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BOOK REVIEW: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Book Length: 331 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Read Start Date: October 2, 2023

Read Finish Date: January 5, 2024

Goodreads’ Synopsis: In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

My Review: I will be honest. The beginning of this book did not grip me, and it took me several months to finish it. I always put it down in favor of another book. Eventually, I made the goal to finish it and move on. I think the issue was that the beginning was like the background story- the events leading up to the day Jesse went missing. The “then,” if you will. It didn’t have the same heartfelt emotions that the rest of the book did.

Once I hit a certain point (the “present,”) however, I plowed through the book in a matter of days. I was gripped by the emotion and the struggle to choose. Although, I have to admit that I was rooting for Sam. He seemed sincere and like a really nice guy. He was always putting Emma first. Jesse, on the other hand, was kind of a jerk. He was pushy and, at times, selfish, but he was Emma’s first love, the one she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. And for some reason, she didn’t seem to share my view of Jesse.

Emma loved them both in different ways. While she might have had two true loves, she could only be with one of them. Someone was going to get hurt. Who would it be?

I would recommend this book. And don’t give up at the beginning if you are also feeling it drag a little bit. If you push through to the end, you won’t be disappointed!

Shelf Control Wednesdays: February 13, 2024

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Shelf Control is hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies. Instead of always looking ahead to upcoming new releases, I thought I’d start a weekly feature focusing on already released books that I want to read. Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking at books already available, and in most cases, books that are either on my shelves or on my Kindle!

Title: Hunt, Gather, Parent

Author: Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD

Published: 2021

Length: 352 pages

Goodreads’ Synopsis: When Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff becomes a mother, she examines the studies behind modern parenting guidance and finds the evidence frustratingly limited and the conclusions often ineffective. Curious to learn about more effective parenting approaches, she visits a Maya village in the Yucatán Peninsula. There she encounters moms and dads who parent in a totally different way than we do—and raise extraordinarily kind, generous, and helpful children without yelling, nagging, or issuing timeouts. What else, Doucleff wonders, are Western parents missing out on?

In Hunt, Gather, Parent, Doucleff sets out with her three-year-old daughter in tow to learn and practice parenting strategies from families in three of the world’s most venerable communities: Maya families in Mexico, Inuit families above the Arctic Circle, and Hadzabe families in Tanzania. She sees that these cultures don’t have the same problems with children that Western parents do. Most strikingly, parents build a relationship with young children that is vastly different from the one many Western parents develop—it’s built on cooperation instead of control, trust instead of fear, and personalized needs instead of standardized development milestones.

Maya parents are masters at raising cooperative children. Without resorting to bribes, threats, or chore charts, Maya parents rear loyal helpers by including kids in household tasks from the time they can walk. Inuit parents have developed a remarkably effective approach for teaching children emotional intelligence. When kids cry, hit, or act out, Inuit parents respond with a calm, gentle demeanor that teaches children how to settle themselves down and think before acting. Hadzabe parents are world experts on raising confident, self-driven kids with a simple tool that protects children from stress and anxiety, so common now among American kids.

Not only does Doucleff live with families and observe their techniques firsthand, she also applies them with her own daughter, with striking results. She learns to discipline without yelling. She talks to psychologists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, and sociologists and explains how these strategies can impact children’s mental health and development. Filled with practical takeaways that parents can implement immediately, Hunt, Gather, Parent helps us rethink the ways we relate to our children, and reveals a universal parenting paradigm adapted for American families.

How I got it: Amazon

When I got it: 2024

Why I want to read it: My friend recommended this book to me. She said that while she didn’t implement every suggestion, some good ideas were presented in the book that she utilizes now with her children.

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday, February 12, 2024: How to Market a Book by Ricardo Fayet

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First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday! Hosted by Socrates Book Reviews this is where you share the first paragraph of one of the books that you are currently reading.

“You can try hundreds of different things to market your book. Where most authors fail is not at finding marketing ideas, but at properly testing them. This first section is all about giving you a proper framework to approach book marketing in a systematic way. And that starts by shifting your perspective from that of the author…to that of the reader.”

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NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Automated Daydreaming by William Pauley III

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Audiobook Length: 5 hours and 53 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Bizarro Fiction

Publisher: Doom Fiction

Published Date: November 14 ,2021

Goodreads’ Synopsis: This is a cycle. Unalleviated, its components are connected by electricity and fed through the rage of lightning. Insect and road monsters scour the desert. Bodies morph into new constructions, only partially human and searching for conclusion. Tongues entwine in an embrace of benthos, while mermaids and jellyfish glow in tandem. The moon is waiting. Dream.

Read Start Date: February 8, 2024

Read Finish Date: February 11, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Usually, I love Pauley’s books, and I have read nearly everything he has written. While I usually give Pauley’s books 5 stars, this one didn’t land as nicely as the others. Honestly, I think I was too triggered by this book. For example, there was one particularly graphic scene of rape with a truly “bizarro fiction” twist. It was too much. The writing was so vivid, and it was so disgusting that it literally turned my stomach.

The above being said, I am still giving this book 4 stars. Pauley is a master at description. It is what I love about his writing. Connor Brannigan returns as the narrator; his performance was as great as usual. Bricker Cablejuice (great character name) is immortal, and he is forced to live the lives of 5 other people through “automated daydreaming.” It was a little confusing how the lives intertwined as Cablejuice “switched between channels.” Each of the lives was very interesting and unique.

If you’re looking for a light and fluffy read, this is not the book for you. But if you’re interested in a dark, weird, vivid, and imaginative story, then Automated Daydreaming is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for some disturbing content.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

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.

BOOK REVIEW: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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Audiobook Length: 8 hours and 39 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Read Start Date: December 23, 2023

Read Finish Date: December 30, 2023

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.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Chaos in Color: A Memoir of Childhood Trauma and Forgiveness by R. Layla Salek, PhD

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Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 5 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

Publisher: River Grove Books

Published Date: September 19, 2023

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.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

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.

Shelf Control Wednesdays: February 7, 2024

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Shelf Control is hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies. Instead of always looking ahead to upcoming new releases, I thought I’d start a weekly feature focusing on already released books that I want to read. Consider this a variation of a Wishing & Waiting post… but looking at books already available, and in most cases, books that are either on my shelves or on my Kindle!

Title: Something Blue

Author: Emily Giffen

Published: 2005

Length: 338 pages

Goodreads’ Synopsis: Following the smash-hit Something Borrowed comes story of betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness
 
Darcy Rhone has always been able to rely on a few things: Her beauty and charm. Her fiance, Dex. Her lifelong best friend, Rachel. She never needed anything else. Or so she thinks until Dex calls off their dream wedding and she uncovers the ultimate betrayal. Blaming everyone but herself, Darcy flees to London and attempts to re-create her glamorous life on a new continent. But to her dismay, she discovers that her tried-and-true tricks no longer apply—and that her luck has finally expired. It is only then that she can begin her journey toward redemption, forgiveness, and true love.

How I got it: A German website called medimops that sells used books.

When I got it: 2023

Why I want to read it: I don’t read that many women’s fiction or romance novels, but I am currently in the process of writing/editing one. I read it to get a feel for how such novels are written.

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday, February 6, 2024: In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner

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First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday! Hosted by Socrates Book Reviews this is where you share the first paragraph of one of the books that you are currently reading.

“There is an atmosphere of unutterable loneliness that haunts any ruin–a feeling particularly evident in those places once given over to the lighter emotions. Wander over the littered grounds of an abandoned amusement park and feel the overwhelming presence of desolation. Flimsy booths with awnings tattered in the wind, rotting heaps of sun-bleached papier-mache. Crumbling timbers of a roller coaster thrust upward through the jungle of weeds and debris–like ribs of some titantic unburied skeleton. The wind blows colder there; the sun seems dimmer. Ghosts of laughter, lost strains of raucous music can almost be heard. Speak, and your voice sounds strangely loud–and yet curiously smothered.”

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NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Doc Doc Zeus by Thomas Keech

/ E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 9 hours and 45 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, General Adult Fiction

Publisher: Real Nice Books

Published Date: August 1, 2017

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.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
10 Book Reviews

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.