My first Marie Bostwick novel and I was very impressed! This is a gentle sort of "feminist" historical fiction story.
It's 1963 in suburban America. MaMy first Marie Bostwick novel and I was very impressed! This is a gentle sort of "feminist" historical fiction story.
It's 1963 in suburban America. Margaret, Viv, Bitsy, and Charlotte are all neighbours in Concordia. They form a book club and their first book is a new controversial one called,"The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Frieden. The book makes them question their lives, hopes and dreams at a time when women were very much at the mercy of their husbands. They soon start to refer to themselves as, "The Bettys" in honour of the author. The women all form a close bond and we follow all their lives for many months.
I listened to this on audio and it only enhanced my experience. It was very interesting to enter the world of 1963 where women were expected to keep the house clean, take care of the children and cook homemade meals every night. On the other hand many women were hooked on tranquilizers, stuck in loveless marriages, and could not even open a bank account without their husband's permission. Also weaved into the story were some real life events like the Martin Luther King March, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Even the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy made an appearance (loved that!)
I could very much see this book being made into a limited series. It sure would be fun to watch!
Publishes on April 22, 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for granting me access to this Advanced Listening Copy....more
I liked the suspense a lot! It catches you from the start. I appreciated the short chapters and her writing style flows well and is easy to read. JustI liked the suspense a lot! It catches you from the start. I appreciated the short chapters and her writing style flows well and is easy to read. Just the way I like it!
It definitely grabs you from the beginning. Wren Fern runs a secluded Women's shelter. There's a rackety clackety bridge that one must cross in order to get to Willow's Home. From the window at night Wren hears a truck go over the bridge and stops. There are no planned visitors. Wren must keep the women safe from intruders and possibly any partners looking for them. Can she keep herself safe too? The suspense was built early from the start. After the truck lingers for some time it leaves. A short time later another car appears with a couple inside and the woman appears to be hurt. Can Wren help her stay safe? With all these happenings the story starts to form. We begin to learn Wren's backstory and the women's stories. Another thing about Wren is she has a "gift" that's been passed down from her Grandmother. When she smells what she calls funeral flowers death is imminent. She smells the flowers that night.
I like that this book was unique. It's a Mystery/Thriller that touches on the heavy subject of Domestic Abuse. With all this add in a wee dash of mystical realism and a wee dash of very subtle romance and you've got a book that keeps you turning those pages quickly. Kudos to my Goodreads and Bookstagram friend and ...more
This is a Karen White signature book. Set in the lowcountry of South Carolina, and involving a family with a secret.
The story literally has an electrThis is a Karen White signature book. Set in the lowcountry of South Carolina, and involving a family with a secret.
The story literally has an electrifying beginning - At 9 years old Phoebe Manigault was struck by lightning. She survived but ever since then she has experienced disturbing premonitions. She has always felt out of place with her family and left home early. Now years later she is summoned back home by her older sister Addie who needs her to help care for their ailing Mother. Back home she meets an elderly lady by the name of Celeste Fitch and her grandson Liam. These two will weave into her life in a surprising way.
While this had all the typical hallmarks of a Karen White novel (which I usually love) it just never fully grabbed me. While the setting is beautifully described and the depiction of dementia spot on most of the characters were pretty bland with the exception of Celeste. She was my favourite. I just don’t think this is Karen White at her best....more
There's no doubt about it. This debut novel is beautifully written. It's also bleak and sad.
The story begins in 1987 and Cora has given birth to a sonThere's no doubt about it. This debut novel is beautifully written. It's also bleak and sad.
The story begins in 1987 and Cora has given birth to a son. She lives in England and takes her young daughter with her to go and register his name. Her husband expects his son to be named after him - Gordon (which is a family tradition.) Cora herself likes the name Julian and her little daughter suggests the name Bear. This leads to a unique story. The author breaks down the story in 3 alternating scenarios of what she named her son. The first being if she chose, "Bear," the second, "Julian" and the third, "Gordon." Then all 3 scenarios keep telling the story of the son's life (and subsequently the family) every 7 years. This is where it got confusing a little bit for me. I might be in the minority but I would have preferred just one story of Bear, then Julian, and then Gordon. Not back and forth.
To me this story wasn't really about the names and if it shaped the child in any different way. It's a story about domestic abuse and how it effects the whole family from generation to generation. It didn't matter what the name of the child was. Each scenario was heartbreaking in its own way. Cora suffered in all three scenarios.
This is a story about things we can and can't control in life. I'm impressed with the writing and I can understand all the praise for this book but for me it ran a little slow in parts. It's a 3.5 story that I'm rounding up to 4 stars because of the beautiful writing and heartbreaking subject.
This is a Read with Jenna Book Club selection for the month of May 2025
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy....more
As I reflect on my reading choices for 2024; I can see I really gravitated towards Historical Fiction and Wartime stories. I was happy to see a great As I reflect on my reading choices for 2024; I can see I really gravitated towards Historical Fiction and Wartime stories. I was happy to see a great number of my favourites were authors from my home country ...more
This is my second Marybeth Mayhew Whalen book that I've enjoyed. She's a gifted writer who puts a lot of feeling into her stories.
In 1985 in a small-This is my second Marybeth Mayhew Whalen book that I've enjoyed. She's a gifted writer who puts a lot of feeling into her stories.
In 1985 in a small-town in North Carolina an 11 year old boy named Davy Malcor went missing. Now over 20 years later his jacket is found in an old abandoned shed. The police once again begin to search for his possible remains. The story goes back to that fateful night but also jumps to the present (2006) to the lives of the people that were most affected by his disappearance. His grief-stricken mother Tabitha, his older brother Thaddeus who was in charge of him that night, Anissa, a girl who he was with that same night, and a mysterious man named Gordon Swift. In between their stories we get "snippets" from a best-selling memoir that Thaddeus wrote in 2005 about his missing brother.
I listened to this audio and the narrators were perfect for the story. A little over half way through I also received a digital copy so I began to read as I listened.
This story is told slowly and it works quite well. There's a mystery to what really happened that terrible night that kept me listening and turning those pages quickly. This was an emotional read that left me somewhat forlorn at the end.
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Harper Muse for the Advanced Listening Copy and the Advance Reader's Copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Going down as one of my 2024 favourites! This book first attracted the "Royal Watcher" in me. Since Princess Diana (in the background) and her fashionGoing down as one of my 2024 favourites! This book first attracted the "Royal Watcher" in me. Since Princess Diana (in the background) and her fashions are featured in this story I knew I had to read it!
Just loved everything about this one! It's my first Jade Beer book but certainly not my last.
"You've helped her, not because a family tree dictated you should, but because you are a good person.”
It's a dual timeline story that switches back and forth in time. In the present day (2018) Jayne, lives in a small apartment complex and is a dog walker. Meredith, lives in the same complex and one day opens her door to look outside. As Jayne collects the small dog she is walking that day the dog quickly runs off and into Meredith's apartment. As Jayne goes inside to get the dog she is startled by the state of the apartment. As she begins to talk with Meredith she realizes something is not quite right with her. Then she spots an exquisite looking evening gown that is draped over Meredith's couch. She is very intrigued. The gown seems so out of place. This puts Jayne on a quest to personally help Meredith and her predicament as she says she is waiting for her husband, William. Yet no one in the building has seen William for months. The story then goes back in time to the late 1980's and early 1990's and we begin to learn more about Meredith and William. The hints slowly begin to drop about the gown.
This is a really touching story. It pulls at the heartstrings ...more