The House Girl by Tara Conklin

The House Girl by Tara Conklin

⭐⭐⭐

I love the premise of this book. I love the writing and the characters. I was engaged and hungry for more from beginning to end. However, that's also the downfall for me. I wanted more from the characters and their stories and in the end, I just didn't get it. 

I would have rather seen two novels with more character depth than the one that only scraped their surfaces. 

Disappointed that I didn't get more from the book but I enjoyed it enough to both finish it and review it. 

Genre:

Historical Fiction

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I haven't read a story before about anyone with the same heart condition as me. I was instantly interested in Effie's story after I learned that. VSD, the heart condition we share, was not operable or curable in Effie's time and the corrective surgery was very new when I had it in 1990. It was an experience that was almost mine in that regard. 

The book at it's center is about two close knit sisters and their family. Effie, the youngest, is coddled a bit by her parents because of her heart defect that often leads to "blue fits" that put Effie into an almost cardiac arrest type event. Luella is the oldest, outspoken and headstrong, a bit rebellious. They find a Romanian camp near their house and begin visiting regularly. Luella is infatuated with the Gypsy lifestyle and one night leaves home to travel with them. The girls' parents decide against telling Effie fearing that her sister and best friend leaving her will cause a dangerous blue fit. Effie believes her father sent Luella away to the House of Mercy, a home for wayward girls, because of his own infidelity that Luella both knew about and was threatening to tell about.

Effie gets herself secretly committed to the House of Mercy as an act of devotion to her sister. Banking on her parents taking both girls home when they realize that Effie has stowed away there. Effie soon realizes the dangers that await her at the House of Mercy. Not only is Luella not there, but her parents don't know where she's gone. To survive, Effie must beat the odds against the other girls, the Sisters in charge, and her own defective heart.

I loved the time frame, I love that the historical truths in the story, including the Asch building fire that was the biggest tragedy to happen in Manhattan at that time.

I also believe there's a bit of magical realism to this story in the aspect of the gypsies and some of Effie's point of view. I love that it's so subtle it's very much so believable to the story.

Favorite Quotes:
"But life's a blind business, none of us can see up ahead, and none of us would move forward if we could."

"I viewed the world through the small, damaged portal. It was a weakness I sharpened my strength upon."

Genre:

Historical Fiction, Magical Realism

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I personally think this book is inclusive of many people that probably don't find themselves often represented in a book. The main characters are Chloe Brown and Redford Morgan. Chloe has fibromyalgia that triggers other conditions as well. Red is damaged goods from a previous relationship that was abusive. Writing a steamy and romantic book about these two people finding solidarity and love in each other was a fresh idea that was executed very well. 

I keep saying I'm not overly indulgent in romcoms but I keep reading them so maybe I am. Is it cheesy at times? Yes. Do those moments make the story even better? Yes. Is this book also full of depth and previously unexplored territory that left me better for having read? YES. 

I mean, real life includes a man that is not turned off by a medical brace or condition. We NEED that kind of romance. We need to know that we don't have to look like Gigi Hadid to be found sexually attractive. No offense to Gigi, seriously, she's beautiful.

We also need to know that domestic abuse against males is very real. Also, that men can also seek out treatment to be better and still be a man.

I also LOVE the language. Is it vulgar by some standards? Yes but so am I. This book speaks my love language and I almost gave it another star for that alone. 

Also - do Brits really not know what an effing s'more is?!

Favorite Quotes:

"Chloe's family was abnormal in their loyalty and she loved them for it."

"If I die, I die."

"That's how people should behave, they should fill in each other's gaps."

"When she was sick and tired of being sick and tired, she clung to moments like this. The first shower after a flare up."

"You were hurt and you reacted. You were in an unhealthy situation in more ways than one and you panicked and you cleansed everything with fire. Don't dismiss your emotions and your self protection as just a fucked up decision. Don't reduce something so complex and real and important to nothing."

Genre:

Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult