I'll Tell You Everything: A Novel by Rebecca Kelley

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

When her estranged daughter asks to hear the one story she doesn’t want to tell, a woman spins lie after lie to protect her perfect life in this gripping novel.

Amy Linden has a loving husband, an adorable son, and a glamorous career as the hotelier of a grand mountain lodge. Then Ramona Crawford, the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty years earlier, pays her a surprise visit. Ramona wants to know the identity of her biological father—and Amy completely understands. There’s just one the truth would destroy Amy’s carefully curated life.

Amy shares a sad tale about a teenage romance with a boy named Freddy and the painful decision to give Ramona a better future than they could provide. At first, the pieces fit together and give Ramona both closure and a chance to get to know her odd but charming mother. But then Ramona gets a different story from Freddy, and Amy’s memories seem to change…and change again.

Will Amy ever reveal the full story of that fateful summer at the lodge? And if so, can Ramona live with the truth?

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this unputdowable story chock full of secrets and reveals. Rebecca's Kelley's novel, I'll Tell You Everything, was an unforgettable read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The setting was secluded and rural, which added a great element of mystery to the story. Plus, the introduction of Ramona, Amy's daughter that she gave up for adoption twenty years ago, suddenly showing up and wanting to know who her biological dad is - talk about family drama! So, Amy tells Ramona about Freddy, her biological dad. Except, when Ramona talks to Freddy, Amy's story isn't matching up. Hmm...something's not right here...and Ramona is determined to find out. The question is, will Amy be willing to tell the truth? Crikey! This story was riveting. I found myself reading all night long, because I had to find out what was really going on with Amy. And, that is all I will share about I'll Tell You Everything. Aside from the fact that Kelley has written a terrific story that will grab you right from the start, keep you guessing, and leave you thinking, OMG! Such a great read!

Make sure to grab a copy and dive right in - this is one book you won't want to miss out on!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Craigslist Incident by Jason Fisk

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

In The Craigslist Incident, Edna Barrett takes an advertisement out on Craigslist: I'm an 18-year-old female and I want to take a hit out on myself. Joe Dolsen, a 20-year-old who has suffered from periodic blackouts his whole life, answers the ad. What would bring two people to such ominous points at such young ages, and will they actually go through with it?

Edna, raised by a single mother after the suicide of her father, repeatedly finds herself kicked out of schools for violent altercations that don't seem to be her fault. Finally, living a solitary life in rural Minnesota and taking classes online, she falls passionately in text-love with another outsider, Shane, whose obsession with Edna sends off alarm signals to her world-weary mother, especially when he drives hundreds of miles to show up unannounced at their home.

Meanwhile, Joe is coming of age with an Evangelical mother who believes his probable epilepsy means he has been touched by God and uses her religiosity as justification for not seeking medical attention for her son and for remaining with his abusive father. As Joe and Edna reach adulthood struggling to make sense of their lives and losses, their dangerous tracks are set for collision.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a powerful read! I LOVED The Craigslist Incident by Jason Fisk - it was insightful, gripping, and though-provoking. Talk about a must-read book!

The Craigslist Incident a is a fast-paced story told in dual narratives. It tackles the hot topics of mental health, our broken healthcare system, and dysfunctional families. We have Edna and Joe, both struggling and drowning to the point that their lives are no longer of importance to them. They have given up and it is beyond tragic. Edna wants someone to end her life and puts up an ad on Craigslist; Joe believes he is that someone and agrees to the 'job'.  The more we learn about Edna and Joe, the more our hearts break over and over again.  The pain and suffering they endure is too much to handle. This is a story filled with sadness, agony, and so much loss. It will make you cry, cry, and cry some more. And, it is a story that will have you thinking about all the feels long after you turn the very last page. What a book!

I would definitely recommend The Craigslist Incident to anyone and everyone looking for their next read - you won't want to miss out on this one!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

America for Beginners: A Novel by Leah Franqui

about book:

Recalling contemporary classics such as Americanah, Behold the Dreamers, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a funny, poignant, and insightful debut novel that explores the complexities of family, immigration, prejudice, and the American Dream through meaningful and unlikely friendships forged in unusual circumstances.

Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: she has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkata to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pival’s husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenly—heartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.

Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the company’s indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshi—a hard-working immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dream—it is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pival’s guide is the company’s new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one year—and has never actually left the five boroughs. For modesty’s sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, she’s along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week “working” vacation traveling across America be?

Slowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her son—and her hopes of a reunion with him—are challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see America—and themselves—in different and profound new ways.

A bittersweet and bighearted tale of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance, America for Beginners illuminates the unexpected enchantments life can hold, and reminds us that our most precious connections aren’t always the ones we seek.

my thoughts:

What a book! I absolutely LOVED Leah Franqui's debut novel, America for Beginners. I loved the title and the book's cover, too. The story itself was emotional, delightful, and such a treat to read. I would highly recommend this one to everyone looking for their next great summer read.

As for the story, well, its about a woman name Pival.  She's 60, widowed, and wealthy.  And, she's booked a cross-country journey in America.  Yep, she's finally leaving India and doing something for herself.  Except, she's also looking for someone over in America.  She's searching for her son, Rahi.  He told his parents he was gay and was cut off from them.  Her husband told her that their son died.  With no valid proof of her son's death, Pival has decided to take this trip to America in the hopes of finding out what really happened to Rahi.  Along the way, she finds herself exploring a new country, befriending strangers, and discovering eye-opening truths about herself.  America for Beginners is funny, fascinating, and such a great story to get lost in.

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: America for Beginners

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Question Authority: A Novel by Rachel Cline

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The Question Authority is a timely and moving novel about what happens when childhood best friends face the damage done by the teacher who molested them both.

Meet Nora Buchbinder—formerly rich and now broke and newly employed at the NYC Education Department. She would be the last woman in Brooklyn to claim #MeToo, but when a work assignment reunites her with her childhood best friend, Beth, she finds herself in a hall of mirrors. Was their eight grade teacher Beth’s lover or her rapist? What should justice look like after so much time has passed? And what, if anything, can Nora do now?

In this powerful and emotionally wrenching story, Nora and Beth’s memories, and those of their classmates, their former teacher, and members of his family are revealed. These memories shed light on the way we manage and absorb unbearable behavior and how one experience can influence a whole life.

The Question Authority tracks Nora’s trajectory from denial to reinvention, self pity to self righteousness and, finally, insight and action. As Nora begins to understand her own personal #Metoo, she faces some difficult revelations about herself and how she has chosen to live her life.

Praise

“A gripping, provocative story about bright young girls in thrall to a charismatic teacher, and his haunting impact on their adult lives. The novel adds depth and nuance to our ongoing conversation about #MeToo revelations.”  —Kate Manning, author of My Notorious Life

 

“Cline compels us to face the most pressing questions that #MeToo raised: how is inequality truly seen, what does justice look like, what good does questioning authority do when the authority is so skilled at dodging questions?” —Matt Caprioli, Red Hook Star-Revue

 

“So in touch with the present moment that it might have been written last week, so skillful that it couldn’t have been, this prescient novel deserves your attention.” —Martha Southgate, author of Third Girl from the Left

my thoughts:

OMG! What a story! Not only is it relevant right now - #MeToo movement - but it is an important read that explores the topics of sexual abuse/assault, justice, etc.. This thought-provoking story will haunt you long after you turn the last page.  It is gripping, eye-opening, and smart.  I gobbled it up and couldn't stop thinking about it.  What a great book!!

Nora reunites with childhood BFF Beth through her job and soon finds herself questioning their past.  Beth is currently representing a male teacher who has been accused of behaving inappropriately with his students.  The case reminds Nora of a teacher that she and Beth both had.  A teacher that Beth slept with, along with a number of other girls from their class.  Nora questions the nature of that past relationship and how it would be treated now. She wonders how Beth feels about what happened all those years ago. Was it sex? Was it rape? So many thoughts and questions swirl through Nora's mind.  Can there be justice for something that happened so long ago? How is Beth able to represent a man who has been accused of pedophilia? How has her past truly affected Beth?

As the story unfolds and we learn more about what happened all those years ago, you can't help but wonder how it happened and continues to happen even now  What justice is there for these young women?  You find yourself filled with questions and searching for answers. It is such a compelling story that you can't help but get so immersed in it.  These characters become people you know and it just breaks your heart reading about their experiences.  The Question Authority is quite an unforgettable read.

I would happily recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - don't miss out on this important story!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Question Authority

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!