An ARC Review: Lost Autumn by Mary-Rose MacColl

Hello bookworms! I hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this time.

I wanted to thank Putnam Books for sending me a gifted copy of Lost Autumn by Mary-Rose MacColl! It was a welcome distraction from the news and I was so happy to receive this historical fiction novel.

Synopsis:

“A young woman’s coming-of-age in 1920, the royal tour of Edward, Prince of Wales, and the secrets that surface more than seventy years later.

Australia, 1920. Seventeen-year-old Maddie Bright embarks on the voyage of a lifetime when she’s chosen to serve on the cross-continent tour of His Royal Highness, the dashing Edward, Prince of Wales. Life on the royal train is luxurious beyond her dreams, and the glamorous, good-hearted friends she makes–with their romantic histories and rivalries–crack open her world. But glamour often hides all manner of sins.

Decades later, Maddie lives in a ramshackle house in Brisbane, whiling away the days with television news and her devoted, if drunken, next-door neighbor. When a London journalist struggling with her own romantic entanglements begins asking Maddie questions about her relationship to the famous and reclusive author M. A. Bright, she’s taken back to the glamorous days of the royal tour–and to the secrets she has kept for all these years.”

Thoughts:

• The novel was confusing at first with all of the different characters and I still couldn’t keep some of the minor characters straight even after 200 pages.
• I absolutely loved the dueling timelines and characters, hopping from 1920 to 1981 to 1997. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, especially when its told through different POVs and timelines!
• Lost Autumn was the first historical fiction I’ve read with a 1920’s timeline and featuring royalty so I liked being able to read about something new in the genre.
• A bit slow at first but once I got more invested in the characters I was hooked!
  I ugly cried a lot and was not expecting that ending (I’m teary eyed just writing this review and still thinking about this incredible, unique, original novel).
• It’s only April and it’s already going to be one of my faves of the year! Even though
  historical fiction is one of my fave genres, I haven’t read it much lately since I wanted to try and get out of my reading comfort zone. But this book made me remember why I’m so in love (obsessed) with the genre and makes me want to read it more often, especially books featuring the monarchy!
• I have also added more of MacColl’s books to my TBR because her storytelling style is fantastic and she could easily become a new favorite author for me!

Overall I’ve given this book 4.5 stars

Triggers Warnings: domestic violence, loss of loved one, suicide, PTSD, sexual assault

Thank you again to Putnam books and Mary-Rose MacColl for the gifted book! I hope you readers continue finding joy and escapism in books through these tough times, and thank you for reading my review. Leave a comment below and tell me what you’ve been reading during social distancing.

A Bite-Size ARC Review- Shortlisted: Women in the Shadow of the Supreme Court

“Women, and especially female minorities, regularly find themselves equally or more qualified than the white men on the shortlist, but they are far less likely to be selected. Shortlists thus project a façade of diversity with their inclusion of women and minorities but function to preserve the status quo.”

Hi readers! I’m back with another ARC review this week. Thank you to netgalley and NYU press for the ARC of Shortlisted: Women in the Shadow of the Supreme Court by Renee Knake Jefferson and Hannah Brenner Johnson.

Synopsis:

“The inspiring and previously untold history of the women considered–but not selected–for the US Supreme Court

In 1981, after almost two centuries of exclusively male appointments, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female Supreme Court Justice of the United States, a significant historical moment and a symbolic triumph for supporters of women’s rights. Most do not know, however, about the remarkable women shortlisted for the Supreme Court in the decades before O’Connor’s success.

Shortlisted gives nine women formally considered but ultimately passed over for a seat on the Supreme Court going back to the 1930s the recognition they deserve. Award-winning scholars Renee Knake Jefferson and Hannah Brenner Johnson rely on previously unpublished materials to illustrate the professional and personal lives of these accomplished women. From Florence Allen, the first woman judge in Ohio, and the first to appear on a president’s list for the Court, to Cornelia Kennedy, the first woman to serve as chief judge of a US district court, shortlisted by Ford and Reagan, Shortlisted shares the often overlooked stories of those who paved the way for women’s representation throughout the legal profession and beyond.

In addition to filling a notable historical gap, the book exposes the harms of shortlisting–it reveals how adding qualified female candidates to a list but passing over them ultimately creates the appearance of diversity while preserving the status quo. This phenomenon often occurs with any pursuit of professional advancement, whether the judge in the courtroom, the CEO in the corner office, or the coach on the playing field. Women, and especially female minorities, while as qualified as others on the shortlist (if not more so), find themselves far less likely to be chosen. With the stories of these nine exemplary women as a framework, Shortlisted offers all women a valuable set of strategies for upending the injustices that still endure. It is a must-read for those vying for positions of power as well as for those who select them.”

The first part of the book looks at the women shortlisted throughout history, specifically focusing on 11 women who were considered before the nomination of the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. This section was informative given that I had never heard of any of the women mentioned and the authors give a short background of feminist history to put the shortlistings into context. But it was a slow start and felt more like I was reading through Wikipedia pages for each woman, and I didn’t enjoy the book until part 2.

The second part of the book was a lot more interesting with evaluating how qualified women are tokens that are put on lists for leadership roles but ultimately passed over to maintain the status quo. The authors evaluate each woman’s experience being shortlisted and how they were portrayed in the media with regards to age, relationship status, motherhood, and physical looks.

It was also inspiring that they pointed out that although these women were in the legal profession, the issues of women and especially minority women being put into leadership roles and the criticism from the media spans across all professions. The authors also discuss how we need to do better with our feminism by including all women, not just heterosexual, cis gendered, able bodied, white women. Their calls to action were inspiring and just what I needed after what’s been happening in US politics lately.

Although the first half wasn’t the most exciting, I’m still happy to have learned about these lesser known, important women who were sadly passed over for men to serve on the Supreme Court. In the words of the authors, Just think where we would be in terms of equality if we had put women on the Court sooner?

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

Lady Clementine: An ARC Review

“Is that what everyone expects my life to be, simply a good influence on my important husband? I may be only twenty-three years old to Winston’s thirty-four, without the education, accomplishments, or nobility of my intended, but my life will not serve solely as the invisible source of ‘sympathy and devotion’ for my husband. Indeed, I want to write my own chapter.”

Happy publishing day to Lady Clementine by Marie Bendict! And a big thank you to netgalley and SourceBooks for the eARC.

Synopsis:

“From Marie Benedict, the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room! An incredible novel that focuses on one of the people who had the most influence during World War I and World War II: Clementine Churchill.

In 1909, Clementine steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill will save her husband.

Lady Clementine is the ferocious story of the ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either to expectations or to enemies.”

I loved hearing about Clementine Churchill and her resolve to make history rather than be a shadow standing by her husband’s side. I was pulled in right away and interested to learn more about her as the only thing I knew was that she was married to Winston Churchill. I enjoyed learning about her and seeing her as a pioneer of being a political wife. Rather than stay silent at dinner parties, she engaged in political debates with the men which was unheard of for women as it was considered unladylike at the time.

The novel also shows the darker side of their marriage and Winston. He’s normally seen as this conquering giant due to his role of prime minister during WWII, but I really like how the author acknowledges how problematic Churchill actually was with some of his views. I also found myself disliking him a lot as I learned more about him as a person rather than just as a great leader.

The writing reminded me of classical British literature like Charlotte Brontë. I did get a little frustrated with some of the language and use of big words like “lasciviousness” but maybe I’m just stupid haha.

She’s a strong, complex, progressive woman who I’ve come to admire very much through this fictionalized story of her adult life. It was a great first book of the decade and I look forward to learning more about her in the future.

4/5 stars

If you love historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! You can find it online and in stores today.

Let me know in the comments what your first book of 2020 was!

A Bite-Size Review: An Unwanted Guest

Hello readers! Saturday Night I finished An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena and it’s no surprise I finished it in only a few short days! This book confirms why she’s my favorite thriller writer. The story was fast paced and intense, with twists that I couldn’t predict, especially the last page.

Synopsis:

“A remote lodge in upstate New York is the perfect getaway. . . until the bodies start piling up.It’s winter in the Catskills and the weather outside is frightful. But Mitchell’s Inn is so delightful! The cozy lodge nestled deep in the woods is perfect for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. The Inn boasts spacious old rooms with huge wood-burning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a book and someone you love. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in for the long haul. The power’s down but they’ve got candles, blankets, and wood–a genuine rustic experience! Soon, though, a body turns up–surely an accident. When a second body appears, they start to panic. Then they find a third body. Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. They can’t leave, and with no cell service, there’s no prospect of getting the police in until the weather loosens its icy grip. The weekend getaway has turned deadly. For some couples, it’s their first time away. For others, it will be their last. And there’s nothing they can do about it but huddle down and hope they can survive the storm.”
The book reminded me of Agatha Christie’s The Oriental Express as strangers gather in a confined space with no way to escape with a murderer among them. I had trouble in the beginning because there are so many characters to keep straight that I found myself confused when it switched perspectives. But after awhile it got a little easier and I loved having so many people to question who did it. Also I would’ve appreciated a trigger warning about a very vivid description of rape/sexual assault because it’s not fun reliving trauma when you’re reading to escape.

Secrets and pasts come to light throughout the story and I highly recommend this book for any thriller fans, Lapena is AMAZING at storytelling and making you question everything!! I give this 4 stars because it was fast paced and interesting but loses a star for too many characters to keep up with and triggering me.

Question of the day: Who’s your favorite thriller writer? Let me know in the comments below!

A Bite-Size Review: My Lovely Wife

Welcome back readers! I hope you have had a good week and have some good books you’re enjoying. I’m back in Michigan for the next two weeks to look at wedding venues and I’m excited to see my family again! Vacations usually mean less reading for me so we will see how much reading I can get done. This week I read My Lovely Wife by Samanatha Downing which wasn’t on my radar until I saw it plastered across Bookstagram (side note: it’s worth the hype).

Synopsis:

“Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting… Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.”

My Lovely Wife actually reminded me of Gone Girl except the characters here had at least a few likeable qualities. I’m a big fan of thrillers especially domestic/psychological ones so this novel was right up my alley!

There were a few twists that took me completely by surprise, especially the ending. But there were a couple things that I guessed would happen about halfway through which is always disappointing if a novel can be predictable. The writing and storytelling was so good though that I would still give this book 5 stars!

Have you read this book or is it on your TBR? What are your reading plans for the weekend?

A Bite-Size Review: The Immortalists

Hi bookish friends! How is your November reading going? Let me know in the comments below! Last night I finished The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin thanks to a college friend of mine highly recommending it!

Synopsis:

“If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?

It’s 1969 in New York City’s Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children–four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness–sneak out to hear their fortunes.

The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ’80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel struggles to maintain security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality.

Both a dazzling family love story and a sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, The Immortalists probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next. It is a deeply moving testament to the power of story, the nature of belief, and the unrelenting pull of familial bonds.”

Thoughts:

I love family sagas especially when they move through decades of time and have different perspectives so this novel was perfect for me.  The characters were complex and the writing was beautiful. I loved seeing how the characters handled different historical events and came of age.

Some downsides were that it could be confusing in the beginning following four characters but eventually I got the hang of it. I would’ve liked it better if it switched between characters rather than having four chunks of time divided among the siblings. When you read about one sibling the others just sort of disappear, so I think it would’ve been nice to see all of them throughout the decades (but maybe then the book would’ve been way longer haha). Lastly, I was really irritated by Daniel and I couldn’t wait for his part to be over.

Overall this is a beautiful, heartbreaking tale of siblings, life, and coming of age. If you’re a fan of family sagas, magical realism, or sibling stories, I highly recommend checking this one out! I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Have you read this one? If so, what did you think?

A Bite-Size Review: Full Support

We made it to November and there’s only one month left in 2019! How have you guys been doing with your reading goals? Any exciting books you are reading this month? Let me know in the comments below!

I received an ARC of Full support by Natalee Woods from NetGalley and Amberjack publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

“Full Support tells the story of Natalee’s experiences working as a bra fitter at a high end lingerie department. She shares her thoughts on her own life experiences/insecurities as they relate to her own customers feelings in the dressing room.”

I really connected with the body issues and feeling vulnerable in a dressing room trying on new clothes, so I appreciated her insight and reminders that I’m not the only woman who feels this way. Also, as someone who used to work in retail, I can relate to her stories about difficult customers and the anxiety of holiday sales. I flew through this book and didn’t want to put it down! I laughed and cried through all of Natalee’s tales. Her story is funny, heartwarming, and unique. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys quirky memoirs, works/worked retail jobs, or if you struggle with body image. It’s a wonderful reminder that all bodies are natural and beautiful no matter what size or shape they are. It also was a reminder that you never know what someone is going through and showing even the smallest kindness can go a long way to making their day brighter!

Overall I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars for the unique story and writing style.

A Bite-Size Review: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

Happy Tuesday! Last night I finished We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. It’s been on my shelf for the past year so I thought it was about time I read it. I’m so happy I did because now I feel like I should have picked it up sooner!

Synopsis:

“Meet the Cooke family. Our narrator is Rosemary Cooke. As a child, she never stopped talking; now that she’s started college, she has wrapped herself in silence: the silence of intentional forgetting, of protective cover. Rosemary is now an only child, but she used to have a sister the same age as her, and an older brother. Both are now gone—vanished from her life. Her once lively mother is a shell of her former self, her clever and imperious father now a distant, brooding man. So here is Rosemary’s story; utterly captivating, it’s funny, clever and swirls with ideas that will come back to bite you.”

This story had an interesting layout as our main character, Rosemary, starts the story in the middle. The narration switches between past memories and the present. It could be confusing at times but overall I enjoyed the unique storytelling layout. I love family dramas and really enjoyed the unexpected family dynamics. It was an emotional story that had me crying multiple times and it’s one of those stories that I’ll always remember.

Overall I give this book 5 stars for the beautifully, unexpected story and amazing writing skills of Karen Joy Fowler!

A Bite-Size Review: Her Kind

“They said we were witches. They said we could brew up love or hatred, start things and end things”
Happy Halloween everyone!  I just finished HER KIND by Niamh Boyce and it was fantastic. I love historical fiction especially when it’s about a lesser known piece of history so this was right up my alley. Plus, since it’s about a witch trial, it’s the perfect Halloween read!

HER KIND tells the fictionalized story of Petronelle, a maid and childhood friend to Alice Kytler. Petronelle seeks refuge with Kytler and we see the town’s greed, envy, and secrets unfold from the perspective of Petronelle and her daughter, Basilia. All of the events lead up to the Kilkenny Witch Trial which is supposed to have been the first recorded witch trial in Ireland and may have inspired the Salem Witch Trials.

I loved the switching perspectives and the retelling of these unknown women’s stories! I was inspired to pick up this book from a Bartender while visiting Kilkenny as he passionately told us the tale of Kytler and the witch trials and I’ve never been more thankful to a stranger for introducing me to a book!  The story is beautifully written and painted a vivid picture, making me feel like I was in the Kytler house and High Town watching their day to day lives. I cannot express enough how amazing it is to have this author to have finally told these stories (even if it is mostly fictional) and give a voice to these women. I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars and encourage anyone who likes historical fiction to check out this novel!

A Bite-Size Review: Ghosts By Daylight

Hello book lovers! I hope your October is going well and you’ve been enjoying some cozy reads. This week, I discovered a memoir by Janine di Giovanni called Ghosts By Daylight, which tells the story of her love and marriage to French reporter, Bruno. I love reading memoirs and seeing life through other people’s perspectives and this one did not disappoint.

Synopsis:

“Janine di Giovanni has spent most of her career—more than twenty years—in war zones recording events on behalf of the voiceless. From Sarajevo to East Timor, from Sierra Leone to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, she has been under siege and under fire.

Along the way she meets Bruno, a French reporter whose spirit and audacity are a match for her own. Their love affair spans nearly a decade and a dozen armed conflicts before they settle in Paris to raise a family. But Janine soon learns that a life lived in war is inevitably haunted. Bruno struggles with physical and emotional pain, and Janine, a new mother and wife in Paris, is afraid both for Bruno and herself and for the work that they do—and doubtful that she can hold their lives together.”

Thoughts:

I loved this book! I was immediately pulled into the story and intrigued to read more about her life as a war correspondent and how she met Bruno. Her memoir looks at the reality of love, marriage, motherhood, loss, redemption, and war. I learned about different conflicts and wars in places like Sarajevo, Abidjan, and Sierra Leone. But I really want to learn more about these conflicts because I feel like I don’t know much about them so I’m definitely going to check out more of Janine’s books and other books written about these conflicts!
This was a difficult book to read due to the dark subjects of war, PTSD, and addiction but it was a great book that taught me a lot. There were happier topics of course and I could relate a little to Janine moving to Paris and trying to learn to make a home in a new country (and conjugating verbs). The one thing I didn’t like about the book was when the story would jump through different times unexpectedly. I would get confused as it went between the past, present, and future of her story. Otherwise it was one of my favorite memoirs and I give it 4 stars.

Do you like reading memoirs? What’s a memoir you read and loved?