November 9 by Colleen Hoover

November 9th is a modern day age, Bernard Slade's 1975 play, "Same Time, Next Year."  If you loved the play or the movie (Same time, Next year) this book is for you. 

The day before Fallon is set to move across the country she meets, Ben. Their meeting takes place under peculiar circumstances, yet they decide to spend Fallon's last night together. They quickly realize that they have a bond and rather then jump into a relationship they make a pack to meet at the same restaurant every November 9th (Same Time Next  Year). They don't exchange numbers and block one another on social media so that they won't have contact with one another until November 9th of the following year(s).

The relationship is sweet and romantic and then Hoover punches you in the gut with a big reveal. You can more or less guess what it is but only a fraction of it. It's so much deeper and complex. 

The book flows really well, which is surprising as it spans over many years and does flash backs. Not many authors call pull it off successfully but Hoover has! There are no lulls in this book. Expect to finish it in a day or two if your a fast reader or find yourself with time on your hands. 

There is passion, love, sadness, grief and anger. Emotions flow off the pages and sometimes you ache with the characters. 

The Brothers of Auschwitz Malka Adler

    

 The Brother's of Auschwitz is a fictional story based upon the real life stories of two brothers, named Dov and Yitzhak. It follows them from their tiny Hungarian Village, to Auschwitz and life after Auschwitz.

   This is a brutal read. The subject matter as we all know is what nightmares are made and they lived it. The were torn away from their families, watched loved ones and friends die often in barbaric manner.  Expect graphic and descriptive details.

It took me over a month to read this book, nearly two months (I read a few others along side it) but it wasn't because of the material but because of the way it was written/translated. I feel like I was missing something, something stronger, move moving, more complete. The reading often feels disjointed and as though you are reading an interviewers notes that aren't quite ready.

 There is a bit of jumping around, which results in having to reread passages. Don't let this derail you or stop you from reading this book though because we must remember, we must read these stories, learn from them, respect them, respect the people who died and prevent if from happening again. 

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

Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

 

PRETTY LITTLE WIFE  

EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: DECEMBER 29 2020

 Pretty Little Wife is Darby Kane's debut novel. It's twisty, dark and perfectly delicious!

Lila Ridgefield husband is dead. She killed him. She placed his body in his SUV, parked it in the parking lot of the school he is employed at and left it to be discovered along with evidence of his sexual misconduct with minor students.

 Aaron ,her husband is a predator and it's time for everyone to know but things do not go according to plan.  Before Aaron and his SUV can be discovered, they go missing! Lila quickly becomes the prime suspect and is being cast as the guilty party. The community see's her as peculiar and her husband as perfect.  Lila is living in fear. Did she not succeed in killing him? Will he come after her?  Then the notes appear ...

Lead Detective, Ginny knows, Lila is guilty and it's her mission to prove it and she will do whatever she needs to in order to close this case but Lila is clever and giving Ginny a run for her money.

This is a delightful, wicked story, with an unreliable narrator who will keep you guessing and turning the pages.

 

The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

 

 The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn  

Expected publication: March 9th 2021

 

 Ambrosia Wellington and Sully Sullivan were once college best friend's but a long ago buried secret tore the friendship apart.  Their 10 year college reunion is approaching and when Ambrosia receives a note slipped into her invitation she if left with no choice but to attend the reunion. 

 

She's scared, nervous and reluctant to go and would like nothing more than to put it all behind her however the threatening notes keep coming and her husband is insisting they attend.

Her husband is clueless about her mean girl days in college and she will be forced to juggle what who he thinks she was in college vs. who she was.

 

At the reunion the notes continue to pile up. Ambrosia and Sully quickly discover that they did not send the notes to one another and are the target of someone who wants to harm them for the destruction the heaved in their formative years.

 

The story is told in alternating chapters flipping from past to present and between characters. The characterization is distinct and pulls you into who the characters are and how they behave. The characters are vulnerable, insecure and sometimes downright ugly in personality, making them truer to life. Characters will fault and "unlikable" characters add depth to a book, making this a wickedly delicious read you will want at the top of your TBR pile. 

 You are going to want to pick up something not so dark after this read to rewind from the drama and mystic.

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

Older by Pamela Redmon Satran

 

Older by Pamela Redmon Satran 

 Published: September  8 2020

 

 

Older is the sequel to Younger. Liza Miller is approaching 50 and much like her "younger" self she has some difficult decisions to make. She finds herself once again caught between the worlds of furthering her career or one again sacrificing herself for her family. 

 I found, Older to a much more entertaining read than Younger. It's actually a delightful read that pulls you out of the oppressive heaviness of the pandemic and into an entertaining read that you will devour.  This book has more of the feel of the TV show flow than Younger did. We see the Liza will "love" on TV in this book.  You don't need to read Younger first. This book can stand alone.  

 Don't expect to "see" the same characters in this book as in the show. Just push the TV series out of your head and read the books for what they are, a quick read with entertainment value.

 

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

Younger by Pamela Redmon Satran

 This is the book that inspired the TV series, Younger but it falls short. I loved the series and am addicted to it so when I was given an opportunity to listen to it on audible for free, I jumped at it and boy was I disappointed.

This is one of those super rare instances in which the TV show is better than the book. The characters are quite different and as a result of that so are the arcs.  I didn't really care for any of the characters in the book but this could possibly be because the TV series has been done such a good job that I can't imagine the characters any other way!  

 If you aren't familiar with this story, it's about a 40+ year old woman who re-enters the work force after having left it to raise her daughter.  She presents herself as a young 20 something to get  a job in publishing. She also gets involved in a relationship with a 20 something man named, Josh who doesn't know her real age.  This leaves,  Alice juggling a lot of balls in the air and it's only a matter of time before the fall.

Zack Morris Lied 329 Times!: Reassessing every ridiculous episode of "Saved by the Bell" ... with stats by Matt Pais

 

Saved by the Bell was a pivotal part of my childhood. I lived for Saturday Mornings and watching Zack and the Gang.  Zack to the Future podcast let me to this book. If you aren't aware of the podcast or the reboot, you need to catch up! The podcast can be found HERE

Zack Morris Lied 329 Times, revisits all of the Saved by the Bell episodes, with the exception of Good Morning Miss Bliss.  It's a fun look at the past and a trip down memory lane.  I learned a few new things and was reminded of others I had forgotten.

There are interviews with cast members which add to the enjoyment of reading this book. This is a must read for all SBTB fans. I am so EXCITED and you will be too!

The End of October Novel by Lawrence Wright

Lawrence Wright has done his research. He not only understands virus's but he gets them. The way they play out and the way society reacts to them.  He wrote this before the Covid-19 pandemic hit and it's chilling how spot on he is but not terribly surprising if you know how the 1918 Pandemic played out. With all that being said - I don't think this book would have such a punch to it if we were not in the midst of a pandemic. 

The book starts off rather strong but then loses steam however that doesn't mean that you aren't wrapped up in the virus. The characters aren't likable and there is a lot going on but that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. Just don't go in expecting too much.

Welcome to the United States of Anxiety - by Jen Lancaster

 What did I just read? What happened to Jen Lancaster? I feel that reading her books these days are a hit and miss. This one is is a mixed bag of peanuts.

Jen is still clever but something is amiss. I can't quite figure it out either. She's still snarky (which I love), she still 'her"but for lack of a better word, she rambles on and on and on and ...  

I have to ask if she just writing for the sake of writing? 

Her use of Maslow’s Hierarchy is rather interesting and her footnotes reflect the research put into it the book. They are rather educating and interesting but I miss the "old" Jen. 

Reputation by Sara Shepard

 Aldrich University has been hacked (along with other Universities but that's not all that important to the story). The hacker has released everyone's emails and dumped them into an easy search database. By everyone, I mean, staff, students, alumni and faculty. 

Imagine for a moment everything you use your email address for, everything you write to others or photos you send now - all of that can be easily read and found by ANYONE. Sounds terrible right? It is.

Rumors circulate and secrets are spilled things are heated but then they explode when Dr. Greg Strasser is found murdered in his home and his wife Kit Manning has no memory of getting home. Kit's sister an investigative reporter returns to her hometown determined to find out the truth about Greg because something doesn't sit right with her.

The story is told in many different point of views. There are many twists and turns and as the tangled weaved web is unraveled the pages turn themselves in an effort to the the resolution. 

Craigslist Confessional: A Collection of Secrets from Anonymous Strangers by Helena Dea Bala

Are you a fan of Postsecret.com? Do you rush to see the new secrets post at midnight every Sunday? Do you own the books? If you answered yes to any of these questions this book is for you! If you don't know about Post Secret were have you been? Go visit it NOW.

Helena Dea Bala hates her job as a lobbyist . She feels unfulfilled but this is about to change after a visit with a homeless man who tells her, his story. This starts her on the path of meeting with strangers from Craigslist and hearing their stories, their secrets and who doesn't love secrets?

The secrets are short and make for a quick read. There is some emotional punch to them but it also gave me perspective on my life and it will probably do the same to you.