A Flash of Red by Sarah K. Stephens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Not having noticed the warning signs, Anna now saw that she had become embalmed in her carefully constructed life."

A Flash of Red is a thriller about the perils that some marriages face, the difficulty of letting go of the past, and the harsh reality of mental illnesses. As a professor of Psychology, Anna Kline has devoted her life to teaching about mental illnesses and disorders. To her students, her life seems picture-perfect. However, behind the scenes she's harboring some difficult secrets--about her past, about her family, and, most of all, about her marriage.

When one of her students, Bard, learns about some of the realities she's harboring, their lives become intertwined. As the plot progresses, Anna and Bard must come to terms with their realities and with the notion that life isn't always what it seems.

I thought the psychological aspects of this novel were really well-written. I found myself constantly questioning whether or not I could trust each character. The depth of the relationships was also noteworthy. I liked that Stephens focused on the idea that marriage isn't always perfect. The behind-the-scenes look at a marriage in the midst of destruction was deep and thought-provoking. I liked the internal glimpse at both parties in a relationship about to detonate.

The tension was slowly built in the novel, which simmered over the course of the beginning of the story. At first, I was anxious for the pace to pick up; however, once it did, I realized how the slow simmer actually enhanced the events of the story and made the payoff greater.

The only thing I disliked was the ending simply because I could not agree with how it all turned out. However, everyone has their own opinion, and I can relish the fact that the ending did make me think and feel. This is the true mark of a well-crafted novel, regardless of whether or not you morally agree with what happened.

This is an excellent debut novel, and I look forward to reading more works by the very talented Sarah K. Stephens.

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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The whole school is as intimidating as it is impressive. It should be reserved for students with personal bodyguards and Shetland ponies, not someone who buys the majority of her wardrobe at Target."

Sent to a boarding school in Paris by her father, Anna is not happy about spending her senior year away from her home in Atlanta and her best friend. Adjusting to life in Paris isn't easy, especially since she doesn't speak French. Over the course of her senior year, though, Anna learns a lot more than just a new language...she learns about friendship, growing up, and most of all, love.

I really loved the character of Anna in this book because she is so easy to relate to and so funny. Perkins does an amazing job at incorporating elements girls and women can relate to. I liked the realistic feel of the novel which came from the well-developed characters. I also really liked the character of St. Clair, who is Anna's love interest in the book. He was fun and romantic, but still had enough flaws to make him feel real.

The setting was a perfect backdrop for this novel and helped create conflict. I liked how Perkins seamlessly created the story around the backdrop but didn't let it take over the entire novel. I felt like the characters carried enough of the story on their own to make it a perfect balance.

The only thing I would have changed is to have more tension as Anna deals with the major problem in the novel. I thought the problems she faces are well-planned, but they were solved fairly quickly. I would have liked to have seen more struggle in Anna so she could have shown more change and growth. I wish the conflict hadn't been resolved so neatly.

Overall, this is a sweet, light-hearted read perfect for the summer months. It will make you want to travel to Paris and redo your senior year. Most of all, it reminds you that life and love are sometimes foreign entities to us...but eventually, we figure out how to translate them both.

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The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jeannette Walls' memoir is an eye-opening look at how the past often threatens to dictate our future... and how our roots can shape us but don't have to define us.

Jeannette's childhood was marked by two free-spirited parents, hunger, and a lack of directions. Jeannette reflects on her childhood in a manner that feels objective, allowing the reader to read between the lines and form their own opinion. Her observations of her family and a childhood marked by hardship and sacrifice really forces the reader to examine themes of loyalty, motivation, change, and happiness.

This book made me re-evaluate my definitions of family and success while also considering how many people I've made wrong assumptions about. From the very beginning of the memoir, Walls makes it clear that shame and guilt are a part of her equation when it comes to her family. As the memoir unfolds, the reader gets a glimpse into the complex emotional relationship she had with her family growing up and how she has had to figure out how to make these emotions a part of who she is.

This book also made me appreciate my roots and family. I have never known hunger like this author, and I've never really gone without. Jeannette makes our society with a penchant for consumerism realize that food on the table isn't a guarantee in every household. As a teacher, it has opened up the compassion in my heart for others and has made me really stop and think about the plight of others. It has made me realize that no one's life is perfect, but some are struggling with bigger demons that we can imagine.

I certainly felt bad for Walls throughout the memoir. However, her memoir is not marked with a need for pity. She is objective in her narration and doesn't paint on the emotional baggage or cry out to be painted as a martyr or hero. She simply paints her childhood as it was and emphasizes that even in the midst of suffering and treatment that was verging on abusive, there were elements of love in her life--which often seemed one-sided. I admired her strength as a child and as an adult to not only overcome her obstacles but also learn how to make peace with them. I applaud her ability to see the good in her parents, even though they arguably don't seem to deserve this kindness at points in the memoir.

Walls shows us that no one is perfect and that parents are certainly flawed. She shows us that the past certainly plays a role in who we become, but it doesn't have to dictate our entire life. Most of all, she makes us realize that we don't know everyone's story. She shows us, as her father pointed out, that demons lurk in all sorts of places.

Walls' story is one of sacrifice, suffering, and triumph. Most of all, it is a memoir that redefines what it means to overcome, to achieve, and to love.

I applaud the author for writing a brutally honest, open, and relevant memoir and for opening herself up to the world so we can all get a better idea of what others are enduring.

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A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"He knew very well that some people thought he was nothing but a grumpy old sod without any faith in people. But, to put it bluntly, that was because people had never given him reason to see it another way. Because a time comes in every man's life when he decides what sort of man he's going to be: the kind who lets other people walk all over him, or not."

I cannot even begin to put into words how much I loved this book. To be honest, it seemed like such an odd premise that it took me a while to actually read this one. Now, it is definitely one of my all-time favorite books.

The story follows a man named Ove, who lives in a little community where he is one of the last standing from the older generation. Surrounded by younger couples of the new generation, Ove feels angry. He feels like the new generation is lazy, confused, and lacks respect for important, practical skills. Ove is your typical cranky old man. However, as the story carries on, he slowly learns to find a place in his community and find connections he never thought possible.

This book covers deep issues...but is hilarious. Laugh-out-loud hilarious. The cantankerous Ove has such a funny perspective of people and has such great lines in the book, especially at the beginning. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. I also loved the incorporation of the cat into the book--Ove hates cats.

I also enjoyed the message of this book, which is that you truly can't judge others. At the beginning, everyone sees Ove as this grumpy old man, including the reader. As the story unfolds, though, you learn so much about Ove's life and why he is the way that he is. Backman did an amazing job at incorporating so many details to explain every quirk on Ove's personality. Most of all, as you learn about Ove, you realize that behind the hard exterior is a huge heart, something the neighbors come to learn over time.

This book is also about the fact that so few of us take time to know those who live around us. It shows us what so many of us are missing by not getting to know our neighbors and those in our community. The beautiful thing about this book is that a community of individualistic families ends up coming together through the most unlikely source--a grumpy man called Ove.

Besides Ove, I adored the character of Parvaneh. She complements Ove's personality but in a softer, more loving way. I liked how she looked out for Ove and also leaned on Ove. Their friendship was very unlikely, but very touching.

This book will change the way you see others and make you realize that you can't know someone's whole story just by looking at them. It will make you stop and think before assuming you know someone. Most of all, it shows you that everyone needs to find a purpose and a connection to others in this world in order to find meaning.

Read this book. Tell all of your friends about it. It is not only an entertaining read, but an important reminder about life and the people around us. I will definitely be picking up more books by Backman.

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180 Seconds by Jessica Park
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"I am brave. I am brave. I am brave. But I cannot stop the tears. 'I don't want to live this like,' I say out loud over and over through my sobbing. I cry for who I have been, who I am, and who I could be. However, I also cry with an iota o relief, because a change is about to happen."

180 Seconds follows the story of Allison, who is very broken at the beginning. Having lived in foster-care pretty much her entire childhood, she learned to not get close to people and to not trust. Recently adopted by her adoptive father, Simon, she's still holding back. The only person she is close to is her best friend Steffi, who also grew up in foster care. On campus, though, she comes across a boy named Esben Baylor. She doesn't realize he is a YouTube sensation. When he challenges her to a social experiment in which they spend a mere 180 seconds together in silence, she agrees just to get out of the situation.

What she doesn't expect, however, is that the 180 seconds will change everything for her and threaten to break down her carefully constructed walls. As Esben and Allison explore something she never expected, she comes to learn that everyone has so much underneath the surface and that trusting another person can be safe.

I'll be honest--at first, I wasn't crazy about this book. I found the whole premise to be a little bit cheesy; could two people really fall for each other in 180 seconds? I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. I expected some superficial college romance to happen.

And then this book completely, utterly won me over. As Allison's walls come down with Esben, they also come down for the reader. As she finds herself, you discover so much about her that you like. By the end, I realized what masterful writing it takes to pull this off. It really puts you in the book, in the situation, and in the story.

This book is also about so, so much more than a college romance. It has so many twists and turns in the plot that I don't want to spoil, but trust me, by the end, you will be emotionally exhausted but satisfied. This book has so much packed into its pages. By the end, I adored Esben and Allison. I especially loved Allison's dad, Simon.

This book is heavy and fun. It's light and it's deep. It's this perfect concoction of the best of so many emotions. I definitely see why this book has become so popular. I would definitely read a sequel if the author wrote one.

So do yourself a favor this summer and pick up 180 seconds. Get ready for a roller coaster of emotion. Just, whatever you do, don't judge the book by the first few chapters. As the book teaches you, there's so much more underneath the surface if you're patient and brave enough to look.

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The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read The Beach House years ago and fell in love with Jane Green's writing charm and witty humor. I loved how she delved into deep issues fearlessly but with a sense of lightheartedness that made for great reading.

Jane Green's The Sunshine Sisters did not disappoint. It had that same feel as The Beach House, which was a great thing. The story follows the Sunshine family through the decades. In many ways, it is a family saga, but it is also about how the past can impact our identities.

Ronni Sunshine was a famous actress. However, she was never quite at the top of the Hollywood circuit. She was always just on the cusp of true, undeniable, life-altering fame. Because of this, she spent most of her life chasing that fame, resulting in a loss of connection with her three daughters. Through the years, the three daughters, Lizzy, Nell, and Meredith, are impacted by their mom's attitude and character.

The book is set at the end of Ronni's life, when she realizes how many mistakes she's made. She comes to regret the fact she hasn't been there for her daughters and that her daughters aren't close anymore. Deciding she still has time to make things right, she sets out on an impossible task: she wants to bring her family back together.

The book tells the family's story through the decades, giving us glimpses into their dynamic through the years. I love how each sister is very different and finds her own path in life. Each sister has her own successes and her own challenges. The three sisters have complex lives that are far from perfect, which made the book exciting to read. I love how there were so many different viewpoints and stories happening within the story.

I also love the deep themes that run through the book. Jane Green touches upon identity, family, loyalty, regret, and so many other human emotions in this book. I think every woman can relate to several pieces of this family's puzzle, which makes it a truly unique novel. It captures so much of the modern woman's struggle in a way that isn't in-your-face. It doesn't feel like a lecture; Jane Green's writing allows the reader to come to their own conclusion about the theme and about life itself.

I love the lighthearted moments that break up the novel. Lizzy was my favorite character by far. I found her to be the most human and the most exciting. I love the entire premise for the novel and found it to be very addicting. I also felt like I left the novel with many thinks to think about. This is definitely a book you could read several times because there are just so many themes running through it.

The only thing I disliked was the tense. The book is told in third person, and I found during the earlier segments of the book, the present tense felt awkward. I'm not sure if this was just me or because I've read a lot of books in past tense. I just found myself being thrown from the story. However, when the story got to present day, it made more sense.

Overall, Jane Green's newest book is a must read for the summer and really for anytime. I like that the cover captures the feeling and main plot of the story perfectly. Above all, I love that Jane Green managed to make me feel something for the Sunshine sisters. Even though I'm an only child, I felt like I could understand the bond of sisterhood, the loyalty of family, and the way it all shapes the women we become.

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Video Review of Jane Green's The Sunshine Sisters

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up Where They Found Her because I was I really liked Reconstructing Amelia and thought I'd give this author another try.

Where They Found Her is a mystery/suspense focused around the discovery of a dead body near a campus in a small town. Molly Sanderson has just moved to the small town of Ridgedale with her husband after he takes a job at the University. Their lives are in turmoil due to personal events, but Molly ends up being assigned the case as a journalist. The story is her chance to restart her career and perhaps get her life back on track.

As Molly gets wrapped up in the mystery in the town, other mysteries begin to surface. By the end of the book, she finds herself completely entwined in numerous situations, all of which complicate her life and career.

I liked Molly's character in the book because she is a broken woman searching for redemption and strength. Readers get to see her emerge and blossom throughout the book from an unsure woman into a confident, strong force. I like her dedication to doing what's right and to finding her way, despite many obstacles.

Like many suspense novels, this book follows numerous characters' perspectives. It was really confusing for a while to keep all of the characters straight, but I like how McCreight seamlessly weaves so many people together in her book. There are many subplots to the novel, and I like how McCreight can keep all of the stories feeling well-developed. I was surprised numerous times in the book as many twists and turns occurred. This book is far from predictable, which I enjoyed.

I did find the middle section of the book to lose my attention and lose the intensity. Nonetheless, the last one hundred pages were absolutely thrilling and made me want to keep reading. I felt the last few pages of the book could have been better developed, but overall, I thought McCreight did a good job at tying up all loose ends.

This book is an exciting, intense read filled with all sorts of questions and horrifying conclusions. It really makes you think about issues of trust, love, and loyalty. I liked the well-rounded characters and the pace of the book at the beginning and end. McCreight is clearly a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

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The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up The Woman In Cabin 10 after finishing Paula Hawkins' Into the Water. I'm not much of a suspense/thriller/mystery type reader, but Ruth Ware's bestselling novel is truly a read for anyone. The depth of the story, the excitement of the plot, the setting, and the main character make this a quality book in all ways.

The book starts with a terrible robbery leaving Lo Blacklock on edge. Nonetheless, she leaves for a business trip aboard a luxury cruise ship. As a journalist, she's hoping the trip will help her move up the ladder. Nonetheless, when a horrific mystery taints the trip early on, Lo finds herself in a terrifying position--stuck aboard a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean with certainty that no one can be trusted. Lo begins digging for answers but soon finds herself in harms way with no one to turn to. Trapped in the middle of the ocean without anyone to help her, she's faced with a harrowing situation of survival and morality.

This book kept me engaged from page one. Lo is a very imperfect character. She is flawed and suffers from many ailments, making the reader constantly question the narrator's reliability. I adore books that can pull this feat off convincingly and make me question what's actually happening. The plot was also exciting and kept me engaged the entire time. I loved the format of the book because we get to see correspondence back home between Lo's loved ones as the trip unfolds.

I found the ending to be satisfying. I like that this book focused on the plot and not heavily on deep, introspective reads. This is a super fast read but an exciting one. Ruth Ware is a master at weaving together a thrilling plot with characters we grow to love. I will definitely be checking out her next book.

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Your Next Must-Read Thriller, Into the Water

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"I didn't have to be fixed, I could be fluid. Like the river. Perhaps it wouldn't be so difficult, after all."

Although many readers were obsessed with The Girl on the Train and Paula Hawkins had high expectations to live up to, I think she did the unthinkable with this book: She surpassed even her own writing.

For me, I thought The Girl on the Train was just an okay read. I loved the narrative pattern and the whole concept. I just thought the middle of the book lost its edge. Into the Water, however, was completely different in the fact that it never lost my attention for a second. Hawkins weaves together an intricate tale of family secrets, love, power, and revenge. Her expert writing kept the plot moving the entire time. I was stunned by the book and the secrets revealed up through the last paragraph.

The book focuses on a small town rocked by tragedy after tragedy, all centered around a cliff by a particular river. The book opens with a second death that has just happened. Lena's mother and Jules' sister has just died in what seems to be a suicide. However, questions surface as to what really happened on the cliff and if her death could be linked to the death of Lena's best friend, Katie, who died in a similar way.

The characters were lovable in this book and really easy to connect with. I liked that both Jules and Lena, although family, are very distant from each other and very flawed. I liked that they were not perfect characters in any way and both suffered great loss in life. Their relationship and the changes in it was a nice backdrop to the horror of the book.

There are a lot of narrative perspectives in this book, which was hard to keep track of at times. However, I think that is the lure of Hawkins' books; they are complicated to the point that when you finish, you are in awe that she pulled it all together. I liked that I never had everything figured out. I loved the dynamic characters and relationships.

I also loved how everything, even flashbacks, came back to the water. It became not just a setting and plot element, but almost a character in itself.

This book is definitely a must read for 2017. Hawkins shows us again why she is one of the greatest writers of our time with this novel.

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Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's Five-Star Novel About Family, Love, and Identity

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"He never imagined that as the fund grew so, too, would his children's tolerance for risk, for doing the one thing Leonard had repeatedly warned them not to do, ever, in any avenue of life, from the time they were old enough to understand: count the chickens before they hatched."

The Nest is a family saga about the Plumbs and their dysfunction. The siblings in the family all find their own, unique problems. They all have one thing in common, however: they believe the inheritance money their father set aside for them when they are older will solve all of their dilemmas. Estranged from each other, they come back together in hopes of salvaging their wrecked lives with the money only to find things are much more complicated than they could have imagined.

This book touches on so many important themes. It deals with expectations, the power money can have on our lives, love, and how family loyalty is everything. During the course of the book, destruction of each individual character eventually is what leads them back together and what helps them realize that money truly isn't the answer.

I loved the multiple points of view of this novel because it kept it fresh and exciting. There was so much to the plot of this book that it never dulled. I loved following each individual family within the Plumb family and how their lives were a chaotic mess at times. I also really liked the idea of how small of a world we live in because other characters kept coming into the picture in various ways.

Most of all, this book emphasizes the impact we have on others and how our choices can affect so many around us. Sweeney highlights that we truly can't force our family to be what we want them to be. However, at the end of it, we realize that family, even with their flaws, is exactly what we all need to find happiness.

This book has such literary depth. I feel like I could read it again to catch the subtle nuances I missed. Sweeney expertly switches point of view in such a flawlessly smooth fashion, I felt like I was constantly seeing the whole story from every angle. This kept me engaged and helped pull out various themes. This book is a book to make you think and to make you appreciate your own family, troubled past and all.

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