Tag Archives: trigger warning

Sep3

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Homemade God By Rachel Joyce Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Homemade God By Rachel Joyce Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the newest novel by Rachel Joyce called The Homemade God. Like my last book club review, this was a far cry from my normal thrillers but an absolutely delightful read. I already knew I was in for a treat before even reading the first page because Rachel Joyce authored one of my all time favorite books, The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry. Of course, nothing will beat the best of the best but I very much enjoyed The Homemade God! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning for addiction, self harm, miscarriage, and the death of a parent. Now, let’s get to it:

Netta, Susan, Goose (Gustav), and Iris are quite possibly the closest siblings you will ever meet. They talk on the phone constantly, see each other as often as humanly possible, and know each other better than they know themselves. This close knit group is held together by the glue of the family, their father who is a world famous artist named Vic. Perhaps, they are held together in spite of him. As their mother died when the children were young, Vic was the only parent they knew but he was an absent one.

In their youth, Vic would be gone for days on end. He could be on a bender. He could be locked away in his studio drunk and working on a painting. This left the care of the siblings up to the eldest child, Netta, and in each of their own ways they were parenting their own parent too. As adults, this sentiment remains the same because Vic is still an alcoholic and when they speak, it is usually about him. Regardless of their sad upbringing, each child fully believes that the world revolves around their dad and his world revolves around them and his art. Until it doesn’t.

At a family lunch, Vic declares that he is in love, getting married, and will be creating a new masterpiece. The children are dumbstruck as they didn’t even know their father was dating. But it gets worse. His bride to be, Bella-Mae, is only twenty-seven years old and they have only been together for six weeks. Their pleas to reconsider are meaningless to seventy-six year old Vic because his mind has already been made up. He and Bella-Mae will be married at their beautiful villa on Lake Orta in Italy and when his kids meet her, they will be crazy about her too.

The only problem is, the children don’t meet her. Every plan for luncheons or tea are foiled to last minute cancellations and their minds begin to swim. Is she a grifter who is eager for Vic’s substantial fortune? Is she forcing him into something he doesn’t truly want? For all they know and which they really do consider, she could be a porn star. The siblings decide that the best thing to do is to drop contact with their father. The fling will fizz out, he will realize he was being ridiculous, and will eventually return to them when he has dealt with the embarrassment. Vic does contact his kids again. With an invitation to Lake Orta to celebrate the wedding that has already transpired.

Of course, the siblings have no intention of traveling to their home away from home until their hands are forced. Vic has died and it is up to them to arrange for his body to be transported back to England and finally meet Bella-Mae. They do have their inheritances to sort out, after all. Heartbroken and exhausted, the kids arrive at Lake Orta and can’t help but to be suspicious. Their father died of unusual circumstances and Bella-Mae’s eccentric cousin has made himself at home in the villa. Who is this mysterious woman who is now their father’s widow? And is she the one to blame for his death? Read The Homemade God to find out!

The Homemade God was a wonderful study on the inner workings of a dysfunctional family. The toils, the tender moments, downfalls, and reunions that can change the trajectory of the lives of all effected. Rachel Joyce did an incredible job of creating the characters of the children of the eccentric but deeply troubled father. While some were larger than life than others, it was easy to see yourself in at least one of them. Are you strong willed and brazen like Netta? Maybe you are more of a follower like Susan. Could you be approval seeking like Goose? Or perhaps you are like Iris, a delicate flower who has yet to fully bloom. Their individual relationships with their dad molded them into the caricatures they are today and his death allows them to discover themselves for the very first time.

There were plenty of sad parts to go around in The Homemade God but there was so much good too. The way the light hits the lake surrounding the villa, the stories the children share that still makes them laugh, and the confirmation that life will continue to go on in any way you choose. The Homemade God is also a friendly reminder to never judge a book by its cover with an ending that I considered to be perfect. An ending that invites new beginnings and a celebration of life, art, and love.

Overall, I am going to rate The Homemade God with a seven out of ten stars. I don’t think it was one of Rachel Joyce’s strongest novels and I have read almost all of hers. It is, however, well worth the read especially if you are a fan of her work!

What are you currently reading? What is one of your favorite books? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug21

Lil Red’s Book Club: My Friends By Fredrik Backman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: My Friends By Fredrik Backman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the newest novel by Fredrik Backman called My Friends. This book is a major change of pace from my normal thrillers but is easily one of the best ones I have ever read and I truly cannot recommend it enough. It has been several days since I finished it and I can’t stop thinking about it and talking about it to literally any and everyone! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on my friends for domestic and child abuse, violence, and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

Louisa has run away from her foster home but as she says, she will turn eighteen tomorrow and technically that doesn’t make her missing. It simply makes her gone. Her only person in the world, Fish, has returned to Mother Earth and she is completely alone. Minus one thing that makes her happy, a postcard of her favorite, most beloved painting in the world. It is called The One of the Sea and was the first painting ever made by the artist, C. Jat. It is being sold at an auction this very night and she will finally be able to see the only beautiful thing she has ever had with her own eyes.

Granted, being in the auction is easier said than done. Sure, she can pass as a waitress for the uber rich but they know. They know she is not one of them and a bitter old woman declares her a cockroach. Louisa does not take kindly to that at all and her sharp mouth gets her instantly thrown out of the gallery and a call is made to the police. So, she takes her backpack full of her meager belongings that is primarily made up of spray paint, goes to the alleyway behind the gallery, and begins to decorate it.

In the alley, she meets a homeless man and what she presumes to be his cat. He appears to be desperately sick and frail and can barely speak. The man likes what she is painting very much and he is the nicest adult Louisa has ever met. As he was so kind to her, she decides to be kind to him and offers him her postcard that provides her only source of comfort. Now, he can have something beautiful too and they paint together. With his spray paint, the man creates his signature until they are rudely interrupted by the police and a wild chase ensues. Before Louisa runs away, she promises the man she will find him tomorrow and they can paint again.

As Louisa makes her getaway, the police are questioning the homeless man when they are interrupted again. This time, by a friend. His name is Ted and he tells the police that the man isn’t homeless at all. He is the artist whose painting, The One of the Sea, is being auctioned off. The artist passes out, wakes up in the hospital with Ted by his side, and with his dying breath tells him to find Louisa because she is one of them. And that is when the real story begins.

Ted finds Louisa in the alleyway where she promised the artist she would meet him and has something for her. He hands her a box that contains the most wonderful painting in the world. The artist said that artists should die poor and he sold all of his belongings to buy back his painting and see it hanging up one more time. Rather than be delighted, Louisa is affronted. How can she possibly be responsible for a painting so beautiful and valuable? And what in the world is she going to do with it? Everyone will think it was stolen.

After copious amounts of bickering, Ted goes against his better judgement and agrees to let Louisa come with him back to his hometown. There is someone there who might be able to help sell the painting. The unlikely pair board a train. Louisa who knows no fear and Ted who is afraid of everything. Ted isn’t just a random person though, he is one of the people in the painting. You see, The One of the Sea isn’t of the sea at all. Sure, there is the sea and a pier, but it’s a painting of laughter. A painting of three teenagers that you can just barely make out who look like they are in stitches together. Barely anyone notices them in the painting because they are looking at the sea but they are all Louisa can think about.

Every night, Louisa would go to sleep thinking about those friends. Thinking that when she woke up, she would be at the pier with them and they would teach her how to swim. They were her friends too. She asks Ted to tell her all about them and he does. He tells her of the summer when three people changed his life for forever. Rather, how they changed each other’s lives. And after that summer, none of them will ever be the same. Who were these remarkable people? And who was the artist, really? Read My Friends to find out!

Reading My Friends was like reading a book of poetry. Fredrik Backman crafted every single word in this book with the most tender care and you could find something that moves you in every sentence. Something that makes you laugh out loud, something that makes you cry, something that makes you happy to feel anything at all. And, believe you me, I did a lot of crying while reading this book. But I also laughed and fell in love with each character and it was such a cathartic experience.

My Friends goes back and forth from real time to Ted’s story twenty-five years ago and you could swear that it just happened yesterday. And, in a way, it is because Louisa is hearing it for the very first time too. And, through his story, Louisa is able to see real beauty for the first time in her life. She is able to be wrapped in words by an adult who doesn’t raise his voice or fists. She drives Ted absolutely crazy but is simply impossible not to love. Louisa reminded the artist of his own friends and through their journey, Ted learns that she is one of them indeed. Maybe more than anyone else in the whole world and it was a gift to read both of their worlds expand. To learn that no one is really as alone as they may seem.

I am going to award My Friends with a ten million out of ten stars. This is a book for everyone and should not be skipped on. I think you will love it just as much as I did!

Have you read My Friends yet? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Woman In Suite 11 By Ruth Ware Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Woman In Suite 11 By Ruth Ware Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the long awaited sequel to Ruth Ware’s The Woman In Cabin 10 called The Woman In Suite 11. I have to admit that it has been a phat minute since I read The Woman In Cabin 10 – it was six years ago so I was a little blurry on the details that were referred to throughout The Woman In Suite 11. However, after reading a summary or two, it all came back to me and this was a fairly decent follow up to one of Ware’s best sellers. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Woman In Suite 11 for violence and sexual assault references. Now, let’s get to it:

We are reunited with Laura “Lo” Blacklock in New York City with her beloved husband Judah and precious children Eli and Teddy. Since her traumatizing experience aboard The Aurora, Lo had her fifteen minutes of fame with her best selling memoir, Dark Waters. However, she has been out of the travel journalist game since having children and processing her near death experience. She’s not over it completely, but she’s doing so much better than before. With her children now preschool age, Lo finds herself seeking purpose and has a hankering for a new writing gig to sink her teeth into.

Like magic, an invitation arrives in the mail for a soft launch of The Hotel du Lac located on beautiful Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The ultra posh property belongs to businessman, Marcus Leidmann, who is expanding his empire to luxury resorts. A handful of influencers and food and travel journalists will be there and Lo considers it a fine tip of the hat to be thought of after not writing for so long. With encouragement from Judah, Lo decides to go for it and hops a flight to assist in the success of the launch with the best of the best in the business. Not only will she be creating articles for the new hotel, but she even has a request from an old contact from the Financial Times to do a profile on the elusive Leidmann who keeps his life totally private.

The Hotel du Lac is more incredible than Lo could have ever imagined and she is ready for an amazing time and to reignite her career. As the other guests arrive, Lo is shocked to find that several people who were aboard The Aurora are also at the hotel. She chalks it up to a coincidence – the travel journalism sector is quite small, after all. It doesn’t mean she has to be happy about it, though, and after a fairly awkward banquet, Lo can’t wait to retire to her room and decompress. R&R will have to wait because in her room there is a note that requests her immediate presence in Suite 11. Thrilled by the prospect of scoring an interview with Leidmann, Lo hightails it to the suite and isn’t greeted by Marcus but the ghost of Christmas past… Carrie.

Lo has not seen or heard from Carrie since they saved each other aboard The Aurora ten years prior. Rather than catching up on the past decade, Carrie divulges a dark secret. Her and Marcus are together and their union is anything but loving. Marcus is a monster as are his plethora of henchmen and employees. As terrible as he is to her, Carrie can’t leave. Marcus knows about what happened on the yacht to Norway and will turn her into the authorities should she escape his grasp. That’s where Lo comes in.

Carrie has a plan that she deems to be foolproof to get her freedom back. Lo doesn’t have to do anything dangerous. All she has to do is let Carrie use her British passport, Lo will use her American one, they will take a train to England, and rendezvous at a fancy hotel as Carrie’s way of saying thank you. What could possibly go wrong? A murder, perhaps? Before she knows it, Lo finds herself as the prime suspect for the suspicious death of one of the world’s most powerful men and Carrie is nowhere to be found. Will Lo solve the mystery in time before she winds up in jail for a crime she didn’t commit? Read The Woman In Suite 11 to find out!

I have read a ton of Ruth Ware books and I have found the majority of them to be incredibly… fine. They always fall under the category of “good but not great” and that is exactly how I feel about The Woman In Suite 11. I found Lo to be super cool in The Woman In Cabin 10 and that sentiment remained in the sequel. She’s an excellent leading lady and is such an easy character to root for, especially in this plot. After all she has been through, of course you want to see her succeed and protect her from the mess she finds herself entwined in. Every time another foot was about to drop in The Woman In Suite 11, I felt so scared for her!

As much as I like Lo, I really found this sequel to be unnecessary. Honestly, it was the same plot as The Woman In Cabin 10 with different details. It made the predecessor feel like a regurgitation of the OG without adding anything fresh or new. And, I’m sorry to say it, I couldn’t freaking stand Carrie who played a major role this time around. She was just SO extra all the time and while I understand the juxtaposition between Carrie being too much and Lo’s steely confidence, it became irritating to a fault. Try as I might, she was a difficult character to get behind fully and that’s how the reader should have felt. And, when Carrie left Lo high and dry with murder charges looming over her, all I could feel was downright resentful.

Overall, I am going to rate The Woman In Suite 11 with a five out of ten stars. If you really want to read the sequel to The Woman In Cabin 10, go for it. You will not be missing out on anything if you don’t though!

What are your thoughts on The Woman In Suite 11? How do you feel about Ruth Ware’s other books? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul31

Lil Red’s Book Club: Don’t Let Him In By Lisa Jewell Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Don’t Let Him In By Lisa Jewell Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the latest thriller by Lisa Jewell called Don’t Let Him In. This was a particularly fun read because I had the pleasure of attending a special Zoom conference with Jewell through the library system to talk about this book prior to its release last month. It was really cool to read this book with knowledge straight from the author herself and I read ravenously. I finished it in two sittings! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Don’t Let Him In for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Ash is in her mid twenties and had her life upturned once before due to an intense struggle with mental health. One year later, just as she is getting her bearings in her parents’ home, life throws another curveball. Her beloved father, Paddy, was pushed onto train tracks by a man suffering from schizophrenia. In the midst of the family’s despair, it is up to Paddy’s widow, Nina, to maintain his business as an owner and chef to a popular chain of restaurants. As time passes, Ash continues to struggle with the loss of her dad. Nina, on the other hand, is getting back into the swing of things. She has been messaging with a man named Nick, an old colleague of Paddy, who sent a letter offering his condolences. Of course, Ash finds this to be moving too quickly, but Nina is ready to take back her life and that means dating too.

Ash begrudgingly meets her mom’s new suitor and is instantly put off. Nick is tall, handsome, successful, and perfect. So why hasn’t he been married or have any children of his own? All Ash has right now is her own feelings that something isn’t right but she is keeping them to herself. Her mom is happy – glowing even and she might chalk up Ash’s concerns to her mental illness. These feelings, however, cannot be pushed aside and she fears that Nick doesn’t really have her mother’s best interests at heart. Is he truly as perfect and in love as he presents himself to be or is he after something else entirely? Money, perhaps from the Paddy’s empire?

Rather than live with her suspicion, Ash begins to dig. She snoops in Nick’s pockets and finds nothing but questions. A doggy bag to collect waste although Nick has no dogs. A pacifier clip but Nick has no kids. He offers reasonable explanations to each item but it’s just not good enough. So, Ash digs deeper. She enlists the help of Paddy’s ex-girlfriend, Jane, under the guise of wanting to learn more about her dad and his old coworker Nick. Jane, who was certifiably obsessed with Paddy claims to have no knowledge of an acquaintance named Nick and every red flag in Ash’s being goes up. This is proof right here and now that Nick is not who he claims to be. So, the newly found team digs deeper. What they find? A web of lies that have been spinning long before Nick and Nina ever began speaking. How many other people have fell victim to Nick? And who is he really? Read Don’t Let Him In to find out!

I realize that this synopsis is incredibly vague. BUT, Lil Red’s Book Club is a spoiler free setting and sharing anymore is going to ruin Don’t Let Him In. I would so hate to do that because it really was a gripping read. It was fast paced and filled with absolutely delicious twists and turns. As you all know, I fancy myself an amateur sleuth when I read. Normally, I despise when I can call every shot in a book before it happens and that was very much the case for Don’t Let Him In. Surprisingly enough, I still enjoyed the hell out of it. I’m not sure if it’s because I attended the talk about this book with Lisa Jewell or if it was truly that good. Maybe a little bit of both?

I wouldn’t say that I was particularly attached to any of the characters in this book. For all of Ash’s determination to find the truth, I found her to be quite boring. Having said that, every character in this book was in a dangerous situation. A situation that could go from bad to worse based on mood alone and, as a reader, all you could do was sit back and watch it happen. This made each victim SO easy to root for because we saw clearly who the “bad man” was and they were none the wiser. Lisa Jewell is brilliant at bringing urgency to every single page and it certainly kept me turning them!

Overall, I am going to rate Don’t Let Him In with a six and a half out of ten stars. Upon further reflection, I do think attending the talk with Jewell impacted my opinion of this book. That doesn’t take away from the fact that it was a great story, though, and I would still highly recommend giving it a shot!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul27

Lil Red’s Book Club: Fresh Off The Boat By Eddie Huang Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Fresh Off The Boat By Eddie Huang Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a memoir by Eddie Huang called Fresh Off The Boat. A memoir is a far cry from the fast paced thrillers that I normally read. However, Fresh Off The Boat is a book that I have been most eager to sink my teeth into. Johnny and I absolutely love the TV show of the same name and I was so curious to see how accurately the Huang family was portrayed after reading the book. I was SHOOK to find out that the family friendly comedy sitcom took A LOT of liberties lol. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Fresh Off The Boat for child abuse and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Eddie Huang is the eldest son of Jessica and Louis and big bro to Emery and Evan. His parents immigrated from Taiwan and China, respectively, and were Fresh Off The Boat in America trying to create a better life and, of course, make lots and lots of money. Louis found his fortune by opening restaurants in Orlando, Florida and his family joined him there after his businesses began turning a hefty profit. Eddie became the new kid and not just any new kid. A Chinese-American kid and one of the very few in the area.

As Eddie grew up, he struggled to find a place to belong. His parents were not merely strict but abusive and everything about Eddie stuck out like a sore thumb. He was called every slur in the book by his peers, got beat up consistently, found no comfort at home, and turned to hip-hop music as not only his favorite thing but his friend. Eddie was an angry child and couldn’t understand what was so different about him to warrant treatment like that. So he took to using his own words and his fists to keep him from getting hurt.

Eventually, Eddie did make friends but they were constantly getting in trouble. He was in detention on the daily, suspended nonstop, and loved drinking and drugs. However, one fateful conversation with his insanely stern father after his little brother narc-ed on him for drug use helped change his destructive downward spiral. Eddie began actually trying in school, became interested in his roots, and was determined to be a Chinese-American in his own way. Not how his parents want him to be, but how he wants to be.

After graduating high school, Eddie moved on to college and obtained his degrees. The problem was, he found no passion in the jobs that he could snag with his education. So he made a list of jobs that he wanted to have instead. Some of them were far fetched. Some of them were achievable and that was all the encouragement he needed to dive in. Eddie found solid footing as a stand up comedian but he wasn’t up to telling the same jokes night after night after night. After ditching comedy, Eddie turned to a new goal on his list: Open a restaurant.

Not only did Eddie love to eat, but he had a true love of cooking too. Everyone in his family was an excellent cook and all his life, he watched and learned. Eddie knew what he wanted in his own restaurant: A place where people could come to kick it and enjoy Chinese-Taiwanese food with sustainable ingredients and an affordable price. Thus, Baohaus was born on the Lower East Side of New York… The rest? You’re just going to have to read for yourself!

Holy WOW was Fresh Off The Boat a fun, occasionally heartbreaking, consistently hilarious, and inspiring read. As an avid fan of the TV show, I was expecting a lot of similarities between that and the book. While there were a fair amount of things that the show got right, the book turned what I thought I knew about the Huang family on its head. They weren’t a picture perfect family at all. Rather, a family that fought, hurt each other, and never had those classic heartwarming sitcom moments in the slightest. All the while, Eddie was in the middle just trying to find his own way.

I absolutely loved the way that Eddie wrote this book because it is written exactly how he speaks. It’s not perfect and that’s okay. What it is is real. A real person speaking about his real experiences as no one but himself. And who Eddie is is a driven, creative, talented, and damned funny to boot dude. There were countless instances as I read Fresh Off The Boat where I wasn’t just laughing out loud but cackling lol. Eddie told his own story in his own style and wasn’t afraid to make jokes at his own expense or anyone’s expense for that matter. For all of his shit talking, Eddie has a lot of heart and will inspire anyone, no matter where they’re from, to make their own way too.

Overall, I am going to rate Fresh Off The Boat with an eight out of ten stars. I really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to digging into his other book, Double Cup Love, next!

What are you currently reading? Do you have a favorite memoir? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Doorman By Chris Pavone Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Doorman By Chris Pavone Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a novel of suspense called The Doorman by Chris Pavone. I read Pavone’s most well known book, Two Nights In Lisbon, about three years ago and it received a lackluster review and star rating. Unfortunately, The Doorman did nothing for me either and will be following suit. This will definitely be the last book I read by this author but let’s chat about it anyways! Before we begin, I will be putting a trigger warning on The Doorman for general violence and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

The Bohemia apartments in New York City are home to the richest of the rich. People so rich that money means nothing to them. It is home to award winners, celebrities, CEOs, and anyone that falls under the category of the “one percent”. Of course, even people with an endless supply of cash have problems and secrets too. They just have the means to cover it up.

In the most expensive suite of the Bohemia, we have Emily and Whit Longworth and their two small children. Whit made his fortune in military equipment and provides supplies for both the good and the bad. Emily has a passion for art, but put a lot of her own self aside to become the definition of “stay at home mom”. Now, she handles PTA meetings, board meetings for places she donates to, and managing the staff that keeps her luxury penthouse pristine. Oh yeah, she also hates her husband’s guts.

A far more modest apartment in the Bohemia is Julian, his wife Jennifer, and their two teenage children. Jules is co founder of an art gallery and has even provided pieces for the Longworth’s suite. He is a freshly turned fifty year old man who lives life as simply as possible and with as little strain as possible too. Julian has a heart valve condition that could kill him instantaneously should he push himself too much. The thing is, he can’t afford the live saving surgery and he might not be able to save his marriage either. Julian and Jennifer’s relationship has come to a standstill and with his own mortality on the line, Jules decides to live dangerously. An affair can’t cause his heart to get any worse, can it?

Finally, we have Chicky. Chicky isn’t a resident at the Bohemia but a doorman to the residents. He sees all, he hears all, and spends his days manning the gates with a huge smile plastered on his face. For as happy as Chicky’s demeanor is, he has his own problems. Chicky is in debt. We’re talking debt debt from hospital bills for his late wife, back rent, and his children’s education. He is on the verge of eviction and the loan shark who he turned to is not waiting patiently for his money back. Chicky’s life is on the line every day and nothing can be done unless he gets a small fortune and fast. An amount that a resident at the Bohemia wouldn’t even miss.

As the stories of our three key players interweave, big changes are in store for all of them and our final character: New York City, itself. Black men are being murdered by the police and the long overdue revolution has finally taken to the streets. On the night of the biggest protest yet, militia style counter protesters arrive. What started out as a safe and peaceful protest has turned to violence as the counter protestors spew their hatred and wield weapons. In their own way, Emily, Jules, and Chicky are all in the thick of the protest and everything will change tonight. For the better? Read The Doorman to find out! Or don’t!!!!!!!

From start to finish, I was ready for The Doorman to be over lol but I powered through. Similarly to my review of Two Nights In Lisbon, I quite liked the story line of The Doorman. Once again, however, my main issue came from Chris Pavone’s writing. The Doorman read like a book that was specifically made for people who live in New York City. It was constantly bogged down with sprawling litanies of different locations both well known and obscure, restaurants, and an endless array of street names. It turned what could have been a relatively straight forward read into something convoluted and generally uninteresting if you are like me and had NO idea about anything or any place Pavone was writing about.

Not only did Pavone name drop every single location that ever existed in NYC, he was just name dropping willy nilly. There were SO many characters that just popped in with no introduction or explanation and if he did finally get around to it, the minor characters in question had already been forgotten. These unimportant additions took away from the key players themselves who all felt close to a cohesive whole but not there yet. At the blessed end of the book, I didn’t feel any type of way about anyone except Whit and not in the good way because he actively sucked. I refuse to not finish anything that I start reading and it was such a happy moment when I could shut The Doorman for good!

Overall, I am going to rate The Doorman with a three out of ten stars. Two lower than Two Nights In Lisbon. I absolutely would NOT recommend this book so skip on it for sure and use your summer reading time to dive into something you really enjoy!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul16

Lil Red’s Book Club: Knock Knock By Anders Roslund Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Knock Knock By Anders Roslund Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a Swedish mystery thriller called Knock Knock by Anders Roslund. Unbeknownst to me, this book is actually the newest edition of a series following a curmudgeon of a Detective Superintendent named Ewert Grens. Although a few nods to past books were scattered throughout Knock Knock, it didn’t alter the overall story line and was still a great read. In fact, I think I’ll go back and read the rest of the series! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Knock Knock for graphic violence and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Ewert Grens has worked in the Homicide Unit for a long time and is getting close to his retirement. There is one case, however, that has still haunted him for close to two decades: An entire family murdered, minus one little girl safely hidden away. He rescued her from the crime scene three days later, took care of her, and was able to get her a new identity and placement with a new family. The case went cold quickly but he often wonders about that little girl. Where is she? How is she? What is she like now? Then, as if out of nowhere, her case resurfaces again. A break in occurs at the home where the crime took place and potential suspects from seventeen years prior end up murdered in the exact same fashion as the girl’s deceased family.

Piet Hoffmann, too, works with the police but in a completely different fashion. He isn’t a cop or a detective, he is an infiltrator specializing in organized crime. Piet has been an invaluable resource to the Swedish police and has ended countless smuggling rings of drugs, weapons, and people. Now, he has retired from his old life and is the definition of a family man to his wife and three small children. Sometimes, Piet muses about going back to his old life for a quick job or two but never acts on it. Until now.

On a lovely afternoon, Piet discovers that his young son is playing with a new toy that he found in the mailbox. It looked like a toy, played like a toy but was merely a hand grenade designed as one. In the package addressed for his sons, he finds a note with five damning typewritten words: “We know who you are.” Someone out there knows that code name Paula is Piet and plans on using that to their advantage. Through phone calls from an altered voice, Piet is given a new mission. Retrieve a cache of the most powerful machine guns known to man or your family dies.

Long ago, Detective Grens formed a fondness for Piet’s family and is one of the few men that Piet somewhat trusts. He knows he needs the resources of the police to turn the mission he has been given on its head. His family will survive, the guns will not fall in the wrong hands, and the organization will be taken down. As the former enemies (according to Knock Knock’s reference of past books) delve deeper into the cases, realization dawns that they are connected and time is running out. Will the old detective finally be able to resolve the case that evaded him all these years? Will Piet’s family make it out alive? Read Knock Knock to find out!

Outside of the very first chapter, Knock Knock started at an excruciatingly slow pace. It wasn’t that I was entering into a series that already had four previous books. There was just So. Much. Information. to set the scene and things didn’t really start picking up until around page one hundred fifty. I trudged through and am glad I did because when the book shifted, it turned into nonstop action, jaw dropping revelations, and twists and turns that continued until the very last page. Knock Knock was four hundred and forty pages long and once that turning point hit, I devoured the rest in two sittings.

Although I had just been newly introduced to Grens and Hoffmann, it felt like I had known them for forever. They were both so likeable in their own ways. Grens was cranky, set in his ways, and kept the soft spot he had for his dear ones well hidden. Hoffmann was like an action movie star – smooth, contained, and a master of every weapon imaginable while still maintaining his role as a father the best he could. It was the classic scenario of an old cop having a begrudging relationship with someone who can’t be told a damn thing and it worked so well.

It was so easy to grow fond for a majority of the characters in Knock Knock and it made for such a palpable sense of urgency as it twisted to the nitty gritty. Time was a major factor in this book and the countdown had me panicking. There was so much up in the air, so much room for error, and devastating consequences should the slightest thing go wrong. As I read, there were countless times when I found myself holding my breath and it was an absolutely gripping read once the pace picked up.

Overall, I am going to rate Knock Knock with a six and a half out of ten stars. Would I have liked it more had I read the other Ewert Grens novels? Who’s to say? I would have rated it higher had it not started out so freaking slow!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun12

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Missing Half By Ashley Flowers Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Missing Half By Ashley Flowers Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a new thriller by Ashley Flowers (Which sounds like a made up name) called The Missing Half. This book was an insanely fast read and I finished it in a matter of a few sittings. The jury is still out on if I liked it or not, though. It wasn’t bad, just very average. It was, however, way better than my last Book Club read by Freida McFadden so that’s a plus! Before we get started, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Missing Half for disturbing content, violence, sexual assault, and addiction. Now, let’s get to it:

Nic’s beloved older sister, Kasey, went missing seven years ago and it still feels like just yesterday. Nic lives in a perpetual state of miserable limbo – She is a struggling alcoholic with a fresh DUI charge, she works a crappy job that she is able to hold down because the boss is a family friend who feels bad for her, and she is estranged from all family and friends. Her days are spent avoiding thinking about her sister at all costs, until she is forced to by a stranger who came to her work. She says her name is Jenna, her sister Jules went missing shortly before Kasey, and she thinks they can solve the cases together. Who knows their sisters better than their own sisters?

At first, this is the last thing that Nic would ever do let alone think of. But, the possibility of finding answers for herself, Jenna, and their sisters proves to be too intoxicating. And, even if the subject matter is difficult, she is beginning to find a friend in Jenna – something she lacks desperately. The girls begin meeting up and going through each of their sister’s lives with a fine toothed comb and they are looking for anything that can connect the two of them. Who did they hang out with? Were there any boyfriends? Were they acting strangely before they went missing?

As Nic and Jenna dive deeper, they find that there is a huge connection that the police missed. Jules and Kasey worked next door to each other. Jules in a restaurant and Kasey in the record store beside it. While their paths may not have crossed, the manager of the restaurant was well aware of both girls and any other pretty young thing that walks by. With their first true suspect, Nic and Jenna put on their best detective hats but discover more than what they ever could have imagined.

Both Nic and Jenna prided themselves on being best friends with their sisters. They believed that there were no secrets between them as they could deal with anything together. Both Kasey and Jules were hiding something major from their sisters and Nic and Jenna know they are getting close to cracking this cold case once and for all. Someone doesn’t like what they are doing one bit and is doing everything in their power to get them to stop their investigation. Will they solve the case of their missing sisters? Or will it forever remain a mystery? Read The Missing Half to find out!

I quite liked the plot of The Missing Half and it almost felt like reading a true crime documentary on Netflix: Two sisters solving the cold case of their missing sisters. Ashley Flowers was able to invoke a great sense of urgency in her writing and it kept me turning the pages. Despite reading ravenously, I was left feeling wishy-washy about this book. The ticking time clock of the task at hand was so prominent that it didn’t leave a lot of room for character development. I felt no connection to Nic or Jenna. Of course, I was rooting for them to succeed but there wasn’t anything special about them. The picture painted of their sisters was crystal clear and this made Nic and Jenna seem more like secondary characters rather than the two leads. So, when the book was done, all I could say was “huh”.

Regardless of if the book is lackluster or not, I love being a detective while I read and, for the most part, I am very good at predicting the end result well before it happens. In the case of The Missing Half, however, I was so completely wrong when it came to the grand reveal and it really threw me for a loop. It also made me so frustrated because it was a notion I actually toyed with, but thought it to be too implausible and didn’t give it a second thought. The only thing I will say is that this book is Red Herring central so be sure to read it with a discerning eye!

Overall, I am going to rate The Missing Half with a four and a half out of five stars. I wouldn’t call it good or bad, just very okay. It is a quick read if you choose to give it a go and I’ll be curious to see what you think!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Tenant By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Tenant By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing Freida McFadden’s newest book called The Tenant. I have a love/hate relationship with McFadden’s books. I absolutely loved The Housemaid series, however, the other books I have read by her definitely did not meet my expectations. Unfortunately, The Tenant was another instance of that and fell under my usual critique of McFadden – “good but not great”. Before we begin our Book Club meeting, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Tenant for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Blake and Krista are newly engaged and happy as can be. They live in a charming brownstown in New York City and Blake has just accepted a hotshot new position as VP of Marketing at the company he works for. Everything is going picture perfect, until Blake’s world comes crashing down. Shortly after settling into his fancy new office, Blake is fired for selling the company’s marketing campaigns. This is an offense that Blake isn’t even aware he made and has no idea what his boss is talking about. He feels confident that this was all some kind of misunderstanding and will have his job back before the week is out.

That week turns into months of unemployment and Blake and Krista are barely scraping by as Krista’s wages at a laundromat pale in comparison to their mortgage. If they don’t get their money problem solved ASAP, they will be on the streets and Blake finally agrees to Krista’s big idea: Have a tenant move in to help with bills. As they go about the interviewing process, every candidate is borderline crazy and they are ready to give up. Blessedly, Whitney shows up for her interview and is… normal. She’s pretty, has great references, and had her first and last month’s rent ready to go. They were sold.

The first week or so with Whitney goes swimmingly and Blake even has a new temp gig. Embarrassing, yes, but every little bit from the paycheck helps. Then, little things start to happen at the brownstone that never occurred before Whitney moved in. There are loud noises all throughout the night, the kitchen is filled with fruit flies, and Blake breaks into an inexplicable and painful rash. With no other plausible explanation, Blake blames Whitney wholeheartedly and is convinced that she is not who she says she is.

As more and more offenses against Whitney tally up and become even more disturbing, Blake quickly descends into a paranoid state. He can’t trust anyone and barely trusts himself as he repeats the claims in his head. All he knows is that he and Krista don’t know Whitney at all and she could be dangerous. In fact, she could be the reason Blake lost his cushy new job in the first place. But, is she? Or does Blake have his sights set on the wrong person entirely? Read The Tenant to find out!!

Let me start off by saying that I really liked the general story line of The Tenant. Happy couple, hard times, a stranger moves in, and the shit hits the fan. It really is a perfect combination and fits Johnny’s description of “LifeTime movie books” to the T lol. I just wish I liked the book more!! The tension that was building in the brownstone was delicious, a little slow moving at times, but my interest was piqued. Then, the twist happened, which I saw coming from a mile away but it just felt… random. It felt like a lot of build up for a twist that didn’t necessarily need to happen but simply was put there for shock value. This is actually a complaint that I have had with past McFadden books as well, like the plot changed fully on a dime and it wasn’t thought through completely.

On top of feeling wishy washy about The Tenant as a whole, none of the characters were particularly likeable. This book was told from Blake’s point of view and it was interesting to read a LifeTime movie book from the male perspective. BUT, Blake was a major a-hole and it was hard to feel sympathetic for him in the entirety of the read. Once my sympathy ran out, I was ready for The Tenant to be done because it was the only saving grace that the main character had. I can’t say that I felt strongly in favor of any of the characters and that’s not a good thing as I want to feel that connection when I read. The Tenant definitely missed the mark big time.

Overall, I am going to rate The Tenant with a three out of ten stars. If you are a diehard Freida McFadden fan, I am sure you will give it a read anyways. You are not missing out on anything if you don’t, though!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr29

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Maid’s Secret By Nita Prose Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Maid’s Secret By Nita Prose Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a book that simply delighted me from start to finish: The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose. This is the third installment in The Maid series and if you are like me, you fell head over heels for the unlikely heroine, Molly, and a cast of supporting characters that can’t be beat. Like its predecessors, The Maid’s Secret welcomes us back to the Regency Grand Hotel for Molly the Maid’s biggest mystery yet. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Maid’s Secret for physical abuse and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

It’s a big day for Molly and her beloved fiance, Juan Manuel. The Regency Grand is hosting a live taping of the hit show, Hidden Treasures. The Hidden Treasures! Hosted by the adoring couple, Baxley Brown and Thomas Beagle, the two art aficionados uncover lost art and heirlooms in the most unexpected places and shed light on hidden masterpieces. The hotel is abuzz with excitement from VIP guests and the staff alike because they will be able to get their trinkets and special items appraised too. Before leaving their humble apartment, Molly assembles a box from her dearest gran’s curio cabinet with prized possessions. And, at Juan’s insistence, she brings the “golden huevo” an unspeakably beautiful treasure that fell into Molly’s hands at a manor her gran once worked at as a maid.

With the treasure box in tow, Molly and Juan walk to work and into the hustle and bustle of the big event. After last minute preparations are done to perfection, the staff waits in line to meet Baxley and Brown to see if the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” rings true. Before she knows it, it’s Molly’s turn to grace the stage and show the hosts what she brought. Her gran’s teacup and silver spoon that contained priceless sentimental value holds no monetary gain. However, the “golden huevo” catches the eyes of Baxley and Brown. This is no ordinary piece of decor at all: It is the original prototype made from the House of Faberge. Molly is an instant multimillionaire, promptly faints, and becomes an instant sensation too.

When Molly comes to, she is enveloped in a strange new world. Suddenly, her and Juan are rich beyond their wildest dreams and everyone wants a piece of her. From invisible to overnight celebrity, the doting couple tries to take their change of fortune in stride but it proves to be most difficult. At the end of the day, Molly loves her life with Juan Manuel and wants everything to return to normal ASAP. With the hopes of never having to penny pinch again and for her newfound celebrity to die down, Molly agrees to auction off her treasured treasure. The auction will take place at the Regency Grand and when it is over, Molly and Juan will be able to afford their dream wedding, a new apartment, and anything and everything they could ever want.

We return to the tearoom of the Regency Grand where everyone is on pins and needles for the auction’s end result. To Molly’s utter surprise, the lost Faberge is sold for a cool ten million smackers. The lights dim, the crowd goes wild, and when the room is illuminated once again there is one thing missing. The egg! The Faberge was stolen right beneath everyone’s noses and is yet again lost to the world. The only clue? A threat to Molly written on a piece of paper: Find the egg and you die.

Just like that, the buzz on Molly the Maid comes to a screeching halt. No Faberge and no money, but on the bright side – her and Juan get to live their normal life together. That is, until the egg has been returned. The investigation is in full swing once again and it is up to Molly and her companions to solve the case: Her dear granddad, true crime obsessed Angela, Detective Stark, and support from the person she needs the most – the words in a journal from her beloved, departed gran. Will this unlikely team crack the case of the Faberge? Read The Maid’s Secret to find out!

Holy WOW was the third installment of The Maid series amazing. In fact, The Maid’s Secret is my favorite one yet! This book went back and forth between the journal of gran and Molly’s latest adventure and I could not stop reading if you paid me. The multiple narrator format is something I am most fond of and it was incredible to be reunited with gran. She has always been with Molly, but to read her words and hear her story that she kept hidden for so long allowed the series to shine in a brand new light. All of the fairy tales and fables that gran would instill in Molly turned out to have a deeper meaning than you could ever imagine and it was absolutely beautiful to read.

Of course, it was also incredible to be reunited with Molly! Her character is a gift to the literary world and between all of her quirks and darling phrases, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t instantly fall in love with her. She is the girl you want to root for and see win and everyone in her close circle feels the same way. To have a supporting cast that wants nothing but the best for Molly, just like me, is a rarity in the books I typically read and my heart was bursting with every turn of the page. The true beauty of Molly is that even, in her words, the “bad eggs” have a chance to redeem themselves and that is such an important lesson in and of itself. Molly is a heroine that will encourage, teach, and stay with you and The Maid’s Secret has further solidified her as one of my all time favorite characters.

I am going to award The Maid’s Secret with the coveted ten out of ten stars. If you, too, are a fan of the series: RUN don’t walk to read this book!

Who is your favorite literary character? What is your favorite book in The Maid trilogy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah