Sunday Skim

Week of 9/29/2024 & 10/3/2024:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

I really can't complain about my recent reads. The minute I heard that Ed Burns, YES that one, wrote a short novel loosely based on his childhood, I knew I had to read it. Well I listened to it because he narrated and it was really well done. For those who enjoy a little magical realism in their reads, well don't miss The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern and This Spells Love. 

Review Quickies

This book is so lovely. Honestly, I loved the whole thing. I loved Augusta, aka Goldie, and how decades of misunderstandings made her who she was but she wasn't bitter. Irving was a hoot and stuck in a hard place when him and Augusta connect. I loved the cross between traditional medicine and homeopathic treatments with a little extra in them. The cast of characters at the retirement village crack me up and really become a great part of the story. Plus the cover is just stunning. 

This book was on my TBR shelf way too long. I mean I read her sophomore novel, Prime Time Romance, before I did this one. The premise is wonderful because who doesn't want to erase something we've done or someone we've dated but as Gemma realizes you can't take the bad away without taking some of the good. Her Aunt and sister provide some fantastic comedy relief but also steer her the right way. And well Dax, he's just kind of dreamy in both realities. For those that love rom-coms, this one isn't to be missed. I kind of wish it would be a movie or a show. 

I love family stories and even more when they are centered on generations and then the female stories. Our experiences can be very different than the stories created and told by our male counterparts. This is about 4 sisters that each have different gifts and how that has affected the next generation. It's about secrets and family stories. What I think I appreciated was an understanding that we can grow up in the same house as our siblings and have very different experiences. I don't think this is always true but probably more normal than we realize. Our families shape us in different ways and for Ona and Yadi, the next generation it is demonstrated in their life choices. 

Sunday Skim

Week of 9/16/2024 and 9/22/2024:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

Funny Story is now my favorite Emily Henry book and I've adored all of them. I haven't been through the emotional ringer as I was with My Oxford Year and I can't wait for it to be on the big screen. The Ex Vows was soo good that I didn't want it to end. 

The Fabled Earth was a great southern, historical fiction novel that was steeped in generational stories. 

Review Quickies

I've been reading/listening a lot lately but not taking the time to do full blown reviews because does anyone even read blogs anymore? It's always been my reading outlet so I'll continue it but might have to figure out new things to try.

I got this last year as a Book of the Month choice because I love sister stories and always love a bit of magic thrown in. I ended up listening to the audiobook and let me tell you I could not get enough. I loved how the 2 seemingly different plot lines came together. I loved the growth of both Joanna and Esther and how they showed up for each other. Also, that ending leaves me scouring the internet for the sequel publishing date. If you are into magical books, sisters and not knowing who is good or evil, you should pick this up. 

Assistant to the Villain was one of my favorite books in 2023 because it was so unexpected. It's a bit of romantasy and fairy tale blended together to make me laugh out loud. I absolutely couldn't wait for the sequel and I'm happy to say it was worth it. Evie is still clumsy and always saying something to The Villain that makes her blush. The Villain still doesn't know how to handle her or his growing feelings towards her. The cast of characters surrounding them make me laugh and who could have known a frog would be key to a story line. 

I have loved all of Sally's books that I've read in the past and I'm honestly not sure why I kept this on my TBR for so long but man was it good. Family relationships are complicated but I do think the MIL/DIL relationship might be the most fraught. It's not to say it can't be a good one but it needs to be worked at. It also depends on if they want a relationship which is what this book demonstrates. Three generations of Tobias women have to establish their relationships as it relates to the men in their lives. I loved the intergenerational issues that were discussed in the book. I also loved the ending as I felt each character grew and got the future they deserved. 

Julie's Review: The Banned Books Club

Author: Brenda Novak
Series: None
Publication Date:  September 17, 2024
Publisher: Mira
Pages: 368
Obtained: Publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: Returning home is never easy but really not when you were involved in a scandal 
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

Summary: Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot’s borne the brunt of their mother’s care and now it’s Gia’s turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds. As expected, Gia’s homecoming is far from welcome. There’s the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again. When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister’s “perfect” life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her. ~amazon.com 

Review: I have never read a Brenda Novak book, so I went in blind and I'm happy I did. This was a bit heavier subject matter than I expected even having read the summary but I was fully involved in Gia's coming back to her hometown. 

Margot's own struggles and how badly she needed Gia home were front and center as well. I understood why she wasn't honest with her sister, they weren't really that close, but I wish she would have told her. Gia's past is almost immediately thrown upon her when she gets some of the people together at a local bar for Banned Books Club. Gia is tough and won't let people run her out of town again. She's been through a lot and is not the same person she was at 17. She also pulls a stunt to help Margot that put herself in danger and her family. 

Margot is finally learning how to stand up for herself and become her own person. She's been stuck in a situation for so long that she has no other option but to disappear even when her own mom is dying. While Gia might have to be strong to come back home and face her past, Margot is the stronger one of the two given what she has to do. 

The Banned Books Club is about facing the past, standing strong for your truth, family and moving on. 

Sunday Skim

Week of 9/8/2024:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

I have found that I highly enjoy sports romances and as I realize this I also know I will never read them all. I have my niece to thank for getting me into them. If you've followed the blog for any length of time you know that I love anything that has to do with family and the interrelationships within the constructs. I don't think that any relationship is more complex and nuanced than MIL and DIL. Sally Koslow's novel shows this extremely well and I highly recommend it.