“All Her Little Secrets” by Wanda M. Morris (Review)

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Morris, Wanda M. All Her Little Secrets. New York: William Morrow, 2021.

ISBN-13: 978-0063082465 | $16.99 USD | 374 pages | Thriller

Blurb

In this fast-paced debut thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a black lawyer who gets caught in a dangerous conspiracy after the sudden death of her boss…

Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive—her white boss, Michael.<br/>But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice goes to meet Michael… and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.

And then she walks away like nothing has happened. Why? Ellice has been keeping a cache of dark secrets, including a small-town past and a kid brother who’s spent time on the other side of the law. She can’t be thrust into the spotlight—again.

But instead of grieving this tragedy, people are gossiping, the police are getting suspicious, and Ellice, the company’s lone black attorney, is promoted to replace Michael. While the opportunity is a dream-come-true, Ellice just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.<br/>When she uncovers shady dealings inside the company, Ellice is trapped in an impossible ethical and moral dilemma. Suddenly, Ellice’s past and present lives collide as she launches into a pulse-pounding race to protect the brother she tried to save years ago and stop a conspiracy far more sinister than she could have ever imagined…

Review

4 stars

All Her Little Secrets is an engaging debut thriller from an author I’m excited to see more from. She crafts a consistently engaging story and thriller that actually captures the “thrills” and uneasiness that are genre staples.

Ellice is a sympathetic lead. She’s been through a lot of trauma in her past, which slowly unfolds in flashbacks, and I appreciate the way these issues were explored, as well as their impact on her in the present day. They really color her actions, and help to explain some of the things she does that might otherwise be a bit implausible.

I also appreciate that this book touches on relevant issues, in terms of race, office politics, and more in a fairly subtle way. These are present as part of Ellice’s reality, but the book refrains from pushing any of that as an overall message or turning into an “issue” book.

The plot and pacing remain immersive throughout. While at first, I did fear that the flashbacks would negatively impact the “rhythm” of the book, ultimately everything is well thought out, so there’s continuously building suspense around both what’s going on in the present with the murder investigation and Ellice’s past and the trauma she experienced. There are some wonderfully jaw dropping plot twists, and one in particular that solidified everything for Ellice’s backstory is the one that really stands out for me.

I will definitely be keeping an eye on Wanda M. Morris’ future releases. I would recommend this book to any thriller fans.

Author Bio

Wanda M. Morris is an alumna of the Yale Writers’ Workshop and Robert McKee’s Story Seminar. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. As a corporate attorney, she has worked in the legal departments of several Fortune 100 companies. An accomplished presenter and leader, Morris has previously served as president of the Georgia chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and is the founder of its Women’s Initiative, an empowerment program for female in-house lawyers. Morris is a married mother of three and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. All Her Little Secrets is her debut novel.

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“The Family She Never Met” by Caridad Piñeiro (ARC Review)

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Piñeiro, Caridad. The Family She Never Met. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1728249469 | $14.99 USD | 288 pages | Women’s Fiction

Blurb

Jessica Russo knows nothing about her mother’s family or her Cuban culture. Every time she’s asked about it, her mother has shut down. But when the Cuban grandmother she’s never met sends her right-hand man, Luis, to offer Jessica the chance to come to Miami and meet her estranged family, she can’t help but say yes, even as she knows it will pain her mother.
The woman that Jessica meets is nothing like what she expected. Her grandmother is successful, intelligent, determined, and all too willing to take blame for what has happened to cause the estrangement, and, more importantly, to try and set things right. As Jessica spends time with her grandmother in her beautiful island home, she learns about her family’s history and what caused the schism between her mother and grandmother.
As days with her grandmother turn to weeks, Jessica is determined to find a way to heal her fractured family. And in the end, Jessica might just learn something about herself and what it means to embrace the many facets of her identity.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Family She Never Met is an intriguing story, highlighting the fraught relationships between mothers and daughters in a Cuban-American family, but also the importance of honoring that history of what previous generations went through when immigrating to the US.

While it is largely set in the present, there are brief flashbacks to various points in the past to highlight the family’s story, and what led them here. I love how it provides context to the current state of things between them.

Jessica is a wonderful lead character, and I appreciated that she wanted to do the right thing when she heard from her grandmother, and she later wants to bring peace.

The relationships between Jessica, Lara, and Carmen are fabulously written. The novel explores the complexities of the mother-daughter relationships among them, and I appreciate that their issues were navigated in such a sensitive way, with a believable path to healing.

And while this book is not in itself a romance, there is a romantic arc between. and her grandmother’s right hand man, Luis, that is quite sweet.

This book is delightful and heartwarming, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt family-centric contemporary.

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Caridad Piñeiro is the author of over fifty novels/novellas and has sold over one million books worldwide. Caridad’s romances in various genres have been critically acclaimed, and she is currently spreading her wings to embrace new themes with her women’s fiction. In 2017, Caridad ghostwrote Snow Falling, the tie-in novel to the successful Jane the Virgin television show. When not writing, Caridad loves to travel. Cook, and spend time with family and friends down on the Jersey Shore. You can find out more about Caridad at https://www.caridad.com.

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“Exodus 20:3” by Freydís Moon (ARC Review)

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Moon, Freydís. Exodus 20:3. [New Mexico]: NineStar Press, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1648904547 | $2.99 USD | 93 pages | Paranormal Romance

Blurb

Religious eroticism and queer emancipation meet in a claustrophobic monster-romance about divinity, sexuality, and freedom.

When Diego López is guilted by his mother into taking a low-key construction job in New Mexico, he doesn’t expect to be the only helping hand at Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. But the church is abandoned, decrepit, and off the beaten path, and the only other person for miles is its handsome caretaker, Ariel Azevedo.

Together, Diego and Ariel refurbish the old church, sharing stories of their heritage, experiences, and desires. But as the long days turn into longer nights, Diego begins to see past Ariel’s human mirage and finds himself falling into lust—and maybe something else—with one of God’s first creations.

Review

4.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Exodus 20:3 is yet another relic of the monster anthology implosion, and a unique one at that. There’s a lyrical quality to the writing style that drew me in immediately. I found myself consistently engaged, and perfectly satisfied with this short.

I really liked the relationship between Diego and Ariel. There’s a well-done, erotic sexual element, but I also appreciated the bond that grows beyond that, where they confide stories about their backgrounds and hopes and dreams to one another. And the way the religious themes were embedded…it works, distilling things down to the basic concept of religious belief, stripped of the dogma that would likely find a story like this shocking (to put it mildly).

This story was lovely, and I will definitely be supporting Freydís Moon in all their future writing endeavors! I would recommend checking this out if you’re into monster romance.

Author Bio

Freydís Moon (they/them) is a biracial nonbinary writer and diviner. When they aren’t writing or divining, Freydís is usually trying their hand at a recommended recipe, practicing a new language, or browsing their local bookstore. They are on Twitter @freydis_moon.

Email: freydismoon@gmail.com

Website: https://freydismoon.carrd.co

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“Fingersmith”: A Historical Fiction Masterpiece

January 30, 2022January 30, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Waters, Sarah. Fingersmith. New York: Riverhead Books, 2002.

978-1573229722 | $18.00 USD | 582 pages | Historical Thriller

Blurb

Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a “baby farmer,” who raised her with unusual tenderness, as if Sue were her own. Mrs. Sucksby’s household, with its fussy babies calmed with doses of gin, also holds a transient family of petty thieves—fingersmiths—for whom this house in the heart of a mean London slum is home.

One day, the most beloved thief of all arrives—Gentleman, an elegant con man, who carries with him an enticing proposition for Sue: if she wins a position as a maid to Maud Lilly, a naive gentlewoman, and aids Gentleman in her seduction, they will all share Maud’s vast inheritance. Once the inheritance is secured, Maud will be disposed of—passed off as mad, and made to live out the rest of her days in a lunatic asylum.

With dreams of paying back the kindness of her adopted family, Sue agrees to the plan. Once in, however, Sue begins to pity her helpless mark and care for Maud Lilly in unexpected ways, but no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals.

Review

5 stars

I’ve long wanted to read a Sarah Waters book, particularly one of her first few books, as I‘be heard those are her best. Fingersmith in particular stood out as the most well recommended, but I was a bit put off by it being so long. However, I’m so glad I finally bit the bullet, picked it up, and dove in.

Waters’ style is compared to Dickens, and while I only have a second hand knowledge of what his style is like, I know enough to feel that the comparison is appropriate. She captures the dark, gritty underbelly of Victorian London to a tee. I was consistently immersed in it, and felt for some of the major characters and the situation they were in. While this is mainly Sue’s story, Maud gets to have a voice about her own situation too. I appreciate how that was handled stylistically, as in my experience, not many authors can handle first person dual POV, and make the two voices sound distinct. However, I love how the prose, as well as dialogue was reflective of their differing backgrounds.

I loved the development of the relationship between Sue and Maud, especially as they start off at odds, and their respective views of each other (especially on Sue’s part) are very biased. But given the struggles both go through at the hands of other characters and life in general just being unfair for women at the time, it was wonderful to see them connect with each other after all they both went through.

And despite it being over 500 pages, this book is chock-full of intrigue, twists, and turns. There were constantly things I did not expect. This book is twisted in the absolute best way.

I loved this, and in retrospect, I can’t believe it took so long to read this. If, on the off chance, you haven’t yet picked up this absolute gem of a book, and you love historical thrillers and/or sapphic romance, I recommend doing so.

Author Bio

Sarah Waters is the New York Times bestselling author of The Paying Guests, The Little Stranger, The Night Watch, Fingersmith, Affinity, and Tipping the Velvet. She has been shortlisted three times for the Man Booker Prize, has been a finalist twice for the Orange Prize, and was named one of Granta’s best young British novelists, among other distinctions. Waters lives in London.

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“Beyond the Lavender Fields” by Arlem Hawks (ARC Review)

January 30, 2022January 30, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Hawks, Arlem. Beyond the Lavender Fields. Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1629729350 | $26.99 USD | 368 pages | Historical Romance

Blurb

1792, France

Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.

A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’ efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes perhaps they have more in common than she thought.

As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a revolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together or if they must live in a world that forces people to choose sides.

Review

4 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Beyond the Lavender Fields is a compelling historical romance set during the French Revolution. I was drawn to the premise of a royalist and a revolutionary finding common ground amidst the growing turmoil in 1792, as things are shifting in a more radical direction.

This book is incredibly well-researched, and I appreciate the detail put into depicting the situation at the time from both perspectives.

I found it an interesting stylistic choice to have Gilles’ perspective conveyed through standard prose, while Marie-Caroline’s was done through letters to others (and eventually Gilles himself). I had some mixed feelings at first, as it feels like we get a more objective view of Gilles over Marie-Caroline as a result, but it ended up working pretty well, with both of them ultimately endearing themselves to me.

I enjoyed them as a couple, and how they navigated their growing relationship, both with their differing views and the challenges their respective positions in the political climate at the time put them in.

This is an immersive, enjoyable read, and one I think readers of historical fiction or sweet historical romance will enjoy.

Author Bio

Arlem Hawks began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications and she lives in Arizona with her husband and three children.

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“Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman” by Kristen R. Lee

January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Lee, Kristen R. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman. New York: Crown BFYR, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-0593309162 | $18.99 USD | 336 pages | YA Contemporary

Blurb

A striking debut novel about racism on elite college campuses. Fans of Dear White People will embrace this activist-centered contemporary novel about a college freshman grappling with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist history, which may or may not be as distant as it seems.

Savannah Howard sacrificed her high school social life to make sure she got into a top college. Her sights were set on an HBCU, but when she is accepted to the ivy-covered walls of Wooddale University on a full ride, how can she say no?

Wooddale is far from the perfectly manicured community it sells on its brochures, though. Savannah has barely unpacked before she comes face-to-face with microagressions stemming from racism and elitism. Then, Clive Wilmington’s statue is vandalized with blackface. The prime suspect? Lucas Cunningham, Wooddale’s most popular student and son to a local prominent family. Soon, Savannah is unearthing the hidden secrets of Wooddale’s racist history. But what’s the price for standing up for what is right? And will telling the truth about Wooddale’s past cost Savannah her own future?

A stunning, challenging, and timely debut about racism and privilege on college campuses.

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman is one of those bold “issue” books that really captured my interest. It highlights the racism and underhandedness that occurs in elite universities, and while I was aware of it, both due to common knowledge of common practices (legacy admissions, affirmative action) and recent headlines (the Operation Varsity Blues scandal).

Savannah is such a compelling lead, and you get a real grasp of the issues Black students face through her eyes. While many of her peers slacked off, she worked her ass off. She goes to Wooddale to achieve her mother’s dreams for her, and finds herself one of the few Black students on campus. As a result, she’s the target of racist bullying and attacks. I loved how she didn’t let Lucas, or any similar-minded folks win by giving up, and fought back and stood up for her right to be there. She really comes into her own as a strong Black woman, and I rooted for her as she did so.

This book is an in-depth look at racism in higher education in the U.S., and an incredibly well-executed debut novel. If you are looking for a hard-hitting YA contemporary, I recommend this one.

Author Bio

Kristen R. Lee is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from college, she began to write about her experiences attending a predominantly white institution, which led to the first draft of Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman. She’s worked as a mentor for foster youth and has interned in a school setting, where she counseled middle-school-aged children. Writing stories that reflect the often-unheard voices is what she strives to do. Discover more about Kristen online at https://www.kristenleebooks.com/

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“This Time Will Be Different” by Misa Sugiura (Review)

January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Sugiura, Misa. This Time Will Be Different. New York: HarperTeen, 2019.

ISBN-13: 978-0062473455 | $10.99 USD | 416 pages | YA Contemporary

Blurb

Katsuyamas never quit–but seventeen-year-old CJ doesn’t even know where to start. She’s never lived up to her mom’s type A ambition, and she’s perfectly happy just helping her aunt, Hannah, at their family’s flower shop.

She doesn’t buy into Hannah’s romantic ideas about flowers and their hidden meanings, but when it comes to arranging the perfect bouquet, CJ discovers a knack she never knew she had. A skill she might even be proud of.

Then her mom decides to sell the shop–to the family who swindled CJ’s grandparents when thousands of Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during WWII. Soon a rift threatens to splinter CJ’s family, friends, and their entire Northern California community; and for the first time, CJ has found something she wants to fight for.

Review

4 stars

This Time Will Be Different is the last of Misa Sugiura’s backlist I needed to be read to be caught up on her work, and while it is different, I think I liked it for it. It has her same tendency for writing somewhat messy Japanese lead characters, great queer rep (although this time it’s the side characters instead of the main ones), and a great exploration of racism and other issues. Only this time, it’s primarily about the protagonist, CJ’s, growth as a person.

CJ starts off the book as somewhat unlikable, but I trusted Sugiura to endear me to her. She’s never really succeeded at anything, while she has this mantra drummed into her about how “Katsuyamas Never Quit,” not to mention the pressures of the “model minority” myth that got pinned on Asian Americans after World War II. I really liked how she developed an awareness of how her family and those around her were impacted by this, and takes it upon herself to do what she can to fight against racist oppression. I also loved the way the peeks into her past highlighted her character as someone who frequently messed up (often critically so) and then throwing in the towel, inspiring her outlook as the story starts, and making her progression all the more rewarding. And I particularly appreciate that her story includes an accidental pregnancy and abortion, which aren’t shamed/mired in purity culture.

Speaking of which, while the story focuses on CJ’s growth, I liked how it also looked at how her mother and aunt Hannah were dealing with the racism they faced. Hannah is incredibly protective of the legacy of the family’s flower shop, especially as their family worked hard to get it back from the McAllister family following being forced to sell it to them in 1942, just prior to internment. But while the mom is proposing selling it back and has seemingly (at first) defected to the other side, I was moved by her statements about how she was treated at work and in society as a Japanese American woman, and the double jeopardy that put her in.

While the romance isn’t prominent, I did like her interactions with the nerdy, sweet Owen. He’s such a light of positivity that she really benefits from.

This book is wonderful, and I am so excited for what Misa Sugiura releases next. If you like contemporaries that are focused on social issues, while doing so with a lighthearted touch, you’ll like this.

Author Bio

Misa Sugiura’s ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. Her first novel It’s Not Like It’s a Secret, won the Asian Pacific Islander American Librarians’ Association Award for Young Adult Literature; her highly acclaimed second novel, This Time Will Be Different, made the Best of 2019 lists of YALSA, Kirkus Reviews, the New York Public Library, and the Chicago Public Library. Her short story, “Where I’m From,” appears in Come On In, a young adult anthology of stories about immigration. Her latest book, Love & Other Natural Disasters, has been praised by the American Library Association as “hilariously awkward” and “honestly poignant.” You can find her online at http://www.misasugiura.com/ and @misallaneous on Twitter and Instagram.

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“Castles in Their Bones” by Laura Sebastian (ARC Review)

January 28, 2022January 28, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ 1 Comment

Sebastian, Laura. Castles in Their Bones. New York: Delacorte Press, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-0593118160 | $18.99 USD | 528 pages | YA Fantasy

Blurb

A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes.

Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vestria.

The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.

Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?

Review

5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Castles in Their Bones is the start of Laura Sebastian’s second YA fantasy trilogy, and it starts off with a bang. While I was a bit intimidated to see it was over 500 pages, I soon found myself sucked in, and finished it incredibly quickly.

The concept excited me, and it delivered. Full of political intrigue, the setup feels like a more cutthroat, sinister version of the family dynamics of the daughters of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria or Queen Victoria respectively, who also were sent off to marry into other Royal houses on a mass scale (although the fact that many of those princesses married into royal houses that subsequently fell wasn’t due to any bad intentions on their part). It was fascinating to learn more about the politics of the world, with some similarities to our own history, and follow the characters on the twists and turns court intrigue brings them.

Each of the sisters has a role to play in their respective new countries, and I enjoyed seeing each of them acclimate to their surroundings, while working to do their mother’s bidding. It was fun to see these strong, dynamic, cunning princesses interacting at court, taking on the challenges their marriages throw at them. They also form bonds, including romances, that are compelling to read about.

The plot has consistent twists and turns on their journeys, but I must say the last chapter was when my jaw really dropped. It had a revelation about the truth of all of this that made me truly fear for the sisters, and feel for them, given the depths of the betrayal that had just been revealed.

This is a strong start for a series, and I hope it continues in that vein going forward. If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, and like political intrigue, betrayal and backstabbing, and complex family dynamics, you won’t want to miss this one!

Author Bio

Laura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in London with her two dogs Neville and Circe. Laura is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series: Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen, as well as Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults.

http://laurasebastianwrites.com

Twitter: @sebastian_lk

Instagram: lauraksebastian

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“Circus of Wonders” by Elizabeth Macneal (ARC Review)

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Macneal, Elizabeth. Circus of Wonders. New York: Emily Bestler Books/Atria, 2022.

ISBN-13: 978-1982106799 | $27.99 USD | 368 pages | Historical Fiction

Blurb

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of the “lush, evocative Gothic” (The New York Times Book Review) The Doll Factory comes an atmospheric and spectacular novel where one woman’s life is transformed by the arrival of a Victorian circus of wonders.

Step up, step up! In 1860s England, circus mania is sweeping the nation. Crowds jostle for a glimpse of the lion-tamers, the dazzling trapeze artists and, most thrilling of all, the so-called “human wonders.”

When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders pitches its tent in a poor coastal town, the life of one young girl changes forever. Sold to the ringmaster as a “leopard girl” because of the birthmarks that cover her body, Nell is utterly devastated. But as she grows close to the other performers, she finds herself enchanted by the glittering freedom of the circus, and by her own role as the Queen of the Moon and Stars.

Before long, Nell’s fame spreads across the world—and with it, a chance for Jasper Jupiter to grow his own name and fortune. But what happens when her fame begins to eclipse his own, when even Jasper’s loyal brother Toby becomes captivated by Nell? No longer the quiet flower-picker, Nell knows her own place in the world, and she will fight for it.

A gorgeously wrought exploration of celebrity, power, and belonging, this is a historical novel unlike any other, with an unforgettable heroine at its heart.

Review

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Circus of Wonders was very much a cover/title acquisition on my part, although the premise also intrigued me.

I’m not naive about the realities of circuses, particularly during Victorian times, especially with the recent-ish discussions around the legacy of P.T. Barnum. And the way that is reflected in this book with the fictional circus is not much different. It’s dark and bleak, sometimes a bit too much so, but I appreciated the multifaceted way a circus extravaganza like this was handled to show the different perspectives.

Nell is the most sympathetic of the major/POV characters in the book, for obvious reasons. She’s sold off by her father due to the fact that she was born with birthmarks all over her body, and she’s taken on as the circus’ “leopard girl.” I felt for her due to this, but also rooted for her as she found success. I really appreciated the sense of companionship she forms with the other performers, who are also in a similar situation to her own.

One of the friendships she forms is with the ringmaster’s brother Toby. He’s perhaps the least compelling of the three. He has an interesting backstory, but while I could understand his position and liked him overall, I wasn’t super interested in his conflicted loyalties.

While Jasper is not likable by any means, he’s well written in that it’s fascinating to delve into his mindset. He is so determined to be successful, but in this quest he may have found himself being overshadowed by Nell, in spite of him taking her on with hopes of her contributing to his success.

Pacing wise, it was a bit odd. It seemed to have a pretty good idea of where it was going, even if it was a bit of a slower build. But the ending felt rather anticlimactic, leaving me feeling unsatisfied.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, even with my issues with it. If you like Gothic historical fiction or are interested in the history of circuses, I recommend checking this one out.

Author Bio

Born in Scotland, Elizabeth Macneal is a writer and potter based in London. The Doll Factory, Elizabeth’s debut novel, was an international bestseller, has been translated into twenty-nine languages, and has been optioned for a major television series. It won the Caledonia Novel Award 2018. Circus of Wonders is her second novel.

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“Far From You” by Tess Sharpe (Review)

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022 ~ courtneytonokawa ~ Leave a comment

Sharpe, Tess. Far From You. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015.

ISBN-13: 978-1484715703 | $9.99 USD | 352 pages | YA Contemporary/Thriller

Blurb

Sophie Winters nearly died twice.

The first time, she’s fourteen, and escapes a near-fatal car accident with scars, a bum leg, and an addiction to Oxy that’ll take years to kick.

The second time, she’s seventeen, and it’s no accident. Sophie and her best friend Mina are confronted by a masked man in the woods. Sophie survives, but Mina is not so lucky. When the cops deem Mina’s murder a drug deal gone wrong, casting partial blame on Sophie, no one will believe the truth: Sophie has been clean for months, and it was Mina who led her into the woods that night for a meeting shrouded in mystery.

After a forced stint in rehab. Sophie returns home to a chilly new reality. Mina’s brother won’t speak to her, her parents fear she’ll relapse, old friends have become enemies, and Sophie has to learn how to live without her other half. To make matters worse, no one is looking in the right places, so Sophie must search for Mina’s murderer on her own. But with every step, Sophie comes close to revealing all: about herself, about Mina…and about the secret they shared.

Review

4 stars

I’ve wanted to read Tess Sharpe for a while, and her debut, Far From You, was recommended for its disability and sapphic rep (fulfilling another square I needed help with for Sapphic Book Bingo). While technically a thriller, I’d say that’s only partly true, as it’s divided into two simultaneously unfolding timelines, one “Before” Sophie’s friend Mina died, and one “After.” While the “After” portion is told in linear fashion, the “Before” bits flash back to various points in Sophie and Mina’s relationship. While it took some time to get into the flow of the story and what to expect, I soon found myself engaged. While maintaining the two arcs can be a tough balancing act, Sharpe maintains the momentum, so that there’s never a dull moment.

The crux of the story is the relationship between the two girls, uncovering what happened, and dealing with the impact Mina’s murder has had on Sophie. It’s conveyed beautifully, and I loved those moments of their relationship, with Sophie being in love with Mina and the complexities of that, due to issues like Mina being from a religious background. And in the present, there’s a nice balance with Sophie trying to cope, dealing with grief in the wake of the loss and managing her opioid addiction which was the result of an accident prior to the major events with Mina. I truly sympathize with Sophie throughout, and felt for her, as she had been through so much, that she deserved at least some catharsis in whatever way she could find it.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and already have another Tess Sharpe book lined up soon (as well as a book she coauthored coming up later this year). I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a thriller-lite/hard-hitting contemporary read with great contemporary, disability, and addiction rep.

Author Bio

Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives in the deep backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing colony of formerly feral cats. She is an author and anthology editor, and has written several award-winning and critically acclaimed books for children, teams, teens, and adults.

Buy links

Bookshop (affiliate link)