The Phoenix Pencil Company

As a freshman in college Monica Tsai is finally finding her place in the world. All she wants to do is code, make friends and figure out who she wants to be. When her grandmother begins to lose her memory Monica decides she must take a break from school and go back to Boston to help. Having been abandoned by her parents at an early age, Monica’s grandparents raised her and provided everything a girl could ever want; love, support and safety. Now it is her turn to take care of them. Monica is offered an opportunity to continue to work remotely with her professor on a project collecting peoples memories through journaling. Coincidentally, her grandmother, knowing her memory is slipping away, begins to journal and share with Monica their family’s secret history. Her grandmother, Yun, was raised in a pencil factory in China. These were not ordinary pencils. The women in the family had magical powers that allowed them to reforge or recover the memories and feelings of the person who wrote with them. While Yun and her cousin Meng filled their imaginations with fantasy and a bit of romantic poetry, the government was using their abilities for espionage and spying. Surviving multiple wars and years of separation from her family, Yun finally begins to share her past, hoping to save Monica’s future. The story felt a bit scattered. I loved the characters and writing but overall it lagged, repeated itself too many times and I am little surprised this was a Reese pick. ⭐⭐⭐

The Other Side of Now

 

Meg Bryan stars in a hit tv show called Brilliance. She is beautiful, famous, rich and turning thirty. Meg has everything she has ever wanted but is in desperate need of a break from the lights and cameras. She randomly books a week at a charming cottage on the coast of Ireland. When Meg arrives she is cold, wet, starving and heads to the nearest pub. At first, some local folks give Meg a funny look and when she retrieves her phone from the bartenders charger its her phone, but her old phone from a decade earlier. How can this be? And the hunky bartender with the irresistible accent? He knows her too. Avalon is the town where Meg and her best friend Aimee almost went to college. Inseparable since adolescence they wanted to study theater and travel the world. But Aimee did not get in and Meg would never leave her behind, hence, the path not taken. Back at the cottage where Meg magically knows where things are, she scrolls through the many photos on her phone. Her past is flashing in front of her eyes and many she has no knowledge of, a puppy, friends and boyfriend (hunky bartender!). When Meg examines her face in the mirror its the old Meg, the pre- Hollywood Meg. Like sliding doors, Meg is staring at her parallel life, one where her best friend Aimee is alive, married and living just a few minutes away. As Meg figures out how to maneuver through this new world she finds the answers to questions she buried long ago. Although I think the author had a hard time winding down towards the ending, I absolutely adored the premise and wonderful characters. Highly recommend this delightful summer read!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What Kind of Paradise

Jane Williams has never known any other life than the one she has led in a Montana cabin with her father Saul, since she was four years old. They hunt, chop wood and live off the grid, but for a phone line he installed for emergencies, they have little to no contact with the outside world. Jane is homeschooled which means she hunts, chops wood and learns anything her father is in the mood to teach. With three Harvard degrees it could be any subject in science, history or philosophy. Jane is also a whiz at math. As Jane becomes a teenager her father’s mysterious ways shine a light on all the things they are missing. She accompanies him into town to get supplies and befriends a girl in the bookstore. Jane begins to wonder about other young people her age, what they do and what they think. She is an avid reader and gleans what life could be like through books. Jane begins to explore his locked office when he is not at home. She is confused by a photo of her supposedly dead mother as the back inscription has a different name. Saul becomes more withdrawn and his rants about technology worsen, he truly believes modern society is being destroyed. Jane begins to devise a plan, partly to find proof of her mother’s death and more specifically to escape the precious cocoon that has become a trap. A fine line between what the internet can do for our world and the dangers of our addiction to even the simplest devices. Mesmerizing doomsday peek at an intimate father daughter relationship and the impact of technology. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Death of Us

When Edward and Isabel are thirty years old they are victims of a violent crime. They survive, but barely. They both go on to have successful careers but ultimately this traumatic event ties up their emotions in such a way that destroys their marriage. There is nothing slow burn about this. Home invasion, serial killer, decades of ongoing fear and finally an ex husband and wife reunite for a trial 28 years later. They connect in a way that outsiders cannot understand. Their love is deep and as their hearts explore these emotions, Isabel and Edward prepare to speak at the trial and must relive the day that has defined them. Half way through I wish I never started this book - but I was in and could not put it down. Horrifically disturbing premise, wonderfully intelligent characters and excellent writing.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere

Joan Goodwin has always been a science nerd, madly in love with the stars since she was a little girl. As an adult Joan is teaching at a university when her sister Barbara alerts her of an opportunity at NASA that will include women for the very first time in history. Although Joan is not accepted into that particular program, her dream of space becomes a reality when she is finally brought into a group of astronaut candidates in the summer of 1980. This small group of women scientists are surrounded by male egos and military pilots - well aware of their aspirations and limitations, the women must always do their very best. Joan is not only smart and kind, she is a team player that quickly rises in the ranks. Alongside the space, rocket and astronomy lessons scattered throughout the story we watch Joan explore a sexual awakening she never dreamed possible. As Joan creates close relationships with her crew, whose lives literally depend upon each other, she also deals with a difficult sister who unexpectedly gives her more and more responsibility raising her beloved niece Frances. I was pulled into this story quickly but midway it meandered off course and left me orbiting in space. Unfortunately, I think I am searching for Daisy Jones every time I pick up the latest book by Reid, and I am sorely disappointed. ⭐⭐⭐

Show Don't Tell

Reviewing short stories is hard! Instead of explaining each or even just a handful, I’d rather say that reading anything by Curtis Sittenfeld just magically takes me away. Wherever the story is set I am there. I can see and hear the characters. Memories come flooding back and these stories give me a desperate desire to write one myself. There are so many lines I wish I could remember that made me smile and laugh and think about life. Short stories are hard because the ones you really enjoy are over way too soon, theres a bit of an empty feeling while reading a short story collection instead of a novel. But I am 100% sure these are worth it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Address Unknown

Martin and Max are two Germans that run a prestigious art gallery in California. They are business partners and close friends. Martin returns to Germany in 1932 with his family while Max, who is Jewish, remains in San Francisco to run the gallery. Initially, Max envies his friend who is experiencing a democratic Germany with a bright future. They continue to negotiate art being bought and sold and keep each other abreast of their families and friends. But slowly their correspondence begins to shift. Martin is questioning his old friend as his ideals change and he begins to support Hitler as a savior to the German people. Max cannot understand what is happening to his Martin who has been like a brother to him. Through the exchange of letters these two men tell their story and their fate. In 1938 the author Kressman Taylor published this series in a magazine called Story. At the time, the topic deemed too strong to appear under a woman’s name. The magazine sold out and a year later it was published as a short book. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Appeal

Someone is in jail. Two law students named Olufemi and Charlotte are handed a massive collection of emails, texts, articles and letters. Their boss would like them to review these materials in chronological order with the hopes they come to the same conclusion as he and it is enough to initiate an appeal. In a small village near London the Fairway Players are a tight knit community theatre. The productions are often the highlight of their season. The director and his family run the show. Martin directs while Helen stars and their adult offspring and significant others enjoy being the center of attention in every performance. Martin’s young granddaughter has been diagnosed with brain cancer and the troupe and town rally to raise money for an experimental drug from the America that Martin and his family are desperate to get for little Poppy but cannot afford. Large amounts of money are raised and slowly the story evolves, funds disappear, the doctor has a questionable past. The lawyers keep sifting and one mousy wanna-be-actress named Isobel cannot control her desire to stir the mystery pot. As the law students unravel the puzzle, the readers are invited to piece together the clues, hidden in plain sight, and solve the case alongside them. A lot of characters to keep up with and you really have to pay attention to this fast paced, thoroughly enjoyable experience! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Food Person

Why is this five stars? Because I truly enjoyed every single moment! Isabella Pasternak is passionate about antique cookbooks, making the perfect egg and not getting mixed up in her mothers bizarre schemes. She tolerates her job as a food writer at Comestibles (because she loves all things food related) and manages to stay clear of her fellow workmates by filling them with pastries she bakes each morning. Isabella is devastated when she is fired for being too mediocre, too average and screwing up a live video while making a chocolate soufflé.  Her roommate Owen has been her best friend since freshman year and although he doesn’t eat much, he does enjoy her company and happily entices her with a work opportunity through his agent father to ghostwrite a cookbook for a messed up B actress looking to make a comeback. From the moment Isabella meets Molly she is thrown on an erratic rollercoaster of unusual whims and charming this bad girl out of her latest catastrophe. Molly who doesn’t eat, doesn’t cook and has zero interest in following through on anything, quickly turns Isabella’s nice quiet existence completely upside down. This fast paced delicious coming of age story in the heart of NYC is the perfect recipe for friendship, love and laughter. Cookbooks, humor and even a dash of romance - perfect reading for a simmering day at the beach! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Little Great Island

Growing up on Little Great Island off the coast of Maine was idyllic. After ten long years of estrangement, Mari McGavin has finally returned, with her son Levi in tow. She has escaped the farming commune, aka “cult”, that silently destroyed her relationship with her parents and her past. But she is back to save her son - and herself from the misguided, violent behavior of Pastor Aron and the flock that blindly follows, even her beloved husband Caleb. Levi is only six years old and his grandparents instantly fall in love with him. Without pressuring Mari for fear she will abandon them again, they know she is hiding from something or someone. As she begins rebuilding her life and caring for Levi to the best of her ability, Mari turns to sustainable farming, her passion and expertise before she dropped out of graduate school. She reconnects with old friends and mentors learning that the island and their fishing way of life has deteriorated and it is up to her to rethink the future and create ways the islanders can thrive and survive. As personal battles heat up, greed trumps thoughtfulness and Mari is determined to save the island the only way she knows how. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Correspondent

When the book begins, Sybil is 72 years old. In the “winter of her life”, retired from her prestigious career as a law clerk, she finally has more time to write. Divorced for many years with two grown children, Sybil still mourns the tragic loss of her third child in an accident many years ago. Her letters keep her connected to family and friends, offer compliments to authors, and occasionally harass newspaper editors. A reader, writer, and lifelong letter writer, Sybil is often cantankerous, but her heart is as big as the sun. Though painfully honest and outwardly content, a certain loneliness subtly lingers since retirement, casting a shadow over even her sunniest days. When Sybil learns that she is going blind due to an untreatable eye condition, the future feels uncertain, and she seeks forgiveness for memories that have never faded. As we delve into Sybil's life and her many correspondences, her story unfurls through the lens of her loved ones, books, and even a touch of unexpected romance. Told through letters, the narrative is refreshingly unique, and we are quickly drawn into the lives of these wonderfully complex characters. A heartwarming and easy read, this novel serves as a gentle reminder to stop and smell the roses. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Fisherman's Gift

Dorothy is a school teacher in a small Scottish village near the sea. She is viewed as prim and proper and standoffish to the villagers but Dorothy is most often misunderstood, as her quiet ways stem from being raised by a strict, cold, unloving mother. Dorothy is shocked to find herself attracted to a local fisherman named Joseph. As he tries to court her the women quickly spread viscous rumors about Dorothy’s intentions. In 1900 Scotland, it would be unheard of for a single woman to pursue anything untoward. Years pass as Dorothy continues to hide her true love for Joseph. She faces tragedy, loneliness and a deep desire to disappear. One day a boy washes up on shore, he is barely breathing and Joseph brings him to the church. It is the minister who believes Dorothy could take care of the boy as he regains consciousness and they continue to search for his parents. Memories take over Dorothy’s present as years earlier her little boy disappeared to the sea. More than an old folktale she believes this is her second chance at being a mother. Triggering the past ultimately brings the truth of what happened full circle. This quiet, beautifully written story was so atmospheric, I felt like was sipping tea in this tiny, foggy Scottish town listening to Mrs. Brown as she sat in the knitting circle. Cannot believe this is a debut novel. Simply wonderful. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Bright Years

Lillian meets Ryan at the library, her favorite of all places. He is instantly charming and a flirt, their chemistry is undeniable. Eventually married, they open an art studio and create a sweet little family giving birth to a beautiful girl they name Georgette (nickname Jet). The happiest either of them have ever been, the deep loss which initially bound them begins to tear them apart. Ryan’s father was a raging, abusive alcoholic. His mother Elise escaped with Ryan when he was just a little boy and although they built a stable home and Elise was a wonderful mother, Ryan is haunted by the mere possibility that this man’s DNA exists - enough to turn him into a lifelong teetotaler. An orphan too young, Lillian lost both her parents and craved a family more than Ryan could possibly understand. She also feared the idea of loss so deeply that she often pushed love away out of self protection. This generational family drama is narrated through three points of view; Lillian, Jet and Ryan. The initial portion told by Lillian had me on the edge of my seat as I cheered for her to figure a way out of their complicated mess. But from there it went downhill. Even though I mostly liked the main characters there was too much death and the rollercoaster of Ryan’s alcoholism, although tragically sad was exhausting and repetitive. I cannot put my finger on it but although this book had really positive reviews overall - it was “like”, not love for me. ⭐⭐⭐

Great Big Beautiful Life

Alice Scott a young  journalist has tracked down a wealthy famous woman named Margaret Ives, who has been incognito for decades. Alice flies from LA to a very small town in Georgia for the interview only to find out she is competing with a handsome pulitzer prize winning writer named Hayden for the prestigious job of assisting with Margaret’s biography. There is immediate chemistry but Hayden and Alice decide they will keep things platonic until Margaret has made her decision. The story is 90% about Margaret, a character who is barely likable and of zero interest. Her family history going back more than 100 years is boring, messy and endless. Unfortunately whoever guided Emily Henry sorely misunderstood her readers. I have no idea where this was supposed to be heading but for me it was a flop. I am shocked Reese picked this as her highlight this month, she is usually so spot on.  ⭐⭐