Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Published July 29, 2014

About the Book:

Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .
  A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?  
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead.   But who did what?
  Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?). 
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
  Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.  

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, loved it really!  The structure of the story is different but done really well.  99% of the book is spent leading up to the big event (the death) without giving away who dies until the event unfolds almost at the end of the book.  It keeps you guessing and wondering and anxious to find out, page after page.  There is so much more to the story too, though.  Some of it is hilarious, but it's also very serious at times.  The characters are so well written and realistic.  You can find something of people you know in each of them, as well as a bit of yourself.  The dialogue between characters is authentic as well, and the commentary of some at the end of some chapters brings humor to all the serious subjects the books tackles.  This is the first of Moriarty's books I have read, and I was sure to pick up another of hers (The Husband's Secret) when at the library today.  I have definitely found myself a new author to add to my list of favorites. 

Getting back on track...

I had to take several days off of reading for all I have had going on in the last week.  We had Meet the Teachers Night for one daughter's new virtual school, which went really well.  We are super excited about her new program and how great it is going to be for her.  She started this week, and so far, it's amazing!  Then I was out of state for 4 days to attend my graduate school orientation up in Milwaukee, WI.  I had never been there, so it was fun to check out somewhere new and all.  The hubby and I did a cheese factory tour, brewery tour, went to a Milwaukee Brewers game, and did all sorts of touristy stuff.  My orientation went really well, and I got to meet some other new and current students in my program and the professors, Deans of the program, etc.  That was really wonderful, since I will be doing the program completely online.  I now can put some names and faces together. The day we flew home, I got to take the other daughter to see One Direction.  That was a LONG day between an early flight home and then running around to get to the concert and being out late.  Then Monday, both girls started high school, one in a traditional school and the other at home with a virtual school.  So far so good for both of them thankfully!

Now, back to reading!  It took me the whole week to get through a few chapters here and there, and the last couple days, I have finally been able to finish my latest read.  The review of it will be up next!

Isla and the Happily Ever After

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Published August 14, 2014

About the Book:

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

My Thoughts:

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!  Perkins really knows how to give her readers what they want!  This book is super swoony and fabulous.  Loved Isla, loved Josh, loved Isla's BFF Kurt, etc.  I didn't think Perkins could top Lola and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door, but I think I love Isla and Josh even more.  This is a book with an adorable story that makes you giddy.  It reminds you of what being a teenager was all about and your first big requited crush.  Super cute; I HIGHLY recommend!  BUT--Be sure to read all 3 books in the series, starting with Anna and the French Kiss, then Lola and the Boy Next Door, and this is the third.  They are all adorable, swoony, teen romance at its best!  I can't wait to see what is up next from Perkins!

I'd Know You Anywhere

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Published January 1, 2010

About the Book:

Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life with her successful husband and children, thirteen-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. But her tranquility is shattered when she receives a letter from the last person she ever expects—or wants—to hear from: Walter Bowman. 
"There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere."

In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had killed at least one girl and Eliza always suspected he had other victims as well. Now on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim, Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. 

Though Eliza wants nothing to do with him, she's never forgotten that Walter was most unpredictable when ignored. Desperate to shelter her children from this undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's always wondered why Walter let her live, and perhaps now he'll tell her—and share the truth about his other victims.

Yet as Walter presses her for more and deeper contact, it becomes clear that he is after something greater than forgiveness. He wants Eliza to remember what really happened that long-ago summer. He wants her to save his life. And Eliza, who has worked hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do anything to protect it—-even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried inside.

My Thoughts:

For a book that was a pretty great read up until then, this had the most unsatisfying ending of about any book I've ever read.  The book really builds up that there is some huge secret to be revealed, but it never materializes.  The main character, Eliza, is also just really weak and apathetic.  She doesn't seem capable of having an opinion or taking action without someone else telling her what to think or do.  With a better main character and an actual shocker of an ending to fulfill the promise of the story up to that point, it could have been a really great book.  The majority of the book is interesting enough to hold interest, even without a main character that you want to root for, but the book just doesn't deliver on its promise at all.  The other characters are interesting and complex thankfully, so Eliza is the only dud.  I have read and really liked other Lippman books in the past, so don't let my review of this particular one sway you from reading her other books. 

Afterparty

Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler
Published December 31, 2013

About the Book:

Emma is tired of being good. Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother -- whose name her dad won't even say out loud. That's why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her...and the most dangerous. Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she's everything Emma is not.

And it may be more than Emma can handle. 

Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It's more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop... 

This explosive, sexy, and harrowing follow-up to Ann Redisch Stampler's spectacular teen debut, Where It Began, reveals how those who know us best can hurt us most.

My Thoughts:

This one was so good that I was barely able to put it down all day.  I read every chance I got while running errands, while eating dinner, while working out, while waiting in the car while my daughters ran into the grocery store, and while staying up past 2 am to finish it.  It's that good.  Emma is awesome and very real, Siobhan is toxic and evil, and Dylan is uber swoon-worthy.  As I read in another review, elements of the book are like Mean Girls on steroids...especially Siobhan.  This isn't fluffy YA; it's dark and gritty and messy.  The writing is excellent; I really love this author's style.  The dialogue between characters is great, as is Emma's internal dialogue with herself.  She's immensely likable and realistic.  Instead of Emma the Good or Emma the Bad, as she struggles with, she's really just Emma the normal, very real teenage girl.  It's easy to relate to her struggle of figuring out who she is, as we all go through in our young adult years.  And the whole frenemy dichotomy is something all too common (who hasn't had one!), though, Siobhan takes it to all new levels.  This is one you have to add to your must read list. 

There's Only Been You

There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers
Published July 10, 2013

About the Book:

Lies destroyed their past—will the truth end their chance at a future?

Sara Jamison has no clue where Mike Andrews’ been all these years, but she knows where she’s been—busy raising their son. Two weeks after he accused her of cheating and disappeared from her life, Sara discovered she was something she never expected to be—an unwed pregnant teenager.

But with the love and support of her annoyingly alpha-male family, she’s managed to make a good life for herself and her young son. She even owns her own business, Sara’s Bakery, which she’s built into a thriving success. Sure, she works too hard and her social life is nonexistent, but for the most part, she’s content.

Until the day Detective Mike Andrews walks into her bakery and back into her life…

Of all the bakeries in town...

Sara blew out a frustrated breath as she faced the troublesome machine. “Couldn’t have waited ‘til Monday, could you? Rotten appliance.”

Ten minutes later, she smiled with triumphant satisfaction as the sweet aroma of vanilla coffee filled the bakery. First thing Monday morning, she’d call the dealer and ask when they could deliver a new machine.

The bell above the door chimed. “See, Amanda. You just have to show this devil who’s bos...” The words died on her lips.

Legs braced apart, a disdainful scowl curling his lip, Mike stood just inside the door. Her heart lurched and her breath caught.

This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening, this isn’t happening—

“You sound just like that arrogant brother of yours.” 

Deep breath, compose yourself. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She narrowed her eyes. “Now get the hell out.”

"You need to work on your people skills, lady.” He strode forward and stopped in front of the display case, looking around in obvious astonishment. “Well, I’ll be dipped. When I saw the Sara’s Bakery sign, I said to myself, no friggin’ way. But morbid curiosity got the better of me. So a bakery, huh? Not much of a surprise, really—”

“What do you want, Mike?”

He turned toward her and she finally got a good look at the side of his face. My God, had Garrett done that? She couldn’t help feeling a measure of satisfaction. Oh, who was she kidding? She hoped it hurt like hell.
He must have realized where her gaze rested because he reached up and fingered his jaw. “Don’t get too excited, he sucker-punched me.” He leaned over and tapped the glass above her jumbo chocolate muffins. “I’ll take one of those and a large coffee. Regular, not that flavored crap.”

With an angry huff, she stalked over to pour him a cup. Why did he have to look so damn good? Was it too much to ask for a receding hairline and a donut around the middle?

He wore his thick, blue-black hair shorter than he used to, which only made the resemblance between him and Ethan more pronounced. He’d put on a good twenty-five to thirty pounds of solid muscle as the black T-shirt stretched tautly over his chest could attest to. And those eyes—cobalt and incredible—had continued to haunt her over the years.

Ethan’s were the exact same color.

My Thoughts:

This was a random ebook I got for my Kindle for free when loading it up with free and inexpensive books.  I started it with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised by it.  It's a romance novel with an actual story and developed characters.  While there are some sex scenes, there's much more to the story than just a romp in bed.  In addition to the romance aspects, there is a great story about family dynamics, and I really enjoyed the relationship between Sara and her brothers.  I also love the small town setting and that this author looks like she does series with books about different people from the town/family.  This is part of a series (Jamison Family) with at least one other book and a free shorter story on the author's website, each about one of Sara's brothers.  I look forward to reading both and anything else Rogers' publishes in this series.  She also has another series with the first book as a free download on Amazon right now (Redemption series).  

Coco Pinchard's Big Fat Tipsy Wedding

Coco Pinchard's Big Fat Tipsy Wedding by Robert Bryndza
Published 2013

About the Book:

For Coco Pinchard forty is the new thirty. After a tumultuous divorce, she's found love with the gorgeous, hunky, four-years-younger-than-her-so-technically-a-toy-boy, Adam. Her career as an author is finally a success, and she has fabulous friends in Chris, a neurotic middle-aged socialite, and Marika, a slightly alcoholic dog walker. 

Coco is even learning to cope with awful ex mother-in-law, Ethel, who despite the divorce, still thinks it's fine to criticise, especially when Coco and Adam decide to move in together... 

But hours before move-in day, Adam ends their relationship without explanation and disappears. After the initial shock and anger (and an 'I told you so' from Ethel) Coco sets out to discover what has really happened. 

Full of hilarious twists and turns, Coco Pinchard's Big Fat Tipsy Wedding is a witty, heart-warming, romantic comedy - the highly anticipated stand-alone sequel to bestselling, The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard.

My Thoughts:

In two words...Pure Fun!  Bryndza really has fun and funny down, and like The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard, this is another total riot.  Coco's story picks up where it left off in the first book and readers are in for a wild ride.  While Coco certainly might face more drama in her life than the average person, reading about it all is just so fun that who cares if it borders on the ridiculous.  It's over the top in that Bridget Jones kind of way where the writing is so fresh and fun that you buy it.  You can't help but love Coco and want to see it all work out for her in the end.  I highly recommend this one and the first book.  I look forward to reading more of Coco's antics in Bryndza's other Coco books.   

Arranged

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie
Published December 28, 2010

About the Book:

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can't seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she's engaged, Anne can't help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn't a dating service; it's an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it -- and the company's success rate -- the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn't it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out -- until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  It was such an interesting concept, choosing an arranged marriage when it's not something dictated by your culture.  The book is well-written, with sympathetic characters and realistic dialogue.  Anne is likable and easy to relate to for most women I would think.  She's also a strong and intelligent women, which is always awesome.  This is definitely smart women's lit, as some is just fluffy and fun (which is totally fine if that's what you're in the mood for).  The book kept me very interested from page one.  I stayed up very late last night, knowing I had to be up early, because I couldn't put the book down until knowing how it would end.  This was a solid 4.5 stars for me on Goodreads that I bumped to a 5, since there are no half stars on there.  I don't want to say too much else about the book, as I don't want to give anything away.  I highly recommend it! 

In Between

In Between by Jenny B. Jones
Published April 15, 2007

About the Book:

Can we overcome our past? 
Katie Parker is about to get a new life—whether she wants one or not. With her mom in prison, and her father AWOL, Katie is sent to live with a squeaky-clean family who could have their own sitcom. She launches a full-scale plan to get sent back to the girls’ home when she finds herself in over her head...and heart. When Katie and her new "wrong crowd" get into significant trouble at school, she finds her punishment is restoring a historic theater with a crazy grandma who goes by the name of Mad Maxine. In the midst of her punishment, Katie uncovers family secrets that run deep, and realizes she's not the only one with a pain-filled past. Katie must decide if she'll continue her own family’s messed up legacy or embrace a new beginning in this place called In Between.

My Thoughts:

I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads thinking more like 3.5 stars.  I liked it fine but didn't love it for a few reasons.  It is Christian YA fiction, but I had no idea until deep into the book.  Christian books just aren't really my normal thing to read not being a religious person.  If I had known that upfront, I probably wouldn't have read it as there are things about the book that bothered me exactly for this reason.  The book was a little judgmental, such as the way the Christian teens in the book are basically perfect or pretty close to it and the non-Christian teens being hoodlums basically.  That rubbed me the wrong way and being a good person, being smart, doing the right thing, etc. isn't mutually exclusive to Christians.  The judgmental stuff really affected my views on the book.  Without it, it was actually pretty good and would have been a solid 4 stars easily, even with the religious content.  I appreciated that it differed from many YA books in not having a boy somehow fix or solve the teen girl's issues.  That happens too much in books and movies for teens, so it's refreshing when that is in no way part of the story.  This was about a girl from a tough background (mom in prison, her in the foster system, etc.) finding her place in the world, and it could have easily slipped into that pattern.  The family dynamics between Katie and her foster parents and foster grandma were great, especially the grandma.  There was also a lot of humor in the book, and I really liked Katie's personality and sense of humor.  This is part of a series, but I'm unsure on if I will read the others.  This one was free for my Kindle, and if I could get the others for free too I might check them out.  I doubt I would pay more than 99 cents for them, though, as the judgmental stuff really did bug me.  I do think it's probably a great series for anyone looking for wholesome YA type literature for their daughter, especially if they are religious.  I would add, though, a good lesson on not judging others would go along well with it. 

Heart Like Mine

Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany
Published March 19, 2013

About the Book:

When a young mother dies under mysterious circumstances, those she leaves behind begin looking for answers in the past—and find a long-buried secret they could have never imagined.
Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?

At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been the one taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again.

But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew.

Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli’s troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant and hopeful portrait about womanhood, love, and the challenges of family life.

My Thoughts:  

I gave this 3 stars on Goodreads; would have been 3.5 if half stars were possible.  I would have given it 4, but the book ends very abruptly, with much left unanswered, and that drives me crazy.  Up to that point, I really enjoyed the book.  It's well written with well-developed characters.  The dialogue and situations are realistic, and it's written in a way that draws you in and makes you care about the characters.  It's told in alternating points of view between Grace and Ava, plus flashbacks from Kelli.  It's an interesting story with a great look at how grief affects people, family dynamics, and in Grace, a really strong female character.  Those things were all wonderful with this book.  The ending just really affected my thoughts on it, though.  I would have easily rated it 4/4.5 stars if it weren't for the ending.  I do look forward to reading more of Hatvany's books, as this was my first of hers and I really enjoyed her writing otherwise.  I hope the others have better endings.  

The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard

The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard by Richard Bryndza
Published 2012

About the Book:

Coco Pinchard was never a single thirty-something. She married young, had a son, and put her dream to be a writer on hold. 

Now her first novel is published. Husband Daniel has greyed nicely into a silver fox, and son Rosencrantz is grown up. It should be time to enjoy life. 

That is, until the annual family Christmas when her hideous mother-in-law Ethel comes to stay, and Coco opens her gift from Daniel. It’s not the jewellery she chose, but an iPhone. This marks the start of Daniel’s mid-life crisis and she catches him in bed with a younger woman. 

The iPhone becomes a confessional of sorts, through emails to her friends Chris, an ageing trustafarian and Marika a slightly alcoholic schoolteacher. Coco documents her seemingly endless (and often entertaining!) run of bad luck. 

Then she meets the hunky Adam and she’s back in the world of dating as a single forty-something... 

Read the emails that tell the hilarious tale of Coco picking up the pieces, in this fun, feel good Romantic Comedy.

My Thoughts:

I bought this for my Kindle for 99 cents, so it's a major bargain.  I wasn't expecting a lot with the 99 cent price tag, but it was hilarious!  Many comparisons have been made to Bridget Jones, and I think that is very fair.  It's very British and very funny.  The entire book is Coco's emails to her friends and family.  It's an easy and quick read, and again, it is hilarious funny.  Multiple times, I found myself laughing loudly, even snorting a few times from laughing so hard.  Coco is a hoot, but maybe even funnier is her mother-in-law Ethel.  I highly recommend this one!  There are follow-up books as well, and I can't wait to read them too. 

All Fall Down

All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner
Published June 17, 2014

About the Book:

Allison Weiss has a great job...a handsome husband...an adorable daughter...and a secret.

Allison Weiss is a typical working mother, trying to balance a business, aging parents, a demanding daughter, and a marriage. But when the website she develops takes off, she finds herself challenged to the point of being completely overwhelmed. Her husband’s becoming distant, her daughter’s acting spoiled, her father is dealing with early Alzheimer’s, and her mother’s barely dealing at all. As she struggles to hold her home and work life together, and meet all of the needs of the people around her, Allison finds that the painkillers she was prescribed for a back injury help her deal with more than just physical discomfort—they help her feel calm and get her through her increasingly hectic days. Sure, she worries a bit that the bottles seem to empty a bit faster each week, but it’s not like she’s some Hollywood starlet partying all night, or a homeless person who’s lost everything. It’s not as if she has an actual problem.

However, when Allison’s use gets to the point that she can no longer control—or hide—it, she ends up in a world she never thought she’d experience outside of a movie theater: rehab. Amid the teenage heroin addicts, the alcoholic grandmothers, the barely-trained “recovery coaches,” and the counselors who seem to believe that one mode of recovery fits all, Allison struggles to get her life back on track, even as she’s convincing herself that she’s not as bad off as the women around her.

With a sparkling comedic touch and tender, true-to-life characterizations, All Fall Down is a tale of empowerment and redemption and Jennifer Weiner’s richest, most absorbing and timely story yet.

My Thoughts:

Weiner is one of my favorite authors and one who I feel just keeps getting better and better.  There are some other authors I love and have followed since their first book who are still good but their books have lost something a little along the way.  That is far from the case with Weiner.  This was maybe her best yet, or it's at least one of her best.  It's a more serious turn for her, but the trademark things that are her are still here.  Her wit and gift for writing women who come across as being very real is here, as is in all of her books.  Her characters have grown up with her as her books have gone from younger women and the perils of dating to a woman dealing with the issues faced with marriage, motherhood, aging parents, careers, etc.  

Allison is a character who I think many women can relate to; she's juggling all of the various hats that women wear these days and the pressure that comes with it all.  Many struggle with the feeling we must be perfect and handle it all, but really, who can do that and stay sane?  The story also deals with addiction to painkillers which is a common issue for many.  It has become prevalent in recent years and in the spotlight with several celebrities who have dealt with it.  I haven't dealt with it personally, but what Weiner has written reads as being realistic.  It's an addiction that can happen to anyone with all of our medications that seem to have side effects worse than what they are healing us of that we have available to "help" us these days.  I have dealt with a back injury, and I was so paranoid about how addictive pain meds are that I suffered through it with taking as little of them as possible, for as short of time as I could because of my fears of ending up just as Allison did.  

Without giving anything away, I was also very pleased with where Weiner went with the story and how it ended.  She did a great job of portraying the downward spiral of a stressed out mother becoming addicted.  She writes well the denial of that women regarding being addicted, as addicts have a hard time accepting that they are, in fact, addicted.  Also, the ending isn't just tied up with a neat bow and perfect at the end.  Life rarely is that easy, and the way the book ended read as something authentic, not something hunky dory perfect like books can be sometimes.  I appreciated that, as especially with women's literature, it's something that happens a lot, and easily achieved happily ever after just isn't real.  This is a much smarter and more complex book than the average women's lit/chick lit book.  

Also have to mention, love her mentions of The Bachelor!  I LOVE following her Tweets each week when it is on.  She's hilarious!!