Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bernadette Fox is an architectural genius, MacArthur Grant award winner, and current stay at home mom that lives a bit like a recluse and is just a smidge bitter about it. She lives with her husband, Elgie, who works at “Big Brother” aka Microsoft and is always busy working, and her daughter Bee, who is a 15 year old genius and is set to start at Choate in January and is cashing in all her good grades for a cruise to Antarctica.

Everything goes sideways and Bernadette disappears, leaving everyone wondering where she’s gone and eventually if she’s offed herself. Leaving her daughter Bee as the only one seemingly willing to fight to find her.

An epic fiasco of events unravel that is mapped out between emails, FBI documents, cruise records, doctor’s visits, and even a few handwritten notes, as Bee pieces together where her mom has gone in the aftermath of everything that has happened.

I loved this book. Bernadette was relatable, not because I’m a freaking genius also (I'm not), but because she sacrificed herself for her kid. Determined to have a thriving child, she pushed everything else she loved aside. Even the house they live in, which she planned to redesign completely, she’s left to shambles. The reader comes in at a time that Bee is soon to be off to boarding school, leaving Bernadette more vulnerable than ever. Her husband, a bigger ass than ever, tries to have her committed as opposed to talking to her. I was SO frustrated by Elgie’s behavior and almost quite literally had a cow about.

I laughed so many times at Bernadette’s wit and her nonplussed approach to the mom’s of Gaylor Street. Bee is a lovable character also, there to defend her mom and have her back at a moment’s notice.  There’s a lot of depth for such an extraordinarily funny book. Bernadette is dripping with satire and it’s truly a smart book.

Favorite Quotes:

"Here's something about mom: she's bad with annoyances but great in a crisis. If a waiter doesn't refill her water after she asked three times or she forgets her dark glasses when the sun comes out, LOOK OUT! But when it comes to something truly bad happening, mom plugs into this supreme calm. I'm just saying, when things are bad, there's nobody better to have in your corner than mom."

"Maybe that's what religion is, hurling yourself off a cliff and trusting that something bigger will take care of you and carry you to the right place."

“My heart started racing, not the bad kind of heart racing, like I'm going to die. But the good kind of heart racing, like, Hello, can I help you with something? If not, please step aside because I'm about to kick the shit out of life.” 

 “I felt so full of love for everything. But at the same time, I felt so hung out to dry there, like nobody could ever understand. I felt so alone in this world, and so loved at the same time.”

Genre: 

Fiction, Women's, Humor, Contemporary 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love this story. I love these characters. I now know why this book has won so many awards. It is simply an amazing story from start to finish.

Ari and Dante leave their growing pains on these pages. Trying to piece together who they are, who their parents are and how they fit into a world that defines them as Mexican Americans in the 1980s. Ari cover a lot of ground when it comes to secrets of the universe and really digs deep into himself and his family to find those answers. A journey many teenagers don't have the emotional maturity to take just yet.

Everything about this book was just beautiful. The boys both go through some very painful events and explore the trauma that many around them have also endured and overcome. "Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed." 

 I have two small boys and this book really went to my core. I hope my boys are kind, smart, funny and thinkers like Ari and Dante both. When Dante says "Wanna know a secret? I'm in love with my parents." My heart stilled. The responsibility and respect for their parents while their teenage hearts beat for rebellion was beautiful.

I plan to read this book once a year. To remind myself of the relationship I wish to have with my boys. Ari and his family, Dante and his, will be with me for a very long time.

Also, I listened to the audio version of this book this time around and Lin Manuel Miranda was the narrator. He is the perfect voice for Ari. I also love his Gina.

Favorite Quotes:

  “I came to understand that my father was a careful man. To be careful with people and with words was a rare and beautiful thing.” 

 “And it seemed to me that Dante's face was a map of the world. A world without any darkness."

  “Sometimes, you do things and you do them not because you're thinking but because you're feeling. Because you're feeling too much. And you can't always control the things you do when you're feeling too much.” 

  “Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed.”


Genre:

YA, LGBTQ, Romance, Fiction
 

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story was enchanting. Bright, imaginative characters that really came to life. Their intertwined fates paired with curses and magic really gave the plot it's roots. Sadness and hope braided tightly together through time. 

Simon is gifted a book that appears to be a journal/log for a traveling show. As he resolves the mysteries of the book, he also resolves the mysteries of his family. A generational story that includes a carnival atmosphere, mermaids, fortune tellers and of course, books.

 I only wished the author had spent more time on the "what's next" part for their lives. I suppose being left to my own speculation is all part of the story.

You can read this book at leisure but you'll also find yourself with an itch to see where the next chapter is taking you. If you're expecting a thriller, find a different read. If you're looking for a slow burn that will stay with you long after you read the last page, this is it.

Favorite Quotes:

“We carry our families like anchors, rooting us in storms, making sure we never drift from where and who we are. We carry our families within us the way we carry our breath underwater, keeping us afloat, keeping us alive. I’ve been lifting anchors since I was eighteen. I’ve been holding my breath since before I was born.”

 “Because there are things you do for people you’ve known your whole life. You let them save you, you put them in your books, and you let each other begin again, clean.” 

Genre:

Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Mystery 

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend

by Katarina Bivald

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sara travels from Sweden to Iowa at the persuasion of her pen pal, Amy for a summer holiday. They are a bonded pair over their love of books and simple pleasures in life. Upon arriving in Broken Wheel, Iowa, Sara learns her dear friend Amy has passed away from an extended illness. The townsfolk talk Sara into staying as originally planned at Amy's house and she quickly learns that the people are a small, tight-knit community.

The people of Broken Wheel have ever evolving motives when it comes to Sara's presence in their town. Originally they plan to give her the holiday that Amy had planned to, in honor of her. As Sara processes her loss and vulnerability in a completely foreign territory, she has the idea to open a bookstore filled with all of Amy's books, in her own way of honoring Amy. The townspeople back it, help accommodate Sara in putting it together, even if they think the idea is a dud. However, Amy's store begins to receive foot traffic from the people of Hope, a rival neighboring "snooty" town. This is where the motives of Broken Wheel change, and the book gets it's name. 

The meddling town is full of quirky, funny, forgivable, lovable characters that you find making you smile right from the beginning. A charming story, with the predictable yet highly anticipated ending you were hoping for. The perfect rom-com.

  There's a quote on the cover of the book that absolutely nails my opinion of it:

"One of those books you want to live in for a little while."

Favorite Quotes:

 “People were strange like that. They could be completely uninterested in you, but the moment you picked up a book, you were the one being rude.” 

 “Don’t ever argue with an idiot. They’ll drag you down to their level and then beat you with their experience.” 

 Genre:

Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Women's, Romance

**This book is an excellent one to check off of reading challenges. It is translated from Swedish and it is also a book about books.**

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

 

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 Children of Blood and Bone is an epic fantasy that challenges you to create a new world, with new magic and new rules. This book demanded more of my attention than most because of how new the world of Orïsha, it's language and rules are to me and my own previous knowledge of what defines magic. It was like learning a new meaning to the word.

Zélie lives in Orïsha, a world where magic and her mother was taken away 13 years ago. She lives in constant fear for herself and those like her (the maji and the diviners). Anyone who has been capable of magic is now at risk of becoming indentured to the King, other nobles, or worse, death. 

Zélie saves a young, hooded girl from soldiers only to realize that she is Princess Amari and she has stolen a sacred artifact from her father, King Saran. Upon touching the artifact, Zélie's magic returns, but only a small amount of it.

To return magic in its full capacity to all of Orïsha, Zélie, her brother Tzain and Amari go through hell and back to retrieve two other artifacts that are needed to perform the ritual necessary. Inan, Amari's brother, prince of Orïsha and sworn protector of the crown sets off to stop them and destroy the artifacts at all costs. 

There are many heartbreaking moments that you wish didn't have to happen but ultimately signify the desperation for the return of magic and equal footing for all. They remind the reader what's at stake.

Zélie, Tzain and Amari must make it to the Holy Temple with all three of the sacred artifacts and perfom the ritual at solstice or magic will be lost forever.

Favorite Quotes:

  “I teach you to be warriors in the garden so you will never be gardeners in the war.”

  “They don't hate you, my child. They hate what you were meant to become.”

 

Genre:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction

 

Queenie by Candance Carty-Williams

Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's so much to say about Queenie. I am aware that I will never understand the challenges she faces as a black woman not just in her very white surroundings but her culturally rich Jamaican family. I do understand her childhood trauma, recent adult trauma, depression and anxiety and how those things can make you do dangerous things you're ashamed of before you even do them.

Queenie spent much of the book not seeing her own worth and trying to find it in awful men. With a family dynamic that didn't do a lot of communicating and therefore neither did she, with friends, coworkers and men. 

Throughout all the back slides, Queenie is still someone I admire. I love her ability to still hold on to parts of herself throughout it all. Yes, she slept with that random dude that was too aggressive but she also told that other dude she wasnt going down on him. Her spirit never left, she just let it fade sometimes. And I love her spirit so much.

I couldn't have been happier with the end of the book and I really truly hope to see a follow up book with a happy and healthy Queenie. In a life she deserves.

I listened to this book on Overdrive and I must note that the narrator was AMAZING. She authenticated Queenie's world.

Favorite Quote:

"Is this what growing into an adult woman is—having to predict and accordingly arrange for the avoidance of sexual harassment?"

Genre:

Fiction, Adult, Contemporary, Women's

A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Bachman

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was beautiful. Ove is a grumpy old man. It's clear as to why he is and you love him because of the why. The writing is somber and yet comical. It's simple and meaningful. Ove is a man that feels tangible and it feels very much so like a loss to end the book and his story.

This book didn't make me anxious to change pages. Instead, it caught my breath and gave me pause several times. Ove and his unlikely family is a must read story.

Favorite Quotes:

“Men are what they are because of what they do. Not what they say.” 

“He was a man of black and white. And she was color. All the color he had.” 


"Every morning for the almost four decades they had lived in this house, Ove had put on the coffee percolator, using exactly the same amount of coffee as on any other morning, and then drank a cup with his wife. One measure for each cup, and one extra for the pot—no more, no less."

Genre:

Fiction, Contemporary, Humor 

Oona Out Of Order

Oona Out Of Order by Margarita Montimore

⏳⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⌛

 Oona, at 18, has two paths laid before her. She isn't sure which she will choose. As it turns out, Oona doesn't get to decide. Time, acting as an entity, changes everything and challenges Oona to embrace life in a non linear, heart breaking and awe inspiring way.⁣ ⁣ 

You ever look back at yourself from 10 years ago and think "Who was she? If that version of me knew the me here today, she would be shocked." Oona begins every year in a shocked state of the Five W's. She lives with decisions she's made but hasn't been present for yet. She has to both live with and lose people from year to year. It's a hard concept to grasp but she gets better at it with time, even if there's no way to prepare or change the past, present or future. As we learn, everything has it's time.⁣ ⁣

 This story is well balanced and and feels complete from beginning to end. I can't help but think that Montimore took her time writing this and fell in step with Oona. So many books have a quick wrap up at the end and I didn't feel rushed at the end of my journey with Oona. It felt organic, paced and whole.⁣ ⁣ 

I think if I was left with any questions, it would be about Cyn. But by the time that question arose in my mind, we had already learned to not look up old friends. And that was that.⁣ ⁣ I also hope that the Wings of Desire quote at the beginning of the book is a neat little real life tie in to one of the characters with a familiar name. It would only add to my previous beliefs about Margarita existing somewhere in Oona and vice versa.⁣

Favorite Quotes:

"When I was growing up, Mama used to say what you dislike in other people is really what you dislike in yourself."

"I just wonder if it's making us lazy and rude. How much real life do people miss out because they're focused on a screen? How much have I missed out on?"

Genre:

Fiction, Magical Realism, Science Fiction



**I received Oona Out of Order as an ARC from Flat Iron Books and in return am pleased to givie my honest opinion.**