Review: The Underground Library

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm so sorry. I don't know if it's becuase I've been reading a lot of stories similar to this type (Historical/Fiction), and I'm saturated with them. But I'm finding that I can't seem to 'get into' this story. I'm at 65%, and I'm just ready to give it up.

I see so many glowing reviews that I wonder if it's something to do with me. There are three main characters, which I would not find a problem with, but add to this so many secondary and tertiary characters, and I started needing a scorecard!

The idea is interesting and true; it tells how the Bethnal Green Library helped win the war!

Excerpt taken from https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

Bethnal Green underground was a half-completed stop on the Central line when war broke out. Builders were working on connecting it to Liverpool Street, but from 1939 it had been locked up and left. One week after the blitz began, East Enders defied Churchill’s orders not to shelter in tube stations and claimed their right to safety. At 78 feet below ground, it was one of the few safe places to shelter in the area and was referred to by locals as the “Iron Lung”. Over the next 12 months it was transformed into a fully-functioning subterranean community with an astonishing array of facilities."

Had we stuck with more about the library and less about the love lives of these women, I think I would have enjoyed this a little more.


*ARC supplied by the publisher Ballantine Books, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS:"When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir

When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn't the bustling hub she's expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running it, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?

Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she's only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.

Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.

When a slew of bombs destroy the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city's residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?"

Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What I initially thought might be a series ended up as a trilogy---and thank goodness for that. This is the last book---unless she feels the compulsion to do a baby and the Aunties book, that IS the natural next step, is it not?

This is a quick read made even quicker since I skimmed a bit of it.

It all boils down to this: newlyweds Meddy and Nathan are visiting her relative for a late Chinese New Year. A mistake with the red envelopes happens, and hilarity does NOT ensue. Everyone (adults especially) acts like spoiled 14-year-olds. But what do I know, maybe it's a cultural thing or a huge amount of money thing!

At any rate, it did have a bit of a twist at the end, so that was worth the second star I gave this.


*ARC supplied by the publisher, Penguin/ Random House. the author, and NetGalley.  My Thanks.

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SYNOPSIS: "What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Chinese New Year, already the biggest celebration of the Lunar calendar, gets even more festive when a former beau of Second Aunt’s shows up at the Chan residence bearing extravagant gifts—he’s determined to rekindle his romance with Second Aunt and the gifts are his way of announcing his courtship.
 
His grand gesture goes awry however, when it’s discovered that not all the gifts were meant for Second Aunt and the Chans—one particular gift was intended for a business rival to cement their alliance and included by accident. Of course the Aunties agree that it’s only right to return the gift—after all, anyone would forgive an honest mistake, right? But what should have been a simple retrieval turns disastrous and suddenly Meddy and the Aunties are helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions. The fighting turns personal, however, when Nathan and the Aunties are endangered and it’s up to Meddy to come up with a plan to save them all.  Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission—but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible…

Review: Women of Good Fortune

Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What started out as a story of three whinny Asian women who have been friends for ages eventually turned into a riveting read. Yes, I admit I almost gave up during the first third or so, but something told me to keep going, and eventually, I couldn't put this book down.

We have three grown women who think of themselves as 'leftovers.' An Asian term for a woman of a certain age who hasn't married and/or had children. Along with these women, we have their mothers and future MIL to mix in the pot. Most (and especially the future MIL) are huge bitches!

These women have different problems, but problems they have. One is getting married to someone she doesn't love. This is Lulu, and she is a bit spineless. We have Jane, who thinks she is ugly and has that reinforced by her mother. She wants plastic surgery. She is married and treats her husband like crap. Then we have Rina, a workaholic (think 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week!) who wants to have her eggs frozen because she believes time is running out.

Well, Lulu is marrying one of the wealthiest bachelors in all of Shanghai, if not THE wealthiest. As you can see from the book's recap, things went on from there.

Everything is slapdash, and the reader is left amazed that these three (five if you count their two accomplices) can pull off this heist. Or can they?

The ending is amazing, and everyone seems to get their happily-ever-after, which doesn't always include a man!

This is well worth the time it will take you to read since I think you will enjoy it as much as I did.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, Graydon House - HarperCollins, the author Sophie Wan, and ATT/Edelweiss. My thanks to all.

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SYNOPSIS: "Set against a high-society Shanghai wedding, a heartfelt, funny, dazzling novel about a reluctant bride and her two best friends, each with their own motives and fed up with the way society treats women, who forge a plan to steal all the gift money on the big day

Lulu has always been taught that money is the ticket to a good life. So, when Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor surprises her with a proposal, the only acceptable answer is yes, even if the voice inside her head is saying no. His family’s fortune would solve all her parents’ financial woes, but Lulu isn’t in love or ready for marriage.

The only people she can confide in are her two best friends: career-minded Rina, who is tired of being passed over for promotion as her biological clock ticks away; and Jane, a sharp-tongued, luxury-chasing housewife desperate to divorce her husband and trade up. Each of them desires something different: freedom, time, beauty. None of them can get it without money.

Lulu’s wedding is their golden opportunity. The social event of the season, it means more than enough cash gifts to transform the women’s lives. To steal the money on the big day, all they’ll need is a trustworthy crew and a brilliant plan. But as the plot grows increasingly complicated and relationships are caught in the cross fire, the women are forced to face that having it all might come at a steep price…"

Review: The Philadelphia Heiress

The Philadelphia Heiress by Anita Abriel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book gave me a bit of a difficult time with it. Our main female character, Helen Montgomery, acted like she was living in the 19th century instead of the early 20th. I had to keep reminding myself that it was 1927, and she was Main Line and ultra-rich with certain standards to uphold. But darn, she was stubborn. I kept reading, though, and finally realized that this story is loosely based on one of my favorite old-time movies with Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn. Things got better for me once I realized this.

The author does a lot of name-dropping and descriptives, and I think she put a lot of research into this novel. It really shows and makes for some very interesting reading.

The story does pick up quite a bit once you hit the 60% mark with a little altercation between Edgar and a gentleman called Louis Renault...yes, THAT Renault. And a handsome devil he was, too!

So, this book was worth the time it took to read since I enjoyed it. It's a fast read, and the price for a Kindle ($4.99) copy makes it a very good buy.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Lake Union Publishing - a subsidiary of Amazon, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "In pursuit of happiness, a young woman’s dreams extend beyond money and marriage in this aspirational historical novel by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War . It’s 1927, and Helen Montgomery is coming of age on Philadelphia’s Main Line, where privileged young women are set for life. But Helen has desires of her own. Debutante balls, eligible bachelors, and marriage aren’t among them…until her father is embroiled in a devastating scandal that jeopardizes the family’s financial future and social standing, that is. Then it becomes up to Helen to repair both by marrying a man of wealth and connection. Edgar Scott is as independent as Helen. The black-sheep scion of a railroad magnate, Edgar’s aspirations of becoming an author go against the grain of his own family’s expectations. For a time, Helen and Edgar’s marriage grows from attraction and convenience to genuine loyalty and respect. But as Edgar’s frustrations and rejections mount and Helen’s personal dreams recede, the cracks in the perfect life Helen wants are beginning to show. So begins Helen’s journey of forgiveness, redefining the meaning of perfection―for herself and in others―and accepting with all her heart the mistakes humans make in the name of love.

Review: Never Too Late

Never Too Late by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book I've read recently by Ms. Steel that makes me think there is a ghostwriter or multiple ghostwriters are creating her newer books. (According to Google, there are no ghostwriters, only assistants!)

This book does hit all the correct buttons for a romance...very formulaic, but with a very creative story. This time, there are three romances to watch. Two sisters and their mother!


I was a little put off by Ms. Steel using an almost exact copy of 9-11 to push her idea of a sort of 'meet cute' situation.

What truly drove me to distraction was the repetitiveness that shows up not only in the same book but sometimes she repeats herself on the same page. It does make for a lot of filler.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House, the author, and NetGalley.

A fine, fast read for the beach.



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SYNOPSIS: "

Kezia Cooper Hobson, recently widowed, arrives in New York from San Francisco.  Determined to make a fresh start, she has just completed the sale of her Pacific Heights home, not to mention her husband’s venture capital firm, and in doing so, is also freed from her responsibility as a board member of the company. Bringing with her only a few personal treasures, she is excited to move into the blank slate of a beautiful midtown penthouse, in the city that she has always loved. It is also where her two adult daughters now live.

As Kezia settles into her new apartment, she meets her movie-star next-door neighbor, Sam Stewart, whose terrace borders hers. Just a couple of weeks after she arrives, however, a devastating crisis strikes New York City. Kezia and Sam find themselves connecting over their strong impulse to help those in need. As they share a life-changing experience of volunteering, a bond is sparked and a friendship is formed.

Kezia’s daughters, Kate and Felicity, are taken aback by their mother’s new friendship, both more focused on their own love lives than hers. But Kezia is learning that the changes she’s making are just what she needs to open new horizons.

In this powerful and moving new novel, Danielle Steel illuminates the importance of human connection and embracing brave change, proving it’s never too late for a brand-new start."

Review: The Divorcées

The Divorcées by Rowan Beaird
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Hopefully, if you read this novel, you will like it much more than I did. After all, so many reviewers gave it very high marks. I seem to be in the minority. I may have missed something that everyone else understood.


I rarely do not finish an ARC. After all, the author and publisher are relying on me to give an honest opinion. Most people feel that they can't give a review unless they've read the whole thing. Also, once I start a book, I don't put it down to read something else. I did with this novel. I made it to 50%, and that was enough to tell me that I couldn't do it. I could not finish it; it made me too depressed to keep reading.

Do you really need to drink the whole gallon of milk to tell that it is spoiled? I think not!

I have never read a book in which the characters are just boring, tedious - to each other, and just plain blah, especially for the reader. The best I can say is that this book was filled with interesting information about divorce ranches and that I doubt that any of them were really run this way. But what do I really know? This book was set in the '50s, as the blurb explains. The blurb was the most interesting part of this novel.

I thought we would pick up a little when Greer made her debut at the ranch, and we learned more about her, but no matter how much I read, I learned nothing new except that I doubt if she could be trusted. Perhaps later in the book, we actually learn about Greer and her divorce, or if that was even why she was there!

The main character, Lois, seems to have a girl crush on Greer, and I thought that would be explored- maybe it was at the end of the book, but I didn't stick around to find out.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Flatiron Books/Macmillan Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "Lois Saunders thought marrying the right man would cure her loneliness, but as picture-perfect as her husband is, she is suffocating in their loveless marriage. In 1951, though, unhappiness is hardly grounds for divorce―except in Reno, Nevada.

At the Golden Yarrow, the most respectable of Reno’s famous “divorce ranches,” Lois finds herself living with half a dozen other would-be divorcées, all in Reno for the six weeks’ residency that is the state’s only divorce requirement. They spend their days riding horses and their nights flirting with cowboys, and it’s as wild and fun as Lake Forest, Illinois, is prim and stifling. But it isn’t until Greer Lang arrives that Lois’s world truly cracks open. Gorgeous, beguiling, and completely indifferent to societal convention, Greer is unlike anyone Lois has ever met―and she sees something in Lois that no one else ever has. Under her influence, Lois begins to push against the limits that have always restrained her. But how much can she really trust her mysterious new friend? And how far will she go to forge her independence, on her own terms?"

Review: The Other Valley

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had a particularly difficult time reading this book. For one thing, the edition I read had no demarcation denoting when a conversation was taking place. For another thing, the philosophy was just too deep for me to really grasp. It is no wonder since the author has a PhD in philosophy! I also had some difficulty grasping in which direction we had to go to get to what timeline.

All in all, it was a semi-interesting book, but one that did not keep me captivated. I felt that there were too many descriptions of the surroundings, etc., and not enough straight information. There were some plot holes that were easy enough to ignore, too.

If you like deep philosophical debates and what amounts to time travel, you may enjoy this book much more than I did.

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SYNOPSIS: "A literary speculative novel about an isolated town neighbored by its own past and future

Sixteen-year-old Odile is an awkward, quiet girl vying for a coveted seat on the Conseil. If she earns the position, she’ll decide who may cross her town’s heavily guarded borders. On the other side, it’s the same valley, the same town--except to the east, the town is twenty years ahead in time. To the west, it’s twenty years behind. The towns repeat in an endless sequence across the wilderness.

When Odile recognizes two visitors she wasn’t supposed to see, she realizes that the parents of her friend Edme have been escorted across the border from the future, on a mourning tour, to view their son while he’s still alive in Odile’s present. Edme––who is brilliant, funny, and the only person to truly see Odile––is about to die. Sworn to secrecy in order to preserve the timeline, Odile now becomes the Conseil’s top candidate, yet she finds herself drawing closer to the doomed boy, imperiling her entire future."