Book Review: Luster by Raven Leilani

Author: Raven Leilani

Title: Luster

Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 240

Published: August 4, 2020

Where I got It: My shelf (gift)

Summary: 

Luster sees a young Black woman fall into art and someone else's open marriage. Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties--sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She's also, secretly, haltingly, figuring her way into life as an artist. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage--with rules. As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren't hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and falling into Eric's family life, his home. She becomes a hesitant friend to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie is the only Black woman who young Akila knows.Razor-sharp, darkly comic, sexually charged, socially disruptive, Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.

Review:

I was given this book as a gift, but I have been curious about it. There was a lot of interest when this first came out a few years ago. 

Here, we follow Edie as she tries to make sense of her life. She starts up an affair with a man whose wife is okay with an open marriage...but with strict rules. Edie soon finds herself unemployed and falling face-first into her lover's family life and home. 

I feel like people love or are meh about this book. I don't know where I fully sit on this book. 

There were some things I liked and some things I didn't. 

My biggest issue was the writing style. It felt so...choppy. It didn't flow right and kept taking me out of the story. It felt so jarring! I did like the observations and the inner monologue parts, but the story itself felt so choppy and disjointed. 

I also can't buy this as a romance. It felt so awkward, and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop at any minute. This really should just be a...not chick lit but something else. I'm blanking on a good genre to shove this in. 

Honestly, I liked reading about Edie and Rebecca the most. I enjoyed seeing that relationship form and morph. I also adored little Akila! 

And the ending....left me feeling nothing. It just ended. 

But yes...some good, but a lot of bad. I'll give this 3 stars. Maybe the audio would've been a hair better!

Audiobook Review: A Tale of Faerie by Dina Gregory

Author: Dina Gregory

Narrator: Holli Dempsey

Title: A Tale of Faerie

Genre: Fiction, Short story, Fantasy

Format: Audiobook 

Published: May 22, 2020

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

When Jasmine moves to an old cottage in the countryside, nothing goes right. She itches at night, keeps losing small things or finds them in odd places. Only after an encounter with the famous neighbour do things magically improve for Jasmine.

This Devonshire story puts the fairy in fairytale.

Review:

Going through a few shorts since my attention span has been little to nothing the last couple of weeks. The cover of this little gem and the title caught my eye for sure. 

Here we follow little Jasmine, who is forced to move to an old cottage in the countryside with her family. She itches at night, keeps losing things, finds things in weird places, and she feels like she is being watched. After an encounter with her famous neighbor, maybe...just maybe things will improve. 

This was short and whimsical. Gotta love the fae.

I wish we had more interaction with the fantasy element of the story, but it was sweet. 

The narrator was lovely and fit. 

4 stars. Def a nice listen if you need something quick while you work outside or craft. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #34

Audiobook Review: The Sweet Spot by Lori Rader-Day

Author: Lori Rader-Day

Narrator: Janina Edwards

Title: The Sweet Spot

Genre: Fiction, Short story

Format: Audiobook 

Published: September 2, 2022

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

A weary Chicago shop owner catches yet another kid breaking into her bakeshop. The rumor has gone around her inner-city neighborhood that she's keeping cash in a sugar jar and, however unlikely, local kids keep trying to confirm it. With the latest miscreant, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Review:

Another random guy. I was digging around Audible, and I found this one. 

This short story catches a moment in time with a Chicago shop owner who catches yet another kid breaking into her bakeshop. There is a rumor going around that she is keeping a lot of cash in a sugar jar. 

This was super, duper short, but there was so much going on. 

I wanted more. I wanted to see what she does next. I think there is more story to tell. 

The narrator was lovely. 

But yes, it was a short capture of a moment where a woman has to make a choice. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #33

Book Review: Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien

Author: JRR Tolkien

Title: Letters from Father Christmas

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Format: ebook

Pages: 209

Published: February 15, 2012

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R.Tolkien’s children. Inside would be a letter in strange spidery handwriting and a beautiful coloured drawing or some sketches. The letters were from Father Christmas.

They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how all the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house into the dining-room; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house!

Review:

This is just so wholesome. I wish it had been available near Xmas for me, but there was a long line for this little guy! It came precisely when it meant to, I guess. 

This is a compiled collection of Santa letters Tolkien wrote for his children over a span of many years. How freakin' adorable?

I honestly would love to purchase a physical version of this. Yes, the ebook was fine, but I do not think it did the drawings justice. They looked so cute and fun. Those kids were extremely blessed to have a dad do this for them. 

The stories were fun and creative. What else would you expect from the legend? 

The ending had me holding back tears. It was a lovely way to end the letters. I'm sure he was so upset that his kiddos were too old for the letters. You could sense it. 

I would read this again, but I really want the physical version. 

5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

-  Library Love #2

Book Review: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

Author: Charles Frazier

Title: Cold Mountain

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic

Format: paperback

Pages: 449

Published: January 1, 1997

Where I got It: My shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

Cold Mountain is a novel about a soldier’s perilous journey back to his beloved near the Civil War's end. At once a love story & a harrowing account of one man’s long walk home, Cold Mountain introduces a new talent in American literature.

Based on local history & family stories passed down by Frazier’s great-great-grandfather, Cold Mountain is the tale of a wounded Confederate soldier, Inman, who walks away from the ravages of the war & back home to his prewar sweetheart, Ada. His odyssey thru the devastated landscape of the soon-to-be-defeated South interweaves with Ada’s struggle to revive her father’s farm, with the help of an intrepid young drifter named Ruby. As their long-separated lives begin to converge at the close of the war, Inman & Ada confront the vastly transformed world they’ve been delivered.

Frazier reveals insight into human relations with the land & the dangers of solitude. He also shares with the great 19th century novelists a keen observation of a society undergoing change. Cold Mountain recreates a world gone by that speaks to our time.

Review:

One of my absolute favorite books. I felt it was time to revisit it since I haven't picked up this book since 2016.

This story is about WP Inman and Ada Monroe. They find love but due to war he puts on the uniform to fight for North Carolina. He may not believe in the cause, but it would be cowardly to not join. After he is injured horribly, he decides to walk away and go back home. The war is nearly done anyway and he can't take one more moment on the frontline. At the same time as his perilous walk, we also follow Ada. She was born and raised to be a lady. She only knows how to do frivolous tasks, so with her father gone and the money drained because of the war....she is struggling to survive. In walks Ruby who trains Ada to be a farmer.

This book always gets me. It is so tragic. I know how it ends, but I always have hope. Maybe it'll end differently this time!

I always wish that these two have more time together, but that is the tragedy. They are apart for so long, but I wish we had more scenes with them. Sighs. 

The format is always wild to me, but I've grown to look past it. It works for this story for some reason. Maybe I am blinded by love of the story and characters? 

What else to say?

The way the author describes our scenes is beautiful. It is majestic in a way. 

Yes, this is a love story but it is also shows a different side of the war. It really dives into the true human element. War makes monsters of us all. It may start with a noble cause but it can destroy everything and everyone. Along with the war and love element, the book does poke at deep issues at the time like racism, sexism, human rights, society, male/female gender roles, and etc.

All-in-all, this book always leaves me breathless and in tears. Now I have to watch the movie. Sigh. ;) 

5 stars from me of course. 

Favorite Character(s): Inman and Ruby

Least Favorite Character(s): Teague and his crew. 

  

Challenge(s):

- Romance Reading #12 (MC's name starts with 'M')

Audiobook Review: The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Author: Mikki Brammer

Narrator: Jennifer Pickens

Title: The Collected Regrets of Clover

Genre: Fiction

Format: Audiobook

Published:  May 9, 2023

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible) 

Summary: 

What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?

From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit , Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.

Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a road trip to uncover a forgotten love story—and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.

Review:

This was picked for the book club. I'll be honest....I don't recall hearing about this book. Looks like a couple of friends of mine had read this. Not sure how this wasn't on my radar. Thank goodness for book club ;)

This is Clover's story. Since her childhood her life seemed to be filled with death all starting with the day her kindergarten teacher died during reading in class. Years later, her grandfather passed away all alone and from there she decided to become a death doula in NYC so she can help usher people peacefully through their end-of-life process. She spends so much time with the dying and her own grief, she has not really led a life of her own. Enter in a feisty old woman who sends Clover on a journey that will change her life forever. 

I'll admit....................I was scared to read this. There was a book that was sort of similar a while back that really and deeply discussed death and it sent me into a tail spin. Oof. That had hit hard. Luckily this one did a wonderful job with all the death. In a way...Clover eased the reader into this world and discussions about death. Beautiful job by the author. Sure, some bits were sad, but I only cried once. 

Oh that ending. It was so good. So full of hope and so very impactful. 

Now, I've been going back and forth on a certain element. No spoilers, but there is a hair of romance (not enough to call this romance by any means). It felt slightly forced and the person is just way too perfect. Mmm. Honestly, I think I want a sequel. See how Clover is doing. 

But yes. This suprised me on how good it was. I found myself not wanting to stop listening. The narrator was awesome and I highly recommend doing the audio of this. 

All-in-all, I really enjoyed this. Even with the one element I still liked this a lot. I'll give this 5 stars. The narrator and the whole story is worth the 5 star stamp. 

- Favorite Character(s): Leo

- Least Favorite Character(s): No one really. I went back and forth with Sebastian but he redeemed himself at the end. 

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #12

- Romance Reading #10 (Non-romance with Flowers on the cover)

Book/Play Review: Othello by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Title: Othello

Genre: Classic, Tragedy, Fiction, Play

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 319

Published: 1603

Where I Got It: My shelf (my big bad book of William Shakespeare collection)

Summary: 

In Othello, Shakespeare creates a powerful drama of a marriage that begins with fascination (between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona), with elopement, and with intense mutual devotion and that ends precipitately with jealous rage and violent deaths. He sets this story in the romantic world of the Mediterranean, moving the action from Venice to the island of Cyprus and giving it an even more exotic coloring with stories of Othello's African past. Shakespeare builds so many differences into his hero and heroine—differences of race, of age, of cultural background—that one should not, perhaps, be surprised that the marriage ends disastrously. But most people who see or read the play feel that the love that the play presents between Othello and Desdemona is so strong that it would have overcome all these differences were it not for the words and actions of Othello's standard-bearer, Iago, who hates Othello and sets out to destroy him by destroying his love for Desdemona. As Othello succumbs to Iago's insinuations that Desdemona is unfaithful, fascination—which dominates the early acts of the play—turns to horror, especially for the audience. We are confronted by spectacles of a generous and trusting Othello in the grip of Iago's schemes; of an innocent Desdemona, who has given herself up entirely to her love for Othello only to be subjected to his horrifying verbal and physical assaults, the outcome of Othello's mistaken convictions about her faithlessness.

Review:

Weeeeeeeee! This is one of my favorite plays by good ol' Willy. It's been an age since I read this so it was nice revisiting it. Last time I read this was 2009. But yes, it's been years!

The play follows a diverse set of characters in Venice. Othello and Lady Desdemona elope, Othello gets his dream job, and everything seems perfect. However, Iago is set on destroying everything in Othello's life out of spite and revenge. 

This is a true tragedy and it gets me every time. The characters and the story are flawless in my opinion. I truly think that this is William Shakey's best work. The drama is perfect for the stage. It's over-the-top in spots but it is a lovely nod to Italian plays that are known for being slightly melodramatic. 

And Iago.........he is the perfect villain. I hate him, but I love hating him. He is my favorite villain still to this day. He is a terrible, hateful man, but is he evil? Eh. He truly believes that he is doing the world a favor for destroying Othello. He doesn't do these evil things just for the sake of being bad. He thinks that he is doing everyone a favor, mainly himself. But he is so clever and calculating. Honestly, if he used his skills for ACTUAL good, then he would unstoppable in the world. He is just so blinded by his jealousy and hate, but he doesn't let this fully control him. He is able to trick everyone so wonderfully. *chef kiss* 

Othello and Desdemona. *sighs* You just want them to be happy. They are soooo in love and seem so perfect for each other. However......there is a shadow upon their love. Between society, Othello's insecurities, and Iago in the shadows....they are doomed.

What I love the most (if you've read past reviews you will be able to guess what I'm about to say here) is that everyone is flawed. They are complex and oh-so human. You have no idea what will happen. Othello seems so strong and confident, but he is still insecure and petty. Desdemona and Cassio are both so sweet, but so naive. Iago seems like he could be a great guy if hate didn't blind him. All the characters hide behind theirs masks so well (which ties nicely into the Venetian setting). And society's and time period's failings will take all these flaws and brew something tragic for our characters. 

I could go on and on about how much I love this play by William S!!!! I still need to see this live. I've seen the movie, but never a live rendition of this play. Bucket list!!!! Also, I need to do an audio of this story one day.

But yes, this is (so far) my absolute favorite of William Shakespeare's stuff. I still have a bunch to read but it will be hard to topple this from the top. 

The characters....the setting....the lies....the flaws.....the tragedy. A must-read/see/hear...anyway you can get your hands on it. 

5 stars for sure. 

- Favorite Character(s): Desdemona (bc she is so sweet), Cassio, & Othello

- Least Favorite Character(s): Iago (BUT I love to hate him. Little villain)

Book/Play Review: King Lear by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Title: King Lear

Genre: Classic, Fiction, Play, Tragedy

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 339

Published: 1605

Where I Got It: My shelf (my big bad book of William Shakespeare collection)

Summary: 

Shakespeare’s King Lear challenges us with the magnitude, intensity, and sheer duration of the pain that it represents. Its figures harden their hearts, engage in violence, or try to alleviate the suffering of others. Lear himself rages until his sanity cracks. What, then, keeps bringing us back to King Lear? For all the force of its language, King Lear is almost equally powerful when translated, suggesting that it is the story, in large part, that draws us to the play.

The play tells us about families struggling between greed and cruelty, on the one hand, and support and consolation, on the other. Emotions are extreme, magnified to gigantic proportions. We also see old age portrayed in all its vulnerability, pride, and, perhaps, wisdom—one reason this most devastating of Shakespeare’s tragedies is also perhaps his most moving.

Review:

My goal was to read one of these a year, but I do not think I read a Willie Shake last year. So I'll be reading two this year.

I've never read 'King Lear' before but I know the story well. 

The play tells us a story about families struggling between greed and cruelty or support and consolation. King Lear, an elderly king, decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. He promises to give the largest share to the daughter who proves to love him the most. From there drama ensues when he is blinded by his ego. 

This is extremely tragic, but infuriating all at the same time. You want to shake King Lear and...to be fair....everyone. All the drama can be avoided if people JUST talk and chill. But we wouldn't have the story and the lessons that come from it. 

People claim this is one of William Shakespeare's greatest works, but I found it...good. I honestly still love 'Othello' the best though. I still have a few plays to finally read but I can safely say my favorite still sits firmly on top at the moment. However, this was pretty entertaining. 

The poetry and the drama is addicting. You won't want to set it down. I finished this in just a couple of sittings. 

The ending is tragic and sad. It was done very well. You don't have to be a literature master to understand what lessons are being taught here. It was done loud and proud, but WS has a way of not telling you, but showing you. I find he is the King of this. 

My favorite aspect of this play is that EVERYONE is complex and so very human. Sure you can point at a person or two and say they are the baddies, but they aren't evil (at least from my viewpoint). Yes, bad things happen and dumb things occur, but everyone is just so human. If you know me.....I love a complex set of characters. 

All-in-all, this is a must-read classic. Not my fave by the ol' Shakeyspeare, but it's in the top 5. It's entertaining and addicting. Lots of dumb people doing dumb things, but it is teaching a lesson or two. You can't help but feel bad for these characters. They all are complex and so very human. I'll give this 5 stars. 

(You know me...changing things up...and I'm reviving this!)

- Favorite Charater(s): Cordelia

- Least Favorite Character(s): Lear's other two daughters and (let's be honest) Lear.

DNF: Handyman by Linda Nichols

Author: Linda Nichols

Title: Handyman

Genre: Romance, Chick Lit, Christian Fiction

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 270

Published: January 11, 2000

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used bookstore)

Summary: 

Maggie Ivey is about to make the best mistake of her life.

A struggling twenty-six-year-old single mom, Maggie Ivey is just trying to keep it all together. She's got a lecherous boss, a dead-end job, and a worried mother who just wants her to move back home to Georgia. Maggie's prospects look dim, until a friend signs her up for the famous Dr. Jason Golding's 21-Day Overhaul. The first session seems to go perfectly. Dr. Golding is warm, sensitive, and a terrific listener. There's only one The handsome man in Dr. Golding's chair isn't Dr. Golding. In fact, he's not even a therapist; he's Jake Cooper, a contractor hired to remodel the office. But all Maggie knows is that talking to him helps her feel better. And Jake doesn't quite know how to let Maggie in on the secret. Will he eventually confess to his ruse? Will she discover the truth on her own? And the most important question of Can a Handyman fix a broken heart?

Review:

This has been collecting dust for a while so why not finally get in it!

Maggie is a single mom trying to keep it all together. She has a crap job, a lecherous boss, and her mother won't leave her alone. Her prospects are dim....until her friend signs her up for the famous Dr. Jason Golding's 21-Day Overhaul. The first session is fine. However, the doctor isn't a doctor at all....it is a contractor named Jake who accidently got roped into this. Should he tell her the truth? Will she discover it on her own? 

I tried so hardddddddd and got so farrrrr *insert headbanging*!!!!!!!! 

I had to call it. Maggie and Jake seem fine enough but ugh. That is a lie I don't think anyone should get over. 

Boring. Slow.

Meh. Not for me. Maybe for someone else. I could be bitter and have been struggling to find my rhythm in reading this month. 

DNF. 

Book Review: The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

Author: Fredrik Backman

Title: The Answer is No

Genre: Short story, Novella, Humor, Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: 68

Expected publication December 1, 2024

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Review:

When I seen this was available I knew I had to grab it. I had enjoyed a previous book by this author and I love a good novella!

Lucas just wants to be alone. He has the perfect life.......video games, wine, pad thai, and no people. Being alone is great. It is all to come crumbling down thanks to a frying pan. The apartment board is pissed and is on a manhunt. They are on the hunt for the person who left a frying pan next to the recycling room. Somehow Lucas is dragged into the fray. 

This made me want Thai food really, really bad while reading. LOL And maybe a cup of wine. 

Lucas is just a sweet bean. He loves his solitude and quiet. He is truly happy, but it is all destroyed when people keep barging into his life and his apartment over a silly frying pan. Things escalate when more objects start appearing. 

This was funny and frustrating. I could feel Lucas' pain. I would be pissed!!!! Like leave me alone guys. 

The ending was adorable and very fitting. 

All-in-all, this was a little gem. It was a quick, but a entertaining read. 5 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Entertaining

I Have a Good Excuse! This Was For Book Club: You Can Thank Me Later

Author: Kelly Harms 

Narrator: Lauren Fortgang

Title: You Can Thank Me Later

Genre: Short Story, Novella, Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit

Format: Audiobook

Published:  October 31st 2019

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: When the Dickenson clan sits down for Thanksgiving dinner in 2016, it is the last holiday when their tight-knit family will ever be the same. Oldest brother Pete and his wife are expecting their first child. Youngest sibling Sophie is too busy running her restaurant, The Little Plum, to bother with any kind of social life. And middle child Charlie's happy, uncomplicated life as a Midwestern science professor is upended when his wife Annette is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Knowing this will be her last Thanksgiving, Annette asks Sophie to look after Charlie after she's gone. Which would be a lot easier if Charlie didn't show up with an insufferable new girlfriend at the next holiday meal.

Review:

*awkward laugh* I picked this for Book Club for our re-read time (we each pick a book we have personally read and we want the others to read). How could I not pick this gem? It's perfect for November!!!!!!

I've lost count of the times I've listened to this *ignores Goodreads telling me the number* and I still can't get enough. This story touches a part of my soul that I can't express. I still cry and laugh and cheer at the right moments.

Our main, Sophie, is a brat but I love her. I can understand her a bit. I can sympathize and empathize with her. It's hard losing a friend (been there, done that). 

The character growth of all the characters are wonderful. Sure there is some cheese (especially near the end) but I love every.single.second. 

5 stars of course. 

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #52

Audiobook Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Author: Fredrik Backman

Narrator: Marin Ireland

Title: Anxious People

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Published: April 25, 2019

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Looking at real estate isn't usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can't fix up their own marriage. There's a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can't seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment's only bathroom, and you've got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in a motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Humorous, compassionate, and wise, Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious of times.

Review:

This was selected for book club and it was new to me. Sounds like something I would be entertained by so I was extra excited. 

Here we find ourselves with a huge cast of characters. These people are being held hostage by a bank robber is not at all good at being a bank robber. The captives include a recently retired couple who are avoiding their issues, a wealthy banker who is having regrets, a young couple about to become parents, an 87 year-old lonely lady, a nervous real estate agent, and a mystery man who locked himself in the bathroom. They all have a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, anxiety, and wanting to be rescued from their lives. As the authorities and media surround the premises these allies will set in a motion a chain of events that can change all of their lives. 

This, just like it's characters, was everywhere. We get to learn about all of these characters and their ties. Even two of the main cops on the scene who are father and son.

There is sadness and humor here. Sometimes the humor was sprinkled on a BIT too much for the situation at hand, but it was nice having the humor because life is like that. There is humor even amongst the sadness. However.....there were times I felt awkward because it was a bit too much. 

Everyone here is an idiot, lovable, but an idiot. It was a bit much at times and YES I get why. 

I really, really enjoyed it even with the idiots and the over-sprinkled humor parts. So many amazing life lessons here. This is a people story overall and I really did enjoy it. I'm curious about the TV show. I'm sure I'll watch it now that enjoyed the book. 

Now, I did end up doing the audiobook. Originally I was going to read the ebook, but something made me click audio instead. The narrator was fantastic. Her array of voices was nice and it felt like the majority of everyone had their own voice. A couple sounded similar, but overall, wonderful performance. 

This is for sure a must-read if you like a good people story with a cast of characters. There is a lot of lessons and some humor mixed in. 

I'll stamp this with 4 stars. As I mentioned....sometimes the humor was a touch heavy in parts. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Witty

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #31

Audiobook Review: Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Author: Jenny Holiday

Narrator: Joshua Jackson & Emily Ellet

Title: Canadian Boyfriend

Genre: Sports romance, Contemporary, fiction

Format: Audiobook

Published: January 30, 2024

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

A charming and heartfelt romance about a woman who comes face to face with the fake Canadian boyfriend she made up as a teenager.

The fake Canadian boyfriend. It's a thing. The get out of jail free card for all kinds of sticky social situations. “I can't go to prom; I'm going to be out of town visiting my boyfriend in Canada.” It's all over pop culture. But Aurora Evans did it first. Once upon a time she met a teenage hockey player at the Mall of America. He was from Canada. He was a boy. She may have fudged the “friend” part a little, but it wasn't like she was ever going to see him again. It wasn't like she hurt anyone. Until she did—years later—on both counts.

  

When pro hockey player and recent widower Mike Martin walks into the dance studio where Aurora Evans teaches, he's feeling overwhelmed with the fact that his wife may not have been exactly who he thought she was and the logistics of going back to work. As one of the few people his angry, heartbroken daughter connects with, Aurora agrees to be a pseudo nanny to help him navigate the upcoming school year and hockey season. To his surprise, she turns out to be the perfect balm for him as well. Aurora gets him. The real him underneath his pro jersey. And yet, he still finds himself holding back, unable to fully trust again—especially when he finds out the secret Aurora’s been hiding from him.

Review:

Picked this for book club because why not? We needed a little bit of fluff, plus this matches up with a couple of my reading challenges. Win-win-win. 

Here we follow Aurora (aka Rory) and Mike. The two met years and years ago...briefly...at a mall. From there it was history. Rory found herself a fake Canadian boyfriend so she wouldn't look like a loser at her school. Time went on and she slowly moved on. However, things changed when they met again. Mike is a star hockey player who thought he had it all until his wife died in a car accident and now he is a single dad who is picking up the reigns his wife left behind. Which includes getting their child to dance class. Enter in the teacher....Aurora Evans. He's overwhelmed and she's great with kids. Maybe she can be a nanny while the season goes? However, will they be able to fully trust each other? They both have secrets and guilt. 

I did really like this one. There is a lot of mental health talk in here (so be prepared) but it was fitting. Rory was a ballet dancer with a Godzilla of a Ballet-mom. Poor thing did develop an eating disorder and anxiety issues. Poor thing. 

Mike, of course, is dealing with his wife who passed and he uncovered that his wife was not FULLY telling the truth. There is guilt and anger and sadness. Plus, dealing with a sad daughter? Oof. 

They both have a lot on their plate, but it was nice seeing them become friends first. They def are super supportive of each other and I loved it!

However there was ONE thing that bothered me. When Rory's whole "fake boyfriend' thing came out (yes not a spoiler...you know it will) he.....acted like shit. I won't spoil anything but I was SO annoyed at him. Yes, how and when she revealed her big ol' secret wasn't great. However........it's not that big of a deal. Yes, he felt like she betrayed his trust by not telling him the truth right away. But like dude....chill.

Besides that whole exchange, I really liked this book. Great characters. Lots of internal things for them to fix. I loved Rory at the end. So proud of her. This was very sweet. 

The narrators were great. It was a duo set so it was fun to hear them sound like they were actually conversing. He would read Mike's dialogue and she would read Rory's. It was nice. I wonder why duo narrators don't do that more?

All-in-all, this was a nice sports romance dealing with mental health issues. I think Mike was overdramatic at the end, but it was resolved and they made up. The narrators were great and I def recommend listening to this. 

I'll stamp this with 4 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Nice

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #21

- Romance Reading Challenge #13 (Sports romance)