Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3.5 stars.
I thought this was interesting but also it felt familiar and sort of predictable I think. I love Niven and her writing is light and easy. It was a good January book!
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I’m a big fan of McAllister. I find that her stories are always different and keep me interested the whole time and this one is no exception. This is the story of a mom who is in Texas to pick up her daughter from camp. They are spending a night together at an AirBnB until they are scheduled to go camping for a few days. The next morning, her daughter is gone. The kidnappers ask for her to put herself at risk and break the law in exchange for getting her daughter back. There were many parts of this where others might feel it’s unbelievable or too much or too coincidental. But I didn’t care. The ending felt a bit too neat, but I didn’t care. I just enjoyed being lost inside the world McAllister built. Even if this one was way way too scary to this mom of teenagers. with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
I loved this book! I’ve read many books by Finlay but this one stands out for me. It’s a mystery, there are twists and turns, but also there’s slow-brewing love. There are two main characters that are interesting and stay with you and that you find yourself rooting for. If you’re just looking for dislikable main characters and unreliable narrators and crazy insane twists, this might not be the book for you (though it has plenty of those). I think this book was more interesting, and I found myself getting more and more invested each year on the next anniversary. Loved it. with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite novels are the quiet novels where it’s a slice of life moment and the characters are just driving the story. June Baby, is the story of Ruth who lost her mom at 17 and is consumed by grief. Unable to help her, her dad ships her to stay with an artist, Diana, on Block Island for the summer. Ruth and Diana and her nephew Charlie spend every summer together for many years. It’s ten years later, and Ruth still spends her summers on Block Island. She’s drifting and struggling. She and Charlie haven’t seen each other in a while and Diana passes away. She leaves behind items and a letter for Ruth. Secrets that change Ruth’s life and shift her perspective. This is a novel about found family, love, secrets, sacrifices and how and if we can ever pick up the pieces of our life after a monumental loss. It’s beautiful and touching. with gratitude to netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
I usually don’t like books that are compared to other popular books. it feels like a recipe to be disappointed. But in this case I think the comparison to Ferrante is apt. This story of four friends in Georgia whose lives intersected and wrapped themselves around each other is beautiful, heart-wrenching and deeply truthful with some really tough moments.
These books are my very favorite. Soft, gentle and loving. Beautiful images, wonderful messages. What more could you want to start the year? |
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