Confessions of a Book Addict

Thursday, October 10, 2024

25 Books for Halloween

Spooky season is here and you may find yourself reaching for a book that's a little more dark and atmospheric. Sometimes I want something witchy and other times I just want a good thriller for Halloween, but nothing *too* spooky. So, if you are like me, then I've got you covered! You can find my reviews for most of these titles here.

1. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

2. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

3. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

4. The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

5. Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

6. A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

7. Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

8. The Complete Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe

9. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

10. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

11. Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

12. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

13. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

14. Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

15. Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

16. The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner

17. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

18. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

19. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

20. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

21. Weyward by Emilia Hart

22. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

23. The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston

24. Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

25. The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn

Let me know what you think of my ultimate list of spooky season reads and let me know in the comments below if you have any recommendations for me.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Book Review: Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: September 10, 2024

Publisher: Random House

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books by Author: Oh William! and

Lucy by the Sea

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "With her remarkable insight into the human condition and silences that contain multitudes, Elizabeth Strout returns to the town of Crosby, Maine, and to her beloved cast of characters—Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, Bob Burgess, and more—as they deal with a shocking crime in their midst, fall in love and yet choose to be apart, and grapple with the question, as Lucy Barton puts it, “What does anyone’s life mean?”

It’s autumn in Maine, and the town lawyer Bob Burgess has become enmeshed in an unfolding murder investigation, defending a lonely, isolated man accused of killing his mother. He has also fallen into a deep and abiding friendship with the acclaimed writer Lucy Barton, who lives down the road in a house by the sea with her ex-husband, William. Together, Lucy and Bob go on walks and talk about their lives, their fears and regrets, and what might have been. Lucy, meanwhile, is finally introduced to the iconic Olive Kitteridge, now living in a retirement community on the edge of town. They spend afternoons together in Olive’s apartment, telling each other stories. Stories about people they have known—“unrecorded lives,” Olive calls them—reanimating them, and, in the process, imbuing their lives with meaning.

Brimming with empathy and pathos, Tell Me Everything is Elizabeth Strout operating at the height of her powers, illuminating the ways in which our relationships keep us afloat. As Lucy says, “Love comes in so many different forms, but it is always love.”

Crosby, Maine is where we left off in Lucy by the Sea. Lucy has escaped here during the pandemic along with her ex-husband, Bob, and has stayed in this quaint town. Olive Kitteridge, readers may remember her from Strout's previous novels, tells Bob that she has a story for Lucy and for her to come visit her. Stories are what drive this novel along - whether it's Olive telling Lucy something insightful about life, or the many subplots surrounding Lucy, Bob, and their family and friends - it's all stories within stories and very slice-of-life narration. That is until there's a murder and Bob defends the accused. This spices up the plot in addition to the "will they, won't they" moments between Lucy and Bob. Fans of Strout's Amgash series will love to return home to Crosby and continue the story with these beloved characters in Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout.

I have always enjoyed the character of Lucy; she is complex, dynamic, and thought provoking. I enjoyed her interaction with Olive and their many insights into life and the human condition. Sadly, I have never read Olive Kitteridge, so I think I would have enjoyed Tell Me Everything more if I had, so that's my recommendation to readers.

As always, I enjoyed Lucy's relationship with Bob and was wondering if they would end up together after all. The murder case Bob was involved in did seem out of the blue in Tell Me Everything, but it did drive the story along quite well. I really am a fan of Bob, and find him to be an interesting character, so I appreciated this aspect of the story in addition to learning more about Bob, his brother, and his past as it is definitely complex.

I did find some of Lucy and Bob's issues to be annoying at times and that may be because I am younger than many of the characters in the novel. I feel like the "boomer" generation would appreciate Tell Me Everything a bit more than me as well as relate to some of Lucy's issues. Nonetheless, Strout's writing is superb, which is why I am always drawn back to this series.

Also, I toggled back and forth between the ARC of Tell Me Everything and the audio and as usual, the audio did not disappoint. Kimberly Farr, the narrator, truly brings Strout's characters to life and captures them so very well.

So, is Tell Me Everything on your TBR list? Are you a fan of Elizabeth Strout? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Sophie and the Swans

I love sharing heartwarming and compassionate stories with children, especially in today's world where bullying is a prevalent issue. That's why I'm excited to tell you about a new picture book, Sophie and the Swans by Holly Peppe. This award-winning picture book teaches compassion and has been recognized as a Family Choice Award Winner for 2024. It's definitely a book not to be missed!

Learn More About the Book:

Sophie and the Swans

Written by Holly Peppe

Illustrated by Aeron Cargill

Ages: 3+ | 36 Pages

Publisher: Lincoln Square Books | ISBN: 978-1947187146

Publisher’s Book Summary: "Sophie is a little girl who lives beside a lake and makes friends with a pair of swans who visit her every day. One day, when a bully starts to torment the swans, Sophie rushes to defend them not by attacking the bully but by showing him kindness when he gets into trouble on the lake."

You can purchase your own copy of Sophie and the Swans at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Bookshop. When you buy a copy of the book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to anti-bullying advocates. How wonderful is that?

The Giveaway:

I've partnered with Expound Publicity to celebrate the recent publication of Sophie and the Swans. One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of the book. Good luck!

Sophie and the Swans: Book Giveaway

Friday, October 4, 2024

Book Review: The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 8, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Matchmaker's Gift

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "It's never too late for new beginnings. On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.

As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.

Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?"

It's 1987 and Augusta Stern, at the age of 80, is reluctantly retiring from her pharmacy job. She is starting another chapter of her life in Boca Raton, Florida, in a retirement community. While there, she runs into Irving Rivkin, a man she knew from her hometown of Brooklyn. Irving was her father's delivery boy at her family's well known pharmacy, which is also where Augusta worked and spent most of her time. But this isn't just any old acquaintance. Irving broke Augusta's heart years ago, a heartbreak that was so deep, that she never really moved on from it. Now that Irving is back in her life, she remembers those years in Brooklyn at her father's pharmacy, along with her sister and her Aunt Esther. Aunt Esther, while not an actual pharmacist, fancied herself as an apothecary of sorts. She helped her neighbors with her herbal concoctions and was usually quite successful. This has always captivated Augusta and played a part in her young adult life. Readers wonder if Augusta can really give her "new" life in Florida a try and move on from her past. Lynda Cohen Loigman's The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a charming novel about second chances, family, and of course, love.

Augusta is a delightful character from the start of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. I was afraid I would not be able to relate to an 80-year-old living in a retirement community, but it was quite easy. I enjoyed her antics, her run-ins with Irving, and the other quirky neighbors. The flashbacks to her youth in Brooklyn were also well done and I liked how the story unfolded. Loigman slowly pieced together how Irving and Augusta met, their love story, and ultimately, what went wrong. Loigman also brings 1920s Brooklyn to life very well; I felt like I was there in her family's pharmacy and interacting with all the memorable neighbors.

Loigman's novels are always cozy and it was just what I needed in between stressful thrillers. The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern was like putting on a comfy sweater; I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of historical fiction. It does have a touch of magic in it, so that makes it the perfect novel to snuggle up with this month. Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of Loigman and if The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is on your TBR this month. Also, it's a Book of the Month pick, so check it out if you haven't already.

Thursday, October 3, 2024

The Best Halloween Books for Kids

Halloween is fast approaching! It's a great time of the year to curl up with the little one in your life and share a slightly spooky or festive Halloween read. Today I am highlighting my favorite Halloween picture books as well as some favorites for beginner readers.