Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman

Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman 
 Published March 17th 2020

Jessica and Mitch used to be part of, The Core Four (four men, four women, four couples) but the Core Four feel apart as couples broke up and got divorced except for the and they plan to keep it that way. The come up with an experiment in which they will be allowed to have sex with other people - just as long as they follow the rules. The rules are simple, you can't have sex with the same person more than once and you can't have sex with anyone you know. 

It sounds fun and exciting but emotions and obstacles get in the way and Jessica and Mitch will need to make some decisions on what direction they want their marriage to move. 

Last Couple Standing is a hilarious yet realistic look at monogamy, relationships, divorce and life.

I wouldn't call this book "sexy"  it's comical and entertaining. 

This is the perfect book to help you pass time and stay away from people during this Pandemic. 

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games Series Prequel) by Suzanne Collins

I have a bit of a confession to make.I never read the write-ups for the book of authors I like or the write up for books that are a part of the series that I am reading. I do this to avoid spoilers because often the write ups give too much information. I've also been known to read a book without knowing what it's about if someone I trust tell me read this it's good!

This doesn't usually backfire on me because I go in with no expectations and let the story unfold without any preconceived notions. As usual, I did NOT read the write up but somewhere along the way, I got it stuck in my head that this was about Haymitch Abernathy and his Hunger Games. Well - I was completely wrong! It's about Snow (insert huge dramatic sigh) and  I don't give a flying flippy flop about Snow or so I thought until I realized it is a character study on Snow, and a revelation of long forgotten reasons behind things,

Snow is young, poverty stricken and living in the Capital. He is 18 years old and he along with some classmates take a major role in the development of the 10th Hunger Games and future Hunger Games. Snow and his classmates remember the attack on The Capital and the starvation, deaths and shambles the attack left them in. This is important to remember because it's incredibly influential in the ideas the develop for the games. The 10th Hunger Games also play out in this novel.

Snow is a very interesting character because he has some humanity in him but the choices he makes slowly unravels the tiny bits about him that are redeeming because he surprisingly has the capability to love and form bonds with others. Snow isn't someone I would like but someone I would like to study such as, Ted Bundy.

I can't decide if I like this book or not. I've been sitting on it trying to decide if this is something I want to recommend or tell others to skip and ultimately I am undecided. It's brilliant in that you get a background of Snow, the development of the Hunger Games and additional background information but it's a let down in that very little about Panem is revealed and Snow is such an unlikable character and the book is about 200 pages too long  but keep in mind I would still watch it if it was made into a movie.

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir

Six for Hicks is a reality television phenomenon and Essie the youngest daughter  has grown up in the spotlight. Her father is an evangelical preacher and her family is know for their "wholesome christian image" but like may reality shows the true realty is full of secrets some darker than others.

Essie's secret is that she is seventeen and pregnant. Her mother and the show producer come up with a plan, quite devious to hide Essie's "problem" but Essie is strong willed and has her own plan. Essie's plan involves a reporter and the big reveal while slightly obvious will change the face of  The Hicks family forever. 

The Book of Essie is full of scandal, the characters are complex and the story telling is compelling. This is a brilliant debut novel with some dark topics told by multiple  points of views. The writing pulls you in and makes you feel like a fly on the wall who hears and sees all the family secrets.

If you like the way Jodi Picoult tackles stories and difficult topics this book is for you. If you follow the train wreck that is the Duggar Family will devour this book. I am not huge on religion and usually pass up those books because I don't like to be preached too -- well this book doesn't preach! 

Religion has a role but this book is about empowerment, women and finding your own worth. 

The Companions by Katie M. Flynn

The Companions

by Katie M. Flynn

We are in the midst of a pandemic. Covid-19 is making history as it infects and takes lives around the world. The Companions couldn't come out at a better time or so I thought until I started to read it and found out that the virus in the book have very little to do with the actual story. It's just background information. A virus has hit resulting in mass deaths, people are under quarantine, borders are closed and companions become common place. They are robots, that act and look human to different degrees dependent upon what you can afford. Companions (some) develop consciousness and our main character companion, Lilac enters the story. Lilac was murdered as a teen and she has been "uploaded" into a companion. Lilac goes rouge and and bunch of other characters both human and companion enter the story. Eight or maybe more (I lost count) viewpoints are told  centering around Lilac as she hops from body to body.

This book is strange and I am not sure what exactly to make out of it. Do I like it? Not sure but I finished reading it so that must mean something, right? Perhaps it's a bit too sci-fiction for me. I wanted to read about the virus, what it was, how it affected people, the breakdown of society and the sociological ramifications of these changes instead I got robots, quarantines and humans.

I can say this though. It's really quite fascinating to read a book about  (a pandemic) in real time. 

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hope, Grace & Faith Hardcover – May 5, 2020 by Leah Messer

Leah Messer is a teen mom and appeared on 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom.

 Leah Messer has 3 kids, 2 divorces under her belt and is only 28 years old. Her memoir puts her truth out for readers and fans of the show.

She lives under the scrutiny of cameras, tabloid trash and judgmental eyes. One of her twin daughters has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, she has two baby daddy's, had a challenging childhood and a not so great start as a young adult.

Her book gives insight into her childhood, things that went on behind the camera and why she made the decisions she did. I have never been a fan of Leah and wouldn't have read this had it not been given to me for free but I am happy to say it's changed my tune and while I might not watch Teen Mom anymore, I wish the very best for Leah and her girls.

This is a small book at around 176 pages and I took me less than three hours to read. I am impressed with how well written it is and have to say that it is by far the best book I've read from out of the  Teen Mom Franchise. My only disappointed is that she skips over so many vital moments but I'll respect that they must be truly private moments for her.

Class Mom (Class Mom Series #1) by Laurie Gelman

Laurie Gelman is hilarious. Her characters and writing had me rolling with laughter. I am not a mom nor do I plan to ever be one but I could oddly relate to the characters (maybe because I have nieces and nephews).

Jen Dixon has two college age daughter and a 5 year old son. She gets strong armed into being class mom and it ends up being a lot more work than she bargained for.  Parents don't understand her snark, no one wants to volunteer and then there is the kid who is allergic to everything who has the overbearing mother and let's not forget the hot dad!

Class Mom is about the struggles of being a mom (perhaps an older mom than the rest), friendships, drama and re-revising old feelings,  high school crushes and the trials of having young adult children in college.

This is a super fun, easy read but be warned it takes a while to warm up to Jen, initially she isn't the a likable character but then she grows on you.

#FashionVictim by Amina Akhtar

Oh.. goodness. I really struggled to finish this novel. I can't pinpoint exactly what took me so long. I kept putting this book down and revisiting it at a later date. I would read a little bit and then put it aside and pick up a different book (I tend to read 2-3 books at a time). It wasn't that it wasn't easy to follow because it was, in fact at one point I went a entire month without reading it and was able to pick it back up and know exactly what was going on. The story line is easy enough to follow and the characters are all hateful but I felt very "blah" about the read yet needed to know what was going to transpire.

The plot is all over the place. The main character Anya is a hot mess and the portrayal of people in the fashion industry left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I kept wanting to scream this S!*& doesn't happen in the real world - your ass would be in HR so fast your head would spin. It all felt a bit forced.

This is basically about a girl named Anya who is bat shit crazy who has an unhealthy obsessed with her co-worker and works in the fashion industry. Anya wants Sarah to not only wants to be her best friend but to be HER. It's about her psychotic breakdown and doing whatever it takes to get to the top even if it means killing others.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on a true story. This is the story of Lale and Gita Sokolov.

Lale Sokolov is a Jewish man who arrives at  Auschwitz in 1942. Lale stands out among the other men in Auschwitz and unlike many other people who were sent to Auschwitz he is given a job that comes with privileges. He becomes the tattooist. He is given the responsibility to mark prisoners as they enter into the camp. One day a women named, Gita arrives and there is something about her that captures his heart. Gita gives him hope. Hope and love gives him a mission so survive so that one day him and Gita can be together free to love, laugh and enjoy life.

Lale uses his privileges not only to help himself but to help and save others. His ability to speak five languages makes it possible for him to make connections with other prisoners, guards and people from the outside. He enlists the help of others working in other sections of Auschwitz to save lives of others, while risking his own death if caught.

Heather Morris has written a poignant novel. There are dark and graphic scenes but the reality of what occurred is much harsher. Be prepared for an emotional read that will stay with you days after.

I encourage you to read the Authors note at the end of the book to get more insight. There are also photos of Lale and Gita, which makes them and their story more touching. 

The Mall by Megan McCafferty

The Mall by Megan McCafferty 

Expected publication: July 28th 2020

The Mall is not only the setting in which this novel takes place but also a character. 

I am a Gen X (Yes, I am that OLD, well near the end of Gen X). I grew up at the mall, I worked at that mall in my early to late  20's, I even managed a few retail stores. This book is for Gen X and older Millennial's, other generations might struggle with the pop culture references (I totally got them all, not sure if I should be ashamed of this or not) but don't let that sway you form this fun book. 

Megan McCafferty gets teens! Anyone remember, Jessica Darling or her Bumped series? Both great YA reads and this book - is superior to those, or maybe nostalgia just got the best of me. I think it's safe for me to assume that McCafferty is Gen X because she captures the essence of what that generation was/is. If you're Gen X and miss those days this is a read for you.

Our main character is Cassie and she has just graduated High School. It's the summer right before she heads of to College,(the last essence of your childhood) and Cassie has spent most of the summer fighting off mono, but she's better and ready to make the best out of her last fee weeks before she heads off to College but life has other plans for her and those old plans include her ex-best friend.

At first, things are tense and odd between then but then they put their heads together and go on a scavenger hunt, with clues left behind from years ago. Boys enter the picture and drama, drama, drama happens. 

Characters make self discoveries  and you get to reminisce about your old mall haunts such as  Sam Goody and Spencer's Gifts. A few laughs will pass through your lips as you recall 90's fashions and you'll be inspired to pull out (if you aren't like me and still listen to it) 90's music. Remember Cabbage Patch Dolls and Video Arcades?  You will after reading this book and so much more!

This is a wonderful throw back, that had me going down memory lane and helped me laugh during the time high stress time of Covid-19. It's about a simpler time and a lost generation sandwiched between two who don't like or understand each other (I am talking about you millennial's and boomers) . 

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Institute by Stephen King

The Institute is a hefty 576  pages but the read is so engaging it feels like a relatively short read. This book is very much "old school" King. The characters are well developed and the story flows off the pages. 

I am not sure where to start. There is so much going on in this book and all of it is interesting. I don' t want to give anything away but I will say this there is a lot of pop culture in this book and some references to his old characters/books. I loved finding these hidden "Easter eggs."

This book feels like a look into the past, it has an old school feel to it. The characters are not modern day, which I simply adore. I am a bit over modern day "teen speak." This is a novel about kids, adult monsters (but not like vampires, more like Josef Mangele), secrecy and the lengths people go to harbor them, while others fight to survive.

The story starts out with Tim Jamieson and who trades his plane ticket for some cash and hits the road, eventually finding himself in a peculiar little town. You get into his story and then it kinda falls off the page because Luke enters the picture. Luke is a rather precious twelve year old boy who one day finds himself waking up in a room that looks like his but isn't. He is in, The Institute.  He meets Kalisha who introduces him to the other kids who are all prisoners and required to take tests.

From here on the story unravels and just about when I forgot about Tim, he reenters the picture and the worlds collide. 

I loved and hated characters and then .... I found myself at a standstill wondering if I was cheering for the right side to "win.". 

This is on ending that does not disappoint. Pick it up today and get ready to go on a dark, twisty, fork in the road kinda read.