Tag: family

REVIEW: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

REVIEW: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free, electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Visiting Frick Island is like going back in time. No cell service, no internet, no alcohol. They don’t even have enough kids to keep a school full; the kids take a ferry to the mainland for school.

Piper and Tom Parrish met in high school, fell in love, and got married all on Frick Island. But just a year into their marriage, Tom’s boat goes down during a storm. While the boat is found, Tom’s body is not. Piper refuses to believe he’s not coming home. She doesn’t even go to the memorial service those on the island planned.

Then one day, Tom was just… back.

At least for Piper. And because the islanders loved the young couple and were trying to help Piper in her grief, they went along with it, pretending that Tom was really there, right beside her.

Anders is a young reporter. On his first trip to Frick Island to cover their annual cake walk, he’s captivated by Piper. But she turns him away because, obviously, she’s married. Anders returns to do a story on how the island is disappearing due to climate change. That’s when he overhears the islanders talking about Piper and Tom. The situation – a whole island pretending a dead man is still around – is a story on its own. But then someone mentions that Tom’s accident wasn’t really an accident.

Review

This was a fascinating story, richer than just the invisible husband piece, although that piece was satisfying on its own. I enjoyed the characters – the prickly islanders, Piper, and Anders. The invisible husband plot was rounded out with threads about Anders’s job and family, about the island’s present and future struggles, and a few flashbacks of interchanges from before Tom’s death.

I got a kick out of the end. There were some nice twists to the story. I was captivated by all of it, waiting to see what Anders might uncover in the end.

If you are intrigued by the idea of an island of people going along with a grieving widow who thinks her dead husband is still with her, I encourage you to pick this one up so you can enjoy the whole story. (Some language.)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell

REVIEW: Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley  and Chronicle books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maggie’s trying to get adjusted to being in middle school – new teachers, new building, new kids. And she’s noticing her friends are changing. Maggie, Olive, and Rachel have a small design business – Best Foot Forward – but Rachel’s been acting strangely and seems more interested in boys and a new friend.

Smack in the middle of that, Maggie discovers her dad had an affair before she was born. He has a son from this other relationship. And when Tony’s mom has to go into rehab, Tony ends up on Maggie’s doorstep, rocking the entire household.

Maggie is a designer. She understands the rules of design and she follows them. But it starts to feel like nothing in her world is following the rules any more.

Review

What a fascinating story! It’s not often you’ll find a middle grade novel dealing with the fallout of an extramarital affair. But this is handled really well, and the focus stays on Maggie and Tony, two great characters. I loved watching Maggie’s compassion and empathy for Tony grow over time.

The design pieces were a fun way to develop Maggie as a character and as a metaphor for the changes she is dealing with in her life. It was a great thread all the way through the story from the way Maggie approaches the world to her relationship with her grandmother struggling with Alzheimer’s to the decorating contest at school.

Maggie’s family is walking through a lot of big things. And I loved how committed they were to each other through all of it. Don’t miss this great family story for readers 10 and older! (Drug use/abuse/overdose/rehab, marital infidelity)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton

REVIEW: Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Page Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Fortuna Jane Belleweather has a secret. Well, actually, she has 58 million secrets. Jane bought the sole winning lottery ticket for a prize of $58 million.

Jane’s first problem is that she’s 17 for 2 more weeks. So she can’t turn the ticket in by herself yet. And it’s stressful to leave it hidden in random places in her house.

Second, Jane’s mom is a hoarder. It seemed to start when Jane’s dad died, and it’s progressively getting worse. She should never have access to this much money.

Third, Jane lives in a small rural community in Wisconsin. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. And they all know someone bought the ticket. So everyone is obsessing over it.

The more Jane learns about her situation and about the pitfalls of winning the lottery, the more panicked she feels about it. It might be better to tear up the ticket and let the town always wonder who the winner was.

Review

Woah, this was more stressful than I expected! Every time Jane left the winning ticket somewhere, I felt the panic of what might happen. Ugh.  Jane is really in a pickle (and it only gets worse). I found it fascinating that the community would be so hateful and resentful over the unclaimed money. They seemed to feel entitled to know who won – or entitled to criticize anyone who would keep it a secret.

I was relieved by the author’s solution in the end. It was the best outcome I could have imagined – better that the solution I exclaimed out loud when things got progressively out of control.

I didn’t love any of the characters in this. I had a lot of sympathy for Jane and her mom, though. And I despised the ex. There’s a great epilogue to show the reader what happens next that was satisfying. If you like lottery stories you might also check out Windfall or Too Lucky to Live. (Language, LGBTQ+, references to sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Find/solid/good

REVIEW: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

REVIEW: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Poppy always dreamed of a life and career centered around travel. She works for a hugely popular travel magazine. She designs and executes dream vacations her readers long for. But lately it all feels empty. She’s gotten everything she thought she wanted. Now, she misses wanting something. She needs a new goal. She longs to feel happy again.

The last time Poppy felt happy was two years ago on her summer vacation with Alex Nilsen.

Alex was Poppy’s best friend. They met during orientation at college when they discovered they were from the same town. They got to know each other when they shared a ride home after freshman year. Then they became inseparable from that point on, even vacationing together every summer. Until two years ago when it fell apart.

But Poppy wants to be happy again. So she reaches out to Alex, and after some texts, they plan another summer trip to coincide with Alex’s brother’s wedding. But a lot has happened in the last two years. And they’ve never worked out what happened on that last trip. They might not be able to pick up where they left off like Poppy hopes. And if not, where does that leave her?

Review

This wasn’t a great match for me. It was fine. I liked Poppy and Alex well enough, but I didn’t love them. The big mystery of what happened two years ago was drawn out through most of the book. And the back and forth through time, back to college and their previous vacations, made the book feel really long, and not in a great way.

I was committed to seeing the story through, and I’m not sad I stuck with this. I liked the college stories for Poppy and Alex, and I got a kick out of the references to and scenes with their siblings. But otherwise this one was just “okay” for me. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Fine/solid

REVIEW: Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas

REVIEW: Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

On the morning of Brian’s 13th birthday, his dad disappears leaving only a cryptic note, and his mom overdoses and is rushed to the hospital. Before the day is over, Brian and his little brother are in foster care. The pressure starts mounting, Brian’s anxiety starts growing, and he starts pushing back at everyone around him. He strikes back at his bully. He runs away from his foster home.

Ezra is one of the only guys at school who treats Brian like a friend. But as Brian starts to spiral, Ezra realizes that he’s never stood up for Brian to his other friends. Lately it seems like Brian might need a buddy to lean on, and Ezra is the one person he might trust enough to help him. The complication is that Ezra has a crush on Brian. And he’s not quite sure what to do with those feelings.

Review

I adored this! Brian and Ezra will quickly become kids you want to hang out with – and hug. There are so many exceptional character pieces in this – Brian’s evolution through the story, Ezra’s fierce desire to help Brian, Gabe – my favorite character – and Brittany, Brian’s family dynamics… It’s all perfection. I quickly became attached to these characters. And I would have happily kept reading another book’s worth of pages with them.

There’s a lot of heavy content in this one – the overdose/suicide attempt, Brian’s panic attacks and social anxiety, some of Brian’s choices in the story, Ezra working through his understanding of his sexuality and the impact of it on his friendships, grief and loss – which is why this is an older middle grade story for readers 10 and up. All of the content is handled beautifully. But it’s still a lot, especially when you remember that Brian and Ezra are only 13. (The story reminds me of A List of Cages in some of the content, although more “mild” in some ways for the younger audience.)

This would be a great book for discussion with kids – both to help them process some of the more serious pieces of the story, but also because it’s such a rich and meaty story with great characters and an engaging plot. I think kids will love Brian and Ezra (and Gabe!). And the story here will leave readers with lots to think about. (LGBTQ+, TW: Panic attacks/anxiety, suicide attempt, bullying)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: Bea Is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard

BONUS REVIEW: Bea Is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Bea Embers is about to start middle school, but that’s only one of a series of changes she’s experiencing all at once. Bea’s mom has just gotten married, the two families have moved into a new house together, and Bea’s mom is going to have a baby. On top of all that, one of her new step-brothers, Bryce, is a “bully-follower” in her homeroom. Bryce’s friends always pick on Bea’s best friend, and Bryce goes along with it and even joins in. How will she ever think of someone like that as family?

Complicating Bea’s life even more is the soccer situation at school. Bea’s always been a leader on her past teams. (Usually they were boys’ teams that “allowed” the girls to join. But they often sat on the bench and rarely received any credit or encouragement for their contributions to the team.) But her new neighbor is going to be some stiff competition. Even worse, the middle school soccer coach (who is also the principal) is dismissive of every girl who wants to play. And he’s a constant obstacle to their desire for a team of their own.

But Bea Embers is as feisty and fiery as her name would imply. She and her friends – and her new family – aren’t going to put up with any misogynistic “bullsharky” this year. They’re going to stand tall and push back.

Review

This was so amazing! This exemplifies why I love middle grade novels:

  • Imperfect characters grow and learn over time.
  • Amazing teachers coach and encourage and fight for their students.
  • Families come together and back each other up.
  • Adults give kids space to work through conflicts while also being willing to back them up when it’s needed.

There’s so much heart here, I wanted to hug the book. This is the perfect blend of a story that has you tearing up one moment and wanting to stand up and cheer the next. It’s delightful!

Bea had to grow on me for a few chapters while I waited to get a feel for her. At the same time, though, I feel like in those early chapters, Bea is trying to get a feel for herself in all of these new roles and settings. I was captivated by her story and her circumstances from the start. I loved the kids, their teachers, and their families. I loved how the characters grow over time – and not just Bea. Bea’s experience with Bridge to Terabithia was a fantastic part of the story. My favorite part, though, is getting a peek into Bea’s thinking about all of the things happening in her life – the changes in her family, the soccer situation, her friends at school, her feelings about Bryce, how she relates what she is reading to what she is experiencing, etc..

There is SO MUCH here to love. Do not miss the latest book from the author of Right as Rain (another book I wanted to hug after reading). This would be a fantastic read-aloud, but would also work well for book groups and book clubs. (Includes a few excellent uses of the word “badass.”)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: 10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston

REVIEW: 10 Truths and a Dare by Ashley Elston

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney/Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release next week on May 4th.]

Summary

Olivia and her cousins are a week away from graduating when she finds out she is short half a credit of PE. She did an outside course – golf – but didn’t finish all the hours needed. She’s supposed to be salutatorian, but now she might not even graduate.

Olivia has one shot to fix things, but it’s going to be complicated. She has to spend the week working on a golf tournament for the coach to make up her hours. But she’s supposed to be going to a bunch of graduation parties all week – and she doesn’t want anyone to find out about this hiccup in her situation. Her parents are away for the week due to work, but Olivia’s mom is obsessively tracking her phone while they are gone.

So Sophie, Charlie, and Wes agree to swap phones with Olivia and hit the parties so her parents don’t find out about her screw up. But their always-present, over-involved, tightly-knit family will be hard to dodge.

Review

I absolutely adored the first book about the Messina family, 10 Blind Dates, when I read it in 2019. In fact, it was number three in my list of favorite reads of the year – 3 out of 400 is a big deal! I was thrilled at the news that there would be a sequel!

This was far more stressful than the first book. In 10 Blind Dates, Sophie’s family is “helping” her over a break up in a bizarre way. Olivia’s situation has far more serious stakes, which changes the tone of the book. There are still funny moments, but this is not the laugh-riot that Dates is for me.

The characters are my favorite part of this series. The core four are back, and it’s delightful to spend time with them again. There’s less time spent with the larger family group in this one. But Uncle Michael was solidified as my favorite extended family member thanks to this book. (Don’t get me started on Olivia’s mom and her tracking app, though. Yikes!) I would love to see Charlie get a book to round out the series. I will jump at any chance to spend more time with these characters in the future.

Newcomers should be able to follow this story without difficulty even if they haven’t read 10 Blind Dates. But trust me – you will absolutely want to pick that one up asap! (Some language, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Truly Tyler by Terri Libenson

REVIEW: Truly Tyler by Terri Libenson

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Balzer and Bray in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases next week on May 4th.]

Summary

Tyler has recently rediscovered how much he enjoys art. And it’s helped him overcome the awkwardness with Emmie over that note. Now they’re friends – and they’re working together on a graphic novel project for class.

But Tyler is getting caught up in the art project, and basketball is suffering – and right before the big game, too. To make things worse, the guys are hassling him about spending time with Emmie. Maybe he should just do his own project and try to get back in the zone, with both his more popular friends and with basketball.

Tyler and Emmie take turns telling this story, as well as telling the story within the story.

Review

This is book 5 in the Emmie & Friends series after Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, Just Jaime (♥♥♥♥), and Becoming Brianna (♥♥♥♥). I was surprised this wasn’t told completely by Tyler. Emmie is also dealing with a friendship situation while she negotiates her ongoing crush on Tyler. I think some readers will enjoy watching Tyler and Emmie figure out their friendship from different angles.

I think Tyler’s story, though, could have been enough on its own. He’s noticing how shallow his relationship is with his dad. And when Tyler makes an effort to seek out his older brother about it, it strengthens their relationship and opens communication. Tyler is also dealing with peer pressure about basketball vs art as well as his friendship with Emmie. AND he’s also wrestling with his identity and his own feelings about art and basketball aside from the pressure he is getting from others. This is some great, meaty stuff, and I really enjoyed it. Personally, Emmie’s story felt more like an interruption than an enhancement of that story. Her friendship issue felt forced, like it was there to give her story more depth than just her crush. And I agree, she needed more depth than that. But I think Tyler’s story alone would have made this a better fit for me.

Fans of the series will definitely want to pick this one up. The art work is stellar as always. And the author has a terrific grasp on middle school interactions and struggles!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

REVIEW: The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sabrina is back home in the Dells after losing her job. She just needs to pay some bills and find a new gig, and she can leave. Sure, she loves her family. It’s the ghosts she can do without.

The women in Sabrina’s family can see and speak with ghosts. And it’s their job to help the recently departed finish their unfinished business and cross over. With Sabrina’s anxiety, she doesn’t need the added stress of ghosts and ghostly conversations.

Ray has purchased a supper club in Wisconsin – The Otter Club – much to his mother’s dismay. She’d do anything to get Ray to give up this “foolishness” and return to New York. But Ray’s dad gives him one chance to stay – find the money to buy out his late uncle’s portion of the business, and show his parents he belongs in Wisconsin by planning the annual Goodbye Gala.

Ray and Sabrina keep running into one another. And there’s definitely a spark there. But she has her mind set on leaving town as soon as possible. And he has family secrets to uncover and a quest to secure the life he wants in Wisconsin. Can a spark overcome two people headed in opposite directions?

Review

This was so great! I loved the combination of the contemporary romance with the paranormal/ghostly piece. I’ve read plenty of paranormal stories before, but there was something different about this that I adored. The ghostly piece is light, and sometimes funny. But the punch of it is the impact it has on Sabrina with her high levels of anxiety. And Ray’s reaction to the ghostly part of her life is going to be crucial to what happens between then.

From the characters to the setting (Wisconsin!) to the humor and the sweet romance, this was a treat to read! I was so busy that it took me a few days to finish the book. Every time I thought about getting back to it, I smiled. Just thinking about these characters and the story made me smile. I still feel that way now that I have finished it. The whole story is a delight. I would absolutely read this one again.

Don’t miss this one if you enjoy contemporary romance or romance novels with light paranormal elements! (Language, sex, edibles used for anxiety, TW: anxiety/panic attacks)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would read again.

REVIEW: Fearless by Mandy Gonzalez

REVIEW: Fearless by Mandy Gonzalez

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Aladdin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Monica Garcia and her abuelita head to New York when Monica is cast as an understudy for a Broadway musical called Our Time showing at the Ethel Merman Theater. On their way to the hotel after their flight, they stop by the theater to take a peek only to see an ambulance leaving. Monica is no longer an understudy – now, she’s a lead.

And that’s because something is going on at the Ethel Merman Theater. Accidents. Injuries. Actors and crew scared off the production. This is Monica’s big break, but she’s starting to wonder if the show will even happen. So she and her castmates start investigating.

Review

Sadly, this didn’t click for me. Monica is a solid protagonist. I enjoyed her relationship with her grandmother a lot. But there’s little character development beyond Monica, even though all four kids starring in the show work on investigating the goings on at the theater. Also, while the story is in third person point of view (POV) and Monica is the POV character, the reader is randomly fed information and details about the other characters that Monica couldn’t know and that aren’t revealed through dialogue. At best, it’s an example of more telling than showing, and when it happened it pulled me out of the flow of the story. I think the book would have been stronger, all the way around, if we had had all four kids as POV characters. It would have given more character development and would have more naturally conveyed these tidbits of backstory.

I loved the reveal of what caused the theater’s curse and the connections Monica makes to that story by the end. But I wanted more from that part of the book. I wanted it to carry more of the weight. We had far more information on the musical the kids are doing than on the mystery, the clues, and the resolution.

I think theater fans will enjoy the backstage and insider details of this. (The author is a Broadway performer.) But personally, I would recommend something like Upstaged or Broken Strings over this one for fun, engaging musical performance stories with great characters. I’m not sure mystery fans will be satisfied with this one, either. The potential is there, but there are some different directions this might have gone to make it stronger, in my opinion. (Paranormal activity/curses)

Rating: ♥♥½*

*♥♥½ = Mostly solid to solid, some issues but okay overall