Shelf Addiction

Video Review: Tempting Fate, by Jane Green (Audiobook)

11/12/2014

Get the audiobook here!

Publisher: Originally Penguin Books
Release Date: September 25, 2013 | Macmillan Audio on March 25, 2014
Format: MP3
Pages: 352 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 10 hours
Narrator: Jane Green
Source: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Romance, Chick Lit
Review Date: Recorded November, 2014
Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are genuinely my own.

For most of the book I understood Gabby. I could relate to Gabby. I even felt a little bad for Gabby. But in the end when she fell for the "okey doke", I knew it was all downhill from there. She ruined her life, or did she? I disagree with a lot of the actions Gabby's character took, but I could understand her issues. She wasn't a complete bag guy, nobody is a saint after all.

I liked the fact that this title wasn't a traditional romance, it was probably more in the chick lit category. Instead of a boy meets girl story, it's about the downfall of a good marriage and it was served up with a big dose of reality, which I can appreciate. The ending was positive and ended things in a happier place. While I like a more realistic ending, I liked it. After all the drama, it was nice to see Gabby get back on track.

I enjoyed the audiobook, but I'd like it better if all the characters didn't have an British accent. The story was great, so I'd recommend reading it. I'd like to read more by Jane Green. If you've ready anything by her, please do recommend something for me.

Check out my video review of Tempting Fate. Did you read this book? What did you think of it?

Happy Reading & Listening,
~Tamara
On a mobile device? Watch the coordinating video here!

Get the Kindle version here:

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Video Review: Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty

9/8/2014

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Publisher: Putnam Adult
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Format: Kindle ebook
Pages: 462
Source: Amazon
Genre: Mystery, Chick Lit
Review Date: Recorded September, 2014
Rating: 5 bookmarks

Synopsis: Sometimes it’s the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal. . . .

A murder… . . . a tragic accident… . . . or just parents behaving badly?
What’s indisputable is that someone is dead. But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads: Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

Hey friends,

Check out myvideo review of Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty. I really loved this book. I had high hopes and Big Little Lies delivered. Let me know if you read this book. If so, did you like it? What did you think was the most shocking part of the story?

Happy Reading,
~Tamara
On a mobile device? Watch the coordinating video here!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are genuinely my own.

Get the Kindle version here:

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Review: The Husband's Secret, by Liane Moriarty

12/11/2013

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Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Format: Kindle
Pages: 394
Source: Amazon
Genre: Chick Lit
Review Date: December 11, 2013
Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter that’s not meant to be read

My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died...

Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .

Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.

This book was really good. You'll be thinking about this book for days after you've finished. Have you read Moriarty's What Alice Forgot? If you did and you enjoyed it then you'll love this as well. If you haven't read Moriarty, I recommend that you do! She's an Australian writer, and to be frank, she's the only Australian writer I've read so far, and I'll keep reading her. This book has the same writing style, but instead of the POV from only one character and her family, this book is comprised of three different stories of three women whose live intersect in a way you'd never imagine. With the center of this story being Cecilia and her husband's secret, this by the way, is a total shocker. You're set up to think it's going to be one thing, but then it take a complete left turn and that threatens to send Cecilia to a mini visit to Crazy Town. Ironically, Cecilia can join Rachel, who has been living in Crazy Town for a while. Even though her feelings are warranted, the results of Rachel’s very angry and vengeful actions are unfortunate.

Here's the appropriate reaction to the reveal of John-Paul's secret!

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Throwback Thursday | Review Edition: What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty

4/18/2013

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Throwback Thursday is my weekly feature which I created to post a review that I've written from the past. Every week I will post a review that I've written prior to my blogs existence. I'll be sharing both the books that I think you'd enjoy and the books that I should warn you against wasting your time on! ;-)

I chose to post What Alice Forgot this week because, not only was it a very good book, it's still really popular on book club lists and a lot of people are still reading or wanting to read it!

Publisher: PanMacmillan Australia
Release Date: May 2010
Format: Paperback
Pages: 487
Source: Purchased
Genre: Chick Lit
Original Review Date: November 3, 2011
Rating: 4 bookmarks

Synopsis: Alice is twenty-nine. She is whimsical, optimistic and adores sleep, chocolate, her ramshackle new house and her wonderful husband Nick. What's more, she's looking forward to the birth of the 'Sultana' - her first baby.

But now Alice has slipped and hit her head in her step-aerobics class and everyone's telling her she's misplaced the last ten years of her life.

In fact, it would seem that Alice is actually thirty-nine and now she loves schedules, expensive lingerie, caffeine and manicures. She has three children and the honeymoon is well and truly over for her and Nick. In fact, he looks at her like she's his worst enemy. What's more, her beloved sister Elisabeth isn't speaking to her either. And who is this 'Gina' everyone is so carefully trying not to mention?

Alice isn't sure that she likes life ten years on. Every photo is another memory she doesn't have and nothing makes sense. Just how much can happen in a decade? Has she really lost her lovely husband forever?

Interesting side note, this was my first time reading a book by an Australian author within the first few pages, I’d mistaken Ms.Moriarty for an English author. That doesn’t really matter, but I thought it was interesting to note that tidbit. Getting back on topic, this book was very good. It had a somewhat slow start, but once Alice left the hospital, the rollercoaster ride really began. This book contained some very deep situations and prompted me to stop and think “What if I forgot 10 years of my life?” Who would I be, what relationships would I think still existed or not existed…very intriguing.

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Review: Something Borrowed, by Emily Giffin

5/2/2012

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Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 10, 2005
Format: Mass Paperback
Pages: 388
Source: Library Loan
Genre: Chick Lit, Book to Movie Adaptations
Review Date: May 2, 2012
Rating: 3 bookmarks

This was a book club selection. I probably wouldn’t have picked up this book on my own, as I don’t read a lot of Chic Lit. Since I’m always up for something new, I was excited to give this book a go. I knew a movie existed before I read this book but I hadn’t seen it, so this book review is clear from the movies influence.

I liked Giffin’s writing style. With Rachel as the narrator, I still felt that I got a good understanding of the other characters and their points of view. The story wasn’t lopsided toward Rachel. I like the character development, and I liked the pace of the story. It was entertaining and I can see why it was made into a movie. Lots of drama.

I didn’t find any of the main characters even remotely likeable. I appreciate when I’m able to connect with at least one of the major players in the story, and this time I could not. I didn’t feel even sorry for any of them. What can we say about the two most unsavory main characters? Darcy and Rachel! Two utterly unfortunately friends. They have the most dysfunctional relationship I have ever seen. Self absorbed, self indulgent, spoiled Darcy and not as pretty, quiet, lay down and be a doormat Rachel. Neither one of these ladies are the “good” one. They are both majorly flawed and I would not like to be friends with either of them.

The several of the secondary characters had more sense than the main characters! Rachel’s friends Ethan and Hillary both seemed to have the most sense and were able to help influence Rachel in the right direction when it came to dealing with Dex and getting perspective on Darcy. Thank goodness for them providing some balance and sense of reason to the story. They added some kind of balance back to Rachel’s inner dialog resulting from her lack of confidence. Speaking of Dex, oh, let’s not even go there because in my humble opinion he is pretty lowly. I don’t really even get why Rachel wants such a weak guy. In addition to lowly Dex, throughout the book Marcus keep reappearing as a possible suitor for Rachel. There is a twist concerning Marcus towards the end of the book! I won’t spoil if for those who haven’t read it, but it does sort of explain why Darcy keeps pressing Rachel for updates on she and Marcus. There were a few other supporting characters sprinkled in, but they were forgettable.

I got the vibe that Giffin’s was trying hard for us to feel so bad and/or sorry for Darcy, that she actually wanted us to excuse the fact that she was cheating with her best friends man! I think of these situations in the most basic way, two wrongs don’t make a right. Period. Despite how awful Darcy treated Rachel, there is no excuse for cheating with Dex. I really wanted to like Rachel, I wanted to root for her to get her man, but at the same time, I felt she was wrong and that stopped me from liking her character.

All in all, the book was an easy read, pretty entertaining and has a good dose of drama. The pace was decent and I was able to read the book pretty quickly. This book is what I would consider light summer reading. The book also brought some very good conversation for the book club, and it would be a good pick for that purpose.

Get the Kindle version here:Something Borrowed