a review of The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley, I was provided an advance review copy (ARC) of "The Life She Left Behind" by Nicole Trope in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was very intriguing. What if you have a secret that you've been living with for twenty-eight years? You can't tell anyone, and the life you've built is based on keeping this secret safe. What if that secret comes back to haunt you?

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. It was that good. It was definitely emotional, and left me guessing until the end. This book is told from four perspectives, a writing style that I especially enjoy. We hear from Rachel, her husband Ben, "Little Bird" and an unnamed person who is not identified until the end. The varying viewpoints added an extra layer of depth and suspense that would not have been possible in a different writing style.

The author did an outstanding job of illustrating domestic violence, why women stay, and the heartbreaking choices a mother must make to protect her children. While it was tough to read at times because of the content (particularly the portions from Little Bird's perspective), it was an exceptional novel that I would recommend to anyone. It will be released on July 1, 2020.

a review of The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley, I was provided an advance review copy (ARC) of "The Shore House" by Heidi Hostetter in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to read this book. The description promised a heartfelt summer read of love, forgiveness, and the power of family bonds. Unfortunately, the story as a whole fell flat and did not deliver. The characters, particularly the women, were very unlikeable. I can usually overlook unlikeable characters if they are well written and show growth throughout the course of the book. This did not happen with "The Shore House."

The relationships, particularly among Kaye and Stacey, were forced and unrealistic. I question whether the author has ever been around small children based on the descriptions of Stacey's children. I found it highly unlikely that a six year old who plays soccer would use a booster seat at a table. I found it even more unbelievable that a four year old who would be spending her summer with a reading tutor would use a highchair (with a tray!).

The book description promised a "heart-stopping accident on the beach." I kept waiting for this to occur, and it finally did 93% of the way into the book..sort of. The accident was nothing more than a mother losing track of her child and panicking. The son was never in danger. I would hardly consider this a climax worth describing in the book's synopsis. While it did bring about a conversation between Kaye and Stacey regarding Stacey's fear of the ocean, it did little to show any kind of major character growth. As a mother myself, I still wonder how Kaye went over twenty years without noticing her daughter's fear and avoidance of the ocean.

I wish I could recommend this book, but unfortunately I cannot. The book as a whole has potential, but it needs a lot more work before I would want to read it again. If you're looking for your next summer beach read, this is not it.

a review of One Day In Summer by Shari Low

Thanks to NetGalley, I was provided an advanced reader copy of Shari Low's new book,"One Day In Summer." I had never read anything by Shari Low before, but the description was intriguing, so I requested it and was happy to be approved.

Wow! Where have Shari Low books been all my life? I began this book on Wednesday evening. I forced myself to put it down to go to bed. I read it in the nooks and crannies of my day on Thursday, but then stayed up late to finish it before bed. I love my sleep, but this book was THAT GOOD.

The novel spans the course of 24 hours, both in present day and flashbacks to 1997 (my inner teenager loved the references to '90s pop culture). The viewpoint is shared between three main characters: Agnetha, Mitchell, and Hope. Like many of my favorite movies (hello, Love Actually), the characters have standalone stories that are also intertwined.

Shari Low does an exceptional job of developing her characters and painting a picture of who they are, both in this brief moment of time and past experiences that shaped them. Having lost my mom to a cruel disease far too young, I can especially relate to Agnetha's grief following her mom's death. The dialogue was witty, and I enjoyed the conversations between the characters.

"One Day In Summer" is a story of family, friendship, lost love, betrayals, and hope that will keep you guessing until the very end. It will be released on June 11, 2020 by Boldwood Books. You can preorder it here.