The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

GAH. Elin Hilderbrand is the Queen and can do no wrong.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

If that's not a ringing endorsement, then I don't know what is. 

Elin Hilderbrand is always an author whose new books are ones I highly anticipate. She's probably one of the only authors whose expansive collection of work I own in its entirety. Yeah - all 21 novels. And of those, this one ranks right up at the top of my favorites.

Want proof? Here you go:

The Perfect Couple is exactly the kind of summer novel I want to read. I was completely absorbed with the characters and plot pretty much immediately. It jumps right in to the action - a murder mystery in which the maid of honor at a Nantucket wedding is found dead in the water the morning of the wedding. With the maid of honor dead, it's left to Nantucket's Chief Ed Kapenish to find out what actually happened.

Basically this is a summer beach version of Clue and I am so here for it. 

The Queen of the Summer Beach Read out did herself with this one. As usual, there's an incredible ensemble cast that keeps the reader engaged and questioning every one's motives. With interwoven storylines and betrayals - Hilderbrand does an outstanding job keeping everyone on their toes. There were so many times in this book that I thought I had it figured out but kept changing my mind. In the end, I had a pretty decent idea of what actually happened - but was never sure until the last page.

I loved catching up with some of my favorite characters from past novels - Roger Pelton (Beautiful Day) is one of my favorite Hilderbrand characters and I think every bride deserves to have someone like Roger at her side for the big day. The new characters were fabulous - Featherleigh cracked me up (especially while she was hitting on Nick (The Greek) during her questioning). The bride's mother Karen, who is battling breast cancer, was also one of my favorite characters. Her wisdom and courage were some of the best parts of the book, I LITERALLY CRIED.

With memorable characters from Hilderbrand's backlist (Nantucket Nights, Beautiful Day, The Castaways, and A Summer Affair) and of course the charming Nantucket backdrop that we expect and love about Elin's books, this is exactly the kind of book you want to bring with you to the pool or anywhere. If you loved her earlier work you'll enjoy this - and if you're new to her work I think you'll enjoy this. Definitely one of my favorites so far this year.

The Book Gawker's buy it or borrow it recommendation: Buy It

Buy It

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My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella's name is synonymous with adorable chick lit. Most people are familiar with her extremely popular Shopaholic series, which are mindless, yet fun books that for me are the perfect escape. They're easily digestible and entertaining. So as expected, My Not So Perfect Life checks all the boxes of a fun Kinsella novel that offers a perfectly light reading experience.

If Instagram is any indication of one's success and posh experiences, Katie's living the life of a successful London millennial with the perfect marketing job, amazing friends and fine dining. But in reality, she's living in a closet, her flat mates are definitely not her best friends, she can't afford that hot chocolate she posted on her social media and her job is definitely far from dream worthy. In fact, her boss, Demeter, is an absolute nightmare. But moving from the country into the city is what Katie's always dreamed of and she's determined to make her life look perfect even if it's a far cry from it. But things don't always go as planned, and when Katie is let go from her job she trudges back to her home town to help start a "glamping" business at her family's farm.

This book is darling and quite entertaining. I did enjoy the commentary on social media - which I think is a big part of the narrative. Katie does everything she can to appear happy and successful when she really isn't, and it's interesting how we manipulate our lives to appear a certain way on social media. This is a super fun book that had some vibes reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada, and I think that for what it is - it's well done.

Light and fluffy - predictable but fun. Look - if you're wanting to read something that's quick and entertaining, I would pick this book up. It doesn't offer anything to really sink your teeth into, but it's a fun read that will keep you entertained for an afternoon. Adept readers will see the major plot points coming, and Katie can get in her own way quite a bit. Even still, I enjoyed it.

The Book Gawker's buy it or borrow it recommendation: Borrow It

Buy It

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Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

Okay, there are a lot of things I liked about Love and Other Words and then there are some things I have questions about. This is a really sweet, romantic book with a lot of elements that I think readers in the romance/lighter fare women's fic genre will enjoy - but I do think that readers who are looking for a little more depth will see this as some sort of lightweight Nicholas Sparks novel - elements of The Best of Me come to mind.

I won't go too much into synopsis here - if you're reading this review you likely already know the premise of this book. You know that Macy and Elliot spent their adolescence together, they were best friends who became more than friends and then something happened that caused Macy to completely drop Elliot from her life. Eleven years after the thing they run into each other and it completely disrupts their lives.

Things I liked:

-Elliot obviously. What's not to like about the super sweet book boy who's always pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose or how he listens so intently to Macy and gives actual quality feedback. He's basically a unicorn and he's the sweetest.

-All the chapters that take place in the past. I really enjoyed Elliot and Macy's friendship, how comfortable they were with each other. I think that many aspects of their relationship will be relatable for people and this relationship is believable.

-Pacing and writing style. This book is about 400 pages and is a very quick read. I read the majority of it in a day. And that wasn't me sitting around all day long doing nothing. The writing is good, very accessible and didn't feel the need to roll my eyes.

The Things that don't work for me:

-Macy in the present. Okay, this might be an unpopular opinion - but come on girl, you can't go from zero to sixty in the matter of a week. Part of my issue with this is that we know that something really bad happened in the past, but we don't find out what it is until almost the last chapter of the book. So I get that it's been eleven years and she was heart broken all that time and couldn't get over the thing, but I feel like we should have had more internal conflict here or something because even though we get the back story in the end it felt really clichéd.

-Convenience. So let me explain. I felt that the supporting characters were a little flat and conveniently moved the story in one direction. Especially Sean. There's supposed to be conflict throughout this book, but everything happens so conveniently for the characters. I wanted there to be a little more conflict and emotional toil.

-THE THING Okay, it's not necessarily the thing itself (that was bad though) - it's that we don't know what exactly happened until the end of the book! And then I'm supposed to believe that after the air is cleared everything is just okay? Just like that? IDK. I have a hard time believing that after eleven years of holding onto the hurt and heartbreak she would just let it go so easily. But that's just me. Also this is the MAJOR CONFLICT of the book and it seemed resolved very easily with little processing on either party's behalf. In my opinion this would have been stronger if we would have been able to watch the characters work through this.

So, overall this isn't a perfect book in any way, but I did enjoy reading it. I think that there is a certain group of readers who will really love this - it'll be right in their wheelhouse and that is amazing. I enjoyed the book and would definitely pick up another Christina Lauren novel - but I can't overlook the areas that suffered in this one. If you're looking for something with a little more depth and emotional pull to it, I would probably pass on this. But if you're looking for something that is sweet and quick - check this out.

Bookgawker's Buy it or Borrow it Suggestion: Borrow It

Buy It

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When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

Lauren Weisberger is back with yet another Devil Wears Prada novel and it’s a catty, hysterical page turner. It’s likely that if this book is on your radar, you’ve either read Lauren Weisberger’s other books or are at least familiar with the film version of TDWP. This stays true to her style and is full of snappy one liners, over the top characters and my favorite – sarcasm.

Emily Charlton, former first assistant to Miranda Priestly (as if you could forget the devil herself), has made a name for herself as a sought after image consultant. She’s married, living in LA and making a living keeping Hollywood’s starlets out of hot water. She’s at the top of her game until a younger, hipper version of herself begins poaching her clients. Where better to gather her thoughts and nurse her wounded ego than at her friend, Miriam’s, house in the suburbs of Connecticut?

Miriam thought moving to the suburbs would be a great way to raise her young family in a safe, family friendly environment. The only problem? She has nothing in common with the uber-wealthy, plastic surgery savvy, lululemon clad housewives of Greenwich, Connecticut. After having left her high profile job in the city, she’s about one goldfish cracker away from actually going crackers.

Enter Karolina Hartwell – former supermodel turned Senator’s wife (how very Kennedy-esque) who finds herself in jail for a night after being pulled over for a DUI. Who could need Emily’s image consultant prowess and Miriam’s legal aid more than Karolina, whose life is now turned upside down after such a public arrest? 

When Life Gives You Lululemons is full of the snark and sass that we would expect from Weisberger’s cattiest characters. It’s a quick, laugh out loud read with a few cringe worthy moments thrown in for good measure. Pick this one up for your book club/cocktail night with the girls, your next trip or just for a fun weekend read. It’s plenty of fun and perfectly suited for readers who prefer lighter fare in their reading. I would expect nothing less from this author and look forward to her future novels. 

A Review EGalley was provided by the publisher and netgalley for honest review. All thoughts are my own. 

Bookgawker's Buy it or Borrow It suggestion: Buy It

Buy It

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All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

Every time Emily Giffin releases a book I'm not quite sure how she can top her last - but she does.

Every. Dang. Time. 

Here's what I love about her work, she's not afraid to tackle relevant issues or messy relationships and does so with great finesse with her approachable, easy to relate to writing style. Her previous work has always been page turning prose that takes on social issues, delves into familial drama or navigates tricky relationships - but I'm not sure I've read another book by her that is as timely, powerful and emotionally charged as All We Ever Wanted.

Nina Browning has everything she could ever want. She belongs to Nashville's elite and uber-wealthy Belle Meade community, her son Finch is a star student at an elite prep school and is headed to Princeton and her husband Kirk is a successful businessman and devoted father.

Tom Volpe's life is a little less glamorous. By day he works a blue collar job as a carpenter, and by night drives Uber on the side. He hasn't been lucky in love and money is tight, but he makes enough to get by. He's a single dad - doing the best he can to provide for his daughter, Lyla.

Then an obscene photograph of a passed out girl at a party, complete with blatantly racist caption surfaces. The girl is Lyla and the photo originated from Finch's phone.

Nina and Tom find themselves in uncharted territory as parents, navigating what happened that night and questioning everything they thought they knew about their kids, parenting, ethics and those around them.

In a post Weinstein, #MeToo era - I think that many readers will find this book to be an incredibly relevant commentary on race, sexism, elitism, social class and a parent's approach to all of the above. It's a novel that is easily digestible, accessible and thought provoking that will resonate with Ms. Giffin's demographic. This isn't to say that there aren't a few weaknesses - I for one, really felt that the last 25% of the book was rushed and wish that the conclusion would have been a little more satisfying. I wanted a little more gumption from certain characters, but at the end of the day this is not my novel. These are not my characters. More importantly, I think what this book does really well is pose the question - "What would you do?" And to me, I think that exploration is really the point of this book.

Well done, Ms. Giffin, I can't wait to read what you come up with next!

Thank you, Random House / Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy for review.
All opinions are my own.

Buy It

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The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo

"There’s something about death that makes people want to live. We wanted to live that day, and I don’t blame us for it. Not anymore."

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo 

You guys - unpopular opinion time.

I have been known to cry over books. Books with sad endings, books with infuriating endings, books with very happy endings. I get emotional. It's weird, I know. So I thoroughly expected to be wrecked by this book - all of the reviews said so, even Reese Witherspoon said so! 

Here's the thing about this book - I think if I had gone into it with different expectations maybe I would have different thoughts on it. Jill Santopolo sets out to write an epic love story about a first love that spans over a decade. And at times she does an outstanding job, but ultimately I found this novel to be predictable, trite and at times clichéd. I expected to have my heart ripped out - this story could after all - only end one way. But what I didn't expect was to feel so underwhelmed by the narrative and ending of this book.

The concept of this book is nothing new - a look into the past, wondering what could have been if timing had been different. What if the decisions that had been made had lead down different paths? It's a familiar concept that people like - I personally, don't mind ill fated romances as long as the story has the right sort of emotional quality. I just feel that there are other books that have done it better.

The writing isn't bad, it's fine, but I think that this novel would have been more effective if it had been narrated a little differently. The book is narrated entirely by Lucy in past tense. She's recalling memories, as if she's telling a story to someone. Unfortunately this mechanism is a dead give away to any adept reader about the condition of the person she's narrating to which made this very predictable. I know of other stories that are like this, Nicholas Sparks' The Choice or even The Best of Me. There were times I even thought of Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, which I know is entirely different, but has similar themes of waiting on someone who isn't there. The difference between this novel and those being that the latter packed an emotional punch (as Sparks is apt to do) that this novel was missing. I believe that's mostly due to lack of shock factor and had the author taken a different stylistic approach the outcome may have been different. Overall the end of this novel left me feeling - meh.

I really wanted to like this more, but I believe that this novel was over-hyped and for readers who enjoy this type of book - there are other stories out there more worth the time.

Buy It

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Mists of the Serengeti by Leylah Attar

Where are all of my Contemporary Romance readers?!

 

Have I got a book for you!

 

Rodel Emerson is looking for a place to call home. After a nomadic upbringing with her parents and sister, she yearns for roots and a place to plant them. Unlike her fun loving, free-spirited sister Mo, she is content with her position as a teacher and quiet afternoons spent reading in her library.

Jack Warden is as rugged and wild as the Tanzanian coffee farm where he grew up. A single father, he spends his days tending to the needs of his farm and doting on his daughter Lily who is the light of his life. Lily embodies everything free spirited and wonderful for Jack – sunshine, rainbows and yellow balloons, and together they live a happy existence on the farm.

When a bomb explodes in an attack at a local mall, Lily and Mo are caught in the blast, their lives abruptly taken from those they love, lost amidst the rubble and wreckage of the explosion.

Rodel comes to Tanzania to retrieve Mo’s belongings and finds that her sister’s time in Africa was spent helping children in danger find safe harbor – her mission only half complete. Rodel takes it upon herself to finish the work Mo started, and goes in search of a Tanzanian coffee farmer named Jack to help her. Bound by tragic circumstances, Jack and Rodel begin a journey to bring the children on Mo’s list to safety, and find their lives inextricably tangled in ways they never thought possible.

Mists of the Serengeti is a lush, evocative journey through the African plains. This book is beautifully written, emotional and stirring. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel; I found the setting to be unique and the characters well developed. The plot of the story falls a little flat for me – but this is not a plot book, it is a love story about grief, loss and finding purpose and new beginnings through tragedy. There are weak parts in the book where I feel like the author got a little caught up in the burning romance, but the final pages of this book are spectacular and soul crushing – I loved it.

Because I read and review a wide variety of books and genres and write for a broad audience, I feel a little compelled to let you know that while this book is categorized as part women’s contemporary fiction, part romance, it is largely a romance. If you are a reader who is sensitive to intimate love scenes, I would not recommend this book for you.
Just saying…

BUT - If you’re a fan of women’s contemporary/contemporary romance and are looking for a fabulous story with all the steamy, swoony scenes – you will not be disappointed.

You may even feel a little like Cher here...

Enjoy!! 

Buy Mists of the Serengeti

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New Release Tuesday: YA Fantasy & Women's Fiction

 



Happy New Release Tuesday!
 

It's the first Tuesday in February and there is a ton of new book goodness on shelves today!

YA & Fantasy

For the YA Fantasy set - we have the highly anticipated third installment of the Red Queen series, King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard. We're FINALLY going to find out what's become of Mare as she's locked up by Maven.

Synopsis:

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.
As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.
When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

If you missed it, I wrote a full Red Queen Recap last week - check it out here.



Wintersong is also available. This is a book that I've been looking forward to for quite a while. It's Labyrinth meets Beauty and the Beast and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I love the concept of this novel and the reviews have been very positive.

Synopsis:

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.
But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds―and the mysterious man who rules it―she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.
Rich with music and magic, S. Jae-Jones's Wintersong will sweep you away into a world you won’t soon forget.

For my friends who love chick-lit, there are a couple for you too!

Sarah Jio's latest novel, Always, tackles social issues and true love in Seattle. Believe me when I say, you'll love it.
You can read my review here.

Synopsis:

Enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner with her fiancé, Ryan, at one of Seattle’s chicest restaurants, Kailey Crain can’t believe her good fortune: She has a great job as a journalist and is now engaged to a guy who is perfect in nearly every way. As she and Ryan leave the restaurant, Kailey spies a thin, bearded homeless man on the sidewalk. She approaches him to offer up her bag of leftovers, and is stunned when their eyes meet, then stricken to her very core: The man is the love of her life, Cade McAllister.
When Kailey met Cade ten years ago, their attraction was immediate and intense—everything connected and felt right. But it all ended suddenly, leaving Kailey devastated. Now the poor soul on the street is a faded version of her former beloved: His weathered and weary face is as handsome as Kailey remembers, but his mind has suffered in the intervening years. Over the next few weeks, Kailey helps Cade begin to piece his life together, something she initially keeps from Ryan. As she revisits her long-ago relationship, Kailey realizes that she must decide exactly what—and whom—she wants.
Alternating between the past and the present, Always is a beautifully unfolding exploration of a woman faced with an impossible choice, a woman who discovers what she’s willing to save and what she will sacrifice for true love.

NY Times Bestselling author, Sophie Kinsella has a new book out today as well!
My Not So Perfect Life is available for you to add to you shelf. I haven't read this yet, but it's on my list and I'm really excited to get it. It's had great reviews - and I'm a huge fan of Kinsella's work.

Synopsis:

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud.
Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

Anticipated New Release: Always, Sarah Jio

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book! All opinions of this book and review are mine and not those of the publisher or other parties involved with the publication of this book.

 

Enjoy!

 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of Sarah Jio's newest novel, Always. To say that I couldn't put it down is an understatement.
I binge read the entire book within a Sunday. It was so good!

Kailey Crain is engaged to a great guy, she has an amazing job as a reporter, and everything she could want from life. But some part of her questions whether this is the life she truly wants.

After a romantic dinner with her fiancé at Seattle's chicest restaurant, Kailey spies a ghost from her past as she's leaving. He's someone that she never thought she would see again, Cade, her first love and the man who vanished from her life ten years earlier. Formerly the owner of one of Seattle's most successful record labels, Cade had been a charismatic, energetic young man with a great career ten years earlier. The Cade of present is a gaunt shell of a man who is living on the streets.
Confused and conflicted, Kailey must confront her past to move on with her future.

This novel tackles relevant social issues and offers a great love story that I think readers of this genre will enjoy. Kailey finds herself torn between the past and present in a way that is heart wrenching and conflicting. Jio does a wonderful job of capturing the city of Seattle and takes on one of the city's most prominent social issues in a way that pulls at the reader's heartstrings.

Told in a two part (past and present) narrative from the protagonist's point of view allows the reader to experience a younger, more carefree version of Kailey as well as the grown up woman she becomes. Sometimes this style of writing can be confusing and jumbled for me, but it works for this book and I appreciated both points of view.

I found this book to be enjoyable, readable and entertaining - although maybe slightly predictable. I also was left wishing the ending had been more fleshed out with a better conclusion. I was left with some questions in the end. Perhaps Sarah Jio will write a sequel - if she does I will definitely be reading.

Always is available to add to your TBR of romantic novels just in time for Valentine's day on February 7, 2017.

Buy it on

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Book Review: The Gilded Years, Karin Tanabe

The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe
Print Length: 401 pages
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication Date: June 7, 2016

Anita Hemmings is bright young woman with lofty academic aspirations and goals of someday becoming a professor. Her grades certainly show promise and she is well liked among the faculty and students at the prominent campus of Vassar College – the only university she ever wanted to attend.

Anita’s dreams of bettering herself through a college education at Vassar are coming true, and while she seems to be just like every other female student at the college – Anita has a secret that could ruin her.

She’s a descendant of African American slaves – and if her race were known by the administration of Vassar college she would be removed immediately. With her senior year upon her, and rooming with the illustrious and infamous Lottie Taylor, the daughter of one of New York’s most prominent families, will Anita be able to maintain her white façade and graduate from Vassar with her true origins undetected?

Set in the late 1890’s, The Gilded Years is based on the true life of Anita Hemmings, the first black woman to graduate from Vassar College at a time when African American women were not admitted. Unlike some of the other Seven Sisters schools at the time such as Radcliffe and Wellesley, African American women were not allowed entrance to the school – and while some of these universities did admit black students, they were very few in number. I found this novel absolutely engrossing. Anita’s story is fascinating and heartbreaking at the same time. Passing as a white woman in one of America’s elite female colleges during a time when racial tensions ran high and racial equality was not a social normality, Anita Hemmings chose to live a double life to pursue her dreams of a Vassar education at the risk of losing everything.

Beautifully written, Tanabe dazzles the reader with descriptions of an antiquated and elite way of life with a protagonist who is relatable and charming. I found this novel to be easy to read and very interesting, which allowed me to finish it in only a couple of days. While well written and very interesting - it's a little slow to start but quickly builds as the reader becomes more familiar with the characters, customs and plot of the story.

I believe that fans of women’s historical fiction will enjoy this one, I know I did!