3.5 stars The Twilight Garden is the story of feuding neighbours living in two London terrace houses with a shared garden. Winston lives with his partn3.5 stars The Twilight Garden is the story of feuding neighbours living in two London terrace houses with a shared garden. Winston lives with his partner, Lewis, in their rental house and works in a local shop but he's lonely and grieving his mother's death in India while avoiding calls from his concerned sister. Recently divorced Bernice has bought and renovated the house next door to Winston and Lewis and is living there with her young son hoping for a fresh start.
Winston and Bernice take an instant dislike to each other particularly over the shared use of their garden which has been neglected and overgrown for many years. Shortly after Bernice moves in, mysterious parcels begin arriving for both her and Winston containing decades-old photos of their garden along with newspaper clippings highlighting how it came to be used as a community garden. Inspired by these packages, Winston and Bernice gradually start working together to transform their garden.
There is also a past timeline beginning in the early '70s about Alma, an abrasive middle-aged woman who lives in one of the houses, and Maya who rents next door who develop a close relationship over the years as they share and nurture the garden.
The Twilight Garden is a heartwarming story of community and found family. The pace is slow and it's character driven with well-developed and relatable characters who will touch your heart as they deal with various hardships that life throws at them. An enjoyable read from the author of The Reading List! ...more
I have read a great deal of World War II historical fiction and a lot of it is starting to blur together but Tomorrow Is For the Brave by Kelly Bowen I have read a great deal of World War II historical fiction and a lot of it is starting to blur together but Tomorrow Is For the Brave by Kelly Bowen stands out from the rest for its originality as it tells a fascinating story set primarily in the Middle East and North Africa.
Young socialite Violet St. Croix lives a seemingly charmed life in the south of France where she is engaged to be married to a man chosen for her by her wealthy parents. Violet tries to meet the expectations of her parents and fiancé but she doesn't fit in well with the other young women in her social circles because she loves cars and driving and feels restrained by the limitations placed on her.
When war breaks out and France falls to Germany, Violet defies her parents and trains as a nurse but it soon becomes apparent that her skills at driving under pressure far exceed her nursing abilities. Violet is recruited to drive officers of the French Foreign Legion through dangerous territory in Syria and North Africa where she becomes convinced after a number of setbacks and a brazen murder that there is a dangerous spy operating in their midst to sabotage operations.
Tommorow Is For the Brave is historical fiction inspired by the life of Susan Travers who was the only woman to have officially served in the French Foreign Legion. The novel is well-written and well-researched and I loved Violet - a strong female protagonist who is willing to stand up for what she believes is the right thing to do and comes into her own through her work during the war.
This is also a tale of espionage with occasional chapters from the perspective of "the spy" who is sabotaging the efforts of the Allies in North Africa. It's not clear who the spy is until the book nears its conclusion and it kept me up well into the night as I had to finish and find out. There's a romance thread woven throughout the storyline as well but it takes a backseat to the overall plot.
A fast-paced, gripping pageturner about a courageous young woman who defied her family to serve her country - highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own....more
A steamy romance about two writers connected by a tragedy in their senior year of high school who find themselves working together in Hollywood 13 yeaA steamy romance about two writers connected by a tragedy in their senior year of high school who find themselves working together in Hollywood 13 years later.
Helen Zhang, a bestselling author of a YA series who has temporarily relocated from New York to Los Angeles to work on her book adaptation, is surprised to discover that her high school classmate, Grant Shepard, is one of the writers on the screenwriting team. Grant is a successful screenwriter who took this job despite misgivings and is hoping that he and Helen can work together notwithstanding their past. Tension between the two evolves quite quickly into attraction and when that can't be denied they agree to a time-limited relationship that will end when the screenplay is finished.
I have enjoyed a number of romance novels that dealt with heavy issues that the main characters were experiencing but here the issues exist mostly in the background and aren't fully explored. And the obstacle to their relationship is quite a doozy - I'm honestly not sure how anyone could move past it even with a lot of talking and therapy. The other issue that I had was that I wasn't really invested in the relationship between Helen and Grant - it's entirely insta-lust and I think it would have worked better for me as a slow burn romance and better development of the two characters.
This book was an okay read for me but I think my expectations were too high because of the Emily Henry connection (the author wrote the screenplay for the upcoming adaptation of Henry's People We Meet on Vacation). While it wasn't a great fit for me, a lot of people are loving this book so take my ambivalence with a grain of salt!
Gigi, a London hair stylist, is excited to be the head bridesmaid for her sister's destination wedding in Maui but there's one problem - she needs a dGigi, a London hair stylist, is excited to be the head bridesmaid for her sister's destination wedding in Maui but there's one problem - she needs a date. And the date needs to be impressive because Gigi's ex is the best man and he'll be there with his hot new reality star/influenceer girlfriend. Gigi still hasn't found a date when she flies to Hawaii a week before the wedding but when she arrives at the hotel she discovers that there has been a mix-up and she has been upgraded to an incredible suite. And the staff at the hotel are treating her like royalty and waiting on her hand and foot. Gigi can't help but enjoy this taste of the suite life and it might even lead to her finding the perfect wedding date!
The Suite Life is an easy, breezy beach read - a cute, well-written rom-com that's pefect for summer reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own....more
Set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia, All We Were Promised is the story of a housemaid with a dangerous family secret who conspires with a wealthy young Set in pre-Civil War Philadelphia, All We Were Promised is the story of a housemaid with a dangerous family secret who conspires with a wealthy young abolitionist to help an enslaved girl escape.
After escaping from a plantation in Maryland four years earlier, Charlotte and her white-passing father are living in Philadelphia where he has established a successful business and Charlotte lives as his housemaid so as not to raise the suspicion of slave catchers. Charlotte is befriended by Nell, a young abolitionist from one of the city's wealthiest Black families, who encourages Charlotte to become involved with the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. Just as Charlotte is starting to feel like she's settling into a new life, she sees her old friend, Evie, at the market. Evie has been brought to the city by the plantation mistress and needs help from Charlotte and Nell as she is desperate to escape. In the midst of race riots and attacks on abolitionists, Charlotte and Nell make the difficult decision to help Evie even though they will be putting themselves at considerable risk.
Ashton Lattimore's debut novel is a captivating historical novel told from the perspective of three young Black women in Philadelphia in 1837/38. The main characters in the novel are fictional but they interact with real-life historical figures such as the abolitionist Hetty Reckless and the plot also includes some factual events such as the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women that took place at Pennsylvania Hall in 1938.
This novel is interesting and I learned quite a bit from its portrayal of what life was like for Black people living in Philadelphia during this time period and the race-related problems that existed despite it being a "free" city in the North. Pennsylvania was a free state but geographically quite close to states where slavery was still legal. Racial tensions were high with racially motivated violence common in Philadelphia and there were also class divides between the wealthy Black families who had been free for decades, the working class Blacks who were struggling to get by and runaways recently arrived in the city. There were also laws in place that allowed Southerners to bring enslaved people to Philadelphia and keep them there provided they didn't stay longer than six months.
This is a very strong historical fiction debut - the characters are well-written, it's clear a great deal of effort went into research, it's informative and the author has crafted a compelling story that keeps the pages turning. All We Were Promised is a thought-provoking story of friendship, courage and what it was like to be a Black person in a "free" state during this time period - it starts slowly but will have your heart pounding as it nears the conclusion!...more
Best, First and Last is the story of three generations of women in one family who are all struggling for different reasons. Bonnie (Bon) is grieving tBest, First and Last is the story of three generations of women in one family who are all struggling for different reasons. Bonnie (Bon) is grieving the death of her third husband and worried about the rift between her daughter, Sandy, and her granddaughter, Heather. Sandy is an emotional wreck about the impending divorce from her philandering husband and Heather, who moved across the country to escape the difficult relationship she has with both parents, has recently broken up with a guy who is a bit of a stalker.
After a conversation with her Arizona neighbour's photojournalist grandson, Bonnie decides to book a trip to Peru for herself, Sandy and Heather to hike the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu as a celebration of her 70th birthday. Most of the narrative takes place in the lead up to and during the trip to Peru but there are also a few flashback chapters that provide the background relating to Sandy and Bonnie's relationships.
I had enjoyed the author's previous book, Someone Else's Bucket List, and was drawn to this one because this Machu Picchu trip is something I would love to do. As the three women embark on this adventure to visit one of the wonders of the world, there is a lot of fighting and tears but as they hike there is also a shedding of the past and the three begin to look forward to the future. There is also a romance storyline for Heather who meets her "Romeo" shortly after arriving in Peru.
Bon, who is carrying around her dead husband's urn, was my favourite character - she is a riot and you never know what's going to come out of her mouth but she loves her daughter and granddaughter deeply and will do anything for them. Best, First and Last is an uplifting, joyful story of family and healing and an enjoyable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. ...more
In a small town in England, twenty-five year-old Kat Bennett arrives at a historic Victorian known as Shelley House to inquire about a room for rent iIn a small town in England, twenty-five year-old Kat Bennett arrives at a historic Victorian known as Shelley House to inquire about a room for rent in one of the building's six flats. Dorothy Darling, a cantakerous busybody, has lived in the building for more than 30 years and keeps a close watch on the comings of goings of the other tenants noting every infraction and lack of common sense that she observes. Dorothy takes an instant dislike to the young woman and her pink hair but Kat decides to rent Joseph's extra room despite the frosty reception from Dorothy.
Kat is still settling into her new home when the tenants at Shelley House receive an eviction notice from their unscrupulous landlord who wants to demolish the historic building and build a block of modern flats. Shortly after the tenants meet to discuss a campaign to stop the eviction, one of their own is viciously attacked and Dorothy and Kat band together to save their home and find the criminal responsible for the violence.
Like Freya Sampson's previous novel, The Lost Ticket, this is a heartwarming story of a disparate group of people coming together to form a community. Sampson has a knack for creating a charming cast of characters that readers grow to care about and, in this case, there's also an adorable dog named Reggie who is an absolute scene stealer! It's impossible not to feel for these two women who have closed themselves off as they learn to let go of the past, forgive themselves and trust each other. A great choice for readers who enjoy an entertaining, feel-good story with a happy ending!...more
3.5 stars 35 year-old Clara Millen is a burnt-out workaholic still reeling from an abrupt break-up with her long-term boyfriend months earlier when her3.5 stars 35 year-old Clara Millen is a burnt-out workaholic still reeling from an abrupt break-up with her long-term boyfriend months earlier when her boss announces in front of everyone in the office that she is forcing Clara to take a "micro-sabbatical". The break from work coincides with the annual summer camp reunion that she has missed for the past few years so Clara reluctantly travels from Boston to Pine Lake Camp in New Hampshire where she will spend the week with a group of friends including her teenage crush Mack who works at the camp.
Upon arrival, the group discovers that the owners have sold the property to a developer who is planning a glamping resort so this will be the final Pine Lake Camp reunion. Clara is determined to relive camp traditions one last time and takes on planning the week's activities but spending time at Pine Lake and reconnecting with her teenage friends leads her to reflect on the hopes and dreams she had as a 15 year-old and to question whether she's leading a life that makes her happy or whether she has settled out of fear of taking risks. Sparks also fly between her and Mack but Clara isn't sure whether it's just a summer fling or if there's potential for more.
A story of self-discovery, friendship and a cute second chance romance with a great setting at a lake in New Hampshire. One Last Summer is an easy summer beach read particularly enjoyable for anyone feeling nostalgic about summer camp experiences.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own....more
Table for Two is a collection of six short stories and a novella that Amor Towles has written in the last ten years. The first short story begins in MTable for Two is a collection of six short stories and a novella that Amor Towles has written in the last ten years. The first short story begins in Moscow post-Revolution and moves to New York City and the remaining five take place in New York City around the year 2000. The novella (which is more than 200 pages) takes place in Los Angeles in 1938/9 and follows Evelyn Ross from Towles' earlier novel, Rules of Civility.
I have never been a fan of short stories (they always leave me wanting more) but pre-ordered Table for Two for the simple reason that Amor Towles hasn't disappointed me yet. I read Rules of Civility just a few weeks ago in anticipation of this publication and was most excited about the novella Eve in Hollywood. When last we saw Eve, she was heading home to Indiana but extended her ticket to Los Angeles instead of getting off the train in Chicago where her parents were waiting for her. This novella picks up at that point where Eve makes the decision to stay on the train and continues with her arrival in Golden Age Hollywood where she soon befriends Olivia de Havilland. It's not necessary to read Rules of Civility first to enjoy this novella but if you have then you will appreciate this opportunity to spend more time with the enigmatic Eve.
It's no surprise that these short stories and novella were a pleasure to read. Towles is a masterful storyteller - his stories are well-crafted with keen observations on the human condition, his characters are well-drawn and his writing is superb - witty and charming with evocative turns of phrase and just the right amount of description. Table for Two is both entertaining and thought-provoking - a thoroughly satisfying reading experience! ...more
Shortly after their marriage, Ashok and Priya Shah immigrated from India to the U.S. and have now been living in Southern California for 20 years workShortly after their marriage, Ashok and Priya Shah immigrated from India to the U.S. and have now been living in Southern California for 20 years working and raising their three children - Deepa, Maya and Ajay. The family recently left behind their old neighbourhood and purchased a home in the gated community of Pacific Hills in an upscale neighbourhood that is a bit of a stretch for them financially. The family is still settling into their new home when Ashok and Priya receive a call while at a dinner party with friends informing them that their 12 year-old son, Ajay, has been arrested in a violent encounter with the police.
Told from multiple perspectives, A Great Country is a moving story about the challenges faced by an immigrant family after the arrest of their child. Over the period of just a couple of weeks, the lives of everyone in the Shah family are turned completely upside down as they try to deal with Ajay's legal issues and the accompanying media storm.
The novel explores class and racial divides in Southern California, systemic racism and police attitudes toward minorities, and justice/injustice as well as considering what it means to be an immigrant in America and how little it takes to go from being a "model minority" to one who is looked at with suspicion. A well-written, hard to put down, thought-provoking read!! ...more
After being made redundant, Evie, a book scout in Los Angeles, agrees to travel to Santorini to keep an eye on her eccentric grandmother who has just After being made redundant, Evie, a book scout in Los Angeles, agrees to travel to Santorini to keep an eye on her eccentric grandmother who has just married her 9th husband and opened a bookshop on the Greek island. She discovers upon arrival that her grandmother has neglected to pay the rent due to some unforeseen financial difficulties and the landlord is threatening to evict her. Gran proposes that Evie fake date the landlord's grandson, Georgios, as a means of delaying his demands for rent payment and Evie reluctantly agrees to the ruse not expecting to develop feelings for Georgios who is a handsome and charming fellow book lover.
Summer at the Santorini Bookshop is a quick and easy read - perfect for summer! It's an enjoyable bit of literary escapism to the beautiful Greek islands and if you're the type of person that loves the idea of running a bookshop then you will love Gran's shop, Bibliotherapy, and her night time library club, Epeolatry. Evie comes off as a bit immature but her quirky Grandmother is a lot of fun - a role model for continuing to try new things and enjoying life in her '80s!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own....more
4.5 stars In this satirical reimagining of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim's point of view, Percival Everett4.5 stars In this satirical reimagining of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim's point of view, Percival Everett takes a well-known character in American literature and gives him his own voice.
Set in 19th century America just before the Civil War, an enslaved man and a white boy run away from Hannibal, Missouri - Jim because he learned that Miss Watson planned to sell him to a man in New Orleans and Huck because he had faked his own death to escape his abusive father. The two build a raft and head out on the Mississippi River with a loose plan of travelling north to a free state where Jim can earn the money needed to buy freedom for his wife and daughter.
In Everett's retelling, Jim (or James, the name he chooses) is intelligent and well-read (from his clandestine reading of the volumes in Judge Thatcher's library) but he and the other enslaved people speak in a vernacular that they call a "slave filter" in front of white people so that they sound uneducated and won't be perceived as any sort of threat. When Jim and Huck's story was originally told from Huck's perspective, their trip down the Mississippi was an adventure but when told from Jim's perspective, the reader understands the ever present danger that he lived with. Instead of an adventurous tale about drifting down the river on a raft, it becomes a story about a man racing to find a way to save himself and his family.
I had a general idea of what happened in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but this novel can be enjoyed without having read or knowing anything about Twain's novel. It follows the plot of its source material quite closely at first but the same events have a different feel with the change in perspective and later in the book the plot diverges.
James is the first novel that I have read by Percival Everett and I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style. This is an author who clearly loves to play with language and it makes for a pleasurable read. Fast-paced and hard to put down, thought-provoking, and beautifully crafted - a memorable read that I expect will be one of my favourites of the year! ...more
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is the second novel written by the author about the important role that librarians played during World War I and W3.5 stars
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade is the second novel written by the author about the important role that librarians played during World War I and World War II. This one is a dual timeline World War I historical novel that highlights the accomplishments of the American Committee for Devastated France (known as CARD from the French translation) founded by American philanthropist and heiress Anne Morgan. Jessie 'Kit' Carson is a librarian at the NYPL who travels to France early in 1918 to work with Morgan and CARD in establishing libraries in the northern regions of the country devastated by the ongoing war.
Jessie arrives at CARD headquarters which are set up in the Picardie region only miles from the front and joins a group of women working to help French civilians whose lives have been devastated by the war. Jessie is determined to contribute to their efforts and uses books to connect with the villagers and help them recover and rebuild. As the war rages on, the CARDS bravely risk their lives and at one point even lead evacuation efforts. During the immediate post-war period, Jessie sets up children's libraries, turns ambulances into mobile libraries and trains the first female French librarians and then she disappears. In the second 1987 timeline, Wendy is an aspiring young writer working in the Archives of the NYPL who comes across documents relating to the work of CARD and is determined to learn more about Carson and the other women who served with the organization.
Like the author's previous novel, The Paris Library, this is a well-researched historical novel (she spent 10 years researching according to her Author's Note) inspired by the lives of real people that highlights the important but little known role that librarians played in the war. Jessie Carson played a key role in revolutionizing French libraries by establishing libraries for children and the working class both in war-torn areas of the country and in Paris. I had no idea that this organization existed or about the work that they did in France during and after World War I so found it a fascinating read in that regard. There is an excellent detailed Author's Note that provides additional information and is a must for readers who want to know more about the women the novel is based on.
I found the writing and the plot a bit simplistic and sentimental at times but the novel was so well-researched and I learned such a great deal that I found it an enjoyable read regardless. This is a fascinating story about a little known aspect of World War I, the resilience of the human spirit and the power of literature (it's packed with literary references that book lovers will enjoy) that will appeal to readers who love books and libraries as well as historical fiction fans. And the book cover is beautiful!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own....more
3.5 stars Set against the backdrop of the construction of the Panama Canal, The Great Divide tells the story of a group of people whose lives are impa3.5 stars Set against the backdrop of the construction of the Panama Canal, The Great Divide tells the story of a group of people whose lives are impacted by this massive construction project. The story takes place over the period of a few weeks in 1907 when the canal project has been underway for more than two years.
Told from multiple points of view including: Panamanian fisherman Francisco Aquino who has a troubled relationship with his son; Francisco's son, Omar, who is working on the canal against his father's wishes; Francisco's fishmonger friend, Joaquin, whose wife convinces him to travel to her hometown to protest the orders that the entire town be moved elsewhere; John Oswald, a malaria researcher determined to eradicate the disease in Panama and secure his place in the history books; Oswald's wife, Marian, a botanist who has set aside her own ambitions to support her husband; and Ada Bunting, a teenager from Barbados who stows away on a ship and arrives in Panama seeking employment.
Shortly after her arrival in Panama, Ada goes to the aid of a young man (Omar) who has collapsed in the street while a crowd watches in fear of catching malaria. John Oswald witnesses this act of compassion and hires Ada to care for his wife who has taken ill. This action leads to the interconnection of many of the characters' story lines.
The Panama Canal, an artificial waterway which cuts across the Isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, is considered one of the world's greatest feats of engineering but The Great Divide doesn't focus on the construction project. Henriquez chooses instead to tell the story of the human cost of building the canal that disrupted the lives of Panamanians.
I enjoyed this character driven story with its beautiful narrative and descriptive writing that transported me to Panama and the canal zone early in the 20th century. The novel touches on the history of Panama leading up to the building of the canal by Americans after the separation of Panama from Columbia (and is clearly well-researched) but the focus remains firmly on the people impacted. It's an ambitious novel telling an interesting and compelling story that will make you think about the people whose lives are impacted by historical events but whose stories are left out of history books. ...more
3.5 stars My Beloved Life is the story of Jadunath (Jadu) Kunwar's life from birth in a small village in the Indian state of Bihar in 1935 to death fro3.5 stars My Beloved Life is the story of Jadunath (Jadu) Kunwar's life from birth in a small village in the Indian state of Bihar in 1935 to death from Covid-19 in 2020. Jadu is an ordinary man whose life story begins before his birth when his mother survives a snake bite while she's pregnant with him. As a young man, he moves to Patna for college, becomes a history professor, marries, has a daughter and travels to the U.S. for a year as a Fulbright scholar. His daughter, Jugnu, leaves India after separating from her husband and travels to Atlanta, Georgia for graduate school and stays to work as a journalist at CNN seeing her father only occasionally over the passing years as she settles into her life as an immigrant in America.
My Beloved Life is a well-written novel that is ambitious in scope as it endeavours to tell the story of 85 years of India's history through the lens of one modest man's life. Jadu is very much a story teller at heart and, as he relays his own, he takes frequent tangents to tell the stories of the many people who have crossed his path over the course of his life.
Historical events and famous people are blended into Jadu's story as he lives through many of the pivotal events that took place in India in the 20th century. I found it all quite interesting, however, I didn't feel much in the way of an emotional connection to the story until Jugnu takes over as narrator and continues to tell their story but in a more personal way. Jugnu's point of view particularly as it related to the onset of the pandemic and the Covid lockdowns that kept her separated from her father was quite moving and relatable as I also lost my father to Covid.
Overall My Beloved Life was a satisfying read - well-written, informative, and interesting but I would have felt more engaged if there had been more emotional depth. ...more
3.5 stars Told over two timelines, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is the story of an elderly woman who gets a second chance at happiness.
In 1987, 73.5 stars Told over two timelines, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is the story of an elderly woman who gets a second chance at happiness.
In 1987, 79 year-old Augusta is a recently retired pharmacist who leaves New York City to move into a retirement residence in South Florida and discovers that one of the other residents is Irving Rivkin who was a delivery boy at her father's pharmacy in 1920s Brooklyn. In the '20s timeline, Augusta is a young teenager who has recently lost her mother and her great-aunt Esther moves in to the family home above the pharmacy to help out. Aunt Esther is a healer and the women in the neighbourhood are soon coming to her for her unconventional remedies and potions. Augusta is fascinated by Esther and wants to learn how to make her aunt's elixirs but also wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a pharmacist.
When her father hires Irving, the two become friends and later romantically involved but something happened to tear them apart leaving Augusta heartbroken and confused about what went wrong. Augusta never married as she was busy with her career and never truly got over Irving but when it becomes clear that Irving also still has feelings for her after all these years, Augusta must decide if she can forgive him for what happened 60 years earlier and take a chance on love.
A charming and delightful story about second chances that also touches on the roles and expectations of women in the 1920s and beyond. Both amusing and touching at times, this is a feel good story with a message that it's never too late for love and happiness.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. ...more
Anita de Monte was an up and coming Cuban American artist until her tragic fall from the window of her 34th floor apartment in Greenwich Village in 19Anita de Monte was an up and coming Cuban American artist until her tragic fall from the window of her 34th floor apartment in Greenwich Village in 1985. Her husband, the iconic minimalist sculptor Jack Martin, was charged with her murder but not convicted and Anita's name gradually faded in art circles and her work forgotten.
In 1998, Raquel Toro is a 3rd year Art History major at Brown University in Rhode Island working with her advisor on a thesis about Jack Martin's art. Raquel has never felt like she fits in at the predominantly white Ivy League university until she starts dating an older art student from a wealthy family - in a relationship that parallels Anita's with Jack.
As Raquel researches Martin, she stumbles upon Anita's story. Anita's artwork resonates with Raquel and she is driven to learn more about the artist and to question why her courses have always focused on white male artists. The story is told from three points of view - Anita, Raquel and Jack - and takes a turn into the supernatural after Anita's death with her ghost continuing to narrate.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a fictional take on the life of artist Ana Mendieta (an artist I wasn't familiar with but was inspired to learn more about after reading this novel). It's an interesting story that examines how the art world works - how woman and people of colour are treated and whose work is studied and considered worthwhile. It also looks at higher education, particularly the Ivy League universities, and the microaggressions and outright racism that POC students are subjected to.
Magical realism often doesn't work for me but I thought it was well done in this case - I liked Anita as a ghost trying to get justice for herself and her work. Anita de Monte Laughs Last is well-written and easy to read, as engaging as it is thought-provoking. ...more
This debut novel by TikTok influencer Betty Cayouette is a second chance romance about a super model and a photographer who were inseparable in high sThis debut novel by TikTok influencer Betty Cayouette is a second chance romance about a super model and a photographer who were inseparable in high school but haven't spoken to each other in the 10 years since graduation. When they were 18, Emerson and Theo made a pact that if they weren't married yet at 28 that they would marry each other and then set a reminder on their phones. Emerson is now a famous supermodel living a glamourous life but has never found a man she cares for as much as Theo. When the reminder goes off on her phone she is determined to have one last shot at a relationship with Theo so has her agent arrange for her to be a model on his 4 day photo shoot in Italy the following week. The story is told from the point of view of both characters in the present and also in flashbacks to their four years of high school friendship.
An enjoyable romance set in a beautiful location although it's a bit slow moving and the miscommunication that is central to the plot is frustrating. Most of the story takes place in Cinque Terre, Italy but there wasn't enough focus on the setting for me - I would have loved a greater sense of place. Overall a good debut novel that will be a fun summer read!
The author provides a content warning for sexual assault. It doesn't occur on the page - the focus is on how she dealt with the trauma.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own....more
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