Book Review: The Stepson

 

By Sara Steven

The night my mum disappeared, after a panicked 3am phonecall, I knew something was wrong.

The police tried to reassure me. There had to be a logical explanation they said – perhaps she’s taking a break after the tragic death of my father.

But I know my mum.

Or do I?

She would never leave without telling me.

Or would she?

The harder I look, the more I discover deep, dark family secrets I was not privy to.

Worrying secrets I was never meant to know.

Which means my parents have lied to me my whole life.

But why?

Who can I turn to? Trust?

Were they scared of something in their past?

Or were they trying to protect me?

Has mum gone on her own free will?

Or has someone taken her? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

The Stepson was truly suspenseful! In some ways, it reminded me of the movie He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. The first half of the book is mainly told from Lorraine’s perspective–the synopsis reflects her inner thoughts. We also gain insight from outside sources, leading the reader to lean heavily one way when it comes to what is really going on. Yet, as we delve further in, we start to better understand the truth. I thought for sure that certain characters could be relied upon to be truthful and honest, but that completely changed the more I’d read. And for a long time, I had a lot of negative feelings towards Sandra, Lorraine’s mother, but then I’d go easy on her–until I’d swing the other way again. I felt just as confused as Lorraine is!

There are multiple timelines involved, but it really helped to round out the story. Lorraine’s timeline is the here and now. Other timelines go back decades. The secrets and lies include over thirty years of involvement, so it’s understandable. Lorraine’s frustration and confusion, her need to do all she can to find out what has really happened to Sandra felt believable. She’s following her own leads while towing around two young children, with no assistance to boot. 

As one secret is revealed, more are unraveled. The tragic death of Lorraine’s father has a lot more going on behind the scenes, and is connected to Sandra’s disappearance. Lorraine begins to see him in the flesh, with glimpses that make her question her sanity. There were so many moments when I would start to worry that something might happen to Lorraine, or one of her kids, or to someone else who had reached out and given Lorraine a lifeline. But then nothing would happen, and in the next moment when I thought things were going to be OK and in the clear, BAM! That’s when trouble would ensue, completely throwing me off. 

I’m a big fan of suspenseful, scary stories, and while The Stepson isn’t an outright horror genre read, it’s still scary, all the same. I was right there with Lorraine, wanting to discover the truth–no matter what. It was a definite five-star experience!

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

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Diane Saxon previously wrote romantic fiction for the US market but has now turned to writing psychological crime. Find Her Alive was her first novel in this genre and introduced series character DS Jenna Morgan. She is married to a retired policeman and lives in Shropshire.

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Book Review: Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

By Allyson Bales

I am a little embarrassed to say that this is my first Marie Bostwick book (insert shy emoji here). Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly completely captivated me and I immediately checked out Marie’s blacklist and am looking forward to starting The Restoration of Cecilia Fairchild next!  Bostwick has a way of really transforming you into her world and everything sort of melts away around you and I LOVE that!  I loved the way tougher topics were explored while also showcasing the more relatable topics like family dynamics and identity.

This story mainly follows Esme and her grandmother Adele, alternative in point of view, and I found myself really relating to Esme and also missing my grandmother so much.  The story transitions between past and present timelines and is a bit of historical and contemporary fiction.  Esme loses everything she always thought she wanted and needed in New York and heads back to Last Lake, a resort that her grandparents built in Asheville, North Carolina.  When she returns home she helps her family and really explores who she is and what really matters to her.  

When Esme first arrives in New York we get to meet Carl Zinfandel, the first senior editor that Esme works with, and I LOVED how he explains loving books.  He says,  “what reading is all about: finding connection, knowing we’re not the only ones who struggle, or dream.  You’ve got to understand other people before you can understand yourself.”  I found this quote so relatable and added it to my long list of book quotes I carry around in a journal. I felt so seen with this quote! 

When Esme arrived back at Last Lake I was completely enamored with the little lake resort.  My wife and I love to go on road trips and camp.  It's our favorite thing when we are able to find little lake towns exactly like this one and it was fun to follow along on the journey to restore the resort.  I also really enjoyed learning about the quilting process.  My grandmother was an avid quilter and I often read with one of her quilts draped over my legs.  It gave me a newfound understanding and appreciation for what she has made.  It is one of my most prized possessions and I love the deeper understanding I have for quilting now.   Adele really reminded me so much of my grandmother.  I found it so interesting that she lived for many years as a synesthete and I would have loved to learn more about that in the story.    

For so many of us like Esme, work is often an anecdote for pain and we run around going a hundred miles an hour with our hair on fire not stopping to catch our breath and remember what it is that we really want and need.  I found so much peace and understanding in Esme’s growth.  She may be one of my new favorites and I will miss her and George and everyone else at Last Lake. 

Thanks to William Morrow for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: The Spectacular

By Melissa Amster

New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks knows she should be happy. Her high school sweetheart is about to propose and sweep her off to the life everyone has always expected they’d have together: a quiet house in the suburbs, Marion staying home to raise their future children. But instead, Marion finds herself feeling trapped. So when she comes across an opportunity to audition for the famous Radio City Rockettes—the glamorous precision-dancing troupe—she jumps at the chance to exchange her predictable future for the dazzling life of a performer. 

Meanwhile, the city is reeling from a string of bombings orchestrated by a person the press has nicknamed the “Big Apple Bomber,” who has been terrorizing the citizens of New York for sixteen years by planting bombs in popular, crowded spaces. With the public in an uproar over the lack of any real leads after a yearslong manhunt, the police turn in desperation to Peter Griggs, a young doctor at a local mental hospital who espouses a radical new technique: psychological profiling. 

As both Marion and Peter find themselves unexpectedly pulled in to the police search for the bomber, Marion realizes that as much as she’s been training herself to blend in—performing in perfect unison with all the other identical Rockettes—if she hopes to catch the bomber, she’ll need to stand out and take a terrifying risk. In doing so, she may be forced to sacrifice everything she’s worked for, as well as the people she loves the most. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

It's not often a story fits its title so perfectly, but that is definitely the case with The Spectacular! I loved this historical fiction look at the Rockettes through the eyes of Marion. Not only did it have a cool New York City theater feel, but it also reminded me of the Nancy Drew novels I grew up reading. 

This was such a great story from start to finish with the combination of Marion's family drama, her dancing aspiration, the terror of not knowing when the bomber would strike next, and even the romantic subplot. I could easily visualize everything going on as if I were watching it on the big screen. It made me think of when I watched Annie as a kid and they had the Rockettes in the "Let's Go to the Movies" scene. (Start at 2:22 for this part.) I haven't actually gone to a Rockettes performance, but they're always performing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I didn't know that there were other performances along with theirs, before the movie would start. I also was fascinated by how the choreography had to be so incredibly precise at all times and one difference would be completely noticeable.

The bombings remind me so much of what is happening now, down to the greed and ignorance that was keeping them from stopping long before they did. Just replace the bomber with a shooter, except there are many more of those and it feels unsafe to go almost anywhere these days. And it's not the greed and ignorance of a particular company, but instead the people who are supposed to be in charge of our country. I love how Marion worked so hard to get to the bottom of things since no one else was willing to step up and take control of the situation. She was wise beyond her years. 

The 1950s sexism in this story was also frustrating to me. It reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry in some ways, as well as some of the shows I've been watching that take place in the 1950s. Marion was ahead of her time in that respect and wanted to have a career before getting married and having kids. And as more information comes to light about her mother, who can blame her for that? 

This novel kept me riveted the entire time. It was really well done and now my favorite of everything I've read by Fiona Davis. (I still have a few of her earlier ones waiting to be read, but now I'll be measuring them up to this one, I'm afraid.) Don't hesitate to pick this one up and be ready to devour it!

Movie casting suggestions:

Marion (1956): Daisy Edgar-Jones

Judy: Liana Liberato
Bunny: Violett Beane
Nathaniel: Carson Rowland
Peter: Hunter Doohan
Simon: Dean Norris
Marion (1992): Frances O'Connor

Thanks to Dutton for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have TWO copies for some lucky readers!

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Sara and Melissa....Write Letters to Judy Blume

We've been running a column series (for over three years now!) to get more personal with our readers. This month, we decided to write letters to Judy Blume. Judy's fans have written her these beautiful and heartfelt letters, but somehow we never did that when we were growing up, even though we were both fans of her books. So it's time we got around to it! 

Courtesy of NPR

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them. 

Melissa Amster:

Dear Judy,

This letter is probably long overdue. I read a book when I was in middle school, where you answered letters from fans who had written to you. I loved reading your answers to some difficult situations and it was comforting to me, even if I wasn't going through those situations personally. I don't know why I didn't write a letter back then. I wish I had though! When I saw your documentary on Amazon about a month ago, it reminded me how I never wrote you a letter. Especially after seeing how you connected so well with your fans who did take the time to write. So here I am now. 

My all-time top three favorite books of yours are Blubber, Deenie, and Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself. Why those three in particular? I read Blubber often because I was also bullied a lot when I was growing up. Even though it is written from the perspective of someone who is witnessing the bullying, I felt a kinship with Linda (a.k.a. Blubber). Deenie was relatable because she had something that made her different from her peers. I felt that kinship with her too, seeing that I didn't fit in that well in school. It was also such a well-written story that I read it multiple times. Sally was just relatable because she was Jewish. Even though her story took place in a different time period, it was still an entertaining read. Honestly, I forgot all about the Holocaust mentions until it was brought up in the documentary. I also loved the Florida setting and thought it was fun that she got to go to the beach a lot. 

I recently took my daughter to see Are You There G-d? It's Me, Margaret. It's been a long time since I read the book, but I did remember some aspects. Being a late bloomer as a kid, the book was definitely relatable. The movie was really well done and I enjoyed seeing the parents' perspectives, as well. I also love that it was set in the same time period as the book, instead of being moved to the 2020s and everyone relying on social media. It was a nice bonding experience to see it with my daughter and I know she appreciated it. While she hasn't read your coming-of-age stories, I really hope she will. I'm always recommending them to her! (I will make her wait a bit to read Forever though, knowing what I know. One word: Ralph.) 

Excited to see Are You There...

Fun side note: I hadn't really been into audiobooks, but the first time I tried them was with In the Unlikely Event. Because that one was done so well, I decided to listen to many more audiobooks on my commutes to and from work, back when I worked in an office. So thanks for that!

Anyway, I just want to thank you for writing such memorable and comforting books. It stinks that people wanted to ban them the same way people are now trying to ban books that have any kind of diversity in them (especially those of the LGBTQ+ variety). I wish you had written books with LGBTQ+ characters back in the day, as I feel like that could have made a difference in a time when someone really needed that kind of character to relate to. It's different nowadays, when there are so many books to choose from in this genre. Anyway, it's not like you can turn back time and change that and if you didn't have experience with the topic, it wouldn't be fair for you to write about it. I am confident you helped fans of yours who wrote letters trying to figure that out for themselves back in the day. I do feel like you have inspired a lot of today's authors though, especially the ones who are really telling it like it is through their books. 

I hope you get a chance to read this letter and to know how much you are loved and appreciated by your Gen X fans (like me) and even those who are just now learning about your books because of a wonderful new movie! 

Thank you,
Melissa

Sara Steven:

Hi Judy,

When I was a kid, I didn’t know I could write you a letter. I’m trying to imagine what I would have said back then, considering just how many of your books I’d read, and how much your writing had meant to me in those formative years. 

The Fudge series got me through the highs and lows of balancing a relationship with a younger sibling. Blubber showed me both sides to bullying and the consequences that can come with it–on the receiving end, and on the giving end, too. Freckle Juice focused on what it’s like to want something you can’t have, and how most of the time, what you’ve got is already more than enough. Tiger Eyes dealt with mature subject matter that in many ways I could relate to during my childhood. 

When we recently discovered that my eldest son has a curvature to his spine that will need to be monitored, my first thought was Deenie. And of course, who wasn’t touched by Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? It’s unforgettable.

Many of us in our youth didn’t have an open, honest relationship with our parents. I know I never felt like I could ask about the tough stuff that seemed off limits, like sexuality, or bodily functions, or the deeper, darker subjects I feared would potentially get me grounded–or worse. You gave allowance for it. You bravely addressed what so many of us had wanted answers to, in a way that could be relatable and understood. 

You provided insight for us adults, too; Wifey showed me that it’s okay to step outside the societal norms and ideals that are often placed on women, particularly women in marriage and with families, so that a woman can feel as though it’s acceptable to make herself a priority. Often, that isn’t the case.

I grew up with your words. I passed those words on to my boys, who in turn read the Fudge series–Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing really seemed to resonate with my younger son, particularly when he was in that grade. Your creativity inspired me to write my own short stories when I was a child, a love for writing that has carried through into my adulthood.

It is no surprise to me that you have touched so many lives. Judy Blume Forever really showcased that. You were never required to respond to your fan mail. You didn’t have to go to one fan’s graduation when her own family dropped the ball, or check in with other fans to make sure they’re okay. You do those things because you’re a beautiful human being; someone who genuinely cares about our youth and knows how important it is to be supportive, particularly during the formative years. 

Thank you for all you’ve done for me–and thank you for all you continue to do.  

Sincerely,

Sara

Have you ever written a letter to Judy Blume? If not, what would you say if you could write one to her now?

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Guest Book Review: Lady Be Good

By Melissa Smoot

Lady Be Good transports us to the glittering, sumptuous era of 1920s New York to follow the life of aspiring actress Dorothy Hale as she comes of age. Breaking societal rules imposed on women, "Peck's Bad Girl of Pittsburgh Society" leaves behind her privileged world for the bright lights of Broadway to chase her dream. From convent school debutante runaway to Ziegfeld showgirl to Hollywood star, Hale transforms herself into one of the most adored figures in the highest echelons of society. Yet behind the public façade the darling of the press contends with heart-rending loss, gossip and betrayal, and a tempestuous friendship with Luce.

Surrounded by her fabulous circle of friends-Gertrude Stein, Fred Astaire, Cole Porter, James Roosevelt, Elsa Maxwell, and other iconic figures-Dorothy finds her way to the other side of heartbreak and prepares for a White House wedding. Then, suddenly, at age thirty-three, at the height of happiness and peak of her fame, she falls to her death. Her life story is revised and written into history by the tabloids and the famed and fêted-leading to this novel's stunning conclusion. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I can easily say that this has been one of my favorite books that I have read this year. I have always been fascinated with anything relating to the “Roaring Twenties”, and this story is no exception. The author, Pamela Hamilton, is a former NBC Producer and gives us a glimpse into the ups and downs of Dorothy Hale’s life. From her romantic relationships to her often-turbulent friendship with Clare Boothe Luce and glamorous parties with Fred Astaire and Cole Porter, this story had me hooked from the beginning. 

While Dorothy’s story was certainly filled with pain and heartache, Hamilton portrays her as a woman with great inner strength and resilience. Dorothy lived a very full life in her thirty-three years, but even the glitz and fame of being a beloved Hollywood actress, nor her upcoming White House wedding could spare her from an untimely death. The book flowed seamlessly and I felt I got to peek into each new version of Dorothy as she aged throughout the story.

I absolutely adored this book and found myself wanting to look further into who Dorothy Hale really was. I still think about her often and wonder what really happened to her. I am not normally a huge historical fiction fan, but I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read.

Thanks to Pamela Hamilton for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Melissa Smoot became an avid reader as a small child, growing up in Chicago. The first book she remembers reading (and loving) was Mandy by Julie Andrews. She has since become a lover of Women’s fiction as well as mystery and suspense and everything in between. Melissa graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in American Indian Law and is also pursuing an M.L.S degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State, with a focus on Tribal Law and Corporate Compliance. In her spare time, she likes to read, do jigsaw puzzles, go for long early morning walks, spend time with family and friends, and try new places around town. She works in finance and currently lives in Scottsdale with her Jack Russell Terrier, Dolly.

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Spotlight: Love, Theoretically

It’s a rivalry that runs as old and as deep as the feuds between the Capulets and the Montagues, the Yankees and the Red Sox, Batman and the Joker, Tom and Jerry: theoretical versus experimental physicists. Elsie Hannaway is firmly in the camp of theoretical physics—an adjunct professor by day, she toils long and hard to teach students about the laws of thermodynamics in hopes of landing tenure. But to make ends meet, Elsie takes on another role in her (very) limited spare time: fake girlfriend. In this career, Elsie can pretend to be anyone her client needs her to be… and while she’s not supposed to go on more than one date with a guy, she develops a soft spot for one who really needs her help in front of his family. What could possibly go wrong?

Here is what can go wrong: her client has an older brother. A very hot older brother. And, on an interview for her dream tenure-track position in MIT’s physics department, Elsie learns that said older brother is a member of the hiring committee. And he also just so happens to be the very same experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and is the reason why the entire science field views theoretical physicists as wastes of space. Did we mention that he happens to be terribly sexy? And he thinks that Elsie is a librarian who has been dating his brother?

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage when her physics nemesis realizes that Elsie isn’t who she had claimed to be. But…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

Purchase Love, Theoretically.

“It would be so easy to hate Ali—who is brilliant and funny and the most delightful writer…but it’s far more productive to create a shrine I can worship at, praying for her to finish another book quickly. LOVED. IT.”

—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

"Whenever I want a sexy, witty, delicious romance, told in a fresh and intelligent voice, I read Ali Hazelwood. Prepare to get addicted. Each book is pure joy."

—Simone St. James, New York Times bestselling author

 

© Justin Murphy,
Out of the Attic Photography 2022

Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

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Book Review: The Last Lifeboat

By Jami Denison

In 1940, as the Germans were breathing down English necks, the British government decided to evacuate children off the island completely. The SS City of Benares set sail to Canada in September, carrying 123 children known as sea-vacs. Their parents were assured that a convoy of warships would escort the steamer, as German U-boats heavily patrolled the Atlantic. Instead, the warships abandoned the steamer halfway through, and the Germans attacked. Ninety-eight children were killed. In the confusion, the lifeboats were miscounted. No one realized that boat #12 hadn’t been recovered. With six boys, one woman, and 39 men, the boat sailed for eight days before being spotted. 

This gripping saga inspired historical fiction author Hazel Gaynor’s latest novel, The Last Lifeboat. In her telling, the S.S. Carlisle is the doomed ship… and two women are forever changed. Alice King, looking for a way to contribute to the war effort, volunteers to escort children to Canada on the ship. And widowed Lily Nichols, hiding a sad secret, agrees to send her beloved son and daughter to strangers overseas. 

In lesser hands, this book could have faltered – it is, essentially, a novel about waiting. Alice and Lily, both third-person protagonists, spend a lot of time in their heads. And while the evacuation scenes were fast-paced, there wasn’t a lot of action to depict with eight days in a lifeboat. 

But Gaynor is a very talented writer, and The Last Lifeboat is a page-turner. Alice’s bravery is remarkable, and the reader roots for her to survive and find love. The drama of who will survive as each new day dawns is filled with tension. And Lily, whose son was in the missing lifeboat, cannot believe the boy is really gone, and pushes the government to investigate what happened and why. In subplots, Gaynor also addresses sexism and classism. The book works on many levels. 

Throughout history, wars have been fought mostly by men, but women and children suffer disproportionately during and after war. The Last Lifeboat is a fictional account of a real event, but as the world watches the children of Ukraine suffer, it’s an important reminder that during war, no place is ever truly safe. 

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

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