Accelerated Reader: Volume 6
“The Fountains of Silence” by Ruta Sepetys (4/5) - This was a months ago BOTM club pick that I stared at until I was flying home for Christmas, when I impulsively threw it in my plane bag. I am so glad that I did - it was a beautifully-written story about a time and place I knew little about, Spain under the reign of Francisco Franco. This is a weird and big gap in my European history knowledge, and after reading this, I want to learn more — let me know if you have any recommendations! Daniel and Ana’s story was sweet and mesmerizing, but I more enjoyed the depictions of life in 1957 Spain, and the dichotomy between what life was like for the visitors versus the residents. Fair warning: this isn’t an easy read (Sepetys doesn’t sugarcoat life in a dictatorship), and there are lots of narrators. I didn’t mind the multiple POVs, but I can totally see how it could be jarring. It took me a while to get in the rhythm of the book (I preferred Daniel’s POV tbh), but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down.
“The Bromance Book Club” by Lyssa Kay Adams (3.75/5) - I admit that I bought this one solely for the cover and the tag line (“The first rule of book club is don’t talk about book club.”), but I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. It’s the story of a husband and wife who are in the early stages of a separation for reasons I won’t spoil here, and how the husband — a professional athlete! — is trying to win his wife back. He ends up in a secret book club with some of his teammates, reading romance novels, and it’s just so amusing to read. The premise is hysterical, and the story is actually believable. Plus, Lyssa Kay Adams created a ton of characters that I want to be friends with in real life. Of course, it ends up with a happy ending, but it’s a fun trip to get there.
For those who are concerned about how steamy romance novels are, this one is pretty up there. More than “Chloe Brown,” and about on par with the Christina Lauren novels — I wish the “eggplant” scale was more widely recognized.
“Would Like to Meet” by Rachel Winters (3.75/5) - I picked up this book a few weeks ago, wanting a quick and fun read, and "Would Like to Meet" definitely fit the bill! I enjoyed the premise, even though I wasn't exactly sure that would fly in the real world -- definitely felt like a rom com convention rather than a real workplace -- and Evie was just an adorable protagonist. It was also appreciated that Ben wasn't a "perfect" foil to Evie - he had a temper, he was closed off at times, and he had baggage of his own. Anette and the JEMS were also great side characters; Rachel Winters did a great job in creating a believable world. Especially the hen do from hell -- we have all been on those! I did enjoy the book quite a bit, and I"m glad that I read it - I just wish we had more, especially Evie's write ups of the "meet cutes" -- they sounded so charming, and I'd definitely see the movie.
“Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber” by Mike Isaac (3.5/5) - I liked this book, but I had higher expectations for it — I had read several of Mike Isaac’s long-form articles about Uber and it’s troubled founder/CEO Travis, and I don’t think that I learned anything new here. Yes, it was longer and more detailed (incredibly well researched), but I already knew the story and how it was going to end. The part that was most compelling, at least to me, was reading about how the company was started (and how it squashed everything in its path) and how everyone drank the CEO-as-king koolaid. It’s something that appears to be pretty systemic in that part of the world, and I appreciated Isaac’s insights into that.
I think part of my critique here is that it didn’t feel quite as urgent as some of the other non-fiction I’ve read recently about bad behavior in a workplace (cough cough "Bad Blood" and “Catch and Kill”); that could totally be because I didn’t really understand the intricacies of the coup that is the emotional height of the book. I have never learned a ton about venture capitalism, and I think having more of a base for understanding might have helped me enjoy this book more. I will say, an unexpected outcome is that I never want to take an Uber again; thank goodness for Lyft.
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (4.25/5) - I’m going to be 100% honest with you guys - I bought this book only because of its cover and a well-timed Kindle sale. I am so pleased with myself that I did — I had seen it around bookstagram last fall, but the description didn’t totally draw me in. This is the kind of fantasy book I enjoy: fantastic new worlds, incredible characters, suspension of reality, really compelling bad guys; it had none of the things I hate: rape, incest, or gratuitous violence. See, male fantasy writers, it can be done! This is the story of January, her father, an ominous secret society, and the power of words and book. Yes, there are multiple points of view, but it only adds to the mystery of the book in the best way. If you love books and you love strong female protagonists and you don’t love the patriarchy, this book is a great choice for you.
Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra (4.5/5) - I meant to write a full review of this one, but then it was going to be our December book club choice, and then whoops, that didn’t happen, so apologies friends! I loved this book. Full stop. Loved it. I know I’ve mentioned that “Little Women” is one of my favorite re-reads, and I want to live in the world that Greta Gerwig created. So, my expectations for this one were high, and I have to say that Virginia Kantra really met them. Meg & Jo, here, are a mom and a blogger/sous chef, and Jo returns home to their small town in North Carolina to care for Marmee. In that regard, it isn’t just a modern copy of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, but a clever retelling. My favorite part of the original book is the characters, and Kantra here really did that well. She took the best and worst parts of those beloved sisters and all those that lived in their worlds, and she updated it so well for 2019/2020. If you are a fan of the original book, I’d wholeheartedly recommend this one for you.
If you click on the links, SFOL may receive a small percentage of your purchase — FYI, there’s no additional cost to you! We promise! There’s an affiliate link up there for Book of the Month Club, which I’ve been a member of since it’s reboot a few years ago. If you’re a frequent purchaser of new books, I couldn’t recommend BOTM more - $9.99 - $14.99 for a new release hardback is the best deal I’ve found.
