Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Alice, frustrated by her journalism career, has just landed the interview of a lifetime: she will be meeting the glamorous but reclusive Margaret Ives in the hopes of possibly writing her biography. Unfortunately, to her dismay, she has just discovered that she must prove herself more worthy of the task over the OTHER journalist who has also arrived to be interviewed for this opportunity, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Hayden. As she learns more and more about the origin story of Margaret Ives, her truths (and her semi-truths), she also finds she is learning more about herself – and about her competition – in the process.

This is a complex, incredibly imaginative story that will delight and surprise you in more ways than you can imagine. There is intrigue, heartbreak, and disappointment, but also love and romance and joy. Margaret’s story is complicated but fascinating, and we are kept in suspense by the breaks in her story, facilitated by the rivalry between Alice and Hayden. We feel for Margaret, as she clenches onto her privacy with a tight grip, as she’s lived in the media spotlight most of her life and been burned from the heat of it. But we also want to know. We want to know what happened to her, what has created her sadness, why she has shied away from the world for so long and why she wants to tell her story now.

This is not a typical romance novel, in that it was twisty, surprising (particularly toward the end), and complex. There are many layers to this story, as it is a story within a story, and it is as well-constructed as it is written.

Definitely treat yourself to this one!

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Shiloh is not sure why she is even going to Mikey’s wedding – she hasn’t spoken to him, or anyone from high school, if she’s honest with herself – for so many years. In spite of the fact that she’s back home, living with her mother and her two children since her ugly divorce. But the thought of possibly, maybe running into her old, best friend, Cary, is, well, an exciting, if intimidating prospect. While it may bring back many sweet memories, it also brings back some awkward ones as well. When she does see Cary, it sparks something between them. But what does it mean?

This is a sweet romance story that will not necessarily knock your socks off, but will certainly keep you curious and engaged. Shiloh is a no-nonsense, smart, and slightly disillusioned woman who has suffered more than her share of disappointments. She loves fiercely and has not always been given that love in return, and so has built a shell around her in self-preservation. When she meets Cary, again, this shell has become so hardened that she is unaware of how burdensome it can be to carry it around with her always. Fortunately, Cary is persistent…

Again, if you’re looking for a light romance novel that is witty and entertaining, this is for you.

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Izzy was initially delighted at the prospect of having landed a job in publishing. For someone to pay her to read, to be surrounded by books, to put her literary skills to the test at a New York-based publishing house was a dream come true. That is, until reality sunk in, with all its concomitant pressures and workload, essentially being ignored by her senior editor/supposed mentor, and the occasional cloying comment by her associates. Not to mention the entitled, spoiled, famous Beau Towers, whom she had to email every two weeks to try to urge to write his memoir – which had been ignored repeatedly for the past year. At least she has the upcoming conference in LA to look forward to, which, to her excitement, she’d be attending with her best friend, Priya. Little did Izzy suspect that this break in her routine would be the break she needed from her very life.

This fairy-tale-based story is very much like a fairy tale: sweet, romantic, and entirely predictable. Izzy is a beautiful character, an idealistic, talented, clever protagonist wrapped up in a slightly insecure package, daunted by her surroundings, intimidated by the dog-eat-dog world she’s working in. True, she’s also one of a very few people of color in a very White-dominated field, and this intimidates her further. And we like her, with her humor, her charm and her dedication to her art, family and friends. When she comes up with a creative idea, thinking outside the box to try to get this obnoxious client, Beau, to finally answer her and her boss, we cheer her on, excited for her potential win.

But sadly, while the dialogue between Izzy and Beau are initially full of intriguing outbursts and only a gradual thaw, they melt into such banal banter that it becomes a disappointment. The “big reveal” of Beau’s history, his source of his anxiety and tragedy might have been interesting, but it is almost as if the author tired of the story herself and just wanted it to be completed. There are no major plot twists of note, just a host of romance tropes that were, to be honest, saccharine and trite.

I believe, once again, this is a very cute idea that is only fairly well executed. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to be distracted from what is happening in the world at the moment with a guaranteed happy ending, this is your story!