Reviews: ANXIOUS PEOPLE & ONE BY ONE
One of the things I’ve been very grateful for during this pandemic is that I’ve had no shortage of excellent review books to read. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two more of those fantastic reads, both from two of my favorite authors. This is my fourth book from each of them and they have yet to let me down.
Anxious People Goodreads Author: Fredrik Backman
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Publisher: Atria Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
What I always enjoy about Fredrik Backman’s novels is that they are so unique. Filled with quirky characters and thought-provoking life lessons presented in the most original and fresh ways, I always know I’m in for a treat when I pick up one of his books. Backman’s latest novel, Anxious People, is no exception
I knew Anxious People was going to be a quirky delightful read from the opening paragraphs. “This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.” I was chuckling to myself from the moment I read that line and couldn’t wait to see what kind of an adventure he was taking me on. And let me tell you, it’s a wild ride. On its surface, this is a story about a bank robbery that goes wrong which collides with an apartment viewing gone wrong, which ultimately becomes an almost absurdly comical hostage situation, which somehow ends with the bank robber/hostage taker disappearing right out from under the noses of the police officers assigned to the case. The bulk of the story focuses on the police attempting to get statements from the hostages, which is presented alongside the story of the bank robber, including what led them to decide to rob a bank all the way up to the moment the robber disappears.
One of Backman’s greatest gifts as a writer is his ability to create well-drawn, complex, multi-layered characters. Even though every witness the police interrogates starts out as just someone who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, by the end, each of them has a pretty fleshed-out story of their own within the overall story. We get a glimpse of the inner demons each of them is battling and it just makes them all feel so real. I also love the dynamic we are given with the two police officers assigned to the case. They are actually father and son, and there’s a lot going on there between the two of them.
Backman also has a gift for writing stories that engage all my emotions. With Anxious People, I laughed my way through the police interrogations, especially when it seemed that the witnesses either were, in fact, idiots, or they were being deliberately difficult and evasive. It truly must have been the most maddening investigation those poor police officers had ever experienced! But then as the story developed and I got to know the various characters better and learned about their lives and struggles, including the bank robber, I found myself growing more and more attached to each of them and invested in their stories, to the point that I was in tears by the time I reached the end, which actually surprised me with how incredibly moving it was.
If you’re already a fan of Backman’s, I think you’ll love Anxious People. And if you’ve never tried his books before but enjoy stories that are equally funny and moving, and are filled with quirky well-drawn characters, Anxious People should be on your reading list. 4 STARS
One by One Goodreads Author: Ruth Ware
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Ruth Ware is one of my go-to authors when I’m in the mood for a suspenseful thriller and she did not disappoint with her latest novel, One By One. The story is set in France in a rustic mountain ski chalet and follows a group of employees who are there for a company retreat. Tragedy strikes when weather conditions unexpectedly deteriorate while this group is out skiing and one of their company’s founders goes missing. Conditions continue to deteriorate and an avalanche hits, burying the ski chalet, turning what was a picture perfect setting into a potentially deadly one, especially when one by one, they start turning up dead. It’s the ultimate locked-room mystery as the killer has to be one of them since they’re trapped in the chalet and cut off from the rest of the world.
I do have to admit that One By One started off a little slow for me in spite of the promise of an exciting suspenseful read. I got a little bogged down as the employees arrived at the chalet and we get an in-depth rundown of their company, which is called Snoop, and is the latest and greatest in music-based social media apps. It’s designed to allow members to “spy” on what music other members are listening to. The premise is that if Beyonce, for example, is on Snoop, you can snoop what she’s listening to and listen to the same thing at the same time. That’s the basic description but the book goes into a lot more detail that I felt wasn’t really necessary. Once that was out of the way, thankfully the story picks up very quickly.
The dynamics between the group of employees, and even one former employee who was invited fascinated me. One of the reasons they were having this retreat was to discuss an offer of a buyout they had received. It’s a buyout that could make them all very rich, but it becomes clear immediately that there are factions within the group. Some want the buyout, while others are adamantly against it. I was busy watching these characters as the story progressed, trying to figure out who had the most motive to start offing their colleagues and trying to figure out what the motivation was anyway. Was it the money? Or was it something more personal since, after all, there’s a former employee with them who may have an ax to grind?
Like an avalanche itself, One By One builds momentum quickly and becomes filled with tension and suspense as the story shifts into a full-on survival story. Ware had me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out who the killer might be. Several times I thought I had it figured out, only to have my suspect end up being the next one to die. And then of course, there’s the missing company founder. Is she dead? If so, was it really an accident or is it somehow tied to the murders?
I don’t want to give anything away, so I’m going to stop now, but if you enjoy suspenseful thrillers, locked-door mysteries, and survival stories, give Ruth Ware’s One By One a try. 4 STARS
Top Ten Tuesday – Books for My Younger Self
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is Books for My Younger Self (These could be books you wish you had read as a child, books younger you could have really learned something from, books that meshed with your hobbies/interests, books that could have helped you go through events/changes in your life, etc.).
I decided to go the “books that could have helped you go through events/changes in your life” route because when I thought about the topic, it immediately started making me think back to some tough times I went through when I was growing up. I’ve been an introvert all my life, but when I was growing up, I was also just flat out painfully shy and it was hard to make friends. I also went through a period, right around the time my parents were fighting and ultimately divorced, where I was terrified of being abandoned. I used to have nightmares about it and ended up seeing a counselor about it for a while. I was always afraid, stressed out, and anxious about the state of my life. Thankfully I moved past that stage pretty quickly, but to this day, I’m still shy and struggle to open up and make friends. The books I’ve listed below are books I think could have helped me better deal with certain stresses in my earlier life, or at least know that I wasn’t alone in my struggles, and also just escape from the stress of it all.
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Top Ten Tuesday: Books for My Younger Self
(in no particular order)
I think Fangirl would have helped me know I wasn’t alone when it comes to social anxiety. Plus it shows a huge positive in that even if you move away to go to college and leave all of your friends behind, it is possible to find a new friend group and fit in just fine. That message would have helped me tremendously.
ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS by Francesca Zappia
Similar to Fangirl, I think this book would have helped me know I wasn’t alone in what I was going through.
I wish this book had been around when I was growing up because I think Willowdean is such a great role model for girls. I think she would have given me a much needed boost of confidence.
THE HARRY POTTER SERIES by J.K. Rowling
I wish this series had been around when I was growing up 1) because of Hermione. I think seeing that a total brainiac could also be a badass would have done wonders for me, 2) again another positive example about how you can go away to school and become almost a “found family” with your schoolmates, and finally 3), what an amazing escape from reality this series would have been for me. As much as I adored it as an adult, I can only imagine how much more it would have blown away my younger self.
THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS SERIES by Cassandra Clare
I would have loved this series both for Clary as a strong female heroine and for the ultimate escape from reality. As you can tell, I was obviously lacking YA fantasy series growing up. Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were pretty much all I had.
THRONE OF GLASS SERIES by Sarah J. Maas
Another fantastic escape from reality with a totally badass heroine who also loves to read. Celeana’s ability to make it through anything would have been a great motivator for me when I was struggling.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU by Laura Silverman
One of the subplots of this YA contemporary is that the main character’s parents are fighting and seem to be on the verge of divorce. I think a book like this would have been so helpful for me to know I wasn’t alone in the sense of being caught in the middle and not knowing what to do.
SIX OF CROWS DUOLOGY by Leigh Bardugo
There’s lots to love about this series but it makes my list today because of Kaz and his team and that “found family” vibe they have, especially the further into the series we go. I love the idea that no matter how mismatched a group of people may seem, they can still bond and look out for each other. I would have loved that reassurance when I was leaving home for college for the first time.
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky
I don’t think this book would have cheered me up or provided me with an escape when I was growing up, but I do think it would help me to understand some of what I was experiencing and that I wasn’t alone in feeling the way I did.
THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED by Becky Albertalli
Honestly, I would have loved to have all of Becky Albertalli’s books in my life growing up, just because they always leave me with a smile on my face. This one just really stands out to me since the main character is specifically dealing with anxiety and fears of rejection. I identified strongly with Molly reading this book as an adult and it think it would have been an even more powerful read for me as a teen.
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Have you read any of these? What books would have helped you if they had been around when you were growing up?
Reviews: September Book Releases That Should Be on Your Reading List
Happy September everyone! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on some great books that you’re going to want to add to your reading list. If you enjoy historical romance, YA fantasy, and/or YA contemporary, you’re going to want to check these out.
Recommended for You Goodreads Author: Laura Silverman
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Laura Silverman’s new novel Recommended For You is an absolute delight. I was in love with it from the moment I saw that adorable cover and my love only grew as I started reading. The story is set at Once Upon, a popular Indie bookstore, over the holiday season and follows Shoshanna Greenberg, a Jewish teen and veteran bookseller at Once Upon. When we meet Shoshanna, it becomes clear right away that she views the bookstore as her home away from home and her escape from the stress in her life. It also becomes clear that Shoshanna is dealing with some pretty major stress: 1) there are money issues and her car is on its last legs, and 2) there is a tension between her mothers that she has never seen before and she’s worried they may split up. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel with respect to her car when her boss announces a holiday contest – whoever sells the most books will receive a cash bonus. Shoshanna is stoked because she knows she can outsell everyone…that is, until Once Upon’s newest employee, Jake Kaplan arrives on the scene and throws a kink into Shoshanna’s plans. Shoshanna can’t stand Jake from the moment she meets him and the tension mounts the more they try to outsell each other. Who will be the last bookseller standing?
I really adored both Shoshanna and Jake. Shoshanna is a messy and flawed character who often acts without thinking. Even with her flaws though, she’s still completely lovable because she has such a huge heart. Nearly every impulsive thing she does is because she’s trying to help someone she cares about. Even though she sometimes does more harm than good, her heart is always in the right place. One of my favorite parts about Recommended For You was watching Shoshanna learn and grow as a person when she has to deal with the fallout from some of her more impulsive moves. It’s a very personal journey for her. Jake is also just an adorable character. Even though Shoshanna wants to hate him because he’s not even a reader and he’s standing between her and that cash bonus, he still manages to eventually win her over. Since Recommended For You is being advertised as a rom-com, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say there’s an enemies/rivals to friends/more than friends vibe going on between Shoshanna and Jake. I think the coming of age aspect of the book takes center stage over the romantic vibes, but it’s definitely still there as the sparks and witty barbs fly between these two competitive booksellers.
Recommended For You is a fun and heartwarming read about love, friendship, and personal growth. Everything Shoshanna goes through kept me fully invested in her journey, and the adrenaline rush of the book competition kept me fully entertained and chuckling to myself as I was reading. If you love coming of age stories with a side of romance and family drama, and of course Indie bookstores, Laura Silverman’s Recommended for You is the book you’re looking for. 4 STARS
A Rogue of One's Own (A League of Extraordinary Women, #2) Goodreads Author: Evie Dunmore
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
In the past I haven’t been much of a Historical Romance reader. Last year I decided to give Evie Dunmore’s A League of Extraordinary Women series a try because I loved that it centered on the women’s suffrage movement. I ended up pleasantly surprised by the first book and so was eager to get my hands on the latest offering from the series, A Rogue of One’s Own. I’m thrilled to say that as much as I enjoyed the first book, this new book is even better! It was just so much fun to visit again with this merry band of feminists and see what they’re up to.
This time the story focuses on Lucie, the leader of the group, and Lucie is on a mission. She is trying to secure controlling interest in a major publishing company because to do so would make it all the easier for her group to push forward with their feminist agenda. It’s unheard of for a woman to control a publishing house, but Lucie could give a flying fig for what’s heard of or unheard of. There’s just one unexpected obstacle standing in her way…the handsome Lord Tristan Ballentine who has, unbeknownst to her, just purchased 50% ownership of the publishing company in question. The situation is made all the more complicated by the fact that Lucie and Tristan have a history, specifically, Lucie has loathed Tristan since she was a child and he used to spend his summers at her home, making her life miserable at every turn. How will she possibly manage to wrestle publishing control over a man who lives to torment her? Yep, you guessed it; it’s an enemies to lovers story, my favorite!
As much as I enjoyed Annabelle in the first book, it’s Lucie that has really captured my heart. I just love her determination and grit and the fact that she’s doing everything she’s doing for the women’s movement in spite of the fact that her family has cast her off and refuses to have anything to do with her. I love a scrappy underdog and Lucie fits the bill. Tristan is a fantastic character as well. I love that he’s a bit of a rogue, but that there’s also a lot more to him than first meets the eye. He’s used to having ladies practically swoon at his feet, so it’s hilarious to watch him try to win Lucie over knowing that she can’t stand him. The battle of wills between the two of them as they each try to secure what they want, all the while fighting their obvious attraction to one another, is so entertaining!
I will say that there was one moment in the story that gave me pause and it involved a tattoo of a naked dancer that was apparently inspired by a Hindu God. It was on the chest of a white man and while the tattoo itself serves a purpose later in the story, that particular choice of tattoo felt unnecessary and potentially offensive. It didn’t ruin my overall enjoyment of the book, but since this is an honest review, I wanted to mention it.
I don’t want to give anything else away so I’m going to stop here and will just say that if you’re into fun, steamy stories with characters who are passionate and full of heart, you’ll want to check out A Rogue of One’s Own. 4 STARS
Fable (Fable, #1) Goodreads Author: Adrienne Young
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Fable, the first book in Adrienne Young’s YA fantasy duology of the same name, is my third read from this author and I swear her writing and storytelling just keeps getting better and better. Seventeen-year-old Fable is the daughter of a powerful sea trader. She hasn’t seen her father in four years, not since he abandoned her on a remote island after their ship sank during a terrible storm and her mother drowned. Since being left on this island to fend for herself, Fable has worked as a dredger, locating gems at the bottom of the sea, and trading them for coin. Her goal is simple: to earn enough coin to purchase passage off the island so that she can then track down and confront her father. Fable’s plans get turned upside down, however, when she runs into unexpected trouble and needs to get off the island sooner than planned. She begs a young man named West, her primary buyer, to take her on as a passenger. Even though no one from his crew wants her on board, West reluctantly agrees to help take her to where she thinks her father is. Fable has no idea what kind of danger she’s getting herself into though, as nothing and no one, including West or her father, is what it seems.
Fable is such a fantastic character. I love how strong and resilient she is, and how she refuses to take no for an answer. Most thirteen-year-olds dumped on an island to fend for themselves would probably have died, so the fact that she survived and managed to secure some semblance of a living for herself says a lot about her character. Fable also possesses a rare gift that was fascinating to read about. Somehow she is able to actually hear gems when she’s near them. It’s this gift that made her so successful as a dredger and it’s also something she needs to keep hidden. If any of the other roguish traders out there knew she could do this, it would put a target on her back. Aside from Fable, I also really enjoyed West and his crew. There’s a bit of a ‘found family’ vibe there as they grow to slowly accept Fable’s presence among them.
Aside from great characters, I also thought the worldbuilding was fantastic. I loved the descriptions of the sea, beautiful and serene one moment, dark and deadly the next. Young paints an incredibly vivid and realistic portrait of this dangerous environment Fable’s father has thrust her into. Not only is the sea itself dangerous, but practically everyone around her is a dangerous scoundrel as well.
Fable is a story that is beautifully written on every level. The characters are all so well-drawn and complex, and the story itself is fast-paced and action-packed. I breezed through it in a day and immediately wanted to get my hands on the second book because this one ends with a major surprise and I just have to know what happens next.
If stories about the sea that feature scrappy resilient heroines, found families, and a hint of magic appeal to you, definitely check out Adrienne Young’s latest novel, Fable. You won’t be disappointed. 4.5 STARS