April 2024

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Something old: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni

Something new: The Resort by Sara Ochs

Something steamy: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

Something true-ish: The Gown by Jennifer Robson

Bonus read: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Bonus read: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

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The Ratings:

Like plain, black coffee. Strong dislike.

A little cream, a little sugar. Not bad. Not great.

Add some flavor or syrup, it's getting good.

I liked this a latte!

Love! Refill please!

The Steam:

No peppers: Love/romance not a major part of this story

One pepper: Mild! Some love scenes; nothing risque on the page; fade to black

Two peppers: Moderate! Slightly descriptive romantic scenes may occur on page; some implied innuendos

Three peppers: Hot! Blushing while reading may occur; lots of spice

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The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Robert Dugoni

Sam Hill doesn't feel as if his life is extraordinary. He lives in a modest, clean home. He has two loving, doting parents. He eats every meal at a table where prayers are said, conversations are freely flowing, and the food is home-cooked. He regularly attends church with his family, and the phrase "God's will" is ingrained in him by his mother. But, there is something extraordinary about Sam. He was born with red eyes, a feature unlike any that the doctor who delivered him, townspeople that encounter him, or his family who loves him, have ever seen. And, as six-year old Sam is about to find out, extraordinary can sometimes just be another word for different. And as he starts his new school, Sam doesn't want to be different; he just wants to belong.

As Sam navigates his school years, he faces prejudices from all directions. From the Catholic school who turned him away due to his "distracting" features, to the Sister who finds fault in anything he does, and the peers who relentlessly bully and tease him, Sam has to contend with hostility and unkindness every day. Although many moments are hard, Sam has a lot of good times too, thanks to his family and a couple of very good friends. Sam finds solace and reprieve from these two things, both constant in his life. His parents are genuinely happy partners who both care deeply for their son and his well being. They try to allow him to learn things on his own, without being overprotective, but will both step up to advocate for his safety, happiness, and best-interest. Ernie and Mickie are his best friends, a trio of "misfits", each of them having different backgrounds and circumstances that make it difficult for them to fit in.

As Sam grows up, he becomes a successful eye doctor, using his experiences to connect with and comfort his patients. But, when a patient comes in with an injury similar to one he experienced as a child at the hands of a bully, Sam finds himself revisiting his past, wondering if it can help him find clarity in his present and future. The decisions he makes have repercussions that are felt far outside of the exam room, and once made, there's no going back.

This is a deep read, with many uncomfortable and heartbreaking moments. But, if you're worried about this being a solely depressing read, don't be. Sam, his parents, and his friends all find ways to have fun, laugh, joke, and persevere through even the most challenging and difficult occasions. Give this one a try; you won't regret it!

Trigger warnings: Child bullying, domestic violence & abuse

My rating:

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The Resort

Sara Ochs

Koh Sang is a perfect getaway for travelers looking for adventure. Late night beach parties, authentic local bars and restaurants, world-class scuba diving excursions, and the beautiful shoreline views that Thailand has to offer. Not only is it a perfect tourist destination, it's also a perfect place to hide. Become someone else. Leave the past behind. But, where someone hides, another can seek. Hunt for answers. Pursue revenge. Koh Sang transitions from a tranquil, safe place to a dangerous cat-and-mouse gameboard, where innocent bystanders are caught in the trap.

The story is simultaneously told by two narrators: Cass and Brooke. Cass is a permanent. Someone who has moved to Koh Sang and makes her living working at the resort as a dive instructor. Among the other permanents, Cass has found a family, a home, a safe spot to allow herself to feel happy. Brooke is a travel influencer, using her last bit of savings to get to Thailand, hoping to find a story worth selling on social media. Cass' peaceful existence is shaken to the core when she starts receiving anonymous notes, indicating that someone knows all about her past that she's worked so hard to keep hidden. Brooke is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths that have recently befallen guests at the resort. Together, the two women piece together clues, helping each other while still keeping their true motives secret. But when the evidence indicates that someone close to them is lying, can they get the answers they need in time to keep them from danger, or will the past come back to haunt them?

From beginning to end, The Resort takes you on a rollercoaster ride of "whodunit?" where you'll find yourself second guessing alibis and suspecting everyone. And while this one has a lot of the "predictable" pieces of a thriller/mystery, it also has a twist that even I didn't see coming (and I like to think that I'm pretty good at figuring out a twist). I tend to find most books in this genre fairly "predictable"...and when I say that, I do not mean that I don't enjoy them. Just that they often follow certain patterns, or include specific elements that are frequently repeated among storylines within the genre. One example from this book is the traditional female character who has some form of negative habit (such as drinking, pills, etc) that results in her having huge memory-lapses which make her either 1) unbelievable to other characters she tries to seek help from or 2) unreliable, making her a prime suspect. I can think of many other books (The Woman in Cabin 10, The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us, etc) that this character trait reminded me of. I was entertained the whole time reading and wanted to see how it all tied up in the end. If you like thriller/mysteries, this one won't disappoint.

My rating:

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Ready or Not

Cara Bastone

Eve is happy. She's decorated her tiny Brooklyn apartment to be her own slice of heaven, and lives nearby her best friend Willa. She's comfortable in her job, taking on additional roles and responsibilities to show her versatility and strengths. She's also pregnant, resulting from a one-night stand with someone she barely knows. Eve is as pragmatic in her decisions as a mother to be as she is in deciding which chair to put in the corner of her living room. She makes decisions in a steady, calm manner, which is a good thing, as the people around her take the news less serenely. Her older brothers worry about the practicality of raising a baby as a single mom, on a single income, in a one bedroom apartment. Her best friend has (unknowingly to Eve) been struggling with infertility and miscarriage, and takes the news of Eve's unplanned pregnancy extremely personal. The father-to-be, Ethan, is a good guy who wants to be supportive, but is feeling conflicted by the pressures of his current girlfriend (they were on a break on the night in question) and her insecurity with the situation. The only person who is truly understanding and encouraging is Willa's older brother, Shep.

Shep supports Eve during the difficult moments of pregnancy, including ordering her lunches to be delivered from her favorite spots when a craving hits, helping her find and put together all of the necessary baby-equipment, and being a listening ear when she needs someone to confide all of her thoughts, worries, and excitements about the changes she's undergoing. While neither of them would have chosen to explore their new feelings and desires while their lives are so messily tangled with a third party, love often sneaks up when you least expect it. Will Eve follow her heart and allow herself to move forward with someone she's always looked at as an older brother figure, or will she play it off as pregnancy hormones gone wild and keep things friend-zone official? And as Ethan becomes more involved, will Shep still have a place in the growing-more-crowded-with-every-baby-item room? As Eve, Shep, and Ethan grapple with learning how to coexist in each other's worlds in a way that works for everyone, the countdown to baby begins. And when the first cries are heard and the baby is placed in Eve's arms....whose arms will be around her?

This is a fun take on the classic love triangle and friends to lovers storylines. Ethan and Shep are both likeable, relatable characters with their own charms and personalities. And you find yourself saying, "Yeah, Eve! You know how to pick them!"...because if you have to be in a sticky, 'three's a crowd' situation, you could do a lot worse than these two. At the end of the day, they both care deeply for Eve and the baby, and in their own, unique ways try their best to make sure they're being supportive but not over-stepping. If you're looking for a fun romance, this heartfelt novel could be your next read!

My rating:

Steam rating:

(There are a couple of descriptive scenes...but rather than describing the "activities"...they spend a lot of time detailing the "work around the bump" pregnancy positions, and the awkwardness that goes along with that....so I'm keeping this at a one pepper instead of a two.)

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The Gown

Jennifer Robson

This book marries (pun intended, as the story is about a wedding gown) two popular topics: the royal family and World War II, in a realistic and enchanting story about the people responsible for creating one of the most viewed wedding dresses in history: Princess Elizabeth's gown during her wedding to Prince Philip. Although firmly in the fiction realm, this book has some historical accuracies, including a few characters, locations, and events.

The story is told by three characters: two in the immediate aftermath of World War II, and one in present day. Ann and Miriam had vastly different experiences during the war, but a common thread (again, pun intended) brings them together: they are both embroiderers at Norman Hartnell's fashion house. And this famed designer has been chosen to create the wedding gown for the princess, a job so revered and uplifting for a nation still reeling from the immense losses of human life, bombed out buildings, and shortages on everything. The design itself is so secret, everyone who works on it is sworn to speak nothing of it outside of the Hartnell walls. Windows are painted over to ensure no onlookers can catch a glimpse, and the women must make their way through pesky journalists each day when leaving work. As the intricacies of the gown come to life, Ann and Miriam both have male admirers vying for their attentions. As they're busy creating beauty fit for a future queen, it's easy to let the allure of a romance take over...but are these men who they say they are, or are they too just trying to "get a story"?

Heather is a modern day woman who recently found out she's lost both her dear grandmother, as well as her job. Nan left a box of items she set aside to be given to her grandaughter after her passing, and they include some beautiful embroideries that look familiar to Heather. She decides to use her available time to visit England, and try to learn more about her Nan's life, as well as to try and solve the mystery of the embroidered treasure left to her. As she delves into the past, she comes up with more questions than answers. Who was her grandmother? Why didn't she share any of this with her family when she had the chance? Why was nothing ever shared about her grandfather? And what, if any, connection does her Nan have to the royal family?

The back and forth timeline and multiple narrators work together to create a compelling story you won't want to put down until all of the final stitches are in place. And when you're done, it truly will feel like a work of art.

My rating:

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The Woman in Me

Britney Spears

As soon as I heard that Britney had landed a deal to write a memoir, I knew I had to read it! I consider myself lucky to have experienced Britney in real-time, remembering when her first album, and single, dropped. The excitement of waiting for new records, buying entire CD's, and listening to the whole thing in the car on repeat. And when the advanced copy readers started dropping bombshell revelation teasers, I was downright giddy at the thought of getting my hands on a copy. My local library came through once again (shout out to public libraries working hard to get patrons books they may not otherwise have access to) and I brought it home and proceeded to devour it. This was a quick three-day read for me...and only that long because I do have to do other things...like parent...and shower...and work.

Memoirs are hard to blog about, because they don't necessarily follow a linear pattern, where you can mention certain things without completely giving a lot away. Now, in this case, I know spoilers abound plentifully, as many passages have been shared. However, I will say that even if you've heard about some of the proclamations, I still think you should read the book. When I first heard about some of the disclosures, it sounded juicy, gossipy, and vengeful. But the memoir didn't feel like any of those things. It felt honest, explanatory, and like the words of someone who just wants to share their side. Some of my biggest takeaways are that Britney is extremely hard-working and talented. You don't get the opportunities she had without putting in effort and having skills. She may have made it look easy, especially in the beginning when she was seen as America's sweetheart, but it was anything but. She put in the hours and effort to see her projects be successful.

My heart went out to Britney throughout many portions...because it sounds like it was so gosh dang hard. She was alienated and unsupported, yet judged and photographed every turn she took. I distinctly remember a picture coming out with the story line of how unhinged she was and unfit as a parent. It showed her crying, holding one of her toddlers in public. She wrote about that picture, and how her feelings were scared, overwhelmed, and lonely. I really connected with this part...how would I have felt if I couldn't walk with my child from a store to a car without being grabbed, shouted at, or photographed? Instead of help, she got taken over. Controlled under her conservatorship, she didn't have the ability to make even basic decisions about her own life. I don't know her, and my thoughts about her certainly don't matter to her at all...but I am proud she's taken the steps she did, and I'm glad she's letting us all in through her book. As a good friend of mine so succinctly said after reading this, "Hell yes, Britney!"

My rating:

Which memoir are you most excited about reading?

• Britney Spears: The Woman in Me
• Elliot Page: Pageboy
• Prince Harry: Spare
• Paris Hilton: Paris the Memoir

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Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank

"In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart." -Anne Frank

In hiding for over two years, along with her family of four and four others, Anne Frank habitually and thoroughly documented her thoughts, emotions, and experiences in her diary. During the sequester, one of the groups few means of solace and entertainment was a radio, on which Anne heard an appeal for written accounts of Dutch persons' experiences during the war through letters, diaries, and speeches. At this time, she decided she would publish her writings after the war, with a tentative title of "The Secret Annex." In her writings, Anne uses her teenage sarcasm, candid opinions and observations, and honest self-reflection to reach readers in a way that a fiction author can't. When Anne writes of their hardships, while still able to sneak in jokes, things that made her laugh that day, or optimistic quotes, you can't help but think of how much better off we'd be if we all had a bit more of that in us.

While it feels almost wrong to use the word 'fortunate' in the same sentence as the name Anne Frank, I can't help but point out all of the fortunate incidents that led to all of us being able to read the words of this intelligent girl. Upon the discovery and arrest of the individuals in hiding, all of Anne's writings were left behind by the police. Miep Gies, one of their allies, found the diaries and papers and locked them away where they remained until after the war. Otto, Anne's father and only surviving member of the annex, changed his mind about allowing others outside of the family to read these personal notes and decided to publish. Had these sheets been collected and burned like so many other items, think of the historical insight that would have been lost.

I originally chose this book because my family recently saw The Diary of Anne Frank live production in a local community theater. I thought this might be a good read for our family together. However, depending on which version you read, there are mentions of things beyond some children's age or developmental readiness levels. I recommend reading first, prior to reading with your children.

My rating:

I have had the privilege of visiting Prinsengracht 263, the building which houses the secret annex, and if you find yourself in Amsterdam, I highly recommend making this a priority. The perspective of the space and the horrors experienced there can only truly be felt in person.

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Read along with me in May

*May is my "catch up on my recommendations" month. All of these picks were sent to me directly from YOU! I can't wait to get a glimpse of what's on your bookshelves!*

Something old	One Day by David Nicholls
Something new	The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Something steamy	By a Thread by Lucy Score
Something true-ish	The Women by Kristin Hannah
Bonus read (if time!)	Where the Lost Wonder by Amy Harmon
Book Club Choice	First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Reminder to send any and all recommendations my way at sosnssst@gmail.com.