When We Were Strangers (Released July 2021)

 

When We Were Strangers

by

Alex Richards

Seventeen-year-old Evie Parker is devastated in the wake of her father's sudden death. But she knows something her mother doesn't: the day of his heart attack, her dad was planning to move out. After finding his packed bags, an impulsive Evie puts everything away to spare her mom more heartache.

To make matters worse, Evie soon learns the reason her father was going to leave: he had been dating his twenty-two-year-old receptionist, Bree, who is now six months pregnant. Desperate to distract herself, Evie signs up for a summer photography class, where she meets a motley crew of students, including quirky and adorable Declan. Still, Evie can't stop thinking about her father's mistress. Armed with a telephoto lens, she caves in to her curiosity, and what starts as a little bit of spying on Bree quickly becomes full-blown stalking. And when an emergency forces Evie to help Bree, she learns there's more to the story than she ever knew . . .

Alex Richards crafts a riveting new story about betrayal, complicated family secrets, and getting to the heart of what matters--ultimately asking readers how far they'd be willing to go to unravel the truth.

One would think the description of this book tells the whole story, but it doesn't. Evie, the main character grows and develops at a steady, but believable pace. She is introduced during a time of distress in her life. The story unfolds, revealing deeper, more intimate parts of her inner self. It's quite moving watching how each step propels her forward or sets her back. Anyone who has experienced loss can relate to the reality of how she has to learn to live with pain. The healing process is not linear.  Grief is messy. This story demonstrates that in a solid, yet not overwhelming way.

The other piece of the story I appreciated, was the use of photography in the plot development. Every character needs their "thing" but in this case, the camera was a very thoughtful touch.  Evie's uncle Luke arranged for her to attend a photography class. He then let her borrow his camera.  This gesture showed the reader (and the main character) that he actually SAW her, something everyone desires. It not only opened up the space for a strong plot line, it provided the means for the reader to SEE Evie, too.

In the beginning, I was mildly afraid Bree would be a stereotyped "other woman". In some ways, she was introduced that way, but as time when on, she became better developed as a character. While at times, I struggled with wanting to get to know her, it eventually happened. Maybe this was the goal of the author? Maybe it wasn't. Either way, the character played an important role and I am glad I got to know her.

The climax and closure of the story proceeded at the same steady pace as the character development of Evie. By that, I mean I was able to take in all in and appreciate the process. I didn't devour it super fast. That doesn't mean I found it boring. I actually took the time to enjoy it. Sometimes, events unfold so fast, I need to reread it to appreciate the complexity. The ending of this novel was soft, but satisfying.

Overall, this is a good book to read. It contains elements of pain and loss, but it is balanced well with hope and growth. To some, this story may not be believable. I say to those people that life is stranger than fiction. Give it a try. The writing is good. The characters grow. It's worth your time.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Released September 2020)

Looking for a great story to discuss at book club? This is the book. Read on for my review.

 

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting blockbuster novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.             

When I was young, I met a person who believed life should be lived without regret.  I have lived most of my life believing I could do that. I made thoughtful choices, sometimes spending too much time thinking choices through.  At every crossroad, I chose with intent. But lately, I have been thinking 'What if?' or 'Why didn't I?' or even 'I should have'.

This book explores those exact questions for the main character, Nora. It's quite interesting exploring another human's choices and how everything could be so drastically different for them. Does it make me believe MY life could have been different? Yes. Does it make me WANT my life to be different? Ummm, I can't answer that as it could be a spoiler, so you'll just have to message me to find out, AFTER you read the book.             

In short, I recommend this book. It's a great read and it stimulates thought. While the content is heavy, it's written in such a way that light and hope shine through. The story moves along swiftly, with very few twists and turns. The main character grows steadily through each experience. I, as the reader, did as too. If you are exploring your Book of Regrets, reach for The Midnight Library. It could give you a perspective you have not yet considered.

                                                                           

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (Release Date: May 25, 2021)

 Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth is a refreshing change from the books I have been reading. I chose it for this reason. I needed something a little lighter. In addition, it fell under LGBTQIA genre. Because I am interested in sharing diverse books and good LGBTQIA stories can be difficult to find, I knew I had to read this.

Aideen has plenty of problems she can’t solve. But when she stumbles upon overachiever Meabh Kowalska having a full-blown meltdown, she sees one that she can actually fix. Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars. Aideen volunteers to help—by pushing her down the stairs.

Problem? Solved. Meabh’s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming schedule. But when one of their classmates learns about their little scheme, more “clients” start asking for Aideen’s “help”—kicking off a semester of traded favors, ill-advised hijinks, and even an unexpected chance at love.

Fixing other people’s problems won’t fix her own. But it might be the push Aideen needs to start.

The story is set in a private school in Ireland. The main character Aideen is a teenager facing typical teen issues, but also dealing with a home life that leaves much to be desired. She is a well developed character and it's easy to fall into the rhythm of this story. The writing is clear, concise and soothing.  The plot moves along nicely, giving the reader just enough tension to keep it interesting. 

While there are numerous characters from different teen groups, the author carefully avoids stereotyping. The reader is introduced to each individual and is left wanting to get to know everyone. I found this added to great depth and set this novel above so many others. It's hard to demonstrate a real  experience while keeping characters believable, but Ciara Smyth does this very well.

Nothing about this book is predictable, yet no twist is outlandish. Every "favor" Aideen completes and cashes in could happen and can be relevant to almost anyone. Even if you're no longer a teenager, we have ALL survived it. 

Finally, my favorite part of this novel--the ending. It took my breath away. The compilation of events that led up to that moment certainly built up to a satisfying resolution, but the very last line will stay in my soul for a very long time. If a closing line was eligible for an award, this one would win. BUT it's only good if you know the story, so DO NOT JUMP AHEAD!

Not My Problem is a book I would suggest to both teens and adults who love a good book. Ciarra Smyth did a great job of weaving marginalized populations into one story while avoiding stereotypes. She kept the writing light when the topics were heavy. She added a touch of romance without stealing the importance Aideen's character growth. Overall, this was a great read that should be enjoyed by many.

Blogger's note: I read the Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book. The book had not yet been "translated" --meaning many terms and references were not "Americanized". This did not take away from the story at all. If the book is only available in Ireland or UK, I still suggest reading it.

Tell Me My Name by Amy Reed (Released March 2021)

 I don't often re-read books, but Tell Me My Name by Amy Reed is a book I will need to read again. 

The short description:

    An enthralling, mind-altering psychological thriller, Tell Me My Name is about the cost of being a girl in a world that takes so much, and the enormity of what is regained when we take it back.

This may sound bizarre, but I  think I have to re-read it because I bought the digital copy. This is a layered story and I felt a little disconnected because I could not easy turn back to previous chapters.  Or maybe it was because I read the author's notes first. When you read this book, don't do it! Amy warns you there are spoilers. And there are. This may have distracted my mind because I was playing detective instead of reader. Therefore, in this review, I will avoid sharing details of the story.

The book opens with a soft, warm description of the setting: Commodore Island, a ferry ride away from Seattle, Washington. This is where my mind played a trick--I envisioned Martha's Vineyard, outside of Massachusetts. I have no idea why. It took a long time for me to accept the setting was the West Coast, not the East. But really, it kind of fit, so it played out well for me. I think it also forced me to reflect on my biases, as well.

Early on, Amy weaves societal constructs right into the heart of the story, using both the setting and the plot. The reader is immersed but not suffocated in a world of rich and not-so-rich. Seeds of thought are planted among description, dialogue and action, but not forced. The brain is free to have its own thoughts about things that are going on, mostly because the writing has a calming rhythm to it. In the back of my mind, I thought a lot about privilege, global warming, friendship and love while getting to know the main characters, Fern and Ivy.

The middle of the book really brings the societal themes to life via action and plot twists. The things the characters do reflect on their previous experiences, yet foreshadow what might be coming next. The development of the setting demonstrates the cost of careless human behaviors and hints at how things could be different--if we tried. The balance of positive versus negative makes the exploration of these difficult topics intriguing instead of preachy.

Overall, this was a great book. I would not call it a mindless beach novel nor recommend it as such. This book deserves to be late-night, thought provoking read. It will permeate your dreams. It will make you think.

How to Disappear by Bruna Gomes (Release date: June 2021)

 You want a new book to read. You want something different, but aren't sure exactly what. So you search and browse. Everything sounds the same. And then, you stumble upon a title the peaks your interest: How to Disappear by Bruna Gomes. You read the description and wonder if you could actually read a book written in second person point of view. You have never done this before so, you give it a try.

Yes. How to Disappear is written in second person, just like the paragraph above. This is a point of view that is rarely used, in part because it is very difficult to create a sustainable story arc, but also because it is so intimate to the reader. Imagine reading an entire novel where you are told what you think feel and experience. A different part of the reading brain is activated and the connection to the story is very different. It's far from "normal".

The book opens by immersing the reader immediately into the main character's life, which is a total disaster (of her own making). But remember, it's now your life due to the point of view. I'm not going to lie. It's a little uncomfortable, but the story is good enough to keep it from getting too awkward. It also escalates quickly and continues to do so steadily throughout the novel. Many of the turning points are perfectly timed--I'd be just about to give up reading and then a twist was thrown in. Naturally, I couldn't stop reading. I had to find out what happened next.

While I struggled to embrace the reality of some scenes, I think the uniqueness of the point of view helped. I stopped a few times and imagined what this story would be like if written in first or third person. It was then I realized it would be a totally different story. This is how it was meant to be written. So, again, I kept reading.

The ending of the book felt a little anti-climactic. I didn't feel a huge build up to the resolution and the ending didn't entirely make sense to me. Yet, somehow, it was still satisfying. It closed the loop, bringing the story full circle. Interestingly, a lot of questions were left unanswered. I suspect in some ways that may have been a gift from the author, freeing the reader to imagine more on their own after the written word ended. And to me, that's what reading is all about. 

So, if you are looking for an interesting and mind bending read, I recommend How to Disappear by Bruna Gomes. It could be a nice change for a beach or poolside read or could lead to great discussion at a book club. It's also not purely young adult, either. I think many adults could relate to the concept of  escaping your own "mediocre life". Lean in. Enjoy the ride.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears (Release date June 2021)

The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears is a young adult novel about a senior in high school, Dane Riley, who allegedly struggles with mental health. But see, the thing is, he is grieving his father's death the only way he knows how...and it makes others uncomfortable. Is he mentally ill or is he sad? This book is a  great exploration of labeling and stigma without every using those words.

The first scene is at Dane's house, but the story begins to take shape with Dane's first appointment with his new psychiatrist. The scene is appropriately awkward. At first it felt a little contrived, Dane's disdain is expected and difficulty relating to a parent is a common theme. But the way the scenes unfold, through both Dane's inner dialogue and external interactions, add a unique element that kept me interested. The details are consistent enough to bring you right into the room, feel the room, yet don't overwhelm the senses. It actually transported me right back to my first appointment with a psychiatrist. Something I hadn't thought about in a long time. Maybe that's why I perceived it as awkward. I know my visits always were.

Next, the story unfolds with a lot of Dane's internal dialogue. At times, I wondered if it was ever going to end, but then, intimate bits of information would be shared or an interaction would occur that pulled it all together. The author dropped little nuggets of information that built into the rest of the story. I felt like I was getting to know a real human, not a made up character.

When Ophelia arrives, my first thought was that this was just going to be another version of boy-falls-for-girl-who-fixes-his-life. But by the time we meet her, it's pretty obvious this isn't a romance novel. It only makes sense that she's important to him, so instantly she became important to me. I liked her, but then again, how can one not? She definitely has more dimension than many characters in today's novels. She's a strong female. One that I can relate to easily.

Meeting Dane's friends provided a refreshing change, both in the story and in reality. Often, teen boy relationships are only about toxic masculinity, but these guys are more than a stereotype. Dane's interactions with them demonstrate he is also more than superficial. I mean, we kind of know this already, but the fact that he doesn't change really drives home his depth. 

The rest of the novel progresses in much a similar way. We hear a lot of Dane's inner thoughts. Many of them are insightful or funny or heartbreaking, but all of them are worth reading. He contemplates suicide, which for many may be very hard to read. But, again, he is real about it in a way few people are. We get to see Dane make choices and how his choices affect how others perceive him and how that affects him. 

For me, the ending came too soon. I devoured the entire novel in two sittings. I enjoyed almost every word, every scene, every twist and turn. Like any great book, I didn't want it to end. Yet, at the same time, the ending was so satisfying. It was set up beautifully from the start. Not every question was answered ---which I LOVE--but everything that needed to be solved was.

The thing that really moved me about this book, is how Dane's mental health was always a question to everyone BUT Dane. I have lost. I have grieved. I get his frustration. So many people think there should be a timeline or a predictable way one should respond to the loss of a loved one. But grief is not predictable. There's nothing wrong with grieving in your own way, on your own timeline. Yes, he made a few choices that could be questioned, but god damn it, he's a freaking teenager. I think our society loses sight of that too. Grief and adolescence are two misunderstood NORMAL conditions. Thank you, Kat Spears for opening up the discussion with your book. I hope it catches fire the way it should.