Review: The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

Book Summary

Meet the Bird family. They live in a honey-colored house in a picture-perfect Cotswolds village, with rambling, unkempt gardens stretching beyond. Pragmatic Meg, dreamy Beth, and tow-headed twins Rory and Rhys all attend the village school and eat home-cooked meals together every night. Their father is a sweet gangly man named Colin, who still looks like a teenager with floppy hair and owlish, round-framed glasses. Their mother is a beautiful hippy named Lorelei, who exists entirely in the moment. And she makes every moment sparkle in her children’s lives.

Then one Easter weekend, tragedy comes to call. The event is so devastating that, almost imperceptibly, it begins to tear the family apart. Years pass as the children become adults, find new relationships, and develop their own separate lives. Soon it seems as though they’ve never been a family at all. But then something happens that calls them back to the house they grew up in—and to what really happened that Easter weekend so many years ago.

Told in gorgeous, insightful prose that delves deeply into the hearts and minds of its characters, The House We Grew Up In is the captivating story of one family’s desire to restore long-forgotten peace and to unearth the many secrets hidden within the nooks and crannies of home.

Review

There are very few books that I give the two thumbs up of appreciation for but once I started reading, The House We Grew Up In, I knew it was going to be something special. The intense elation to be absorbed in a book that holds your attention hostage from beginning to end, is one that I can without second thought suggest you grab a copy and dive right into.
 
Beautifully written, Lisa Jewell graces the reader with her introspective, insightful novel, gripping our undivided attention with characters whose raw vulnerability shatters any boundaries between them and the reader. The depth of her characters being stripped to their cores, allows the reader to empathize and embrace such brokenness into becoming whole. Relatable and interchangeable, The Bird Family unknowingly, disconnecting that connection to their familial past, only to find later the answers were with those four walls.
 
The book spans over the duration of the lives of their family, told from the alternating perspective of the past and the present. It wasn’t until one Easter day tragedy occurred that seemed to be the catalyst for their foundation to crack within their family. At one time, everything all rainbows and sunshine, began an invisible divide that would lead into their own lives and separate their familial bonds. It wasn’t until the unthinkable happens that draws them back to face all the secrets and pain that silently destroyed their inner souls.
 
Trust me when I tell you that this book is more than what I am saying but I cannot find the words to justify how great it is. The heart of the book is the story being told and the beauty that lies from what it invokes from the reader. The depth and growth of each of the characters individually and collectively through their struggles, pain and redemption permeates the pages and pull at your every emotion. The quality of her writing attributing to the story and its characters enables the reader to connect on a humanistic level. No family is perfect. It is through acknowledgement of our imperfection that lead to our growth and healing. So insightful and reflective, this novel will inspire hope, love, forgiveness and redemption for any broken soul to become whole again. 

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Publication date: 8/12/2014
Pages: 400

Review: The Hunt by Stacey Kade

Summary

Ariane Tucker has finally escaped GTX, the research facility that created her. While on the run, Zane Bradshaw is the only person she can trust. He knows who-and what-she is and still wants to be part of her life.

But accepting Zane's help means putting him in danger.

Dr. Jacobs, head of GTX, is not the only one hunting for Ariane. Two rival corporations have their sights set on taking down their competition. Permanently. To protect Zane and herself, Ariane needs allies. She needs the other hybrids. The hybrids who are way more alien and a lot less human. Can Ariane win them over before they turn on her? Or will she be forced to choose sides, to decide who lives and who dies?

Review

This was one of those books that I do not even remember starting because I flew right from the ending of The Rules into The Hunt. With not much anticipation time, I was gladly surprised that my hopes were not let down, this book was amazing. Seriously, start this series and be prepared for non-stop reading until it is over. Kade does a wonderful job at sucking the reader in, and keeping them hostage, until her last word is written. Not that it is a bad thing in any way.

Stacey Kade definitely stepped up the action in The Hunt, between Ariane and Zane as well as Ariane’s somewhat relatives. The actions scenes were especially fun to read because it set the pace a lot faster than in The Rules. I was always anticipating what was going to occur next, with fail, because around every corner was another detail just hidden from the readers.

The characters, Ariane and Zane, are so well developed. The chapters alternated between the two characters views really enhancing the overall plot. You get to delve into the minds of both Ariane and Zane to experience their feelings and thinking patterns. It is especially great when an event may overlap in both chapters because it allows for the reader to see two different points of views and emotions. The two views boosted the misunderstandings in this book are heart piercing. I was on the edge of my seat silently praying for them to understand.

The romance in this book might have fallen short for those of you out there who are romance genre people. But personally, I like romance in little dashes so this book was perfect. Not to mention that it was pretty strained; the romance was at an 'I don't know what to do: to act or not to act on my feelings because I am an alien' kind of point. So it made for an awkward situation that was like nails on a chalk board. They both want it but would not act. As much as I loved the tense relationship the two shared in this book, I am equally as excited to see what it will develop into.

So I pretty much need a third book ASAP, thanks to possibly the biggest cliff hanger in history.  I mean, who could live without a book that stars a fragile, but aggressive alien who also happens to have weird clone like siblings and an attractive almost boyfriend?

Reviewed by Rachel Keane

Publication date: 4/22/2014
Series: Project Paper Doll Series , #2
Pages: 368

Review: A Year After Henry by Cathy Pelletier

Book Summary

One year after Henry Munroe’s sudden death at age 41, his family is still reeling from the loss. So is Evie Cooper, a local bartender…and Henry’s former mistress. While his widow, Jeanie, struggles with the betrayal, his overbearing mother is devising plans to hold a memorial service on this awful anniversary. And to make matters worse, she might even invite Evie. With her trademark wit, Cathie Pelletier has crafted an elegant, uplifting portrait of the many strange and inspiring forms that grief and love can take in the journey to overcoming loss.

Review

Losing a spouse is probably one of the most difficult transitions in life especially within the first year. The life you shared, the memories of your family and home bombard the days as they pass blended together. In your moments of grief, what if you find yourself facing a sobering reminder of the betrayal that turned your life upside down? Cathie Pelleter’s, A Year After Henry, is one woman’s challenge of coming to terms with her husband’s betrayal after his death in a novel that was a blend of heartbreak and humor through a perspective of grief.

The book followed the year after the death of Henry Munroe. He was a father, husband, and son, depending on what perspective, had a different experience. It chronicles the lives of his family and their struggle coming to terms with their own grief, making things complicated by a decision to hold a memorial service which seems to contribute to their hardships during this grieving process.

To my surprise, the book was different than I had expected. In my mind, I thought it was going to have a depressing, sad undertone but it wasn’t. It was refreshing to see it from a perspective that confronted their emotions and dealing with it rather than hiding away from the world letting it pass by. Each character brought a different element to the book that gave you a different insight into Henry and how they dealt with his loss. Overall, the core of the book dealing with loss, relationships, and moving on, made the book come together for a nice read.

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Publication date: 8/5/2014
Pages: 272

Review: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Summary 

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home til now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He’s a rich kid from across the bridge, and she hails from a family of housecleaners who keep the island’s summer people happy. Gwen worries this will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she’ll never escape what happened – or the island – her past explodes into her present, redefining the boundaries of her life. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true – about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself – with what really is. 

Review 

I often wish that what I fantasized about were my actual reality, especially when it comes to boys. However, boys will never be what I want them to be. But wouldn’t it be great if the fantasy were the reality? Well maybe the dream could come true if Gwen just rethought her reality. 

Guinevere Castle is no slut but a few of the boys on the Stony Bay High swim team sure do know her. And one boy in particular, Cassidy Somers, got to know her this past spring. Yet to Gwen, it turns out he is just like all the other guys. Now Gwen is trying to avoid him at all costs this summer. Although that’s easier said than done when Cass becomes the yard boy for Seashell Island and Gwen is forced to see him everywhere. 

Along with seeing him, she has to engage in conversation with him, which means she will see his dimples in his smile and get those feelings for him all over again. And to make matters worse, the swim coach has asked her to tutor Cass in English. Now she’ll have to spend time with him?!

Turns out, she was going to spend time with Cassidy whether she liked it or not. He is always showing up at Mrs. Ellington’s, the elderly woman Gwen looks after, killing lobsters, clipping scrubs, smiling at her, etc. The funny things is, Gwen doesn’t entirely hate it. Cass is polite and gentlemanly, one of the reasons Gwen fell for him, until that night she showed him just how much she liked him. And half the swim team had a front row seat to the show. 

Now she can’t tell if the polite, charming, gentlemanly Cass is the real Cass or if it’s all a front just to have a repeat of that night in March. But these feelings aren’t fake and she can tell Cass feels something as well. If only she could tell what is true and what isn’t. 

But Cass isn’t the only puzzle on the island. Nic and Vivian, her cousin and best friend are keeping secrets from her. Which neither Viv nor Nic has ever done. Her dad is acting more hostile than usual, the swim coach dropped by her house, but not for Nic, her mom instead. And Mrs. Ellington’s son seems to be up to no good under his mother’s own nose. Still, her heart and its feelings for Cass are the biggest puzzle to figure out. Can she believe his feelings are genuine? Or rather, will she ever let go of the Cass she always had pictured in her mind and believe the Cass she sees in front of her? 

What I Thought Was True is the embodiment of what teenagers perceive about life and especially what girls think about boys. That you think you know exactly what you want or who you want, until suddenly you don’t want that thing or person. What I Thought Was True is about distinguishing what you think you want to what you actually want, separating the reality from the fantasy. It’s also about not being afraid to go after what you want, that the fantasy could be the reality if you really tried. Most importantly, What I Thought Was True is about not judging a book by its cover, not placing your own perceptions of what is true upon something or someone else but understanding their truth for yourself. 

Review by Camia Rhodes

Publication date: 4/15/2014
Pages: 416

Review: Strange Courtships: Nine Romantic Stories by Carla Sarett

Nine Romantic Stories by Carla Sarett is not a stereotypical collection of love stories. I had specific expectations going into this book and not many of them were met. That is not to that there were no standouts among the collection though.

My preferred stories were A String Theory Valentine, Victor’s Proposal, and Stand-By. Though not without their faults, the stories were quirky, cute and interesting, which is what I believe the author was aiming for. I believe they should have been longer and gone into much more detail but those three were good, stand-alone stories that were entertaining and, in one case, bittersweet.

Others, like Lenardo’s Smile , were a confusing and it felt as though parts of the story were missing and had the romance take a backseat to the story’s plot. Mandolinata seemed senseless as none of the characters changed by the ending and nothing was learned. The story In Rittenhouse Square had a great beginning but seemed to just cut-off just when the story seemed about to take off.

As a whole, these stories don’t go into much detail about the romances, they seem to be an introduction into a larger storyline for the most part and it can be frustrating.  There are also instances throughout the various stories where the characters make broad generalizations regarding gender and culture that I personally do not agree with.

Nine Romantic Stories is full of pros and cons but ultimately, this book wasn’t for me. 

Reviewed by Jazmin Gousse

Review: Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories by Nancy Christie

In Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories, by Nancy Christie, the reader is introduced to an array of characters and plots that range from the incredibly lyrical to intensely morbid. 

These 18 stories examine the human spirit at it’s most vulnerable; the stories are complex, varying, and thoroughly imaginative, introducing a fresh voice to fiction that is both ironic as well as gorgeously gloomy. Throughout, a pervasive sense of melancholy hangs upon each story, coloring them with language that is both lilting as well as arresting in its deep sadness. 

In “Alice in Wonderland”, our protagonist is forced to care for her bitter and caustic mother. Torn between guilt, and a desire to escape her secluded life, Alice finds solace in eating the pages of books—literally ingesting the stories in an attempt to free herself from the dark confines of a life lived in servitude. “The Sugar Bowl” plays with the notion of story telling, and how powerful it can become when manipulated. A few stories later, we find “The Healer”, which tells the tale of a young girl who has inherited her mother and grandmother’s abilities. However, with her gift comes a great cost, which ultimately claims her life. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” serves as a reinforcement of one of the main themes throughout this collection: mental illness, examined from a unique perspective that gives the reader insight into the mind of the insane. In “Waiting for Sara”, our protagonist is a single mother who yearns for her daughter who has run away, and chosen to live a life fueled by drugs and alcohol. It is one of the most realistic stories, and serves as a grounding point, in an otherwise mildly “surreal” collection. My favorite story, “Annabelle”, is a lengthier story, about childhood trauma, the role of women, and art. Anna is forced to confront her troubled past by her therapist, Jules. 

All of these stories have the gusto and literary verve to stand on their own. Their plots are well imagined, and regardless of the varying realism found throughout, believable. Christie gives the reader a cast of men, women, and children, all deeply imbedded into their lives, searching for something that is heart wrenching, and familiar.

Reviewed by MB Sellers

Publication date: 9/9/2014
Pages: 232