Book Review: The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Pages: 360

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.  Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.  Who is the child and what really happened that day?  One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her."

Seraphine was born and raised at a large estate in England called Summerbourne along with her twin brother and older brother.  Her childhood would have been idyllic except for the fact that her mother committed sucide the day she and her brother were born by jumping off the cliffs near their house.  After her father's untimely death many years later, she finds herself going through his personal belongings at Summerbourne.  While doing so, he finds a suspicious picture of her mother looking happy on the day of the twin's birth and holding only one baby.  Could this person have jumped off the cliffs minutes later after such a normal looking photo or is there more to her mother's story than Seraphine knows. Her grandmother doesn't give her straight answers, so she knows that she must contact her older brother's former au pair.  This au pair should definitely have the answers as she was around when her mother was pregnant and on the day she died.  While doing so, Seraphine uncovers some major secrets about her family.  The Au Pair by Emma Rous is a domestic thriller about family secrets and cover ups all with a Gothic vibe.

Seraphine wants answers despite her grandmother's warning that she really shouldn't pry.  Her grandmother's insistence on not reaching out to the former au pair made Seraphine even more curious.  Can you blame her? What could her grandmother be hiding?  As Seraphine gets more and more answers about her family's sordid past, she starts to learn the truth about her own life as well as some answers regarding her childhood.  I can understand why Seraphine would want to know what happened to her mother, so I was rooting her on in The Au Pair. 

I liked that the narration often jumped back to the past in The Au Pair, so readers could try to put the pieces of the mystery together on their own.  Who exactly is Laura, the au pair, and what does she know?  Why did Seraphine's mother act the way she did? What drove her to allegedly jump off the cliffs?  As we spend more time in the past and read some chapters from Laura's viewpoint everything starts to become clearer.

The English manor house setting on the coast was fantastic and it reminded me of British novels I have read in the past that take place on sprawling estates all complete with fancy names.  Summerbourne was also surrounded by legends (there was talk of fairies, too!) and the townspeople often discussed it and the many unfortunate things that occurred there as the years went by.  It was such an interesting setting and it definitely added to the Gothic feel in The Au Pair.

My only gripe with The Au Pair was the lack of connection I felt with the characters.  While I cared about Seraphine, I wasn't overly invested in her or her plight. Sure, I wanted to know her family's secrets, but I can't say I connected with her tremendously. Perhaps the characterization could have been more fleshed out.

Nonetheless, if you love family mysteries with a Gothic vibe, give The Au Pair a try this winter.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions to My To-Read List

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is showcasing the most recent additions to our TBR list. I have a nice combination of new and upcoming releases as well as some old favorites. 

1.  The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren - Ginger at GReads! put this one on my radar. I have only read one book by Christina Lauren, but I really loved it. This one sounds like an amazing beach read; plus, it's set in Hawaii!

2.  The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver - After reading One Day in December, I knew that I wanted to check out her next novel.

3.  The Peacock Emporium by Jojo Moyes - I am excited to read a new novel by Jojo Moyes.  I adore the cover of this one and it sounds promising. It involves a quaint shop and family secrets.

4.  The Parting Glass by Gina Marie Guadagnino - A new historical novel set in 19th century New York....yes, please!

5.  The Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough - People love this book, but I have never read it. I feel like I should make time.  

6.  The Royal Secret by Lucinda Riley - I love all things royals, so I immediately added this one to my TBR list.  This book deals with uncovering a secret about the British monarchy. 

7.  The First Mistake by Sandie Jones - After reading The Other Woman, I knew I had to check out Jones's next novel, especially since it's a domestic suspense. 

8.  The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani - This is one of the few Trigiani novels that I haven't read.  I love the cover of this one! I find her books to be comforting, so I hope to read this one at some point this year.

9.  The Husband Hunters: Social Climbing in London and New York by Anne de Courcy - I read an article about Sarah J. Maas recently and she recommended this book. This non-fiction book seems right up my alley since I enjoy The Gilded Age. 

10.  My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante - So, there's been a lot of talk about this book. I am curious, especially since it was made into a TV show on HBO. I saw the trailer and I  thought it was compelling. I hope to read the book before I see the show. *fingers crossed*

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list as well? Let me know your thoughts and the books that you most recently added to your TBR pile.  This meme is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. 

Stacking the Shelves (88)

Bookworm Confessions

Can't Wait Wednesday: Summer of '69

Book Review: A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler

I'm hoping to share my thoughts on two books this coming week. First up, The Au Pair by Emma Rous, which was a decent domestic thriller and Lights Over London by Julia Kelly, which was a great historical read, especially if you like your historical novels to have more of a romantic vibe to them.

 

The Southern Side of Paraidse by Kristy Woodson Harvey - Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery

The Forgotten Hours by Katrin Schumann - Thanks to Lake Union Publishing

One Small Sacrifice by Hilary Davidson - Thanks to Thomas & Mercer

The Antidote by Shelley Sackier - Thanks to Harper Teen

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for visiting! This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Bookworm Confessions: I Watched the TV Show Before I Read the Book (II)

There's been a lot of great books being made into movies and TV shows, such as To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Normally I try to read the book before I watch the TV show or movie, but in this case I ran out of time. Bookworm problems, right?  My TBR list is already overflowing, so I went ahead and watched these shows/movies without reading the books:

 

The Miniaturist - This was a mini-series on PBS based on the book by the same name.  I really loved the setting of 17th century Amsterdam and the costumes were great. I had no idea about the wealth in Amsterdam at this time, so the Dutch Golden Age was very captivating.  The Miniaturist was haunting and very atmospheric.  I will say that I really didn't like the ending though. I was expecting so much more. I am not sure if the novel ends that way, so if you are a book reader and watched the show, please chime in.

  

Crazy Rich Asians - It seems I may be the only person that hasn't read this super popular series by Kevin Kwan . I really wanted to, but I ran out of time. I was very curious though about it though and was excited to watch the movie. Let's just say it was so much fun! It was a bit more rom-com than I expected, but overall, a very entertaining movie. I hear the books are a delight as well.  Book readers---is the movie a direct adaption or were their major changes?  Did you see this film? Let me know your thoughts!


Do you tend to read the book before you watch the TV or movie? What are some of your upcoming favorite adaptations? I am looking forward to seeing A Discovery of Witches as a TV show and I want to read Where'd You Go, Bernadette before it's made into a movie. What are you looking forward to?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Summer of '69

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Pub. Date: June 18, 2019

Goodreads, "Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the twentieth century! It's 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing. Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother's historic home in downtown Nantucket: but this year Blair, the oldest sister, is marooned in Boston, pregnant with twins and unable to travel. Middle sister Kirby, a nursing student, is caught up in the thrilling vortex of civil rights protests, a passion which takes her to Martha's Vineyard with her best friend, Mary Jo Kopechne. Only son Tiger is an infantry soldier, recently deployed to Vietnam. Thirteen-year-old Jessie suddenly feels like an only child, marooned in the house with her out-of-touch grandmother who is hiding some secrets of her own. As the summer heats up, Teddy Kennedy sinks a car in Chappaquiddick, a man flies to the moon, and Jessie experiences some sinking and flying herself, as she grows into her own body and mind.  In her first "historical novel," rich with the details of an era that shaped both a country and an island thirty miles out to sea, Elin Hilderbrand once again proves her title as queen of the summer novel."

It's not summertime without a new novel from Elin Hilderbrand. I love that she is branching out to historical novels---they make for the best "beach reads."  I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. What do you guys think?

Book Review: A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler

Pages: 400

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 16, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In 1883, the New York Times prints a lengthy rave of Alva Vanderbilt's Fifth Ave. costume ball--a coup for the former Alva Smith, who not long before was destitute, her family's good name useless on its own. Marrying into the newly rich but socially scorned Vanderbilt clan, a union contrived by Alva's bestfriend and now-Duchess of Manchester, saved the Smiths--and elevated the Vanderbilts.  From outside, Alva seems to have it all and want more. She does have a knack for getting all she tries for: the costume ball--no mere amusement--wrests acceptance from doyenne Caroline Astor. Denied abox at the Academy of Music, Alva founds The Met. No obstacle puts her off for long.  But how much of ambition arises from insecurity? From despair? From refusal to play insipid games by absurd rules? --There are, however, consequences to breaking those rules. One must tread carefully.  And what of her maddening sister-in-law, Alice? Her husband William, who's hiding a terrible betrayal? The not-entirely-unwelcome attentions of his friend Oliver Belmont, who is everything William is not? What of her own best friend, whose troubles cast a wide net?  Alva will build mansions, push boundaries, test friendships, and marry her daughter to England's most eligible duke or die trying. She means to do right by all, but good behavior will only get a woman so far. What is the price of going further? What might be the rewards? There's only one way to know for certain... "

Alva Smith grew up in Alabama with her parents who were, at one point, well off. But all that has changed. Her father's heath took a nose dive and is now bankrupt. It's up to Alva to save her family by marrying well.  Her mother brought her up to be not only well-educated, but worldly too.  Her best friend, Conseulo Yznaga, an heiress, encourages her to go to a ball in order to secure someone with money.  And she does.  William K. Vanderbilt, from the famous Vanderbilt family, is interested in her and things are looking up for Alva.  Why would William look her way? Well, his family, even though they have a ton of money, aren't well-liked in society as they are new money.  If he marries Alva, his chances of being received by the old money crowd are great.  But Alva has her work cut out for her as Caroline Astor won't even acknowledge her presence.  So what's a woman to do? Well, build and design the most luxurious mansion New York has ever seen and so much more.  Alva is a force to be reckoned with.  Therese Anne Fowler's A Well-Behaved Woman is so much more than a novel about Gilded Age New York. Alva is an inspiration even to women today.

Right from the beginning, Alva leaped off the page for me in A Well-Behaved Woman.  She's smart, determined, charming, and a future feminist. What's not to like?  I was rooting for her from the beginning as her family truly needs some help.  I can't imagine the pressure of knowing your family's future lies in your hands, so she better marry well.  Once she does marry, as we all know that she does, things change for Alva in that she is extremely well off financially, but the problems are still there. Her loveless marriage, the issues with not truly being accepted in society, her judgmental sister-in-law, her budding feelings towards her husband's best friend, and the bigger issue of how to make her mark in society.  I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Alva, especially towards the second half of the novel when she really comes into her own.

I loved learning about the Vanderbilts during Gilded Age New York. I always thought they ran society, so it was interesting to learn about how they wedged their way in and secured a position.  I loved following along as Alva designed eye-catching mansions, the lavish parties she threw and how she expertly handled the inevitable bumps in the road that headed her way.  Fowler displays all the intricacies of society during that time, the social games they would play, and it was truly fascinating.

What impressed me so much regarding A Well-Behaved Woman  was the fact that I thought this was going to be about balls, society, money and more money. It was so much more than that. In fact, I was so happy to learn that Alva made an important mark on society with her feminist view points. I had no idea that she was such a big supporter of women's causes!

If you love historical fiction and stories about interesting women from the time period definitely give A Well-Behaved Woman  a try this winter.  It had everything I like in a great historical novel: the glittering setting of Gilded Age New York along with a heroine whom I admired greatly.

Stacking the Shelves (87)

Audio Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Can't Wait Wednesday: When Summer Ends  

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2018

This week I'll be sharing my thoughts on The Au Pair by Emma Rous, which is a thriller/domestic drama.  I didn't love it as much as I was hoping, but I was still entertained by allllllll the family secrets.  

Where Birdie Lives by Elena Tsvetaeva - Thanks to Clever Publishing

The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious #2) by Maureen Johnson - Thanks to Katherine Tegen Books

 

The Parting Glass by Gina Marie Guadagnino - Thanks to Atria and NetGalley

Cape May by Chip Cheek - Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley

 

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron - Thanks to Thomas Nelson

This Heart of Mine by C.C. Hunter - Thanks to Wednesday Books

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for visiting! This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Audio Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 14, 2018

Publisher: Putnam

Source: Personal Copy/Audio Book

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark.  But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world--until the unthinkable happens."

Kya grew up on the marsh in North Carolina in the 1950s and one day her mom leaves and doesn't come back.  Kya is left with her drunk of a father and her siblings who are older and are slowly leaving one by one.  As time goes on, Kya finds herself alone out on the marshes and having to fend for herself.  The one constant in her life is her beautiful surrounding of the North Carolina marsh.  Instead of spending her days at school, Kya finds herself studying the birds, the tides, and her other aspects of nature.  Time continues on and she befriends Tate Walker who teaches her to read, but once he goes off to college she finds herself alone again.  The narration alternates with a 1969 with murder investigation.  Someone has died out on the marsh and we find out it is Chase Andrews.  He was the town's golden child and star quarterback.  Readers slowly find out that Kya somehow had a relationship with Chase at one point and during the investigations many hands are pointing to Kya, the "crazy" mash girl and wild child.  Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens has surprisingly many aspects to it that somehow work. There's romance, a coming-of-age tale, a survival story, and even a murder mystery that kept me completely entertained.

Kya is the type of character that your heart immediately goes out to in Where the Crawdads Sing.  She is abandoned not once, but twice and is living alone out on the marsh.  How could your heart not break for her? She makes the best of her situation by finding solace in nature and learning about her world.  She collects shells, feathers, and other things to entertain herself. Slowly she branches out socially to both Tate and Chase, but their stories are complicated.  

The murder mystery aspect of Where the Crawdads Sing definitely left me on the edge of my seat along with the events that ensue including the trail. Readers just want things to go simply for Kya for once, especially since she survived her atrocious childhood, but the death of Chase Andrews really complicates things.  

What stood out to me was Owens's descriptions of nature, the birds, the tides, the sun, and the other marsh animals in Where the Crawdads Sing. I found out that Owens wrote many non-fiction books on this very topic as she is a scientist, so it was very apparent that this is where she truly shines. She brought the marsh to life for me and really painted quite a beautiful picture with her memorable descriptions.

I'm glad I listened to this audio book as it was very well done. The narrator was Cassandra Campbell and she brought Kya's accent and the eloquent descriptions of nature to life.  

Where the Crawdads Sing is a fantastic debut and especially perfect for readers that appreciate nature and a coastal setting.  Have you read this book? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: When Summer Ends

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington

Pub. Date: April 9, 2019

Goodreads says, "Aiden Emerson is an all-star pitcher and the all-around golden boy of Riverton. Or at least he was, before he quit the team the last day of junior year without any explanation. How could he tell people he's losing his vision at seventeen?  Straight-laced Olivia thought she had life all figured out. But when her dream internship falls apart, her estranged mother comes back into her life, and her long-time boyfriend ghosts her right before summer break, she's starting to think fate has a weird sense of humor.  Each struggling to find a new direction, Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery from the author of Love Songs & Other Lies."

It's that time of the year again where I start to plan what I want to read this summer and this one is high up on the list. I always love a good YA summertime read and I love the sound of this one. What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: New to Me Authors I Read in 2018

I read a lot of debut authors in 2018, but for this post, I am focusing on new-to-me authors that have been writing for awhile, but I never got around to reading them until recently.

1.  Susan Meissner - I read As Bright as Heaven and thoroughly enjoyed her writing style as well as her ability to bring a historical place to life. 

2.  Edward Rutherfurd - I read Princes of Ireland this past St. Patrick's Day and was impressed by all the research that went into this massive historical novel.

3.  Jenn Bennett - I FINALLY read a Jenn Bennett novel this past year! I fell in love with Starry Eyes and can't wait to read more of her novels in the future.

4.  Christina Lauren - Sometimes the romance genre really doesn't work for me, but boy, did Christina Lauren impress me. I love that Christina Lauren is actually two authors writing together. In 2018, I read Love and Other Words. Which of her novels should I read next?

5.  Tony DiTerlizzi - I read The Spiderwick Chronicles with my son and we both absolutely loved this children's fantasy series.  

6.  Holly Black - Somehow I have never read any of Holly Black's YA novels despite the fact that I met her a few years back.  I did read The Spiderwick Chronicles with my son, which she is the co-author of along with Tony DiTerilizzi.  Maybe I should try and read her YA novels next. Which one should I start with?

7.  Deborah Harkness - I read A Discovery of Witches this past year and really enjoyed Harkness's  ability to weave historical fiction into her tale. Who else is excited to see the TV version of this show? It premieres this week on Sundance.

8.  Tom Fletcher - I have never read his children's books before I picked up The Christmasaurus and read it with my son. I'm so glad I did; it was such a fun middle grade story that's perfect for dinosaur lovers!

9.  Fiona Davis - I love historical fiction, as you know, so I'm glad I had the opportunity read one of Davis's novels. I started with The Address and it didn't disappoint!

10.  Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Many of my friends have read her YA novels, but I never found the time. I am glad I was able to  read her YA mystery, Little White Lies, this past fall.   


What new-to-you authors did you read this past year?  Let me know in the comments. This meme is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.