Jenny has always loved her quiet life. She loves her husband of fifty-nine years, and she loves her time baking in the kitchen. Then she lands a spot Jenny has always loved her quiet life. She loves her husband of fifty-nine years, and she loves her time baking in the kitchen. Then she lands a spot on the competition television show Britain Bakes, and Jenny surprises herself by learning that she can, indeed, find an added richness to an already sweet life. . This was a delightfully cozy read! There wasn't a lot of high stakes drama -- most of the characters' problems were resolved quickly, and Jenny's experience seems a little too charmed to be realistic -- but sometimes you need something happy and fluffy. I relished in all the British vocabulary: sponge and biscuits and treacle. This was fun on audio! . This had some of the same themes from Family Family by Laurie Frankel that I read earlier in the month, which was a fun surprise. . No profanity. Unintended pregnancy is a plot point but sex is off-page....more
Aww, this was really cute! Drama girl meets DnD gaming boy. The tropes are strong (enemies-to-lovers, fake dating) and the plot predictable, but the bAww, this was really cute! Drama girl meets DnD gaming boy. The tropes are strong (enemies-to-lovers, fake dating) and the plot predictable, but the banter was funny; I was laughing out loud in places! At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like Riley -- she is, well, a drama queen -- but by the end I was rooting hard for her and her dreams.
Completely wholesome YA. No swearing. PG kissing....more
Liya and Kai have been best friends since elementary school, each working at their family's Chicago Chinatown stores. But their families are feuding, Liya and Kai have been best friends since elementary school, each working at their family's Chicago Chinatown stores. But their families are feuding, and Liya completely embarrassed herself in front of Kai last time they were together. When Liya learns that her parents' store, Once Upon a Lantern, is past due on some rent -- she swallows her pride and enlists Kai's help to help save the family business.
This friends-to-lovers YA novel was a sweet, fluffy story I finished in a day. I loved the rich setting of the novel, with the Chinese food and folklore interwoven in the story. The characters were a little flat and the miscommunication was frustrating, but still, this kept me entertained.
The cover is so pretty!
Clean YA. There was a passing reference to masturbation, a make-out scene on a bed, and maybe a few mild swears....more
This was just extraordinarily cute! Isadora is serious and smart, but is she really happy? She decides to conduct a scientific experiment, based on a This was just extraordinarily cute! Isadora is serious and smart, but is she really happy? She decides to conduct a scientific experiment, based on a tabloid article she impulsively buys at the grocery store, to see if simple things can really make her happier.
The writing in this was funny and I loved Isadora's "lunch crew;" great found family theme going on here. The romance was sweet but there was more to the book than that (which I liked). I considered five stars but I found it just a little slow at the end and a touch too unrealistic. (Hopefully it's not too spoiler-y to say: she needed therapy!)
Squeaky clean: no sex or profanity. Technically might be Christian fiction (characters talk about other characters being an answer to prayer), but it's subtle....more
Miss Buncle has written a book and, like all good authors, she has written what she knows: the comings and goings of her neighbors in the charming EngMiss Buncle has written a book and, like all good authors, she has written what she knows: the comings and goings of her neighbors in the charming English village where she lives. But when the residents of Silverstream read the book, many are offended at the author's depictions of them. It's a good thing Miss Buncle wrote under a pseudonym -- and it's a good thing Miss Buncle is not the person anyone would suspect of having written a book. But what happens when the far-fetched plotlines in the book start coming true? And can Miss Buncle get away with a sequel?
This delightful novel was written in 1934, but somehow I hadn't heard of it until it was recommended by my book club friend Leta. I'm so glad we read it; it was interesting and light and laugh-out-loud funny. I felt like this had a similar vibe to L.M. Montgomery's books about Avonlea: the characters were all quite amusing to read about and the prose was incredibly readable. Chapter sixteen, with Mrs. Featherstone-Hogg's drawing room meeting, had me laughing out loud, and the ending was just adorable. I highly recommend this book about a book about a book!
Clean readers: nothing objectionable here; you could read this with your grandma or with your teenage daughters....more
Taylor and Victoria are sisters -- not by birth, but by choice. Victoria's parents adopted her best friend Taylor when they were young teens, saving TTaylor and Victoria are sisters -- not by birth, but by choice. Victoria's parents adopted her best friend Taylor when they were young teens, saving Taylor from being shuffled through foster homes after her own home life crumbles. They both dream of becoming writers, and the girls are inspired by their hometown's famous author, Louisa May Alcott. But as the sisters grow, they grow apart ... and two decades later, they find themselves living on opposite coasts leading very different lives. When circumstances bring them together again, can they repair their relationship?
I love Little Women retellings, and while this particular book focuses more on its author, there were plenty of nods to the classic story: a jealous sister destroying stories (it's a baseball bat and a laptop instead of a fireplace), a husband bringing home unexpected company (this is Meg's story that never makes it into any movie version).
I really enjoyed learning more about Louisa May Alcott's actual life; she is a side character in this book's second timeline. The author did her research to be as true to Alcott's life as possible.
This is Christian fiction, which is not my usual genre (even though I do consider myself religious). Sometimes I feel like that genre can get a little melodramatic, but I didn't find this book to be too cheesy or preachy, and I actually really liked theme of God's love and belonging to Him that emerged towards the end.
I must have been in a mood for a good story, because I binge-listened to this one, finishing in only about a day. I'll likely seek out more books by this author -- and I totally want to visit Orchard House if I ever visit Massachusetts!
CLEAN READERS: definitely a clean read, though not a fluffy one, as it dealt with difficult topics like adultery and domestic abuse. I was impressed with the way the author portrayed complicated relationships.
Thanks to my friend Kate for putting this book on my radar!...more
Josie was kind of a big deal back in high school, but now she's not even out of her teens and all washed up. Friendless in an unfamiliar town with pasJosie was kind of a big deal back in high school, but now she's not even out of her teens and all washed up. Friendless in an unfamiliar town with past relationships fading away, she decides to escape into books. But her escapes end up all-too-real and all-too-tempting: maybe she should just stay in her fantasies forever?
For a book that's all about getting pulled into the story, I sure had a hard time getting pulled into this story! The whole thing had kind of a screwball comedy feel to it, and maybe that's just not my thing. I did think the overall plot was kind of clever, and as a book-lover I loved the nod to all the different genres: romance, dystopian, classics, even graphic novels. And there were some interesting themes; I particularly liked Josie's realization that her friends are more than supporting actors in her story. But still .. I guess I just found things hard to follow at times, with all the changes in characters and settings, with so much of the action happening in Josie's head....more
This book was a lot of fun. I do like the original book Little Women, but I think I enjoy the adaptations and reimaginings of this classic story even This book was a lot of fun. I do like the original book Little Women, but I think I enjoy the adaptations and reimaginings of this classic story even more (the 2019 movie blew my mind -- so good!)
This take on the original begins between Little Women and Good Wives, and it weaves together the life of fictional Jo March with real-life author Louisa May Alcott. Obviously purists might not like the drastic departure from the classic script. Is it too much of a spoiler to say that a romantic relationship develops between Jo and Laurie? (I mean, the book is called "Jo and Laurie: A Romantic Retelling"). Both Jo and Louisa adamantly refused Laurie, so obviously this is a departure from canon. But I thought it was believable -- and heartwarming, too.
Clean readers: squeaky clean. Your teens might like this one, too.
"'Of course I read your book,' Laurie, looking aghast at the very idea that he has not. 'I loved it, just as I love everything you do. You're a beautiful writer.'"
"'It's your life, Jo. Write it however you like. Just write it true.'"...more
Andrew is the stuck-up son of the famously nasty chef, Jett Hart. Sophie can't stand Andrew ... until she falls in love with him. (Sorry for the spoilAndrew is the stuck-up son of the famously nasty chef, Jett Hart. Sophie can't stand Andrew ... until she falls in love with him. (Sorry for the spoiler, but you could have guessed that from the back cover. This one's a very predictable YA rom-com).
I kind of was hoping this book was going to get better somewhere along the way but it didn't, really. I didn't like Sophie at all -- she was mean, I thought. She also complained a lot about working in a flower shop. Isn't that kind of a dream job, even if it's not Sophie's precise passion of fashion design? There was some attempt to explain Sophie's irritability, but not enough to redeem her from thirty sour chapters.
If you're looking for a very clean romance, this one fits that category, but I think you ought to pick up another Kasie West instead. I've read seven of her books and really enjoyed most of them; this one's an anomaly....more
The lives of four people are entwined together when Charles and James are selected as ministers for a New York City church. Their wives, Lily and Nan,The lives of four people are entwined together when Charles and James are selected as ministers for a New York City church. Their wives, Lily and Nan, couldn't be more different from each other; Lily is a professor who doesn't even believe in God while Nan grew up as a pastor's daughter. Charles and James both approach their ministry dissimilarly, as well; Charles is intellectual and optimistic while James is a doer, determined that faith should change the world. But as the four of them live their lives, their vulnerability and love binds them together in a deep and lasting way.
This book isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea; it's slow and a little, I don't know, dewy, maybe? Rosy? Nostalgic? It's high on character development but, admittedly, there's not a whole lot of story; some might think it's meandering and lacking action. But the writing is just really, really good. This is totally my kind of book.
I like that there were so many varied viewpoints among the characters. They are all a little flawed and all totally likable. I loved that the faith of each of the characters was nuanced, colored from their past experiences and personalities. Neither Charles nor James pretends to have a perfect knowledge of God, and they both explore their faith in an interesting, vulnerable way. The wives, as well, are honest and complex and I loved them both. This whole book gave me a lot to think about.
Clean readers: this one's squeaky clean.
Quotes I copied down:
"God existed; God was real. He could not explain this new conclusion, except to say that when he put it away, he was in agony, and when he brought it out, it was the deepest, most beautiful relief he had ever known." (p. 42)
"She had come to the conclusion that her faith was an essential part of the person she wanted to be. Who would she be without God? What purpose would her childhood have served? Whom would she thank for her blessings? How could she understand the workings of the world? How would she accept its mysteries?" (p. 61)
"He had lived, for almost all his life, with overhead fixtures -- lights were either on, revealing everything, or off, hiding it all. Now he could have different moods in the same room; he could turn on all the lamps to celebrate, or he could hide what needed to be hidden. He liked the shadow and the brilliance of this place Lily had created." (p. 113)
"Books should be read ... go ahead; learn something. It's what keeps writers alive." (p. 136)
"Charles wished he could introduce James to the God he knew, a God of quiet calm, who gave him strength ... He wished he could help James see the worries of this world as small waves in the ocean, tiny snags on a vast piece of wool." (p. 190)
"'Take a lesson from the choir. Sing your own parts and sing them well.'" (p. 193)
"'If you want to earn people's trust, you can't chastise those who disagree with you. You have to include everyone -- know matter how misguided they seem to you. You have to give them time to say their piece, look them in the eye, and give them credit for it ... a divided congrgation will always turn on itself, James, and then what use will they be to the outside world?'" (p. 208)
"'I think we should ignore the gossip. They know we're right, they just have to get used to knowing it.' He wondered why it was that the right thing often took so long to get accustomed to." (p. 234)
"'I understand the feeling that something is not quite right -- the feeling that something should be done, changed, fixed -- that feeling, Nan, is never wrong. It isn't something to bury or ignore. Those feelings that hound you, Nan -- they are God. They are God teling you to do something, to be different in some way. Sometimes it isn't right to pray for acceptance of the status quo. If God calls you to upend it, then you should upend it. You think God rewards, Nan, I thnk God pursures.'" (p. 245)
"It was a strange feeling, Nan thought, to sit with someone in total honesty." (p. 249)
"'This is what it was like in my family,' Lily said. 'Women in the kitchen, sharing chores and children. I used to think it was frivolous, but now I know it was necessity.'" (p. 250)
"'Don't you want to know what happens?' he asked them. 'Don't you want him to preach about his journey? Don't you think there will be a great reward at the end of that road? He could come back empty, but what if he comes back full?'" (p. 290)
"'I didn't marry a minister. I married the man.'" (p. 295)
"It doesn't matter to God if you always get it right.'" (p. 310)
"'Lord, help us. Make us useful even when we do not know what to do. Make us perceptive when we are dull, make us compassionate even as we try to turn away. Make us intelligent. Our ideas are so small. Yours are limitless. Please help us learn the things we need to know." (p. 312)
"'Everything that happens in the whole world takes time, even if it seems to happen in an instant.'" (p. 326)
"Only in the quality of your struggle with one another will you learn anything about yourself. Sometimes that struggle is nearly impossible to survive, but it is those trials which make a life." (p. 334)
"All was not well, all would never be well, but all was not lost." (p. 334)
"How she loved him ... for ensuring these friends would forever be her stitches, her scaffold, her ballast, her home." (p. 338)...more
2023 REVIEW: I liked this book even better the second time around. I read it in print and really liked that experience - I could let myself linger on 2023 REVIEW: I liked this book even better the second time around. I read it in print and really liked that experience - I could let myself linger on the poignant phrases. Loved Aphrodite and Hades as narrators, especially. Bumping this to five stars.
"You may ask me, as others have done before, whether it was kindness or cruelty to allow them to meet ... I do not call it cruelty. I do not apologize."
2020 REVIEW: This novel is a fresh twist on a standard wartime love story: Greek goddess Aphrodite tells the romantic tales of Hazel and James, of Collette and Audrey, and the Great War that brought them together. Pulling together ancient mythology and modern history is an innovative idea, and I thought it totally worked here. There are a few more surprising themes interwoven throughout -- music, beauty, race, PTSD -- which add to the richness of the story; this might be a good one for a February book club read. This is billed as YA but I think any adult would enjoy this book.
The author's note at the end was really interesting; don't skip that! A few secondary characters are real people and their stories are portrayed as accurately as possible in the novel.
I listened to this on audio and it was extremely well done, with music in appropriate places and several different voice actors performing the different roles.
"For many, the Great War sharpened life, showing it for the brief and fleeting gift it was, and revealing home, freedom, safety, family, beauty, and love to be precious beyond price."
CLEAN READERS: obviously there's some violence because of the wartime setting, but it’s not particularly grisly or detailed. There’s one brief scene of sexual assault. No swearing that I can remember. Overall this is a squeaky clean read; the opening scene with Aphrodite and Ares is about as steamy as it gets....more
Everyone’s entertained the daydream: what would you do with a million dollars? Or maybe 58 million dollars? Eighteen-year-old Teddy McAvoy is living tEveryone’s entertained the daydream: what would you do with a million dollars? Or maybe 58 million dollars? Eighteen-year-old Teddy McAvoy is living that dream, thanks to a winning lottery ticket given to him as a birthday gift by his best friend Alice. But Al, who’s got a long-standing secret crush on Teddy, isn’t sure she likes how the money is changing her friend. Will Teddy squander the cash on frivolous luxuries, or will he use his windfall for something better?
This YA novel was pretty angsty in places and a little drawn out in others (the novel clocks in at over 400 pages, which is entirely too long, I think). But I always appreciate that this author writes clean reads, so a bonus star for that. Some of my friends who are parents and educators might want to be aware that there is a main character in a homosexual relationship in this book. But there’s no swearing or sex....more
In this retelling of Cinderella, we follow the ugly stepsister Isabelle as she seeks to rediscover her strength. After years of emotional abuse in a fIn this retelling of Cinderella, we follow the ugly stepsister Isabelle as she seeks to rediscover her strength. After years of emotional abuse in a family and society that values outer beauty over inner courage, Isabelle is helped by friends and by a fairy as she thwarts Fate to claim her own path.
Loved the depth of the characters (though admittedly I preferred Isabelle’s story to the chapters about Fate and Chance). Loved the sweeping adventure. The writing was just superb. Great girl-power book.
Clean readers: a handful of mild swear words and some gore and violence.
Update (12/17): told my husband to read this and he LOVED it....more
I like a happy, fluffy book every now and then, and this one was fun! It reminded me of a good Elodia Strain novel: romantic, squeaky clean, and featuI like a happy, fluffy book every now and then, and this one was fun! It reminded me of a good Elodia Strain novel: romantic, squeaky clean, and featuring an endearing protagonist who’s moderately klutzy and gets herself into a few harmless scrapes. It felt like it was dragging a bit in the middle but by the end I found I was really enjoying it. Thanks to my friend Kim for the recommendation!...more
I’ve really enjoyed many of Dean Hughes’ other historical novels and was excited to read this one, too. He has a way of making the characters in his bI’ve really enjoyed many of Dean Hughes’ other historical novels and was excited to read this one, too. He has a way of making the characters in his books complex but ultimately good and faithful, and I think it really works for present-day readers. This book may have been set in the 1860s, but the ideas are relevant even 150 years later: when does a prophet speak for God, and when does he speak for himself? Where is the balance between obedience and agency? In what ways does God prosper His people; is it always temporally or could it be spiritually, as well?
All these issues are explored in Hughes’ latest novel. I enjoyed learning about the settlement on the Muddy and I really liked the characters in the book. There were parts that made me uncomfortable, which I think is exactly the reaction we should have when reading about polygamy. I hadn’t considered all the many relationships that would be affected, all the feelings that were involved, even when it was happening under relatively good conditions. I also could relate to Morgan’s feelings regarding “policy change” on the specifics of settling the area; when were his leaders the mouthpiece of the Lord, and when were they simply making decisions (inspired or otherwise)? I appreciated that the main characters wanted to do the right thing, to hearken to the commands of the Lord and the prophet, but I liked that the author discussed the emotional cost of those decisions. It wasn’t ever easy, and it’s hard to say whether it was even the right thing to do, but I felt like their trust in God and their dedication was certainly something to be admired.
The whole book felt a little sad, but also a little hopeful. I’m looking forward to the sequel....more
This was not great literature; the characters lacked depth and the magical realism sort of came out of the blue, I thought. And yet I was entertained This was not great literature; the characters lacked depth and the magical realism sort of came out of the blue, I thought. And yet I was entertained all the way through. Bonus points for the food writing and for being a clean read; there might have been just a couple of mild swears....more
I enjoyed reading about Hawaiian culture and history, even if the love story was a little too sappy, a little too over-the-top for me. I never have beI enjoyed reading about Hawaiian culture and history, even if the love story was a little too sappy, a little too over-the-top for me. I never have been much of a romantic....more
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