Review -- A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans

A Hopeless Romantic
by Harriet Evans
Simon & Schuster, 2007
544 pages
* I bought a copy at the bookstore.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): Laura Foster is a hopeless romantic. Her friends know it, her parents know it - even Laura acknowledges she lives either with her head in the clouds or buried in a romance novel. It's proved harmless enough, even if it hasn't delivered her a real-life dashing hero yet. But when her latest relationship ends in a disaster that costs her friendships, her job, and nearly her sanity, Laura swears off men and hopeless romantic fantasies for good. With her life in tatters around her, Laura agrees to go on vacation with her parents. After a few days of visiting craft shops and touring the stately homes of England, Laura is ready to tear her hair out. And then, while visiting grand Chartley Hall, she crosses paths with Nick, the sexy, rugged estate manager. She finds she shares more than a sense of humor with him - in fact, she starts to think she could fall for him. But is Nick all he seems? Or has Laura got it wrong again? Will she open her heart only to have it broken again?

Review: Laura Foster is annoying and yet I love her. In the beginning of the novel, Laura makes romantic mistake after mistake and her choices effect her family and friends. Once she realizes the terrible mistakes she has made and looks to put her life back together, that is when the tale really picks up speed. At 544 pages, it is a bit long, some sections drag while others race by. In the end I was happy to have read it. It was an enjoyable and entertaining read. Rating: *** out of 5.

Review -- Finny by Justin Kramon

Finny
by Justin Kramon
Random House, 2010
384 pages
*I purchased this book.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): We meet Finny Short as an observant, defiant fourteen-year-old who can’t make sense of her family’s unusual habits: Her mother offers guidance appropriate for a forty-year-old socialite; her father quotes Nietzsche over pancakes. Finny figures she’s stuck with this lonely lot until she meets Earl Henckel, a boy who comes from an even stranger place than she does. Unhappy with Finny’s budding romance with Earl, her parents ship her off to Thorndon boarding school. But mischief follows Finny as she befriends New York heiress Judith Turngate, a girl whose charm belies a disquieting reckless streak. Finny’s relationships with Earl and Judith open her up to dizzying possibilities of love and loss and propel her into a remarkable adventure spanning twenty years and two continents. Justin Kramon has given us a wickedly funny odyssey with a moving and original love story at its core. Finny introduces us to an unforgettable heroine, a charmingly intricate world, and an uncommonly entertaining and gifted young novelist.

Review: When the reader first meets Finny, she is a scrappy sarcastic teenager that feels out of place within her own family. Then she meets Earl and the love she feels begins to change her and as the story continues a variety of events change the course of her life. The book is a great character driven novel and a surprisingly lovely love story. Though, at the heart, it is really a story about growing up and the people and places who influence how a person sees the world and themselves. The author has a wonderful writing style that just flows and the reader gets caught up in Finny's world. A really beautiful story that I could envision as a wonderful movie. Really beautiful, entertaining, and a fantastic read. Rating:****1/2 out of 5

Review -- The Book Club by Mary Alice Munroe

The Book Club
by Mary Alice Monroe
Mira, 2008
368 pages
*I borrowed a copy from the library.

Summary (from Publisher's Weekly via Barnes and Noble): Monroe's (Girl in the Mirror) new novel opens as five friends, all members of a monthly book club, face turning points in their lives. Eve's husband dies suddenly, shattering her comfortable lifestyle, while Midge's mother makes an unannounced and unwelcomed reappearance. Annie finally feels ready to have a child, only to find her health and her marriage in jeopardy. Gabriella strains to make ends meet after her husband is laid off; Doris slides into depression as she tries to deny signs of her husband's infidelity. Sometimes close to and sometimes at odds with each other, the friends struggle to face harsh realities and, in the process, gain new independence.

Review: I had two big problems with this novel. First, I really don't think that I am the target demographic for this novel. Being in my thirties (without children) and reading about women and mothers in their late forties and fifties, I really had a hard time connecting with the characters. My other concern about this novel is the structure. The author spends a lot of time writing about certain members of the book club (such as Eve) and completely disregards others (such as Gabriella). Doris is a no show for many chapters as well. I would have enjoyed it more if there was more symmetry to the story lines and equal time given to the characters. Also, each chapter begins with a quote from the book that the club is reading at that time. Truthfully, I haven't read any of the books (except Pride and Prejudice) but most of the time I didn't understand how the quote and the book tied into the storyline. Other times, I felt the author beat me over the head with an explanation of how the book relates. I read this book for my book club and am looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say about this novel. For me, it just wasn't my cup of tea but I did read the entire book and found portions interesting (especially Doris's transformation). Rating: *1/2 out of 5.

Review -- Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende

Ines of My Soul
by Isabel Allende
HarperCollins, 2006
336 pages
*I borrowed a copy from the library.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): In the early years of the conquest of the Americas, Inés Suárez, a seamstress condemned to a life of toil, flees Spain to seek adventure in the New World. As Inés makes her way to Chile, she begins a fiery romance with Pedro de Valdivia, war hero and field marshal to the famed Francisco Pizarro. Together the lovers will build the new city of Santiago, and they will wage war against the indigenous Chileans—a bloody struggle that will change Inés and Valdivia forever, inexorably pulling each of them toward separate destinies.

Review: This novel is so richly descriptive and wonderfully written. The novel's heroine, Ines Suarez, is a strong woman living during a turbulent and tragic period of Spanish history. The great strength of this book is author's description of the lengths that the Spaniards went to in order to conquer Chile. The journey is impossibly difficult but Ines takes the reader through it one step at a time in her strong and proud point of view. However, there are breaks in her story that show the humble and wise old woman she becomes. A remarkable character driven novel that also educates the reader about a time period very rarely written about. Rating: **** out of 5.

Review -- Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies
by Scott Westerfeld
Simon & Schuster, 2005
448 pages
*I borrow a copy from the library

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Review: An interesting young adult novel set in the future where all sixteen year old 'Uglies' undergo plastic surgery to become 'Pretty'. The plot starts off slow setting up the reader's understanding of this futuristic world and developing the main characters. Once Tally makes the decision to find Shay, the action picks up and the novel becomes very engrossing and enjoyable. Tally and Shay are both very likable characters being underdogs who are going against societal norms. The book also has a great overarching lesson of being happy with yourself and seeing the beauty within. Overall, a fast and enjoyable read. Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.

Review -- Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch

Girls in Trucks
by Katie Crouch
Little, Brown & Company, 2008
256 pages

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): Sarah Walters is a less-than-perfect debutante. She tries hard to follow the time-honored customs of the Charleston Camellia Society, as her mother and grandmother did, standing up straight in cotillion class and attending lectures about all the things that Camellias don't do. (Like ride with boys in pickup trucks.) But Sarah can't quite ignore the barbarism just beneath all that propriety, and as soon as she can she decamps South Carolina for a life in New York City. There, she and her fellow displaced Southern friends try to make sense of city sophistication, to understand how much of their training applies to real life, and how much to the strange and rarefied world they've left behind.
When life's complications become overwhelming, Sarah returns home to confront with matured eyes the motto "Once a Camellia, always a Camellia"- and to see how much fuller life can be, for good and for ill, among those who know you best.

Review: I have conflicting feelings about this novel. When I started reading it, I absolutely loved it. The plot was intermingled with short stories about Sarah's childhood, specifically growing up in the South and being a Camellia. As the novel continued on and she focused on her disastrous love life, I felt sad for Sarah. But when she continued to make unbelievably terrible choices and became bitter about her life, then I began to dislike Sarah and the novel. Overall, I would say it was an interesting character story that was well written. Would I read another novel by Katie Crouch? I would like to try Men and Dogs, because I did enjoy her writing style. It's just difficult to like a novel when you grow to dislike the main character so much. Rating: *** out of 5.

Have you read this novel? If so, leave your thoughts or a link to your review in the comments section!

Review -- Room by Emma Donoghue

Room
by Emma Donoghue
Little, Brown & Company, 2010
321 pages

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Review: This novel's narrator is very unique and author Emma Donoghue does a fantastic job writing the story from a five year old boy's perspective. This novel is intense but you almost are shielded from the danger because at times Jack doesn't feel it. He trusts his Ma almost completely and does what she says. There is also the barrier of a five year old's vocabulary, so the reader needs to infer what is happening to Jack or what some of the objects he is talking about are. Overall, a fantastic, intense, and engrossing read. Many bloggers placed this book on there Top 10 lists for 2010 and deservedly so. Rating: ***** out of 5

Review -- Our Lady of Immaculate Deception by Nancy Martin

Our Lady of Immaculate Deception
by Nancy Martin
St. Martin's Press, 2010
310 pages
*I received this copy as a gift.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): Roxy Abruzzo, bestseller Nancy Martin’s latest creation, is a loud-mouthed, sexy, independent-minded niece of a Pittsburgh Mafia boss trying to go (mostly) straight. She’d like to stay completely out of her uncle Carmine’s shady business dealings, though he's trying to reel her in. She'd like to concentrate on the architectural salvage business she runs mostly on the up and up for a tidy profit. She'd like to keep her rebellious teenage daughter on the straight and narrow. But Roxy knows where all the good intentions in the world usually lead, and when she can’t help herself from tucking away an ancient Greek statue that's not really hers, she pays for it by getting caught up in the chaos surrounding the sordid murder of the statue’s former owner, heir to a billion-dollar Pittsburgh steel fortune.

Review: I have a slight bias when it comes to Nancy Martin. I absolutely love her books! This one was no exception. Though I did have a tough time getting started (Roxy is very different from my beloved Blackbird Sisters) and some of the plot was predictable, I really enjoyed the book overall. Martin creates a lot of interesting secondary characters, especially Nooch, Roxy's right hand muscle man. I am looking forward to book number two! Rating:***1/2 out of 5

Review -- Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe by Jennie Shortridge

Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe
by Jennie Shortridge
Penguin, 2008
400 pages
*I received a copy from the author.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): When she learns that her college sweetheart husband has been seeing another woman, Mira Serafino's perfect world is shattered and she wants no one, least of all her big Italian family, to know. She heads north—with no destination and little money— stopping only when her car breaks down in Seattle. She takes a job at the offbeat Coffee Shop at the Center of the Universe, where she'll experience a terrifying but invigorating freedom, and meet someone she'll come to love: the new Mira.

Review: An intriguing novel about finding out who you are without the constraints of family and friends, Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe is an easy and entertaining read. Author Jennie Shortridge introduces the reader to the likable Mira, who through a variety of misunderstandings and misinterpretations, runs away from her small town life to became the manager of a coffee shop. She misses her old life but finds beauty in the new one she creates with the help of the coffee shop staff. The writing is wonderful but the story doesn't have a same magic as Shortridge's Eating Heaven. Many of the supporting characters are annoying and I had difficulty sympathizing with many of them. However, I did enjoy the ending and am looking forward to reading more by this author. Rating: *** out of 5

Review -- Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

Star Island
by Carl Hiaasen
Knopf Doubleday, 2010
337 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): Meet twenty-two-year-old Cherry Pye (née Cheryl Bunterman), a pop star since she was fourteen—and about to attempt a comeback from her latest drug-and-alcohol disaster. Now meet Cherry again: in the person of her “undercover stunt double,” Ann DeLusia. Ann portrays Cherry whenever the singer is too “indisposed”—meaning wasted—to go out in public. And it is Ann-mistaken-for-Cherry who is kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by obsessed paparazzo Bang Abbott. Now the challenge for Cherry’s handlers (über–stage mother; horndog record producer; nipped, tucked, and Botoxed twin publicists; weed whacker–wielding bodyguard) is to rescue Ann while keeping her existence a secret from Cherry’s public—and from Cherry herself.

Review: This book was a breath of fun, fresh air when I was in a reading slump. Author Carl Hiaasen writes a kooky story filled with eccentric characters and a nutty story line. For me, the book totally worked. I loved the crazy characters (even the obnoxious Cherry Pye) and the demented plot (seriously - Ann gets kidnapped by a crazy man living in a swamp and that is in the first 25 pages or so). The book flew by and left me laughing. It is also a great satire about celebrity culture and the lengths people will go to sculpt their public image. I will definitely read more by this author. Rating: **** out of 5.

Review -- Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

Maybe This Time
by Jennifer Crusie
St. Martin's Press, 2010
352 pages

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.

Review: Annie is like a tough, non-singing Mary Poppins to two very smart, very spooky kids. Right from the beginning the reader knows that this is not your regular chick-lit or romance novel because there is a very large supernatural subplot that grows with each turning page. Maybe This Time is an entertaining and fun read but the reader must suspend belief because this is escapism at its best. The characters are eccentric and funny, the plot is non-stop, and the reader can easily get wrapped up in the story and lose track of time (at least that is what happened to this reader). My only criticism is that the romantic triangle was predicable and seemed almost an afterthought in comparison to the rest of the plot. Rating:***1/2 out of 5

Have you read this book? If so, leave your thoughts or a link to your review in the comments section!

Review -- Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Still Missing

by Chevy Stevens

St. Martin's Press, 2010

352 pages

*I borrowed a copy from the library.

Summary (from Barnes and Noble): On the day she was abducted, Annie O’Sullivan, a thirty-two year old realtor, had three goals—sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever- patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all. Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent as the captive of psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape—her struggle to piece her shattered life back together and the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor.

Review: Still Missing is an intense and engrossing tale of one woman's struggle to deal with the aftermath of being kidnapped and abused. This book is not for everyone. It is a thriller that has many hard to read scenes. The main character, Annie, is understandably angry, abrasive, and unable to trust anyone -- even the psychiatrist who she narrators her tale to. Author Chevy Stevens gives the reader little pieces of Annie's story at a time, leaving the reader wanting to know more. Easily a one or two sitting book -- that good. Rating: ***** out of 5

Review -- Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

Last Night at Chateau Marmont
by Lauren Weisberger
Simon and Schuster Adult, 2010
370 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Brooke and Julian have been married for five years. She is a nutritionist who works two jobs, supporting her husband so he can work on his music career. When Julian's record comes out and an appearance on Jay Leno makes him a celebrity, Brooke is left alone in New York and hounded by the paparazzi. Will their marriage survive the roller coaster ride of being a celebrity?

Review: I have to say that out of all the Lauren Weisberger novels (Everyone Worth Knowing, The Devil Wears Prada, and Chasing Harry Winston) -- this is my favorite so far. I enjoyed the character of Brooke and could sympathize with her as she struggles to make her marriage work. I thought she was a great character -- down to earth and interesting. Overall, the book was a bit disappointing. The plot was a bit predictable and the supporting characters were kind of dull. However, it was a quick easy read that was entertaining. Rating: *** out of 5.


Have you read this book? If so, leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Review -- One Day by David Nicholls

One Day

by David Nicholls

Knopf Doubleday, 2010

437 pages

*I won a copy of this book from the publisher.

Summary: Dexter and Emma are connected by the one day they spent together after graduating from college. As they go their separate ways and become different people, they continue to stay connected through letters and eventually become best friends.

Review: Through 'snapshots' of one day (July 15) over the course of twenty years, author David Nicholls describes the relationship between two people as they journey to find themselves and their way through life. The novel is entertaining, the characters are interesting and real, and the novel is (at times) heartbreaking. Emma and Dexter are wonderful characters, who are perfect for one another, but the reader is allowed the time to see them grow and mature both in and out of their relationship. A wonderful read. Rating: **** out of 5

Review -- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love

by Elizabeth Gilbert

Penguin, 2007

352 pages

*My mom let me borrow her copy.

Summary: After a terrible divorce, Liz spends a year traveling in order to heal herself from within. She spends 4 months each in Italy (eat), India (pray), and Bali (love).

Review: Wow, at times this novel can be really powerful... and sad... and interesting... and funny. Author Elizabeth Gilbert takes the reader on a journey to find a balance between pleasure and enlightenment. The prose is wonderful. The author is able to express herself and explain the change within in such a personable way. I found myself feeling as though the author was a close friend. A friend who was opening up about all her anxieties and difficulties as she learned how to be a better version of herself. However, there were sections of the novel where I wanted to yell at her -- Who cares if you are having trouble mediating? YOU ARE IN INDIA!!! On a side note, I am also EXTREMELY JEALOUS, because who wouldn't want to get paid to travel to these great place and just work on relaxing, finding themselves, and being happy? I think she has one of the best jobs in the world. Overall, highly recommended especially for those interested in traveling, spiritual journeys, memoirs, and Italian food. Rating: **** out of 5

Review -- Starting From Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins

Starting from Scratch

by Susan Gilbert-Collins

Simon & Schuster Adult, 2010

322 pages

*I received this from the publisher for review.

Summary: On the day she defends her dissertation, Olivia is devastated by the news that her mother (Vivian) has died. Olivia moves home and uncovers secrets about her mother and three siblings while learning to move forward from the terrible loss.

Review: Let me explain why my summary is just okay -- I forgot to mention the cooking! The novel is centered around Vivian's love of cooking and even includes recipes. Olivia uses cooking as a way of feeling close to her mom. I thought this was lovely little novel filled with wonderful characters and some unexpected surprises. Each sibling (including Olivia) has a secret that they are keeping from the family. The author does such a great job of having the secrets come out in both funny and sad ways that make you feel like part of the family. Olivia was a great main character, very interesting and relatable. Overall, a fun and light read that was very entertaining and made my mouth water the entire time! Rating: **** out of 5

**** Corrections (8/20/10): Thanks to Ruth who caught my mistakes! In the original post I wrote that Annie was the main character, but have since fixed it to read Olivia. Sorry everyone!

Have you read and reviewed this book? Then leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Review -- Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

Look Again
by Lisa Scottoline
St. Martin's Press, 2009
352 pages

*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: When Ellen suspects that her adoptive son may be the kidnapped son of another couple, she sets out to find the truth and puts herself and her son in danger.

Review: In the beginning of the book, Ellen struggles to decide if she should look into her adoptive son's biological family to determine if he is a kidnapping victim. And she struggles. And she struggles. And her kid is whiny. And her kid has a temper tantrum. And she feels like a terrible mom. And she struggles. So I was really bored in the beginning, but about half way through the novel, the action picks up. All of a sudden, Ellen is tailing people and getting DNA samples all spy-like. And I can't put the novel down, it's so good. The ending was a little predictable but still a good conclusion to the story. Overall, the characters were okay, the plot was good, the writing was fine, but I most likely won't read another by this author anytime soon. Rating: ** out of 5.

Have you read and reviewed this book? If so, leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Review -- The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens

The Wife's Tale

by Lori Lansens

Little Brown, 2010

353 pages

*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Mary's life is filled by her hunger for food and her love for her husband, Gooch. Overwhelmed by grief and depression, Mary is morbidly obese. When Mary's husband disappears, she faces her fears and leaves her small town in Canada for California. With the help of strangers, she begins to learn who she is without Gooch.

Review: I am going to start at the end instead of the beginning. For me, the ending was abrupt and disappointing because the book was so good. I turned the last page and was upset because I absolutely loved Mary and was so proud of the transition she begun to make within. Okay, so back to the beginning. When you meet Mary, you recognize the sadness and depression in her life and her inability to sedate the hunger she feels inside. Author Lori Lansens does a great job describing Mary's fight with food and endearing her to the reader. The strongest part of the novel for me was Mary's quest to find Gooch. I just loved all of the characters who helped her with her journey and how accepting they were of her. They were able to see beyond the weight to the person she was inside and I think that helped Mary to begin the process of healing herself. Rating: **** out of 5 (Dear Lori Lansen, I will make it 5 out of 5 stars if you tell me there is a sequel in the works. Thank you, Jess)

Have you read and reviewed this novel? Then leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Review -- This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia

This Must Be The Place

by Kate Racculia

Henry Holt, 2010

368 pages

*I received a review copy from the publisher.

Summary: When his wife unexpectedly dies, Arthur finds a mysterious postcard amongst her things and ends up in Ruby Falls. There he meets his wife's childhood friend, Mona and her daughter Oneida and he begins to learn who his wife was before she met him.

Review: How can I explain how much I loved this novel? The four main characters (Arthur, Mona, Oneida, and Eugene) are so wonderfully quirky that I couldn't help but love them. Author Kate Racculia really nailed the teenage angst and confusion as well as the intensity of a first relationship. The story is predictable but I think the author lets the reader in on the secret early so that we are able to bond with Mona and Arthur and dread the moment when the secret is revealed (this is just a theory). The story is engrossing and the writing is wonderful. I especially loved when the narrative progressed into the future to give the reader an understanding of how important the events of the story are and how they change the course of the character's life. Rating: ***** out of 5. (I had to, I LOVED IT.)

Review -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Random House, 2008

288 pages

*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Shortly after WWII, writer Juliet Ashton befriends the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.

Review: I absolutely loved this novel. It is a wonderful light, easy read that just transports you to another time and place. Told completely through letters, the characters (especially Juliet) shine through the page and give the novel a light and breezy tone. The story of a community living through the Occupation is an upbeat survivors tale with a little history mixed in. All of the society members are wonderfully unique individuals that the reader can easily love. I definitely recommend this novel. Rating: ***** out of 5.