Book 69 – Too Good To Be True by Carola Lovering

• Started: May 28, 2021
• Finished: May 29, 2021
• Pages: 339
• Multiple POV, Timeline Jumps, New York
• Rating: 4.75/5

REVIEW

After reading so many “slower” thrillers lately, this one was a much more typically paced read. I was able to see where the general direction of the book and guess one of the major twists around a third of the way in – the author used repetitive language in order to drop hints – but I still liked the book. Sometimes I complain when the book has an unhappy ending or I think the bad guy (or gal) gets away with their crime and this one was a mix. It was a little too corny since everyone ended up happy but I suppose they all endured their own trauma along the way; I much prefer this to a punch-to-the stomach ending that some authors go for.

Even though parts of the book were extreme and it was an overall unlikely situation, I think the characters acted pretty reasonably within those parameters. Even if when they weren’t, they were given reasons to be driven to the great lengths they took in order to achieve their goals. Each character was unique and had quirks that really added to their depth and brought life to their backstories. None of the tropes were particularly over done (or at least in books I have read recently) and it all felt refreshing, even if not the most shocking.

A lot of thrillers are compared to Gone Girl and probably unfairly so. This one, however, I think is a more apt comparison. If you have not read Gone Girl, I would recommend it after this. (If you have and think that the corny ending I mentioned in this book would ruin it, I recommend The Girl in the Mirror – review here). I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more by the author.

SUMMARY

Skye Starling is excited to marry the love of her life, Burke Michaels. Sure he is quite a bit older, and they’ve barely known each other a year, but it feels right. He truly sees her and accepts her, despite her OCD and regardless of her family’s money. Her loved ones are a bit apprehensive, but she’s all in. Burke, on the other hand, knows they have a right to be suspicious: he is married and has three kid and he loves his family above all else. He details his deceit in a journal, writing letters to the couples therapist he and his wife could no longer afford. In a third perspective and timeline, one thirty years ago, Heather Prince is a down-on-her luck teenager in a poor town whose life dramatically changes when she is taken under the wing of Libby Fontaine, the woman who hires her to babysit. She is swept into the world of money and charm and realizes she has a future outside of her hometown. All three perspectives and timelines are on a crash course towards one another as the past and present are more intertwined than one could ever suspect.

May 28, 2021

Top – Anthropologie Pussybow Blouse (Up in the Air)

Bottom – Levi Wedgie Fit Ankle Jeans (Charleston Moves)

Shoes – Everlane Day Glove Boot (Slate Grey)

Wow I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted a lewk. Oops! This was just something comfortable since we had a big drop in the weather and I was meeting a friend for dinner and drinks after work. This blouse is very loose so I like to wear it with higher waisted pants/skirts but these jeans are so loose in the waist. I can’t decide if I should get them taken in or not. I think I’ll wait until the fall and see how they work then since I’ll probably be putting them away once the weather is consistently better.

Book 68 – The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

• Started: May 27, 2021
• Finished: May 27, 2021
• Pages: 320
• Third Person POV
• Rating: 4.25/5

REVIEW

This was a slow burn of a thriller. The first half was mostly set up and the about writers/writing in general. I was able to pick up the culprit pretty quickly – partially because there weren’t a ton of options – and I think the book ended in pretty much the only way it could have. Well, maybe there was one other way with the roles reversed (vague to avoid spoilers) but I think this made more sense, even if I didn’t love it. There was not a ton of dialogue in the book which can make it feel a bit more dense, especially as you’re easing into the novel, but the descriptions rarely felt heavy or over-written.

Sprinkled throughout the book are excerpts of The Plot in question and I am glad the author decided to include them. I thought that the way the author built it up would mean that it would remain out of our reach, so we could only imagine this mystical Plot. On one hand I didn’t find The Plot nearly as revolutionary as the book described it, so it definitely would have helped keep the allure. On the other hand, I read a lot of thrillers and it still seemed like a very good book that I would also wanted to read.

I would definitely recommend this book. Even though it was not as shocking as I would have hoped, you do get the double story of the main plot and The Plot which the main character writes and both are engaging. I haven’t read anything else by the author yet but I did watch The Undoing which is based off of You Should Have Known, another book by Hanff Korelitz. I will probably look into other books by her.

SUMMARY

Jacob Bonner – Jake – is a writer. Or, was a writer. He had one fairly successful book and then proceeded to write another significantly less successful one. He works in an MFA program that caters more to bored suburbanites than the next George RR Martin. It is there he meets Evan Parker, a student who claims to have The Plot that will catapult him to great success. Jake is dubious until he hears it; he knows any story he tries to write in the future will pale in comparison. He overall forgets about until until he realizes, a few years later, that Evan’s success never came to fruition. Not because the idea wasn’t good, but because Evan died before he could do anything with it. And so, Jake takes the idea and finds all the great success that Evan had foreseen years ago. He tries to enjoy it, but is terrified that his secret will come out. And then, he gets the first e-mail: You are a thief. Jake’s greatest fear and it is just as terrifying for him as he anticipated. As he tries to figure out who his tormentor is, he also begins to discover the true origins of The Plot.

Book 67 – The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

• Started: May 23, 2021
• Finished: May 24, 2021
• Pages: 254
• Single POV
• Rating: 4.25/5

REVIEW + SUMMARY

I really liked the way this book ended. I know that’s a strange way to start a review but I thought it was sweet and resolved every bit of the book well. This book leaned into the sci-fi – mostly dealing with clone technology – but still focused on the interpersonal relationships that affected rather than larger world implications. It was actually quite a tight drama, with very few characters gracing the pages. Their relationships were taut and mostly dealt with the main character, Evelyn Caldwell. Evelyn is a driven scientist who has revolutionized the world with her ability to create clones, the rest of her life be damned. Or at least that’s partially how her husband, Nathan, felt when he used that technology to create a clone of her (Martine), with slight alterations into a more docile version.

Once Evelyn finds out about Martine she and Nathan get divorced and she throws herself even more into her research. All that changes, however, when Martine invites Evelyn for tea. First, Evelyn realizes Martine is pregnant, something Nathan always wanted but Evelyn didn’t. Next, Evelyn erupts on Martine, questioning her status as a clone and why she was truly created. Her mild regret over the meeting turns much more serious when Martine calls her later that evening; Nathan tried to kill her and Martine killed him in self defense. They must work together to figure out the next steps in order to keep them both safe. What follows is Evelyn’s thought process in the following months and her budding friendship with Martine.

Only parts of this book read as a thriller; it would have worked equally well under the genre “drama.” I really enjoyed Martine’s character, her restraints due to her programming and her attempts to fight back against them. It was very Westworld-esque, but I guess that is also how plots usually work when clones get involved: they are developed for one reason and then fight against it in an attempt at sentience. Evelyn was a trickier character but I did like her background and how she grew over the course of the novel. There was a very striking contrast between Martine, the mother, and Evelyn, the career woman, and perhaps there could have been a deeper dive into it or maybe the book alone was a great enough social commentary.

I would recommend for those looking into a science fiction based thriller. I did not enjoy it as much as Blake Crouch’s books but maybe that’s because of the books’ respective lengths and dedication to world building. I don’t know if I will read anything else by this author. This book was good but I am not sure that I am interested in more of their combination of sci-fi and thriller.

Book 66 – Six Weeks to Live by Catherine McKenzie

• Started: May 20, 2021
• Finished: May 20, 2021
• Pages: 373
• Multiple POV, Timelined, Canada
• Rating: 4/5

REVIEW

I didn’t super love this book and I think that’s because its whole set up had it at a disadvantage: the main character, Jennifer, is going to die. We know this and we accept this from just reading the inside cover. Figuring out who caused her death and why is interesting but it doesn’t change the fact that Jennifer’s life will end at just 48 years because someone closed to her poisoned her. And that is heartbreaking. Over the course of the book we learn so much more about her family, specifically her triplet daughters, and their relationship. It’s definitely more of a family drama than a more typical thriller since, as I mentioned, the slow burn of the murder takes place before we open the book and nothing can be done to change that.

And what a drama it is! The triplets each have their own personalities and twisted standing in their family – both with their mother and each other. I particularly liked how they discussed their different memories of the same events. Their childhood was particularly unique due to their star status as triplets made up of identical twins and a third sister. From the womb, lines were drawn and it didn’t get any easier as they grew up. I have no idea how that family dynamic would play out in real life but this seemed pretty realistic and a good look at how people find their place in their families.

I did find the ending/the reveal to be a bit much. I don’t know that any motivation for the murder would have justified it for me, but the one presented definitely didn’t. It was such a final act of revenge for a not nearly as final behavior. The culprit gets away unscathed, seemingly forgiven by Jennifer. I suppose we’ll never truly know but she seemed to have a sense of peace with it all so I decided to too. This is the second book I’ve read by McKenzie, the first was I’ll Never Tell last year. I did enjoy that book more than this one and will look out for other books by the author. I would recommend this book but caution future readers to work out if they are okay knowing the main character’s death is unavoidable. If you have read and liked this book, I would The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlye (review here) as there were many similar themes.

SUMMARY

Jennifer Barnes is dying. She has terminal cancer and the diagnosis came far too later for it to be operable. She is shocked, but that quickly turns into anger when she begins to suspect that she was poisoned. She immediately assumes it is her ex-husband, with whom she is going through a contentious divorce. Their triplet daughters, aware their father wasn’t the best, still don’t believe he would take things so far in order to get his way. Switching between Jennifer’s perspective and that of her three daughters, each will have to reckon with their past and their familial bonds in order to make peace before Jennifer’s untimely demise.

May 18, 2021

Top – Everlane Cashmere Tee (White)

Bottom – Loft Trousers (Black)

Belt – Salvatore Ferragamo Gancini (Black / Silver)

Shoes – ASOS Samson Slingback Mid Heel (Houndstooth)

This was a pretty basic outfit but I still liked it. Someone pointed out that all I needed was a pop of red and they were completely right. I would definitely wear this lewk out and about (maybe with a newer pair of trousers) and I have the perfect red purse to go with. A good idea for the future!

Book 65 – The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith

• Started: May 17, 2021
• Finished: May 17, 2021
• Pages: 229
• Third Person POV, Sweden
• Rating: 4/5

REVIEW + SUMMARY

There was nothing particularly wrong with this book but it had a cadence I never quite caught onto. It wasn’t a book of short stories but the individual cases felt that way, even as they bled into the next chapter. But there was also no true overarching storyline to it either. It went off on A LOT of tangents, some more interesting than others. I haven’t read anything else by the author (probably most famous for the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series) so perhaps this is his style and it will read easier for those used to it.

First the department is tasked with solving who stabbed the back of a sort-of cashmere seller’s knee. After that they move on to finding a missing boyfriend who never existed to begin with. Finally, there is the case of howling and rummaging in the landscaping at a nearby health spa that is scaring the guests away. All the while Ulf Varg (roughly translated to Wolf Wolf) is managing his team of misfits, his depressed dog, and his feelings towards Anna Bengtsdotter, his married team member. The other half of the team is Carl Holgersson who spends most of his waking time at work, filling out paperwork so others aren’t bogged down by it (though he suspects they don’t like it any less than he does) and Erik Nykvist who spends most of his waking time thinking and talking about fishing. Just another day at the office for this group.

That being said, I very much liked the cases in the book and the characters that solved them. They were all kind of ridiculous, but in the same way that life is also ridiculous. Nothing was too far fetched and some of the details – however strange – brought a sense of realism to the novel. For example, a man brings up he has had his cough for two weeks which later spurs a discussion around if that is notable or not and how long others have had coughs for. Mundane, Seinfeld-esque stuff almost, but also how co-workers talk. I wish the book had been a little bit longer – either via one more case or having a case take longer to solve. The middle was a little daunting and by far the most interesting, but none of them seemed particularly difficult in the scheme of crime-solving. Varg remarks that they are in the dark when it comes to solving cases and sometimes they happen to stumble over the right piece to solve it. He quite accurate described the team’s crime-solving.

It was a quick read at just under 230 pages. I am neutral on recommending since it was still hard to get into. I am intrigued by the developing possible romance between Ulf and Anna so I will probably pick up the next book in the series. I think if you have liked other books by McCall Smith you would probably like this as well.

Book 64 – The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

• Started: May 15, 2021
• Finished: May 15, 2021
• Pages: 351
• Multiple POV, UK
• Rating: 5!/5

REVIEW + SUMMARY

I love old people. I am fortunate to have grown up with three of my four grandparents and they are a constant light in my life. While the main characters of the book were a bit younger (ranging from mid-70s to 80 it seemed) they were also a true light. This was one of the best books I’ve read. It had me laughing out loud within the first ten pages (and throughout the next 340+ pages) and also made me cry multiple times before I reached the end. It was clever and wrapped in many mysteries without ever becoming confusing. The characters were unique and resourceful; the glimpse we got into their world made me never want to leave.

Four residents at the Coopers Chase Retirement Village form the Thursday Murder Club, a group to discuss unsolved crimes. Their conversations transition from purely hypothetical to hard line inquiries when the developer who build their community is found murdered. He just the first to fall dead as they become enmeshed in multiple crimes spanning the course of decades. Each member brings their own special skillset and camaraderie to the group. Teaming up with local cops, they realize that their friendship and search for the truth will keep them feeling even younger than when the entered Coopers Chase.

It’s harder for me to write about the books I liked than the ones I didn’t. This is no exception. It was such a delightful read and was able to juggle humor, loss, romance, friendship, and multiple mysteries without ever letting one drop off. I know that a sequel is already in the works for later this year and film rights have been sold. I am already looking forward to the future of Coopers Chase and its residents. I would HIGHLY recommend this book as an absolutely heartwarming, hilarious treat.

Book 63 – You Again by Debra Jo Immergut

• Started: May 12, 2021
• Finished: May 14, 2021
• Pages: 265
• Fiction
• Rating: 4/5

REVIEW + SUMMARY

I did not understand this book but I still very much enjoyed it and I think that’s worth something.  It’s described as a thriller – a label I found quite inaccurate – and the inside cover of the book makes it seem as though it will go a completely different route than the book ends up.  That all being said, I think it was quite beautiful and an interesting reflection on the journey life takes us.  The book was simultaneously chronological and not – the main character (Abigail) keeps a journal that serves as the main plot; this went month by month over the course of 2015.  There were interjections of therapy session notes that had no specific timeline, e-mails from 2016, and a neuroscientist’s experience in 2016.  It added to the intrigue and kind of gave credence to the “thriller” label but it didn’t really build up to anything.  

Abigail is going home one day when she sees herself – from 20 years ago.  Over the course of the next year, she continues to run into this version of herself and it forces her to reckon with where her life stands.  Her marriage is shaky, her older son is rebelling, she no longer paints, and it feels like things are going to crash down.  Abigail struggles with how much of her life she wants to defend and how much she wants to protect her younger self from experiencing.

There was a whole subplot about Abigail’s older son – and later her in a way – joining the AntiFa movement and I thought it was very strange.  Not that a young, impressionable boy would do such a thing, but rather their acceptance as parents.  He was accused of decapitating pigeons in the name of the movement and was suspended/grounded but still encouraged to keep up with the group.  What? He got roped in because of a mysterious classmate who always had the newest phone and 47 pairs of sneakers.  Again – what? I’m not saying that everyone has to go all in to support a cause but maybe don’t be a shining beacon of capitalism if you’re going to recruit others to bring down banks.

Abigail and her husband, Dennis, are both artists and I thought the inclusion of the art world was very lovely.  It’s something that always piques my interest and I think it was a good backdrop for the story.  It explained a bit of her crisis – from being an ambitious creative to turning into another cog in the wheel – and perhaps was a good reason why she was so open to her son’s own rebellion.  

I do think I would have a better understanding of the book if I re-read it, as all the non-journal entries would make a lot more sense.  I kind of glanced back and put a few things together but it still did not add up to anything definitive.  I don’t know that it was supposed to, though; I think that parts were supposed to be vague because there was truly no explanation or way to understand Abigail’s experience of seeing and interacting with herself.  I liked this book enough to recommend it but would be wary of describing it as a thriller instead of just a lovely piece of fiction describing a woman in crisis.

May 13, 2021

Top – Banana Republic Factory Scoop Neck Bodysuit (Black)

Bottom – J. Crew Pleated Midi Skirt (Academic Green)

Shoes – Lorna Garden Embroidered Suede Sandals

Belt – Anthropologie Mabel Belt

Earrings – J. Crew Lucite Tube Hoops

We had dinner date at Ever tonight to celebrate us both being fully vaccinated. It was a really nice restaurant that we had been wanting to go to since it opened but there was no outdoor section so we waited until now. Totally worth the wait, it was a delicious meal and a wonderful experience. I wore a cardigan over the tank for the work day with flats to make it a little more comfortable and I thought the lewk transitioned so well!