The Secret Dinner: A Novel by Raphael Montes

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

I love the cover of this book and I love the sound of it:

"The internationally acclaimed #1 bestselling thriller, now in English

“This rollercoaster of a novel is highly imaginative and totally unique. I devoured it — no pun intended! — in one sitting. By turns gory, shocking, macabre and often very funny, you won’t be able to put it down. Just be grateful you’re not on the menu…” —Alex Michaelides #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient

Four childhood friends, eager for a taste of city life, swap rural Brazil for an apartment in Copacabana, Rio. But they have no idea of the fate that awaits them there. . . .

Dante, Piglet, Miguel, and Hugo are your average students trying to make ends meet with part-time jobs, excited about the bright futures at their fingertips. So when their rent skyrockets, they struggle to keep their new lives and big dreams afloat. They need to make money however they can. In order to keep their apartment, the friends adopt an unorthodox plan and are soon sucked into a dark world of secret dinner parties catering to the twisted fantasies of Rio’s elite.

What starts as a joke quickly spirals out of their control. As the four friends fall deeper into this dark underworld and earn more money, the stakes get higher and the consequences deadlier, revealing the devious depths that lurk within each of them and threatening not only their friendship but also their lives."

Are you kidding me? How great does that sound? Makes me want to grab a copy and devour it in one sitting. I love stories that involve a group of friends - that means there will always be secrets, revelations, differing perspectives on an event, etc. Also, it's always fun getting to know the friends and how they view one another. And, when push comes to shove, it's always interesting to see who sticks around. Okay, aside from the foursome, I do love the idea of a story set in Brazil - we get a taste of the differences between the haves and have-nots. Plus, a dark underworld about dinner parties for the elite and their twisted proclivities - I mean, c'mon, how could I not want to read about that? So, yeah, this book sounds like a definite must-read to me. I am so excited to dive right in and see what will come of Dante, Piglet, Miguel, and Hugo as they take a job working one of these twisted dinner parties. I'm positive it will make for quite an unputdownable and unforgettable story. I would recommend grabbing a copy and reading The Secret Dinner. I think you'll wind up loving this story. Happy reading!

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

High Time: A Novel by Hannah Rothschild

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

 

about book: (from Goodreads)

A modern English comedy of morals and manners, about a high-born family of unforgettable characters, in a story that proves revenge can be sweet. In the months leading up to the Brexit referendum, Ayesha, the wildly beautiful secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, has married the thuggish banker Tomlinson Sleet with whom she has a young daughter, Stella. Ayesha is busy restoring the broken-down Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, which Sleet has bought, to its former glory, as well as studying art at the Courtauld in London. Meanwhile, the elderly Countess Clarissa--still ensconced on the property--the host of a camp television show, is about to head into a disastrous marriage; Lady Jane has separated from the hopeless Trelawney heir Kitto, who is crazier than ever, and found an enlightened woman to keep her company abroad; Sleet is becoming increasingly difficult, distracted by the seductive and ruthless bitcoin goddess Zamora, but Kitto's sister Blaze and her husband Joshua will support Ayesha's clever plan as she discovers shocking secrets, takes action and brings the family together.Biting and satirical, but also poignant and moving, High Time is a delicious story of madness and mayhem and mischief run amok.

my thoughts:

A British satire about the wealthy Trelawney family, High Time, by Hannah Rothschild is a lighthearted romantic comedy - perfect for a summer read. I know I was excited to get my hands on a copy - I needed something fun to read and this one sounded like it would be a right treat. Especially, since I'm a huge fan of stories set in England. So, I was stoked to grab a huge cuppa and settle down with High Time. And, sure enough, I was soon enmeshed in the Trelawney family's high jinks and dysfunctional relationships. I was laughing out loud and rolling my eyes, because this cast of characters was A LOT. I mean it - they are the epitome of family power dynamics run amok. It was hilarious and sad at the same time. I loved it! 

I would definitely recommend High Time to fans of Hannah Rothschild and to anyone looking for their next great read - you will love this book! I know I enjoyed it - High Time was fun and entertaining. Make sure to grab a copy!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Factory Girls: A Novel by Michelle Gallen

(Thank you the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A funny, fierce, and unforgettable read about a young woman working a summer job in a shirt factory in Northern Ireland, while tensions rise both inside and outside the factory walls.

It’s the summer of 1994, and all smart-mouthed Maeve Murray wants are good final exam results so she can earn her ticket out of the wee Northern Irish town she has grown up in during the Troubles. She hopes she will soon be in London studying journalism—away from her crowded home, the silence and sadness surrounding her sister’s death, and most of all, away from the violence of her divided community.

As a first step, Maeve’s taken a job in a shirt factory working alongside Protestants with her best friends. But getting the right exam results is only part of Maeve’s problem—she’s got to survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign, iron 100 shirts an hour all day every day, and deal with the attentions of Handy Andy Strawbridge, her slick and untrustworthy English boss. Then, as the British loyalist marching season raises tensions among the Catholic and Protestant workforce, Maeve realizes something is going on behind the scenes at the factory. What seems to be a great opportunity to earn money turns out to be a crucible in which Maeve faces the test of a lifetime. Seeking justice for herself and her fellow workers may just be Maeve’s one-way ticket out of town.

Bitingly hilarious, clear-eyed, and steeped in the vernacular of its time and place, Factory Girlstackles questions of wealth and power, religion and nationalism, and how young women maintain hope for themselves and the future during divided, violent times.

my thoughts:

Whoa! What a freaking fantastic story! I just LOVED Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen to bits! 

Set in 1994 during the Troubles in Ireland, we meet Maeve Murray. She's waiting for her GSCE exam results to find out whether or not she'll be attending school in London to study journalism - something she desperately wants. Because all Maeve wants is to get out of her small town and away from all the problems and troubles that reside there. So, to bide her time, she gets a summer job at a shirt factory with her best friends. It's the first time she'll be working alongside Protestants, which turns out to be an eye-opening experience for her, being a Catholic and all. Plus, her boss is known for being too handsy and forward when it comes to his female staff. Oh, and something sketchy seems to be going on at work which may test Maeve in ways she didn't realize she needed to be tested. Talk about a DRAMA-filled summer! 

Gallen has written a smart and hilarious story chock full of unforgettable characters during an unforgettable summer that you will fall in deep with - I know that I did. I really enjoyed getting to know Maeve and her friends and their hometown of Tyrone. Getting to experience a piece of Irish history via Maeve's story was just such a treat. I would happily recommend Factory Girls to fans of Gallen's work and to anyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

OUT TODAY! Killers Of A Certain Age: A Novel by Deanna Raybourn

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

 

Wow! What a freaking awesome book! I LOVED Killers Of A Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn.  I honestly think it is a MUST-READ for the upcoming Fall season. It is just too damn good to pass up. The book is a fun and thrilling mystery that is chock full of action, travel, espionage, and intrigue. Raybourn's writing and storytelling is superb - smart, witty, and unputdownable. And the characters are fascinating and unforgettable - they are amazing, accomplished women that you are going to love getting to know. I really enjoyed this book and I'm already looking forward to re-reading it later this year. Plus, I can't wait to read more of Raybourn's books. You need to check out Killers Of A Certain Age ASAP!!

Okay, so you're probably wondering what is this amazing book about? Well, it's about female assassins. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked at the Museum for forty years. Their services are no longer needed now that they are in their sixties. Yep, their methods are too 'old school' and well, it's just time they retire from the industry. They were recruited ages ago and through flashbacks we get to read about their training and first excursions in the field. However, it's forty years later and being as assassin is no longer a viable option for them. Or at least, that is what the Museum believes. So, the women are treated to cruise to celebrate their retirement. The only problem is that once on board the ship they discover that someone is out to 'retire' them permanently. Yep, the Museum wants them exterminated. Talk about travel plans gone awry. And, that is all I will write about these very cool and tenacious women. You have to read the book for yourself to experience all the action and thrills - they make for such a fun read!

So, make sure to get your hands on a copy of Deanna Raybourn's latest book, Killers Of A Certain Age - you are going to LOVE this book to bits!! 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Take My Husband: A Novel by Ellen Meister

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

 

about book:

A witty, insightful domestic comedy about one woman's unexpected, thought-provoking journey out of her marriage as she realizes how much better off she would be if her husband had not survived a serious car crash.

When Laurel Appelbaum gets a call at work from the local hospital informing her that her unemployed husband Doug has been in a serious car accident, she is in shock. Summoned immediately to his bedside, she doesn't know in what condition she will find him. As she rushes to the ER, her mind is full of dire thoughts of this abrupt and unpredictbale end to her marriage...that is until she remembers the large life insurance policy they are carrying in his name.

Suddenly Laurel can't help but imagine what a life on her own might look like...a new little cottage perhaps, the dog she has always wanted but can't have because of Doug's allergies, and the money to travel to see their only son. By the time she arrives she is ready to assume the role of grieving widow, only to find Doug sitting on a gurney, annoyed that she has taken so long to come pick him up. All of the tiny assaults on her freedom and dignity that have chipped away at their marriage and her happiness over the years flood in. She realizes now that she is finally ready to journey out of her marriage because the life really at stake is her own. She just has to figure out how to do it.

my thoughts:

Take My Husband by Ellen Meister is a funny and dark read! Laurel is exhausted of being treated like crap by her overly-demanding husband, Doug. One day at work, she gets a call that Doug has been in an accident. Worried, she rushes to the hospital and winds up imagining what her life would be like if Doug died. She remembers the huge life insurance policy under his name and she can easily picture a much happier life alone. And then, she arrives at the hospital to find him upset that she took so long to get there. Looks like her fantasy life will remain a fantasy, because Doug didn't die. Then again, Laurel realizes that she can get her fantasy life if she leaves her husband. The only thing is to figure out how. And, that is all I will write about this story - you need to read it for yourself to find out if Laurel winds up living out her fantasy life or not. 

Meister has written a terrific story that will grab you right from the start. It's smart, twisted, and humorous - all of which make it a treat to read. Definitely check it out! 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Embassy Wife: A Novel by Katie Crouch

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

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A smart, sparkling novel that is one part social satire, one part travelogue . . . Comical and cool." --Oprah Daily

In Katie Crouch's thrilling novel Embassy Wife, two women abroad search for the truth about their husbands--and their country.

Meet Persephone Wilder, a displaced genius posing as the wife of an American diplomat in Namibia. Persephone takes her job as a representative of her country seriously, coming up with an intricate set of rules to survive the problems she encounters: how to dress in hundred-degree weather without showing too much skin, how not to look drunk at embassy functions, and how to eat roasted oryx with grace. She also suspects her husband is not actually the ambassador's legal counsel but a secret agent in the CIA. The consummate embassy wife, she takes the newest trailing spouse, Amanda Evans, under her wing.

Amanda arrives in Namibia mere weeks after giving up her Silicon Valley job so her husband, Mark, can have his family close by as he works on his Fulbright project. But once they're settled in the sub-Saharan desert, Amanda sees clearly that Mark, who lived in Namibia two decades earlier, has other reasons for returning. Back in the safety of home, the marriage had seemed solid; in the glaring heat of the Kalahari, it feels tenuous. And the situation grows even more fraught when their daughter becomes involved in an international conflict and their own government won't stand up for her.

How far will Amanda go to keep her family intact? How much corruption can Persephone ignore? And what, exactly, does it mean to be an American abroad when you're not sure you understand your country anymore?

Propulsive and provocative, Embassy Wife asks what it means to be a human in this world, even as it helps us laugh in the face of our own absurd, seemingly impossible states of affairs.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! What a fantastic book! I just LOVED Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch. Talk about a fascinating and entertaining story! Plus, that book cover - AMAZING!

Persephone is the wife of an American diplomat in Namibia.  She knows the ins and outs of how to survive as an 'embassy wife', so she decides to take new arrival, Amanda, under her wing. Amanda has just landed from a Silicon Valley job. She's in Namibia supporting her husband as he pursues his work on his Fulbright project. Except, turns out her husband has other reasons for wanting to return to Africa - apparently, he lived there decades ago and his past won't let go of him.  As for Mila, she's from Namibia and is another embassy wife who knows the region well.  She oozes wealth and fabulosity, but can also tell you about the poverty stricken life she has witnessed and once lived. Talk about three very different women who are living in a country rife with political, economic, and social issues that affect them in vastly different ways.  It is eye-opening, disturbing, and jaw-dropping - all of which makes this book so damn interesting. 

Crouch has written a terrific story that will draw you in and keep you hooked. You won't be able to stop reading! This book will have you falling in deep with these women and their families. I loved getting to know Persephone, Amanda, Mila, and Namibia. This is one book that I enjoyed spending my afternoons with. Such a great read!

I would happily recommend Embassy Wife to fans of Crouch's work and to anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book to bits!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman: A Novel by Julietta Henderson

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

 

about book:

Little Miss Sunshine meets Wonder in this delightfully charming, uplifting book club debut about a twelve-year-old would-be comedian who travels across the country to honor his dead best friend’s dream of performing in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe—the only problem being that his friend was the funny one of their duo.

Twelve-year-old would-be comedian Norman has got a lot going on, including a chronic case of psoriasis, a distinct lack of comic timing and a dead best friend. All his life it’s just been him, his single mum Sadie, and Jax, the ‘funny one’ of their comedy duo. So when Jax dies not only is Norman devastated, it’s also the end of the boys’ Five Year Plan to take their comedy act to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when they turned fifteen.

But Norman decides to honor Jax by performing at the Fringe, on his own. And not when he’s fifteen—but rather in four weeks’ time. But there’s another, far more colossal objective on Norman’s plan that Sadie wasn’t quite ready for: Norman wants to find his father. Eager to do anything that might put a smile on her boy’s face, Sadie resolves to face up to her own messy past and track down the father who doesn’t even know Norman exists, and whose identity Sadie herself isn’t quite sure of.

Thus begins a road trip from Cornwall to Scotland, featuring a mother and son who will live in the reader’s heart for a long time to come.

my thoughts:

What a wonderful story! Sweet, funny, and tender are three words I'd use to describe Julietta Henderson's debut novel, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. She's created a terrific story about friendship, family, loss, love, and life. You can't help but get caught up in Norman's grief and his plan to honor his BFF Jax, along with his other plan of seeking out his father. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. This book will have you sobbing, laughing, and smiling all the way through. 

Norman is twelve years old. His BFF is Jax. They are a comedy duo with dreams of performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when they turn fifteen.  Except, Jax suddenly dies.  And, Norman is left with a Jax-sized hole in his life. He's lost his BFF, his partner in comedy, and the one person who always managed to get him to try new things and enjoy life.  Mired in grief, Norman decides he will honor Jax.  Yep, he's going to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe THIS year.  Oh, and he's decided that it's about time he met his father.  Say what? Norman is determined and he's made a new plan.  Sadie, his mother, is also missing Jax.  She worries about Norman as she watches him coping with his grief. And when she learns about his new plan, she shares her concerns with an older friend named Leonard.  After listening to Sadie, Leonard hatches a plan to help Norman.  He decides they are going to take his car and they are going to get Norman to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to perform and they are going to find his father.  Sadie was not expecting this at all. She's not really sure who Norman's father is and she worries how Norman will handle a critical audience when he performs. And yet, she goes along with Leonard's plan, because she is willing to try anything to make her boy smile.  Plus, Norman keeps reassuring her that the worst has already happened, so everything to come must be better than what's already happened. So, off they go, packed for an adventure and filled with hope, along with some anxiety and nervousness.  And, that is all I will write about this fantastic story. You MUST read it for yourself - you are going to fall in LOVE with The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. 

The writing is top notch. The characters are unforgettable. And the story is unputdownable.  Henderson has written a truly delightful read that will warm your heart.  This is one book you won't forget. So, I would happily recommend The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - check it out! 

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

The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man: A Novel by Jonas Jonasson

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

about book:

The hysterical, clever, and unforgettable sequel to Jonas Jonasson’s international bestseller The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

He’s back. Even older. Even funnier.

It all begins with a hot air balloon trip and three bottles of champagne. Allan and Julius are ready for some spectacular views, but they’re not expecting to land in the sea and be rescued by a North Korean ship, and they could never have imagined that the captain of the ship would be harboring a suitcase full of contraband uranium, on a nuclear weapons mission for Kim Jong-un. Yikes!

Soon Allan and Julius are at the center of a complex diplomatic crisis involving world figures from the Swedish foreign minister to Angela Merkel and President Trump. Needless to say, things are about to get very, very complicated.

Another hilarious, witty, and entertaining novel from bestselling author Jonas Jonasson that will have readers howling out-loud at the escapades and misfortunes of its beloved hundred-year-old hero Allan Karlsson and his irresistible sidekick Julius.

my thoughts:

The sequel to the bestseller, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, this new story takes us through the current events happening now.  Allan is now 101 years old and along with his sidekick Julius find themselves navigating the political climate after an accidental hot air balloon landing lands them in some hot waters.  And that is all I will write about the story.  Its better that you read it and experience the humor and absurdity that abounds.  Talk about a fun and engaging book!

Once again, Jonas Jonasson creates some new adventures for beloved character Allan to share with us.  This time round, instead of learning about history through Allan's life during the 20th century, we find ourselves reading all about today's hot topics as Allan and Julius endure each one face-to-face so to speak.  Its hilarious and insightful at the same time. I truly enjoyed getting to know these characters as they go about trying to figure out how to extract themselves from some pretty crazy situations. This book is definitely a delightful treat to read. Jonasson's writing it top notch and his characters are so much fun to hang out with - you can't help but laugh with them and root for them. I would happily recommend The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man to fans of the Jonasson - you will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Accidental Further Adventures

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