Review: The Dinner List

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I heard about this novel last month. It sounded great, because who hasn't made a "five people I'd invite for dinner" list before? The only thing that made me hesitate at first was the "magical realism" in the description.

It took me quite a while to get into this novel, and with school starting, my reading time was limited to evenings. However, I pushed through to finish it this weekend because it really captured me about halfway through.

Magical realism aside, I think more of what is needed is "willful suspension of disbelief." Maybe it really is more “magical realism” as the description states, because how else can you have the narrator's deceased father and Audrey Hepburn there? There is a revelation about halfway through that was a turning point for me: Do I press on and continue, or do I quit? That is how much it upset me. However, I persisted, pushed through, and finished. I'm glad I did.

The author's alternating chapter style really works. And after the first several chapters, the continual dialogue around the dinner table doesn't feel as forced or as dialogue-y as before. She does an amazing job of delving deep into these characters' motivations and desires.

I liked how the book made me think of romantic relationships, what is socially expected, what others expect of us, and what we expect of the other person in the relationship. Very interesting and I'll be pondering it for a while.
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Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ebook review copy.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book on NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

All We Ever Wanted: A Review

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All We Ever Wanted is worthy of the buzz it's receiving this summer. I had a hard time putting this one down, but I did on occasion to process the story. It is riveting and thought-provoking and so very current.

With alternating points of view (a favorite literary device of mine), we gradually learn the truth of what happened that night: the night when Tom's daughter and Nina's son are involved in a scandal that threatens their peace of mind, their sense of safety, and their very futures.

Teens, alcohol, and Snapchat are a dangerous triumvirate. As a high school teacher, I know how prevalent social media is in many teens' lives, Snapchat in particular (and yes, I've been on there without my permission, so there's that as well). And while I and other teachers have preached and taught the lessons about responsible digital citizenship and the permanence of online presence, I often sense an ignoring of those lessons and at the same time a sense of entitlement among my students. Until it happens to them, they don't really seem to care.

All We Ever Wanted shows us what can happen, and how justice is not always served in the way we believe it should be. It also shows us in this age of #metoo that we cannot judge based upon outward appearances (and dare I say, Facebook and Instagram photos), and that each of us is a walking library of stories and experiences.
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FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

The Cast, a Review

The Cast: A Novel by Amy Blumenfeld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Available August 14, 2018

I tend to gravitate toward books about groups of friends who have stuck it out through thick and thin, so naturally I requested to read The Cast by Amy Blumenfeld from NetGalley.

The basic plot is that Becca's friends made a video for her twenty-five years ago in the vein of SNL called "Becca Night Live," to cheer her up while she was in the hospital receiving cancer treatment. Fast forward a quarter-century and Becca's friend Jordana plans the ultimate reunion for The Cast. Everyone makes plans to attend; then, of course, as in real life, things begin to happen to thwart even Jordana's carefully planned reunion.

Thankfully, this novel has plenty of twists and turns among the alternating POV chapters, and not much at all was predicatable. Blumenfeld kept me guessing quite a bit, and that's no small feat.

One of my favorite parts was the incorporation of a character who had chosen a life in the Orthodox Jewish community. I am blessed to know an Orthodox family, so to see that lifestyle so respectfully represented was wonderful.

I recommend this novel for fans of friend-group reunion stories. You won't be disappointed.
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FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This Could Change Everything: A Review

This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read many Jill Mansell books over the years, and this newest novel does not disappoint. I enjoyed everything about it. For fans of Jill Mansell in the US, you might want to know that this is not a reboot of an earlier book, but an entirely new novel that was also published this year in the UK.

This Could Change Everything is a very good Jill Mansell novel. The characters, the location, the situations that range from ridiculous to very real...it has it all. I would recommend this book to new readers of Jill Mansell, because it's a good example of her work. It also makes a terrific summer read that is fun and enjoyable.

From an aesthetic standpoint, this cover is much different from her other covers in the US, which were a certain style of very cute, but also distinctive. I don't know if it's rebranding, or has to do with the fact that often her books in the US are reissues of her earlier novels. Whatever the reason, I love the cover.

I recommend this book for fans of chick lit, lighthearted women's lit, fans of sassy older lady characters, and happily-ever-after endings.

The Book of Essie: A Review

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

I got this book as part of my first Book of the Month box. It was a riveting read, and I had a difficult time putting it down. I was both amazed at Essie's knowledge and manipulation of the system she grew up in, and saddened that people have had to learn to live this way in the public eye. I know from reading a few other reviews that some people felt the end was predictable--and perhaps in a way it was--but it was nice to have things tied together in a way that seemed right for these characters that had gone through so much pain in this story.

I really struggled with whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars, because I felt that some of Roarke's chapters sounded less like a teenage boy than I think is realistic. Even considering that he is very smart and obviously exceptional in many ways, I think his narration sounded more like the other characters' points of view than like his own. Also, there were some things I felt needed more clarity in the backstory that were just not there. Too many variables meant I had a tough time with some of the characterizations. (And yes, I know this observation is vague, but #spoilers.)

In terms of church culture, I think it's consistent within itself. I recognized a few allusions that might be missed by someone who did not grow up in a conservative or evangelical church, which were a bit like finding Easter eggs. This book examines a lot of things about church and yes, cults, that are important. At the end of the day, however, as a Christian I am not willing to throw out the capital-c Church. Do we need to think about our faith? Yes. Do we need to check our attitude about our own congregations, pastors, and beliefs? Yes. Do we need to treat everyone with care and kindness? Absolutely. Do we need to abandon the church altogether? I don't believe so. The ending of the book will not please everyone, but at the end of the day I come back to Jesus's words in Matthew 22, His version of the Jewish prayer Sh'ma:
"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Overall, I think this book is a very good story with an overall message of hope.


#BookoftheMonth #TheBookofEssie

Paris Ever After: a review

Paris Ever After by K.S.R. Burns
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

Synopsis: Amy didn’t realize how stale her life was until she jetted off to Paris without telling a soul—not even her husband—and had the adventure of a lifetime.

Then on Amy’s thirtieth birthday, two unexpected visitors leave her wondering if she will soon be saying au revoir to Paris and the new life she’s struggled to build. Her estranged husband, Will, shows up—but is he interested in reconciliation or separation? And a young woman who arrives on Amy’s doorstep unleashes chaos that could push Amy out into the street.

As Amy’s Parisian dream starts to fall apart, she must decide: return to the stability of Will and Phoenix (if that’s even still an option) or forge her way forward in Paris? Amid secrets and surprises, set in enchanting gardens, cozy cafés, and glittering Parisian streets, Amy must choose between two very different worlds. And each has a claim on her heart.

I will be honest and say I did not love this book. I liked it enough to finish, but not enough to recommend wholeheartedly. Granted, it is the second book in a series (the first one being The Paris Effect). I liked the characterization, and of course with a setting like Paris, it is très magnifique. However, like the main character, the plot seemed as if it wandered aimlessly around the streets of Paris for a long time before it wrapped up rather quickly at the end. And that is what I did not love about it.

If you are a fan of anything Parisian, or of expatriate stories in France, this will be a book that you enjoy (and probably the first one from this author as well).

Falling for You

Falling for You by Becky Wade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Falling for You is the second in a series by Becky Wade.

Synopsis: Willow Bradford is content taking a break from modeling to run her family's inn until she comes face-to-face with NFL quarterback Corbin Stewart, the man who broke her heart--and wants to win her back. When a decades-old missing-persons case brings them together, they're forced to decide whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.

Unlike the first book in the series, this book dealt with characters with professions of which I have no background knowledge: fashion modeling and professional sports. However, the struggles of the characters were believable--many things within the human experience are universal, after all. I actually found myself more engaged in the subplot with Charlotte searching for her great-aunt, who went missing long before she was born. The mystery of that and the investigative process, although possibly meant to get Willow and Corbin back together, was more engaging for me than seeing if the two leads were truly going to work out their differences.

I enjoyed the book, and it was well-written, but like many series I've read it has a bit of "book two" syndrome, perhaps a bridge between the first and third. Nevertheless, I will definitely read book three, because that story will be a really good one based on the hints the author drops within this book.

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian women's fiction.
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FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Busy Mom's Guide: a Review

Busy Mom's Guide To Parenting Teens by Paul C. Reisser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book for review a few years ago, and realized recently that I had not posted a review. This book is a great reference to have on hand for parents navigating the teen years. The only criticism I have of it is that it is not current with the social media addiction I see going on in my classroom today, which seems to have really taken off since this book was published. But with all things including sexuality and internet, rule-setting in the home and family relationships, I believe this is a good book for parents whose children are just entering the preteen and early teenage years.


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review in 2012. All opinions are my own.

Maggie Hope #7

The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this latest installment in the Maggie Hope Mystery series by Susan Elia MacNeal. There were a couple of things I did not like, which kept the book from getting 5 stars; however, I don't want to ruin anyone else's experience in reading so I don't want to tell what they are. Spoilers, you know :)

I am really anxious for the next book in the series! Just a few more months...

First Impressions by Debra White Smith

First Impressions: A Contemporary Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Debra White Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a re-release of a book that was previously published. I was very excited to read it, because I enjoy both Austenesque stories and modern Austen retellings.

Some things about this book were fun: the mirroring storylines, the similar-but-not-quite-the-same names, the theater links, and the characters. I enjoyed Eddi, although at times she annoyed me and I can't quite put my finger on why.

Some things, however, felt a bit repetitive (the mirroring storylines, in some places, for example). I also felt that the character of the aunt needed a bit more consistency, because the confrontation scene felt inconsistent to me.

All in all, it's a sweet story and I enjoyed it. I recommend it for fans of Christian fiction and Austen retellings.

I was granted a NetGalley review copy of this book for my Kindle for review. All opinions are my own.

Mountain Refuge, a true Alaska book

Mountain Refuge by Sarah Varland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mountain Refuge is a good, suspenseful book with a romance that seems a bit fast, but still believable, due to the fact that the relationship is forged in fire, fear, and fighting against a serial killer.

I really enjoyed this book. It moved quickly, and yet it was paced well. Plenty of crisis moments, faith moments, and conversation to make it all worthwhile.

Books set in Alaska are tricky, and because I've lived there I am overly critical. I can almost always tell if the author has been there or not, just from how they write about Alaska. (I could name names, but that might get me in trouble!)

You can rest easy with anything by Sarah Varland, however--she's the real deal! Her book gives such a sense of place with Alaska. From the strangeness of summer daylight to the feel of hiking in the mountains, she's absolutely captured the essence of Alaskan life.

Highly recommended!


{I received an advanced copy of this book for the purpose of writing an honest review. All opinions are my own.}

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