BOMG Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Heather Morris) @BonnierZaffre

I feel like the last several “book outside my genre” book reviews have had me reading various historical fiction, specifically Holocaust fiction.  Today’s review is just that!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris, is a novel that I have been struggling to write a review for. How can a true, harrowing story be rated?   The novel follows Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, as he lives his daily life Auschwitz and struggles to protect the love of his life, Gita, whom he meets in the camp.   I really did appreciate it was inspired by the true events of a couple; both humbling and heartbreaking, I was captivated by their love story.

BOMG Book Review: Young Jane Young (Gabrielle Zevin)

A young intern, Aviva Grossman, makes the mistake of having an affair with her boss (who is also a successful and married politician) and blogging about it. After the affair comes to light, Aviva is thrust into the spotlight and ends up taking the brunt of the backlash.   Years later, after changing her name to Jane, moving to a new town and starting over in a new career with her daughter, she decides to run for office herself. Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin is a contemporary chick lit novel that will have you thinking.

I went into this book completely blind, I knew nothing about the synopsis and I knew nothing about the author, Gabrielle Zevin. All I knew for sure what the cover was incredible and that was enough for me!

Blog Tour: Cocktails and Dreams (A.L Michael) @ALMichael_ @NeverlandBT

Welcome to the final stop on the Cocktails and Dreams blog tour! This newest novel (and first in a new series) by A.L Michael explores relationships, raw emotions and cocktails. I mean, come on, what more do you want?

I had never read a book by A.L Michael before, but, from what I have heard, I was very much missing out. What I discovered when I dove into this book was a quick read with complex characters and an interesting setting (a burlesque club). I didn’t have trouble getting through this book in a single sitting.

The novel opens with Savvy, a seven-year-old girl, being abandoned by her selfish, rockstar mother. Growing up seeking stability, Savvy, as an adult, is sticking around a relationship with a loser and avoiding her mother. However, when the relationships ends and her mother comes crashing back into her life, Sav is forced to question everything and re-evaluate what SHE actually wants. With the help of a handsome bartender, Savvy learns to discover her own dreams and finds forgiveness in the process.

Book Review: The Address (Fiona Davis) @FionaJDavis @DuttonBooks

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis was a book that I had seen over and over again in the past year, so, when I found out that Davis had her sophomore novel, The Address, publishing this month, I added it to my top of my TBR pile and hopped on the Fiona Davis bandwagon.

I do not read a ton of historical fiction so I wasn’t sure what to expect; however, when I started reading, I quickly discovered that Fiona Davis is a masterful storyteller with the capability to completely entrance her reader.

I was transported back to 1884, where, after a chance run in with a wealthy American family, Sara decides to back up her life and move to America to be the head of house at The Dakota. Flash-forward about a hundred years, in the autumn of 1985, Bailey is out of rehab, fired from her job and without anywhere she goes. In a panic, she turns to her cousin and finds herself in The Dakota.  The novel goes back and forth between these perspectives where Davis weaves a tale of love, the quest for success and betrayal within one of New York’s most famous residences.

BOMG Book Review: Single Minded (Lisa Daily) @lisadaily @StMartinsPress

When I came across Single-Minded by Lisa Daily I knew immediately it would be added to my list of summer reads. I am always on the hunt for a solid palette cleanser that breaks the mould from a traditional chick-lit novel.

BOMG Book Review: One Week to the Wedding (Olivia Miles) @MsOliviaMiles @ForeverRomance

Recently jilted Kate finds herself planning her best friend’s wedding. This is all fine and dandy, in theory, but after watching her ex-fiance run off with her sister, she would rather hide under the covers with her dog and a book than look at centrepieces and attend fittings.   With the wedding one week away, Kate is busy. But just because she is busy doesn’t mean she can’t hang out with the groom’s brother a little bit. Right?

When I stumbled across One Week to the Wedding by Olivia Miles, I knew I had to read it. As you know, I have been trying to incorporate some titles to get me excited for my upcoming nuptials and I have been trying to consume any summer beach read possible, so this one was a no-brainer for me!

Fun and endearing, I found myself completely wrapped up in the week leading up to the wedding and all the drama that surrounded it. Mostly narrated through Kate, our protagonist, as she tries to navigate the world of wedding planning while trying to mend her own broken heart.   We also get a perspective from her sister, Charlotte, who is trying desperately to make amends and, finally, from Alec, the groom’s brother who is a serious business man with a serious soft spot. 

BOMG Book Review: The Summer House (Hannah McKinnon) @HannahMcKinnon @EmilyBestler

I’ve mentioned before that Elin Hilderbrand is one of my summertime guilty pleasures. I love to lay back and lose myself in her Nantucket stories. It just makes me feel like summer.

The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon gave me that same vibe, but better!

McKinnon breathes new life into cottage living with a little bit of added family drama and dynamics, colourful characters and many heartwarming and humorous moments.

In The Summer House, a different member of the Merrill family narrates each chapter. Clem, the youngest daughter, and a recently widowed mother is struggling with raising her family on her own and with her budding feelings for the boy (turned man) next door. Sam and Evan, trying desperately to adopt a baby. Paige, the know it all oldest sister, struggling to keep her family afloat after her husband loses his job and her children starting acting out. They are all brought together by their matriarch, Flossy, who is trying to throw one last hurrah for her husband’s birthday before their family summer house is sold.

BOMG Book Review: Mr. Right Swipe (Ricki Schultz)

I’m always looking for a solid palette cleanser and Mr. Right Swipe, by Ricki Schultz, seemed like just the book to give me a little something different!  Rae is looking to find love after her divorce the 21st century way:  by going online.   When one of her hot co-workers ends up on her dating app, she swipes herself right into a new problem!

There were lots of funny moments in this book and some one-liners that had me laughing out loud.  Ricki Schultz is clearly quick witted and that transfers over to her prose.

However, so much of this book seemed so young.   Half of the time I struggled with the way the characters spoke and I struggled with the use of the hashtags. #ifeeltoooldforthis #idontneedthisasimreading  For a character that is in her early thirties, I felt like this made no sense and it didn’t feel as if they were being used ironically.  I kept picturing her as Amy Poehler in Mean Girls (you know where she states she isn’t a regular mom, she’s a cool mom).  I think I would have loved this novel WAY more if the language would have made more sense for a thirty something or if the character would have been in their early twenties.  I couldn’t take Rae seriously.

I gave this one 2.5/5 stars.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the copy of Mr. Right Swipe; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review

This was also a #cjsreads pick! Keep reading to see what Chandra and Jessica thought of this one

Book Outside My Genre: Mischling (Affinity Konar) @affinity_konar @leeboudreauxbks @RandomHouseCA

I have always been fascinated by historical fiction set in the Holocaust; I think it has something to do with the stories of human survival. I find myself completely enveloped in these types of novels. The characters are what make them. I relish in their tenacity and cheer for them as they defy odds.   I cry for their loss. I will them to live. Needless to say, this novel gave me all the feels.