Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt- This was such a unique story. I found it hard to put down. There were parts I didn't like because I didn't find them to be realistic, but overall I forgave this because the writing was so good and the story was so interesting. This story follows 16yo Sara who is pregnant and giving her baby up for adoption but not entirely by choice. We start with Sara being bonded to the new adoptive parents, George and Eva, and getting set up for an open adoption of her baby. While everyone has good intentions things do not go as smoothly as planned. Once the baby arrives Sara and Eva's relationship drastically changes. Coupled with Sara's strained relationship with her own parents, Sara makes a very poor decision which ultimately leads to Eva and George moving with the baby far away without a forwarding address. The book shares both families journey over the next years as the baby, Sara, and Eva all grow and change. I really got invested in these characters and what would happen next. As I said some pieces felt a bit contrived, but for the most part this book was just great and I loved reading about the characters mistakes and growth. I think overall the message, one I say all the time, is parents aren't prefect and make many mistakes but they do the best they can. Sometimes it's enough and sometimes it falls short, but in the end we all have to grow up and decide for ourselves who we want to be.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein- What a book. If your a dog/pet lover go read it this minute. This story is uniquely narrated by Enzo, a dog. Denny, Enzo's master is a race car driver, hence the title. We learn about Denny and his hardships through Enzo's view. There were parts that were so dog like they made me laugh out loud. There were sad parts that were so heart warming through the dog's eyes that they made me emotional. Overall this is a great read which made me add other books by this author to my list. This book also makes you think, if you haven't before, about what goes on in our pets minds and what they think of their humans. A beautiful and heart breaking/warming story.
The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger- This book wasn't quite what I expected it to be but I think overall I enjoyed reading it. It's the story of Amina and George. Amina is from Bangladesh and George is living in America. It's a bit mail order bride but with technology twists and Amina winds up married to George and adjusting to American life. We follow the newlyweds through adjusting to cultural/religious differences, married life, and leaving their pasts behind to figure out some sort of future together.
The Summer We Fell Apart by Robin Antalek- Four siblings: Amy, George, Kate and Finn narrate this story about the summer after their father dies. Each sibling takes us through pieces of their childhood in a dysfunctional family and how it has affected their adulthood in present day. The parents in the Haas family weren't very involved and each adult child has had to find their way on their own. The book shares the story in some ways of how they found their way back to each other. I didn't like how chopped up the book was and I struggled to like the characters until the narrated but overall there was something appealing about the book and the way the family was trying to pick up the pieces.
Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison- What a cute story. By far not the best book ever but a cute easy read about 4 women who are bonded by their addiction to shoes. Lorna, Helene, Sandra, and Jocelyn are strangers until their addiction to shoes and a common size brings them together, sort of. Lorna is in debt due to her addiction and places the internet ad that brings the ladies together. Helene is married to a high powered man and living the high life but with her own secrets she pays a high price to have her "perfect" marriage. Sandra lacks the confidence to be herself but challenges herself to go to the original meeting and we watch her transform throughout the book. Jocelyn is a nanny for a not so nice family and is hiding some secrets of her own from the group. I loved reading this funny story about the women forming friendships and making changes in their lives.
Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison- A follow up to the book above which was also a cute story about women and their friendships. We have a reappearance of Sandra who helps her sister Tiffany and her friends Abby, and Loreen. The book starts with the women, aside from Sandra, on a school trip with their kids to Las Vegas. There Tiffany gets in a little trouble trying to make herself over by shopping for a new wardrobe that she can't afford but also can't return. Abby is a minister's wife but her secret past finds her in Vegas and follows her home. Loreen is recently separated and mistakenly hires a prostitute (poor girl thought the man was interested in her). The women all need to make money fast to cover up their mistakes and Sandra helps them by sharing how she works for a phone sex hotline and makes a lot of money. Though some parts of the book were a bit silly/unrealistic the overall theme of the women coming together and fixing the issues themselves was great. It was fun to read about their adventures and see where each of them would move forward to.
Who by Fire by Diana Spechler- Really liked this book. I thought about it long after I put it down. Bits and Ash are the main characters and are now adults but when they were children their little sister Alena was kidnapped. Now all these years later they and their mother, Ellie, narrate pieces of the story. Ash is living in Israel trying to be an orthodox Jew. Bits is unable to commit to any relationship and playing middle man between her family members. Ellie is a grieving mother and still overly anxious about her remaining children. The women of the family have been trying to get Ash to return, believing he will outgrow this new change but also worrying for his safety. When Alena's body is at last found so many years later, the family is determined to get Ash home for the funeral. I did not see the twists and turns the story took coming and really enjoyed turning the pages to find out what would happen next. There were pieces I found a bit much or unrealistic but overall each character held their own and conveyed their story in a way that you wanted each of them to win.
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