Mini Reviews: Quirky Debuts

 

Sometimes a quirky romance is just what you need, right? A novel that will keep you entertained and make you laugh-out-loud is always the perfect escape from the mundane and that is what I require in a good audio book. Mrs. Nash's Ashes and Dial A for Aunties is what these two novels have in common--there's a lot of hijinks, some romance, and funny moments that had me snickering.

 

Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler

Genre: Romance/Audio Book

Pub. Date: May 23, 2023

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Source: Library

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love. Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process. She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.

After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.

But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own."

 

Millie Watts-Cohen was a childhood star and one of her closest friends was her elderly landlady, Rose. After Rose's death, she promised to reunite her remains with her long-lost love, Elsie. Elsie is on hospice in Florida, so Millie's time is limited. She needs to take Rose's remains to Elsie before it's too late. While en route to Florida, there's a mishap at the airport and flights are canceled. While there, she runs into Hollis, her ex-boyfriend's friend, who also was supposed to go to Florida. After some discussion and plans that don't pan out, they both agree to drive to Florida together. A road trip between grouchy Hollis and sunny Millie....what could go wrong? Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler is a delightful rom-com debut filled with laugh-out-loud moments, a lot of tropes, and some major spice.

I love a good road trip book, so Mrs. Nash's Ashes was a nice escape. Adler relies heavily on many tropes: opposites attract, forced proximity, one-bed, and more, but it was fun. I can't say the romance knocked my socks off, but it was a nice way to pass a few afternoons. It was filled with quirky road trip moments (there's a religious bed and breakfast, small town parades, etc) and a budding romance. I did think Hollis's grouchy behavior was grating after a while as I didn't think he was broody, but rather rude. To enhance the story, there were flashbacks to Rose and Elsie's relationship during WWII, which brought more seriousness to the romance. Overall, it's a romance filled with a lot of spice and road trip fun.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Genre: Adult Fiction/Audio Book

Pub. Date: April 27, 2021

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Source: Library

Other Books By Author: Vera Wong's Unsolicited 

Advice for Murderers

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "What happens when you mix 1 (accidental) murder with 2 thousand wedding guests, and then toss in a possible curse on 3 generations of an immigrant Chinese-Indonesian family? You get 4 meddling Asian aunties coming to the rescue! When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it is inadvertently shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy, her Ma, and aunties are working at an island resort on the California coastline. It's the biggest job yet for the family wedding business—"Don't leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!"—and nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her auntie's perfect buttercream flowers.

But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy's great college love—and biggest heartbreak—makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding all in one weekend?"

Meddy Chan fell for her college boyfriend, Nathan, but her overbearing Chinese-Indonesian family convinced her to dump him and work for their wedding catering business as a photographer. So years later, Meddy is now living near her family, working for her family, and listening to her meddling aunts as well as her mother, who sets her up on a date with Jake. Jake, while seems like a put-together businessman, is a real jerk and assaults Meddy on her date. In turn, she tases him, and he doesn't wake up. Cue the drama! Who does she call? Her aunts! Who, naturally, then put Jake's body in a cooler till they can figure out what to do. As luck would have it, the cooler gets mistakingly sent to their next catering event, a wedding at a big hotel, that is owned by none other than Nathan, Meddy's ex-boyfriend. Cue even more drama! They must keep this body hidden as they can't mess up this big event...what could go wrong? Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto is her debut novel that is filled with hijinks, slapstick comedy, and laugh-out-loud meddling aunts.  

Dial A for Aunties is filled with some unbelievable moments, but that's what makes it fun. It's absolute mayhem that's quirky and hilarious. More often than not, I was laughing out loud while listening to this story, especially the auntie's dialogue, which was the best part as they are the true stars of the novel. Do I believe any of this would actually happen? No. Was it fun? Yes. If you like dark comedy with some romance mixed in, look no further.

Have you read Mrs. Nash's Ashes or Dial A for Aunties? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Audio Book Review: The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Genre: Adult Fiction/Audio

Pub. Date: September 28, 2021

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Source: Personal Copy 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze."

 

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt lives a somewhat normal life, but she has a big secret that even her family doesn't know. Her father is a powerful rabbi and a prominent member of the Jewish community, so this secret she worries could be especially harmful to her family. You see Rachel loves Christmas! So much so that she writes Christmas novels, under a pseudonym, and is pretty successful at it. In fact, she has a whole room filled with her collectible Christmas items like Santa figurines. She has kept this hidden from her family for years and has yet to meet "the one." All is well until her publisher wants her to shake things up and write a Hanukkah romance instead, which shouldn't be hard because she is Jewish. This really throws Rachel for a loop and is desperate to find inspiration. With her summer camp nemesis, Jacob Greenberg, back in town, she thinks she might find inspiration at his highly sought after Matzah Ball. Everyone is trying to get a ticket and she thinks that reconnecting with Jacob might get her that; after all, her parents are even going! Except Jacob looks to her to volunteer at it, which poses a problem, because Rachel suffers from a chronic illness, which holds her back at times. Can Rachel ever make it to the Matzah Ball and write a Hanukkah tale or will her former feud with Jacob Greenberg come to a boil? Jean Meltzer's The Matzah Ball is such a delightful audio book--one of my favorite holiday stories of the year!

Rachel is a character I liked from the start of The Matzah Ball. What I appreciated so much about this novel was Meltzer's ability to describe a character's "invisible" chronic illness so accurately. I have never seen this in a novel before and Meltzer did an outstanding job showing how it impacts not only daily life, but every decision whether big or small. It flows into all aspects of the person's life and it's a disability that isn't seen with the eye, so people often dismiss it. I applaud Meltzer for incorporating this into the novel as I think it's often overlooked. I also adored Meltzer's struggle with her secret love of Christmas and her feud with Jacob from summer camp. Rachel volunteering for Jacob put her in some funny positions as she tried to gain entrance to the ball and had to put up with some of his antics.

Jacob is also a great, and quite complex, character in The Matzah Ball. His back story is heartbreaking as his mother died from cancer and this impacted Jacob greatly. He explains how this trickles into his everyday life and some of the guilt he has surrounding it. I really felt for him and I think Metlzer did a good job with a tough subject. Now he has come home to throw his Matzah Ball, which has become the event of the season and I enjoyed how this all played out. While towards the end there were some over the top moments, I still enjoyed the novel and the journey it took to get to the ball.

The Matzah Ball in audio was wonderful. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a holiday read that will warm your heart, make you laugh-out-loud, and provide you with an adorable romance. I look forward to reading what Meltzer comes up with next! Hopefully it's another Hanukkah tale as we need more of this! So, have you read The Matzah Ball or is it on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Book Review: The Family by Naomi Krupitsky

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: November 2, 2021

Publisher: G.P. Putnam

Source: Publisher for review 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars  

 

 

Goodreads says, "In the vein of an American Elena Ferrante, a captivating debut novel about the tangled fates of two best friends and daughters of the Italian mafia, and a coming-of-age story of twentieth-century Brooklyn.  Two daughters. Two families. One inescapable fate.  Sofia Colicchio is a free spirit, a loud, untamed thing. Antonia Russo is thoughtful, ever observing the world around her. Best friends from birth, their homes share a brick wall and their fathers are part of an unspoken community that connects them all: the Family. Sunday dinners gather the Family each week to feast, discuss business, and renew the intoxicating bond borne of blood and love. Until Antonia’s father dares to dream of a different life and goes missing soon after. His disappearance drives a whisper-thin wedge between Sofia and Antonia as they become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. Both women are pushing against the walls of a prison made up of expectations, even as they remain bound to one another, their hearts expanding in tandem with Red Hook and Brooklyn around them. One fateful night their loyalty to each other and the Family will be tested. Only one of them can pull the trigger before it’s too late. "

 

It's 1920s in Brooklyn and Sofia Colicchio and Antonia Russo are best friends.  They are growing up together as their fathers are involved in the mob.  Sofia and Antonia are opposites though. Sofia is impulsive, popular, and always testing the boundaries, whereas Antonia is bookish and thinks about things a bit more.  Their parents' weekly Sunday dinners also bind the two families together until tragedy strikes.  Antonia's father "disappears" and this forever changes her life.  Her mother never really gets over it and folds into herself leaving Antonia to figure things out for herself.  Antonia's mother blames the "Family," but knows she needs the the Family's help to survive.  As the years go by and the girls age, they question their futures.  Will they just get married and have kids? Is that all there is? Can they ever leave the Family? Naomi Krupitsky's The Family is a promising debut that examines friendship, family, and loyalty.  

I really liked Antonia in The Family and my heart went out to her.  She lost her dad unexpectedly and her mother is severely lacking. She can't seem to pick herself up and start her life over and instead lives in the shadows.  Because of this, Antonia finds herself relying on Sofia and her family more and more.  She knows she can count on her friendship with Sofia as well as their reliable Sunday dinners.  As they get older, Antonia has plans for herself, but is drawn to a young man who works for the Family.  Will she ever be able to break free? Sophia starts asking herself the same question as the years go on, but then starts wondering if she really wants to? What's her role in the Family? Both women have their gender in common in an Italian American world where women are second class citizens.  Maybe they can change that? But as the years go on, they find themselves falling into the traditional gender roles and expectations.  

The first half of The Family is pretty slow. I had a tough time getting into it, but once things started to pick up, I was hooked. I especially appreciated the thematic similarities to Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend. If you like that series, you will appreciate this debut despite the fact that it doesn't dig as deep as Ferrante.

I also appreciated Krupitsky's ability to examine gender and its role in the Italian American world as well as the time period.  There's so many limitations for the women and Krupitsky examines how women are treated by society, by their spouses, how difficult it is to gain independence, and the trials and tribulations of motherhood.  

While the ending was a bit over the top, I still appreciated The Family overall and how it showcases the cost of the American dream. 

Book Review: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Pages: 400

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 6, 2021

Publisher: Riverhead

Source: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at "The Paper Palace" -- the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside.   Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn't forever changed the course of their lives.   As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity. Tender yet devastating, The Paper Palace considers the tensions between desire and dignity, the legacies of abuse, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families."

 

 

Elle's family has a house in the back woods of Cape Cod. It's not some beautifully modern beach house though; it's pretty worn down from the past fifty years, but it has been a source of solace for Elle though the years. Her childhood wasn't easy.  Her parents divorced and are entirely dysfunctional.  The step-sibling she has had to endure is a horrific person; however, the one person who was always there for her was Jonas.  She met Jonas on the Cape as children.  No matter what Elle was going through when she was growing up, Jonas had her back even when things got really bad.  Fast forward to many years later on the Cape and Elle is married with kids of her own as well as Jonas. Their families are friends and they still spend a lot of time together.  Elle and Jonas share a lot of secrets that stem from their childhood and while at a dinner party (with their spouses present!), they wander off and start an affair after years of never pursuing a real relationship.  After this encounter, Elle can't help but wonder what if? She loves her life with her devoted husband and her dreamy kids, but what if she took a different path and married Jonas? Miranda Cowley Heller's The Paper Palace is an all-consuming type of read that left me somehow caring about the characters despite their deplorable actions.

Elle is one of the those characters that I tend to judge right away and sort of write her off as being a horrible person, but slowly Heller made me care about her in The Paper Palace. I cast my judgment aside and tried to understand where she was coming from. What happened in her past to make her this way? Well, buckle in, because Heller shares quite a story that eventually comes together to show us a more complete picture of Elle.  While I usually didn't agree with her actions, I could sympathize.  Elle experienced so much trauma! There's so many secrets! 

The way that Heller tells The Paper Palace is really well done. It's sort of like an onion and she peels off each layer slowly. Through flashbacks, readers get more of an understanding as to what Elle experienced in a broken home with dysfunctional parents.  Her mother's new boyfriend and his son, Conrad, really blew up Elle's life.  Some of the scenes made me cringe (especially with Conrad), but it was all necessary to fully understand Elle. Thankfully, Elle always had her sister to lean on and wasn't entirely alone.

The setting of The Paper Palace was so well done. Heller truly brought the Back Woods of Cape Cod to life as well as the dilapidated beach house fondly known as the "Paper Palace".  It was very atmospheric with its ponds, dense foliage, and overgrown trees casting shadows despite the summer sun.

While the first half of the novel was pretty slow going, things definitely pick up and Heller takes you on quite an eye-opening ride.  So, if you enjoy family dramas with a lot of secrets and one that will keep you guessing, check out The Paper Palace. I definitely have me eye on what Miranda Cowley Heller writes next as this is just her debut.

So, have you read The Paper Palace ? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Book Review: The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

Pages: 448

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: August 31, 2021

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars  

 

Goodreads says, "In 1911 New York City, seventeen-year-old Frances Hallowell spends her days as a seamstress, mourning the mysterious death of her brother months prior. Everything changes when she’s attacked and a man ends up dead at her feet—her scissors in his neck, and she can’t explain how they got there. Before she can be condemned as a murderess, two cape-wearing nurses arrive to inform her she is deathly ill and ordered to report to Haxahaven Sanitarium. But Frances finds Haxahaven isn’t a sanitarium at all: it’s a school for witches. Within Haxahaven’s glittering walls, Frances finds the sisterhood she craves, but the headmistress warns Frances that magic is dangerous. Frances has no interest in the small, safe magic of her school, and is instead enchanted by Finn, a boy with magic himself who appears in her dreams and tells her he can teach her all she’s been craving to learn, lessons that may bring her closer to discovering what truly happened to her brother. Frances’s newfound power attracts the attention of the leader of an ancient order who yearns for magical control of Manhattan. And who will stop at nothing to have Frances by his side. Frances must ultimately choose what matters more, justice for her murdered brother and her growing feelings for Finn, or the safety of her city and fellow witches. What price would she pay for power, and what if the truth is more terrible than she ever imagined? "

 

The year is 1911 and Frances lives a pretty normal life as a seventeen year old seamstress.  One night her boss, clearly intoxicated, tries to assault her, and ends up dead with her sewing shears in his neck.  The thing is Frances didn't attack him with her shears!  Much to her surprise, they flew across the room.....like magic.  Before the police take her into custody, two nurses whisk her away to Haxahaven Sanatarium. They tell everyone that Frances needs treatment immediately as she has tuberculosis.  Clearly Haxahaven isn't a hospital, instead it's an academy where girls like her can learn how to harness their magical powers in a safe way.  While there, Frances is excited to learn about magic, but instead is disappointed by the school's lessons. They focus on magical housekeeping and how to suppress their innate abilities.  She wants to harness her powers, not limit them and in turn finds herself gravitating towards Finn, a friend of her deceased brother, who has magical abilities. Finn says he can teach her how to perform the magic she is interested in as well as help her figure out how her brother died. Things get even more complicated when different magical leaders in the city learn about Frances's power and want her for themselves.  The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith is an enchanting witchy tale for fans of historical fantasies. It's a great book to get lost in, especially this time of the year.

Frances is a really fun heroine in The Witch Haven .  Despite the year being 1911, Frances is ahead of her time and finds strength with the other women at Haxahaven. It's interesting how the school wants her to to be a "good little witch," but Frances has bigger plans. She is motivated by the mystery surrounding her brother's death and wants answers as she is getting cryptic messages from someone at school about it. She hopes that magical Finn can help her get some answers, not to mention she has been seeing him in her dreams! Cue the drama!

There's a lot of action in The Witch Haven surrounding the various subplots and especially towards the end when it involves a big showdown.  The plot definitely kept me flipping the pages in addition to the historical setting of 1911. That definitely added to the drama and the atmosphere of the novel. Plus, The Witch Haven takes place at a boarding school, so if you are like me, you'll enjoy that setting.

Like I said, October would be the perfect month to curl up with this witchy tale. It was a perfect fit for me, because I wanted a spooky read, but nothing that would be fall into the horror genre. I recommend The Witch Haven to fans of Libba Bray.  So, have you read The Witch Haven? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Book Review: At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: August 10, 2021

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When an ambitious female artist accepts an unexpected commission at a powerful earl's country estate in 1920s England, she finds his war-torn family crumbling under the weight of long-kept secrets. From debut author Courtney Ellis comes a captivating novel about finding the courage to heal after the ravages of war.  Alberta Preston accepts the commission of a lifetime when she receives an invitation from the Earl of Wakeford to spend a summer painting at His Lordship's country home, Castle Braemore. Bertie imagines her residence at the prodigious estate will finally enable her to embark on a professional career and prove her worth as an artist, regardless of her gender.  Upon her arrival, however, Bertie finds the opulent Braemore and its inhabitants diminished by the Great War. The earl has been living in isolation since returning from the trenches, locked away in his rooms and hiding battle scars behind a prosthetic mask. While his younger siblings eagerly welcome Bertie into their world, she soon sees chips in that world's gilded facade. As she and the earl develop an unexpected bond, Bertie becomes deeply entangled in the pain and secrets she discovers hidden within Castle Braemore and the hearts of its residents.  Threaded with hope, love, and loss, At Summer's End delivers a portrait of a noble family--and a world--changed forever by the war to end all wars."

 

WWI is over and England is recovering.  The world is very different now and Bertie Preston finds herself 28 years old and unmarried. For the time period, this isn't the norm, but Bertie doesn't care about society's rules. She strives to be independent and wants to support herself as an artist.  She gains some attention after winning an art competition and with that she is contacted by the Earl of Wakefield to pain his home, Castle Braemore.  This is exactly the type of job that Bertie has been hoping for and one that will hopefully help her make the move to London.  In order to paint Castle Braemore, she must move there for a short period of time and to make things even more awkward, the Earl thought Bertie was a man.  Despite this, she is determined to make the best of it, but with the Earl hiding in his rooms and the Castle a bit dismal, things aren't what she thought they would be. Thankfully, the Earl's siblings are excited for to be there. As time passes Bertie learns why the Earl, also known as Julian, spends most of his time in his room and how the war has impacted not only him, but also the estate.  The world is changing around Castle Braemore and the big question is are the inhabitants ready for it? At Summer's End by Courtney Ellis is a compelling historical debut that fans of Downton Abbey will enjoy.

I really liked Bertie right from the start of At Summer's End. I always love a determined, spunky, and unconventional heroine, especially when that isn't the norm for the time period.  I was excited for her to start her life as an artist and use the money to support her dreams in London. Once she arrives at Castle Braemore, things start to get a little more difficult than she initially thought. For starters, Julian, the Earl, doesn't really leave his rooms, so there's a Beauty and the Beast vibe to this novel.  Bertie can't help but wonder what happened to him at the war? Why won't he leave his rooms?  I am a big Beauty and the Beast fan, so I loved the similarities here.

The best part of At Summer's End is the setting. Ellis brought this time period to life very well and she made me feel like I was at Castle Braemore. The secrets that the Castle holds, including its residents, also adds the mystery and the atmosphere.  Fans evocative historical fiction will appreciate the setting of the atmospheric Castle, the lyrical descriptions, the conflicting social classes, as well as the changing times. Also, if you are looking for a historical romance, At Summer's End has one that doesn't disappoint.

So, if you love historical fiction, especially ones with a Downton Abbey vibe, give At Summer's End a try as summer comes to a close--now is the perfect time! 

Book Review: We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

Pages: 288

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: August 3, 2021

Publisher: Celadon

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

 

 

Goodreads says, "When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it's not easy. She deserted them all—and her high school sweetheart—five years before with little explanation, and they've got questions.   Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family's pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets—secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes—and ultimately find a way forward, together."

 

Sunday Brennan left her home in New York years ago. She was running from her past along with her boisterous Irish Catholic family; she was determined to not face it and leave it behind.  The Brennan family are a town staple; they own the local pub, the patriarch is a well known contractor, and everyone knows the Brennan kids, especially former sports star, Denny. From the outside, it appears to the community that the Brennans have it all. A successful family business, a booming Irish pub, a loving family, and a beautiful home.  However, when you examine the family closer, things aren't as they appear.  Sunday, the only female Brennan offspring, never got over something from her past and ran to Los Angeles under the guise of a job opportunity. This took everyone by surprise, especially her longtime boyfriend-turned fiance, Kale.  Kale isn't just some boyfriend though. He grew up with the Brennans; he is practically a Brennan himself and even has a place at the dining room table.  He and Sunday had plans to marry one day and to this day, he doesn't understand why she up and left him without even so much as an explanation.  However, one fateful night, Sunday finds herself in a drunk driving accident in Los Angeles and her emergency contact is her older brother, Denny. After he comes out to help her, he convinces her to move back home for a bit. Once Sunday does, she she knows she has to face all the secrets she has been hiding for years and eventually face Kale, who still holds her heart.  We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange is such a moving debut. I absolutely loved the characters and was completely invested in this family saga. It's one of my favorite books of the year!

Sunday is an interesting character in We Are the Brennans. Readers don't know what she is running from at first, but slowly Lange divulges information as to why she left so abruptly. While I don't always agree with her decisions, I could empathize with her.  Sunday needs people in her life who talk about their feelings, who can share their personal stories, and that's not what she will find at the Brennan household. The Brennans lack the skills to communicate effectively and they are all holding secrets. They come from a good place, but the lack of communication has caused some major trauma.  For example, Sunday is clearly in love with Kale and has been for years. So, why did she leave? Why didn't she explain to Kale why she left? And more importantly, which Brennan knows the truth surrounding Sunday's departure?

The other Brennans: Denny, Jackie, Shane, and Mick are fantastically done. Lange excels at character development. As I was reading We Are the Brennans, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold before me and I wasn't drawn to one character over another; somehow Lange was able to make each Brennan capture my heart. Mick is the patriarch and is a complex character. He knows that old age is robbing him of his memory and his ability to "get the job done." He wants very much to rule to roost, but it's Denny that truly runs the show and the family pub.  He keeps everyone in line, but the problem is, he is in over his head. His marriage is suffering, his plans for a new pub are going awry, not to mention he has serious money issues.  Then there's Jackie who is on probation, but a thoughtful and creative good guy, and the youngest, Shane, who is a handful as he is intellectually disabled. It's a lot for Denny to keep together.   Lastly, even though the Brennan matriarch, Maura, has been dead for years, she still plays an important role in the family and her presence hovers over the family, which is an interesting touch by Lange.

One of the driving forces in We Are the Brennans is Kale and Sunday's love story. I am an absolute sucker for a friends-to-something more romance, so I was completely caught up in their story. Lange provides readers  flashbacks that highlight important moments in their relationship and I found their love story so very compelling. All the while, I was wondering what the heck went wrong? Because Sunday is in Los Angeles avoiding her family, and Kale has clearly moved on. Cue my heart breaking!

We Are the Brennans also examines how secrets, shame, and guilt play out in a family.  I thought it was so well done.  Each Brennan holds a secret for a variety of reasons and some of the secrets will eventually come to the surface.  The best part about We Are the Brennans is the fact that I didn't care that none of the characters were perfect or made good decisions. I loved them anyway and I was rooting for them despite their downfalls. 

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed We Are the Brennans. If you love a good family saga, you will enjoy this outstanding debut. So, have you read We Are the Brennans? If so, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Book Review: A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery

 

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 11, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "For thirty-year-old Frankie Simon, selling movie memorabilia in the shop she opened with her late mother on Hollywood Boulevard is more than just her livelihood--it's an enduring connection to the only family she has ever known. But when a mysterious package arrives containing a photograph of her mother and famous movie stars Glory Cartwright and her husband at a coastal film festival the year before Frankie's birth, her life begins to unravel in ways unimaginable. What begins is a journey along a path revealing buried family secrets, betrayals between lovers, bonds between friends. And for Frankie, as the past unlocks the present, the chance to learn that memories define who we are, and that they can show us the meaning of home and the magic of true love. Experience the salty breeze of a Cape Cod summer as it sweeps through this sparkling, romantic, and timeless debut novel tinged with a love of old Hollywood."

 

Frankie owns a movie memorabilia shop on Hollywood Boulevard. She worked there with her late mother and people come from all over to buy her memorabilia.  One day a package comes for her from her mom's boyfriend and inside she sees pictures of her mother with Glory Cartwright and Glory's husband, Mitch.  Glory was a famous movie star who started a film festival on the island of Cape Cod.  Slowly Frankie starts to piece different things together about her mother and then more questions arise. She wants answers, so she heads to Cape Cod to get them. While there she meets Louise, who runs the festival and while there, Frankie learns more about her mother and her connection to Glory.  Montgomery also gives readers flashbacks to explain how the festival came about and how Glory, a Hollywood star, ended up at Cape Cod.  Erika Montgomery's debut, A Summer to Remember, will especially be appreciated by people who enjoy beach reads filled with not only family secrets, but some of that Old Hollywood magic.

I really liked the character of Frankie in A Summer to Remember. Her memorabilia shop was fascinating and I enjoyed the descriptions of her store, her clients, and what she was selling.  She's in a bad place though. Her mother died, her boyfriend dumped her, and the rent just went up on her store. When it rains, it pours. Once she gets the package with the letters and photos, she starts to wonder what this is all about. Why was her mother with Glory?  She also wants to get these letters back to their rightful owners, so she packs her bags and off to Cape Cod she goes. In the back of her mind, Frankie has always wondered who her biological father is, so that is also an unanswered question she hopes she might get some clues to.

Louise's chapters take us mostly back to when the festival started and some memories about Glory, Mitch, and more. I didn't always like the jump from present day to the past in A Summer to Remember, but her chapters were definitely necessary as they fill in the blanks about Glory and how the festival started in Cape Cod.

A Summer to Remember is your average, breezy beach read, but what separates it from the usual is the Old Hollywood descriptions in it. I liked that aspect of the novel and even how the author included famous quotes from movies prior to each chapter's beginning.   Also, I think Montgomery brought the historical parts to life very well while also capturing the slower pace of Cape Cod verses Hollywood.

So, if you are a movie buff who is looking for a light beach read, I urge you to check out A Summer to Remember. It had me wanting to re-watch some of my favorite classic movies.

Are you a fan of Old Hollywood? Is A Summer to Remember on your summer TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Book Review: Haven Point by Virginia Hume

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: June 8, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A sweeping debut novel about the generations of a family that spends summers in a seaside enclave on Maine's rocky coastline, for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Beatriz Williams, and Sarah Blake. 1944: Maren Larsen is a blonde beauty from a small Minnesota farming town, determined to do her part to help the war effort––and to see the world beyond her family’s cornfields. As a cadet nurse at Walter Reed Medical Center, she’s swept off her feet by Dr. Oliver Demarest, a handsome Boston Brahmin whose family spends summers in an insular community on the rocky coast of Maine. 1970: As the nation grapples with the ongoing conflict in Vietnam, Oliver and Maren are grappling with their fiercely independent seventeen-year-old daughter, Annie, who has fallen for a young man they don’t approve of. Before the summer is over a terrible tragedy will strike the Demarests––and in the aftermath, Annie vows never to return to Haven Point. 2008: Annie’s daughter, Skye, has arrived in Maine to help scatter her mother’s ashes. Maren knows that her granddaughter inherited Annie’s view of Haven Point: despite the wild beauty and quaint customs, the regattas and clambakes and sing-alongs, she finds the place––and the people––snobbish and petty. But Maren also knows that Annie never told Skye the whole truth about what happened during that fateful summer. Over seven decades of a changing America, through wars and storms, betrayals and reconciliations, Virginia Hume's Haven Point explores what it means to belong to a place, and to a family, which holds as tightly to its traditions as it does its secrets."

Maren Larsen is a nurse at the Walter Reed Hospital in 1944 and while there, she meets Dr. Oliver Demarest.  Maren grew up in a small town in Minnesota whereas Oliver grew up brushing elbows with the well-to-do in Boston. They are polar opposites, but something about Maren catches Oliver's eye.  After a few dates, they end up smitten and Oliver proposes.  Maren has to meet Oliver's family and enter their world starting with summers at Haven Point.  Maren feels like a fish out of water in this upscale coastal community that holds more secrets than seashells. Fast forward to the 1970s at Haven Point and the world is changing. Maren and Oliver's daughter, Annie, is spending the summer at Haven Point, but has her eyes on a young man that her parents don't approve of.  This summer will change everything for the Demarests.  Fast forward even further to 2008 and Annie's daughter, Skye, is visiting Haven Point to visit her grandmother, Maren, and also scatter her mother's ashes as requested.  While there, Maren know she needs to fill in the blanks to Skye surrounding Annie and that fateful summer of 1970.  Haven Point by Virginia Hume is a compelling multi-generational saga set at a gorgeous coastal community; it's perfect for fans of Beatriz Williams. 

I really liked Maren from the beginning of Haven Point. She comes from such a different background than Oliver, but I appreciated that as well as her gumption.  Hume develops Maren and Oliver's love story very well and provides readers with a lot of family drama as the years go by.  Maren has a lot of responsibility at Haven Point not to mention keeping a look out for Oliver's mother who has an issue with alcohol.  The whole Haven Point community looks out for one another and eventually Maren finds her place there.

Annie's story was also well developed in Haven Point.  She is coming of age during a very difficult time and is rebelling against her parents. She wants to date a guy who they don't approve of and this ends up being a major problem as the summer progresses.  Something happens that summer that changes the Demarests forever, so much so that Annie doesn't return to Haven Point ever again.  As the years go by and she becomes a mother, she tells her daughter, Skye, that Haven Point is elitist, close-minded, and basically poisons the well.

Then you have Skye, Annie's daughter, who already has preconceived notions about Haven Point. However, those walls come crashing down the more time she spends with her grandmother and in the community.  Plus, Maren, her grandmother, tells her the true story as to what happened that fateful summer and Skye is able to understand her mother better.

Haven Point, the beautiful coastal home, becomes a character in and of itself in Haven Point.  It becomes a refuge for the Demarest family and holds many secrets as the years continue. The Demarests go there to escape life in the 1940s, all the way up to 2008. The upscale community isn't all just cocktail parties and tennis matches, they generally look out for one another.  Haven Point the perfect setting for a historical beach read.

My only issue with Haven Point was the pacing. Towards the middle of the novel, I started to get restless and it felt stagnant.  The last half of the novel was much more engaging as we start to piece together what tragedy befell the Demarest family that summer.  Other than my issues with the pacing, I felt it was a solid historical beach read and reminded me of something Beatriz Williams would write. So, if you love a good multi-generational family saga that includes a coastal setting, add Haven Point to your beach read list for the summer.

Is this book on your TBR list? Are you a fan of historical beach reads? Let me know in the comments below.

 

 

Audio Book Review: New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan

 

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: May 11, 2021

Publisher:  Graydon House

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "After the local French teacher scandalizes the fishing village of Little Cove, Newfoundland, by running off with a priest, the school looks to the mainland to fill the job quickly. They want someone who can uphold their Catholic values and keep a motley group of largely unwilling students in line.  The position is filled by mainlander Rachel O’Brien—technically a Catholic (baptized!), technically a teacher (honors degree!)—who’s desperate to leave her current mess of a life behind. She isn’t surprised that her students don’t see the value of learning French. But she is surprised that she can barely understand their English… Is it a compliment or insult to be called a sleeveen? (Insult.) And the anonymous notes left on her car, telling her to go home, certainly don’t help to make her feel welcome.  Still, she is quickly drawn into the island’s traditional music and culture, and into the personal lives of her crusty but softhearted landlady, Lucille, her reluctant students and her fellow teacher Doug Bishop. But when her beliefs clash with church and community, she makes a decision that throws her career into jeopardy. In trying to help a student, has she gone too far?"

 

Little Cove, Newfoundland is an idyllic village where everyone knows everyone's business.  The former French teacher ran off with the priest (cue the gasping!), so there's been a bit of a scandal.  Enter Rachel O'Brien, who arrives from the mainland and takes over the new teaching position.  She is trying to escape some issues at home, so where better to start over than at Little Cove? She thought it was going to be an easy transition....not so much! She has a hard time understanding everyone's accent and doesn't exactly feel welcome as she is a mainlander.  Thanks to her coworker, Doug, and a group of women she met, she is starting to find her way.  The more time she spends with Doug, the more she starts to have some feelings for him.  However, things start to get really complicated when a student comes to her for help and she ends up putting her job on the line.  Much to her dismay, her time at Little Cove might be over shortly after its begun. Damhnait Monaghan's debut, New Girl in Little Cove, is a charming light read that was exactly what I was looking for.  

Rachel is leaving home for a good reason and slowly we learn why in New Girl in Little Cove.  She really wants to a fresh start and Little Cove seems like a good place.  It's so much harder than she thought. There's wonky accents, there's reluctant students who don't appreciate French, and not to mention people who don't want her there. Rachel has even received upsetting anonymous notes on her car! Plus, the school she works at is Catholic and Rachel is barely one, so she has to watch as she doesn't want to lose her job.  Finally once she starts to get acclimated to Little Cove and finds herself with friends, something happens and it puts her job in jeopardy.

The secondary characters in New Girl in Little Cove are memorable as well. I really enjoyed the "Holy Dusters," Lucille, and the community of Little Cove.  Doug is also a great character that I was rooting for him from the beginning and was hoping he and Rachel would end up together.  The other important character in the book is Little Cove itself. Images of Anne Shirley's Prince Edward Island kept coming to mind when I was reading this book. What a memorable and charming setting! It also reminded me a bit of the setting for Derry Girls since there's such a strong emphasis on the Catholic church. I loved the coastal community, the fishing, the church, the music, and Little Cove's Celtic roots. Monaghan truly brought it all to life for me.

I went alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio version of New Girl in Little Cove. The narrator, Marnye Young, did an outstanding job with the Newfoundland accent. It sounded authentic and it really added to the story. Young also really brought all the humorous moments to life as well and I found myself snickering throughout.

If you love a charming fish-out-of-water story, check out New Girl in Little Cove this summer. It's such a cute story and it was the heartwarming escape I needed. 

So, have you heard about New Girl in Little Cove? Is it on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.