no spoilers here), and was over, everything was suddenly great. Too great for a family that had struggled for so long. It just felt like the author was in a hurry to finish the book.

I would recommend this to those who like to read the hard stuff. Those who are okay with heartbreaking emotions, and drama, but keep something light on hand for when you're finished.

My Rating (since this is now the month of all things hearts, I thought I'd use hearts as a rating system):

 

3 out of 5 hearts based on Goodreads rating system.