I completely adored The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the hardest book reviews to write are for the books you love the most. There’s just so much you want to say! And it seems impossible to find the right words to express how much the story means to you. That’s how I feel about The Flatshare. And, I'm completely surprised by this. What's The Flatshare about? I went into The Flatshare...
Christmas Shopaholic may be the best Christmas book I've read in a long time. It might also be the best book in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series I've read in a long time. On both counts, nothing could have surprised me more. What's Christmas Shopaholic about? This newest installment in the Shopaholic series stars our girl Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood). Becky is a loveably ditzy but well-meaning woman with a slight...
Even though The Merriest Magnolia sounds like a Christmas book, and the beautiful cover makes it look like a Christmas book… it’s not what I would call a true Christmas book. And, I really liked that about it. What's The Merriest Magnolia about? Author Michelle Major’s newest installment of The Magnolia Sisters series kicks off just before Thanksgiving. The Merriest Magnolia ushers us into the Yuletide season by letting...
Clear your weekend, Tartlets. In fact, clear your week. Because Winter Solstice is a book you want to read slooooowly, savoring every word and turn of the page. I discovered this 2011 novel by Rosamunde Pilcher on a list of holiday reads from Modern Mrs Darcy. It was the most recommended book by her readers, and it didn’t take me long to figure out why. What's Winter Solstice about? Winter Solstice starts off...
I was giddy with anticipation about The Book of Longings from the moment its publication date was announced. And, I'm thrilled to report that author Sue Monk Kidd did not disappoint with her newest novel. What's The Book of Longings about? It's long been debated whether Jesus (yep, as in "Christ Superstar") had a female partner. (Hello, The Da Vinci Code.) The Book of Longings takes this controversial idea and runs with...
Jerusalem Maiden by Talia Carner is going to piss off the feminists among us. Apart from that, though, this is a really good book! What's Jerusalem Maiden about? The main character in Jerusalem Maiden is Esther, an early 1900s woman from an ultra-Orthodox sect of Judaism called Haredi. So, to say that Esther has limited freedom is putting it mildly. Esther exemplifies all that a "Jerusalem Maiden" goes through in order to...
If you've ever wondered what sex between Bill and Hillary Clinton may be like -- because, of course you have! -- well, wonder no further, readers. Just pick up a copy of Rodham. Images of Hill and Bill, albeit younger versions of them, in every sexual position imaginable now occupy more space in my brain than I once thought possible. Thanks for that, Curtis Sittenfeld. What's Rodham about? Despite the fact that I had to poke...
It's not often I yell out "Holy Crap!" while reading historical fiction. But that's exactly what I did smack in the middle of The Exiles. Let's just say the story took a very unexpected turn. Bravo, Christina Baker Kline, for such a bold move. I continually seek out historical fiction novels that doesn't revolve around WW2, and when I saw the ad for The Exiles -- a story about English female convicts and an Aboriginal girl set in 1840s...
I'm just going to jump right into it: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center is one of the best books I've read all year. My original interest in this book wasn't huge. Although I've watched parts of Backdraft and all of Ladder 49, I shy away from anything involving firefighters because I just can't handle the emotional devstation that follows most of their storylines. But, a Zumba buddy recommended Things You Save in a Fire to me, and...
Before I do anything else, I have to give a shout-out to to my blogger friend An Historian About Town, who recommended The Finishing Touches in one of her wonderful blog posts. The Historian and I share an affinity for British chick lit (which, I agree, is usually slightly superior to American chick lit), and this charming, sweet, and funny novel by Hester Browne did not disappoint! So, Historian, thanks for the rec! Consider us even for when I...
