Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Pages: 460

Synopsis from Goodreads: Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .
  
A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?  

What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. But who did what?
  
Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?). 

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
  
Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

December, 2012 Pamela Dorman Books

Pages: 369

Synopsis from Goodreads: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time. 

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

Rosie Hopkins’s life is…comfortable. She has a steady nursing job, a nice apartment, and Gerard, her loyal (if a bit boring) boyfriend. And even though she might like to pursue a more rewarding career, and Gerard doesn’t seem to have any plans to propose, Rosie’s not complaining. Things could be worse. Right?

Life gets a bit more interesting when Rosie’s mother sends her out to the country to care for her ailing great aunt Lilian, who owns an old-fashioned sweetshop. But as Rosie gets Lilian back on her feet, breathes a new life into the candy shop, and gets to know the mysterious and solitary Stephen whose family seems to own the entire town she starts to think that settling for what’s comfortable might not be so great after all.

The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
January 2014
Doubleday

Pages: 304


Synopsis from Goodreads: A tantalizing reimagining of a scandalous mystery that rocked the nation in 1930-Justice Joseph Crater’s infamous disappearance-as seen through the eyes of the three women who knew him best.

They say behind every great man, there’s a woman. In this case, there are three. Stella Crater, the judge’s wife, is the picture of propriety draped in long pearls and the latest Chanel. Ritzi, a leggy showgirl with Broadway aspirations, thinks moonlighting in the judge’s bed is the quickest way off the chorus line. Maria Simon, the dutiful maid, has the judge to thank for her husband’s recent promotion to detective in the NYPD. Meanwhile, Crater is equally indebted to Tammany Hall leaders and the city’s most notorious gangster, Owney “The Killer” Madden.

On a sultry summer night, as rumors circulate about the judge’s involvement in wide-scale political corruption, the Honorable Joseph Crater steps into a cab and disappears without a trace. Or does he?

After 39 years of necessary duplicity, Stella Crater is finally ready to reveal what she knows. Sliding into a plush leather banquette at Club Abbey, the site of many absinthe-soaked affairs and the judge’s favorite watering hole back in the day, Stella orders two whiskeys on the rocks-one for her and one in honor of her missing husband. Stirring the ice cubes in the lowball glass, Stella begins to tell a tale-of greed, lust, and deceit. As the novel unfolds and the women slyly break out of their prescribed roles, it becomes clear that each knows more than she has initially let on.

With a layered intensity and prose as effervescent as the bubbly that flows every night, The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress is a wickedly entertaining historical mystery that will transport readers to a bygone era with tipsy spins through subterranean jazz clubs and backstage dressing rooms. But beneath the Art Deco skyline and amid the intoxicating smell of smoke and whiskey, the question of why Judge Crater disappeared lingers seductively until a twist in the very last pages.


My Thoughts: This book was chosen by my book club for our September pick. I never would have read it otherwise, but I am so glad I did. This book has it all. From showgirls and mobsters to politicians and maids who know too much, this book was one that I couldn’t put down – literally. I listened to it on audio – my first audio book, and I loved it! I will definitely be doing this more often. It makes car rides more enjoyable and helps me “read” multiple books a little quicker. Enough on that. We also had the opportunity to chat with the author, Ariel Lawhorn on Twitter and it was amazing! I learned so much more about the book. Search our hashtag #Literaryjunkies to read the chat! This novel is based on real life events. Books based on real life stories are always so much more interesting to me! You definitely must read this one. I gave it 4 stars.

Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts
August 2012
Berkley Trade

Pages: 400

Synopsis from Goodreads: Margo, Kate and Laura were brought up like sisters amidst the peerless grandeur of Templeton House. But it was Margo whose dreams first took her far away . . .

Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn’t help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton’s stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most—her mother’s acceptance.

Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura—or had Kate’s shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way—no matter what the consequences . . .

The Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
October 2012 Atria/Emily Bestler Books


Pages: 421

Synopsis from Goodreads: On an icy winter night, a terrible accident forces a family divided to come together and make a fateful decision. Cara, once protected by her father, Luke, is tormented by a secret that nobody knows. Her brother, Edward, has secrets of his own. He has kept them hidden, but now they may come to light, and if they do, Cara will be devastated. Their mother, Georgie, was never able to compete with her ex-husband’s obsessions, and now, his fate hangs in the balance and in the hands of her children. With conflicting motivations and emotions, what will this family decide? And will they be able to live with that decision, after the truth has been revealed? What happens when the hope that should sustain a family is the very thing tearing it apart?

My Thoughts: This was a tough one for me to read because of the timing. I enjoyed it but probably would have enjoyed it more if circumstances in my life were different. The story was fascinating and it is definitely a book you could finish in a day. This was my first time reading Picoult and I really want to read another one.

Do any of you have suggestions?

I gave this book 4 stars.

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Laura Weisberger
May 2014 Simon & Schuster

Pages: 416

Synopsis from Goodreads: Almost a decade has passed since Andy Sachs quit the job “a million girls would die for” working for Miranda Priestly at Runway magazine—a dream that turned out to be a nightmare. Andy and Emily, her former nemesis and co-assistant, have since joined forces to start a highend bridal magazine. The Plunge has quickly become required reading for the young and stylish. Now they get to call all the shots: Andy writes and travels to her heart’s content; Emily plans parties and secures advertising like a seasoned pro. Even better, Andy has met the love of her life. Max Harrison, scion of a storied media family, is confident, successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. Their wedding will be splashed across all the society pages as their friends and family gather to toast the glowing couple. Andy Sachs is on top of the world. But karma’s a bitch. The morning of her wedding, Andy can’t shake the past. And when she discovers a secret letter with crushing implications, her wedding-day jitters turn to cold dread. Andy realizes that nothing—not her husband, nor her beloved career—is as it seems. She never suspected that her efforts to build a bright new life would lead her back to the darkness she barely escaped ten years ago—and directly into the path of the devil herself…


My Thoughts: I read the Devil Wears Prada and this sequel back to back, and I have to tell you, it was like reading about 2 completely different people. I get that the second book takes place 10 years later than the first. Andy has grown up a lot, but she is like a totally different person, and so are all the other characters. Miranda isn’t in the book as much as I would’ve liked, and she isn’t really the bad person in this book. I’m not going to spoil it and tell you who is, but it was just kind of weird to me when considering the title of the book.  She isn’t a saint, but she isn’t the villain of the book either. I liked the story okay, but it was totally different from the first book. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. Because it didn’t make sense to me, I gave it 3 stars.


For more book recommendations and reviews, heck out my bookshelf!

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
May, 2006 by Anchor Books


Pages: 432

Synopsis on Goodreads: A delightfully dishy novel about the all-time most impossible boss in the history of impossible bosses. 

Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of “Runway “magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts “Prada! Armani! Versace!” at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child. 

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA gives a rich and hilarious new meaning to complaints about “The Boss from Hell.” Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.


My Thoughts: I loved this book. Plain and simple. It is so much better than the movie, simply because there is so much more to the story than the movie shows. Which is basically like every other book-to-movie. I’m so glad I decided to read the book before reading the sequel because I would have totally been lost otherwise. I enjoyed it so much and blew through it very quickly. The characters are so real and I love fantasizing about working at Runway. Every fashion lover’s dream – to work at a high fashion magazine. Reading about the clothes/photography/models etc. was so much fun! I loved getting lost in this book that is also one of my favorite movies. I gave this one 5 stars…because, why not? Oh, and if you haven’t already, you need to watch The Devil Wears Prada movie!

For more book recommendations and reviews check out my bookshelf!

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
May, 2014 Dial Press Trade Paperback

Pages: 464

Synopsis from Goodreads: #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns with her trademark blend of sparkling wit and playful romance in this page-turning story of a wedding to remember—and a honeymoon to forget.

Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose, but then his big question involves a trip abroad—not a trip down the aisle. Completely crushed, Lottie reconnects with an old flame, and they decide to take drastic action. No dates, no moving in together, they’ll just get married . . . right now. Her sister, Fliss, thinks Lottie is making a terrible mistake, and will do anything to stop her. But Lottie is determined to say “I do,” for better, or for worse.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
April, 2014 Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers


Page: 368

Synopsis from Goodreads: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.


Are we friends on Goodreads?


My Thoughts: I loved this book! When I first started it, I thought it seemed a little young for me, but I couldn’t put it down. It was a captivating story and I am thrilled there will be a sequel. This isn’t your typical “love story” and it leaves you on a bit of a cliff hanger. It’s actually unpredictable at times which I love. I admire a book that can surprise me. If you have a sister, you’ll love this novel. If you have ever written a love letter, you will identify with this story. I can’t wait to read book #2 (coming April 2015)! I gave this book 4 stars.


For more book reviews and recommendations, check out my bookshelf! 


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