book club

Friday means Heather's book club day!!

MWF seeks BFF by Rachel Bertsche


When Rachel Bertsche first moves to Chicago, she’s thrilled to finally share a zip code, let alone an apartment, with her boyfriend. But shortly after getting married, Bertsche realizes her new life is missing one thing: friends. Sure, she has plenty of BFFs—in New York and San Francisco and Boston and Washington DC. Yet in her adopted hometown, there’s no one to call at the last minute for girl-talk over brunch or a reality TV marathon over a bottle of wine. Taking matters into her own hands, Bertsche develops a plan: she’ll go on fifty-two friend-dates, one per week for a year, in hopes of meeting her new Best Friend Forever.
In her thought-provoking, uproarious memoir, Bertsche blends the story of her girl-dates (who she meets everywhere from improv class to friend-rental websites) with the latest in social research to examine how difficult—and hilariously awkward—it is to make new friends as an adult. She asks why women will happily announce they need a man but are embarrassed to admit they need a BFF. And she uncovers the reality that no matter how great your love life, you’ve gotta have friends.
(from her blog)

I didn't mind this book,it is a different read compared to what I normally read (chick-lit/fiction/murder story lines...) There are definitely some funny and "that-is-so-true" moments that Rachel points out and it is funny to go on each friend-date with her. However, it kind of becomes old halfway through and there were a couple times where I was thinking that Rachel should have just taken the sign and NOT reached out to a woman she was interested in being friends with. Also,I found the constant quoting/fact/info/statistics was annoying and it took away from the overall story. I give it a C.

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio


In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after. Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily’s good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.
(from her website)

I loved this book and its premise/mystery. A fast read that was hard to put down (I even gave it to my Mom to read next). The characters are so real and their dilemmas are so real-life based. I will admit that I thought the ending was a little rough-edged (I feel like there is a piece or two missing to be fully satisfied). It was hard to determine where the story was going throughout the book and I loved not really being able to pin-point the ending/outcome. Interesting and I highly recommend this book; I give it an A.

Erica James' Act of Faith

It’s almost Christmas. But for Ali the season of good cheer is the anniversary of her baby’s death. As she stands at her son’s grave, she is poignantly aware of how dramatically her life has changed. Determined to stand on her own two feet, and get through Christmas alone, Ali turns down her ex-husband’s unexpected invitation to spend the holiday with him and his father, only to give in to her best friend’s cajoling to share the festive season with her. The only trouble is, it means having to be nice to Sarah’s awful husband, Trevor. Sarah may be a saint for putting up with Trevor, but Ali is no such thing, and as his cranky behaviour escalates, she takes it upon herself, in an extraordinary act of daring impetuosity, to play God with her friend’s incomprehensible marriage. But Ali’s meddling has consequences even she could not have foreseen.
(from her website)

I was so surprised that I could NOT stand this book because I have enjoyed her other novels so far. I thought it was too boring,too slow and too long. I felt bad for each character and the main story lines are just sad and heartbreaking. Lots of lies in this book; I only read/skimmed to the end because I wanted to know what happened. There was a big twist towards the end and I HATED it, something that was just wacky and ruined all that had happened up to that point. At least the ending was a bit of a relief. And the title isn't really sufficient for this story,there wasn't really any "acts of faith" for the characters, just coming to your senses and telling the truth. I give this a D.

Lisa Scottoline's Come Home


Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom, who has finally gotten her and her daughter's life back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry a great guy, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her, though it is stressful, and her daughter Megan is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old, juggling homework and swim team.
Jill's life is turned upside-down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on their doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news — Jill's ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries, and discovers that things don't add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet, Jill can't turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own. COME HOME reads with the break-neck pace of a thriller, but also explores the definition of motherhood. It asks the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits and love of family?
(from her website)

GREAT book;Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint with this newest story. Great,gripping story and interesting characters. Had me on the edge of my seat with suspense/fear and yet there was so much heart and love. I give this a solid A.

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Have a great weekend!