First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Publisher: Ballantine Books, June 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Hardcover, 384 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Growing up, Josie and Meredith Garland shared a loving, if sometimes contentious relationship. Josie was impulsive, spirited, and outgoing; Meredith hardworking, thoughtful, and reserved. When tragedy strikes their family, their different responses to the event splinter their delicate bond.

Fifteen years later, Josie and Meredith are in their late thirties, following very different paths. Josie, a first grade teacher, is single—and to swearing off dating for good. What she wants more than the right guy, however, is to become a mother—a feeling that is heightened when her ex-boyfriend’s daughter ends up in her class. Determined to have the future she’s always wanted, Josie decides to take matters into her own hands.

On the outside, Meredith is the model daughter with the perfect life. A successful attorney, she’s married to a wonderful man, and together they’re raising a beautiful four-year-old daughter. Yet lately, Meredith feels dissatisfied and restless, secretly wondering if she chose the life that was expected of her rather than the one she truly desired.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and painful secrets from the past begin to surface, Josie and Meredith must not only confront the issues that divide them, but also come to terms with their own choices. In their journey toward understanding and forgiveness, both sisters discover they need each other more than they knew . . . and that in the recipe for true happiness, love always comes first.

Review:

It's been a hot minute since I've read any of Emily Giffin's book but I was easily reminded just why I like her writing style. The stories that she weaves are so easy to get lost in and always centred around topics that are not only relatable but also real. Things that you would hear about standing around the water cooler at work or watching tv.

When I first added "First Comes Love" to my TBR shelf, I assumed it would be the perfect read for February (Valentines Day) but it actually turned out to be a much different story than I was expecting. While there is a certain love element, as with all chick lit books, it went so far outside of the box that I wouldn't even say this is a 'love story' at all. In fact, it's more about family dynamics and how families deal and move on from tragedy.

All of the characters in this book were very flawed... not necessarily in a bad way but with each and every one of them, there was something beneath the surface that just felt 'off'. I actually appreciated that and felt that it touched on how many of us survive the day-to-day, covering up a secret that lives deep down. My biggest issue of all came with Meredith... I wanted to throat punch her and actually felt that she made her own misery. I mean Nolan seemed like a dreamboat!!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this and, while cheesy and a little predictable, I still feel like there are underlying themes that will hit some harder than others. A definite must for all of Emily Giffin's fans.

Holiday Reads | Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, October 2015

Genre: Fiction, Christmas

Pages: eBook, 256 pages

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

Ashley Davison, a graduate student in California, desperately wants to spend the holidays with her family in Seattle. Dashiell Sutherland, a former army intelligence officer, has a job interview in Seattle and must arrive by December 23. Though frantic to book a last-minute flight out of San Francisco, both are out of luck: Every flight is full, and there’s only one rental car available. Ashley and Dash reluctantly decide to share the car, but neither anticipates the wild ride ahead.

At first they drive in silence, but forced into close quarters Ashley and Dash can’t help but open up. Not only do they find they have a lot in common, but there’s even a spark of romance in the air. Their feelings catch them off guard—never before has either been so excited about a first meeting. But the two are in for more twists and turns along the way as they rescue a lost puppy, run into petty thieves, and even get caught up in a case of mistaken identity. Though Ashley and Dash may never reach Seattle in time for Christmas, the season is still full of surprises—and their greatest wishes may yet come true.

Review:

Imagine trying to get home for the holidays only to be told that you CAN'T book a seat on the flight?! We aren't talking about 'can't' as in there aren't any more available, we are talking 'can't' as in there are RED FLAGS on your name and the government won't let you fly. However, you don't know this and have no idea what is going on so you just find alternate arrangements.

To me, I thought this was such a wonderful and unique was to kick off a novel. It was gripping in that you didn't know why or what Ashley had done to find herself on the no fly list but it was also very entertaining as she looked for alternate means of transportation. I loved the characters... Ashley and Dash were both prickly yet lovable and I thought they were written very well.

I feel like I flew through this book... must be a sign of how much I enjoyed reading it. It was a quick, fun, Christmas (season) read and I found myself smiling along many times throughout the story.

Make Me by Lee Child

Make Me by Lee Child

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Genre: Fiction, Action

Pages: eBook, 416 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Summary (from chapters.indigo.ca):

“Why is this town called Mother’s Rest?”

That’s all Reacher wants to know. But no one will tell him. It’s a tiny place hidden in a thousand square miles of wheat fields, with a railroad stop, and sullen and watchful people, and a worried woman named Michelle Chang, who mistakes him for someone else: her missing partner in a private investigation she thinks must have started small and then turned lethal.

Reacher has no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there, and there’s something about Chang . . . so he teams up with her and starts to ask around. He thinks: How bad can this thing be? But before long he’s plunged into a desperate race through LA, Chicago, Phoenix, and San Francisco, and through the hidden parts of the internet, up against thugs and assassins every step of the way—right back to where he started, in Mother’s Rest, where he must confront the worst nightmare he could imagine.

Walking away would have been easier. But as always, Reacher’s rule is: If you want me to stop, you’re going to have to make me.

Review:

It's been a hot minute since I've read one of Lee Child's 'Jack Reacher' stories and being in the midst of all things Christmas, it took me a couple of chapters before I was able to fully digest what was happening.

Nothing screams action and adventure like a good ole Jack Reacher book. When I think of Jack, I don't see Tom Cruise (as cast in the movie), I see someone more like The Rock. A GIANT, full of muscle and as bad ass as pretty much anyone else on Earth. He's awesome.

What I really appreciate about the way that Lee Child writes this series is that you don't have to read them in order. There isn't really any carry-over from book to book and while there may be the odd detail that comes up from another book, it's not something that would create confusion or take away from the overall story. With 'Make Me' being the 20th book in the series, it's nice to know that you can pick it up and not worry about needing all the back details (even though I've read most of previous books).

Make Me follows the typical pattern of Jack Reacher... he shows up in some random location and stumbles into a crazy situation and from there, chaos ensues. I did find that the story dragged at certain parts with maybe a little bit more detail than necessary but, when the action started... WOAH, what an edge of the seat feeling.

Overall, a decent edition to the series and I will, of course, continue with reading the books as they become available. Always good for a quick read!

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Publisher: Random House of Canada, October 2016

Genre: Fiction

Pages: Hardcover, 480 pages

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from Chapters.indigo.ca):

A young woman and her husband, admitted to hospital to have a baby, request that their nurse be reassigned - they are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is black, to touch their baby.  The hospital complies, but the baby later goes into cardiac distress when Ruth in on duty.  She hesitates before rushing in to perform CPR.  When her indecision ends in tragedy, Ruth finds herself on trail, represented by a white public defender who warns against bringing race into the courtroom.  As the two come to develop a truer understanding of each other's lives, they begin to doubt the beliefs they each hold most dear.

Review:

WOW... another amazing book by Jodi Picoult. I have read every single one of her books and can honestly say that I always walk away feeling like I have learned something new. Her books tackle topics that some authors may shy away from and yet she handles them with such ease that her readers are left with hearts and minds full of new found love for her characters and different social situations.

In Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult tackles the topic of race and discrimination and it's such a relevant thing to talk about given the stories that dominate the news every single day. The story is written so that the readers can see both sides of the story and yet find themselves dealing with the morale issue of what's right. Perhaps you see yourself more in one camp than the other but by the end of the story, you can see the light of both sides.. you understand that the world, for lack of better terms, isn't just black and white.. that there are so many shades of grey in between.

As always, Jodi's novels leave me craving her next story... I highly recommend Small Great Things to anyone but don't stop there, read all of her stories and you will be better for it!