A Book A Week

After reading two dark horror novels in a row, I was longing for something lighter to read. Don't get me wrong, I love diving into books that challenge and shock me, but there are times when I just want to read for the pure escapism of it all. Enter Meg Mitchell Moore's latest novel Two Truths and a Lie. I was pleasantly surprised to see this one arrive on my doorstep. It was included with a few others sent to me from the publisher in exchange for a review. From the cover, I wouldn't have picked this one as something I'd normally read. Still, comparisons to Big Little Lies and books by Elin Hilderbrand were more than enough to pique my interest.

The small seaside town of Newburyport, Massachusetts is the perfect place for starting over. Newcomer Sherri Griffin is hoping to do just that. She's recently divorced her husband, gained sole custody of their teenage daughter Katie and is ready to move on with her life. Sherri soon comes into contact with the Mom Squad, a group of local women who have their finger in every aspect of the Town, professionally and socially. To the shock of the other moms, the squad's former head Rebecca welcomes Sherri into their ranks. The pair bond over a common sense of misfortune. You see, Rebecca was widowed not too long ago, so she knows a thing or two about starting over.

Beyond learning about the mothers, Moore equally devotes pages to the story of their daughters. Rebecca's daughter Alexa is the pinnacle of popularity at the local high school. She has combined her gorgeous looks and natural knack at deciphering financial information into a successful YouTube channel. At the urging of her mother, Alexa agrees to babysit Sherri's eleven-year-old Katie. With Katie fast asleep, Alexa turns to snooping around the Griffin's home. She stumbles upon a composition notebook filled with Katie's writing. There's the usual stuff, of course, but Alexa is shocked when she finds information about Katie's past. The past has a funny way of catching up with the present. Armed with the dark knowledge of the Griffin's past, Alexa struggles to keep these secrets to herself. Worse, that dark past is threatening to invade the present, endangering everyone who stands in its way.

Going into Two Truths and a Lie I was really in the mood for juicy drama mixed with light thrills, and that's exactly what Meg Mitchell Moore delivered. This is the kind of breezy summer read that provides just enough depth to sink your teeth into without becoming overwhelming. Comparisons to Elin Hilderbrand's summer novels are the most appropriate, though I don't think I enjoyed Moore's characters in the same way. Their past hardships were enough to motivate their actions, but not enough to excuse some of the cattier confrontations. The mystery element serves more to keep the plot moving than to shock or thill in the traditional sense. Instead, Two Truths and a Lie spends most of its time fleshing out the characters. While I had a few qualms about the way some of these women acted, I did find the mother-daughter relationships to be the most believable part of the book. Either way, Two Truths and a Lie never tries to be anything more than a diversional summer read. It is the kind of escapist story that more than satisfied my need for something different and something that I could read on a summer afternoon. If you are looking to lose yourself in a story while soaking up the summer sun, Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore should more than suffice.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 31)

Over the past several weeks, I've thought a lot about what summer reading means to me. Working from home gave me the luxury of expanding my reading habits and redefining the idea of a summer read. I read some fantastic literary fiction and thought-provoking non-fiction. I was truly becoming a more well-rounded reader. Then this week happened. I went back to work for the first time, and I began the process of readjusting my daily routine. I would get home at the end of the day and be completely exhausted. Add to that the tragic killing of George Floyd and the protesting that followed, and my mental and emotional capacity just couldn't take a heavy read. Enter Jennifer Weiner's latest novel, Big Summer. It is a quick and light read with just enough narrative intrigue and character development to draw your attention away from everything else for a while. In short, exactly the kind of book I needed to read.

Daphne is the kind of character you just can't help but fall in love with. She has struggled with her weight for her entire life. As a child, her grandmother tried to drill healthy eating habits into her, causing self-esteem issues and body dysmorphia that persists to this very day. Being overweight just wasn't acceptable. If you were overweight, you were seen as less than. This translated into all areas of her life, including her friendships. Daphne latched onto Drue Cavanaugh, a rich, skinny girl who used Daphne's loyalty to fit her own needs. Their friendship was never built on an equal fitting, but it served the two girls' needs. Until it didn't. The dissolution of their friendship was inevitable, and the two have not spoken since their falling out.

Six years later, Daphne is living a pretty different life. She still struggles with her weight, but she has embraced it. So much so, in fact, that she's built quite the social media following because of it. Daphne is a bonafide influencer for the plus-size community. Out of the blue, she comes into contact with Drue. Daphne is shocked to learn that Drue is marrying a reality TV star soon, and wants Daphne to be part of the wedding. Daphne is hesitant at first, but Drue promises that she's grown and changed since they last interacted. Finally, Daphne agrees to give their friendship a second chance. Plus a high-profile celebrity wedding can't be bad for the Instagram followers!

The less you know going into Big Summer, the better. Jennifer Weiner fills her book with plenty of twists and turns, each taking the story and characters into unexpected directions. In fact, a twist in the middle of the book turned it from an in-depth character study on friendship and body positivity into a more standard whodunnit. I found this shift to be a bit jarring at first, but the strength of the characters helped carry the change through. Weiner manages to let the book be light and fun while still imbuing it with more thought-provoking commentary on social media, friendship, and body image. I found the mystery aspect to distract from all of this a bit, but I couldn't help but keep reading. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner is summer escapism reading at its finest. As our world continues to challenge us in new ways each day, it is nice to be able to escape into a good book, even if it is only for a few hours.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 24)

With the influx of review requests from authors and publishers alike, it has become a rare occasion for me to stumble upon a new book with no preconception of what it will be. Such is the case with my latest read, The Body Lies by Jo Baker. I was browsing Goodreads when I saw a section of recommendations based upon other books I have read. Readers of my reviews will know I love a good thriller, so this title immediately caught my eye. I elected not to read any other reviews of the book, only the publisher's brief summary. More literary in nature than your average summer thriller release, The Body Lies is the sleeper hit of the genre this season.

Set in the dreary UK, The Body Lies begins with the main character assaulted by a man one night. The pregnant woman is walking home when she sees the man race past her. Before she has time to comprehend what is happening, he has her knocked to the ground and is on top of her. When he is finished with his deed, the woman is left cold, trembling, and unable to will herself to stand. Like countless other women who face the shame and horror that comes with an assault, this one quietly continues with her life. She goes on to have her child and dutifully fills the role of wife and mother. Still, the trauma of the evening stays with her. She longs for some kind of escape.

Three years later, the perfect opportunity for a fresh start presents itself. The woman is offered a teaching job at a college away from London. Her husband is not fully on board with the idea of leaving his own teaching job, so the couple agrees to live separate, still married but in different homes. The woman is eager to teach literature, a passion she hasn't fully explored since her novel did less than stellar. When a colleague takes ill, the woman is set up to teach a course in creative writing. She has little time to prepare the course but approaches it as a chance to truly make her mark at the university.

The small class is comprised of a group of ambitious young authors, each bringing their own unique voice to the table. From the variety of conceptual short stories, fantasy, and crime rises a standout voice that is as compelling as it is frightening. Nick is not certain what his writing will become, but there is no denying his talent. His grim words of obsession and violence lift off of the pages, earning the revere of his classmates and cautious interest of his teacher. For her part, the woman is not sure what to make of Nick. She is especially concerned about the rules that he has set for his writing. One, in particular, chills her to her core. Nick only writes about things that are true.

In The Body Lies author Jo Baker elegantly touches upon the ramifications of assault, obsession, and creative expression. There is a thinly veiled element of mystery layered into the book, but don't expect a breakneck thriller. Instead, Baker writes a brooding character piece that brims with an ever-mounting edge of psychological suspense. While the book is on the shorter side, it is a slow read that takes its time in laying all of its cards out on the table. Baker combines the unnamed narrator's voice with direct quotes from Nick's writing, allowing her reader to see both sides of the character's evolutions before they combine. The Body Lies is literary suspense at its finest, the kind of novel that stays on your mind for days after the final page. While this was my first read by Jo Baker, it certainly will not be my last.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 25)