Saturday, November 25, 2023

Behind Closed Door by B.A. Paris - 4 Stars

 "Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.


But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.

Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.

Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed."
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I really enjoyed this one, but was so disappointed in the ending. It literally felt like the author went off to cook dinner and forgot to finish the book! It had been a solid 5 star rating until the ending. 

Friday, November 17, 2023

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino - 5 Stars

 "When Marilyn Kleinman is caught making out with the rabbi’s son in front of the whole congregation, her parents ship her off to her great-aunt Ada for the summer. If anyone can save their daughter’s reputation, it’s Philadelphia’s strict premier matchmaker. Either that or Marilyn can kiss college goodbye.

To Marilyn’s surprise, Ada’s not the humorless septuagenarian her mother described. Not with that platinum-blonde hair, Hermès scarf, and Cadillac convertible. She’s sharp, straight-talking, takes her job very seriously, and abides by her own rules…mostly. As the summer unfolds, Ada and Marilyn head for the Jersey shore, where Marilyn helps Ada scope out eligible matches—for anyone but Marilyn, that is.

Because if there’s one thing Marilyn’s learned from Ada, it’s that she doesn’t have to settle. With the school year quickly approaching and her father threatening to disinherit her, Marilyn must make her choice for her future: return to the comfortable life she knows or embrace a risky, unknown path on her own."

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I enjoyed the storyline throughout this book. When I could manage to not get distracted and actually sit down and read, it was a fast read. The chapters weren't too long, which was a bonus since the last one I read had super long chapters, which I hate.

I was a good 95% done with the book and had given it a solid 4 stars. Then I got to the last chapter and OH MY GOODNESS! So, the one twist I sort of felt throughout the book, but the bomb that was dropped at the very end was TOTALLY unexpected. The end was so emotional compared to the rest of the book. The author really left the outcome of the major twist up to your imagination, though. I was a little distraught at not knowing 100% of the truth about the ending, but that last twist is what bumped it up to a 5 star rating for me. 

Friday, November 3, 2023

The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman - 4 Stars

 "Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.

Six years after Rosemary's death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage's stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn't die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.

Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It's always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined..."

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I really enjoyed reading about Willowbrook. Being a psych major, things/places like this fascinate me. I'm not sure what I was expecting for the duration of the book, but it went from a historical fiction to more of a suspense story. I was expecting a twist at the end, but there wasn't one. This is what deducted a star for me.