"Maureen" by Rachel Joyce is Book #3 in this Authors' "Harold Fry" Series!
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is where this series begins telling Harold's story of walking 600+ miles to hand deliver a letter to Queenie Hennessy who's gravely ill and spending her final days in hospice. Harold believes if he delivers his letter, Queenie will live long enough to receive it. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy tells Queenie's story of her days in hospice. Queenie knows Harold is on his way to visit her and realizes she must confront the past she left behind twenty years ago. She writes a poignant letter to Harold while he walks to deliver his letter to her.
Both books have concurrent timelines, so while Harold is walking, Queenie is writing.
Now it's ten years later, and time to hear from Maureen, Harold's wife. She's about to take a journey of her own and, in the mix, gives her perspective of all that's happened before and after Harold's journey to visit Queenie.
What I love about this book is how vague the synopsis is, allowing readers to go in blind. It's an intensely personal journey for Maureen and you feel her pain the entire way. You realize how lost she is from herself, how out of control she feels in her life, and how different she feels from Harold and everyone else. You will get to know Maureen intimately, warts and all.
The main difference in this book from the other two is the length. This is a novella and although I thoroughly enjoyed this read, it did feel noticeably short. I wanted as much of Maureen as the author wrote of both Harold and Queenie. With that said, what was written about Maureen was both revealing and satisfying.
What I find most amazing about this author and her series is how well she knows each of her main characters, Harold, Queenie and now Maureen, and how openly and honestly she presents them to her readers.
This is definitely a series that needs to be read in sequential order and each book has its own uniqueness, yet the total package is a complete journey. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next and look forward to meeting more of her characters!
I highly recommend this book and series! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Rachel Joyce for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Merged review:
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY 2/7/23!!!
"Maureen" by Rachel Joyce is Book #3 in this Authors' "Harold Fry" Series!
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is where this series begins telling Harold's story of walking 600+ miles to hand deliver a letter to Queenie Hennessy who's gravely ill and spending her final days in hospice. Harold believes if he delivers his letter, Queenie will live long enough to receive it. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy tells Queenie's story of her days in hospice. Queenie knows Harold is on his way to visit her and realizes she must confront the past she left behind twenty years ago. She writes a poignant letter to Harold while he walks to deliver his letter to her.
Both books have concurrent timelines, so while Harold is walking, Queenie is writing.
Now it's ten years later, and time to hear from Maureen, Harold's wife. She's about to take a journey of her own and, in the mix, gives her perspective of all that's happened before and after Harold's journey to visit Queenie.
What I love about this book is how vague the synopsis is, allowing readers to go in blind. It's an intensely personal journey for Maureen and you feel her pain the entire way. You realize how lost she is from herself, how out of control she feels in her life, and how different she feels from Harold and everyone else. You will get to know Maureen intimately, warts and all.
The main difference in this book from the other two is the length. This is a novella and although I thoroughly enjoyed this read, it did feel noticeably short. I wanted as much of Maureen as the author wrote of both Harold and Queenie. With that said, what was written about Maureen was both revealing and satisfying.
What I find most amazing about this author and her series is how well she knows each of her main characters, Harold, Queenie and now Maureen, and how openly and honestly she presents them to her readers.
This is definitely a series that needs to be read in sequential order and each book has its own uniqueness, yet the total package is a complete journey. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next and look forward to meeting more of her characters!
I highly recommend this book and series! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Rachel Joyce for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review....more
Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering is Friendship and Women's Fiction With a Touch of Suspense!
Billie and Cassie met during the summer before seventh grade aBye, Baby by Carola Lovering is Friendship and Women's Fiction With a Touch of Suspense!
Billie and Cassie met during the summer before seventh grade and quickly became best friends. Whatever was lacking at home, their friendship filled. Connected at the hip, so to speak, each would do anything for the other.
After high school, they begin to drift apart. As Cassie becomes engaged to a wealthy man, Billie notices subtle changes in their friendship. When Cassie has a baby and Billie remains single and childless, she realizes there's not much left that connects them. Still, Billie remains hopeful...
Bye, Baby is told in Cassie's and Billie's first-person narratives through short, alternating chapters. The focus is on the 30 days before Cassie's 35th birthday, and on the backstory of their friendship. Initially, I didn't care for either protagonist but as the details of the friendship began to unfold, my understanding of both characters levels out. It's a complicated relationship, to say the least.
This was an immersion read-listen through the gifted DRC and ALC. The audiobook narrated by Helen Laser and Karissa Vacker was my preference, but either format will deliver a great experience.
Bye, Baby feels more like Friendship and Women's Fiction with a touch of Suspense rather than a Mystery-Thriller. The pace is consistent and the contrast in personalities between the two main characters contributes to the emotional drama of the story. I enjoyed this far more than I expected to and I love the way it ended. Recommended!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Carola Lovering for a DRC and an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been a pleasure to give my honest and voluntary review....more
Mercury by Amy Jo Burns is a Blend of Family, Literary, and Romance Fiction with a Touch of Coming-of-Age!
Seventeen-year-old Marley West is the new gMercury by Amy Jo Burns is a Blend of Family, Literary, and Romance Fiction with a Touch of Coming-of-Age!
Seventeen-year-old Marley West is the new girl in Mercury, Pennsylvania, a town where few new people come to live. She gets noticed quickly by Baylor Joseph and eventually gets her place at the table of the Joseph Family. She's attracted to Baylor but when football season calls him away, it's his younger brother, Waylon, that Marley falls in love with...
Mercury is an intense Family Fiction story that begins in 1990 and travels with the characters through the years. The Joseph Family is at the heart of the story with parents, Mick and Elise, and their three sons, Baylor - the oldest, Waylon - thirteen months younger, and Shay - the youngest by quite a few years. This is one complicated dysfunctional family, and the dynamics are deep and ingrained.
At the center of this family is the business, JOSEPH & SONS ROOFING, and along with it are the expectations that each son will join the business in some capacity. The business, all it entails and consumes, is like another character in this story.
What stands out most about this book is the simple writing style that quickly connects you to the characters and the family drama. The way the story is written feels different and multi-layered, told from the 'outside in' and then from the 'inside out', and it works for this story, giving it a higher level of backstory and a character-study feel.
There's a mystery built into the story that takes a surprising twist. Still, it's our protagonist Marley who steers us through this story with her resilience, growth, and determination that kept me reading and listening until there was no more story left.
This was an immersion reading experience through the gifted Digital Reading Copy and Advanced Listening Copy. The audiobook is narrated by Maria Liatis, whose voicing skills are strong, however, either format will deliver a great experience.
I love Family Fiction and this one is surprisingly good. I have added both of Amy Jo Burns' previous books Cinderland: A Memoir and Shiner her debut novel to my TBR List. I highly recommend Mercury to readers who enjoy books with blended genres, engaging writing, fully fleshed-out characters, and discovering a surprise or two within the story!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and Amy Jo Burns for a DRC and an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review....more
After Annie by Anna Quindlen blends Family, Literary, and Women's Fiction beautifully!
After Annie is the first novel I've read by this author and althAfter Annie by Anna Quindlen blends Family, Literary, and Women's Fiction beautifully!
After Annie is the first novel I've read by this author and although it's a tough read emotionally, surrounded by sadness, it evokes resilience, hope, and inspiration.
Annie is a young wife and mother in her thirties who suddenly dies of a brain aneurysm, falling to the floor of her kitchen, just as the story begins. The oldest and only daughter, Ali, steadfastly attempts to hold the pieces together for herself and her three younger brothers while their dad, Bill, is completely overwhelmed...
Throughout the story, Annie’s lingering presence is felt beside, around, and within each family member. Loss and grief manifest themselves differently in each of them as the seasons pass in the year after Annie's death. One of my favorite aspects of this story is Annie's friendship with her best friend, Annemarie, and the impact Annie's death has on her. It is an inclusive perspective of "chosen family".
After Annie is a beautifully written character study about family, friendship, and coping with loss and grief. I love the simplistic writing style that focuses on the characters within a story, and that's what Anna Quindlen has delivered!
4.5⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Anna Quindlen for a DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. ...more
The Scenic Route by Christina Baker Kline is a Mix of Family and Women's Fiction!
At one point Jess has it all, a beautiful home, a wonderful marriageThe Scenic Route by Christina Baker Kline is a Mix of Family and Women's Fiction!
At one point Jess has it all, a beautiful home, a wonderful marriage, a young son with one on the way, and a creative career. Then it all begins to fall away. Now she lives in her ex-husband's old van traveling to anywhere and nowhere for the past four years...
The Scenic Route is an interesting journey through a relatively short phase of Jess' life. I've been curious about this author's work and this sample is a satisfying dip in the waters of her writing style and storytelling.
I'm surprised by the amount of emotion inside this story with topics of loss and estrangement, forgiveness and second chances, personal rediscovery and the many faces of family. This author writes about how this woman feels in simple language that's realistic, yet beautiful.
The Scenic Route is a one hour listen I find both enjoyable and satisfying. The highlight of this Short Read is meeting Jess and her son Charlie, two characters I would like to spend more time with. I recommend this audiobook to those who enjoy a well-written story that's easy to fit in during a short walk/drive or just for the heck of it. No tissues are necessary!
The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram is a Blend of Family and Romance Fiction!
When Camille Taylor's husband dies unexpectedly, it jars her world and The River Runs South by Audrey Ingram is a Blend of Family and Romance Fiction!
When Camille Taylor's husband dies unexpectedly, it jars her world and puts her into a spin. She continues on for months attempting to balance her D.C lawyer-partner career with being a single parent to her six-year-old daughter, Willa. She can do it all. She'll be fine.
Until she's not.
Camille decides to head back to Alabama, connect with her roots, and visit her parents. She's craving the slower pace of the South, hoping it will soothe her. She once said she'd never go back, but right now with sweet little Willa in tow, it seems like the right thing to do...
The River Runs South is a well-written debut novel about a strong, resilient female main character and a precocious, feisty six-year-old daughter who will steal your heart. The author artfully adds in a secondary storyline that enhances the main story, as everything continues to revolve around and focus on Camille and Willa.
The author richly highlights the beauty of the Alabama coast line, salty air and sea life. The mention of delectable dishes, unique to the South, described as being prepared or served is mouth-watering. All of this adds authenticity to this southern setting and adds the feel of another character to the story.
The River Runs South audiobook is narrated by Megan Tusing, who does an amazing job of voicing, creating a pleasurable listening experience.
The River Runs South is simple fiction that's well-written with great characters, an emotionally driven premise, and an ending that leave room for the reader's imagination to take flight. A little tension here and there, a sprinkle of family drama, and the budding of new relationships makes this a worthwhile read.
I recommend The River Runs South to those who enjoy a blend of Family and Romance Fiction with the flavors of the South!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Audrey Ingram for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review....more
Skip to the End by Molly James is a Chick Lit and Romance Fiction Story!
Amy Daniels has a special gift. Her mom has it, too. When she kisses someone, Skip to the End by Molly James is a Chick Lit and Romance Fiction Story!
Amy Daniels has a special gift. Her mom has it, too. When she kisses someone, she has visions or premonitions, if you will, showing how their relationship ends.
Amy's been looking for her 'Happily Ever After' for a long time. She hasn't found him yet but she knows he's out there. Somewhere. It's just a matter of time or...not.
At her best friend Charlotte's wedding, Amy has mostly given up on her 'HEA' search when she decides to go all in and 'drunk-kisses' three different men during the reception. One of them IS her 'Perfect Ending'.
The next morning, Amy realizes she was far too drunk to remember who she kissed or which of the three is her 'Forever After'.
Now Amy's on a desperate mission to discover the identity of her long awaited 'Perfect Ending'...
Despite deciding I was steering clear of Chick Lit for an extended period of time, here I am once again writing a review for the one I just finished.
Will I never learn?
The premise of Skip to the End really spoke to me, however, I failed to read the synopsis completely, and instead I leaped for the request button. I missed the words, "...she drunkenly kisses three men..." and combining that with copious amounts of alcohol mixed with immature thirty-year-old characters, it becomes a deal breaker for me.
Why do I do this to myself?
The Magical Realism aspect of this story is implied so it never shows its face. I always expect something magical with those two words but it doesn't happen here. Another disappointment.
Then, Amy's elimination process takes its precious time and I know this sounds corny, but I really just wanted to "Skip to the End" at that point. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)
I did enjoy how Skip to the End ended and I also thought the topic of Alzheimer's was handled respectfully and enjoyed it's inclusion. Well done!
I'm happy to see many positive reviews and high ratings for Skip to the End but honestly, I was looking for something a little different than what this story delivered. Clearly, and obviously, I'm not the right audience for this book.
2.5⭐rounded up for the inclusion of the Alzheimer's topic!
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Molly James for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review....more
The Women by Kristin Hannah is a Blend of Historical, Literary, and Women's Fiction!
I'll be honest, I was expecting more finesse from Kristan Hannah'sThe Women by Kristin Hannah is a Blend of Historical, Literary, and Women's Fiction!
I'll be honest, I was expecting more finesse from Kristan Hannah's writing style and storytelling...
The Women transports the reader, along with the main character, Frances "Frankie" McGrath, to the Thirty-Sixth Evac Hospital in Vietnam, sixty miles from Saigon, within the first four chapters. By the end of the sixth chapter, I shed my first tears. This is an emotional read and, for those of us who remember those years during the Vietnam War, it stirs different memories in each of us...
Overall, the pace of this story is slow, allowing repetition to sneak in. This is especially true after Frankie's return from Vietnam. Her homecoming was heart-wrenching but carried on, chapter after chapter, making the story too long. Perhaps the length would have been better justified if backstories were included for the primary characters. Very little to nothing was provided for any of them.
Early in, the writing felt cumbersome and overly descriptive with flowery prose. The narration sounded throaty, stilted, sometimes monotone, and at other times exaggerated. The story had more telling than showing by the author's use of the story's narrative, rather than focusing on creative writing skills to allow the story to flow naturally. The writing style was my least favorite aspect of this book. It felt clumsy, overdramatic, and at times, snarky.
This was an immersion read with a Kindle copy and an Audible audiobook, narrated by Julia Whelan.
I love the female-focused premise and how the author allows the reader's imagination to proceed beyond the ending of the story. The story is emotional, true to the era, and well-researched. I cried, relived the memories and the music from that time, and appreciated the feeling of authenticity.
The Women has many positive reviews and high ratings and I respect those viewpoints. As in all of my reviews, this critique is my honest opinion. Outlier Island, here I come. It's going to be a lonely place this time around...
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