Women’s Fiction | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Spotlight Review: THE BREAKAWAY by Jennifer Weiner

August 29, 2023

From the publisher:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and a life-changing journey.

Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. True, she still has gig jobs instead of a career, and the apartment where she’s lived since college still looks like she’s just moved in. But she’s got good friends, her bike, and her bicycling club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry Mark Medoff, her childhood summer sweetheart, a man she met at the weight-loss camp that her perpetually dieting mother forced her to attend. Fifteen years after her final summer at Camp Golden Hills, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, it feels like the happy ending she’s always wanted.

Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right…or the memories of one thrilling night she spent with a man named Sebastian two years previously. When Abby gets a last-minute invitation to lead a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she’s happy to have time away from Mark, a chance to reflect and make up her mind.

But things get complicated fast. First, Abby spots a familiar face in the group—Sebastian, the one-night stand she thought she’d never see again. Sebastian is a serial dater who lives a hundred miles away. In spite of their undeniable chemistry, Abby is determined to keep her distance. Then there’s a surprise last-minute addition to the trip: her mother, Eileen, the woman Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities she’s still trying to undo.

Over two weeks and more than seven hundred miles, strangers become friends, hidden truths come to light, a teenage girl with a secret unites the riders in unexpected ways…and Abby is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself, her mother, and the nature of love.

Incredibly fun . . . A lovely, compulsively readable story about finding your path and believing in your own worth.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This is a winning combination of a light read with serious emotional depth, the very mix Weiner’s many fans have come to expect from her. Weiner’s annual summer release is a welcome (and highly anticipated) treat for readers of relatable relationship fiction.” —Booklist, starred review

“Charming…lively banter reels the reader in…this breezy outing goes down easy.” —Publishers Weekly

“What do women get to do with their bodies? may be the central question of “The Breakaway,” and Weiner answers it brilliantly…sexy and suspenseful and so much fun”—New York Times
https://amzn.to/3LmFKq3

I was working for Borders Books & Music when Weiner’s first book, Good in Bed, came out and I was smitten. That has turned into a deeper love for her writing over 20+ books, and I’m happy to say that I absolutely loved The Breakaway! I even loved the movie based on In Her Shoes, and let’s face it, it’s rare when a movie does justice to a book.

Abby is in her early thirties but still trying to find herself. She’s walking dogs to pay the rent and has been in a two-year relationship with Mark, a Jewish doctor, and now he wants her to move in with him. They met at fat camp, and he was her first love, so everything should be great, right? It kind of is, but Abby feels a little overwhelmed about moving in with him. He’s a good man, he’s kind, he’s crazy about her, all the good things, but Abby feels like maybe there should be more. And then she feels guilty for thinking that.

Mark had surgery to get the weight off, and now he’s half the size he used to be. He’s determined to stay thin, too, by eating all lean protein and running six miles a day, no matter what. On the other hand, Abby is fairly comfortable in her body, which her doctor calls obese, and she just calls fat. She loves to ride her bike and belongs to a bicycle club in Philadelphia. When one of her friends begs her to lead a two-week bike trip through New York State on the Empire State Trail, she decides it’s the perfect way to get out of her head and think about her future.

Two years earlier, before she was in a committed relationship with Mark, she went barhopping for a friend’s bachelorette party. She met Sebastian at a club and spent the most memorable, fulfilling night of her life with him. But he lives in NY, she lives in Phillie, and she snuck out at dawn before either of them could exchange any info. So, it is no great surprise that one of the two single men on the bike ride is Sebastian.

Weiner never takes the easy way in any of her books. Relationships are complicated, people are complicated, and such is the case here. I loved Abby and wanted her to be happy – one of Weiner’s gifts is getting us so involved with her characters that you just can’t put down the book, and you can’t stop thinking about it when you finally do. This was a book that tempted me to call in sick to work just so I could finish it! But, ugh, I am way too responsible to do that. Unfortunately, it did keep me up half the night, and I was very happy when I finally turned that last page. That’s the best possible outcome from reading a book, don’t you think?

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BREAKAWAY by Jennifer Weiner. Atria Books (August 29, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1668033425. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt

August 15, 2023

From the publisher:

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER by: Chicago Tribune * The View * Southern Living * USA Today

“Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender.” — Washington Post

“A debut novel about a woman who befriends an octopus is a charming, warmhearted read.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A unique and luminous book.” — Booklist (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3O7wmqB

What an incredible read! My friend Nora recommended this book to me while we were on a *mini-vacay, and I’m so happy she did! There are two main characters, Tova, an elderly woman who cleans the small town aquarium, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus.

Tova has had a hard life. She’s lost everyone she loves, including her husband and her son, but she keeps putting one foot in front of the other and keeps moving on. Marcellus has come to terms with his captivity, but he enjoys sneaking out of his tank after hours. Tova knows this but figures live and let live, and she doesn’t rat him out. In fact, she saves him one night after he becomes ensnarled in a bunch of cords beneath a table. Marcellus is quite bright, and his observations of the humans who enter his world are often thoughtful, snarky, and just delightful as the book meanders back and forth from his viewpoint to Tova’s.

When Tova’s son was lost at sea, it was assumed a suicide, but Tova never accepts that. Turns out Marcellus may have information that will help Tova only he has to figure out how to communicate this to her. When Tova has a nasty fall, she is put on bed rest and the aquarium hires a young man new to town to help fill in while she’s out. But she can’t stay away; as soon as she is somewhat mobile, she starts sneaking into the aquarium, helping out her replacement but keeping it all on the down low.

This was such a charming book, and I’m sure it will stay with me for a very long time. It is an incredible debut filled with memorable characters and an unusual yet believable storyline; Remarkably Bright Creatures is bound for my best books of 2023 list. Don’t miss it!

*mini-vacay: only visited two bookstores and no libraries (other than a Little Free Library)!

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt. Ecco (May 3, 2022). ISBN: 978-0063204157. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: THE DÉJÀ GLITCH by Holly James

August 8, 2023

From the publisher:

To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .

Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.

So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?

The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.

“James combines humor and heart in this sparkling story of love and friendship that is sure to enchant fans of Emily Henry and Rebecca Serle. Likable characters and a charming, funny premise elevate James’ latest above the crowded pack of contemporary rom-coms.”—Booklist

“James does a laudable job emphasizing Jack’s desperation and adoration, the sparks that fly between him and Gemma, and the way they make each other’s lives better….Readable and sweet.”—Kirkus Reviews

“With this cleverly constructed romance, James puts a fresh spin on the concept of a time loop…. This is a cute romp.”—Publishers Weekly

“Readers will love getting stuck in James’s uniquely sweet and heartfelt love story.”—Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3qikVEz

This terrific rom-com is based on a time loop à la Groundhog Day, probably the most recognizable iteration of the concept and one of my favorite movies, so I should have been all in on this book. Except there was another book with this construct, Cassandra in Reverse, which came out in June. I was very excited to read it – it was a Reese Whitherspoon Book Club pick, and I almost always love those books. But I got about a third of the way through and had to put it down – I found it confusing, unwieldy, and tough to read. Maybe I’ll go back to it sometime, but for now, I can only say that this book was the time loop romance I wanted; I loved it.

Gemma is the progeny of Hollywood music royalty, but when her wannabe rockstar boyfriend meets her father and gets the record deal he was after, he dumps Gemma. Brokenhearted at being so used, she can’t bring herself to start dating again even though a year has passed. Until she bumps into Jack causing them both to be covered in coffee. But there’s something about him, some déjà vu-ish thing or maybe she’s just reading too much into a hot guy who seems really interested in her.

What Gemma doesn’t know is that Jack has been reliving the same day over and over again, and so has she. Jack is convinced he won’t be able to break out of the pattern until he gets her to fall in love with him – in one day. While Gemma is disbelieving, as one would be, eventually, he starts to wear her down, and she starts remembering a bit more each day.

I don’t want to give anything else away here, so suffice it to say this is a kinder, gentler version of Groundhog Day but the requisite happy ending. It is laugh-out-loud funny and sweet and all in all, a terrific read and I loved it.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DÉJÀ GLITCH by Holly James. Dutton (August 1, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593471586. 352p.

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THE HAPPINESS PLAN by Susan Mallery

July 28, 2023

From the publisher:

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

Three women search for joy in #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s new novel of hope, heartache, and the power of friendship.

Heather is happy . . . ish. She has a successful business, a cute but contemptuous cat, and best friends Daphne and Tori who know where she’s broken and love her anyway. So why does she feel crushed when her ex gets serious about someone new? No problem, she has a plan. More connections will hold her together while her world falls apart, so she finally reaches out to the stranger who might be her dad.

Daphne isn’t having an emotional affair, despite what her husband believes. He started the rift in their marriage when he said they weren’t ready for a baby. They used to be the closest couple she knew. Can they find their way back to one another before it’s too late?

When Tori forms an inconvenient crush on Daphne’s brother-in-law, she suppresses her feelings. Until her apartment floods, and she moves in with the dog-loving doctor. If things go wrong, she could lose her friends. . . but if they go right, she could lose her heart.

“This novel of emotional honesty and found family will appeal to readers of Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins…Mallery is a reliable star of relationship fiction, and her latest is a great choice for beach-read season.”–Booklist
https://amzn.to/43wvuRY

Mallery excels at female friendship and romance; the combination is irresistible here. Heather didn’t have the greatest childhood, partly because she never knew her father. But when one of the online DNA websites confirms a match for her father, she is torn about what to do with the info. Daphne is married and a great step-mom to her husband’s kids from his first marriage, and they always agreed to having a child of their own. Daphne is a high powered lawyer who works a lot of hours. When one of her colleagues sends her flowers, she finds it a bit unusual but doesn’t think much of it. But when her husband finds out, he is terribly hurt and angry, and immediately assumes she is having an affair.

Tori has no family to speak of, and her two best friends fill that void in her life. She has strong feelings for one of her friend’s brothers, but is afraid to act on it because she’s afraid if things go wrong, she’ll lose her friends.

All three women work through their problems, helping one another until they reach their happily ever afters. I was immediately drawn into these characters and their stories, and couldn’t put the book down! Another terrific read from one of my favorite authors.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE HAPPINESS PLAN by Susan Mallery. MIRA; Original edition (June 20, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0778333555. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey

July 18, 2023

From the publisher:

Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.

June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice.

Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most.

But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives.

From an author whose “writing coats your soul with heart” (E! Online), The Summer of Songbirds is a lyrical and unforgettable celebration of female friendship, summertime freedom, and enduring sisterhood—and a love letter to the places and people that make us who we are.

“Harvey reminds us that sisterhood can take many forms…With a strong dose of nostalgia and multiple narrations from Daphne, Lanier, and June, the book will appeal to Mary Kay Andrews and Katherine Center fans, who will revel in the support the women demonstrate for one another.”—Booklist

“Equal parts moving and nostalgic, Kristy Woodson Harvey’s latest novel is a story of four friends who unite to save a summer camp and find out much more about friendship, love, and their own lives in the process.”—Southern Living

“Anyone in the sleepaway camp mood? Now that our kids’ trunks are in their cabins, it’s the perfect time to dive into this beautiful, heartwarming narrative by New York Times bestselling author and southern sensation Kristy Woodson Harvey. [An] ode to female friendship and the places that shape us into who we are.”—Good Morning America
https://amzn.to/46KqcoW

This author was new to me, but I’ve heard great things about her over the years and I’m not sure why it took me so long to get here. Better late than never, and this was a glorious read, especially if you have fond memories of sleepaway camp.

I did not have the experience of returning to the same camp summer after summer, but I did attend a variety of sleepaway camps, mostly in upstate New York. I loved the escape of camp, to be away from my divorced but still warring parents, to spend so much time outdoors in the freezing mornings and hot afternoons, to learn new skills like diving, rowing, water-skiing (ok, I never quite learned how to water-ski but it wasn’t for lack of trying!) archery, horseback riding, making lanyards (the only craft I mastered!) and of course, boys. But I have wandered way off course here, and if you attended camp, you probably will, too. This book brought back a lot of memories.

The three women at the heart of this story met their first summer at camp when they were six-years-old; their age group was called Songbirds, and the girls became lifelong friends. When the camp is in danger of going under, they flock together to try and save it. That is the basic premise of the story, and that’s all you really need to know about the plot.

What you should know is that these characters are fully realized on the page – I felt like if I took a trip to their small North Carolina town, I’d recognize them all. This was a nostalgic read and brought back so many wonderful summer memories. I loved watching their friendships grow from childhood to adulthood, and how much these women cared about one another and their families. Not everything was an easy ride though; they deal with serious topics like drug abuse, death, single motherhood, and much more. There is also a touch of romance, which I appreciated, and a happy ending. And one of the characters owns a bookstore, which was just the icing on this delicious cake. If you are looking for a charming, beautifully written, nostalgic summer read, look no further. I loved it.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Gallery Books (July 11, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1668010822. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: GOOD FORTUNE by C.K. Chau

July 11, 2023

From the publisher:

A whip-smart and charming debut novel that brilliantly reimagines Pride and Prejudice, set in contemporary Chinatown, exploring contemporary issues of class divides, family ties, cultural identity, and the pleasures and frustrations that come with falling in love.

When Elizabeth Chen’s ever-hustling realtor mother finally sells the beloved if derelict community center down the block, the new owners don’t look like typical New York City buyers. Brendan Lee and Darcy Wong are good Chinese boys with Hong Kong money. Clean-cut and charismatic, they say they are committed to cleaning up the neighborhood. To Elizabeth, that only means one thing: Darcy is looking to give the center an uptown makeover.

Elizabeth is determined to fight for community over profit, even if it means confronting the arrogant, uptight man every chance she gets. But where clever, cynical Elizabeth sees lemons, her mother sees lemonade. Eager to get Elizabeth and her other four daughters ahead in the world (and out of their crammed family apartment), Mrs. Chen takes every opportunity to keep her investors close. Closer than Elizabeth likes.

The more time they spend together, the more conflicted Elizabeth feels…until a shocking betrayal forces her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, trust, and the kind of person Darcy Wong really is.
https://amzn.to/3SIxNOb

This debut novel by the pseudonymous C.K. Chau is an updated retelling of Pride and Prejudice with an Asian American twist, set in New York City’s Chinatown around the turn of the 21st century. The protagonists are Elizabeth Chen, Darcy Wong, and their families and friends, all with similar Austen-like names. Elizabeth’s mother is a realtor who has finally sold her white whale, the community center of Chinatown. Darcy heads the company that purchased the building, putting him in direct conflict with Elizabeth, who’s determined to keep the community center from becoming an upscale mall.

Darcy and Elizabeth come from different worlds; his, a wealthy Hong Kong family, and hers, a large family all crammed into a tiny NYC apartment, adding humor amid the chaos. The plot line of Pride and Prejudice remains intact here, and the story reaches its denouement with Darcy to the rescue, causing Elizabeth to reexamine her prejudices and forcing Darcy to set aside his pride. While it takes a while to get there, the rest of the novel speeds by until everyone gets their happy ending.

Verdict: Jane Austen fans should enjoy this, especially those who like the modern, multicultural reimaginings of her novels, such as Sonali Dev’s Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors and Uzma Jalaluddin’s Ayesha at Last.

©Library Journal, 2023

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

GOOD FORTUNE by C.K. Chau. HarperVia (July 11, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063293762. 416p.

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A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins

June 9, 2023

From the publisher:

A kid walks into your bookstore and… Guess what? He’s your son. The one you put up for adoption eighteen years ago. The one you never told anyone about. Surprise!

And a huge surprise it is.

It’s a huge surprise to his adoptive mother, Monica, who thought she had a close relationship with Matthew, her nearly adult son. But apparently, he felt the need to secretly arrange a vacation to Cape Cod for the summer so he could meet his birth mother…without a word to either her or his dad.

It’s also a surprise— to say the least—to Harlow, the woman who secretly placed her baby for adoption so many years ago. She’s spent the years since then building a quiet life. She runs a bookstore with her grandfather, hangs out with her four younger siblings and is more or less happily single, though she can’t help gravitating toward Grady Byrne, her old friend from high school. He’s moved back to town, three-year-old daughter in tow, no wife in the picture. But she’s always figured her life had to be child-free, so that complicates things.

When Matthew walks into Harlow’s store, she faints. Monica panics. And all their assumptions—about what being a parent really means—explode. This summer will be full of more surprises as both their families are redefined…and as both women learn that for them, there’s no limit to a mother’s love.

“An uplifting story of love and gratitude—not to mention frustration, fear, and failure—in all forms of family.” —Kirkus Reviews

Higgins returns with her signature writing style that will make readers laugh, possibly cry, and think deeply about the role of family and motherhood… [This] is a perfectly done novel. Higgins tackles what it means to be part of a family and how family can look very different from person to person. Her signature humor sprinkled into a heavy topic makes this a must-read.” —Library Journal

“Higgins returns to Cape Cod in this multigenerational story about the enduring bonds of family…Higgins deftly navigates her characters’ complex emotions, including both Harlow and Monica’s points of view throughout the book. The women’s inner lives are presented authentically, allowing the reader to understand the mixed feelings of joy, fear, love, and guilt that both women experience. Side stories and romantic subplots add depth and humor, but the emotional journey is the star of this comforting-as-a-cozy-sweater story. Hand this one to fans of Susan Wiggs and Jennifer Weiner.” —Booklist
https://amzn.to/3MU4p4V

When Harlow was a 17-year-old college freshman, she accidentally got pregnant. Her boyfriend of a few weeks was horrible to her, so she had him sign away his parental rights, she had the baby, and gave it up for adoption. She didn’t take this decision lightly; she worked with an adoption agency, viewing over a hundred videos of prospective parents, and when she saw Monica and Sanjay’s video, she just knew these were the people she wanted to raise her baby. The adoption was closed, but she allowed the agency to pass along her information if he wanted it, after he turns 18. She never told her family, and it was Rosie, her best friend, who helped get her though it.

Harlow has spent every day since thinking about her son, hoping he is healthy and happy. Higgins explores what it is like to give up a child with great sensitivity here, and neither the birth mother nor the adoptive mother are portrayed in a negative light.

Harlow is one of the owners of a family-run business, a bookstore, and she loves her job. She lives above the bookshop and shares the space with her grandfather, who she adores. He is also a part owner along with Cynthia, who is his goddaughter. Cynthia is a bit of a cold fish, but they all get along reasonably well. One day a teenager comes into the store with his father. Harlow starts feeling a bit woozy; the young man looks exactly like her brother. She passes out, and when she comes to, she realizes her son has found her.

Mathew is not quite 18 yet and never told his parents what he was up to. They live in California, where his mother, Monica, works in tech security and makes a very healthy income, and his father is an elementary school teacher with summers off. The family has rented a home on Cape Cod for the summer, but they didn’t know Mathew was seeking his birth mother when they made these plans. Monica will have to commute back to California several times over the summer to keep her job, and she is devastated when she finds out what Mathew has done without even discussing it with them.

This book explores how each family deals with the adoption and the current situation, plus a bit of romance for Harlow. It is, at times, a heartbreaking, sometimes funny, but always a heartfelt story. I especially loved how the birth mother and the adoptive mother handled everything, emotions and all. This is an engaging read and the perfect book for someone wanting a bit more substance from their beach read.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins. Berkley (June 6, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593547601. 512p.

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ON FIRE ISLAND by Jane L. Rosen

May 26, 2023

From the publisher:

A book editor spends one last summer on Fire Island in this sparkling and surprising new novel from the author of A Shoe Story.

As a book editor, Julia Morse lived and breathed stories. Whether with her pen to a manuscript or curled up with a book while at her beloved Fire Island cottage, her imagination alight with a good tale, she could anticipate practically any ending. The ending she’d never imagined was her own.

To be fair, no one expects to die at thirty-seven. So when the unthinkable happens to Julia, rather than following the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, she chooses to spend one last summer near those she loves most.

As she follows her adoring, novelist husband Ben to their—unexpectedly full—home on Fire Island, she discovers the ripple affect her life has had on the trajectory of so many: her baseball loving, young-at-heart neighbor who believes it’s best not to go it alone, two bright-eyed teenagers eager to become adults, and her best friend who must shake off heartbreak for a new chance at love.

With poignant comedy and insight, On Fire Island is an ode to the stories all around us and to the brightest types of loves…for the people closest to you and the places that shape you.

“Rosen has a winning sense of humor, bringing levity not to awkward and painful moments, and she packs the narrative with vivid details of beach life and city life. This is a treat.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“A sometimes tough read that will appeal to readers wondering if those who die can stick around for just a little longer.” – Kirkus Reviews
https://amzn.to/43iiQXf

Jane Rosen writes such interesting stories! I loved Nine Women One Dress and A Shoe Story, and this book lived up to my high expectations. Our main character is Julia Morse, a young woman who has died. That is not a spoiler! The dead Julia narrates the book from the get go. A young woman dying is always traumatic, and we meet her husband, Ben, a famous author, who is grieving. Her family insists on sitting shiva for the full week, and Ben can’t bear it. He takes the dog and walks out without a word to anyone, and moves into their beach home on Fire Island. This summer resort setting is as much of a character as everyone else.

Julia goes along for the ride, metaphorically speaking that is. She is an observer here, and shares her insight into her husband and friends. Her best friend, Renee, just got divorced after their teenage son catches his father in bed with another woman. Other characters include Renee’s son, Matty, and Shep, a neighbor who used to own the house Ben & Julia bought. Shep is also a widower, but much older than Ben, so when Ben finds him sleeping in his bed, he figures the old guy just got confused. But it turns out he doesn’t want to stay in his new, much larger house, so they become roommates.

The summer on Fire Island is healing for everyone, eventually, but there is a lot of unhappiness as well. Fortunately for us, Rosen manages to infuse humor among even the saddest of moments, and I was invested enough in these characters to make this a one night read. I also was intrigued by the notion of Julia being able to hang around her family and friends until she felt ready to go to that great beyond…which turns out to be, well, no spoilers here. I loved this book, despite its slightly morbid premise, and highly recommend it.

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ON FIRE ISLAND by Jane L. Rosen. Berkley (May 23, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593638071. 320p.

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THE SEASIDE LIBRARY by Brenda Novak

May 19, 2023

From the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookstore on the Beach

There are secrets that bring friends together, and others that drive them apart…

Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many…memories. Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community.

When a young girl went missing, a teenage Cam was unthinkably the prime suspect. Ariana and Ivy knew he couldn’t have hurt anyone, and they promised to protect him—even if it meant lying on his behalf.

Now, twenty years later, Ariana returns to Mariners just as new evidence emerges on the case, calling into question everything the three friends thought they knew—and everyone they thought they could trust. What really happened that night? Over the course of one eventful summer, Ariana, Ivy and Cam will learn the truth—about their pasts, their futures and the ties that still bind them as closely as the pages of a book…

“Filled with mystery and drama, coupled with themes of family ties and secrets. This page-turner will not disappoint.”—Booklist
https://amzn.to/3W7svxm

An old mystery brings three old friends together, but their stories are about to change. A young girl had gone missing on this small island twenty years earlier. Ivy and Ariana stretched the truth a tiny bit and said that Cam was with them until almost midnight when in fact, they had separated an hour earlier. But they were best friends, and that’s what friends do for one another. Besides, they were positive Cam had nothing to do with the missing girl.

With no evidence, the case is put to rest until the body of a young girl is found at the beach. The case is reopened, and once again Cam is a suspect. Ivy never left the island; her family founded a library there and she still runs it. Ariana is back visiting when all of this comes to a head. A romance is brewing while the mystery starts to unravel. This is a pageturner for sure, with enough red herrings to keep the suspense going until the very end.

This was a fast-paced story with interesting characters and all the circumstantial evidence a mystery needs – until it gets solved. Novak is a great storyteller, and this novel of romantic suspense is a terrific beach read. Hello, summer!

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SEASIDE LIBRARY by Brenda Novak. MIRA; Original edition (April 11, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0778333517. 400p.

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SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LAKESIDE SUPPER CLUB by J. Ryan Stradal

May 12, 2023

From the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal, a story of a couple from two very different restaurant families in rustic Minnesota, and the legacy of love and tragedy, of hardship and hope, that unites and divides them

Mariel Prager needs a break. Her husband Ned is having an identity crisis, her spunky, beloved restaurant is bleeding money by the day, and her mother Florence is stubbornly refusing to leave the church where she’s been holed up for more than a week. The Lakeside Supper Club has been in her family for decades, and while Mariel’s grandmother embraced the business, seeing it as a saving grace, Florence never took to it. When Mariel inherited the restaurant, skipping Florence, it created a rift between mother and daughter that never quite healed.

Ned is also an heir—to a chain of home-style diners—and while he doesn’t have a head for business, he knows his family’s chain could provide a better future than his wife’s fading restaurant. In the aftermath of a devastating tragedy, Ned and Mariel lose almost everything they hold dear, and the hard-won victories of each family hang in the balance. With their dreams dashed, can one fractured family find a way to rebuild despite their losses, and will the Lakeside Supper Club be their salvation?

In this colorful, vanishing world of relish trays and brandy Old Fashioneds, J. Ryan Stradal has once again given us a story full of his signature honest, lovable yet fallible Midwestern characters as they grapple with love, loss, and marriage; what we hold onto and what we leave behind; and what our legacy will be when we are gone.

“Stradal serves up another saga of food and family, hurt and healing, pitched between cliff-hanger moments. . . that make the pages fly.” —People

“Stradal…displays his gift for writing female characters who are fully realized, sometimes unlikable, but always as flawed and compelling as real people. The Midwest setting is written with love and respect, and while the story is often heartbreakingly sad, there’s also real warmth and comfort in Stradal’s writing. A loving ode to supper clubs, the Midwest, and the people there who try their best to make life worth living.” —Kirkus (starred)

“Stradal’s novels…always resonate…He explores universal themes: love, loss, regrets for one’s past mistakes, and longings for what might have been—plus, of course, the importance of family.” —Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/42efPal

I don’t know a whole lot about the Midwest, other than what I’ve gotten from books and a friend from St. Louis. Stradal’s books are firmly set there, so they are always a learning experience for me. Plus, he wrote one of my favorite books ever – Kitchens of the Great Midwest.

I’ve heard of supper clubs, probably from his earlier books, but this book dives deeply into the tradition. I’m still not 100% sure I can differentiate between a supper club and any other restaurant, other than in the reading it feels somewhat different. We try and understand things we aren’t sure of by thinking about things in our own lives that may be similar – to me, to my understanding, it feels almost like a country club restaurant, without the golf and the membership dues.

This is a story that spans generations, marriages, deaths, and estrangements. Once I started this book, I was hesitant to put it down and not because of anything gimmicky, like 2 page-long chapters (I’m looking at you, James Patterson et al.,) but because I wanted to see what happened next with this family. This is a book where you can’t help rooting for all the characters to come together, to find their happy endings, but as in life, not all the endings are happy. This story took me on an emotional journey, and I loved it.

Let me add that Pamela Dorman books never let me down. If you are searching for a new read, a good way to find one is by imprint, in this case, Pamela Dorman books. You can google her or even do a search in Amazon, and anything you find attached to her name will be a good book, (at least for me.)

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LAKESIDE SUPPER CLUB by J. Ryan Stradal. Pamela Dorman Books (April 18, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1984881076. 352p.