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Another month has come and gone with lots of fun, stimulating, romantic, and dramatic, books that were read. From mysteries to romance to grief to gender norms, these four books were fascinating to read. Each provoking complex thoughts; challenging beliefs, reflection of self, and more. Here are is everything I read in May.
Natalie lives an idyllic traditional life in a beautiful farmhouse with her handsome cowboy husband and adorable six children. What her 8 million social media followers don’t know is that behind this idyllic life are nannies, farmhands, and modernized appliances that help them run their business. They believe she makes bread by scratch, her husband and sons farm by hand, and the girls help mend clothing and assist in the kitchen. Her followers idolize her, even “The Angry Women” can’t stop posting about her. When one day Natalie wakes up in an alternative reality. Her husband and the farm are the same but something is slightly off, different. And these are not her children. Oh, and all the modernized electronics are gone. She truly has to live out the life she is pretending to have on social media. Natalie is confused; is this a reality show, a test from God, or she did simply time travel. As we follow Natalie in two different realities, we get an in-depth look at her ideologies in gender-roles and religion, through her inner thoughts and actions.
5 Stars
Review
This was an unhinged ride. None of the characters are likable, nor have redeeming qualities- except maybe Clementine towards the end. However, I did find Natalie’s inner thoughts to be somewhat humorous at times; especially when she cusses then immediately ask God for forgiveness. I chuckled during those moments. The entire book was interesting. Depicting the truth of social media. How we all put on a front that life is better than what is actually going on behind closed doors. What Natalie does, however, goes beyond the norm of slight misleadings. She perpetuates a completely false narrative. Deep down she doesn’t truly believe in the life she is living and we see that when she wakes up in an alternative reality. The various aspects of this book is also quite fascinating, and excites a complex conservation on gender roles, religion, and social media fame. While Tradwives on social media are making waves, we are starting to see the cracks in the façade. The women pretend to live in an archaic familial ideology, while actually being the sole financial provider making millions on sales. While I would never judge, nor do I care if someone is a stay at home wife. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to stay home with your kids and take care of them. My personal belief is that Tradwives are a completely different entity. A subculture within the normalities of a stay at home mother I could go on and on about the multifaceted aspects of this book. Reading it felt like a rollercoaster. A train wreck you can’t take yours eyes off, or in this case can’t put down. But I do think this is a book everyone should read. It challenges your beliefs in different ways. I am excited to see how they make this story come to life as a movie (or miniseries) with Anne Hathaway.
At a young age Ruth lost her mother to cancer, and has a father that doesn’t know how to console her. When summer approaches, he ships her off to Block Island to spend the next few months with one of her mother’s friends from the past, Diana. Diana is a renowned photographer; encouraging Ruth to express herself through writing. Block Island was a place Ruth felt like she belonged. Where she pushed the boundaries of her creativity. Where she fell in love with Diana’s nephew Charlie. Now as twenty-seven, Ruth is still in the same place she was 10 years ago. Spending her summers on Block Island being a waitress, not pursuing her writing career, drinking too much. When Ruth’s world is once again upended, she tries to find comfort and safety in Charlie. Grasping onto the teenage love they once shared. When given a box of her mother’s things, Ruth discovers secrets of the past. How well does she know the two women who raised her. Ruth, in her self-destructing behavior, must finally face the past, and the current (lack of) life she is living.
4.5 Stars
Review
I did enjoy this book, however, I thought some descriptive parts were repetitive. Repeating why Ruth is doing this or that, felt overdone. Beyond that though I enjoyed following along Ruth’s journey. Overall the story is two-folds. You follow along an idyllic languorous summer on a beautiful island, while the overtone is about loss, heartbreak, and self-destruction. Ruth allows the grief of losing her mother to consume her. We see the self-sabotage, the stunting of one’s own growth, and the fear of moving on. I thought it was a beautiful, and accurate, portrayal of how losing a parent at such a young age can immensely impact one’s life. How they can choose to go down one path or another. Ruth chooses to let the passing of her mother stunt her life. While she does have a support system around her, only Ruth can help herself if she lets others in. As a character, Ruth is complex. In a way you are just as frustrated with her actions, while also rooting for her to come out of this.
Tabitha’s parents are in financial ruin. They have spent all of their inheritance on bad investments, and frivolous purchases. To save her family’s home, she is changing the estate to a singles, animals lovers, bed and breakfast. After a terrible breakup, Tabitha wants to throw herself into this project. The only problem? Tim, her old best friend and once lover, is the contractor. Tim is approached with doing a reality tv show contest, competing for the best renovation for prize money. When the producer witnesses Tabitha and Tim bickering, he realizes it makes for good tv and ask Tabitha to join. Now not only does she have to deal with her parents and to try to be amicable with Tim while hiding her past hurt feelings, she has to deal with a reality tv show. She wants the prize money to help pay for the construction of the Inn. Tim wants the prize money for other personal reasons. As time goes on, past secrets are revealed, the truth comes out, and Tabitha and Tim form a new connection.
4 Stars
Review
This was an easy read. While I enjoyed the 2nd chance, enemies to lovers trope between Tabitha and Tim, I do think some of it could have been taken out. I really did not like Tabitha’s parents storyline; being that puerile and irresponsible. It was a little much. I get why they were portrayed as such, to round out Tabitha’s characteristics which played hand-in-hand with the reality viewers thoughts. I just didn’t care for it. I did, however, enjoy following along Tabitha’s journey. Growing more confidently in herself and within her career. I liked how Tim was trying to protect her, and was always encouraging- even when they were bickering. Overall it was a cute romance book that made you swoon, and left you feeling good.
Being a Lingate is not easy. As one of the oldest, richest, families in America, there is a certain way one conducts themselves. While it may seem money gives you freedom to do whatever you please, it can also suffocate you. Just ask Helen Lingate who has had to deal with her overprotective dad Richard. Ever since Helen’s mother, Sarah, was tragically found dead at the bottoms of the cliffs in Capri in 1992, Helen has been held on a tight leash. Thirty years later when the family takes their annual trip to Capri, a surprise package is waiting for them. The necklace Sarah was wearing on the night of her death. When the mask of the Lingate family starts to crack, Helen takes this opportunity, along with her uncle’s assistant Lorna, to finally escape her family. But when Lorna disappears, Sarah’s investigation is reopened. Now Helen doesn’t know who on the island is telling the truth, nor who she can trust.
5 Stars
Review
Oh I really enjoyed this murder mystery! I did have an inkling of how it was going to end, but wasn’t 100% sure. The twist and turns of the story really makes you second guess everything. However, there were aspects of the ending I was completely surprised by! I loved how it all played out. How everyone was holding secrets. How no one could really be fully trusted- not even the narrators. I do wish we knew a little bit more of Lorna’s background, but it does make her more mysterious this way. The story being set in Capri made everything much more lush. I loved learning about the history of the island as well as the beautiful descriptions of it.