Review: The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib

The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib 

Release date: February 5, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 384

Reading level: Adult

Genre: Contemporary

Source: Netgalley

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists’ list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.
Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.

Review: 

THE GIRLS AT 17 SWANN STREET followed 26 year old Anna as she fought with anorexia. The only other books about eating disorders I have read have been young adult, focusing on teenagers dealing with anorexia or bulimia. Yara Zgheib's novel demonstrated that eating disorders do not just strike the young, but can impact you at any age. Anna is happily married, but an injury left her unable to pursue her career as a dancer in Paris and her husband has a job offer in the United States. I can only imagine how difficult this transition was for Anna.

Anna was a character that I had a bit of a hard time connecting with. We got glimpses of her internal struggles, but as a whole, I felt a lot of what led up to her eating disorder was a bit rushed. The book was over 300 pages, but it went by very quickly. One of the biggest issues I've seen about the book is the writing style. The lack of quotation marks, the random aside chapters... and this actually didn't bother me much. There were a few times I had to reread a scene to ensure I knew who was saying what, but as a whole I think it made the story a little more engaging.

The other girls at 17 Swann Street all were dealing with their own body image issues. I found it interesting, although terribly sad, to see how the program worked at turning these girls' lives around. Although, I'm not sure how accurate this depiction of a recovery center is. Anna learned a lot about appreciating what she has by her interactions with Emm, Valerie, Julia, and the other residents of the center. One thing Anna could not complain about was the dedication her husband showed her throughout her time in treatment. This book really showed was how important a support system is for someone dealing with an eating disorder.

I flew through THE GIRLS AT 17 SWANN STREET and found it to be a uniquely told story that discussed a difficult topic. I only wish that I had more time to connect with the main character and that certain parts of the story were not so rushed. Although the story took place over several months, it seemed to be much less. This is a book to be read more for the subject matter and writing style, not necessarily the characters as they were not fully fleshed out.

Review: Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
Release date: January 23, 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Pages:256
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Purchased
Links: Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliff-side mansion on the Italian Riviera. Unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, at first each feigns indifference. But during the restless summer weeks that follow, unrelenting buried currents of obsession and fear, fascination and desire, intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them. What grows from the depths of their spirits is a romance of scarcely six weeks' duration and an experience that marks them for a lifetime. For what the two discover on the Riviera and during a sultry evening in Rome is the one thing both already fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy.

Review: 

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME is easily one of the best books I have ever read. André Aciman is a wonderful writer and the two characters he brings to life in this book are so vivid and memorable. Full disclosure, I saw the film first. When I first got my MoviePass in April I realized some of the Oscar Winners were still out, so I decided to go see which ones I could. I had little to no idea what CALL ME BY YOUR NAME was about, much less that it was based on this book. Hopefully more people realize that and go buy the book if they loved the film like I did! So, I did things a little backwards, but nonetheless this book was incredible. The writing brought a whole new dimension to these characters I had become so attached to on screen and I finished this book in one evening.

I was lucky enough to attend an event here in Washington, DC where André Aciman spoke about the novel and the film and answered audience questions. What a great guy! Andre had such wonderful antidotes about the writing process and if you get a chance to see him speak I highly recommend it. Andre is extremely eloquent and made me realize things about the book I may not have even picked up on. While this is one of the rare occasions that I think a film so perfectly captured the essence of a book, I highly recommend reading this for yourself.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME follows Elio and Oliver through one passionate summer in the Italian countryside. These two characters were so different, and yet they connected and fell in love. It's not often you read about a relationship like this where you can literally feel every awkward moment and every spark as Elio and Oliver figure out where they fit in each others lives. Both heartbreaking and beautiful, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME will make you think about life, death, love, and so much more. I reread the final pages several times. I'm grateful that the film introduced me to this book and I know that Elio and Oliver's story will stay with me for a long time. 

Review: Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

PRIEST OF BONES by Peter McLean

Release date: October 2, 2018

Publisher: Ace Books

Pages: 352

Reading level: Adult 

Series: War for the Rose Thorn Book 1 

Genre: Dark Fantasy 

Source: First to Read 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon  

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars 

It's a dangerous thing, to choose the lesser of two evils.
The war is over, and army priest Tomas Piety finally heads home with Lieutenant Bloody Anne at his side. When he arrives in the Stink, Tomas finds that his empire of crime has been stolen from him while at war. With his gang of Pious Men, Tomas will do whatever it takes to reclaim his businesses. But when he finds himself dragged into a web of political intrigue once again, and is forced to work in secret for the sinister Queen's Men, everything gets more complicated.
When loyalties stretch to the breaking point and violence only leads to violence, when people have run out of food, and hope, and places to hide, do not be surprised if they have also run out of mercy. As the Pious Men fight shadowy foreign infiltrators in the backstreet taverns and gambling dens of Tomas's old life it becomes clear; the war is not over.
It is only just beginning.

Review: 

I'm so glad I took a chance on this one because it was a fast paced and exciting read. PRIEST OF BONES follows Tomas Piety and his gang of Pious Men as they work to reclaim what was stolen from him when he was off fighting the Queen's war. He calls himself a "businessman", but he and his gang are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their businesses and the people of his hometown, Ellingberg. I have never seen Peaky Blinders which it has gotten some comparison towards, but I am a big fan of more modern gangster dramas like The Godfather and The Sopranos. I flew through this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Tomas Piety is an excellent main character. We get to see and experience everything through his eyes and while he may be a violent criminal, he only wants the best for his people. Tomas Piety cares about protecting the innocent and values the opinion of women, which is rare in those days. The fight scenes are riveting. Sword fights, explosions, and sneak attacks kept me hooked. Piety is incredibly loyal and hardworking and doesn't just sit back while others fight his fights. Religion is also explored as Tomas Piety is an army priest.

There are a ton of secondary characters, but they are all so distinctive it doesn't take too long to tell them apart. Still, since the story is through Piety's eyes we only know what he sees and hears, so many of the characters are still a bit mysterious. I especially liked the character of Bloody Anne, his second. Bloody Anne is one of the few other characters who has a fairly well developed back story and after reading about what she has been through, it made me admire her even more. Character development is so important and McLean does a great job of really drawing the reader in to Piety's head. In that sense, we are able to witness everything as he does. And he certainly witnesses some dark things.

PRIEST OF BONES is not light on the violence and the Pious Men are constantly fighting to protect what is theirs. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the inclusion of magic. It was very subtle, but magicians do play a role and I only wish there was more time in this book to delve into that even deeper. Hopefully the rest of the series will explore this further. There is so much to this world that I am curious about. As a whole this was an incredibly well written and engaging read. I highly recommend it! 

Review: The Similars by Rebecca Hanover

The Similars by Rebecca Hanover 

Release date: January 1, 2019

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 352

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction 

Source: NetGalley 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

When six clones join Emmaline’s prestigious boarding school, she must confront the heartbreak of seeing her dead best friend’s face each day in class.
The Similars are all anyone can talk about at the elite Darkwood Academy. Who are these six clones? What are the odds that all of them would be Darkwood students? Who is the madman who broke the law to create them? Emma couldn't care less. Her best friend, Oliver, died over the summer and all she can think about is how to get through her junior year without him. Then she comes face-to-heartbreaking-face with Levi—Oliver's exact DNA replica and one of the Similars.
Emma wants nothing to do with the Similars, but she keeps getting pulled deeper and deeper into their clique, uncovering dark truths about the clones and her prestigious school along the way. But no one can be trusted…not even the boy she is falling for who has Oliver's face.

Review: 

I really enjoyed THE SIMILARS! It was a unique concept and kept me engaged all the way through. The main setting of the story is Darkwood Academy. The school is meant for the best and the brightest young scholars and is also considered one of the most inclusive schools in the world. So, it makes sense that this would be the school to welcome six (controversial) young clones. I haven't read any books (that I can recall) about clones and while this one only touched the surface of the science behind their creation, I am interested in seeing more of that in the sequels. Cloning is already controversial now, so it makes sense that there would be such diverse opinions about actual clones attending school. The main character, Emmaline, has recently lost her best friend and is shocked when she realizes one of the clones is of her late best friend, Oliver. Emma is quickly caught up in the mystery surrounding the six clones and who they actually are.

For me, the first thing I thought of with the clones is Twilight. They were all raised by a foster father in the middle of nowhere and are basically siblings even though they aren't related. Thus, it seems weird that some of them are couples. The six clones all hang out together and are very mysterious. It all just made me think of the Cullen family and people's reaction to them at school. Anyway, beyond that, I found the idea very new and intriguing. The clones all have a "twin" at Darkwood and while some of the students welcome their clones, others are hostile and worried about how to handle this new version of themselves. There is romance, but it's not the main focus until closer to the end. Friendships have more of a key role. There were quite a few twists and turns in the plot and Emmaline quickly realizes many of the adults and peers in her life are not what they seem. The ending left me with a lot of questions, but I know a sequel is already in the works.

Maybe I missed it, but I'm not entirely sure what year this is supposed to be. There were mixes of new technology beyond the clones such as self driving buses, but I'd be interested in seeing more of this new world in future books. I definitely recommend checking out Rebecca Hanover's debut especially if you enjoy futuristic settings with a strong female character. 

Review: Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi

Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
Release date: November 27, 2018
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 360
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars 

The Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength, even while her prophetic powers linger. But when a routine mission goes awry, Kahina breaks the first rule in order to save the legendary huntress Atalanta.

To earn back Artemis’s favor, Kahina must complete a dangerous task in the kingdom of Arkadia— where the king’s daughter is revealed to be none other than Atalanta. Still reeling from her disastrous quest and her father’s insistence on marriage, Atalanta isn’t sure what to make of Kahina. As her connection to Atalanta deepens, Kahina finds herself in danger of breaking Artemis’ second rule.
She helps Atalanta devise a dangerous game to avoid marriage, and word spreads throughout Greece, attracting suitors willing to tempt fate to go up against Atalanta in a race for her hand. But when the men responsible for both the girls’ dark pasts arrive, the game turns deadly.

Review: 

OUTRUN THE WIND was fantastic! I am so glad I took a chance on this one. The Greek mythology intrigued me and the beautiful cover gave me the final push I needed to download it on Netgalley. Elizabeth Tammi's debut follows Atalana and Kahina through alternating chapters as they make their way through Ancient Greece. The Greek mythology was fascinating to me. Kahina is a huntress with the Greek goddess Artemis and Atalana is a well known part of Greek mythology herself. I loved reading about the girls' adventures and how they dealt with danger, family conflict, and romance. This was a highly engaging read and I was eager to research the mythology of the characters after I was finished.

Atalana and Kahina were two very different characters and yet they both shared the same drive and self-determination. It's not every day you come across a novel with so many strong female characters. OUTRUN THE WIND was full of them. These girls were independent and could easily take on any challenge that came their way. The story opens with Atalana and Kahina crossing paths unexpectedly and what follows is an exciting story as the two girls defeat enemies old and new. Atalana's father wants her to marry to secure a future for their kingdom. If you are not already familiar with the mythological background on Atalana, I would recommend not researching it until after you finish reading. I liked not knowing how things would unfold and seeing the challenges Atalana devised for her suitors.

I wish the book was able to delve deeper into the history and background of Artemis and Apollo and how the Hunt works. The ending also did seem to wrap up a bit too easily. Still, I think there may be a sequel in the future so there is time to build on this world. OUTRUN THE WIND was extremely character-driven and the romance was slow-growing but I started picking up on signs earlier than I think even the two characters did. I like the fact that OUTRUN THE WIND featured an LGBT relationship, as that is unique for a fantasy novel like this one. I am excited to see a more diverse set of relationships represented in young adult novels. OUTRUN THE WIND was simply a story of two powerful young girls and how they navigate all of the challenges thrown their way, their feelings for each other are just one small part of these well-rounded characters. When I first finished OUTRUN THE WIND I found myself continuously thinking of Atalana and Kahina and researching the Greek mythology contained in the story. It was not completely accurate, but Elizabeth Tammi was open about the liberties she took with the true stories.

This was a nice break from the nonfiction and political memoirs I have been reading so frequently. Definitely recommend.

Review: The Last Palace by Norman Eisen

The Last Palace: Europe's Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House by Norman Eisen 

Release date: September 4, 2018

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group 

Pages: 416

Reading level: Adult 

Genre: Nonfiction

Source: First to Read 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars 

When Norman Eisen moved into the US ambassador’s residence in Prague, returning to the land his mother had fled after the Holocaust, he was startled to discover swastikas hidden beneath the furniture. These symbols of Nazi Germany were remnants of the residence’s forgotten history, and evidence that we never live far from the past.

From that discovery unspooled the twisting, captivating tale of four of the remarkable people who had called this palace home. Their story is Europe’s, and The Last Palace chronicles the upheavals that have transformed the continent over the past century. There was the optimistic Jewish financial baron Otto Petschek, who build the palace after World War I as a statement of his faith in democracy, only to have that faith shattered; Rudolf Toussaint, the cultured, compromised German general who occupied the palace during World War II, ultimately putting his life at risk to save the house and Prague itself from destruction; Laurence Steinhardt, the first postwar US ambassador, whose quixotic struggle to keep the palace out of Communist hands was paired with his pitched efforts to rescue the country from Soviet domination; and Shirley Temple Black, an eyewitness to the crushing of the 1968 Prague Spring by Soviet tanks, who determined to return to Prague and help end totalitarianism – and did just that as US ambassador in 1989.
Weaving in the life of Eisen’s own mother to demonstrate how those without power and privilege moved through history, The Last Palace tells the dramatic and surprisingly cyclical tale of the endurance of liberal democracy.

Review: 

This was a fascinating story by the former US Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Every US ambassador lives in this beautiful palace in Prague and have done so for many years. THE LAST PALACE takes the reader through the history of this famous building; we learn about its creation, role in World War II, and how it came to be the residence of the US Ambassador. Norman Eisen also weaves in the story of his mother's life as she was a Holocaust survivor from the former Czechoslovakia. This is not the history of one person though, THE LAST PALACE allows the reader to experience the changes in the country though the eyes of the different residents of the palace. 

The beginning took me a bit to get into, but I found myself moving quickly through this rather long book. Norman Eisen does a great job of fully immersing the reader in what is happening in Prague at different moments in history. Otto Petschek is the original builder of the house and we see as it falls into the hands of the Nazis, Communists, and eventually the United States. As interesting and heartbreaking as the chapters on World War II and the German occupation of Prague were, I found myself enjoying the later chapters on the US ambassadors and recent history a bit more, simply because I hadn't read much about this before . From the Soviet occupation to the student led protests, it was eye-opening to watch these citizens who had already been through so much take a stand for democracy and freedom. I also knew very little about the role Shirley Temple Black played in US government. I knew she played a role in diplomacy, but had no idea just how much she was able to accomplish and experience as US Ambassador to the Czech Republic. I am also interested in reading more about her role as Ambassador to Ghana in the future. 

At the center of THE LAST PALACE is, of course, the palace itself and it was an experience to be able to see how the palace survived and endured through all those years of history. I wish that the ending was a little less.. abrupt? It did feel as though the book ended rather suddenly and I was interested in getting more closure on his mother's story. All in all, I found this book to be an extremely well-written and researched story about an unusual subject- a building. I definitely recommend this to any history or political buff. 

Review: Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter 

Release date: August 21, 2018

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 480

Reading level: Adult

Genre: Thriller

Source: Publisher

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we?
But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.
The police want answers and Laura’s innocence is on the line, but she won’t speak to anyone, including her own daughter. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail of her mother’s past. And if she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them. . . .

Review:

I guess I have been out of the loop because this is my first Karin Slaughter book. When I went to mark PIECES OF HER as "currently reading" on Goodreads I realized Karin had a ton of other books that were bestsellers and highly rated. PIECES OF HER had a lot going on and was an exciting thriller, but I also found certain aspects of the plot predicable and other plot points not well explained at all. The story follows Andrea Cooper as she deals with the aftermath of a shooting that revealed a side of her mother she has never seen before. Andrea's mother, Laura, is no longer the person she believed her to be and it's up to Andrea to find out the truth.

There isn't too much I can say without spoiling, but I will do my best. The early chapters of the book were exciting and tense. I had no idea what the truth was about Laura or Andrea and I flew through the pages. When other time lines are introduced I quickly realized much of the truth and while it didn't explain everything, it was enough to not keep me as excited about where things were headed. Soon though there are a ton of characters and plot points thrown together and that also left a bit to be desired. What started as an exciting thriller soon left me thinking that many aspects of this story were not even believable. I also struggled to connect with Andrea. She made dumb mistakes and didn't question things in a way I would think a normal person would. I was impressed with how deep Slaughter went with this story, it was very elaborate, but once I started realizing certain parts of the mystery I was less enthused.

This was a long book but I flew through it. It's definitely fast paced, but the end left me with a little to be desired. I still didn't think it was clear why Andrea's mother made her do what she did. I read a lot of thrillers and this was something different which was refreshing, but I had several issues with it. Slaughter's other books seem to all have positive comments so I will certainly check her out in the future. 

Review: Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

Release date: September 28, 2018

Publisher: Razorbill 

Pages: 456

Reading level: Young Adult 

Genre: Fantasy 

Source: First to Read 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.

All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.

Review:

Beth Revis' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy was one of my favorites. I loved how unique and engaging it was. So, of course, I was eager to read GIVE THE DARK MY LOVE. While I didn't love this one quite as much, I still found it to be a great read. Fast paced, dark, and mysterious this was a great start to a new series. The story follows Nedra as she leaves her small town and family behind to attend school for alchemy. Meanwhile, there is a deadly plague ravaging the country and Nedra quickly becomes caught up in how she can find a cure for this disease, protect her family, and succeed as an alchemist.

The book was told in semi-alternating chapters between Nedra and fellow-student Greggori Astor. To me, this was Nedra's story though and I didn't get too much out of Greggori's character or felt he contributed much. It was sweet to see her be vulnerable with him, but beyond that I didn't love this part of the story. Nedra is incredibly strong-willed and independent and knows what she wants to accomplish. I enjoyed reading about her experiences at school, but even more so when she became more involved in directly combating the plague. What a horrible disease! Beth Revis did not hesitate to describe gruesome surgeries, slow deaths, and painful amputations. The practice of alchemy was interesting to me, but I would like to know more about the reasoning behind the rats and other aspects of alchemy that I didn't feel were fully explained.

The last half of the book was especially exciting and we get to see certain characters begin to descend more and more into the darkness. At almost 500 pages this is not a short book, but I read it fairly quickly. There are several plot twists that kept me guessing and while the ending wasn't necessarily a cliffhanger, I am interested in seeing what the sequels will bring. I am hoping to learn more about the world and how alchemy and necromancy will continue to shape the characters. 

Review: Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

SEAFIRE (Seafire, #1) by Natalie C. Parker 
Release date: August 28, 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 384
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: First to Read
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars 

After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and deadly seas. She captains her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women just like her, whose lives have been turned upside down by Aric and his men. The crew has one misson: stay alive, and take down Aric's armed and armored fleet.
But when Caledonia's best friend and second-in-command just barely survives an attack thanks to help from a Bullet looking to defect, Caledonia finds herself questioning whether or not to let him join their crew. Is this boy the key to taking down Aric Athair once and for all...or will he threaten everything the women of the Mors Navis have worked for? 

Review: 

SEAFIRE was great! I loved the characters, the plot, and all of the exciting adventures. The story opens with Caledonia and her best friend losing their families to the evil Aric Athair and then continues with Caledonia captaining a ship full of fellow women as they fight to preserve their lives and stop Aric Athair. I've always enjoyed novels and movies that take place on ships. Pirates of the Caribbean is one of my favorite series on film and I've loved the Bloody Jack books for years. SEAFIRE was not historical fiction, but was taking place in an alternate world. Natalie C. Parker did an awesome job bringing this world to life. While the majority of the novel took place at sea, we also got to learn about different communities and groups of people on land. The ending was a big cliffhanger, so I am eager to read the second book when it is released.

Caledonia was an awesome main character. She was dealing with significant trauma because of her role in the loss of her family, but she was also a brave and well-liked captain. The relationships Caledonia had with her fellow crew members was my favorite part. You don't often come across a book with so many strong female characters and the relationships varied from close friendship to love. I especially enjoyed seeing Caledonia and Pisces (her oldest friend) challenge each other to be their best selves. Redtooth, Hyme, and Amina were all great secondary characters. There is romance, but it is not the main focus of the story and is more in the background. Caledonia is focused on getting revenge and protecting her crew first and foremost.

The beginning was a little slow, but the last half of the book was very exciting. We didn't get to see much of their enemy, Aric Athair, but I am sure he will make an appearance in the rest of the trilogy. Aric brainwashes and kidnaps kids from around the world and uses them to do his dirty work. This was an interesting concept, and I'm interested in seeing how that will play out. It only took me a day to read SEAFIRE and while I wish the ending gave more clarity, it left me eager for the sequel (which I'm sure won't be out for quite some time). If you are a fan of fast-paced adventure novels with a strong female cast of characters, this will not disappoint. 

Review: Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1) by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Release date: June 11, 2013 

Publisher: Doubleday 

Pages: 527

Reading level: Adult 

Genre: Contemporary 

Series: Book 1 

Source: Purchased 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars 

When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor.

On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.

Review: 

I admit I wasn't too interested in reading this before I saw the awesome trailer for the upcoming movie. I am so excited to see it! Since I always like to read the book first, I quickly ordered this online and devoured it in only a couple of days. CRAZY RICH ASIANS was a delightfully fun read with a meaningful heart. Rachel and her boyfriend Nick live in New York and are comfortable with their normal routine. Rachel is surprised, but excited, when Nick invites her to a wedding in Singapore where she can finally meet his family. Little does she know is that Nick is one of the most eligible bachelors among Singapore's rich and famous.

Some people might be embarrassed about their guilty pleasures, but I will readily admit to loving the Kardashians, the Bachelor, and Gossip Girl. All of the drama, gossip, and romance makes these kinds of shows and books easy to consume. The only aspect of CRAZY RICH ASIANS that made this a little more of a complicated read was all of the different characters and their alternating chapters. While I enjoyed getting to see things from these varying perspectives, it did confuse me a bit at first. Lots of new people to keep up with and I had no idea who was related to who and who hated who. There was a family tree at the front but I usually forgot to reference it. I'm not sure how the author could have introduced all of the other characters and built-up their various backgrounds without the alternating chapters, though. There was also the added mystery of Nick's mother investigating Rachel's background.

Surprisingly, I literally knew nothing about Singapore. While I can't say I know too much more about it after reading this book, I did like the inclusions of descriptions of the native food and use of non-English words. Kevin Kwan relied heavily on footnotes so be prepared to have to look down fairly often. He did his best to make them humorous, but I did find myself skimming over them or skipping them entirely.

The ending was interesting and a lot of surprises were revealed about several characters. I am not particularly eager to rush off and buy the next book, but I will probably pick it up eventually. What I am most excited about is seeing this crazy world brought to life on the big screen. I can only begin to imagine the intricate fashion, huge mansions, and elaborate gatherings that filled the pages of CRAZY RICH ASIANS so it will be a ton of fun to watch this all come to life. Rachel was a very realistic and endearing heroine and this book was not all fluff. There were a lot of serious incidences and Rachel has to deal with a lot while in Singapore as she learns about her boyfriend and herself. 

Review: The Line That Held Us by David Joy

THE LINE THAT HELD US by David Joy 
Release date: August 14, 2018

Publisher: GP Putnam Sons
Pages: 272
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Thriller
Source: First to Read
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

When Darl Moody went hunting after a monster buck he’s chased for years, he never expected he’d accidentally shoot a man digging ginseng. Worse yet, he’s killed a Brewer, a family notorious for vengeance and violence. With nowhere to turn, Darl calls on the help of the only man he knows will answer, his best friend, Calvin Hooper. But when Dwayne Brewer comes looking for his missing brother and stumbles onto a blood trail leading straight back to Darl and Calvin, a nightmare of revenge rips apart their world. The Line That Held Us is a story of friendship and family, a tale balanced between destruction and redemption where the only hope is to hold on tight, clenching to those you love. What will you do for the people who mean the most, and what will you grasp to when all that you have is gone? The only certainty in a place so shredded is that no one will get away unscathed.

Review:

This is 100% not a book that I usually would go for, but something about the summary appealed to me. I like a good thriller and this book was fast-paced and dark. It''s my first read by David Joy and he did a fantastic job creating a truly diverse range of characters- many of which were hiding secrets. Darl and Calvin have been best friends for years, so it only makes sense for Darl to call Calvin when he accidentally kills a man while hunting deer. What results is an insane roller coaster of a story that I definitely did not see coming.

THE LINE THAT HELD US is very short. I read it on a plane in a few hours but it certainly packed a punch. Darl's actions lead to a ripple effect that ends up impacting almost everyone he knows. The man he kills is a Brewer. The Brewers do not have a good reputation in the town and so when Dwayne Brewer realizes his brother is missing this does not bode well for those involved. This wasn't a typical mystery, it was definitely more of a dark thriller. Still, I was never entirely sure what shocking thing would happen next.

I am always impressed by strong character development and while we never got a chance to really know the characters before the "incident", they were all certainly memorable. THE LINE THAT HELD US took place out in the middle of nowhere and focused on the intersection between family, friendship, and trust. Lies were told, promises broken, and quite a lot of blood was spilled. I am interested in seeing the wide spread reaction to this book. The ending left a little to be desired and I had to reread the last few pages to make sure I knew what had happened, but I overall found this a unique and interesting read. It certainly will not be for everyone, but I think the darkness was what made this book so powerful.

Review: The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis

THE MASTERPIECE by Fiona Davis
Release date: August 7, 2018
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 368
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical fiction
Source: First to Read
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.
For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.
Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.

Review: 

This is my first Fiona Davis book and it was certainly an interesting read. I love New York City, so was extremely eager to read about Grand Central in a historical context. THE MASTERPIECE alternates between the 1920s and the 1970s following two characters: Clara Darden and Virginia Clay. These two woman are unique and each are working to prove themselves as independent and capable in very different time periods. Clara Darden is an artist teaching at the Grand Central School of Art and Virginia Clay is a divorced woman who finds a job at the train station information booth. At first it seems that the only thing tying these two woman together is their time spent in Grand Central, but that quickly proves to not be the case.

Clara dreams of becoming a famous illustrator, recognized for her talents and able to make a career out of it. Virginia simply wants to keep her and her daughter afloat. I appreciated the depiction of these strong woman who had to work around sexism and other challenges every day. Clara's coworkers at the art school were well developed characters and I appreciated the subtle hints of romance that took time to develop. It was interesting to see the different kinds of art being done at the art school and how there was some prejudice against illustrators at the time. I did like Virginia's character a bit more. She was very likable and the fact that she was dealing with scars both physical and mental made me want to root for her success even more.

The stories begin to come together when Virginia finds an old painting in Grand Central and starts to research more of Clara Darden's history. Several characters from the two time periods weave between both stories and it was a bit sad to see the state of the art school (and the station) in the 70s. Grand Central Terminal was a beautiful place of architectural wonder and it featured the art school, grand parties, and well dressed travelers. By the 70s it was falling apart and considered dangerous because of the muggers and drug dealers that frequented the dark corners of the station. There were numerous subplots to keep track of from the individual woman's experiences to the deterioration of the terminal to missing art to Virginia's daughter. This was one of my biggest issues with the book. Some of the plot points seemed rushed or unnecessary and the author tried to fit too much into the book.

THE MASTERPIECE, to me, was at its best when focusing on the characters. Fiona Davis did a great job of creating very fleshed out and unique individuals. Characters who only made a small appearance were memorable. The ending just felt a bit rushed and because so much was happening in two different time periods the book often felt rushed and a tad unbelievable. Still, I liked the characters and seeing Grand Central through the years. I'm glad the beautiful building still stands. Fiona Davis always receives a lot of praise so I will be checking out some of her other titles for sure. 

Review: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Release date: September 26, 2006
Publisher: Shaye Areheart Brooks
Pages: 254
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Thriller/mystery
Source: Gift
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.

Review:

This is my third Gillian Flynn book (and I believe she only has three) and while I can't say I loved it, SHARP OBJECTS was one crazy read. I am a huge fan of a good mystery/thriller and Gillian Flynn has proved herself adept at coming up with some pretty messed up characters, so I figured this would be an intriguing read. Camille Preaker was certainly messed up, but in a way that made me feel so sorry for her. Other than her boss, Camille did not have anyone on her side and she was dealing with people even more messed up than she was. SHARP OBJECTS was a dark and, at times, painful read and while the ending was a tad predictable, I think this was an overall solid mystery.

Flynn has a gift for creating some nasty characters and showing the worst sides of human nature. GONE GIRL was my first introduction to Flynn and I have enjoyed working through the rest of her books as crazy and dark as they are. SHARP OBJECTS follows Camille Preaker as she returns to her hometown to write a story on two mysterious murders. We quickly realize most people, including Camille and her family, have something to hide and that there is way more to these murders than the reader may initially realize. This was a slim book, so it is easy to devour in a few sittings, especially as you start to put clues together and get closer to the end. The darkness and evil contained in this short book was definitely intense and there are some fairly graphic descriptions of cutting and self harm.

Unfortunately I found the ending to be a bit predictable, but I thought SHARP OBJECTS was unique in the way it presented such a damaged main character. I have recently begun reading more thrillers and that has made me much more critical of how the endings play out, but I still recommend SHARP OBJECTS to fans of darker and more twisted thrillers.

I don't want to give too much away, but I have recently discovered this novel is being made into an eight-part series on HBO starring Amy Adams. If you want to read the book first you still have time, the show just started airing.

Review: The Dry (Aaron Falk, #1) by Jane Harper

The Dry by Jane Harper
Release date: January 10, 2017
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 326
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Source: Gift
Series: Book 1
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.
Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.

Review:

I'm torn between 4/4.5 stars because I did genuinely enjoy this one. I've been flying through thrillers lately and this one had some of the best reviews I'd seen. Right off the bat, one of the most unique aspects of THE DRY was simply the fact that it was from the male perspective. I realized I have not read many thrillers with a male main character in awhile. I liked it! Aaron Falk lives in Queensland, Australia and works as a federal agent, having left his small town out in the country many years ago. A funeral with mysterious circumstances brings him back and Aaron quickly becomes caught up in the action. Not only because the victim is his childhood best friend, but because of his own secrets that are starting to come to light.

Now, I understand if that description makes you hesitate a bit. There are quite a number of mystery novels (SHARP OBJECTS and ALL THE MISSING GIRLS immediately come to mind) in which the main character returns to their hometown and become caught up in the current situation all while battling their past. And yet, THE DRY felt different. Perhaps it was the setting that stood out. A small town in Australia facing the worst drought in years. The secondary characters are all very well-developed and it was neat to see the intersection between the new residents that were unfamiliar with Aaron's past and the old residents who were not too welcoming.

Aaron becomes involved in the case at the request of the victim's parents. It was a little strange how easily Aaron was able to "unofficially" get involved even if he was a federal agent, but maybe that's just how things work in the middle of nowhere Australia! He assists a local police officer in gathering clues and determining what actually happened. I liked seeing how each new twist was revealed and I have to say I was definitely surprised by the ending. Aaron faced quite a few challenges and lost the trust of almost every character at one point, but he persevered. I liked Aaron's toughness and how diligent he was in focusing on solving the murder even while his past was coming back to haunt him. THE DRY did have quite a few flashbacks as this was a sort of "two mysteries in one".

Overall, I enjoyed THE DRY. It was twisty and suspenseful and a start to a series I am definitely interested in continuing. My only faults were that some aspects of the plot seemed a bit unbelievable and there were a few overused mystery tropes.

Review: The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple

The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple
Release date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Crown 
Pages: 384
Reading level: Adult 
Genre: Nonfiction/Historical/Political 
Source: Gift 
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars 

What do Dick Cheney and Rahm Emanuel have in common? Aside from polarizing personalities, both served as chief of staff to the president of the United States--as did Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, and a relative handful of others. The chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers," wield tremendous power in Washington and beyond; they decide who is allowed to see the president, negotiate with Congress to push POTUS's agenda, and--most crucially--enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world. Each chief can make or break an administration, and each president reveals himself by the chief he picks.
Through extensive, intimate interviews with all seventeen living chiefs and two former presidents, award-winning journalist and producer Chris Whipple pulls back the curtain on this unique fraternity. In doing so, he revises our understanding of presidential history, showing us how James Baker's expert managing of the White House, the press, and Capitol Hill paved the way for the Reagan Revolution--and, conversely, how Watergate, the Iraq War, and even the bungled Obamacare rollout might have been prevented by a more effective chief.

Review:

I was incredibly excited to receive this book for Christmas, as it had caught my eye the first time I had seen it at the bookstore. Chris Whipple's in-depth look at the roles of chiefs of staff and the impact they have had on our own history is a must read. Incredibly well-researched, with first hand accounts from the surviving chiefs, THE GATEKEEPERS, at almost 400 pages, was a quick and engaging read. 

THE GATEKEEPERS was packed full of interesting facts and information that is still relevant to this day. The title of "chief of staff" is a relatively new position and each chief of staff has made a tremendous impact on the president they were serving. I found it fascinating to see where key political figures like Dick Cheney got their start and to see what role each chief of staff had in shaping the president they were serving. Certain presidents understood exactly what kind of person was needed to fill the role of chief of staff, while others (like Jimmy Carter) believed they were able to serve without a chief of staff. The biggest takeaway for me was the fact that each president often makes the same mistakes when selecting (or not selecting) the right person for the role. A chief of staff shouldn't necessarily be the person you're closest to or have grown up with. The position needs to be filled by the individual who understands the president's strengths and weaknesses and can assist them in making the administration the strongest and most organized it can be. 

Even if you think you know all there is to know about the various administrations, THE GATEKEEPERS provides a unique perspective on the president's and the men (so far only men have served as chiefs of staff) that have both failed them and lifted them up. Whipple's newest book was extremely well written and engaging and provided first hand accounts from the chiefs themselves. We have already seen the difficulty our current president has had in finding the right chief of staff, so it will be interesting to see what kind of impact John Kelly ends up having as time goes on. I highly, highly recommend taking the time to read this book. Even if you are frustrated with government or not interested in political history, this book is interesting enough that I think any reader would enjoy it and learn something in the process. 

Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Release date: July 15, 2014

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 337

Reading level: Adult 

Genre: Contemporary 

Source: Purchased 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.
Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Review: 

A MAN CALLED OVE has been on my radar for quite awhile. It's always being displayed prominently at bookstores and on many suggested reading lists I've come across. I found it at a used bookstore and brought it along for a long plane ride. A MAN CALLED OVE was heartwarming and just an overall delightfully enjoyable book.

Ove (I keep pronouncing this as "ohv" in my head, I realize it is actually "Ovey" or something similar?) is a grumpy older man who lives in Sweden and has followed the same routine for years. He likes to follow the same schedule everyday, drive the same cars, and keep the neighborhood running the same way it always has. Everything changes when a young couple and their children move in next door and impact Ove in ways he never thought possible. I loved reading about Ove. He was such an untraditional character and everything about A MAN CALLED OVE was just very real. The characters seemed like people any one of us could know and Ove, especially, was incredibly layered. For all his grouchiness, Ove is easy to get attached to and I loved reading about his interactions with the neighbors and the cat.

Fredrik Backman created a wonderful cast of characters in A MAN CALLED OVE. I enjoyed getting to know them all and seeing how their lives had intertwined with Ove's over the years. At times sad, this book will leave you feeling ready to share a smile with a lonely stranger or speak to a grumpy neighbor. There is always so much more to a person than the persona they give off, and I loved that Parvana (Ove's new neighbor) was not afraid of Ove and knew just what he needed.

I am eager to check out more of Backman's books and highly recommend A MAN CALLED OVE if you have not already read it. 

Review: The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
Release date: July 19, 2011
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 352
Reading level: Young adult
Genre: Historical fiction/mystery
Series: Book 1
Source: Gift
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

Iris Anderson is only 15, but she's quickly mastering the art of deception in this YA novel for fans of Veronica Mars.
It's the Fall of 1942 and Iris's world is rapidly changing. Her Pop is back from the war with a missing leg, limiting his ability to do the physically grueling part of his detective work. Iris is dying to help, especially when she discovers that one of Pop's cases involves a boy at her school. Now, instead of sitting at home watching Deanna Durbin movies, Iris is sneaking out of the house, double crossing her friends, and dancing at the Savoy till all hours of the night. There's certainly never a dull moment in the private eye business.

Review:

This book has been sitting on my shelf for years and I am surprised at that. I love mysteries and historical fiction, plus the cover is very alluring. I can't say for sure whether I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it when I was 15, but I felt that it had a lot of promise that didn't ultimately deliver. THE GIRL IS MURDER is supposedly the first in a series, but I think this could have been a standalone. At 15, Iris lives alone with her father in New York and longs to be involved in his private detecting work. He forbids her, but Mr. Anderson's war injury combined with the fact that his latest case involves a missing student from her daughter's school, makes it hard for him to completely keep his daughter uninvolved. What follows is a quick read that involves Iris sneaking out and immersing herself in the case all while trying to help her dad without his knowledge.

The plot seemed promising and I loved the idea of a mystery set in Manhattan in the early 1940s. The author seemed intent on clearly defining the setting with a lot of slang and other references to the time. Iris did seem to want to actually help her dad, but it seems she might have been more helpful if she wasn't always sneaking out and lying to him and her friend(s). I can't imagine how difficult it was for Iris to know her father was struggling financially and thinking his only option was her help. Iris was adventurous and an entertaining main character, but the plot often fell flat. I wasn't particularly invested in learning what happened to the missing boy, Tom, and the ending also seemed a bit too easy, while definitely not what I was expecting.

There were a multitude of supporting characters and I enjoyed reading about what they did for fun and hearing the slang they used. All in all, this was a fast paced and entertaining mystery that doesn't get too in-depth. Iris was sweet in her dedication to solving the mystery and helping her family, but beyond that I do not think I will be picking up the sequel. Reviews do mention that it was much more plot driven than this one so that is a bit appealing.

Review: America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Release date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 606
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical fiction
Source: Purchased
Links: Authors • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.
It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter.
Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

Review: 

I loved this! Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres particularly when it's about someone/something I don't know too much about. What most impressed me was how much detail went into AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER. This book followed Thomas Jefferson's daughter, Patsy, for her entire life. Of course even in 600 pages that isn't enough to cover every important moment, but I still felt I learned a lot about both Patsy and her father. Thomas Jefferson has always been a fascinating figure to me and I liked getting to see this more intimate side of him. Patsy and her father had an incredible relationship and she was present for some of the most important moments in history.

Patsy was born in Virginia and eventually followed her father from Monticello to Paris to the White House. After her mother died, Patsy became the one her father confided in and relied on. It truly makes you wonder what exactly her impact was on our nation's history. The author's utilized letters and journals to provide as much accuracy as they could to this story of Patsy Jefferson. They were fairly liberal with their creation of her relationship with William Short and relied quite heavily on the fact that Thomas Jefferson may have had a serious relationship with Sally Hemmings. Still, these are rumors that many feel have substance and it was interesting to see how these situations affected Patsy and shaped her life. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Patsy to maintain her strength and composure when her father was such a public figure. She did her best to protect him and seemed to be one of his only confidants.

Thomas Jefferson is one of our most well-known presidents and shapers of our nation. While we do get to see a more personal side of this legendary man, what I most liked about this book was learning about Patsy's life and how her father's actions shaped her own life. What a life it was. Patsy had some incredible adventures and experiences early in life, but unfortunately married a man who struggled with drinking and bad temper. It was awful to see how much Patsy and her father struggled at the end.

AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER is a lengthy read and packed full of information. The authors do discuss what liberties they took at the end and I also did some of my own research on Patsy and her family after I finished reading. There are so many "hidden figures" in our nation's history and I am excited to read Dray and Kamoie's next book on Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza. In the early days of the United States women are often left in the background, yet they often made such a significant impact. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction.

Review: The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
Release date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks 
Pages: 480
Genre: Historical Nonfiction 
Source: Purchased 
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars 

The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.
Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.
But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Review:

This was a challenging read. Wow. I had no idea this had happened and was continuously shocked by the awful experiences these "radium girls" had. During World War I, factories across the United States worked with radium to produce a multitude of products. One example is painting the dials on watches with radium so they will glow in the dark. This process is performed by young girls for hours every day. While they are at first excited by this new opportunity, the lack of knowledge on radium and then eventual undisclosed knowledge on the dangers of radium, leads to horrendous health problems and even death for many of these workers. 

RADIUM GIRLS follows several different, real, women who worked in these radium factories in New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut. Kate Moore did an incredible job of bringing these girls to life and I can't even begin to imagine what they went through. At first, many of the girls were excited to be working with this mysterious new element. They had a nice job, were earning money, and made fast friends with their coworkers during the long hours of sitting at the factory. 

Let me just say that when things got bad, they got bad. The girls were not simply in the room, working withe radium, they were putting it in their mouths. They were taught to wet the paintbrush, that they were using on the watch faces, in their mouths because it was supposedly faster and more efficient. Even when the factory owner and senior employees started to wonder if that was safe and offered cups of water instead, no one enforced it or told the girls to seriously stop putting the radium covered brushes in their mouths. You can only imagine, with what we know now, how horrible this was. 

The girls started to get sick one after the other. They were losing teeth, their jaw bones were falling apart, they couldn't walk, death was imminent for many of the radium girls. But yet, doctors were not connecting these symptoms with the radium work their patients did. So, many of the ill girls kept working with the radium and the rest of the girls at the factories continued with the "lip painting" without knowing they could or would be next. Just writing this review is making me emotional! These poor young women were dying off and no one understood it. 

I don't want to get too much into how the story progressed, even though it is history so you can research this on your own. THE RADIUM GIRLS was incredible at putting a face to this dark time in history and I would highly, highly recommend it. It is horrifying to me that these women were allowed to work in these dangerous conditions and then did not have any support. It took a long time before anyone was on their side and by then, for many of them, it was too late. A truly heartbreaking story and one I was completely unfamiliar with. At times gruesome, this is an important story for everyone to read. These girls deserve to have their stories heard and I am thankful Kate Moore has done that.