Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wanted to like this book, it started well with two interesting characters who captured my attention, but then very quickly the story took a strange turn; one of the main characters is killed off and this is where I felt the story went off the rails.
The book is centered on Elizabeth Zott, a chemist, who faces challenges and struggles both professionally and personally. Elizabeth is an uncompromising scientist, but as a woman in the 1950's she is not respected, and often taken advantage of. Out of necessity, Elizabeth winds up hosting a daily cooking show that she turns into a chemistry classroom, teaching not only chemistry but also self-esteem to her many female viewers.
There were parts of the story that I enjoyed, especially the way the author included the viewpoint of the dog, but overall I felt the story was chaotic.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advance reader copy of this book.
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The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Historical fiction at its finest, this incredible story includes mystery, murder, betrayal and revenge all set among some the finest works of art in the world.
Lillian, also know as the renown model Angelica, hiding from a mistaken accusation of murder finds herself in front of bossy and difficult Helen Frick, who believes that she is there for a job interview. Miss Lilly begins to work with Miss Helen in the Frick residence, and she finds herself surrounded by secrets and lies.
Two timelines, from 1919 and 1966 intersect with an ending that merges the two time periods with a satisfying conclusion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the characters were interesting, and likable, even the bullish Miss Helen. I highly recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advance reader copy of this book.
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Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this fun new book by Kelly deVos, angry teens at a fat camp in a massive blizzard and there's zombies, what's not to love. Basically the story feels like World War Z at a fat camp for rich kids, but the way the author pokes fun at stereotypes makes this YA book so much more. I really enjoyed it, except for the ending which definitely felt like the author was setting up the second book rather than resolving this story, but honestly I hope so because I'm sure I will like the next one too. This book is a perfect summer read.
When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an interesting story about an Iraqi woman who struggles to deal with the infamous mukhabarat, the secret police, when she gets a prestigious position as a secretary for the Australian Embassy. She is told to befriend the Ambassadors wife in order to get information, but Huda doesn't want to spy on her new boss, Ally. Huda fears for her son's safety and feels trapped by a dangerous and corrupt regime. Meanwhile Ally has her own secrets and her own reasons for coming to Iraq. Exploring the reality of living under the dangerous regime of Saddam Hussein, this book gives a glimpse of a lifestyle that few of us would otherwise know.
I really enjoyed this story of friendship and the ties that bind us to our past.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I heard lots of buzz about this book so I decided to give it a try. I have never been a big fan of gothic novels and after reading this I can absolutely confirm that gothic novels are not for me. While the main character of the story is very likable, none of the other characters seemed to have any depth. I found the story strange and pretty gross at times. The writing was well done, but the story dragged on and was repetitive at times and the ending of the story felt chaotic, rushed and pretty disgusting. I have now learned that I simply do not enjoy this genre of books.
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a very cute story, a perfect summer beach read. The main character Jesse is a single Mom who reluctantly signs up for a DNA matching service and is of course an almost perfect match to the one person who she dislikes. As she begins to fall for the handsome Dr. Pena it is fun to imagine the possibilities. My favorite part of the book is the incredible friendship between Jess and her best friend Fizzy. This book was lighthearted and fun, and a great escape.
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am struggling to rate this story because although I enjoyed the writing, this story of two sisters as they grew was boring and so morose at times. The main characters, sisters Jo and Bethie both struggle to find themselves. Jo struggles with having feelings for other girls, but she winds up settling for a life with marriage and children. Bethie is molested by an uncle in her teens and struggles to overcome the damage done to her self-worth. Both girls are resilient and eventually do find their own way to happiness. My main challenge with this book is the length, and the fact that it is so steeped in sadness and conflict. Simply put this book was depressing to read. Unlike most stories with a clear story arc, this story simply followed the girls from adolescence to adulthood and through their lives. I typically enjoy historical fiction but this book just didn't hit the mark for me.
