And rumor has it...
...that Madeline, a novelist, is battling writer's block, with a deadline looming, bills piling up, and blank pages driving her to desperation--and a desperately bad decision;
...that Grace, hard at work to transform her backyard into a garden paradise, has been collaborating a bit more closely than necessary with her ruggedly handsome landscape architect;
...that Grace's husband, successful island real estate developer "Fast Eddie" Pancik, has embarked on quite an unusual side project;
...that the storybook romance between Madeline's son, Brick, and Grace's daughter Allegra is on the rocks, heading for disaster.
As the gossip escalates, and they face the possible loss of the happy lives they've worked so hard to create, Grace and Madeline try mightily to set the record straight--but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it.
My Thoughts: This book dealt with some big, deep issues while still feeling like a light summer read that you can just tear through. I love when a book can do this.
I loved this book. I loved that one of the main characters was an author, I loved that the main characters were established adults who had worked hard to get where they were (because I realize I'm in my young twenties, but I hate it when every "adult" book features a main character who is 22 years old who is somehow already 20 years into her career), I loved how the author perfectly captured the way people gossip, the reason why people gossip, and just what gossip can do. Reading this book made me feel like I was sitting on the beach, having a drink and listening to all the town's rumors firsthand.
It felt like a breezy beach read, but it surprised me with how deep it got!
Should You Read it? Yes!
The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney advanced reader copy c/o Netgalley
Plot: Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.
The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.
EMMA
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.
JANE
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before. -via Goodreads
My Thoughts: TWISTY. TWISTY. TWISTED. I have so much to say and I can't say any of it without spoiling this for you.
So I'll say: I devoured this book in a day. This is a unique thriller. I love the way the story is told (we read about the girl then and the girl now in alternating chapters) and it had way more than one goosebump-inducing moment for me.
I will say that there was an element to the book that made me feel gross, like, "ew why would you just throw this in here?" (See disclaimer below) But it does come back to play a really big part later.
There were several times where I had the though BOOM I've solved it! And I was wrong every. single. time.
It's a hard book to review without spoiling the plot, but it's one of the best thrillers I've ever read. It will leave you asking: Who exactly is the psychopath in this story?
Should You Read it? Yes. This book is coming out in January, and it's going to be 2017's Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. Trust me. You want to get your hands on it.
A quick disclaimer: Just like everyone has different taste in books, I understand that everyone lands somewhere different with what they are comfortable reading. It's too much to keep track of what each book has in terms of language, violence, etc. And sometimes, it's impossible to talk about without giving the plot away. Please understand that just because I think a book is worth reading does not mean it's a book with no controversial content. I'll tell you if it's a good story or not, but you should look it up (or just ask me!) to see if it's something you are comfortable reading (instead of sending me an angry email). xoxo!
What did you read this month?
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