Review: The Book Haters' Book Club

Title: The Book Haters' Book Club

Author: Gretchen Anthony

Publisher: 13th September 2022 by HarperCollins Australia - Park Row

Pages: 328 pages

Genre: contemporary 

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover…

That was Elliott’s belief and the reason why he started The Book Haters’ Book Club - a newsletter of reading recommendations for the self-proclaimed “nonreader.” As the beloved co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookstore, Elliott’s passion and gift was recommending books to customers. Now, after his sudden death, his grief-ridden business partner, Irma, has agreed to sell Over the Rainbow to a developer who will turn the cozy bookstore into high-rise condos.

But others won’t give up the bookstore without a fight. When Irma breaks the news to her daughters, Bree and Laney, and Elliott’s romantic partner, Thom, they are aghast. Over the Rainbow has been Bree and Laney’s sanctuary since childhood, and Thom would do anything to preserve Elliott’s legacy. Together, Thom, Bree and Laney conspire to save the bookstore, even if it takes some snooping, gossip and minor sabotage.

Filled with humor, family hijinks and actual reading recommendations, The Book Haters' Book Club is the ideal feel-good read. It’s a celebration of found family and a love letter to the everyday heroes who run bookstores.

My Thoughts

The Book Haters' Book Club had me at the title as books about books always lure me in. This particular story involves not just books but also a bookshop and the family drama that surrounds it. A quirky tale with a love of the written word woven throughout bringing it altogether. The title comes from Elliott's newsletter which provides book suggestions for people who are looking for inspiration or recommendations. 

‘The Book Haters' Book Club Newsletter

Issue #1

June 1989

Hello readers,

This is Elliot Gregory, daredevil bookseller at the Over the Rainbow Bookshop, here to announce a grand new endeavor: a monthly newsletter full of book recommendations for non-bookish people.’

There are many enjoyable aspects to this tale although it does take some time to lure you in. The ‘commercial breaks’ and ‘newsletters’ (I enjoyed Elliot’s narratives here) were amusing but the main focus is on the family and how our choices and decisions can change the direction of our lives. The story is told from a number of POV allowing a variety of alternatives as to how people deal with grief in their own unique way. I didn't love it as much as I had hoped. I feel the biggest issue surrounding this novel is pacing - just too slow, especially at the beginning. 

‘We book people can be awful, prickish snobs. Why is a yummy romance any less worthy of a reader's love than the latest New York literary sweetheart? I say if a certain type of book isn't your preferred cocktail, darling, simply put down the glass and order something new. You don't have to act as if you've been poisoned.’

The Book Haters' Book Club is a drama with some mystery. There are laughs (some slightly cheesy) with some rather quirky characters. All up it is lighthearted and of course, so very bookish! Elliot’s newsletters and the book recommendations are a definite highlight. This is the tale of a family, warts and all, and the different ways we handle grief, all wrapped up in the power of books to see you through the many ups and downs of life. 

‘That's the magic of being a bookseller: every day, you have the potential to change someone's life. It's true. It's why I spent my career trying to place brave characters into the hands of a person in need of courage; searched for stories that might bring light to those whose hearts were shared in darkness.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: You Need to Know

Title: You Need to Know

Author: Nicola Moriarty

Publisher: 7th April 2021 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 416 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary, family drama, mystery, suspense

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of The Ex and Those Other Women comes a thrilling family drama about the secrets we keep, the lies we tell and the truths that won't stay hidden. Everybody's hiding something ...

Jill, her three sons, their wives and children are driving in convoy on Christmas Eve. But something sinister is simmering behind their happy smiles.

Mimi is struggling with her new twins, but at least a glass of wine smooths out life's jagged edges. Andrea's starting to wonder if her marriage is as happy as she'd thought. Darren is reeling from a surprise request and teenager Callie has become increasingly withdrawn.

On the way to their holiday house, a terrifying car accident devastates them all. But someone unexpected was in one of the cars. No one is searching for them. And their time is running out.

You Need to Know is a dark domestic drama about family secrets and lies, fractured relationships, tragic mistakes and the ultimate betrayal.

My Thoughts

‘You Need to Know’ is a thrilling family drama set in suburbia and is filled with a cast of engaging characters. It centres around the one family, each member with their own drama and secret problems. I usually struggle when there is an array of characters but such is Nicola’s writing that it was easy to keep tabs on them due to the unique story Nicola attributed to each. 

The tale is told from multiple perspectives and Nicola slowly sets the scene as each personal story begins to unravel moving towards a final convergence that will prove catastrophic for many of them. The story takes place through the month of December and the lead up to Christmas. It is interspersed with flashbacks from previous years and also cryptic snippets of the tragedy that will befall them all. This would have to be one of the most cleverly crafted stories I have read. With interweaving characters, tension brewing and the various plots all converging into one critical occurrence, it really demonstrates how cleverly Nicola has considered plotted and penned this tale.

This story is gripping in parts and with some twists you simply will not see coming. As kept secrets play out in this family drama, it resonates as many of the character profiles make it real and a frightening possibility. Each character voice is distinctive and there is never confusion thus allowing the reader to empathise with the various storylines. 

All up You Need to Know is well worth reading. With its multi layers it is such a cleverly crafted tale that will have you racing to discover what the climactic finale will prove to be. Take a bow Nicola for cementing yourself in Australia’s domestic drama genre - it was a thrilling ride.

"I still haven't opened the bloody email ... there's something so commanding about it. ‘You need to know ’ I don't see why it's up to her to tell me what I need to know. Maybe I should delete it.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Tiny White Lies

Title: Tiny White Lies

Author: Fiona Palmer

Publisher: 28th July 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 384 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary, family

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Two families escape the rat race to holiday at a remote coastal retreat, but what lies are they telling themselves and each other? The new family drama by beloved Australian storyteller Fiona Palmer

Ashley has recently lost her husband. Daughter Emily is being bullied online.

Best friend Nikki is holding a huge secret. And why is husband, Chris, receiving so many text messages lately?

Their teenage children are glued to technology, be it PlayStation, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat . . .

The two women hatch a plan: for three weeks, both families will stay in a rustic, remote coastal camp with no phone reception. While the teenagers struggle to embrace this new world of self-entertaining in the rugged bushland, the adults are trying to maintain a certain facade. Soon, around the flames of the camp fire, their tiny white lies might just begin to be exposed.

My Thoughts

‘Was everyone hiding some sort of secret?’

I have enjoyed all the books Fiona has written and this one is no different. Tiny White Lies is a  contemporary tale that, like her ‘Sisters and Brothers’ book, looks at modern families with all its complexities and messiness. For a variety of reasons, families are not what they used to be! Therefore, it is not surprising to learn that this is not just one story, but in fact a number of stories. 

The focus here is very much on relationships - family and friends - and some of the little ‘white lies’ we tell often through a desire to protect those we love but, in fact, have the opposite effect. There are marital, parental, sibling and close friends relationships -  sure to be something for readers to identify with. Particularly pertinent is Fiona shining a light on the tug of war between parents and their children over the use of technology and the seemingly insurmountable challenges that our digital world presents. 

A definite highlight is the setting of this book in the remote outback of Western Australia. Fiona’s familiarity with these locales was clearly evident from hinterland to beachside. From lookouts with ocean vistas to cosy camp fires, Fiona invites you to feel a part of the retreat and escape from the chaos. The experience of this farmstay was very appealing and highlighted how nature can be the balm we humans often unknowingly crave for.

‘Should they pack up and go home? When Nikki reached the summit along the track she paused       

to catch her breath and take in the small private beach in the shape of an easy smile. It was then that she had her answer. They would stay. This trip was mainly for the kids and she     could use this view to get through the murky waters ahead. Taking a lungful of salty air, she smiled. At least here she had places to escape to. Invigorating places. If they went home they would all be stuck in the house together while anger and resentment festered and the kids went nuts.’

Within the various relationships presented in this story, themes from bullying, mental illness, marital affairs and cancer are covered. That’s a lot! Maybe just a tad too many for any of them to be fleshed out with real depth of meaning. I would have loved for Fiona to take the bullying issue, for instance, and really investigated thoroughly the impact this can have on young ones today. There were the obvious happy endings but perhaps, this is what we signed up for. 

With that in mind, Fiona makes her readers aware of some heartbreaking issues and peoples vulnerabilities through the range of relationship storylines. However, ultimately she gives us a feel good story that demonstrates that we all really need to make the most of each and every day. 

‘Luke reached for the wine bottle and topped up Nikki’s glass, shooting her a supportive smile while Chris remained quiet but attentive. ‘It’s been nearly six months.’  ‘Shit, you know how to keep a secret,’ said Ash taking a sip of her wine. ‘How did you manage that?’ ‘Same as you, I guess,’ said Chris. ‘Lots of white lies.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Tiny Pieces of Us

Title: Tiny Pieces of Us

Author: Nicky Pellegrino

Publisher: 30th June 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 320 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: family, modern contemporary

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

My heart is less than 1% of my body, it weighs hardly anything; it is only a tiny piece of me, yet it is the part everyone finds most interesting.

Vivi Palmer knows what it's like to live life carefully. Born with a heart defect, she was given a second chance after a transplant, but has never quite dared to make the most of it. Until she comes face-to-face with her donor's mother, Grace, who wants something in return for Vivi's second-hand heart: her help to find all the other people who have tiny pieces of her son.

Reluctantly drawn into Grace's mission, Vivi's journalist training takes over as one by one she tracks down a small group of strangers. As their lives intertwine Vivi finds herself with a new kind of family, and by finding out more about all the pieces that make up the many parts of her, Vivi might just discover a whole new world waiting for her...

My Thoughts

‘My heart is less than one per cent of my body; it is only a tiny piece of me. All I can do is trust it will keep beating, that its valves will open and close, pumping blood round my body. All I can do is hope and live, like everyone ... like other ordinary people.’

I have read and enjoyed a couple Nicky Pellegrino's books yet it would seem this is a step in a different direction and I liked it. Tiny Pieces of Us will inspire you with its tale of organ transplants. At first I was somewhat unsure, but I warmed to the story and the characters as Nicky’s writing encapsulated the grateful moments along with the heartbreaking ones. 

‘No one is ever safe,’ said Stefano, matter-of-factly, ‘that’s why it’s so important to make the most of life.’ 

This is an interesting fictional look into organ donations from both sides, something I failed to consider beyond the initial donation and transplant (‘People tend to think of an organ transplant as a happy ending’). I found it eye opening and learnt a great deal. The story will take you through a plethora of emotions - everything from love and laughter to tears and heartbreak. It will prompt you to reconsider ‘family’ and the importance of connections. 

Nicky will take you on a journey of how it must be for those who have lost a loved one and also the relief of receiving an organ is in fact, the beginning of a physical and emotional lifelong journey. I appreciated seeing things through Vivi’s point of view and the many hurdles (real and imagined) she put herself through. I enjoyed the backstories behind the other organ recipients and I particularly warmed to her sister Imogen as once again Nicky invites you to consider what it might be like for family members as well. A comprehensive and, I feel, realistic portrayal of all. 

‘Don’t you ever think that we got this second chance at life so should be doing something more important?’  ‘Like curing cancer or negotiating world peace?’ ‘Perhaps not that important.’ ‘I don’t know.’ Tommy sounded thoughtful. ‘We can’t live our best lives all the time, can we? Sometimes we just have to get through the day, same as anyone else.’ 

Woven into this is also family dynamics, a career quandary and relationships with some romance which adds depth and therefore this is not a one dimensional tale. There is much to appreciate here and a grateful heart (pardon the pun) to walk away with. I have always enjoyed Nicky’s writing but feel she has really stepped it up with her latest offering and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. 

 ‘The only thing that has ever made her feel slightly better is knowing that out there somewhere Jamie’s heart is still beating, that his death meant other people had a future. She  thinks about the ones that have tiny pieces of him inside them.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Lost Summers of Driftwood

Title: The Lost Summers of Driftwood

Author: Vanessa McCausland

Publisher: 16th December 2019 by HarperCollins AU

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: family, mystery, contemporary

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Is it more dangerous to forget ... or to remember? A compelling drama about broken dreams, first love and the mystery of a lost sister, for all fans of Hannah Richell and Kate Morton. She remembered this part of the trip during the day time. Her sisters on either side in the back. The sunlight flickering through branches was like looking through a kaleidoscope. How could that be so long ago? How could so much have gone wrong?

Phoebe's life has fallen apart and there's only one place left to go. Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, she flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage.

On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water?

Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community.

As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.

The Lost Summers of Driftwood is a story of lost loves, rekindled passions, tragedy and betrayal set against the backdrop of an idyllic south coast town.

My Thoughts

The Lost Summers of Driftwood not only has a beautiful cover but a fabulous story to go with it. Whilst recalling a family tragedy, this is also a story about friendships and first loves. This is a tale that will slowly draw you in and keep you coming back until the last page is turned. Told against the backdrop of an idyllic setting, a mystery is on offer here that needs to be resolved.

One of the highlights for me was the beautiful setting with Vanessa seeming to make the landscape a character within itself. Her writing makes the sun warm our skin and the water cool our souls. Set in a picturesque Australian bush setting, Vanessa brings to life the bay and its river. Living in Australia, I found her passages surrounding the bushfire to be so authentic that it was as if the reader could smell smoke and ash in the air. 

‘Feeling those fires so close, you start to think about what matters. What you’d leave behind, what you would save, no matter what. And it brings everything into focus. Why live life being so fucking unhappy?  Trying and failing so hard. Maybe this thing ... this meeting of minds, or hearts, whatever it is we have, maybe it’s that simple.’

I had no preconceptions regarding the plot and found myself fully engaged on a number of levels. I enjoyed the characters and their journeys - either individually or in some cases as a family. The tragedy is haunting and well written with just enough flashbacks to hook you in and think ‘what would I do?’ The relationships are real and relatable. The mystery is not predictable until the very end but by then the fallout is more impactful as this is not a one dimensional story. For a debut novel, this is really quite extraordinary.

I look forward to seeing what Vanessa will come up with next. If you enjoy a well told story with the perfect combination of mystery, reflection, location and atmosphere then I highly recommend this read. There is much to love here and I enjoyed all the aspects on offer.

‘Phoebe cringed at the thought of her last status update - a pair of cocktails sweating lazily against the setting sun. A post that was meant to convey the dreamy perfection of their lives in a single image. The sound of Nathaniel’s exasperation came back to her as she arranged the glasses just so for the picture. Of course, she hadn’t read it as contempt. She hadn’t read it for what it was: her arranging their lives, as though happiness would be inferred by the tilt of a straw.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Imperfects

Title: The Imperfects

Author: Amy Meyerson

Publisher: 20th April 2020 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 384 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: family, mystery, contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays comes a captivating new novel about a priceless inheritance that leads one family on a life-altering pursuit of the truth.

The Millers are far from perfect. Estranged siblings Beck, Ashley and Jake find themselves under one roof for the first time in years, forced to confront old resentments and betrayals, when their mysterious, eccentric matriarch, Helen, passes away. But their lives are about to change when they find a secret inheritance hidden among her possessions—the Florentine Diamond, a 137-carat yellow gemstone that went missing from the Austrian Empire a century ago.

Desperate to learn how one of the world’s most elusive diamonds ended up in Helen’s bedroom, they begin investigating her past only to realize how little they know about their brave, resilient grandmother. As the Millers race to determine whether they are the rightful heirs to the diamond and the fortune it promises, they uncover a past more tragic and powerful than they ever could have imagined, forever changing their connection to their heritage and each other.

Inspired by the true story of the real, still-missing Florentine Diamond, The Imperfects illuminates the sacrifices we make for family and how sometimes discovering the truth of the past is the only way to better the future.

My Thoughts

“I’ve been so busy thinking she betrayed me I didn’t stop to consider that she may have been protecting me.”

The Imperfects by Amy Meyerson is a contemporary tale with an interesting historical backstory. Travel along with the family as they investigate the mystery behind the Florentine Diamond and how it came to be in their family’s possession. Much like the stone itself, this tale is as much about the individual members of the family as they face their own ‘imperfections’. 

The most interesting aspect of this novel for me was the history (fiction based on some truth and myth) behind the diamond. Amy lets her creativity flow as she imagines how it might have ended up with this family. This is so engaging that you are left wishing more time were devoted to this aspect of the story. The history of the diamond is fascinating and Amy’s twist on where it might have gone to after its disappearance in 1918 is worthwhile. I particularly enjoyed these historical aspects to the novel. Sadly, the majority of the novel is not dedicated to this but rather the family members and their backstories. 

Each member of the Miller family is given the opportunity to tell their story with its many obstacles, challenges and many, many setbacks. With the discovery of the diamond it sets in motion their journey to prove its authenticity and their legitimacy eager to anticipate how it could change their lives. Whereas I would have preferred the story behind the diamond's journey, we are left with a squabbling family that do nothing to endear themselves to the reader, despite their obvious ‘imperfections’. They are hard to like and the ending ... well, a bit of a letdown despite the author's obvious wish to indicate otherwise.  The bickering between siblings gets too much at times, despite labelling them dysfunctional. 

The premise of the book had much potential and overall the historical mystery kept it afloat. If only there had been more of the grandmother and less of the squabbling siblings.  The story of the grandmother Helen and her mother Flora would have made a very compelling tale. I understand the modern characters were flawed and that this was a journey to maybe allow them to work together and heal their rifts?

“You can’t make characters like these up.” “Don’t worry,” Jake assures him. “I won’t write about your friends.” Mr. Frankel stops, still holding Jake’s arm. “Oh, you must. If we don’t tell stories, they disappear. You must write everything. You must keep us alive.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Just One Wish

Title: Just One Wish

Author: Rachael Johns

Publisher: 21st October 2019 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 496 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: drama, womens fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Three women, three secrets, one life-changing journey. Alice has always been a trailblazer as a scientist, activist and mother. She knew her choices would involve sacrifices, but now, on the eve of her eightieth birthday, she's beginning to wonder if she's sacrificed too much.

Alice's daughter, Sappho, rebelled against her unconventional upbringing, choosing to marry young and embrace life as a homemaker, but her status as a domestic goddess has recently taken a surprising turn.

Ged has always been the peacemaker between her grandmother and mother. A tenacious journalist, she knows what she wants in life and love, yet when everything in her world starts falling apart, she begins to question whether she really knows anyone at all.

At a crossroads in each of their lives, Alice, Sappho and Ged embark on a celebratory trip together, but instead of bringing them closer, the holiday sparks life-changing consequences and lifts the lid on a fifty-year-old secret.

Can Ged rescue her family if their story is built on a betrayal?

My Thoughts

‘All my life I’d felt torn between Mum and Gralice on some level, but this … this was worse than ever because this wasn’t about differences of opinion, this was about matters of the heart. I loved them both and this rift between them was tearing me to pieces.’

Rachael Johns once again provides her readers with a fabulous contemporary family drama through the life experiences and choices of three generations of women. Set in my home state of Victoria and told from the perspective of the youngest family member, Ged (Geraldine), this story follows along as family secrets come to light for all - grandmother, mother and daughter - and the impending implications of the decisions each of them have to make. 

This book is reflective of a number of present day multigenerational issues which makes for contemporary reading. Some of the topics raised include: feminism, single parenting, LGBT, impact of social media and aged care being the main ones. There is quite a lot going on here. Whilst I applaud Rachael, I did find that at times the pacing became a little bogged down as so many conversations pertaining to these issues were engaged upon. 

Overall, however, reading Rachael’s books is always sure to make you smile, make you think and ponder the deeper, more engaging issues raised. Just One Wish is most certainly a realistic portrayal of the complexity of modern day families that is sure to resonate with many readers. 

‘If I’ve realised one thing—perhaps too late—it’s that life isn’t black and white. It’s a million shades of grey and there isn’t one truth that fits everyone.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.