shelleys_book_nook's reviews
432 reviews

Then, Again by JACLYN YOUHANA. GARVER

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a hard book to read. Ashley's husband, Charlie, has been in a coma for almost a year and to read about her heartache was difficult, luckily Asha has a wonderful support system in her father and best friend Bridget. Just as she settles into a routine and gains acceptance, her first love, Jason arrives back on the scene and it brings up memories of the past for Asha, and not all of them are good memories.

This was an exceptional debut. I love the author's writing style it was very realistic and flowed wonderfully. I liked getting to know Asha in both incarnations. The younger part of her story was a lovely coming-of-age tale and her current timeline was heartbreaking yet hopeful at the same time.

I loved that the author showed the different ways we grieve and how it isn’t linear. Although there are two men that Asha loves this is not a love triangle, but an exploration of the different kinds of love. Full of humour and wit Then, Again will take you on a journey of love, loss and hope. I won't soon forget this one. All. The. Stars. 

The Autumn of Ruth Winters by Marshall Fine

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love books about ordinary people doing ordinary things. I didn't like Ruth Winters very much at first but as she grew as a person she grew on me. (you are never too old to change) Ruth has had a lot of trauma in her life and her relationship with her younger sister, Veronica has suffered because of it. When Veronica becomes ill and needs Ruth for rides to her doctor appointments the two start on a journey of forgiveness.

During this time Ruth's fiftieth high school reunion is coming up and an old school chum she went on a date with once contacts her. I loved reading about Ruth acting like a teenager and trying on clothes getting giddy for her date. It was so charming when she and her sister acted like the young girls they used to be.

I am so into books about other people's family drama and once again I find myself loving a book with realistic, older characters. And even though Ruth has to deal with her sister's illness this was still a feel-good story in the end. A story about a second chance at love, loss, family and teaching an old dog new tricks and one that deserves all the stars. 

The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward

dark emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I really wanted to love this book and I did at first. Joanne thought her mom died while giving birth to her but then she finds some photos of herself as a baby where her mother is holding her so she starts to ask questions. Her dad refuses to answer them so Joanne has to investigate it herself.

I had a few issues with this book namely:
- A government official lets Joanne look through a patient file
- Joanne's father and step-mom tiptoeing around her and not explaining things
- Joanne's mom's family didn't do anything about finding her when she was taken away
- Joanne's father then doubles down on his lies
- Joanne's stepmom and dad hide from her when she comes to the door
- When they do finally answer the door her stepmom closes it in her face

And then there was the story and the writing itself. The writing was pedestrian and very amateurish. The same thing happened over and over again ad nauseam. The book lacked any real depth. If Joanne's father was just honest with her when she asked questions he could have saved Joanne a lot of stress and heartache. He made it worse not better. She had to schlep all over the place in her condition. I hate deception, especially where children are concerned. They should not be lied to no matter what because it'll always come back to haunt you and them, and often the lying is worse than the secret itself, as in this story. While I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, shining a light on a not much talked about mental health issue, it's just got bogged down with how unbelievable the story was, the repetitiveness and amateurish writing.

Who Loves You Best by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was such a fun yet serious read, my first by this author. Jodi is asked by her daughter to fly to the Berkshires to look after her 8-year-old granddaughter and Jodi jumps at the chance to play Grandma for a while; except when she gets there two other grandmas are vying for the granddaughter’s attention. Over the next few days, Jodi and the other grandmas compete to be the grandma who loves their granddaughter best.

This story has such a unique premise, that was executed wonderfully, showing the many different ways to parent and grandparent a child. The book also asks what is family…It isn’t necessarily being related by blood. I also like that Jodi was a doctor and that she decided it was time to put herself first. You know the rules of an aircraft, always put your mask on first before you help anyone else. How can you possibly be a good wife or parent if your own needs aren’t met as well? And even though Jodi finally had to do for herself she stayed kind and thoughtful throughout. I was so pleased with the fact that the granddaughter was written so realistically in both behaviour and dialogue.

I just adored the fact that there were older people as main characters in this book and there was even a bit of romance for one of them. If you enjoy books with a lot of heart and humour then this is the book for you, it was very charming and full of family conflict but most of all there was a lot of love between these pages. As I said earlier this is my first by the author but it won’t be my last. I want to check out Husbands and Other Sharp Objects for the title alone. 

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.” – Antony and Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare

I love this author so much, her book The Two-Family House and The Matchmaker’s Gift were both winners for me and The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern was just as enjoyable, if not more so. This story has two timelines 1920s Brooklyn and 1980s Florida so both timelines are historical fiction.

There are a lot of characters in this book and many appear in both timelines. I loved reading about Augustus’ younger years, how she became who she is as a person and how she became a pharmacist which was very rare for women in the 1920s. This book has themes of feminism without it punching you in the face and without Augusta losing her wit and charm. Although I enjoyed the earlier timeline, which is normal for me, I love the style of riding in both timelines. The story captivated me and the characters charmed their way into my heart. The plot sucked me in and never let me go.

I love the way the author was able to weave both timelines as well as multiple genres seamlessly. The book has a bit of mystery and magical realism, it’s historical fiction with a touch of romance but Augusta and her charms are the star of this book. It was so refreshing to have an older woman as a lead especially one as smart as Augusta. If she were a real person I’d love to have a coffee with her and become friends. All. The. Stars. 

Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

After the death of her father, Eliza receives a letter from her long-deceased mother via her aunt. The envelope says “To be given to Eliza on the death of her father” In the letter Eliza learns some very shocking news, so not only does she have to deal with her father’s passing she also has to deal with the emotional revelations of her mother’s letter.

Eliza’s Mother wasn’t in the book a lot but I hated her with a passion. What she did to her daughter, right after losing the only parent she had left, made me so angry. Children aren’t stupid and you should always be honest with them, especially where this secret is concerned. I also had a hard time liking Eliza’s brother, Rory and his wife. Why weren’t they concerned for Eliza? And why didn’t they have her back? They didn’t consider her feelings. Don’t Eliza’s feelings count for anything? It seemed to me they didn’t care about what she was going through in the slightest. Eliza really lost out in the family lottery. Fortunately she she has great friends in Mo and Josh not to mention a wonderful aunt and support system in Claude.

Written so realistically I loved following Eliza on her journey of discovery and falling in love. If you find my review light on the details it’s because I’m being purposely vague, I don’t want to give any spoilers away. One thing I didn’t like about the book was that Eliza kept calling her parents by their first name, even in her head and in her internal thoughts. It boggled my mind why the author would do that. 

The Promise of Tomorrow: Discover a BRAND NEW beautiful, emotional book club pick from bestseller Samantha Tonge for 2024 by Samantha Tonge

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Samantha Tonge is one of my favourite authors and she never disappoints, I always grab her newest release as soon as I can. The Promise of Tomorrow is full of the wit and warmth that Tonge is known for in her writing. She writes about the human condition in such a realistic way. And although it is typical Tonge through and through this story is wholly original without missing her usual charm and style.

I loved the two main characters so much. Elena and Rory are co-workers and friends. Elena decides to give Rory her spare room while his home is undergoing renovations and a true friendship blossoms. We get chapters from each character's point of view. I learned their secrets, hopes, dreams and fears. I loved how complex these characters were and their backstories explain a lot. Their journey together was an interesting one and I love that they helped each other really come alive. Their trip to Paris was such fun and an interesting turn takes place in the story while they're there.

There was so much of myself in this book because I have a lot in common with Elena. Her grandmother lives in Canada in the province of Ontario and that's where I live. She's rereading the book Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and that's my very favourite book in the whole world and the only one I have reread a thousand times.

A lot of the book is emotional and even sad at times but ultimately it was heartwarming and it gave me all the feels and left me feeling very hopeful in the end.

What Does It Feel Like by Sophie Kinsella

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a hard review to write because the book and the story are so raw, real and personal. I used to devour Kinsella’s books when I was younger. I haven’t read any of her newer works since 2019’s I Owe You One. I wasn’t aware that Kinsella was ill until this book came out. She deserves a medal for her strength and bravery and the fact that she kept her sense of humour. I love that about the book as well, both Sophie and Eve never lose their positive outlook on life…so if you’re expecting a pity party or a woe-is-me story you won’t find it here. Eve (and Sophie) have a wonderful support network including a loving husband.

I love the structure of the book as well, each chapter is a little antidote on going through a health crisis, it includes: telling family, all of those plastic chairs in waiting rooms and how brutal physical therapy can be. I’m so thankful Kinsella shared her story it really helped me see it from the ill person’s perspective. I really admire her resilience, I applaud you, Sophie Kinsella. This book is very poignant relatable and believable. It was a hard read but a really great one too. 

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was such a great book and the twist that was 1/3 of the way through it was surprising and amazingly unusual. Normally when that occurs, the reveal early in the book, the story tends to drag the rest of the way but that didn’t happen here. This story takes place in the late 19th century (1885) at a gothic house in rural England. My gosh, the setting was so perfect for the spooky writing and the perception of time and place was outstanding. I felt that I was in the house and the woods at times.

I liked how these two lost souls were there for each other I found each other during the darkest days and kept each other safe from further repercussions. I love gothic mysteries and although this was more on the paranormal side with a bit of romance thrown in, I really dug it. This is a thoroughly riveting gothic story and in it, we get three points of view, they were clearly defined and one point of view took the name of someone else and I didn’t find it confusing at all…that takes talent. I have this author’s 2023 release No. 23 Burlington Square and At the Stroke of Midnight on my TBR pile and I can’t wait to get to them. 

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I really liked this book, it was very intelligently written and I so appreciate the LGBTQ representation as I am an ally. The writing was lovely but not wordy and it was a very unique take on the Haunted House trope. This one is not for the faint of heart as there are a lot of triggers here but I’m not going to go into them so I don’t go into spoilers territory. There are so many social issues in this story abuse, racism and classism to name but a few. The bond of the siblings, especially towards the end, really made this book about family and ultimately that’s what the book is about. Mental illness and suicide issues were written realistically and respectfully, I liked how the author did that.

I loved the ending, it was haunting but not in the way you might think. I admit that the book isn’t for everyone but I loved the writing style, characters and ending very much. What or who is the real monster in this house? It’s literary fiction at its finest, I will be thinking about this one for a long time.