Book Review: The Plus-One List

By Melissa Amster

Eloise, who struggles with anxiety, strongly prefers the company of her senior rescue dogs to people. But when her best friend announces she’s getting married in Mexico City and every guest must have a date, the pressure is on. Using an exclusive “plus-one list,” Eloise winds up with Agustín, a charming journalist and immigrant who recently moved to New York City from Mexico.

Agustín is on a mission to write the article of his career, but to do that, he’ll need to snag an interview with a man who’s proven impossible to track down. His only chance is to catch the source unaware at the upcoming “wedding of the century.” At first, being Eloise’s plus-one seems like the perfect solution, a purely transactional arrangement. Eloise is not looking for romance, and Agustín sees no need to tell her about his true motives for coming to the wedding.

As they play tourists in Agustín’s hometown, sampling smoky cocktails and delicious street food and meeting his family, Eloise slowly comes out of her shell. Suddenly, her blossoming trust in Agustín starts to grow into something deeper. But if Agustín wants to keep that trust, he’ll need to come clean—before their fragile connection is broken forever.

The Plus-One List is a deeply vulnerable and intimate romance novel that will make readers long for a dazzlingly romantic summer vacation. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I loved The Plus-One List for so many reasons! It was really well-written, for starters, and I found myself absorbed in the story right away. Agustín was a swoonworthy male romantic lead. Beyond swoonworthy, even. There were cute dogs. And they each had their own unique personalities. It was a virtual vacation. And there was just so much love packed into this story that it was just brimming over.

I can't even imagine how difficult it must have been for Eloise to go through so much social anxiety all the time. It made her more endearing, especially since she was really trying hard to overcome it. However, once she had Agustín's attention, it was hard not to be jealous of her. You'll see... 

I also love how Eloise brought a group of people together without even trying. It was really sweet too. 

The vivid descriptions made everything jump off the page and I could visualize people and settings, even for places I've never been before. I could practically smell the food cooking, as well.

My only concern, which is a minor one, is that I would have liked the setback to have a bit more time before being resolved. However, I was glad that it was resolved no matter when or how!

This is just a really wonderful rom-com and you'll be glad you've read it, once you pick it up and have trouble putting it down. It's perfect for a summer beach read or a cozy autumn evening, or really any time of the year!

Movie casting suggestions:

Eloise: Molly Brown

Agustín: Diego Boneta

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Thanks to Over the River PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Also by Amy Ewing: The Irish Goodbye

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

🐕

🐕

🐕

🐕

🐕

🐕

🐕

🐕

TW: Death of parents, infidelity (secondary character), losing one's home, panic attacks.

Book Review: You with the Sad Eyes

Christina Applegate came of age on sets and stages, expected to be on time, with lines learned, ready for lights-camera-action. What started as a financial necessity soon became an emotional escape from a tumultuous home life in the infamous Laurel Canyon scene of the 70s and 80s. She rocketed to stardom on the sitcom Married...with Children and went on to captivate audiences in classics like Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead, Anchorman, and Dead to Me in her five-decade long career.

Then it all stopped. A Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 confined her to a king-sized bed and the company of memories she’d rather forget: memories of the self-doubt and body dysmorphia that stalked her meteoric rise, of her mother’s fight against addiction and abuse after her father left, and of the tax life had taken on her body and mind that was suddenly coming due.

Now, at her most intimate and vulnerable, she unveils a story not even those closest to her fully know. She returns to the diaries she kept her whole life, finding the pain matched by joy, the losses mitigated by the extraordinary, and the weight of life lifted by her unrelenting belief that something greater lay ahead. No longer willing to lock herself away and with the perspective only our own mortality can bring, she knew it was imperative to tell it all.

You with the Sad Eyes presents a remarkable woman and her legacy. In her own words, “I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone. That’s why I’m doing this. You with the Sad Eyes won’t be some big violin scratching for my life. But it will be real. It will be filled with the ups and downs, the humor and grief of life.

So here I am.

Real me.

Lots to say.” (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Melissa Amster:

I've seen many shows and movies featuring Christina Applegate. My favorite is Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. So I was interested in reading her memoir and finally got a chance to on Audible. It was nice to hear her narrate her own life story and felt more impactful coming directly from her voice.

This book gets intense early on. Christina talks about a lot of things that are listed in the trigger warnings at the bottom of this post. If you're going to read or listen, please go easy on yourself and take breaks. It's just a lot! Especially the "orange curtain" chapter.

Christina jumps around in time a lot, which makes things confusing. Especially when listening to it vs. being able to go back and look at dates. So if you're going to listen, you may want to read along and pause as needed. She also goes off on tangents or completely switches topics in the chapter. She started a chapter talking about The Sweetest Thing and then switched to talk about her wedding with no segue. 

I appreciated Christina's honesty and vulnerability. Some parts felt uncomfortable to listen to because of her candidness with sharing too much information. It's also strange to me to hear people cry on an audiobook. I understand her emotion, but it felt like too much sometimes. 

I really liked the chapter about Sweet Charity, as well as the ones learning what happened behind the scenes of shows and movies, especially Dead to Me. I also loved hearing her talk about her daughter, who is close in age to mine. That felt so relatable and I also heard her mom pride shining through.

It was sad to learn about how she found out she had MS and all the limitations it has since put on her. 

Overall, this was a tough one to listen to, but I feel like I got to know the real Christina, including the name she prefers to go by when she's not performing. 

When I was listening to the book, there was this video that came to mind and I couldn't remember if I really saw it or was just dreaming. Turns out, it really exists. In the video, she's performing 1960s songs with Kristin Chenoweth and Carrie Underwood. Check it out! (Start at 2:25.)

Sara Steven:

Like many people who grew up in the 1980s, I am a big fan of Christina Applegate. Watching Married...with Children when you’re a kid felt a little scandalous back then, but a lot was allowed in those days. Even now, when I visit with my parents, my dad will say, “Thank your father, kids,” and in response I’ll say, “Thanks, Dad,” just like Kelly and Bud would do on the show. In Christina’s book, she mentions how the character of Kelly was meant to be a biker chick who later morphed into a sex symbol who never really fully committed to that role, and even then, I could see exactly what she meant by that. Kelly was all about the illusion, and I found it interesting that for Christina, the majority of her childhood and younger years had been built around that same premise; an illusion. You never knew what was really going on for her and for her life behind the celebrity.

There were a lot of surprising elements to You with the Sad Eyes. I did not know how funny Christina is; not just what we’ve seen in movies like Anchorman, but the way she described her world as a whole was deeply personal, at times tragic, painful, but always with a tinge of humor. I imagine it’s a coping mechanism to get through some tough days, and through her explained chaos that has ensued since her recent MS diagnosis, it would not surprise me one bit. We only know what we’re privy to, and often it’s online articles that will tell us how Christina is doing, so it was enlightening to actually hear it from her own perspective, without the interruption of news-worthy fodder. 

I enjoyed reading about her life, and her experiences in shows like Married...with Children and movies like Bad Moms, which by the way, I loved her in. I think I would have liked to hear a little bit more–I felt like maybe to give her costars privacy, she didn’t say as much, but it would have been nice to learn more about some experiences she’d had on the sets of shows and movies that I loved seeing her in. I do feel like I learned some new things about her, like her background in dance. I had no idea that she was so passionate about it, or that she’d co-founded The Pussycat Dolls. I could tell by her descriptions and the yearning she has for dance, just how important it is to her, and in the moments where she reflects on the past and now having MS, I felt those painful emotions from her. 

What I appreciated most about this book is the blunt honesty Christina gives her readers. Even when she tells us about the various times in her life when she wished she would have been more candid and open about things, she doesn’t sugarcoat it. She doesn’t sugarcoat her upbringing, her childhood, or the toxic relationships she’s been in. Ultimately, she lets the world know that love her or hate her, she chooses to be herself, whether we like it or not, and I think it’s that type of brute inner strength that has carried her through dealing with an autoimmune disease. She says that being on Dead to Me was her best work ever, and while I do agree, I’m hopeful that we will see more from her in the near future.  

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

🎥

TW: Molestation, toxic/abusive relationship, alcohol and drug use, addiction, death of friend, cancer, multiple sclerosis, parental abandonment, miscarriage. (A lot happened in this book so if we missed something, we apologize.)

Book Review: The Christmas Rift

By Sara Steven

Daisy and Kate are broke, single and facing another Christmas in their decidedly less-than-luxurious London flat. But at least they have each other. And Nigel, their cheese-stealing resident mouse, although technically nobody invited him.

Then Maximillian Taylor arrives.

Tall, golden-haired, impossibly handsome and working in fashion, Maxi is supposed to be the answer to their financial problems. Unfortunately, he creates a much bigger one.

Because Daisy thinks she might have found The One.

Kate has something rather less romantic in mind.

And Nigel doesn't trust him as far as his tiny mouse paws could throw him.

As Christmas approaches, friendship gives way to jealousy, misunderstandings and one spectacular festive rift. With a meddling landlady, questionable life choices and a philosophical rodent watching the whole disaster unfold, this is one Christmas nobody at Miller Avenue is likely to forget. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

They say you should never let a man come between you and your best friend, but Daisy and Kate never got that memo! And I’m glad they didn’t, because The Christmas Rift was delightfully charming in all the best ways, starting with the lengths the two women will go to, all in an effort to gain the attention of Maxi, their newest roommate. 

At first, no one would have ever guessed that Maxi would actually be Maximillian. When their landlord informs them that she’s found the perfect roommate to join their dilapidated flat, the biggest concern they have is whether the newest addition would fit in well enough. But Maxi is a lot more than they can take, and Maxi as a character is just plain narcissistic, but neither Daisy nor Kate can see him for who he really is. I loved that the book gives viewpoints from all three primary characters, because it’s plain obvious just how vastly different each character can be. Daisy leans more on the sweet side, erroring on the side of optimism, while Kate is rough around the edges. Daisy wants an ever-after love story with Maxi, and Kate? Well, how about happiness in the moment, as long as it’s with Maxi between the sheets.

Maxi intends to use all of his slimy charms to get everything he wants, even if it means going behind his roommates’ backs, stealing food and never lifting a finger. An unexpected surprise is the viewpoint from Nigel, a sarcastic mouse who has lived through five cycles of roommates in the flat and has seen it all. At least, he thought he'd seen it all, until Maxi shows up. I’m not usually prone to reading books that have a rodent’s perspective, but his take on things really did add fun to the book. His best friend is Winston the spider, which made me flash back to one of my favorite books of all time, Charlotte’s Web. Who better to give the lay of the land than Nigel? It was cute how in some ways, he seems almost protective of Daisy and Kate, especially when he sees how often they’ve been wronged by Maxi.

Can Daisy and Kate survive Maxi? Can their friendship overcome their newfound obstacle? There were some really touching moments sprinkled in amidst the chaos, providing a cute holiday read to lighten the load this season. And we all need a lighter, brighter season this year! All of the characters were fun, but Nigel is the star. I suggest reading The Christmas Rift just for him! 

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

K.L. Crear is an author, over-sharer and walking cautionary tale. Think sweary teenager trapped in a menopausal woman’s body, one sneeze away from a wardrobe malfunction. You’re welcome.

After years in banking, the Civil Service and property management (The Beige Trilogy), she found herself broke, baffled and built from biscuit crumbs and unresolved trauma. So she wrote it all down and flogged it in paperback.

A two-time cancer survivor, Karen tackles life’s shitshow with inappropriate laughter, questionable humour and “F*ck off!” for inspirational quotes. She writes jaw-dropping memoirs and hilarious women’s fiction about women who’ve had enough, snapped slightly and are thriving regardless.

She lives in a sleepy Northern town with her long-suffering, partially deaf husband and their permanently unimpressed cat, Pickle. Her hobbies include pastry, shouting at the Real Housewives and threatening to adopt an absurdly cheerful axolotl.

A portion of every book sale goes to Women’s Aid, Great Ormond Street, the Epilepsy Society and Macmillan. The world’s a shitshow, but we can all make a little difference.

Visit K.L. Crear online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Visit all the stop's on K.L. Crear's blog tour:

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Andrea Thome plants the seeds of love...plus a book giveaway

We are pleased to introduce you to Andrea Thome, whose latest novel, Mine Again, is now available. We enjoyed learning more about Andrea and this novel and hope you will too. Thanks to BookSparks, we have one copy to give away!

Andrea Thome is the author of the award-winning HESSE CREEK SERIES. A former sports and news anchor and occasional emcee, Andrea has two grown children and has been married to Hall of Fame baseball player, Jim Thome, for almost thirty years. The travel-loving couple divides their time between Chicago, Illinois and life on the road, usually with friends and always in search of hiking trails. The mountains are Andrea’s happy place.

MINE AGAIN is the first book in the SUNFLOWER SERIES.

Visit Andrea online:
Website * Facebook * Instagram

Synopsis:

Delilah Spencer is a rolling stone. A big city attorney from Chicago on a temporary work assignment in Sunflower, Montana.

Ranger Beckham's Sunflower roots run deep. Three generations to be exact. The high school band director and single father is adrift, fresh out of a marriage of convenience. He's all but given up on finding true love.

Until he bumps into Delilah, the fixer with trust issues who has a hard and fast rule: never get attached to the places she visits or the people in them. They strike a deal when the chemistry between them burns too hot to ignore, convincing themselves they'll be able to part as friends when Delilah's gig is up, no matter how scorching things get between them.

But the slower pace in tight-knit Sunflower is a balm for Delilah's restless soul, and it becomes impossible to imagine leaving Ranger or Montana behind.

Will Delilah break her own rules and finally put down roots, or will she cut and run when her contract is up, leaving Ranger and the life she never knew she wanted in the rearview mirror? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Charming first installment in the Sunflower Series."
- Kirkus Reviews

"Snappy--A charming opposites-attract romance." 
- Booklife Reviews

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing? 
I’m always grateful when readers thank me for writing green flag MMCs. I love writing guys  that are strong and stoic while also remaining emotionally available and vulnerable. When that works for readers—it’s validating. We need real life green-flag men in our current  climate more than ever! 

How is Delilah similar to or different from you? 
Delilah and I both like a plan. I work well if I have a framework fin place, even if plans change and I need to make adjustments. That is where Delilah is a bit different. She struggles a bit with the idea of breaking the rules she’s set for herself. She eventually comes around, but she’s more of a horse with a bit in her mouth about it than I am. It helps that I am a Sagittarius. 

If Mine Again was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading  roles? 
I would love to see unknown actors, especially in the roles of Delilah and Ranger. As an  indie author, it can be hard to break into a career where there are authors with the backing  of major publishing houses. I imagine it’s even more difficult for actors trying to make it—which is why I’d love to see someone get their break playing my characters.  

That said, I’ve always imagined Pop being played by Tim Robbins. He played a baseball player when he was younger—it would be fun to see him play Pop as a retired Hall of  Famer.  

Which book made you fall in love with reading? 
I’m not sure I could pick just one book. I loved Judy Blume books when I was a kid, and then  Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts romances when I was a bit older. But I read everything. I’ve read every John Grisham book he’s ever written, and I love historical fiction, too. My all time favorite book? The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. That book met me in a  moment where it ultimately changed the way I see the world. 

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it?
I love the raspy gentleness of Demi Moore’s voice and I think she’s an incredible actress. 

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to  see? 
I live in Chicago, so there is no shortage of places I could take you. We’d start with a walk  along our gorgeous lakefront, making our way over to the Bean for a quick selfie, before heading into the Art Institute. I could mosey around there all day, especially when the sun is shining in the atrium. Endless inspiration. Lunch would be at the iconic RL on  Michigan Avenue and afterward, we’d catch the architectural boat tour that departs from  the Wrigley Building. It’s a must-do when you’re in town! 

A perfect day in Chicago isn’t  complete without taking in one of our world class sporting events, and since my son was drafted by the Chicago White Sox this past summer—I’d take you to Guaranteed Rate on the South Side, with a quick stop at The Grandstand first for some Sox gear. Fireworks after  we win would cap off a quintessential visit to the windy city, and I hope it would leave you wanting to return sooner than later.

Thanks to Andrea for visiting with us and to BookSparks for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 20th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: Mother May I

By Sara Steven

She lost everything. Except the will to fight.

When former CIA operative Meg Dalton finds a shocking clue that suggests her long-missing daughter might still be alive, she’s forced into a desperate, high-stakes search for the truth. Fifteen years after little Ivy vanished without a trace at a Texas fair, Meg has built a career as a covert “operator”—a soldier-for-hire who takes on dangerous black ops missions for the government.

But during a botched assignment in Los Angeles, Meg encounters a woman wearing her daughter’s distinctive butterfly necklace, and everything she believes unravels. As Meg defies her handlers and goes rogue to chase the lead, she’s thrust into a deadly conspiracy linking global espionage, human trafficking, and her own past sins.

Hunted by both her employers and foreign agents, Meg must decide how far she’s willing to go—and what lines she’ll cross—to uncover the truth and reclaim her child. Mother May I is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller about loss, obsession, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Mother May I showcased just how much a parent will do for their children, fighting every step of the way. What starts out as a missing person’s case turns into a bonafide kidnapping, with varied levels to it that were unexpected and thrilling. 

The loss of her daughter propelled Meg into her line of work, which felt more than fitting. I can’t even imagine Meg doing anything else. She excels as a covert operator, and it was equal parts daunting and exhilarating while the reader is taken through Meg’s missions, particularly when it involves the search for her missing daughter. She literally will stop at nothing to discover the truth. For years, there had been dead leads, eventually ending into a cold case. But there is a lot that lies beneath the last fifteen years, much more than Meg could have ever anticipated.

The people she feels she can trust end up being the ones who are the least trusting, and the ones she swore she’d never rely on or seek help from, are the ones she can lean on, even if their lives are on the line. I really liked the rocky friendship that is formed between Meg and a fellow operative, along with some other surprising characters who end up either assisting her or putting a wrench in her plans. When it happens, no one really knows what direction it will go, which only adds to the suspense of it all. 

“Mad Meg” is totally badass, showcasing her moves in plenty of action-packed scenes that made me cringe in pain (and in awe), in all the best ways. She’s tough and she won’t put up with any crap, not letting anyone or anything derail her from finding her daughter. That tenacity is a central theme and kept me on the hook, making this a much-deserved five-star read!

Thanks to Kaye Publicity for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Harry Hunsicker:
The Life and Death of Rose Doucette
The Contractors
Still River

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Kate Hash turns the page on relationships...plus a book giveaway

Today we welcome Kate Hash back to CLC to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, The Mother-in-Law Book Club! This sounds like an entertaining read and Melissa currently has it in her five-book pile. (She has lots of book discussions with her MIL, so this title caught her eye right away.) Thanks to Dutton, we have THREE copies to give away!

Kate Hash is the author of Gracie Harris Is Under Construction and the writer behind the Substack newsletter It’s Been a Week. Born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, she spent most of her twenties bouncing around the world, including a stint in Florence, Italy. She currently lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband and two children. The Mother-in-Law Book Club is her second novel.

Visit Kate online:
Website * Instagram * Facebook

Synopsis:
On the plane to Durham for her next big gig, traveling consultant and soon-to-be divorcée Andi gets into an argument about the impossible expectations of mothers-in-law that will change her life forever. When her seventy-something adversary unexpectedly extends an olive branch invitation to her book club, Andi does something completely out of character: she says yes.

This social circle is delightfully feisty, gossipy, and also hopelessly clueless about how to navigate frayed relationships with their adult children. Andi spends evenings doling out advice to her new coterie of retired friends, helping to repair generational divides.

As the weeks and months go by, Andi has a quiet revelation: life in Durham just fits. The book club members love her, the company loves her, and after a whirlwind romance with a handsome professor, she’s fairly certain her new beau loves her, too. It’s all going great . . . until her past comes walking through the door. Andi must decide what happiness really looks like--and she just might need the wisdom of her new friends to figure it out. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“A wonderfully balanced, tender story about found family, new love, and the power of truly getting to know yourself, then trusting whatever it is you learn along the way. I was rooting for Andi from page one!”
—Lauren Okie, author of Tropesick 

"A satisfying, page-turning story...This will appeal to readers who enjoy compelling tales of women’s lives, relationships, and romances."
—Library Journal

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing?
I love when people tell me that they feel like they really know my main characters. Romantic comedies inherently require characters worth rooting for and believing in – the best ones are when they feel like they could be our friend. With both Gracie (the lead in my debut) and Andi (the lead in The Mother-in-Law Book Club), I worked hard to make them feel like real women you would know. 

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing The Mother-in-Law Book Club?
I think the answer to this question is the same thing: getting Andi and Marilyn’s friendship just right. Yes, this is a romantic comedy with a great romantic love story, but I think the platonic love story between women from two very different generations powers the whole narrative.

Each draft of this book required me to assess their friendship – everything from their “meet cute” to their moments of trust and honesty later in the book. Did it feel real? Natural? True? Between two major drafts Andi’s back story changed fairly substantially because it helped to explain why she feels so pulled to Marilyn. It was the biggest challenge, but also gave me the biggest payoff as an author.

If The Mother-in-Law Book Club was made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
The intergenerational friendships in this book mean that the soundtrack would be full of amazing singer-songwriters from across generations. There would be Taylor Swift and Carol King, Linda Ronstadt and Miley Cyrus, Fleetwood Mac and Paramore. The music director for a film adaptation would have a lot of fun using music as a way to convey perspectives of different characters.

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
Sweet Valley High and The Baby-sitter’s Club turned me into a voracious reader very young. I watch my kids falling into middle grade and YA series the same way and it makes my heart so happy. As I got older, literary classics like This Side of Paradise (F. Scott Fitzgerald) and The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison) made me understand the importance of diverse perspectives in telling great stories.

Share a funny Halloween memory with us.

My husband and son do buddy costumes every year. They’ve had some phenomenal costumes over the years, but one takes the cake. When my son was five he was obsessed with the Titanic. My mom made him a wearable cardboard Titanic and my husband dressed up as a giant iceberg. I cannot look at the photos without laughing.

What is your favorite autumn dessert?
Homemade apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For me, that is fall – not only does it taste delicious, but it makes the house smell divine.

Thanks to Kate for chatting with us and to Dutton for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 18th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: Peck & Peck

Find originality. Reward creativity. Burn the rest.

It’s 1982, New York City. Crime is on the rise, muggings are in the streets, and Batter Gray, recent college graduate with a skill that no one wants—an “ear” for poetry—is worried about his future. While all of his friends have real jobs, he’s folding T-shirts at the Gap. As for love? No. Not unless you count Sallie Mae, the student loan tyrant. He hears from Sallie all the time.

But when Batter gets a dream job at Peck & Peck, the most prestigious poetry quarterly in the world, his life moves into the literary fast lane. Soon Batter is knee-deep in the secret war between the two Editors in Chief, the famous Peck brothers—twins and enemies—as well as being privy to the private affairs of their thirty-nine editors, whose professed mission is the same: Find originality. Reward creativity. Burn the rest.

And by burn, they mean incinerate. Because at Peck & Peck, “good” isn’t good enough, “interesting” doesn’t cut it, plagiarists aren’t tolerated, and parolees run the mailroom. Still want to submit your poem? Go with God. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Melissa Amster:

I loved Lessons in Chemistry (reviewed here) and was excited to learn that Bonnie Garmus has a new book (releasing tomorrow). I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy! I was really hoping that Peck & Peck would live up to its predecessor. 

Having said that, I have mixed feelings about the novel overall. You'd think someone who did verse reading on their high school speech team would appreciate poetry more. You'd be wrong. I know some people love poetry, but it's just not for me. (This did not pass down to my older son, as he writes poems and has shared some with me.) I did know about some of the poets mentioned, so that was helpful. So reading a book that centers on poetry isn't my usual modus operandi. However, I made an exception because of the author and what I was hoping she could do with this novel.

Some parts of this novel were really interesting and held my attention. It made me think of The Devil Wears Prada, but for poetry. Batter felt very relatable, even though he's half my age. I just totally sympathized with him, especially when it felt like he was always messing up at work somehow. He was quirky too and I enjoyed getting into his head. Batter was named for his mom's dog, and she had some great stories about him. I loved hearing the dog stories and I wish there had been even more. There were also some other interesting characters throughout the story. I liked his roommate Paul a lot. Batter's mom Rainey was great too. The cover is gorgeous and looks all gold and glittery. The story takes place in early 1980s New York City, which was fun to picture in my mind. 

Other parts of this novel felt really slow and I hung in there in hopes things would pick up again. Thankfully, they did, but there was a lot of ebb and flow. Still, many parts of this story amused and surprised me. Even as entertaining as this one was, I prefer Lessons and am hoping Bonnie will write another novel that is on par with that one.

I didn't have a lot of casting ideas for this novel, but I easily picture Sam Nivola as Batter.

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Allyson Bales:

I think Lessons in Chemistry will remain a favorite read of mine for many years and when I saw Garmus was coming out with another novel I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! 

Peck and Peck has the same signature style with witty and quirky characters similar to Lessons in Chemistry, but this story was much more literary meets coming of age with a sprinkle of mystery and I really, really enjoyed it. 

You get to meet Batter, a young man who loves poetry but isn’t very good at writing it, and all the trials and tribulations he endures trying to make something of himself. In many ways this story showcases the difficulties of making it in the arts. I loved the entire cast of characters we get to meet as we follow along on Batter’s journey. 

I don’t think this book will be for everyone. A good amount of the story is more slow moving, focusing largely on Batter. I really enjoyed that but some might struggle with the lack of quick moving plot. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks to scenes with Batter’s mother. You’re also really going to love where Batter got his name. 

Overall this story is filled with so much heart and hope and stories like these are ones I always think about for some time to come. 

After reading this one I am now obsessed with fonts and definitely think this is a must read of fall! 

Thanks to Scribner for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

🥚

🥚

🥚

🥚

🥚

🥚

🥚

🥚

TW: Bullying, loss of finances, mugging, difficult childbirth/stillbirth, death of sibling/child (from stillbirth), toxic work environment, people being framed.

Book Review: The Death of Us

 

By Becky Gulc

I really enjoyed Abigail Dean's debut novel, Girl A, so I was really happy to pick up another of her books, this time The Death of Us. This novel essentially involves taking a moving and sensitive look at how a shared traumatic experience can alter the course of a relationship.

Here is the synopsis:

It’s the story everyone wants to hear.

That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart.

The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door.

The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them.

The night they never talk about.

When their attacker is caught, it’s finally time to tell the story of that night.

Not to the world. Or to the man who did it. But to each other. (Courtesy of Abigail's website.)

Isabel and Edward were a young, happy couple when a frightening intrusion into their home changed everything. Unable to navigate the heavy emotional aftermath together, they eventually drifted apart, letting their marriage fade away. They go on to live separate lives and never discuss that night. Then the perpetrator is finally caught and the former couple are brought back into each other’s lives as the trial looms. Will they finally be able to open up about what they went through?

This isn’t an action-packed thriller; it’s more a character-driven exploration of healing and I couldn't get enough of it. I really loved the way Abigail chose to build the narrative. It sweeps back and forth between timelines so smoothly. Isabel’s chapters are presented almost like a deeply personal diary entry directed at the man who altered their lives, which gives her perspective such an intimate, vulnerable feel. Edward’s side of the story grounds us in the present day as they gently brace themselves for the upcoming trial.

My heart really went out to both characters; they are written with such empathy and feel like genuine people you want to reach out and comfort. While the book certainly touches on emotional subjects and might make you reach for a tissue, it never feels overwhelming or bleak. Instead, it’s an incredibly hopeful story about resilience and the enduring nature of love.

I found this to be an absorbing read that shines a warm light on the quiet strength of the people left behind, rather than dwelling on the crime itself. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read whatever Abigail Dean writes next!

More by Abigail Dean:
Day One
Girl A

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Spotlight and Giveaway: Not Another Christmas Movie

It's not even Halloween yet and the winter holiday novels are descending upon us! Today we're excited to kick off the early winter holiday season with Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan. This is her debut rom-com and it sounds absolutely delightful. Thanks to Alcove Press, we have THREE copies to give away!

Thirtysomething Annie Meyers is having a rough year. Her situationship with the noncommittal Chris fizzled out, and her best friend’s impending engagement is the final crunch of the candy cane. Her solution: to spend the holiday slugging boxed rosé and ignoring the rest of the world.

That is, until she falls asleep and wakes up in her worst nightmare: a made-for-TV Christmas movie version of her quaint hometown. To make matters worse, Chris is now the town’s hunky widower and owner of a Christmas tree farm. But Annie isn’t trapped alone: Her dorky childhood neighbor, Nick, is here too. Only, he’s not quite as dorky as she remembers.

After some mild panic, Annie and Nick realize their escape hinges on playing into classic rom-com tropes. The plan is simple: Annie will woo Chris—the now “perfect boyfriend”—and Nick, his childhood sweetheart, Bailey.

But after holiday hoedowns, ice-skating dates, and cookie-baking montages, Annie begins to wonder if the real magic of Christmas—and love—is much closer to home. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"[A] clever romp . . . This is sure to leave readers with smiles on their faces."
—Publishers Weekly

“With holiday spirit with a side of spice, Ashley Cowan has crafted a gift of a rom-com. Annie and Nick’s adventure through every holiday movie trope left me laughing, swooning, and cheering for them to just kiss already! The perfect read to cozy up with under the tree, or any time you need a dose of sparkling magic.”
—Holly James, author of The Déjà Glitch

"Delightfully fun, filled with humor and a love story that will put a smile on your face. A perfect holiday rom-com."
—Red Carpet Crash

Credit: William Leschber

Ashley Cowan lives in Simsbury, Connecticut, where she wrangles a circus that includes one husband, three daughters, two rescue cats, and two rescue dogs. A graduate of Roger Williams University, she moved to New York City as a starving artist and then to San Francisco, where she became a moderately hungry artist, acting, writing, directing, and enjoying many burritos before returning to New England.

Ashley is a published playwright, with work featured in the Applause Acting Series: 25 10-Minute Plays for Teens, and her plays have been staged everywhere from San Francisco theaters (and bars moonlighting as theaters) to Texas middle schools and community centers across the tri-state area.

Visit Ashley online:
Website * Instagram * TikTok

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 13th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Spotlight and Giveaway: Looks Perfect

We're excited to celebrate the publication of Jessica Siskin's debut novel, Looks Perfect! The premise sounds intriguing and we are loving the cover too. Thanks to Over the River PR, we have one copy to share with a lucky reader!

What comes between a fashion icon’s perfect image and her genuine self? The perfect stranger―in a sharp and witty novel about identity, performance, and what it takes to make a true connection.

One million people follow Stella Lerner’s every move. And now the buzzy fashion designer is fulfilling her lifelong dream and taking her indie clothing brand global with the help of the industry’s biggest investor. Sounds perfect. Except offline, the optics aren’t so great.

Her relationship with her boyfriend, Alex, is crumbling just as the pressure to curate her image online only builds. Feeling trapped between the picture-perfect life she’s promised her followers and the messy reality she’s facing, Stella anonymously joins a new dating app. Blindr promises deep, private conversations, free from the burden of anyone’s expectations, especially her own. That’s when Stella connects with a stranger called Pineapple who’s intuitive, honest, and empathetic. Stella may be watched by millions, but this man, who’s never even laid eyes on her, makes her feel seen.

What starts as a diversion becomes a journey of radical transformation. As Stella’s search for authenticity intensifies, every chat with Pineapple takes her further down a path she never could’ve imagined.

 “Looks Perfect is the contemporary novel at its best, exploring the ways in which we perceive ourselves being perceived and the cost we pay for it.” 

—Chloé Caldwell, author of Women

“Jessica Siskin brings an insider’s eye to the pressures of image-making and the unexpected places where genuine connection can still be found.” 

—Ali Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Slow Burn

“Smart, observant, and emotionally rich, Looks Perfect feels incredibly of its time.” 

—Esther Chehebar, author of Sisters of Fortune

Jessica Siskin earned her MFA from the New School. She is the founder of Misterkrisp, a popular Instagram-based food art business specializing in custom Rice Krispies Treats and social media content. She is the author of Treat Yourself!, a cookbook featuring her inventive food art and edible creations. Jessica lives in New York City.

Visit Jessica online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 11th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: A Date with Death

By Sara Steven

Helena Hart isn’t having the best night. Her date just ditched her, her Halloween costume bombed, and her only sympathetic ear is a dead silent partygoer in a Grim Reaper get-up. But when she falls off a balcony and he catches her with a very real skeletal hand, she realizes he may not be a party guest at all. Before she can process the near-death experience, he vanishes, leaving her to wonder if she hallucinated the whole thing.

Grim isn’t supposed to save souls. He’s supposed to reap them. And while he’s not sure why he spared Helena, he does know that if his superiors find out, he’s as good as dust—which is saying something for a guy who’s mostly bones. But keeping away from Helena is proving harder than expected—especially when she isn’t the least bit afraid of his monstrous form.

Worse, to his horror, Helena makes him feel. And for a reaper, feeling is a fate far more dangerous than death. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

A Date with Death was so much fun! When I think of the Grim Reaper, I think scary. Unapproachable. Run! But that’s not how Grim is portrayed in this story. He might think he’s scary and unapproachable, but Helena doesn’t see that at all when she meets him for the first time. And over the course of the chapters, the reader begins to see a lot more depth to him, too. It was the quintessential opposites attract, with two completely opposite characters who end up liking each other despite their differences. And boy, are there a lot of differences!

Grim doesn’t live in the same world that Helena lives in. He collects souls for a living. Helena lives on earth and is a librarian. What could they possibly have in common? Helena allows Grim to be himself while also re-discovering his own past and how he came to be the Grim Reaper, and he has no filter, the kind of gruff personality that rubs off on the much more quiet Helena. It was a fun dynamic between the two of them. I also loved the secondary characters who make up Grim’s self-made family, even though Grim would never admit to having any kind of family.

There were some fast-paced moments pertaining to keeping Helena safe that had been a wild crazy experience, and some super steamy moments, too, which was completely unexpected but a welcome surprise. Ultimately, I loved how Grim has been deconstructed to make him more endearing, because why shouldn’t a supposed “monster” find love and romance, too? It was a definite five-star experience!

Thanks to Gallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Kelly Creagh:
Nevermore
Strange Unearthly Things
Phantom Heart

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Book Review: Big Little Truths

By Melissa Amster

The last time we saw the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—their children were five years old. If someone wasn’t invited to a birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed and the kids are in high school, navigating all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).

When the high school principal receives a threatening package in the mail, word quickly spreads throughout the community and parents are in an uproar. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law, Mary Louise, is behaving oddly—is it old-age forgetfulness and bluntness or something more sinister? Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage, Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata? Renata is living her best life—revenge is sweet.

When a stranger begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women must finally face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Because the stakes are now much higher than not being invited to an ice-skating party—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Ever since I heard there would be a sequel to Big Little Lies (reviewed here), I have been wanting to get my hands on a copy. Big Little Truths is just as scandalous and addictive! It does not follow season two of the TV series and I am glad about that. It takes place ten years later, when all the kids are in high school and the moms are facing down their fifties (at least some of them are). 

This novel focuses on being part of a sandwich generation. The women have different issues to deal with this time, but the aftermath of the events from the first book still haunt them. It was a really good read that felt relatable in some ways. I couldn't get enough of it! There are some heavy parts to the story, so be kind to yourself while reading it. 

Throughout the novel, there were many things that surprised me. I thought I was guessing correctly at something and then I would realize I was completely off base. I loved the script-like dialogue between the teenagers, who are divulging everything at a group counseling session. Being the mother of a teenager (along with two adults), I found I could relate even more to the women in this story. 

The novel goes back and forth in time. It took me a while to remember when everything was happening in the present vs. half a year before. Also, because the seasons in Australia are the opposite of those in the US, I had to think even harder about the timing of everything. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind when you read it.

If you want to read this as a standalone, there's enough context from the first book to help everything make sense. However, I highly recommend Big Little Lies and you can avoid spoilers by reading it first. It's also a good way to form a bond with the characters. I felt like I was reuniting with old friends this time around.

Overall, an excellent sequel! Maybe Liane can be persuaded to write one for What Alice Forgot someday, as well.

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Movie casting suggestions (I only kept one from the previous novel and didn't want to go with the casting from the TV series either):

Celeste: Saffron Burrows

Jane: Carey Mulligan

Madeline: Rose Byrne

Bonnie: Adelaide Clemens

Renata: Portia de Rossi

Melody: Rebecca Hall

Ed: Sam Worthington

Marco: Adam Garcia

Mary-Louise: Frances Fisher

Tom: Ben Barnes

Thanks to Crown Publishing for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Liane Moriarty:

The Husband's Secret

Nine Perfect Strangers

Here One Moment

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

TW: Grooming minors. Cancer. Mental breakdowns. Assault. Dementia. Drug and alcohol use. Receiving a threat. Death of spouse/parent. Trauma.

Jessica Rao is everywhere we want to be...plus a book giveaway

We're excited to welcome Jessica Rao to CLC today to talk about her debut novel, Nowhere to Go but Everywhere. If you were around in the 1990s, it will make you feel nostalgic. If you weren't, it will give you a taste of what life was like back then. We had fun chatting with Jessica and hope you will enjoy our interview. Thanks to BookSparks, we have one copy to give away!

Jessica Rao is an award-winning journalist and media professional who has held contributor roles at CNBC and Gannett and overseen communications for Fortune 500 companies. 

In addition to her media career, she is the Vice President of the White Plains Library Foundation and she hosts and produces literary events. She lives outside of New York City with her family. Visit Jessica at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:
Helena Vinci might like grunge and Camel Lights, but she's not a fan of frat boys or anything else about Albany college life. When she drops out and takes a job waiting tables near the Capitol, her plan is to save up to see "the real world" out west. But soon she finds herself trapped in a new way, torn between two men - a sexy DJ and a fellow slacker with wanderlust - and a third, a politician who promises financial security, but at a price. When and how will Helena learn that you don't have to go on the road to find yourself?

Nowhere to Go but Everywhere is a piercing coming-of-age novel about the perils and pleasures of learning to chart your own path. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"With echoes of The Catcher in the Rye and a distinctly retro sensibility... this stunning debut is not to be missed!"
- Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today bestselling author of Breathing Under Water

"Among the most satisfying coming-of-age novels I've read."
- Art Bell, author of What She's Hiding

"Jessica Rao is the real deal. This book captures the tumult and boundlessness of late adolescent rebellion. I tore through this absolutely winning debut."
- Karen Dukess, USA Today bestselling author of The Last Book Party

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
It was long and windy -- it took a while to feel that my manuscript was ready and then getting myself organized to send queries another whole challenge.

How is Helena similar to or different from you?
On the surface, we’re pretty similar. We both went to the University at Albany, worked as waitresses, have red hair, wore berets. But our paths diverge on page one. I didn’t drop out, live with two relative-strangers or make the dubious decisions she makes. 

If Nowhere to Go but Here was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I love this question but I have to admit, I had to defer to my 19-year-old daughter and her friends to answer. 
The best answers I got: 
Sadie Sink as Helena
Florence Pugh as Sonya
Drew Starkey as Henry
Jake Gyllenhaal as Charlie
I suggested Jacob Elordi for Thomas, but they thought he was a little too hot. I thought he’d be good!

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
My favorite books as a kid in no particular order: Charlotte’s Web. The Cricket in Times Square. All the Beverly Clearly books. The Peanuts comic books. In middle and early high school, I loved The Catcher in the Rye, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Separate Peace.
 
What is your favorite thing about the 1990s?
I liked that we had more head space, more quiet. We weren’t always in touch, always with a device in our hands.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
This is a tough one, but I think Drew Barrymore would do a great job. 

Thanks to Jessica for visiting with us and to BookSparks for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 6th at midnight EST.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!