Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Goodreads blurb: A dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true. People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected. Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.
my take: 4.5 out o 5. I was not 100% convinced about this book when it started, but it was recommended by someone who I value their opinion very highly so I kept going. And then i fell in love with the story, the town and its characters (I’m mildly annoyed that Libby is making me wait months for book 2 and book 3 because I wanted to keep being in this story with these people). A slow story, but deep and meaningful. I loved the sport aspect of it, but that is not what its about, and you will love it even if you don’t get hockey (maybe you would get it even more). I love the way it is written, absolutely masterful.
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Goodreads blurb: From the beloved author of We All Want Impossible Things, a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go. For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too. This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers. It’s one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. It was a good story just not great for me. It is a quick read and that was good. Some interesting family dynamics, but in the end there is just not enough conflict for me to make this compelling, its a normal family dynamic. And yes there is some menopause and issues with women getting older that is discussed but that could have also been more interesting and more nuanced and further developed. So it really comes down to it was a good story and its in hoopla so you can get it without the Libby wait, but it did not rock my world.
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
Goodreads blurb: The provocative and hilarious summer read that will have book lovers cheering and everyone talking! Kirsten Miller, author of The Change, brings us a bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything. Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need. But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor. That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town…and change it forever
my take: 4.25 out of 5. I did not expect this book. I was actually doubting it at first and the whole concept was looking to be absurd, as well as the short chapters, one per person and their book felt kind of incomplete and not really following a story. But a story there is, and it has a lovely intertwined storyline. A wonderful story of the power of knowledge, books and community, especially in times like the ones we are living now.
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
goodreads blurb: Restauranteur Paddy Swann was the life of the party until the day a man pushed him in the path of an oncoming train, leaving his twenty-something daughter Ash and wife Nina devastated. Shortly after Paddy’s funeral, the two women receive a surprise in the mail: a note and package from Nick Ratcliffe, an old friend of Paddy’s, and a nondescript lighter that once belonged to him decades ago. This unexpected gift draws Nick and Nina closer together—much to Ash’s dismay. Martha is a small-town florist with dreams of expansion. She lives with her second husband Al, her baby, and two sons from her prior marriage. But they never seem to have any money, and with his constant traveling for work, she feels like a single parent—especially when an emergency makes her realize something needs to change. But Nick and Al may not be who they say they are, leading these three women on a shocking collision course, wishing they had heeded a warning: Don’t let him in.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 4 out of 5. I love Lisa Jewell, she is an automatic buy author for me and I’ve loved her ever since I read Ralph’s Party many many eons ago (this is a good moment for a PSA that if you have not read Ralph’s party and Vince & Joy, and only know Lisa Jewell for her new mystery thriller turn, you must go back to her older catalog put them in your TBR). Now onto the book. This was a strange one for me, as I liked it but I did not love it. I love the concept of this, it feels very relevant after the whole tinder swindler hype, it just felt less of a thriller like she usually writes. I enjoyed it, even if i wanted to kill some of the women. There were some twists but it was more straightforward than some of her other books. I did enjoy the jumped timelines and the dual narration, with one going forward and one back. Also big points for the end.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
goodreads blurb: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins in this electric, voice-driven debut novel about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past. Cate Kay knows how to craft a story. As the creator of a bestselling book trilogy that struck box office gold as a film series, she’s one of the most successful authors of her generation. The thing is, Cate Kay doesn’t really exist. She’s never attended author events or granted any interviews. Her real identity had been a closely guarded secret, until now. As a young adult, she and her best friend Amanda dreamed of escaping their difficult homes and moving to California to become movie stars. But the day before their grand adventure, a tragedy shattered their dreams and Cate has been on the run ever since, taking on different names and charting a new future. But after a shocking revelation, Cate understands that returning home is the only way she’ll be a whole person again.
my take: 4.5 out of 5. This book knows good marketing, because The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins was for sure going to make me want to read this (side note I was a very harsh grader back in the day and only gave Evelyn 4.5 stars. sacrilege with my rating it would be 5). I had to preface that to say this book is not Evelyn Hugo, but it is still excellent. It is a book that you will not be able to put down, Part romance, part mystery, part psychological exploration, with a side of Hollywood glamour. You will need to get to the end and you will stay way past your bedtime achieving that. It is also a beautiful exploration of friendship. My only caveat is there is a lot of miscommunication, which is not my favorite, especially miscommunication that can be solved with a google search. But even with that I really enjoyed it.
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