Goodreads’ Synopsis: Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody.
White lies When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.
Dark humour But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.
Deadly consequences… What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault.
With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.
My Review: June and Athena were barely friends. That didn’t stop June from milking Athena’s death. June was there when Athena choked on a pancake and died, and she played it up to social media that she and Athena were besties. And that wasn’t the most despicable thing June did — June stole Athena’s unfinished masterpiece and published it under her own name. I loved this book from the beginning. I both loved and was disgusted by June, as she is a complex and well-developed character, making her both relatable and infuriating. The other characters in the book were similarly well-written.
I also loved the writing. Kuang’s prose is sharp and witty, infused with a biting satire. The author masterfully portrays June’s descent into moral decay as she clings to her stolen success, oblivious to the fact that she is appropriating Chinese culture, or that she is doing anything wrong at all.
I also really liked reading about the publishing industry and wondered whether any of it was exaggerated or not. The author delivers a scathing indictment of the publishing industry’s exploitation of minority voices and its perpetuation of harmful stereotypes — whether this is an accurate portrayal, I cannot say, as I have no frame of reference. Regardless, it was very interesting to read, and if even half of it is true, I am glad for my decision to self-publish.
I read this book during the Christmas holidays. This year, we spent the holiday with my boyfriend’s family, and I missed mine terribly. I was glad for the dark humor / satire of this book, as it took me away from the real world for a little while. Beyond the thought-provoking nature of this book, it was entertaining throughout, and I would highly recommend it.
Goodreads’ Synopsis: From a young age, Layla Salek has experienced some people as colors—her mother brown, her father green, her husband rainbow. As she notes, sometimes, when words fail, colors speak.
Chaos in Color is the captivating story of Layla’s journey from childhood to adulthood with a mother who suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. Each chapter paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of the abuse, neglect, and trauma that she experienced as she grew up at the mercy of her mother’s bipolar swings, an incompetent mental health system, and the strangers with whom she was often left. But dissipating those times of darkness were moments of love, joy, and happiness that she felt while being cared for by others in her life. These moments inspired her to start her own family, complete a doctorate in psychology, and work with children with mental illness and severe behavior disorders.
Layla’s story traces how personal and familial trauma is carried into adulthood and how it can be released through forgiveness. This honest, provocative memoir offers a relatable account for others who have experienced similar trauma, as well as hope for healing and a future full of light.
Read Start Date: January 30, 2024
Read Finish Date: February 5, 2024
My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book chronicles Salek’s journey from childhood to adulthood, growing up with a mother who suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. Through vivid and emotional prose, Salek paints a picture of the abuse, neglect, and trauma she endured, but also her resilience and, ultimately, her path toward forgiveness.
I really liked this book. It was honest and raw, and it did not sugarcoat anything. The author was unapologetic in telling her trauma story, which is really brave. I could not help thinking of my young daughter as I read this book. I cannot imagine EVER treating my daughter like Salek’s mother treated Salek. It just plain broke my heart.
The one aspect of the story that I was not so enamored with was the relationship to the colors. Salek possesses the unique ability to see people in colors, each representing their aura and experiences. However, I found that this ability was not fleshed out well in the book. Salek refers to each person by their color on multiple occasions, but she doesn’t really explain what each color means to the reader. For example, her mother was either “brown” or “black.” While intuitively, I can assume that “black” is negative, I have no idea what a brown aura means. A friend of hers is “purple.” You can pull from the story that purple is good, but the exact meaning is never explained. This is true of all the main players in the book given colors.
Chaos in Color is not an easy read. As I mentioned above, it dives headfirst into the harrowing reality of childhood trauma, weaving a narrative that confronts abuse, neglect, and resilience with unflinching honesty. This is a crucial strength – the book doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, making it a powerful testament to the author’s journey.
However, this raw portrayal comes with triggers. Descriptions of emotional and physical abuse may stir difficult emotions, and the overall weight of the story can be emotionally draining. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book portrays hope and the human spirit’s ability to persevere. Salek’s courage in sharing her story and ultimately finding forgiveness is truly inspiring. I would definitely recommend it for readers who can handle the emotional toll.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Goodreads’ Synopsis: Still mourning the baby she gave away a year before – and feeling rejected by the same church people who had so cheerfully arranged that adoption – sixteen-year-old Diane seems to find a supportive friend in her gynecologist, Dr. Zeus. Diane is intelligent and bold but often leaps before she looks, and now she questions why he has to examine her so often, and why he prescribes her so many drugs. The state medical board also has suspicions about Dr. Zeus, but the official inquiry inches forward very slowly as its new investigator stumbles over his own hang-ups.
Read Start Date: January 27, 2024
Read Finish Date: January 30, 2024
My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book is told from the POV of 3 separate characters. The first POV is 16-year-old Diane. She is grieving the baby she gave away when she was 14 years old. The second POV is Dr. Zeus, Diane’s depraved doctor and all-around pervert. The third POV is Frank, a rookie medical board investigator who stumbles across an old case about Dr. Zeus that never went anywhere. When a new complaint (about Diane) comes in from an anonymous source, the Board starts to investigate in earnest.
This book reads a little bit like narrative non-fiction. It was so plausible (even though disturbing and horrible) that, at times, I forgot I was reading a fiction book.
I thought the characters were well-developed and realistic, even if not likable. I was rooting for Frank to take down the deplorable Dr. Zeus (whom, of course, I hated), and I was at times aggravated at the choices Diane made. I had to keep reminding myself that she was only a teenager, and so was thinking with a teenage brain. She didn’t see anything wrong with a 16-year-old dating her 43-year-old doctor, even though every adult immediately realized this was statutory rape and a betrayal of trust. I became really invested in the outcome of the story and was eager to find out whether everything worked out okay.
I would definitely recommend this book; however, I would caution anyone who is sensitive to such stories, especially those who are sensitive about issues of statutory rape, abuse of minors, or other similar triggers.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Goodreads’ Synopsis:Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
My Review: Violet Sorrengail was raised to be a scribe, like her father. After her father’s death, Violet’s mother forces her to join Basgaith War College and train to be a dragon rider. Despite her small stature and weak physical constitution, Violet surprises everyone by not only making it through the War College, but thriving there.
Honestly, I was unimpressed with this book for the first 30%. There was too much superfluous violence, the characters were unlikeable, and many second-tier characters had no depth. I thought that there were way too many cliches — like the evil arch nemesis, who we all know will be the love interest– and Yarros world building just kept adding layers and layers of questions, which were never answered.
I pushed on, however, given the hype this book has received. Then the book suddenly got good. The violence was still superfluous, but suddenly I wanted to know how/why Violet was bonded to not one, but two dragons. The sex scenes were really hot and steamy. I became invested in the main characters and their well-being. I kept listening to the audiobook long after I should have gone to sleep. The ending had an unexpected twist, which frankly blew my mind — I was not expecting it at all. And I thought about this book for weeks after finishing it, which is rare for me.
I immediately went on the holds list for the next book in the series at the library, but alas, it will be several more months until it is my turn. The wait is torture.
Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.
In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.
My Review: Elsa is intelligent, brave, resilient and independent. These are all traits that any woman in 2024 would desire. Would be applauded for. However, Elsa lives in the 1920s, where such traits are worthless. Even worse, she is tall and “handsome” rather than beautiful, all but requiring that she live as a spinster. Her parents have always told her that no man would ever love her. Maybe this is why, when the roguishly handsome son of a neighboring Italian farmer shows an interest, Elsa throws caution to the wind and starts a forbidden love affair with him. Losing her virginity in the back of Raef’s truck, Elsa and Raef continue seeing each other despite their age gap and his impending move to college and engagement in a sort of arranged marriage. When she becomes pregnant, she is disowned by her parents and moves in with Raef’s family. They are married in a quickie wedding without much fanfare. Elsa’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring. She is forced to make agonizing choices that test her courage and faith, yet she never loses sight of her love for her children and her deep connection to the land.
Hannah’s storytelling is immersive and evocative, transporting readers to the desolate landscapes of the Great Plains and the vibrant, hopeful communities that once thrived there. She skillfully captures the desperation and despair gripping the region while highlighting the moments of camaraderie and resilience that emerged amidst the hardship. However, to be honest, I found this book mostly depressing. This book might not be for you if you are not in a good headspace. Set it aside until you can handle reading how tragedy strikes characters you grow to love again and again.
Goodreads Synopsis: Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed. For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.
Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown.
At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.
In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.
Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:From the outset, Hynek and Vallee make their position UFOs represent an unknown but real phenomenon. The far-reaching implications take us to the very edge of what we consider known and real in our physical environment. Perhaps, say the authors, UFOs signal the existence of a domain of nature as yet totally unexplored. In this mind-stretching book, the authors sample UFO reports, including those allegedly involving humanoids, and describe the perceived patterns in the behavior of the phenomenon. They also establish a framework for further study. Where might such study lead? What can be studied, and how? What is the real nature of the UFO phenomenon? Does it originate with the actions of other intelligences in the universe? If so, where and what might they be? Does the UFO phenomenon have a purely physical explanation, or is there a vast, hidden realm that holds the solution? In this invaluable work, we gain insight into the thinking of Hynek and Vallee’s research and investigations into UFOs, including Project Blue Book, the Pascagoula case, and the Betty and Barney Hill experience.
My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book delves into the history of UFO sightings, the plausibility of extraterrestrial explanations, and the implications of these encounters for our understanding of reality itself. While the book seems to be well researched, and I found the subject matter to be interesting, I am only giving the book three stars for several reasons:
The book is told in a narrative fashion, like an interview or conversation, that probably is easier to follow when reading it in written form. I often got lost in the narrative and wasn’t sure who was speaking. There are also photos and other exhibits referenced in the audiobook that the reader cannot see but would be available in the print version.
Through the aforementioned interview style, the authors present “evidence,” including firsthand accounts, statistical analyses, and physical evidence, which suggests that UFOs are not simply misidentified natural phenomena or hoaxes. They explore the possibility that these objects may represent advanced technology from another civilization or even a different dimension of reality. I write “evidence” in quotations because the book relies heavily on anecdotes/stories and does not provide definitive proof of any of these “sightings.” In other words, it is speculative, and the conclusions are open to interpretation. This is nothing new, and with all other things UFO related, you either believe, or you don’t.
I grew up watching The X-Files and know a lot about aliens and the UFO culture, so this book didn’t really tell me anything new. However, if you are just getting into the topic, there are a lot of interesting stories in this book that would be a good starting point.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.
Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.
In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.
Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.
My Review: I borrowed this audiobook from the library as it was on the “popular” list. I have also seen this book several times at the bookstore. I was unaware that Jennette McCurdy was a child actor who starred on the iCarly show and co-starred with Ariana Grande on Sam & Cat. I’ve heard of these shows but have never seen them. There is a lot to unpack in this poignant, revealing memoir.
I’m Glad My Mom Died is a raw, honest, and deeply personal memoir about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight as a child star and the emotional turmoil caused by a complex and often abusive relationship with her mother. McCurdy, best known for her roles as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s iCarly and Sam & Cat, opens up about her experiences with eating disorders, body image issues, and substance abuse, all of which were exacerbated by her mother’s controlling and demanding nature.
I was really surprised that the mother not only knew about McCurdy’s eating disorder (starting at the age of 12, she went on a “restrictive diet,” but essentially, the mother TAUGHT McCurdy how to be an anorexic. That is so totally sick and made my heart hurt for the author. Mothers are supposed to protect their children, not set them up for a lifetime of trauma and suffering.
The title of the book, which may seem jarring at first, is a reflection of McCurdy’s complex emotions following her mother’s death from cancer in 2013. While she grappled with grief and loss, she also recognized that her mother’s passing had freed her from the unhealthy dynamics and expectations that had dominated her life for so long.
McCurdy’s writing is both heartbreaking and insightful as she chronicles her struggles to find her own voice and identity amidst the pressures of fame (which the author never wanted to begin with–she was living her mother’s dream) and her mother’s relentless pursuit of stardom. She describes her mother’s controlling behavior, which included micromanaging her appearance, her career, and even her personal relationships. McCurdy felt trapped in a cycle of self-loathing and self-destruction, driven by her mother’s constant criticism and her own desire to please her.
Amidst the darkness, there are moments of humor and resilience. McCurdy’s self-deprecating humor and sharp wit provide a counterpoint to her pain, and her determination to break free from her mother’s control is inspiring. She eventually seeks therapy, which helps her to recognize unhealthy patterns and begin to heal from the trauma of her childhood.
I would recommend this book to adults of all ages, especially those who are interested in the entertainment industry.
Stats: As of writing this review (December 11, 2023) this book has a 4.48 rating on Goodreads.
Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: A shipwrecked man comes upon an apartment building located in the middle of the ocean. Inside, he finds the skulls of twelve residents, each one eager to tell their story. This is the final book of The Bedlam Bible.
My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for letting me read this! I listened to this audiobook while on vacation in South Carolina. It was a pleasant mid-70’s to 80 degrees (F), and this book fueled my long walks on the Hilton Head beach. As always, Pauley’s work is macabre, inventive, bizarre, and just all-out fun. I can’t believe that this is the last book in the series. I only recently found this series (and this author), and having to say goodbye feels like a bad breakup. Don’t do this to us, Pauley! We need more! For a brief synopsis of each book, please see the below.
The First Life of Anikoy Marlon: A man wakes up on a life raft in the middle of the ocean with a corpse. The corpse’s skin is etched with a journal of sorts (I think it’s the Bedlam Bible), which the man reads. The man has no recollection as to how he arrived on the rowboat. When he finds a platform in the middle of the ocean, he leaps without thinking and gets knocked out. When he comes to, he is in the 8th block tower. The following stories are from residents of the 8th block tower seen in Anikon’s mind’s eye when he sticks his finger inside the eye socket of their skulls.
Heirs of the Abyss: Rita had always had weird, terrifying dreams of 8th block. Rita’s mom (who had an unexplored connection to 8th block) always said that “dreams won’t eat you except in 8th block, where they eat you alive.” Rita is not an 8th block resident at the beginning of the story but lives in a neighborhood nearby. She starts to date someone living in the 8th block. When she enters in the building for the first time, she is relieved to discover that it doesn’t live up to her nightmares. Until she moves in with Tony.
Trapdoor: A serial killer stalks the residents of 8th block. He’s taken 9 so far, including Kimmy, a friend of the story’s protagonist. Everyone knows the face of the man in the 8th block, but he has yet to be captured. In an effort to find her friend, the protagonist finds the killer on a dating app and decides to go on a date with him. Despite her preparation ahead of time, she falls under the killer’s supernatural spell and finds herself trapped, just like the others.
Killing Teddy: I have read and reviewed this story before as part of another one of Pauley’s anthologies. You can see the review by clicking here.
Bad Blood: The protagonist is a nurse at a hospital. She volunteers for the Chance Program, which is a program providing healthcare aid to lower-income patients. One such patient is a woman named Ellie, who is a resident of the 8th block tower. Ellie is under the delusion that she has “bad blood,” and that if she transfuses it with someone else’s blood, she will get better. It freaks out the nurse, and she is relieved to get out alive. Against her better judgment, she goes back to care for Ellie with dire consequences. This story is probably my favorite so far. It had the right creepiness factor. I wanted more of this story. While there was enough details about the nurse to start to get invested, it left me wanting more…more details about the relationships the nurse had with her family and her girlfriend, and I wanted to have more creepy interactions with Ellie.
The Plant People: The protagonist’s brother is missing, and their mother is taking it hard. The mother is one of those senior citizens who have been complaining that they are going to die soon (for the past few decades). The mother lives on the top floor of the 8th block tower, and the protagonist notices that plants are starting to grow through the floor of the apartment. Put a pin in that, we will come back to it in a second. Although the protagonist hasn’t seen her brother in a while, since they are estranged due to his drinking, she agrees, at the mother’s urging to check on the brother. Oddly, the brother is not at his apartment, and what is more odd, is that he hasn’t been living there for years. Where is the brother, and what are these pervasive flowers that keep pushing their way up into the mother’s apartment? Another favorite of mine in this anthology. It was creepy as hell and with an unexpected twisted ending.
The Burden of Lunar Ticking: Grandpa Grimace is not well, which is why his daughter lets him live with her and her kids. The protagonist is one of the children. When Grandpa first tells the protagonist that he can astro project, the protagonist just thinks it’s his crazy Grandpa telling tall tales again (like how the moon ticks because it’s fake). But soon certain events make it hold not to believe.
Cyber Solaris: There’s a room in the 8th block tower that holds cages full of starving people. It’s a prison. And there’s one prisoner, prisoner 11 (a.k.a. Rover), for which a strange sound plays. Cyber Solaris is an app on a phone that allows you to time travel. One of the other prisoners has this device on his person, and he offers it to Rover for a pack of cigarettes. Rover accepts it with strange consequences. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming and it was awesome.
Black Friday: The parents of the protagonist are addicted to clearance sales, and bought depression on sale for Black Friday, and gave it to the protagonist’s Aunt Nora. They gave the protagonist anorexia. This is a weird, short story that was really fun.
The Sinking Sanctuary: I was a little confused about what was happening in this story. It had to do with Old Joe Booth, the Bedlam Bible, and weird hallucinations. The astronaut from The Astronaut’s Dream Book also made an appearance.
A Mist of Light: Mr. Crum is on the 2nd day of his new job’s orientation. Even though he’s 50 years old, he has no idea what he wants to do with his life, except collect rocks, but that doesn’t pay the bills.
The Eden Room: A decade ago, tumors sprouted from Waylon Peterhearst’s forehead, and everyone calls them horns (like devil’s horns). One night Tom Stripper, a “dispatcher,” knocks on Waylon’s door, claiming that Waylon is dead. Tom is there to “dispatch” him into the next life. It is yet to be seen whether to Heaven or Hell. The path to the next life is filled with traps created by the bad deeds Waylon did during his lifetime. This was a fun story and an interesting premise.
Life is Beautiful in Spite of Everything: The protagonist, a resident of the 8th block tower, finds a camera. He is bitter and resentful about the other residents.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads:Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.
They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.
Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?
My Review:Happy Place is a heartwarming story about two people who pretend to still be a couple for their annual weeklong vacation with their friend group. The Goodreads summary above is pretty accurate, so there is not much to add from my end to the plot description.
I absolutely loved this book. From the very beginning I was rooting for Harriet and Wyn. I ached for their heartbreak and hoped that they could work it out. I just wanted to read right through to the end because watching them struggle was tearing me apart. Although I knew that they would probably get together in the end — because isn’t that the ending of most romance novels? — I was still worried that they wouldn’t. Real life extended my reading of this book for 7 long days…but in the end I was relieved, and I must admit that the journey getting there was very enjoyable. I have read other Emily Henry books (you can see my reviews of the books by clicking on the titles: People We Meet On Vacation, Book Lovers and Beach Read), but Happy Place is by far my favorite.
The other characters are also great and overall relatable, and the friendships/relationships in the book are realistic. I also really loved the little details in Happy Place, like the book store called Murder She Read and the fact that the characters loved the show Murder She Wrote.
Stats: As of writing this blog post (October 10, 2023) this book has a rating of 4.09 on Goodreads. In my view, this is not enough stars. She deserves 5 stars for this book!
Brief Summary of the Plot from Goodreads: “White Fuzz is a weird sort of love story between two deeply disturbed individuals, each a product of their isolated environment. It’s not an easy read. It’s shocking, gross, and horrifying. Manages to check off every trigger! You’ve been warned.”
Franklin feels alone in life. One fateful night, he gets a curious text from a stranger, Lynda, another resident of his apartment building. She convinces him to come over, against his better judgment, and surprisingly the night seems to be going great, despite a little awkwardness.
However, it’s clear that Lynda is living with demons that are in desperate need of exercising, as everything inside her apartment seems to trigger some dark memory buried deep within her psyche. In hopes of helping her escape the prison that is her home, he invites her over to his place, but the problems only get worse, to the point he fears she won’t make it through the night.
Just when he feels the night has reached peak insanity, he discovers her madness is rubbing off on him…
My Review:White Fuzz is the second book in the series The Bedlam Bible. As with many Pauley novels, this one is short, weird and wonderful. Franklin receives a mysterious text message from a stranger. Turns out, she is a neighbor in the Eighth Block Tower, and he goes over to her place. As they initiate a sort of romantic entanglement, weird (and gross) things start to happen. And when I say gross, I mean the description the author gave of the encounters were so vivid that I literally felt stomach sick.
A fun little read to listen to. Just make sure to wait to eat anything until afterward!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
The Legal Alien 