Happy book birthday to FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry
There is something uplifting about reading a romcom by Emily Henry. The characters are flawed, but not too much, caught up in a humorous situation but one that is not without pain, suffering and a huge attraction to the one person you shouldn't be attracted to. In this tale of interesting relationships we find Daphne (a wonderful children's librarian!) who is dumped almost at the alter and becomes roomies with the guy who got dumped and is now shacking up with Daphne's ex fiancé. Daphne and Miles seem to be opposites except for the obvious until an idea that starts out as a "get even" move creates more of a spark than they anticipated. Classic Emily Henry wit, charm and romantic entanglements that mark her books as a must read on a beach or wherever. 5 happy go lucky stars
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A celebration of food, art and the Parisian way of life in 1980 as well as a hunt for a father, a female painter and a path forward for a lost American expat. Stella travels to Paris to honor her mother's last wish. She had led a difficult life so far with her not at all "warm and fuzzy" mother and has no clue who her father is. She finds herself experiencing everything life has to offer from beautiful vintage designer dresses to food to art. With no income she finds a temporary home at the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore and discovers a community ready to offer support and help her with her quest. Perfect armchair travel - all the sights, smells and tastes that only Ruth Reichl can convey plus a colorful cast of characters you can't help but fall for. Readers of MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING and francophiles will eat this up. 4 1/2 stars There once was a wonderful woman named Pippa who loved puzzles and gathered puzzle makers from far and wide to create and puzzle together in a big house. While everyone was happy there was one piece missing until a baby boy was left on the doorstep for Pippa and the others to raise as their own. Years go by and Pippa passes away leaving the baby, now a young adult, no closer to knowing who his birth parents are. Pippa leaves clues for Clayton to travel to London to solve the puzzle of his birth and have the adventure of his life along the way.
Told in alternating chapters between present day Clayton and Pippa's life years ago this is a warm and fuzzy look at what it means to be a family and love in its many forms. The reader gets the opportunity to join in solving the clues too! For fans of unusual family groups and stores with a strong sense of community with a twist like THE CARTOGRAPHERS, THE WISHING GAME and THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY. 4 stars A sweet story about the power of love, loss, friendship and community. Two neighbors butt heads over an overgrown common space. Winston is a curmudgeon who likes keeping to himself until Bernice moves in next door dealing with her new role as a recently divorced part time parent to her young son. They are at odds until a package of photos and anonymous notes of unknown people and a garden spark an interest in giving new life to the common garden space they share. It will take a great deal of understanding and the unrelenting good nature of a little boy to bring the garden into shape, their friendship to blossom and their community to thrive. For fans of A MAN CALLED OVE and her debut book THE READING LIST. 4 stars The master storyteller has pulled a collection of gems together that differ from one another as does a diamond and turquoise but each is character heavy and told in his unmistakable style. Full of flawed characters, immediately human, whether it is a man caught in a Ukrainian revolution trying to survive or a woman testing her independence in the Golden Age of Hollywood. I truly enjoyed jumping from one life to another but the cherry on top of the cupcake was the continuing story of a character from RULES OF CIVILITY. Haven't we all wanted a trip to not end and wondered what would happen if you just stayed on the train, plane or missed the stop on the highway? The destination is Hollywood in 1938 where the shiny glamour meets the tarnished underbelly with both good and bad people caught in the middle. A true gem of short stories and novella that will appeal to his many fans and the perfect way to get a taste of his genius. 5 stars
A retired cop befriends a young woman seeking answers about the dead brother she never knew. Dennis was sent through the system and ended up at a boy's institution in remote Oregon where he drowned. Amanda born years later was adopted and now is trying to find connections to her birth family. Larry is a lonely widower who sees something special in Amanda and offers to help her for what turns out to be a hard road. People aren't talking about what happened at the institution and the paper trail is long. The side story is about Amanda's passion that of caring for a solitary polar bear at the zoo. She is trying to help the bear connect with his family through DNA. Their search goes deeper into uncovering what was really going on at the school putting them in danger with justice for Dennis within their reach. Rene Denfeld mirrors two stories beautifully showing the connection of siblings and the cost of trying to "help" those in need with cruel methods. Food and shelter mean nothing without love, caring and compassion. Heartbreaking and pulse pounding at the same time this will appeal to readers who love character driven stories as well as legal thrillers. 4 1/2 stars
This is a reimagined and expanded story of the slave Jim and Huckleberry Finn the way it should have been told. Like every slave Jim is very aware of the need to stay out of the spotlight but when he learns that he will be sold he takes the only path available to him and runs. Huck is running too and they both travel one step ahead of danger from slave catchers and con men finding life on the river just as dangerous as Hannibal. Jim has a big heart and he tries to keep others particularly Huck safe but there is no future for a runaway slave just as there is no such thing as a kind slave owner. The biggest difference in this telling of Mark Twain's classic is that Jim secretly can read and write showing far more intelligence and humanity than the idiotic white people he meets. HIs speech changes completely once he is with fellow slaves or free people of color as does theirs which is the biggest irony of all . All the songs and entertainment and speech secretly mock the very white people who consider themselves superior. This story also highlights the extreme abuse, idiotic assumptions and justifications made by slave owners. A brilliant retelling of a classic filled with brutal honesty and the same ironic wit of Mark Twain. A new classic is born. 5 stars
In a world revenged by climate change and shortages - a mother and daughter are relocated to a crumbling high rise where Sil's aunt lives and works. Sil's mother won't talk about their past leaving Sil to try to get answers from her aunt's stories. There are no friends for Sil to hang out and desperate for answers of her family's history, she becomes obsessed with the penthouse owner and her mysterious dogs. Imagination, loneliness and a need to make sense of her world leads Sil to find a way into the penthouse and solve the mystery. It is hard to pigeonhole this lovely story into one genre. Part coming of age, part futuristic warning story, part HARRIET THE SPY it is a unique story of a little girl looking for herself. 4 stars Cory is floating at 18. Working at a summer camp with no plans after she is recruited by a wealthy single dad to become the kids nanny. A signed NDA and cut off from all communication with her single mom, Cory is swept away to a remote island. She is unsettled trying to figure out her new boss and unsure of her growing attraction to him. Meanwhile her mom, Emer is frantic trying to find her daughter especially after no communication and she sets out to bring her home. This is a retelling of a Greek myth with classic coming-of-age and control issues. The choppy language and pace underscores how anxious everyone is. 3 1/2 stars
Twyla runs to Nashville with her dad's beat up guitar and dreams of making it big. With no money and no prospects she is lucky to be befriended by Mimi who lets her babysit for room and board. She meets a Nashville golden boy who is also hopeful of a shot at stardom but he takes her down a dangerous path. One mistake and her dreams are shattered. They are crushed further when she hears a song she sang one time being sung and promoted by another musician. The one person who holds everything over Twyla's head. Do you fight for ownership of your song and take the consequences or stay safe and in the background? This coming of age look at the obstacles facing so many young musicians and the heavy price for one mistake. I love the author's honest and tough characters who want so badly to be able to trust but are bruised by the life they have had. 4 stars
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