Living the Dream

Emma is a rising star at the marketing firm she works at as a "creative," but would have trouble describing what exactly it is she does all day. She pours most of her actual creative energy into a popular blog that all of her friends agree is brilliant, but she has yet to make a cent on it. Clem is a massively talented screenwriter just back from New York, where she picked up a fancy graduate degree in film. But until she convinces an agent to take on her masterpiece script, she's stuck hostessing at the bar she frequented as an undergrad, and the only calls she's getting are about bills past due and overdrawn bank accounts. In their ironclad friendship both girls find a reliable break from the post-collegiate absurdities and indignities that seem to abound in life right at the moment they feel they should finally be getting it all together.

With a rotating cast of lovably insufferable friends, from Emma's fabulous DJ and ladies man roommate to Clem's painfully ordinary and predictable childhood chum, the girls wind their way through the twists and turns of aging parents and terrible bosses and regrettable one night stands, unforeseen setbacks and blessings that present as anything but, and remind each other that while their ships might not have come in yet, the after work drinks are cold and the company can't be beat.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Lauren Berry's novel, Living the Dream, epitomizes the struggle of millennials: wanting it all and not really knowing how to get it. We have these fancy degrees that someone told us we needed, but now we're not sure how to get where we want to go. Well, Emma and Clementine, the two heroines of this humorous novel, try to forge their own paths to success while their friends cheer them on, repeatedly stumbling but always getting back up. 

Emma and Clementine are best friends but almost polar opposites. Emma dreams of being a creative writer and getting paid for it, while she spends her weekday hours pretending to be all in at a marketing firm and secretly hating it. Though she dreams of quitting and branching out into the world of freelance, or even a steady column, her fear holds her back. How will she pay the bills? Who will feed her? What about the dates with friends that keep her sane? Meanwhile, Clementine knows that she's an amazing screenwriter and is determined not to settle for anything less. Even though she is forced to work at a bar while she waits for her script to be optioned. She knows its wrong to borrow money from her family and depend on Emma for her bar tab, but her perseverance is admirable. She does not give up nor does she back down. 

Through both of their personalities and goals, I think readers will feel a connection to both Emma and Clementine. Though they may relate to one more than the other, these opposites will reflect many experiences, feelings, and uncertainties that we've all had. The 'what next?' universal conflict. The go big or go home complex. Or even the 'let's just dip a toe in and see what happens' trial run. Because of how nerve-wracking it is to try to 'live our dreams' this book offers readers the necessary understanding that it's okay to be scared and it's okay to take our time when making big life decisions and finding out what's right for us. 

Now that I've said that, I will add that there is a bit of a controversial situation in the latter half of the book that could potentially bother some readers. Though this book is obviously pro-feminist and pro-women's rights, basically pro-women in general, I feel like I should mention that there is a character who receives an abortion. Because of the controversial nature of this topic, there may be some female readers who find themselves uncomfortable at the end of this novel. However, that's okay. Though I think most readers will enjoy this book, especially readers who enjoy feminist wit, there will be some who don't agree with the character's decision. I just thought I'd give a little fair warning. 

Overall, the title of this novel represents what this book is about. The two main characters want to live their dreams, but they struggle to get there. Through a myriad of hilarious, sad, and embarrassing situations, Emma and Clem try to achieve their dreams all while helping their friend Yasmin prepare for her wedding. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

What's Next, Wednesday (86)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to... 

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare. This is the second book in Clare's Dark Artifices series and I've been waiting patiently to make room on my reading list for this one. I still need to run to the bookstore and get it, but I can't wait any longer. In this sequel to Lady Midnight, the stakes are high as Julian Blackthorn and Emma Carstairs try to find the Black Volume, a book that could help them. But there are others who want it and others still who would kill any Blackthorn. I really must buy this book today as I might get snowed in this weekend and that would be glorious. 

Teaser Tuesday (295)

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

Living the Dream (p. 236)

   - Lauren Berry

"But in this universe, she wouldn't make the same mistake again and she would produce a piece of writing about it and put it all behind her.

Hope everyone had a happy Monday, whether you were celebrating Christmas or just enjoying a bank holiday! :) Just a few more days left in 2017... I may spend my three day weekend coming up reading everything I can and eating leftover cookies. What about you??

What's Next, Wednesday (85)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to...

River Rising by John A Heldt. This is the first book in the Carson Chronicles series and involves time travel, which is exactly the way I like my history lessons. I'm excited to start this new series as I really enjoyed Heldt's last one. Though this time, the time travelers get stuck and must be rescued by their children, which is a fresh twist on time travel for me. I don't know if I'd trust my brother to take me to the 1880s, but I'll leave that worrying to Adam's siblings in the book. 

If You Only Knew

A wife, a mother, a killer.

One wrong decision, one terrifying night, leaves student Elizabeth with a stark choice – kill or be killed. And the consequences of that choice will shape her whole life.

Now a wife, a mother, and a lawyer, she must find a way to outrun her past, protect her family and live with her secret. But is it really possible to live a happy life with such a huge shadow cast by the past? And as it becomes clear that someone else knows her secret and is hunting her down, time is running out for Elizabeth to keep her family safe.

In the bestselling tradition of Clare Mackintosh and Jenny Blackhurst, Cynthia Clark has written a heart-stopping story about the choices we make and how far we'd go to protect our families. Even if it means deceiving the people we love most...

*May Contain Spoilers*

Cynthia Clark shares a story of survival and secrecy with her book If You Only Knew. When Liz was a young girl in college, she was kidnapped and raped. In saving her own life, she killed the man who attacked her and ran away - keeping what happened, and the baby that was a result of it, a secret. But now, the truth is about to come out. 

First off, I know that Clark writes Liz's actions in a way that readers certainly are able to understand her motives. But, that being said, it is definitely not okay that she didn't contact the police, especially when a man's life was taken after what he did to her. I think not involving the police just made the whole thing even harder for Liz. It became a secret shame that she kept from everyone, even her husband, and I think it just made her life harder when she could have dealt with it. I understand why she did it -- she was afraid -- but it was definitely not the right move. 

Now, years later, Liz is still trying to hide it - her past and her true self - from everyone she knows. And if this isn't bad enough, she forced her husband to move into the same neighborhood as the daughter she gave up for adoption. Though Liz is an interesting character and the story is quite thrilling, I just don't understand why Liz builds her life out of lies. Even though Liz is a likeable character, I think the fact that she has the reader's empathy from the very beginning is the main reason readers would hope she didn't get caught. But what kind of story would it be if she didn't? The fact that she does get caught is what forces her to move forward in her life and deal with her past and her issues. 

Though I may be the only one who looks at Liz this way, I can't help but think she made a huge mistake in not trusting the police when it would have been obvious what happened. Though I did want her story to resolve happily, I kind of wanted her to get caught so it would all just be out in the open. I don't think using self-defense to protect oneself makes someone a murderer or a killer in the way that Liz seemed to think. 

Besides that disagreement I had with how Liz handled things, I really enjoyed the book. It was a little nerve-wracking and a little scary. I felt like everything was going to come crashing down at any moment and when it did - it was almost a relief. I was actually more interested in what Liz would do and what would happen after her secret was out and I think it pushed me to read a little bit faster towards the end of the book. I think readers who enjoy thrillers, women's fiction, and like being pushed to their nail-biting limits will enjoy reading this book. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Teaser Tuesday (294)

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

Living the Dream (p. 28)

    - Lauren Berry

She was wistfully stirring a martini that she couldn't afford and hoping Emma wouldn't get caught at work. If Emma couldn't buy the drinks, Clem would have to run for it. 

Under the Feet of Jesus

With the same audacity with which John Steinbeck wrote about migrant worker conditions in The Grapes of Wrath and T.C. Boyle in The Tortilla Curtain, Viramontes (The Moths and Other Stories) presents a moving and powerful vision of the lives of the men, women, and children who endure a second-class existence and labor under dangerous conditions in California's fields.   This first novel tells the story a young girl, Estrella, and her Latino family as they struggle with arduous farm labor during the summer months, and still manage to latch onto the hope of a liberating future.  Viramontes graces the page with poetic touch, artfully describing poverty conditions and bringing to the reader a panoramic view of social consciousness and unforgettable characters.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Maria Viramontes is one of those books that slowly reveals its secrets to you. With a surface reading of this novel, readers will witness one migrant family's summer experience at a new place to work and the daughter's budding friendship with another migrant boy that is cut short because of illness. But with just a surface read, readers won't get this book. It demands a deeper look. 

Estrella and her family are migrant workers. Though they are United States citizens they are treated as immigrants, with disrespect and disregard. Estrella doesn't really think of fighting for more until she meets Alejo, a boy who dreams of going to college and living the American Dream. Though their friendship seems off-kilter at times, Alejo helps Estrella realize that there is a separation between her and society based on her language, her skin color, her clothing, and the dirt beneath her nails.When Alejo gets sick with no family around to take care of him, his life falls into the hands of Estrella and her mother, Petra. With the last of their money, they try to take him to the doctor and the harsh treatment they receive and the uncaring attitude is appalling. 

Readers of this book will take part in a bilingual experience that challenges the differences that people make between races, careers, and ethnicities. They'll connect with Estrella and her family based on their humanity and the common ground all human beings share. They'll be slightly disturbed at the treatment Estrella receives, stuck between her family and the way society dictates the American way of life. I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoy learning more about different social groups, historical events, and those who want to expand the boundaries of social norms. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

 

What's Next, Wednesday (84)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

With my heavy reading list for grad school right now, I'm trying to keep my TBR pile a little lighter than normal. Though, I'm still looking forward to reading Living the Dream by Lauren Berry. I'm really hoping to get to it this weekend. :) This book just seems like it's going to be incredibly relatable and hilarious. Maybe I'll be able to catch up with all my reading on Holiday Break...? Wish me luck! 

Teaser Tuesday (293)

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

If You Only Knew (Kindle 47%)

    - Cynthia Clark

This could have been me, getting ready for Maya's sixteenth birthday. Instead, I'm sitting on the sidelines, a spectator, as Ellen prepares to shower the child I'd given birth to with love and gifts.

What's Next, Wednesday (83)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to...

Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Maria Viramontes. This book about an immigrant family living in California during the 1960s is on my class reading list so it's up next on my reading list. This book came out in 1995 so I'm wondering if any of you have read it? If you did, let me know what you thought of it. I'm looking at this book from a feminist perspective and how the author represented the immigrant family. 

Teaser Tuesday (293)

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

If You Only Knew (Kindle 21%)

    - Cynthia Clark

The investigation had moved on from John Larkin's death to the girls who had been found. The bodies had started to be identified and police were trying to determine what had happened to them.

The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories of Christmas Spirit

A joyous and deeply emotional collection of three unforgettable Christmas novellas.

The Thursday Night Club: Five college friends, three men and two women, have been getting together every Thursday night to share humble meals and an abundance of laughter. But when tragedy takes one of them, leaving the others to question the fairness of life, the Thursday Night Club decides to embark on a contest in the memory of the generous spirit of their fallen brother. The objective of the contest is simple: whoever performs the kindest deed by Christmas night wins the pot – four quarters. And there are only two conditions: the benevolent deed must be anonymous, and it cannot cost a single penny to pull off. As the four friends undertake the contest, the healing begins and they become inspired beyond their expectations. There might be a winner in this competition, but it is very clear there will be no losers.

A Christmas Wish: Steph is on a search for truth in her heart as she faces the prospect of real love for the first time. Brian is out to enjoy his favorite season in a way that doctors never thought he could. And at the center of it all is their grandmother, affectionately known as Mama, a woman of remarkable commitment and charity who knows something very important about making Christmas wishes come true.

The Tin-Foil Manger: Published in this volume for the first time, this is the story of Nancy, an elderly woman with little to live for and Jeanne, the caretaker who wants to believe that Nancy has more to live for. Together, they embark on a journey to the past – a past of modest Christmases, tin-foil mangers, and abundant love – to rediscover the time when Nancy felt truly alive. Nancy’s memories and how they touch Jeanne, will turn this Christmas into one for the ages.

Rich with emotion and profound with meaning, these three stories of Christmas spirit that will strike a chord in your heart any time of year and make you look at the holiday season in new ways.

*May Contain Spoilers*

If you're ready to get in the holiday spirit, The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories will certainly have you on your way! Steven Manchester shares three heart-warming stories with his readers in this short, easy to read collection. 

I've previously reviewed The Thursday Night Club and therefore, will skip over it here. However, if you want to read my review, click here and enjoy. :)

Now, out of the two remaining stories, both compete as compassionate and moving. What I loved most about these stories was their subject matter. "A Christmas Wish" tackles an important and relevant topic: homosexuality. I love that Manchester brings this sometimes controversial topic into his collection of Christmas stories and shows it support. Bravo! The wish of the main character of this story is simply to learn how to accept herself and show her true self to the world. With her grandmother's help, this wish just might come true. Who am I kidding? It does! And it's beautiful. Self-identity is a hard thing to recognize and accept and through that emotional and universally human feeling, readers will connect with Steph and realize that the journey for self-acceptance is a deeply personal one that can and will be influenced by outsiders. 

"The Tin-Foil Manger" tackles a different topic: Alzheimer's and the struggle family members have with it. Though the daughters of Nancy are not presented in the best light, Nancy forms a deep friendship with one of her nurses, Jeanne, who is determined to help slow the advancement of Nancy's disease. After learning that Christmas was Nancy's favorite time of year, Jeanne decides to use that holiday season joy to try to bring Nancy back to the present. I enjoyed Jeanne's character and how dedicated she was to Nancy's care. It was also inspiring to see an elderly woman, who was essentially left alone by her family, find friendship and hope in her care facility. It was also enjoyable to read about the Christmas traditions of so many cultures around the world as Manchester fit them into Nancy's memories. Though the flashbacks got a little tenuous at times, it provided the story with a rich background of information. 

Overall, The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories shares the spirit of hope, generosity, acceptance, and love of the holiday season. They were stories that simply made me smile and I think other readers will enjoy reading them just as much. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

The Language of Thorns

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Though I finished this book a while ago, I'm still thinking about a few of the stories that Leigh Bardugo included in her short story collection, The Language of Thorns. It was such a great collection of heartbreaking twists, surprising turns, and beautiful language. I've always enjoyed Bardugo's work, though I'm behind on Six of Crows and that duology. (I plan to read it ASAP.) I think fans of Bardugo's will absolutely love this collection if the release party I went to a couple of months ago is any indication. However, I also think fantasy readers, in general, will enjoy this collection and it will probably create a few more fans for the Grishaverse. 

It's hard to say which character in this collection I felt the most connected to, but I'll dare to name Ulla from "When Water Sang Fire." I love the Little Mermaid fairy tale (all the different versions) and it was interesting to see how Bardugo took a villain and created a backstory while changing things around a little bit. Although I do think it helped that this was the longest story and therefore I had the most time to understand Ulla's character. 

One of my favorite things about this book was that it was unpredictable. Bardugo isn't afraid to show someone's evil side and she often uses beauty and facades to cover it up -- making a plot twist even more jaw-dropping. I felt that each story had a surprise and sometimes I saw it coming while other times I did not. 

I also really liked how Bardugo gave life to inanimate objects or personified animals in the stories. For me, this makes the fantasy world just come to life with possibilities and it really resonates the magical nature of the Grishaverse. If you haven't read anything by Bardugo but enjoy fantasy, I would definitely recommend starting with this book. It will introduce you to Bardugo's writing style while allowing you to dip your toe into the realm that she has created. Then you can happily, and excitedly, move on to her series. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

PS - If you want to read about each story then you can click on "Books Reviewed" on the banner and scroll to the bottom to the Short Story Collection section. Happy reading!

What's Next, Wednesday (82)

•  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

I'm looking forward to...

Living the Dream by Lauren Berry. Just got the ARC of this in the mail last week and I'm itching to start it, even though it's third on my review list right now. Set in London, this book tackles the lives of a group of girlfriends as they live out their twenties. Sharing careers, failures, successes, and drinks, I'm thinking this will be a book to laugh and, maybe, cry with. 

Teaser Tuesday (292)

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

This week my teaser is from the book I read when I'm in between books! Enjoy!

Dhampir (p.157) 

    - Barb and JC Hendee

"Shhhhh," she whispered. "It's not far to dawn. Come and find easier prey. You must think of our home. You must think of me."

Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3)

When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…

Career of Evil is the third in the series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A mystery and also a story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives.

*May Contain Spoilers*

I just love reading detective novels and Robert Galbraith exceeds every expectation with his book, Career of Evil, the third in the Cormoran Stike series. This installment revolves around Cormoran's past as someone is determined to see Strike taken down from his role as premiere detective. 

Though readers already know Strike and Robin pretty well, I'd say Galbraith takes it a step further in this book as we learn more about both of these main characters through their pasts. Readers learn more about Strike through the three suspects he reveals could have sent the leg and, thus, is committing the murders. Strike's mother and step-father are discussed in detail as Strike's hatred for Mr. Whittaker is bluntly demonstrated. This hatred stems from the way Whittaker treated Strike's mother and how Strike blames him for his mother's death. Both Donald Liang and Noel Brockbank are horrible men from Strike's past who both blame Strike for the way their lives turned out. Even though Noel is a child molester and Liang is severely unhinged as well as violent, Strike knows they blame him for their reputations and jail time. From these three men, Strike's past and mental state are further opened for the reader. However, I think readers will make a deeper connection with Robin in this book as something heartbreaking from her past is revealed. 

Robin's interest in detective work has never made sense to her fiance Matthew or her family. Yet, with this book, Robin's experience with sexual assault is revealed and therefore, readers will come to better understand her interest not only in detective work but in self-defense and sleuthing in general. This book also revolves around the fear of Robin being hurt as the initial severed leg is sent to Robin and not to Strike. With glimpses into the life of the killer, readers learn that his whole plan revolves around murdering Robin and disgracing Strike completely with the added hope that Strike is arrested for the murderer's crimes. This important aspect gives the entire book an air of trepidation as readers fear for Robin's every step as the killer stalks her. 

Overall, of course, the plot is engaging, intriguing, and, at times, downright disturbing. Galbraith leaves no gritty detail unwritten and the images are a bit extreme. This book kept me reading past my bedtime many nights and even inspired me to not start a new series on Netflix. If that doesn't say it's good, I don't know what will. I would highly recommend this to readers who like detective novels, the previous books in the series, or want to give a really well-written mystery a go. I'll also add that even though there were only three suspects, I did not figure out which one it was before it was revealed. Galbraith really keeps readers on their toes. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Note: Robert Galbraith is the penname for JK Rowling