Can't Wait Wednesday: The Blue Hour

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

 

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

Pub. Date: October 10, 2024

 

Goodreads says, "An isolated Scottish island, accessible to the mainland only twelve hours a day. A famous (some might say infamous) artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared after visiting her twenty years ago. A present-day discovery that intimately connects three people and unveils a web of secrets and lies.

A masterful and propulsive novel that asks searing questions of ambition, power, gender and perception, The Blue Hour recalls the very best of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith and cements Hawkins’s place among the very best of our most nuanced, powerful and stylish storytellers."

 

I really enjoyed The Girl on the Train, so I can't wait to dive into Hawkins's latest novel. Fall is the perfect time to read a lot of psychological thrillers. What do you think? Is The Blue Hour on your TBR list?

 

Audio Book Review: Long Island by Colm Toibin

 

Pages: 304

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: Scribner

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Brooklyn

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "From the beloved, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author comes a spectacularly moving and intense novel of secrecy, misunderstanding, and love , the story of Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, Tóibín’s most popular work, twenty years later.

Eilis Lacey is Irish, married to Tony Fiorello, a plumber and one of four Italian American brothers, all of whom live in neighboring houses on a cul-de-sac in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with their wives and children and Tony’s parents, a huge extended family that lives and works, eats and plays together. It is the spring of 1976 and Eilis, now in her forties with two teenage children, has no one to rely on in this still-new country. Though her ties to Ireland remain stronger than those that hold her to her new land and home, she has not returned in decades.

One day, when Tony is at his job and Eilis is in her home office doing her accounting, an Irishman comes to the door asking for her by name. He tells her that his wife is pregnant with Tony’s child and that when the baby is born, he will not raise it but instead deposit it on Eilis’s doorstep. It is what Eilis does—and what she refuses to do—in response to this stunning news that makes Tóibín’s novel so riveting.

Long Island is about longings unfulfilled, even unrecognized. The silences in Eilis’ life are thunderous and dangerous, and there’s no one more deft than Tóibín at giving them language. This is a gorgeous story of a woman alone in a marriage and the deepest bonds she rekindles on her return to the place and people she left behind, to ways of living and loving she thought she’d lost."

 

 

Readers revisit Eilis Lacey, twenty years after Brooklyn closes. Her life is what you would expect to find decades later. She lives near her overbearing in-laws in Long Island, her husband is still a plumber, and they have two almost grown kids. She hasn't returned  home to Ireland in years nor seen her mother. In a shocking turn of events, Eilis finds out that Tony, her husband, cheated on her and the result is that there's a baby and the woman will not raise it. It appears that her in-laws are thinking of raising this child and this is a deal breaker to Eilis. She decides to return home to Enniscorthy to see her mother and celebrate her 80th birthday along with her son and daughter. Readers of Brooklyn will remember pub owner, Jim, and Eilis runs into him again. He hasn't married, but he is engaged to her widowed friend, Nancy. Eilis and Jim still both share a spark despite the many years they haven't seen one another. With her return to Ireland, she upends many lives and various people, including her. She and Jim starts questioning what they want and what is important to them. Long Island by Colm Toibin is a quiet read that is contemplative and memorable. It's perfect for fans of Brooklyn and readers who want a smart, well written novel.
 
I've always enjoyed Eilis as Brooklyn is one of my favorite novels. She is older and more mature in Long Island, but in turn, she is a bit sadder. Her life, while full in that she has her children, it lacks the spark it used to have, especially since she is smothered by Tony's family who seem to be at every turn. I could understand Eilis's desire not to raise Tony's baby and her plans to return to Ireland. I was hoping her return home would help her reevaluate her life, but it actually made things even more complicated, especially when she runs into Jim, which sets a lot in motion.
 
I didn't love Long Island as much as Brooklyn, but it was still a fantastic novel. It felt a little heavier in that Eilis had a lot of important decisions to make. She thinks about paths not taken and missed  opportunities as well as what the future holds for her, but it's never really shared in all its entirety. Readers aren't even sure how long she will be in Ireland. Despite all the uncertainties, Toibin's writing is just so, so good and I was entirely enthralled by the story.
 
I listened to Long Island and the audiobook was outstanding. Jessie Buckley, the narrator, had various accents (Irish, New York, Italian)  and performed them all masterfully. Long Island is definitely one of my favorite audiobooks of the year.
 
So, have you read Brooklyn? Do you plan on reading Long Island this summer? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Tor

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high."

Alyssium is burning due to unrest in the community and along with it, its gorgeous library, filled to the brim with manuscripts and books. Kiela has worked there for over ten years along with her assistant, a  spider plant, and this is the only world she knows. But things are really unsettled on Alyssium, so they embark on the open ocean for Caltrey, a small island she grew up on. Once Kiela arrives, her family's cottage is still there, so they get to work freshening it up. She wants to lay low and not draw too much attention, but the island is small and its inhabitants start to recognize that the once abandoned cottage is  now being restored. Larran, a good looking and helpful neighbor, has also started stopping by and helping out when needed, much to Kiela's initial dismay. Caltrey is suffering from the lack of magic though and Kiela recognizes this. She has taken spell books from the burning Alyssium library and intends on using some spells (illegally!) to restore Caltrey and help its people. She opens a storefront that sells a variety of  berry jams grown from her garden's berry bushes (with the help of spells), but also secretly provides "remedies" for the people of Caltrey and the land.  Sarah Beth Durst's The Spellshop is a sweet fantasy that is comforting - like a long day in the sunshine in your garden without a cloud in the sky.

Kiela is an interesting character in The Spellshop. She's a bookish introvert, so I think many readers can relate to her desire to hide away in this gorgeous cottage, make jams, read books, tend to her garden, and relax.  Enter Larran, who stirs things up a bit for her, and has her questioning what she wants out of her life. My favorite friendship in the novel is with her spider plant, Caz, who walks, talks, and is all-around a funny character. There are plenty of other fantasy creatures in The Spellshop which adds to the whimsical element.

The Spellshop is my first cozy fantasy novel (some refer to it as cottagecore fantasy) and I wasn't sure if it was going to be for me. Honestly, I needed a palate cleanser after an extremely suspenseful thriller and this book was the perfect option. Sometimes you just want a low key story without too much stress, right? The Spellshop doesn't have any intense battles, edgy romantic scenes, or major conflicts, which at the time, was just what I needed. So, if low-key fantasies are for you, give The Spellshop a try this summer. I was pleasantly surprised by how happy I was to be  lost in this fantasy world that was downright adorable.

Are you a fan of Sarah Beth Durst? Is The Spellshop on your summer TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality

Every child is special and has their own unique characteristics. It's okay to be different, but sometimes it can be difficult or even scary for kids to embrace that. Today, I am excited to share a new picture book with you all called Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality, which conveys the message of the importance of being a unique individual and practicing self-compassion.

 

Learn More About the Book:

 

Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality 

Written by Jennifer Nestor

Illustrated by Victoria Mikki

Ages 4-9 | 40 Pages

Publisher: BookBaby | ISBN-13: 979-8350953602

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: This heartfelt adventure follows a young girl named Jane as she tries to navigate the challenge of feeling different in her own skin while experiencing bullying at school. Though she is soft-spoken and quirky on the outside, she struggles on the inside—desperately wanting to belong. Escaping from an uncomfortable moment on the school bus, Jane has a vivid daydream where she enters the Jungle of Individuality: a place filled with animals who all have unique characteristics, just like herself. As she embarks on an incredible journey of self-discovery with some new friends, she quickly realizes her individuality is something she should embrace while also learning self-compassion and being brave when things get tough.

You can purchase your own copy of Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality at Barnes and Noble, Bookshop and Amazon. Also, you can learn more about Jennifer Nestor by visiting her website and connecting with her on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

 

 

The Giveaway: 

 

I've partnered with Jennifer Nestor to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality. Enter for a chance to win a Back-to-School prize pack, including a signed copy of Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality. Good luck!

  Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality, by Jennifer Nestor: Book Giveaway

Book Review: The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin

 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Meant to Be, The Lies that Bind,

First Comes Love, and Something Borrowed

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and law school hopeful from D.C.; Summer, a recruited athlete and perfectionist from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner who is content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. Soon after moving into their shared dorm, they strike up a conversation in a study lounge, and the seeds of friendship are planted.

As their college years fly by, their bond intensifies and the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. Stunned and heartbroken, a pact is made to be there for each other in their time of need, no matter how separated they are by circumstances or distance.

Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are facing their own crossroads. True to their promise, they agree to take a time out from lives headed in wrong directions and embark on a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.

In this tender portrayal of grief, love, and hope, Emily Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides to help pick up the pieces?"

Freshman year at the University of Virginia, four college freshmen bond and become inseparable. There's Lainey, a flighty Californian, who aspires to become an actress. Tyson, a good looking Black man who hopes to become a lawyer, and Summer, the scholar and athlete, with dreams of becoming a doctor. Lastly, there's Hannah, a quiet Southern girl with a controlling mother. All four, despite their  differences, become close friends, especially after a tragedy unites them further. Fast forward many years, and Hannah is planning her dream wedding, but something happens that blows up her seemingly perfect world. The friends come together to support Hannah during her time as they all promised they would in college. After Hannah's life is turned upside down, and Lainey and Tyson both are in a funk, they decide to take a trip, and one of the stops is gorgeous Capri. This trip ends up impacting their lives in more ways than one as each character is dealing with something. Emily Giffin's The Summer Pact is a fun beach read and while it wasn't my favorite of Giffin's, I think many readers will enjoy being swept up in not only the drama amongst these friends but also the beauty of Capri.

Giffin takes us back to college and how this unlikely friend group formed. I wish we had spent more time there developing their friendships, but readers get enough of an idea that this foursome is  extremely close. I think Giffin does a wonderful job portraying close friendships, but by thirty-some years old, I find it hard to believe that friends would drop things for each other, including girlfriends,  good jobs, etc. Tyson ends up having to make a ton of tough decisions to go on this trip, some of which seem pretty rash and immature. I am not sure at 30+ years old, this is entirely believable unless you are  independently wealthy, but it is what it is. Nonetheless, the commitment to the group was admirable, especially as Hannah's world was falling apart.
 
My favorite aspect of the novel was Capri in The Summer Pact. Readers can tell that Giffin spent some time on this beautiful island it comes to life wonderfully. This is why I brought his novel on vacation with me, because there's nothing better than being poolside and reading about the characters following through Capri. But that is not to say that this novel doesn't deal with some heavy issues, because it most definitely does. There's suicide, alcoholism, controlling parents, parental expectations, racism, infidelity, and more.
 
Overall, I felt The Summer Pact's characters were too immature for me to entirely connect to, and to be honest with you, I don't think Giffin was at the top of her game writing (or storytelling wise) when it comes to this novel, but it ended up being a decent beach read and a great way to pass a summer afternoon.
 
Are you a fan of Giffin? Is The Summer Pact on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

 

Blog Break

 

I'm on a blog break enjoying some much needed downtime. I'll be back soon sharing more beach reads and summertime fun. While I am gone, if you are looking for a beach read, be sure to check out my beach read menu for more recommendations.

I plan on reading some good books while I am gone and I'm currently enjoying The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin. Let me know what you are reading in the comments below. I'll be back soon!

 

Book Review: Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Hundred Summers, 

The Beach at Summerly,  Our Woman in Moscow, 

The Secret Life of Violet Grant, and The Summer Wives

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by a mysterious family heirloom—reclaim family secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son Sam had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, in a search for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend Monk Adams—now one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairytale cut short by an agonizing betrayal.

Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat, a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah's longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared into a game of intrigue between two men…and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

Timeless and bittersweet, Husbands And Lovers draws readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England. Acclaimed author Beatriz Williams has written a poignant and beautifully voiced novel of deeply human characters entangled by morally complex issues—of privilege, class, and the female experience—inside worlds brought shimmeringly to life."

 

It's 2019 and Mallory is a single mom to her ten year old son, Sam. He is attending summer camp and she receives a life changing call that he ate a death cap mushroom, which is poisonous. He ends up very sick from this incident and is hospitalized. After he survives this horrific event, he needs a kidney transplant to life a full life and is currently on dialysis. This entire experience obviously impacts Mallory and Sam's life and Paige, Mallory's sister, is encouraging her to contact Sam's father, because maybe he is a donor match since they aren't. But Sam's dad isn't just any man. He is Monk Adams, a famous Grammy award winning musician whom she hasn't spoken to in years. He is planning to get married on Winthrop Island and it just so happens that Paige has a friend who invited them to stay on Winthrop, so off they go. What could possibly go wrong? The other timeline is told through Hannah's point of view. She lives in the 50s in Cairo, Egypt, and is in an unhappy marriage to a much older (and cruel) Englishman. She meets Lucien and her life is forever changed as he ignites a spark in her that she thought was long gone. Williams expertly weaves both stories together and in turn, readers get a memorable tale. Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a page turner filled with historical details, a contemporary romance, a gorgeous beach setting, and more. 

I really enjoyed Mallory from the start of Husbands & Lovers. I especially appreciated the flashbacks to high school when she first met Monk and how their relationship developed during college. Mallory worked for Monk's family, helping to nanny his step siblings, and spent the summer on gorgeous Winthrop Island. These chapters really added to the beach read feel and I loved how their relationship unfolded. Also, Monk is such a memorable character and I absolutely adored him as well. Mallory and Monk seem so happy that readers are curious as to what went wrong and slowly Williams clues us in.  The flashbacks, in combination with present day details, readers slowly put the pieces together and long for Mallory and Monk to reunite in 2019.

The other timeline in Husbands & Lovers is just as compelling and told from a historical perspective in 1951 Cairo. Hannah is such a strong woman and I really was mesmerized by her past and her experiences during the war. The whole time I kept wondering how Mallory was connected to Hannah as their worlds seem so vastly different, but Williams did a great job weaving the story together. Paige, Mallory's sister, finds out their mother was adopted, so there is a subplot to understand their lineage more as well as the origin of a beautiful bracelet that their mother left behind for Mallory. As someone who loves studying their family's ancestry, this was right up my alley.

I love all of the novels that Williams writes, but Husbands & Lovers especially hit the spot as it combined a contemporary romance set on the coast, flashbacks to high school and college, as well as a historical setting that was entirely transporting. It's a winning combination for me! So, if you love all of those things in a novel as well, Husbands & Lovers should not be missed. Once I finished the novel, I was actually sad, which rarely happens these days! Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of  Williams and if you've read or plan on reading Husbands & Lovers.

 

 

 

Mini Reviews: New Releases + Audio Books

 

 

These two books, The Cliffs and A Novel Love Story, just came out this summer and I had high hopes for both as I have read books by both of these authors previously and enjoyed them, but ultimately, they fell flat despite one of the books being a Reese Book Club pick.

 

 

 

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

Genre: Adult Fiction/Audio Book

Pub. Date: July 2, 2024

Publisher: Random House Audio

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Engagements

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "On a secluded bluff overlooking the ocean sits a Victorian house, lavender with gingerbread trim, a home that contains a century’s worth of secrets. By the time Jane Flanagan discovers the house as a teenager, it has long been abandoned. The place is an irresistible mystery to Jane. There are still clothes in the closets, marbles rolling across the floors, and dishes in the cupboards, even though no one has set foot there in decades. The house becomes a hideaway for Jane, a place to escape her volatile mother.

Twenty years later, now a Harvard archivist, she returns home to Maine following a terrible mistake that threatens both her career and her marriage. Jane is horrified to find the Victorian is now barely recognizable. The new owner, Genevieve, a summer person from Beacon Hill, has gutted it, transforming the house into a glossy white monstrosity straight out of a shelter magazine. Strangely, Genevieve is convinced that the house is haunted—perhaps the product of something troubling Genevieve herself has done. She hires Jane to research the history of the place and the women who lived there. The story Jane uncovers—of lovers lost at sea, romantic longing, shattering loss, artistic awakening, historical artifacts stolen and sold, and the long shadow of colonialism—is even older than Maine itself.

Enthralling, richly imagined, filled with psychic mediums and charlatans, spirits and past lives, mothers, marriage, and the legacy of alcoholism, this is a deeply moving novel about the land we inhabit, the women who came before us, and the ways in which none of us will ever truly leave this earth."

 

 

Jane, a Harvard archivist, looks like she has it all. Her dream job and a decent husband, but she has some major demons that she fights daily, the biggest being her alcoholism, which runs in her family. After a work event gone wrong, her life is upended and she ends up taking some time off to go through her mother's estate in Maine. While there, she notices the old Victorian house on the cliffs that she used to explore in her childhood, but has now been renovated. The new owner, Genevieve Richards, has decided that the house is haunted and hires Jane to research the house's history to figure out what is happening. A haunted beach house and complex characters make for a compelling novel. Still, The Cliffs were interspersed with too many heavy topics, such as colonialism, mistreatment of Indigenous people, death of a child, Shakers, and alcoholism, that it felt weighed down and downright depressing.

At first, I found The Cliffs to be entirely compelling. An old house? Yes, please. A possible ghost? Yes, please. Learning about the history of the house and its inhabitants throughout the years? Yes, please. But then Sullivan took a weird turn. It got very exposition heavy and almost like a lecture on Maine's history as well as Indigenous people. While I expected some of that given the history of the house and town, I didn't expect it to be like sitting through a history class. In fact, at one point during the audiobook, I thought I had pulled up a non-fiction book in my library instead of The Cliffs. Also, interspersed between compelling plot points were such heavy topics like the death of a child that the book felt weighed down....too weighed down to bring on vacation, in my opinion.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Genre: Romance/Audio Book

Pub. Date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Dead Romantics

and The Seven Year Slip

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.

Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.

But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel… Because it is.

This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.

Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.

Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.

Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own."

 

English professor, Elsy, loves her book club and spends a week on a reading retreat with them every year in New York. On the way to the retreat, she ends up in bad weather and is detoured into a small idyllic town. The more time she spends in this town, the more time she realizes it is very similar to Eloraton, her favorite fictional town from her favorite book series, Quixotic Falls. As she spends time in Eloraton, she realizes that all of her favorite characters are popping up. She recognizes everyone but Anders, the bookstore owner. A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston is a charming novel for fans of romance and magical realism.
 
What bookworm hasn't wished they could wake up at their favorite literary destination? Whether it be Virgin River, Stars Hollow, Castle Leoch, Green Gables, or other locations, this is a bookworm's dream. Poston taps into that very well with A Novel Love Story. It is a cute read, but I must say it didn't suck me in as much as The Dead Romantics, which I adored.  Ultimately, this novel fell flat for me, because I just couldn't connect with Elsy or her romantic interest; in fact, it felt a bit too cutesy for me at times, especially with the audiobook narrator's southern accent. However, if you love a cozy romance, give this one a try this summer.

 

 

 

Are you a fan of J. Courtney Sullivan or Ashley Poston? Are these books on your summer TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

Book Review: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Pages: 240

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 18, 2024

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too.

This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.

It's one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves."

 

 

Each year, for the past twenty years, Rocky's family rents a ramshackle  cottage on Cape Cod. They have been doing this since the kids were little and now they are in their twenties. Rocky, in her fifties,  has a lot of thoughts regarding life, marriage, her aging parents, her adult children, and what it means to be a woman. Summer at her favorite beach house is the perfect time to think back to summer's past and the secrets that she is still harboring. One thing Rocky knows is that parenting is all about constant change and this summer reminds her of that even more so. Catherine Newman's Sandwich is one of the best books of  the year and if you are a parent or a woman in your 40s or 50s, it shouldn't be missed. It should be required reading!

I adored Rocky from the start. Her witty sense of humor, her outrage at the injustice of things women must endure, and her dedication to her children made me really enjoy her in Sandwich. I think so many women, whether their children are grown or are still young, can relate to all of Rocky's joys and frustrations. Sandwich is filled with flashbacks to when her children were young, which was so relatable and so very laughable at times. In fact, I found myself absolutely cackling with her observations on menopause, marriage, and young children. It felt therapeutic in the sense that I can say no one has written, that I've read in the past twenty years, as honest and raw about what it means to  be a mother, a daughter, and a wife.

But Sandwich isn't all sunny day on the Cape with your family. It includes Rocky coming to grips with her issues as well as a secret she has kept  hidden for years. So, the novel does tackle some difficult topics, but it covers them so well that it never feels heavy since the hefty topics are in between lighter, laugh-out-loud moments.

Sandwich is easily one of my favorite books of the summer, if not the best book of the summer. Newman's writing is outstanding and it reminded me of Patchett in that she can take a slice of life moment and make it so profound. Sandwich should not be missed and I toggled back and forth between the audio, which was narrated by Nan McNamara, who did not disappoint.

My favorite quote from Sandwich that had me nodding: "And this may be the only reason we were put on this earth. To say to each other, I know how you feel. To say, Same. To say, I understand how hard it is to be a parent, a kid."

Is Sandwich on your summer TBR list? Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The King's Messenger

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

 

The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley

Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

 

Goodreads says, "New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Susanna Kearsley explores romance, court alliances, and the limits of one's duty in this rich story of an ordinary man in service to a treacherous king, and the mission that brings him to love and his true calling.

In 1613, King James sends his messenger Andrew Logan to Scotland to arrest his late son's close advisor Sir David Moray. Accompanied by his aloof neighbor Phoebe Westaway, Andrew slowly untangles the real point of his mission—to frame Sir David for Prince Henry's death. But Andrew is unwilling to bring an innocent man into a treacherous betrayal.

Andrew's feisty and lovely neighbor Phoebe Westaway has always been stand-offish to Andrew, having heard malicious gossip against him. But as they journey to Scotland and back, Phoebe has the opportunity to see Andrew for the honorable and loyal man that he is, and her change of heart may open new possibilities for them once their mission is complete.

 

I love all of Kearsley's novels and am looking forward to this one. What do you all think? Are you a fan of Kearseley as well? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Book Review: Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: 28 Summers, Golden Girl,  

The Hotel Nantucket, and The Five-Star Weekend

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "After thirty-five years serving as the Chief of Police on the island of Nantucket, Ed Kapenash's heart can no longer take the stress. But his plans to retire are thwarted when, with only three days left to serve, he receives a phone call. A 22-million-dollar summer home, recently purchased by the flashy new couple in town, the Richardsons, has burned to the ground. The Richardsons are far from hurt—in fact, they're out on the water, throwing a lavish party on their yacht—but when news of the fire reaches them, they discover that their personal assistant has vanished. The Chief is well-acquainted with the Richardsons, and his daughter is best friends with the now-missing girl, leaving him no choice but to postpone his retirement and take on the double case.

On a small island like Nantucket, the Richardsons shook things up from the second they stepped on to the scene, throwing luxurious parties and doing whatever they could to gain admittance to the coveted lunches at the Field & Oar Club (with increasing desperation). They instantly captured the attention of local real estate agent Fast Eddie, and the town gossip Blond Sharon, both dealing with their own personal dramas. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce, and in order to avoid becoming a cliché, she's enrolled in a creative writing class, putting her natural affinity for scandal towards a more noble purpose. To solve the case of the fire and track down his daughter's best friend, the Chief will have to string together the pieces of the lives of all of these characters and more, rallying his strength for his final act of service to the tight-knit community he knows and loves.

The last of Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Nantucket novels, Swan Song is a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the return of some of her most beloved characters, including, most importantly, the beautiful and timeless island of Nantucket itself.

Ed Kapenash, the police chief of Nantucket, hopes to retire very soon, especially after his recent health issues. Just before his impending retirement, a house goes up in flames under questionable circumstances, and his daughter's friend, Coco, goes missing. This won't be the relaxing weekend he had planned. The house that burned down was Leslee and Bull Richardson's home, the wealthy newcomers. The couple moved here and caused an upset on the island of Nantucket. Their lavish parties and hardcore partying have made everyone vie for an invite as well as upset the apple cart on the island. Coco, the Richardson's concierge, is new to the island as well. By the time the house goes up in flames, she is missing, which also sends the island into a tizzy. Elin Hilderbrand's final Nantucket novel, Swan Song, includes everything Hilderbrand fans have come to love about her summer novels. There are Easter eggs galore, rich people behaving badly, delectable dinner parties, romance, and a mystery, too that will keep her readers flipping the pages.

Swan Song is told from various perspectives, but I felt myself drawn to Coco's the most. She met the Richardsons while bartending in the Virgin Islands, and accepted their job as their personal concierge. Bull Richardson produces movies and Coco has a screenplay she is working on, so Coco feels she has an opportunity here once she has proven a valuable asset. Coco is new to the island, but thankfully has befriended the chief's daughter, who is home from California to escape her own problems. Which leads me to the Chief. I have always enjoyed his character throughout the Nantucket novels, and his impending retirement is not going smoothly. With a house fire under questionable circumstances and then a missing person whom he knows personally, this won't be an easy way to end his career.

Hilderbrand also includes chapters from Blonde Sharon's point of view, which I have actually come to enjoy. Sharon is working on the second act of her life after her husband cheated on her and I found myself rooting for her despite the fact that she loves to stir up some gossip. There are other characters from The Rumor and The Castaways, so I am glad I read those novels before diving into Swan Song.

Hilderbrand is known for her glorious descriptions of the food, parties, drinks, restaurants, and the idyllic life on Nantucket. I really enjoyed being back on the island and a part of it all. Nantucket has become a character throughout her novels and I will certainly miss it. Her fans won't be disappointed with all the beautiful descriptions, the juicy gossip and rich people antics that will definitely keep the reader absorbed.

While Swan Song isn't my favorite of Hilderbrand's novels, it is a solid ending to what feels like an era. Will summers be the same without a Hilderbrand novel? It doesn't feel like it, but what a ride it has been. I will most definitely miss visiting Nantucket each summer through her novels, so I plan on reading some of her backlist novels I've missed to hopefully fill the void.
 
Have you read Swan Song? Are you a fan of Hilderbrand? What's your favorite  of her novels? Mine are 28 Summers and Golden Girl. Let me know your  thoughts in the comments below.