An emotional read that had me turning the pages, wondering if everything would turn out OK!
Harper walked away from her dream career (and dream man) a An emotional read that had me turning the pages, wondering if everything would turn out OK!
Harper walked away from her dream career (and dream man) a decade ago. It was worth it, though, since she met the love of her life, Ben, and is happy with her job teaching art. Ben has stage-four pancreatic cancer and wants to help Harper find love with someone else so she can move on. Harper is appalled by Ben’s plan and can’t imagine being with anyone else. However, when the dream man she abandoned shows up at her door, Harper can’t help but wonder what if…
It is a sad story and a hopeful one. For anyone in the mood to shed a tear or two.
Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
A lovely, compelling, and emotional read (that will probably have you shedding a tear or many).
Evelyn and Joseph have been together for six decades. A lovely, compelling, and emotional read (that will probably have you shedding a tear or many).
Evelyn and Joseph have been together for six decades. When Evelyn’s health begins to decline, they decide they don’t want to live without each other.
The story alternates between the 1940s when Evelyn and Joseph fall for one another and the early 2000s. We get multiple perspectives including from Evelyn’s and Joseph’s children.
Thank you to Harlequin Park Row for the opportunity to read a copy....more
I was especially enthralled during the first half when we learn about Sloane’s relationship with Russell andTense, visceral, and completely gripping.
I was especially enthralled during the first half when we learn about Sloane’s relationship with Russell and witness Sloane’s determination to find out who stole her jewelry and how she could possibly get it back. This was my first read by this author and I enjoyed her writing style and storytelling abilities - she infuses humor into this deeply sad yet celebratory account of her friendship with Russell.
Thank you very much to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy....more
Intense, darkly humorous, bleak, and enthralling. The writing is stunning and such an imaginative take on the experience of depression and feeling untIntense, darkly humorous, bleak, and enthralling. The writing is stunning and such an imaginative take on the experience of depression and feeling untethered and unmotivated.
I would have loved it even more if it ended a chapter earlier than it did. Recommended to anyone looking for a stressful, provocative, and thrilling read. 4.5 stars....more
What is there to say other than prepare to cry, and be humbled and moved by Rob Delaney's account of losing his young son to brain cancer?
I knew goinWhat is there to say other than prepare to cry, and be humbled and moved by Rob Delaney's account of losing his young son to brain cancer?
I knew going into this that it would be a tough read/listen and appreciated the exploration of unimaginable grief and interspersion of dark humor. I listened to the audiobook version narrated beautifully and emotionally by the author. Highly recommend....more
An intriguing and surprising read full of bleakness and resilience. We meet CC in the present day, where she seems to be thriving as a newlywed with hAn intriguing and surprising read full of bleakness and resilience. We meet CC in the present day, where she seems to be thriving as a newlywed with husband Alex, a wealthy journalist with a trust fund.
Slowly, CC’s story unravels as we go back in time and get glimpses of her turbulent upbringing in Florida. I found CC to be a very sympathetic character who is far more gracious to her awful parents than I imagine many others would be in her place. The story is written well and immerses the reader into CC’s world. It offers no neat solutions to the circumstances it portrays and the many complex issues it raises, though readers are still left with a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy....more
A wild, disorienting journey. It is 1914 and Rafael Pinto is in Sarajevo. All he wants to do is have some fun, take drugs, and kiss beautiful men. So A wild, disorienting journey. It is 1914 and Rafael Pinto is in Sarajevo. All he wants to do is have some fun, take drugs, and kiss beautiful men. So far, he is three for three until the assassination of Franz Ferdinand changes the course of Pinto’s existence. We follow Pinto over decades and across continents. We witness his time as a soldier when he falls deeply and mutually in love with the handsome and courageous Osman. And we see how that love enables Pinto to persevere.
Reading The World and All That It Holds requires patience and an embrace of the smattering of often untranslated phrases in Bosnian, German, Spanish, etc. In return, readers are rewarded with what is ultimately a love story full of beautiful passages and rumination on life, war, religion, family. The writing is strange and gorgeous, at once full of hilarity and sorrow, and will leave you marveling at Aleksandar Hemon’s talent.
Thank you very much to @fsgbooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy....more
Captivating and heartbreaking. Rootless begins with the unraveling of Efe's and Sam's marriage. Then, we go back in time 19 years to when Efe and Sam Captivating and heartbreaking. Rootless begins with the unraveling of Efe's and Sam's marriage. Then, we go back in time 19 years to when Efe and Sam first met, and each chapter brings us closer to the present.
We follow Efe as she navigates university and figures out what are her interests and later when she reconnects with Sam and they start a relationship. The two are so good together despite being very different. Efe wants to focus on her career and does not want children and Sam is similarly career-focused and longs to start a family.
It was fascinating to read about how their lives intertwined and their relationship developed (and trying to figure out how it all went wrong). This is an emotional, compelling, and moving read.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy....more
The first few chapters of this excellent memoir had me cackling at the shenanigans of a vain teenage girl. Soon after, the memoir took a heavy turn anThe first few chapters of this excellent memoir had me cackling at the shenanigans of a vain teenage girl. Soon after, the memoir took a heavy turn and it stayed that way through the end with bursts of levity and humor throughout.
Laura grows up in Florida chain smoking and drinking heavily as a pre-teen/teen with little to no adult supervision. As her parents get divorced and her older brother experiences devastating health issues, Laura remains concerned but is also mostly obsessed with her horrible acne and her quest for clear skin. I recommend this brutal, hilarious, and moving memoir to everyone. ...more
Well, this made me very sad. But it is also a story full of hope.
Meredith has not left her house in almost four years and we don’t know why. She is abWell, this made me very sad. But it is also a story full of hope.
Meredith has not left her house in almost four years and we don’t know why. She is about to turn 40. She is estranged from her mother and sister. Her devoted best friend, Sadie, visits often and checks in on her. The story modes back and forth from present day to Meredith’s childhood, early adulthood, and before her seclusion.
I thought Meredith was a lovely person with hobbies that include solving jigsaws, baking delicious desserts, and being an amazing friend. I was really curious to see how her story would play out. At times, this reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Overall, it is an emotional read that deals with trauma, abuse, and resilience. Read it if you don’t mind these heavier topics. 3.5 stars. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC via NetGalley....more
The stories are well written and focus on similar themes including poverty and motherhood.
There were a few moments of humor but mostly I felt a lot oThe stories are well written and focus on similar themes including poverty and motherhood.
There were a few moments of humor but mostly I felt a lot of despair while reading these - they are bleak. I would recommend this to readers in the mood for quiet, devastating stories....more
A beautifully written collection of stories that are bleak and full of melancholy, longing, regret…I was most fond of the first story, “The Umbrella”.A beautifully written collection of stories that are bleak and full of melancholy, longing, regret…I was most fond of the first story, “The Umbrella”.
Read this (or listen to the audiobook) when you are in the mood to be pensive, sad, and/or glad not to be in a terrible relationship. ...more
Absorbing, strange, and deeply sad. I listened to the audiobook version (just under four hours) and was impressed by how much story and emotion Julie Absorbing, strange, and deeply sad. I listened to the audiobook version (just under four hours) and was impressed by how much story and emotion Julie Otsuka packed into a relatively short time / few pages. The sentences were mantra-like and meditative....more
A moving love letter and processing of grief, clearly written during an emotional, turbulent time. I recommend this to anyone dealing with loss and waA moving love letter and processing of grief, clearly written during an emotional, turbulent time. I recommend this to anyone dealing with loss and wanting a quiet moment of reflection. ...more
Well, I did not expect a book about two video game developers and their producer to make me cry, but I sure did shed a tear or two. Tomorrow, TomorrowWell, I did not expect a book about two video game developers and their producer to make me cry, but I sure did shed a tear or two. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a moving story about friendship, love, jealousy, ambition, creativity, insecurity, and grief.
Sadie and Sam meet as children in a hospital (he is there to treat his wounds from a car accident and she is there to visit her sister who is undergoing cancer treatment). They bond over a shared love of gaming. Sadie and Sam have a tumultuous relationship and alternate between being dear friends, rivals, friends again, and so on. They reconnect as college students in Massachusetts and Marx enters the picture as Sam’s roommate. We follow Sadie, Sam, and Marx over decades as they gain acclaim, fame, and money for their video games…
The story pulls you in, whether you are into video games or not, as it is more about human connection and drive than gaming. At times, I felt the book had Halt and Catch Fire vibes (amazing TV show!), in terms of the creative drive, differing visions, and romantic entanglements. It is an immersive, memorable read.
Overall, I do think it was too long, I did not appreciate the shocking event (the one that made me cry), and would have liked to see a particularly loathsome character (Dov) experience consequences for his predatory behavior - it seemed like he was excused because “he was a great teacher.” One more thought, there was a lot of emphasis on creative partnerships being very rare and special and, while I agree, I am not sure I would classify them as superior to a romantic partnership. It seemed like a justification for the nature of Sadie’s and Sam’s relationship where none was needed.
All in all, I recommend this to readers looking for an emotional rollercoaster of a novel....more
Bleak and provocative. Ambitious, creative storytelling and world building.
How High We Go in the Dark poses a lot of questions about what makes us huBleak and provocative. Ambitious, creative storytelling and world building.
How High We Go in the Dark poses a lot of questions about what makes us human and demonstrates different ways people grieve. I appreciated how it doesn’t offer answers or resolutions to the situations that unfold - the stories are allowed to breathe and linger.
I was most captivated by the first couple of stories (and the pig!) I think How High We Go in the Dark may be better framed as (loosely connected) short stories than a novel.
If you are in the mood for a depressing, brilliant read, then give this a try!...more
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