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brooke_review's reviews
1223 reviews
Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I learned that Nowhere Like Home was written by Sara Shepard, author of the Pretty Little Liars series, I knew that it was going to be dramatic and twist-filled. I was not disappointed in that regard. This women-centric suspense novel follows a group of ladies who get wrapped up in a “mommune” - that is, a commune for moms. As they form a feminist community and learn to rely on each other for their needs, secrets from the members’ pasts start to come to light. It quickly becomes apparent that even those pulling all stops to escape their past too often find it catching back up with them, as we see in the dark and dangerous Nowhere Like Home.
I was wholly surprised to see middling ratings for Shepard’s Nowhere Like Home. I, fortunately, did not take as much issue with this novel as others apparently did. I found that it is a great fit for the modern suspense genre, and was a tightly woven and gripping tale. I appreciate the work that Shepard put into the three main women’s backstories, providing them with unique distinguishing characteristics and giving them each their own authentic voice. However, when it came to the mommune characters, a lot of these women melded together for me, which is my greatest issue with this book - I don’t like to be introduced to a lot of characters who I can’t tell apart.
Wholly focused on the modern day female experience, Nowhere Like Home examines motherhood, career, and friendships, and will speak to women from all walks of life. Throw in some juicy gossip and twists, and you have a page-turning suspense thriller on your hands!
I was wholly surprised to see middling ratings for Shepard’s Nowhere Like Home. I, fortunately, did not take as much issue with this novel as others apparently did. I found that it is a great fit for the modern suspense genre, and was a tightly woven and gripping tale. I appreciate the work that Shepard put into the three main women’s backstories, providing them with unique distinguishing characteristics and giving them each their own authentic voice. However, when it came to the mommune characters, a lot of these women melded together for me, which is my greatest issue with this book - I don’t like to be introduced to a lot of characters who I can’t tell apart.
Wholly focused on the modern day female experience, Nowhere Like Home examines motherhood, career, and friendships, and will speak to women from all walks of life. Throw in some juicy gossip and twists, and you have a page-turning suspense thriller on your hands!
Apartment Women by Gu Byeong-Mo
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I quite enjoy Asian literature, and don’t too often take issue with translations; however, either Gu Byeong-mo’s Apartment Women is suffering from a translation disconnect or this book is lacking in some necessary style. The premise sounds pretty incredible, if I am being honest - several families move into an apartment complex in the middle of nowhere as part of a government experiment on communal living. This is my cup of tea because I love social studies. However, this book is written (or translated) so incoherently, that I had difficulty following much of it. The storyline is not clear, neither are the families and members within them delineated. I found myself confused throughout much of this book, not quite understanding where it was going or what I was supposed to get out of it.
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Holly Jackson masterfully writes YA suspense fiction with mass appeal, and with each hit novel that she puts out, she further cements herself as an author that you can count on to deliver a page-turner. Jackson’s new novel, The Reappearance of Rachel Price, a departure from her popular A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, is a standalone story that integrates the multimedia aspects that made Good Girl so appealing. In this case, it’s a documentary being filmed about the disappearance of a teenage girl’s mother sixteen years ago instead of a podcast, and if you were hoping for candid, voyeuristic vibes, they’re all here!
Bel was with her mother Rachel when she disappeared 16 years ago. Essentially, Bel holds the secrets as to who kidnapped her mother from their car while they were out doing some shopping, but the only problem is Bel was a baby and of course, doesn’t remember. That doesn’t stop a film crew from interviewing her and the rest of her family about Rachel’s disappearance, however, as they explore possible theories as to what happened to her.
The documentary takes a plot twist that no one saw coming, however, when Rachel reappears out of thin air one day. Rachel has an incredible story about where she has been the past 16 years, but can she be believed? As Bel tries to adjust to now having her mother back in her life, she also has to grapple with all of the things that don’t add up with Rachel’s story. Is she telling the truth, or is it all lies?
The Reappearance of Rachel Price is a multi-layered, suspenseful whodunnit. I had so many theories as I tore through this book, going back and forth trying to figure out the truth about Rachel’s dubious story. This novel is a lot of fun to read, and is even better enjoyed with a friend - buddy read, anyone?! Trust me, you’re going to need someone to bounce those theories off of! However, I will say that speculating about the truth was more fun than discovering the truth, as the end of the novel was admittedly my least favorite part of the book.
Holly Jackson consistently ranks as one of my top read and recommended YA authors based on her ability to create absorbing, compelling thrillers. Jackson turns the suspense genre on its head, writing engaging, relatable mysteries for young adults who are not yet ready to transition to adult thrillers. Her books certainly serve as a gateway for teens on the verge of crossing over, and can even be read and enjoyed by adult readers, as well.
Bel was with her mother Rachel when she disappeared 16 years ago. Essentially, Bel holds the secrets as to who kidnapped her mother from their car while they were out doing some shopping, but the only problem is Bel was a baby and of course, doesn’t remember. That doesn’t stop a film crew from interviewing her and the rest of her family about Rachel’s disappearance, however, as they explore possible theories as to what happened to her.
The documentary takes a plot twist that no one saw coming, however, when Rachel reappears out of thin air one day. Rachel has an incredible story about where she has been the past 16 years, but can she be believed? As Bel tries to adjust to now having her mother back in her life, she also has to grapple with all of the things that don’t add up with Rachel’s story. Is she telling the truth, or is it all lies?
The Reappearance of Rachel Price is a multi-layered, suspenseful whodunnit. I had so many theories as I tore through this book, going back and forth trying to figure out the truth about Rachel’s dubious story. This novel is a lot of fun to read, and is even better enjoyed with a friend - buddy read, anyone?! Trust me, you’re going to need someone to bounce those theories off of! However, I will say that speculating about the truth was more fun than discovering the truth, as the end of the novel was admittedly my least favorite part of the book.
Holly Jackson consistently ranks as one of my top read and recommended YA authors based on her ability to create absorbing, compelling thrillers. Jackson turns the suspense genre on its head, writing engaging, relatable mysteries for young adults who are not yet ready to transition to adult thrillers. Her books certainly serve as a gateway for teens on the verge of crossing over, and can even be read and enjoyed by adult readers, as well.
The Someday Daughter by Ellen O'Clover
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The perennially conflicted mother-daughter relationship is a tale as old as time, and a rite of passage that many of us go through … and are still combating well into adulthood. Which is what makes Ellen O’Clover’s The Someday Daughter such an important and relatable book for teenage & young adult girls.
O’Clover’s new novel follows Audrey, the eponymous someday daughter of Camilla, a self-help guru and therapist who became wildly famous after she penned a book, Letters to My Someday Daughter when she was just 24 years old, long before Audrey was even born. Audrey is now here and a teen, and has spent her entire life in the shadow of her mother’s success, labeled time and time again as the “someday daughter.” The weight of being Camilla’s daughter is crushing, and Audrey knows something that no one else does - that being the daughter of the woman with all of the answers is not everything it is cracked up to be.
Audrey has big plans to be a doctor, and has her sights set on spending her summer before college in an intensive pre-med training program, but soon finds her hopes dashed when her mother insists she join her on a cross-country tour to celebrate Letters to My Someday Daughter’s 25th anniversary. There is nothing Audrey would rather do less than spend time with her mother on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, answering awkward questions with a fake smile plastered across her face.
However, this will prove to be a life-altering summer for Audrey as she begins to learn more about her mother and her choices … and herself. As Audrey preps to head out to college, the stakes are high - this suffocating summer will either make or break her relationship with Camilla. But which will it be?
As soon as I started reading O’Clover’s The Someday Daughter, I knew that I had a winner in my hands. Poignant and reflective right off the bat, I could tell that this was going to be a book with some weight to it; a novel that examined life and relationships through the eyes of an emotionally conflicted teenage girl with the gravitas they deserve. YA fiction has unfortunately, too often, taken a turn for the worse as of late, and often feels as if it is being written with an agenda in mind. The Someday Daughter takes me back to the YA fiction we were getting 10-15 years ago - a time when novels dealt with teens grappling with authentic and relatable emotions and relationships. This book is purely about a complicated mother-daughter relationship, the pressures of going to college and being a perfectionist at the same time, and figuring out love for the first time. These are all things most teenagers face, making this story accessible, but O’Clover has also made her novel intriguing by having her main character play out these feelings with an unwanted spotlight overhead.
Recommended to teenage girls just embarking on their life’s journey - this novel would make a great high school graduation present for all of the avid readers out there!
O’Clover’s new novel follows Audrey, the eponymous someday daughter of Camilla, a self-help guru and therapist who became wildly famous after she penned a book, Letters to My Someday Daughter when she was just 24 years old, long before Audrey was even born. Audrey is now here and a teen, and has spent her entire life in the shadow of her mother’s success, labeled time and time again as the “someday daughter.” The weight of being Camilla’s daughter is crushing, and Audrey knows something that no one else does - that being the daughter of the woman with all of the answers is not everything it is cracked up to be.
Audrey has big plans to be a doctor, and has her sights set on spending her summer before college in an intensive pre-med training program, but soon finds her hopes dashed when her mother insists she join her on a cross-country tour to celebrate Letters to My Someday Daughter’s 25th anniversary. There is nothing Audrey would rather do less than spend time with her mother on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, answering awkward questions with a fake smile plastered across her face.
However, this will prove to be a life-altering summer for Audrey as she begins to learn more about her mother and her choices … and herself. As Audrey preps to head out to college, the stakes are high - this suffocating summer will either make or break her relationship with Camilla. But which will it be?
As soon as I started reading O’Clover’s The Someday Daughter, I knew that I had a winner in my hands. Poignant and reflective right off the bat, I could tell that this was going to be a book with some weight to it; a novel that examined life and relationships through the eyes of an emotionally conflicted teenage girl with the gravitas they deserve. YA fiction has unfortunately, too often, taken a turn for the worse as of late, and often feels as if it is being written with an agenda in mind. The Someday Daughter takes me back to the YA fiction we were getting 10-15 years ago - a time when novels dealt with teens grappling with authentic and relatable emotions and relationships. This book is purely about a complicated mother-daughter relationship, the pressures of going to college and being a perfectionist at the same time, and figuring out love for the first time. These are all things most teenagers face, making this story accessible, but O’Clover has also made her novel intriguing by having her main character play out these feelings with an unwanted spotlight overhead.
Recommended to teenage girls just embarking on their life’s journey - this novel would make a great high school graduation present for all of the avid readers out there!
The Most by Jessica Anthony
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Jessica Anthony’s The Most is a short story that gives off college literature class reading vibes. This time capsule of a novella opens up the world of November 1957, as well as a seemingly picturesque marriage, to the reader. However, as can be expected with any good story, nothing is quite as it seems.
Kathleen and Virgil are (almost) living the American Dream. He works in insurance, while she, a former collegiate tennis star, raises their two sons in New England. Virgil, who recently accepted a lesser-paying job in Delaware, has moved the family into an apartment complex filled with elderly residents who do not use the complex’s focal drawing point - a swimming pool.
Month after month, the pool sits unoccupied until an unseasonably warm fall day when Kathleen decides to go for a swim … and doesn’t get out. She sits in the pool from sun up to sun down, driving Virgil crazy as he tries to figure out what’s gone wrong with his wife this time. As Virgil leaves her to her aquatic mission, he takes off with his coworkers to play a round of golf, because how often do you get a 70 degree fall day in Delaware?
Meanwhile, both he and Kathleen ponder the state of their marriage, and some unseemly secrets start to come to the light.
The Most is a literary slice of life novella that shatters the illusion of the perfect 1950’s family. So often portrayed with gleaming smiles plastered across their faces, the quintessential nuclear family is brought into question in this short story. How quickly can stereotypes turn to myth with just a little insight into a person’s life? The Most is here to challenge the flawless facades we project outward, and encourage us to look in to people at the heart.
Kathleen and Virgil are (almost) living the American Dream. He works in insurance, while she, a former collegiate tennis star, raises their two sons in New England. Virgil, who recently accepted a lesser-paying job in Delaware, has moved the family into an apartment complex filled with elderly residents who do not use the complex’s focal drawing point - a swimming pool.
Month after month, the pool sits unoccupied until an unseasonably warm fall day when Kathleen decides to go for a swim … and doesn’t get out. She sits in the pool from sun up to sun down, driving Virgil crazy as he tries to figure out what’s gone wrong with his wife this time. As Virgil leaves her to her aquatic mission, he takes off with his coworkers to play a round of golf, because how often do you get a 70 degree fall day in Delaware?
Meanwhile, both he and Kathleen ponder the state of their marriage, and some unseemly secrets start to come to the light.
The Most is a literary slice of life novella that shatters the illusion of the perfect 1950’s family. So often portrayed with gleaming smiles plastered across their faces, the quintessential nuclear family is brought into question in this short story. How quickly can stereotypes turn to myth with just a little insight into a person’s life? The Most is here to challenge the flawless facades we project outward, and encourage us to look in to people at the heart.
Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.0
I organize my reading year by theme, and in honor of Mother’s Day, May is dedicated to books revolving around motherhood and mother-child relationships. From the blurb, it would seem that debut author Jenny Xie’s Holding Pattern, about a daughter who returns home after dropping out of her graduate program only to learn that her mom is not the same woman she left behind when she went to college, would fit perfectly into my May reading theme. Fit it does, but with some caveats.
Although you may try not to, it is difficult to go into a novel without any expectations, when said expectations are set up in the book summary, which I always read before diving into a novel. Relationships with mothers are often complicated, so it is a fascinating subject to explore in a novel - I had high hopes for this book based on this premise. This novel had so many intriguing, complicated mother-daughter topics to explore, being that we have an adult daughter moving home and taking on a controversial job while her immigrant mother remarries a wealthier man.
However, despite Xie’s best efforts, this novel just does not go deep enough for a reader like me. I love books that uncover the truths about life and relationships; the ones that dig deep into the topics that everyone is thinking about, but few are expressing. A complex mother-daughter relationship seems like prime breeding ground to discover some life-affirming truth, but Xie suffers from the debut author problem of not developing her novel enough. This book stays pretty much surface level through out, and failed to touch me on an emotional level. It reminded me of a rom-com, except of the mother-daughter variety, meaning that it was written more for light entertainment than soul searching.
Holding Pattern is a solid debut, albeit one that could have been better with a bit more spit and polish. It needs some refinement and nuance to truly be great.
Although you may try not to, it is difficult to go into a novel without any expectations, when said expectations are set up in the book summary, which I always read before diving into a novel. Relationships with mothers are often complicated, so it is a fascinating subject to explore in a novel - I had high hopes for this book based on this premise. This novel had so many intriguing, complicated mother-daughter topics to explore, being that we have an adult daughter moving home and taking on a controversial job while her immigrant mother remarries a wealthier man.
However, despite Xie’s best efforts, this novel just does not go deep enough for a reader like me. I love books that uncover the truths about life and relationships; the ones that dig deep into the topics that everyone is thinking about, but few are expressing. A complex mother-daughter relationship seems like prime breeding ground to discover some life-affirming truth, but Xie suffers from the debut author problem of not developing her novel enough. This book stays pretty much surface level through out, and failed to touch me on an emotional level. It reminded me of a rom-com, except of the mother-daughter variety, meaning that it was written more for light entertainment than soul searching.
Holding Pattern is a solid debut, albeit one that could have been better with a bit more spit and polish. It needs some refinement and nuance to truly be great.
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The prolific writer Sophie Kinsella is extremely popular among my peers, and whenever I pick up one of her books, I am reminded why people like her novels so much - they are light-hearted and funny, and although they don’t shy away from hard topics, they approach them in a way that is not triggering or upsetting. In short, Kinsella writes books that readers can escape into and just enjoy.
Her latest novel, The Burnout, is no exception. I immediately was drawn into the working world of travel marketing professional Sasha, who is quite burnt out from her taxing job. The endless emails, the insensitive boss, the clueless coworkers - anyone who has ever held a job has come across one or two of these soul-suckers out there in the wilds of the corporate world.
Needing a break from her life, Sasha seeks refuge in the seaside town of her youth, where her family spent many summers. However, once there, Sasha finds that things have certainly changed, and not for the better. The “resort” where she is staying is in disrepair and is undergoing major renovations. The skeleton crew running the hotel is not prepared for their single guest, and what was supposed to be a relaxing stay for Sasha soon becomes anything but.
When a mysterious man joins the guest list at her resort, Sasha bumps heads with him on more than one occasion, but she soon finds herself intrigued when she overhears a phone call he makes. It seems he might be a burnout seeking solace by the sea too! Could Sasha have found a fast friend … and maybe lover?
Relatable and authentic, The Burnout is a novel for any professional woman in need of being seen. Women who are used to doing all and being all will empathize with and source power from Sasha putting her foot down and saying enough is enough. If you are in need of an escape, set off to the seaside with Sasha, but prepare yourself for a cast of quirky characters and hilarious hijinks. While this novel addresses the serious topic of burnout, the situation Sasha quickly finds herself in by the sea is far from grave … in fact, it is downright comical and absurd. Can a little levity and possibly love cure what ails Sasha? Read The Burnout to find out!
Her latest novel, The Burnout, is no exception. I immediately was drawn into the working world of travel marketing professional Sasha, who is quite burnt out from her taxing job. The endless emails, the insensitive boss, the clueless coworkers - anyone who has ever held a job has come across one or two of these soul-suckers out there in the wilds of the corporate world.
Needing a break from her life, Sasha seeks refuge in the seaside town of her youth, where her family spent many summers. However, once there, Sasha finds that things have certainly changed, and not for the better. The “resort” where she is staying is in disrepair and is undergoing major renovations. The skeleton crew running the hotel is not prepared for their single guest, and what was supposed to be a relaxing stay for Sasha soon becomes anything but.
When a mysterious man joins the guest list at her resort, Sasha bumps heads with him on more than one occasion, but she soon finds herself intrigued when she overhears a phone call he makes. It seems he might be a burnout seeking solace by the sea too! Could Sasha have found a fast friend … and maybe lover?
Relatable and authentic, The Burnout is a novel for any professional woman in need of being seen. Women who are used to doing all and being all will empathize with and source power from Sasha putting her foot down and saying enough is enough. If you are in need of an escape, set off to the seaside with Sasha, but prepare yourself for a cast of quirky characters and hilarious hijinks. While this novel addresses the serious topic of burnout, the situation Sasha quickly finds herself in by the sea is far from grave … in fact, it is downright comical and absurd. Can a little levity and possibly love cure what ails Sasha? Read The Burnout to find out!
Double Exposure by Elissa R. Sloan
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Elissa R. Sloan is quickly becoming an author I know I can count on to consistently deliver an engaging entertainment industry read. Having read all three of her fame-focused novels, I can positively proclaim that she has found her genre niche … and she does it well! Her first two books - The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes and Hayley Aldridge is Still Here - gave off Britney Spears tragedy vibes, while her latest novel, Double Exposure, focuses more on coveted celebrity couples. You know … the ones who fans “ship” so much, they mash up their names into something corny, yet cute - think Brangelina or Bennifer.
At the center of Double Exposure is the flawed relationship of model Maiko Fox and actor Adrian Hightower, affectionately called “Madrian.” Maiko and Adrian’s relationship burned quick and bright, and in the end, just didn’t work out. But that doesn’t stop fans from swooning over Madrian, wishing and hoping for the day they get back together. When on screen together, Madrian “print money,” so they are in high demand in Hollywood; but anyone who has ever been in an unhealthy relationship knows that the number 1 rule when calling it off with someone you find irresistible yet devastating, is to stay far, far away from their orbit. With projects and chemistry putting Maiko and Adrian in each other’s path time and time again, sparks are bound to fly, but at what cost?
Double Exposure is a novel that I can really appreciate because it doesn’t shy away from the toxicity of relationships. This novel reads like a genre hybrid, combining both romance with reality, portraying relationships in a real light. It’s no surprise that a romance between two stars would be tinged with toxicity, but finding your way through a bad relationship is even worse when you are living in the public eye. Double Exposure explores the effects of falling in and out of love under the microscope, and brings light to the fact that at the end of the day, celebrities are often just like us when it comes to getting unlucky in love.
Relationships aside, Double Exposure will also appeal to readers who enjoy stories about the stars, and are curious about the inner workings of Hollywood. Sloan deftly combines something that we all can relate to - love - with something few people have personally experienced - fame. The result is a solidly entertaining novel about, well, entertainment!
At the center of Double Exposure is the flawed relationship of model Maiko Fox and actor Adrian Hightower, affectionately called “Madrian.” Maiko and Adrian’s relationship burned quick and bright, and in the end, just didn’t work out. But that doesn’t stop fans from swooning over Madrian, wishing and hoping for the day they get back together. When on screen together, Madrian “print money,” so they are in high demand in Hollywood; but anyone who has ever been in an unhealthy relationship knows that the number 1 rule when calling it off with someone you find irresistible yet devastating, is to stay far, far away from their orbit. With projects and chemistry putting Maiko and Adrian in each other’s path time and time again, sparks are bound to fly, but at what cost?
Double Exposure is a novel that I can really appreciate because it doesn’t shy away from the toxicity of relationships. This novel reads like a genre hybrid, combining both romance with reality, portraying relationships in a real light. It’s no surprise that a romance between two stars would be tinged with toxicity, but finding your way through a bad relationship is even worse when you are living in the public eye. Double Exposure explores the effects of falling in and out of love under the microscope, and brings light to the fact that at the end of the day, celebrities are often just like us when it comes to getting unlucky in love.
Relationships aside, Double Exposure will also appeal to readers who enjoy stories about the stars, and are curious about the inner workings of Hollywood. Sloan deftly combines something that we all can relate to - love - with something few people have personally experienced - fame. The result is a solidly entertaining novel about, well, entertainment!
The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers by Sarah Tomlinson
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sarah Tomlinson, a music journalist and ghostwriter, has written her debut novel on a subject quite similar to herself - a ghostwriter profiling the primary former groupie of one of the most famous classic rock bands in the world - The Midnight Ramblers. Unfortunately, sometimes fact is less fascinating than fiction, as this book is lacking much of what makes a story vibrant and utterly compelling.
As a librarian and prolific reader, I can usually tell by the end of the very first page if a novel has “it” - that special something that is going to grab onto me and not let me go, absorbing me into the story. Sadly, when reading The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers, it was quickly and glaringly apparent that this novel was not going to be “it” for me. At the start of the novel, there is a massive character and backstory dump, where all of the band members are introduced. The novel then continues on as if the reader is supposed to remember and keep track of who is who. Because the characters were not introduced in a memorable way, I had difficulty throughout the entire novel keep tracking of the characters and distinguishing them from one another. This was frustrating because when I am reading fiction, I do not want to have to do additional homework just to stay in the story. Furthermore, groupie Anke’s telling of her history with the band is vague, disconnected, and off-putting. This was another instance in which I had to work hard to stay in the story and keep track of what was happening. When you get down to it, this book just wasn’t engaging.
Tomlinson has the bones for a commendable novel here, but unfortunately, the execution is stale and stilted, at least for this reader. When writing about rock stars, they should leap off the page, not fade into it. The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers needs some work to grab readers in the quickly over-saturating musical fiction genre.
As a librarian and prolific reader, I can usually tell by the end of the very first page if a novel has “it” - that special something that is going to grab onto me and not let me go, absorbing me into the story. Sadly, when reading The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers, it was quickly and glaringly apparent that this novel was not going to be “it” for me. At the start of the novel, there is a massive character and backstory dump, where all of the band members are introduced. The novel then continues on as if the reader is supposed to remember and keep track of who is who. Because the characters were not introduced in a memorable way, I had difficulty throughout the entire novel keep tracking of the characters and distinguishing them from one another. This was frustrating because when I am reading fiction, I do not want to have to do additional homework just to stay in the story. Furthermore, groupie Anke’s telling of her history with the band is vague, disconnected, and off-putting. This was another instance in which I had to work hard to stay in the story and keep track of what was happening. When you get down to it, this book just wasn’t engaging.
Tomlinson has the bones for a commendable novel here, but unfortunately, the execution is stale and stilted, at least for this reader. When writing about rock stars, they should leap off the page, not fade into it. The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers needs some work to grab readers in the quickly over-saturating musical fiction genre.
Honey by Isabel Banta
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Novels about 90s pop princesses are currently having a moment, and Isabel Banta is here with her contribution by way of her debut, Honey. The lives of the actual “core four” bubblegum pop singers of the 90s - Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore - were portrayed as glistening and golden in the media, as young girls and women the world over aspired to be like their favorite songstress. But in recent years, the veil has been lifted, with many of the women revealing that their careers were built on foundations of abuse and objectification. Honey, which follows a fictional up and coming over-sexualized teenage singer, Amber, is one such tale.
Amber Young knows that she can sing, but breaking into the music industry is a whole other story ... especially when you have an upbringing like hers with an alcoholic mother and absent father. When she is “discovered” at a local event, she is set up with an agent, but actually booking jobs is not easy. However, things turn around for Amber when she is invited to join the girl group Cloud9. In the late 90s, girl groups and boy bands are having their heyday, but Cloud9 is having trouble finding their footing. When Gwen Morris, the “star” of Cloud9, decides to break free and go solo, Amber follows in her footsteps, altering the course of her life.
As a solo singer, Amber finds herself marketed and gawked at for her large breasts and sexy looks. Amber finds it easy to slip into the role of sultry songstress, but she longs for the public to see her for more than just her body. As Amber navigates the exploitative entertainment industry, she comes of age amidst men’s glares and stares. Publicly pitted against Gwen, who in secret is her friend, while also exploring a clandestine relationship with Wes, a member of superstar boy band ETA, Amber attempts to stay true to who she knows she really is, while battling against everything the rest of the world wants her to be. As Amber propels toward stardom, she has to make defining decisions about her career, life, and love, while also combating the court of public opinion, which is watching every move she makes. Is fame worth it when you aren’t even free to just be?
Isabel Banta has delivered an explosive, captivating portrayal of what it was like to be young and famous during the late 90s and early 00s - a time when young stars were used and abused for every hit single they could produce, while being chewed up and spit out over every wrong move that they made. Anyone who came of age during this time in history knows that these hitmakers were portrayed as having perfect lives worthy of emulating down to the minutest of details, and were likely shocked to learn that everything that glitters is not gold, when the young stars, now grown, shared what it really was like to be on top of the world.
Banta’s Honey is insightful and eye-opening, while at the same time being intimate and tender. As someone who loves novels about the entertainment industry, my heart was completely wrapped around this nostalgic, yet scandalous tale.
Amber Young knows that she can sing, but breaking into the music industry is a whole other story ... especially when you have an upbringing like hers with an alcoholic mother and absent father. When she is “discovered” at a local event, she is set up with an agent, but actually booking jobs is not easy. However, things turn around for Amber when she is invited to join the girl group Cloud9. In the late 90s, girl groups and boy bands are having their heyday, but Cloud9 is having trouble finding their footing. When Gwen Morris, the “star” of Cloud9, decides to break free and go solo, Amber follows in her footsteps, altering the course of her life.
As a solo singer, Amber finds herself marketed and gawked at for her large breasts and sexy looks. Amber finds it easy to slip into the role of sultry songstress, but she longs for the public to see her for more than just her body. As Amber navigates the exploitative entertainment industry, she comes of age amidst men’s glares and stares. Publicly pitted against Gwen, who in secret is her friend, while also exploring a clandestine relationship with Wes, a member of superstar boy band ETA, Amber attempts to stay true to who she knows she really is, while battling against everything the rest of the world wants her to be. As Amber propels toward stardom, she has to make defining decisions about her career, life, and love, while also combating the court of public opinion, which is watching every move she makes. Is fame worth it when you aren’t even free to just be?
Isabel Banta has delivered an explosive, captivating portrayal of what it was like to be young and famous during the late 90s and early 00s - a time when young stars were used and abused for every hit single they could produce, while being chewed up and spit out over every wrong move that they made. Anyone who came of age during this time in history knows that these hitmakers were portrayed as having perfect lives worthy of emulating down to the minutest of details, and were likely shocked to learn that everything that glitters is not gold, when the young stars, now grown, shared what it really was like to be on top of the world.
Banta’s Honey is insightful and eye-opening, while at the same time being intimate and tender. As someone who loves novels about the entertainment industry, my heart was completely wrapped around this nostalgic, yet scandalous tale.