Review: Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

December 5, 2012 by · 14 Comments

Book Title/Author: Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio
Publisher/Year:  Plume 2012
Genre: Mystery/historical fiction – Adult Fiction
Series: No
Other Books From Author: The Violets of March, The Bungalow

Amazon| Goodreads | Sarah Jio’s website |

I checked this out from my wonderful library. LIBRARIES ARE COOL, y’all!

 

 

 

Told in alternating perspectives, Blackberry Winter tells the story of two woman, decades apart, but whose stories become intertwined when a freak weather phenomenon in May, a blackberry winter, unearths an unsolved kidnapping from the 1930s. Vera Ray is a single mother who is struggling to pay rent with her low paying job as a maid at a ritzy hotel. With no way to pay for childcare, she tucks her three year old son in bed to work the night shift, only to return home to discover that there has been a freak snowstorm and Daniel has gone missing with only his favorite teddy bear left behind. Almost 80 years later, Claire, a reporter and wife in the midst of a failing marriage, wakes up to Seattle covered in snow and her boss wanting a great feature connecting the blackberry winter of today to the one in 1933. Claire finds the story of the missing child that went unsolved and sets out to find out what happened as Vera’s story becomes personal to her — even more so than she’d ever realized.

I really, really loved Blackberry Winter! It was a captivating story that and has made me a huge Sarah Jio fan with just one book. The way the two women’s stories were intertwined and told in alternating chapters really worked for me as I learned more about each women & their life in smaller pieces — which really piled on the suspense! I was so invested in both Vera & Claire’s stories that I’d finish one chapter and be all, “Oh man! I don’t want to switch perspectives” but then immediately be absorbed in the other woman’s story.I loved learning about Vera’s back story and how she became a single mother (umm rather swoony and then completely heartbreaking) while simultaneously learning more about what happened to her and Daniel through Claire’s investigation. That storyline REALLY got to me and Sarah Jio knows how to deliver bits of answers in a way that you can’t help but hastily read because you really care so much about what happened.

I was afraid I wasn’t going to really connect with Claire with the nature of the fact that so much of what she does in the book is help us learn more about Vera and Daniel but Sarah Jio really made her into a character I loved as she had so many of her own heartbreaking issues to deal with that really drew her to this story. While obviously her investigation about Vera was the shining storyline, I thought that Claire’s marital issues and the unfortunate accident that happened in their life was really interesting and I loved the healing that went on throughout the story in different ways. The only thing that I will say is that sometimes I thought things were a little bit too much of a coincidence but not in a way that really detracted from the story at all. But besides that, this book was fantastic & I’ll be reading all of her books!

 

Blackberry Winter was the perfect blend of mystery and historical fiction, laced with romance, and a serious page-turner. The  pieces of the mystery were revealed in that way that just makes on ravenous and the two intertwined stories were heartbreaking and beautiful. Truly a moving story that will leave you a bit misty-eyed while reading about Vera’s story — both through the back story & Claire’s investigation. Sarah Jio has just such smooth & exquisite writing — the unraveling of the mystery, the scenes that make your heart ache, the amazing characterization & more — it was just all so deftly and wonderfully written. Even if you typically don’t read adult fiction, I’d recommend still checking this one out!

 

You May Also Like: Kate Morton,  Lucinda Riley, The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rassmussen (it has that some sort of amazingly revealed mystery without being an overly “mystery” book — great characters, stories that make a mark on your heart, etc). 

 

Let’s Talk: Have you read this one? Heard of it? Did you guess how they were tied together? Have you read either of Sarah Jio’s other novels?  Which one should I tackle next?

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, adult historical fiction, Adult Mystery, book review, Contemporary Adult Fiction, mystery Tagged With: , , , ,

Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty

May 11, 2012 by · 18 Comments

Jessica Darling seriesBook Title/Author: Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
Publisher/Year: Crown Publishing 2003
Genre: I’ve always seen it in the Adult Contemporary section but the MC is a senior in high school
Series: Yes. Second Helpings is the second book in the Jessica Darling Series. Read my review of Sloppy Firsts.
Other Books From Author: Bumped series

Amazon| Goodreads | Megan McCafferty’s website

 

The second installment of the Jessica Darling series sealed the deal…although I can pretty confidently say I was ready to declare FAVE SERIES EVER status when I read Sloppy Firsts. But, oh, Second Helpings reaffirmed the series as my favorite coming of age story with it’s hilarity, wit, memorable characters, acute observations and insights into what it means to be a teenage girl. I’m annoyed at myself for leaving this series hanging despite for being madly in love with it.

Second Helpings sashays us through Jessica Darling’s senior year of high school and the perils of finding a college, dealing with the mess between she and Marcus Flutie (ow ow! ) who she hasn’t talked to since things ALL THE THINGS went down, & all the crazy fun antics with the Clueless Two. And it NEVER GETS OLD. Seriously, there are so many new and fabulous characters introduced, we get to see more of some characters who weren’t as developed in Sloppy Firsts (Gladdie Bridget! Len!) and of course we get to revisit the characters that are at the heartbeat of this novel. I grew to really love Gladdie and Bridget in this one! Gladdie is a riot!

HOLY MANNA FROM HEAVEN! The Marcus/Jessica tension that Megan McCafferty delivered was INTENSE. I would be reading certain parts and just be squeezing the life out of my book…willing them just to be together!!  I get goosebumps just thinking about some of the parts! The You. Yes. You. part, the bathroom of the funeral parlor part, etc. etc. I could go on. AND THE ENDING OF THIS ONE. OMG. My heart can’t take it. You giveth and you take awayeth, Megan McCafferty. I also felt like we got to KNOW more about Marcus and I fell deeper into my fictional romance with him.

In this one, I have to be honest, I found myself often frustrated with Jessica and her actions but I still loved the crap outta here. She’s the best friend that you just want to smack and be like “DUDE STOP BEING A DUMBASS!” but you still love her. She was a little more whiny and woe is me but then I realized — oh dear god, I was totally and, still am probably, like that when things get hard and messy and confusing. And I’d say her situation was pretty damn complicated.

My Final Thought: Coming back to this story was like coming back to college after summer break and seeing old familiar faces — excitement buzzes as you flit about to see people you haven’t seen in months, your friendships don’t miss a bit and you start right back where you left off. It feels like home more than you ever realize before. The LOL moments are fantastic, the Marcus/Jessica tension is to die for & I fell more and more in love with this series and feel a kinship to Jessica Darling, who no doubt, would be my bff if I lived in Pineville.  Definitely my favorite series ever! Like I get close to joyful tears when I think about these books. GAHHH! Prerequisite for friendship from now is going to have to be that people have read and at least kind of enjoyed these books. Bonus points if you are obsessed.

 Review On A Post-It:

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, book review, contemporary YA fiction, Uncategorized, Young Adult Fiction

A Long Long Time Ago & Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka

May 9, 2012 by · 3 Comments

Title/Author: A Long Long Time Ago & Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
Publisher/Year: Mariner Books 2009
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction
How I Got This Book: I got it from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love when you read a book thinking that it will probably be just a decent read but you begin to read and realize that you have a gem in your hands–a gem that you end up really loving. A Long Long Time Ago & Essentially True was that kind of experience for me.

Pasulka skillfully intertwines the two threads of the story until they become one–inextricably bound by Poland’s history and the hope of a better future. The stories are told in alternating chapters. I’ve read books where the transitions feels awkward and jumbled and I find myself forgetting or getting bored with one storyline. Pasulka delicately handled these transitions in a way that made sense. She ended the chapters right where they needed to end and I was able to effortlessly glide through the book. I really appreciated this.

The first of the story lines revolves around Pigeon and Anielica Hetmanski and their love story which is sweet and innocent but tragic in ways. The progression of their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their love story is forever changed by World War II (this isn’t a war story, I promise) as they must deal with the immediate dangers of war along with the rebuilding in the aftermath. The second storyline springs forward to modern Poland with Baba Yaga (the granddaughter of Anielica) as she comes to the city after the death of her grandmother and tries to grapple with her culture and finding her place in Krakow. Baba Yaga is a endearing heroine in my mind as she grows. I found her so relateable as a young woman–she isn’t strong in a traditional sense, she isn’t sure about herself or her future, and she sells her self short time and time again.

My only major qualm with this gem of a book is this: I don’t mind when an author sprinkles the native language of the characters into the narrative as long as I am able to deduce the meaning of the word from the “context clues.” (oh hey there 5th grade language lessons.) I feel like the author used way too many Polish words and it wasn’t always clear what they meant.

I would highly recommend this debut novel. Her writing is magical in itself and her characters are alive and complex. There are beautiful little mini love stories throughout but not in the mushy gushy way–so real you could mistake them for the stories of your own grandparents or great grandparents. This book is full of wit, wisdom, and hope–all needed to balance the heartbreak and tragedy. It pays homage to the lives of those who had to live through the War/Communist regime and the generation who had to move forward with those pieces.

You will be moved. I’m just warning you.

*THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 7/15 but WordPress ate it when I transferred from Blogger to WP. BOO.*

 

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, adult historical fiction, Fiction

Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream

March 26, 2012 by · 8 Comments

Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream is set up by chapters which count down the last 30 days of Clementine’s life as she plans and prepares for her suicide. Each chapter chronicles her day as she goes about her business to prepare and plan for her impending departure – things as mundane as cleaning out her refrigerator to finding a new owner for her rambunctious cat and making contact with her estranged father. Along the way there is drama, unearthing of secrets and quite a few things that could derail her plan. Mostly it’s hilarious, despite you’d think the tone would be with a book about suicide, but it’s also a little heartbreaking when you learn more about Clementine’s life. You just want to save her.

It’s a strange experience reading this book. As you are reading you become, like her, more and more at peace with her decision so to speak. I wouldn’t say I was rooting her on in her suicide but you find yourself almost accepting of it in the strangest way and you keep reading on swiftly to see if she actually goes through with it. I have to applaud the author for writing in such a way that you take on that resignation and feeling of peace that Clementine has in her decision.

Clementine herself was such a strange and interesting character! She’s snarky, a free spirited artist, quite ballsy & altogether just memorable. I felt as though some of her reckless actions and interesting decision making really mirrored her commitment to going through with her suicide. Why care about what you eat when you aren’t going to be alive in a few weeks? One night stands…not a problem when you don’t have to worry about the repercussions.

There were a few things that prevented this book from being stellar or awesome. Sometimes some of the descriptions of the mundane things…were just TOO mundane and I’d find myself skipping over a half of page to get to a part where she’s being hilarious in her observations or something. My other problem came with the ending. I’m not going to say much but it was not really satisfying to me. I can’t explain it without giving things away…but I just felt very underwhelmed.

Final Thought: Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream was a good read! It wasn’t a favorite by any means but it was refreshing and I’m glad I received a copy of it from the publisher. It was such an interesting read being inside the head of a character who has made peace with herself and her decision to commit suicide. It’s comical read, despite the subject matter, and I found myself giggling quite a lot. I couldn’t put it down until I found out whether or not she went through with it! Recommended for lovers of contemporary women’s fiction who want something refreshing and unique!

Review On A Post-It:

Find it on Goodreads or Amazon

Filed Under: 2012 adult fiction, 2012 debut novels, Adult Fiction, book review, Contemporary Adult Fiction, contemporary fiction, suicide, womens fiction Tagged With: ,

Review: The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni

October 17, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Book/Author: The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni
Publisher/Year: Putnam Adult 2010
Genre: Adult Fiction (but I think it would have great crossover appeal for readers of Young Adult Literature)

The House of Tomorrow is about a teen boy named Sebastian who lives with his grandmother in this dome on top of a hill. His grandma is way into Futurism and the teachings of Buckminster Fuller and so he is certifiably an oddball character as he is homeschooled and has been brought up in a very unconventional, quirky way with very little interaction with other people and certainly not any kids his own age. This all changes when a scary event leads him to the Whitcombs who have a boy Sebastian’s age who on the outside is a punk loving kid with a bad attitude.

I wanted to love this book more than I did. This was the sort of book that was like, “Ok good book. Glad I read it. But I wish I felt more about it than I actually do…or probably should.” I think maybe it was the hype I had seen for it..I don’t know. I really enjoyed the character of Sebastian because he certainly could be King of the Oddballs and I think that anyone who really enjoys genuinely quirky characters would fall in love with him! I really loved the relationship between Sebastian and Jared because they are both such outcasts in their own way and have both understood what it is like to live a bit of a sheltered life. All of the characters were really lively in fact and I loved Sebastian’s interactions with them all. Even the briefest of characters were written with such extraordinary depth – like the record shop owner or the kids in the youth group. I loved how music just pulsed through this book – the love and appreciation for it, that first time discovery of music that is able to awaken every sense within you and the bond that a mutual love for creating music and listening to music can form.

While I thought the whole Futurism thing was interesting as part of the plot, I felt some of the book got bogged down by it while I was reading it. I felt like I was getting some info dumps that I just didn’t care about. I wanted to get into the heart of a story rather than learn about these teachings. Get past that first part that had a lot of the teachings and it gets much more interesting but they really did slow me down. I also felt like there was something deep and profound I was supposed to be taking away from the book, and while I did find a few nuggets, I mostly felt like it’s the type of book that could easily be one of those ones that are overhyped for how profound it is. Like, “omg look how deep I am!”

The Final Thought: The House of Tomorrow really was a good read but not the great read that I had hoped it would be. I am glad that I picked it up! There is something quite profound within the pages and Bognanni is a really great writer whose style I could see being really popular. It kind of reminds me of books like The Catcher in the Rye or like The Perks of Being A Wallflower with the characters and the coming of age story. If you love music (especially punk rock!) this book would be a really excellent read!

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, Contemporary Adult Fiction, contemporary fiction, crossover fiction, Fiction

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

September 4, 2011 by · 35 Comments

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Three Rivers Press 2001
Buy it here; Read more about it here.

You know how sometimes you read and liked a book but don’t know what to say about it? NOT THIS BOOK!! This is one of those times where I am furiously putting fingers to keys to implore you to FREAKING READ THIS BOOK. I have to because there is only so many times I can tell my fiance that “I EFFING LOVE THIS BOOK!” before he finds me irritating as hell and before I get annoyed that he isn’t taking any action to read this amazing book.

When I bought this series for my sister back in 2008 IN THE ADULT SECTION, after many many people on Goodreads recommended them for lovers of chick-lit, I never thought I’d read them or find them making my way on my sacred favorites list. EVER. I was pretty did not read anything resembling chick-lit at this stage in my life. My suggestion to you if you haven’t read these books: Forget any label you’ve ever heard about these books — chick-lit, YA or Adult fiction — and read them NOW! Experience the hilarity and awesomeness that is Jessica Darling.

Sloppy Firsts, where do I even begin? I read this book in the course of 24 hours and has been one of the only books that I’ve read that managed to make me giggle OUT LOUD every couple of pages. I couldn’t keep it in and I even let out a loud snort which embarrassed my fiance. Truly, Jessica Darling is hilarious, witty and makes astute observations about high school and adolescence that really is quite humorous.

I remember reading Judy Blume when I was younger and felt as though her books were written based on my inner thoughts and life events. Jessica Darling is certainly a voice that will resonate with most women as she gives an authentic voice to all of our past insecurities, firsts, messy relationships and more. There were so many parts in this book that I could relate to and that is what makes Jessica so special. No matter who you were in high school….you can find her easy to relate to. No doubt, Jessica Darling has become one of my all time favorite characters EVER. She’s not perfect at all but she is still so strong and smart and, even though sometimes she falters, she knows who she is! She comes to her realizations realistically and I love that her life doesn’t involve being a skank or thinking she is nobody without a boyfriend. She is like any normal teen who worries about guys, even obsesses over the slightest thing, but she does not live, breathe, nor find her worth in guys. MY KIND OF GIRL.

Oh and Marcus Flutie. I had to fan myself while reading parts that included him. He’s got that sexy confidence going on and I love it. He’s interesting and not cookie cutter. I love that he’s not the most attractive, god-like guy in Jessica’s mind and I love the quirky way in which their relationship progresses. I was pretty much salivating all over my book towards the end when we get to know him more. My only qualms..MORE I WANT MORE. Do realize how god-like Marcus Flutie has become?! I wanted more of him because what we got to know…he’s an intriguing guy and I have so many picture of drool worthy men in my mind. I never thought dreadlocks would be a sexy factor BUT HOT DAYUM…I can just see him with all his dreadlock hottness. With how this book ends, I can’t wait to see what happens between them!

My Final Thought: Whether you like YA or Adult fiction, read this. I don’t know what is ACTUALLY categorized as I have only ever seen it in the adult section but this shouldn’t matter because this book is THAT good if you appreciate genuine coming of age stories that will make you die laughing from the witty, snarky musings of a teenage girl of whom you’ll vicariously relive high school all over again in all of its embarrassing, awkward, confusing glory! One of the greatest romps through adolescence that I’ve ever had. It’s just so realistic (umm hello PARENTS in the picture rather than teenagers running amok) and I found myself cringing, laughing, rolling my eyes, rejoicing and squeeing right along Jessica.

Review On A Post-It:

And if that doesn’t entice you..here are just a SMALL SMALL percentage of the great passages in this book:

“You can only be in a bad mood for so long before you have to face up to the fact that it isn’t a bad mood at all; it’s just your sucky personality.”

“Am I the only creature with a vagina who thinks that weddings are ridiculous? I’m going to elope. Just me, my hubby, and a minister on a beach in Jamaica.”

“Then a lightning bolt shot straight through my skivvies. Sha-ZAM!”

“This is my new hobby. I watch my life depart minute by minute. I anticipate the end of everything and anything — a conversation, a class, track practice, darkness — only to be left with more clock-watching to take its place. I’m continually waiting for something better that never comes. Maybe it would help if I knew what I wanted.” 

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, book review, Contemporary Adult Fiction, contemporary YA fiction, crossover fiction, Humor, Jessica Darling, Megan McCafferty, most popular posts, Sloppy Firsts, Young Adult

Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Fall 2011- Top Ten Tuesday

August 30, 2011 by · 32 Comments

 My list is a mix of new releases and books I already own as I’m really trying to get through a good chunk of the books I own this Fall….WHICH IS SUPER HARD WITH ALL THE GOOD RELEASES COMING OUT! As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at my other blog — The Broke and the Bookish!

1. Shade & Shift  — My blogging bff Jen has been telling me since the dawn of time that I need to read these and she is SUCH a wonderful person that she just sent them to me so they are WAY bumped up on my list! And plus, I got to meet Jeri Smith-Ready at BEA and she was AWEEEESOME. Like seriously…look what she did for her biggest fan Jen — thanks to Lindsey for packing Jen!

2. Every You, Every Me by David Levithan – Um…because I love David’s books and have met him twice so it’s an automatic top of the TBR.

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bones — I got this at BEA and it’s been staring at me to read it! I’ve heard it is quite good!

4. Harry Potter – Yeah, you know…since I STILL have not read these. BUT this time I have motivation because Jen and I are going to do some collaborative vlogs about reading these for the first time and it’s going to be AWEEESOME.

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett – I’ve been meaning to read this forever ago when I bought it so that I will do. Plus, I’d really like to see the movie.

6. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater — Simply put, I think Carla will end our friendship, excommunicate me from the blogosphere or do something equally as cruel that she has up her British little sleeve. And look how beautiful our friendship is..I couldn’t do let that happen.
 

 

7. The Lost Girls – I had a fit about how I NEEDED to buy this book and haven’t read it yet. SO..it’s been bumped up so I can vicariously live through their travels as I will most likely have some major travel blues since summer will be over and I equate summer with road trips and traveling and all things fun.

8. The Name Of the Star by Maureen Johnson — I was about ready to promise my firstborn to someone at BEA so I could take their place in line to have. HOWEVER, I highly doubt Jamie spawn is high in demand. I will be at the bookstore as soon as it opens to make sure this is in my hands and probablyyy conveniently be sick that day at work. What? Did I say that? Juuuust kidding, work friends.

9. The Taker by Alma Katsu — After reading Nicole’s review for this I just had to have it so I was DELIGHTED to see it at the Book Blogger Convention. YAY adult books from BEA..because I didn’t get many of those!

10. Liesel & Po by Lauren Oliver — I almost cried tears of joy and started giggling like a maniac when this was in a nice little goodie bag from HarperTeen at BEA. Literally. I had to will myself into an emotional-less state so I didn’t seem crazypants. I love Lauren Oliver’s writing and I’ve heard this is AMAZING. And her letter to her readers. OMG. SLAY ME.

11. I HAD TO GUYS. Number 11 is definitely Shatter Me!! How could I forget that one?! Another BEA book that I was ecstatic about!


12. Re-read:  The lovely Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit let me borrow this after BEA and if you read my review of Lola and the Boy Next Door you will know how much I LOVED IT. OMG I don’t reread as often as I used to but you can bet your book-toting asses I will be getting my own copy and rereading it that day.

 So that was near impossible because I had a bajillion more I could have put on this list. What about you?? What books are at the top of your TBR list for the Fall?

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, books, reading, TBR list, To be read, Top Ten Tuesday, Young Adult

Catalog Creepin’ – HarperCollins Winter/Spring 2012 Catalog

August 22, 2011 by · 11 Comments
Catalog Creepin’ is a feature here at The Perpetual Page-Turner that was inspired by the “Books to Pine For” feature over at Kristi’s blog and really fueled by my obsession with scouring catalogs from my favorite publishers to see what upcoming books I should be adding to my already-ready-to-topple-over To Be Read list. Each Catalog Creepin’ post will spotlight a different catalog from my favorite publishers and their imprints. I won’t be covering all publishers — just my personal favorites whether they be the big honchos or smaller publishing houses. There is always the potential for a new publisher to be added when I discover new ones that I am enjoying. 

I haven’t had time to do one of these with how hectic my life has been but I am ready and raring to go since I got a peek of some of these catalogs. SO MANY GOOD TITLES. When I go broke, I’m holding HarperCollins, especially Harper Teen, personally responsible. :P
YA Fiction

Everneath by Brodi Ashton – January 3, 2012: This cover is so pretty! The premise of the story sounds so intriguing too and  Everneath world sounds so very interesting!


The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers – December 27, 2011: When I first started reading over the summary for this book I was meh about it but THEN it started in with an offer from three sisters and breaking hearts..and WOW. Cannot waaaaaait.

 Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi – February 7, 2012: Ohhh snap..I haven’t found a dystopia novel that I’m more excited for in 2012 than this one! And I reallyyyy like the cover. Sounds like an interesting world that Aria lives in and the chance for a good love story!

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows – January 31, 2012: I keep seeing people talk about this as a dystopian novel BUT it’s looking like more of a UTOPIA! Hooray!! Not going to lie…this is probably the one out of all of the catalog that I’m most excited for!!

 The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth – February 7, 2012: This sounds like a wonderful contemp for 2012! A girl, who is trying to figure out her sexuality, goes to live with her veryyy conservative aunt after her parents die. Her “secret” gets exposed at some point and I’m just really thinking this is going to be a powerful coming of age story that explores sexuality.

 Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig – March 13, 2012: Modern day Robin Hood…umm YA! Need I say more?

 Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith – December 27th, 2011: The cover is pretty saucyyy! I’m pretty excited about this one because it seems like a good contemporary YA romance! I’m hoping it really plays out that way!

 Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver – March 6, 2012: OMGGGG!  Whyyyy do we have to wait so long for this one!! You all know how much I looooved Delirium (well, you should, if not…GO HERE!) and it ended SO CRAZY. Can’t wait.

Last Echo by Kimberly Derting – April 17, 2012: I am so excited to find out what happens next..and honestly I need more Jay!! I loved The Body Finder more than I did Desires of The Dead but it left off in a place that set up some pretty interesting things.

ADULT FICTION

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey – January 17, 2012: A modern telling of Jane Eyre, y’all! AND it is set in Scotland! I’ve heard good things about Livesey’s writing, too!

The Demi-Monde by Rod Rees: This one was already published it looks like after I did a little research but is being republished by William Morrow and I thought it was definitely noteworthy to add. It seems like a crazy apocolyptic/dystopian novel and I’m excited. Looks like a veryyy thick book but hopefully it is choked full of good world building!

 The Cannibal’s Children by Tamar Myers – January 31, 2012: This one looks really interesting and reminds me a bit of The Poisonwood Bible. I’ll be keeping my eye on this one for sure!

Cold Light by Jenn Ashworth – March 20, 2012: This is another one that, after a little research, I realize has already been published but is now being published by WM but it looked so interesting I had to share! This looks intriguing — 3 fourteen year old girls, murder and lies!

 Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream – March 6, 2012: This is the one that I’m probably looking most forward to because it just sounds so interesting. The book follows Clementine, a witty artist, who has things going  for her in life but she’s decided that there isn’t anything worth living for so she gives herself thirty days to tie up loose ends and then she will kill herself. The summary says that we find out the reason behind WHY she wants to kill herself and I’m just really intrigued.



Are you excited for any of these? Did I mention any that you hadn’t heard of but will now be on your radar?

Filed Under: 2012 adult fiction, 2012 debut novels, 2012 YA releases, Adult Fiction, Catalog Creepin', HarperCollins Spring Catalog, HarperCollins Winter catalog, Young Adult

So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman

August 15, 2011 by · 5 Comments

So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman
Simon & Schuster – March 2011
Adult Fiction

A young girl disappears from a rural town in upstate New York and, when the body turns up five months later, new-in-town reporter Stacy Flynn thinks this story will be the break she’s been looking for and a much needed shift from the story about the environmental impact of the dairy farms that are the bread and butter of this town that she was previously working on. Stacy becomes even more of an outsider when she suspects that it could be someone that lives in the town rather than a drifter like everyone else seems to think. Affected by the death of a peer, Alice Piper, a very smart and unique girl whose family is seen as outsiders for being a bit eccentric, starts trying to come to her own conclusions about who Wendy’s murderer is. Alice must decide if she should get involved to make things right or should she just go about her business like everybody else?


On one hand, this was one of the most psychologically thrilling and suspenseful books I’ve read in a while. And on the other hand, I could not get through this novel. It just took me so long and I found myself not really dying to pick it up. I know this sounds weird but that was the way my experience was.


Firstly, the premise was interesting from the beginning to me. Immediately in the beginning of the story it points to something Alice did in the course of this novel and wanting to know what this big thing she did WAS really propelled me throughout this story. I also, from the get-go, obviously wanted to know who the killer was and what this town was hiding. Those things kept me going and the whole story that unraveled was honestly just a crazy suspenseful ride! The whole ending with Alice was insane and I just could not brace myself during the reading of the last part of the book!


But on the other hand, what kept me from truly getting into this novel was the fact of how confusing it all was. I don’t mind novels from multiple perspectives or that switch back and forth in time (The Time Traveler’s Wife) but this one seemed super disjointed and confusing to me especially in the beginning. It was all over the place…from this character to that character to a character from when she was 5 to now and back again. I seriously could have gotten some whiplash from all the changing perspectives and time periods. I kept getting confused of who characters were and where we were in the story and it was annoying because I felt like I kept having to go back and figure out things that I was reading. For whatever reason, this novel just slowed me down with the style…which is unfortunate because typically this does not happen with multiple narrators or switching back and forth. 


I thought the moral and social issues that arose in this book were fascinating and unsettling. The story truly felt like something that could have been taken from your nightly news which is probably why I found it so disturbing..albeit there was much more drama in this book. I found it to be of much more substance than other crime thrillers that I’ve read and much more “literary” but unfortunately the style really just put a damper on my overall enjoyment. I honestly pushed myself to read through it just so I could find out what the heck happened! Was it worth it? In some ways but I’m not sure I would feel bad if someone would have just told me the ending. Ultimately, it packed quite a punch that I wouldn’t have gotten from someone just telling me what happened.  



* This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Question: Has the style of a book ever ruined a perfectly good story for you?

Filed Under: Adult Fiction, Contemporary Adult Fiction, Fiction, justice, mystery, small towns, suspense, thriller

Review: The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan

June 14, 2011 by · 22 Comments

I was really ecstatic when I heard that that David Levithan was writing an adult novel because I love me some David and I read quite a bit of adult as well…and because it was about loooove. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but I knew if it was like most of David’s novels I’d feel some sort of connection to it.

The Lover’s Dictionary was SUCH an interestingly lovely read that I DEVOURED in a day. Each page contains a passage of prose that reflects a word from the dictionary and it is written as though it is a dictionary entry. The passages range in length, some being a sentence or two and some being half of a page long, and follow the love story between a nameless narrator and his lover. You feel kind of a distance at first because you are only seeing snippets (not chronologically) of their love story and because they ARE nameless but you find yourself reading these intensely intimate thoughts and raw emotions and this couple becomes so exposed as the book gives glimpses into some of the most joyful and exciting times in their relationship as well as some of the most difficult and trying times in their relationship.

This book was really such an honest portrayal of the many facets of love as it examines the joys, the doubts, the heartbreaks, the sacrifices and the different nuances and quirks in the love affair between two people. Some passages made me laugh, cry and reflect on my own relationship as certain feelings or situations would hit close to home. The writing was exquisite and I found myself bookmarking page after page thinking that each passage was my new favorite only for it to be dethroned by another.

Some I wanted to share:


ineffable, adj.
these words will ultimately end up being the barest of reflections, devoid of the sensations words cannot convoy. Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough.“

autonomy, n.
“I want my books to have their own shelves,” you said, and that’s how I knew it would be okay to live together”

placid, adj.
Sometimes I love it when we just lie on our backs, gaze off, stay still.

There are SO many wonderful lines and passages in this book but I tried to pick some shorter ones that stood out in my mind.

My final thought: This book was a gem! Upon finishing it I just held it close to my chest because I was amazed at how raw it was and how much I connected with it. I thought of the moments that made my heart flutter in my relationship, I thought about the doubt and the act of learning how to trust in a relationship, the beauty in the mundane and the wonderful journey love really is despite how hard it can be to love and let yourself be loved in a relationship. The prose was something to be savored and I have no doubts that I will read this book again as it has a permanent place on my shelf. Levithan’s delivery was creative and I found the his connection to each of the words to be genius. I’d recommend to lovers of adult fiction who don’t mind something different and who don’t need to be wooed by a fast moving plot.

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Filed Under: Adult Fiction, Contemporary Adult Fiction, love story
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