A Tempest at Sea, Sherry Thomas

A Tempest at Sea
Sherry Thomas
336 pages
Berkley, 2023

From Goodreads: After feigning her own death in Cornwall to escape from Moriarty’s perilous attention, Charlotte Holmes goes into hiding. But then she receives a tempting offer: Find a dossier the crown is desperately seeking to recover, and she might be able to go back to a normal life.

Her search leads her aboard the RMS Provence, sailing from Southampton for the eastern hemisphere. But on the night Charlotte makes her move to retrieve the dossier, in the midst of a terrifying storm in the Bay of Biscay, a brutal murder also takes place on the ship.

Instead of solving the crime, as she is accustomed to doing, Charlotte must take care not to be embroiled in this investigation, lest it become known to those who harbor ill intentions that Sherlock Holmes is abroad and still very much alive.

The seventh (!) book in the Lady Sherlock series did not disappoint. The mystery takes place on a a ship heading east and is filled with a diverse group of travelers. Charlotte, of course, is undercover (thanks Moriarty!) but has been given the task of finding a secret dossier onboard. Her beau, Lord Ashburton, is on board with his children and their governess, and most surprising of all, Charlotte's mother shows up at the last minute with her maid, and Charlotte's sister Livia. Also on the boat are a brother and sister pair, a married couple, and a few singletons. Soon the aforementioned brother is found shot to death in his cabin... but wait! Charlotte is undercover so she can't take on the case! Instead she must sit by while Ashburton assists the investigation with the Inspector onboard. Things get even more tricky when her mother becomes suspect number one.

This book has no time to get stale, as there are multiple points-of-view, plenty of sneaking around by the passengers, lots of secrets, and some flashbacks that conveniently shed more information on the case... and also make it impossible to solve unless you're Charlotte herself. Once the murder occurs, I didn't want to put the book down. Of course the first person I suspected seemed quite guilty despite lack of motive, and in the end it was someone completely different. I really enjoyed the ending although by that point I had forgotten Charlotte was even looking for a dossier until she found it. Oops! Finally, I simply want to say "GO LIVIA!"

A Tempest at Sea will be released March 14, 2023 and if you haven't started this addictive mystery series I suggest you start now. I can't thank NetGalley and Berkley enough for continuing to allow me to read this series in advance. All opinions here are my own.

Tell Me When You Feel Something

Tell Me When You Feel Something
Vicki Grant
336 pages
Penguin Teen, 2021

From Goodreads:  It seemed like a cool part-time program -- being a simulated patient for med school students to practice on. But now vivacious, charismatic Viv lies in a very real coma. Cellphone footage just leads to more questions. What really happened? Other kids suspect it was not an intentional overdose -- but each has a reason why they can't tell the truth.

Through intertwining and conflicting narratives, a twisted story unfolds of trust betrayed as we sift through the seemingly innocent events leading up to the tragic night. Perhaps simulated patients aren't the only people pretending to be something they're not . . .

This book. Let me start out by saying there's nothing fluffy about this book, nothing lighthearted. The book starts with Davida - Viv's friend from the Simulated Patient (SP) program, speaking to police about her friend's overdose. The book doesn't waste any time getting started - the reader is dropped right into the story with minimal context and, on top of that, alternating timelines from multiple points of view. As a result, I found the first half of the book a little confusing and not very compelling. The SP program was interesting to read about, though, and the drama between Viv's parents was so disturbing I kept reading.

By the time I sorted it through my confusion, things changed dramatically.  The plot was suddenly raw and powerful and I couldn't put the book down, staying up way later than I should have to finish the book. The police interviews interspersed through the novel supported the plot very well. Do people interviewed by the police in real life always tell the whole truth? Of course not, so why I assumed they would in the book, I don't know. Eventually everything started coming together and making sense to the point where I was practically shaking the book and yelling at the characters.

So a book that started out slow and a little muddled transformed into this captivating reflection on the #metoo movement and all different types of mental health issues. The second half more than makes up for the first half, so I definitely suggest reading this book and hanging in there until the end.

Slingshot

Slingshot
Mercedes Helnwein
352 pages
Wednesday Books, 2021

From Goodreads: Grace Welles had resigned herself to the particular loneliness of being fifteen and stuck at a third-tier boarding school in the swamps of Florida, when she accidentally saves the new kid in her class from being beat up. With a single aim of a slingshot, the monotonous mathematics of her life are obliterated forever…because now there is this boy she never asked for. Wade Scholfield.

With Wade, Grace discovers a new way to exist. School rules are optional, life is bizarrely perfect, and conversations about wormholes can lead to make-out sessions that disrupt any logical stream of thoughts.

So why does Grace crush Wade’s heart into a million tiny pieces? And what are her options when she finally realizes that 1. The universe doesn’t revolve around her, and 2. Wade has been hiding a dark secret. Is Grace the only person unhinged enough to save him?

    I'll be blunt, I put off reviewing this book because it just wasn't for me. What I couldn't get over was the main character Grace. If there was ever a time a character's name didn't match her personality, this is it. I don't know if she was supposed to be one of those characters we love to hate, but there's nothing about her I liked, let alone loved. From the minute the book began she acted like a toddler having a hissy fit over something she couldn't have, but what's worse is that she she had a crush on her teacher and that is what she couldn't have. I have no problem with books where teachers and students have relationships - My Dark Vanessa is a great example of the topic well done - but Grace just comes off as delusional. Her reasoning for why she thought her teacher loved her back was flimsy at best, yet she ran with it. Her retaliation for his rejection was also extremely juvenile.

    Fast forward to her relationship with Wade; she met him by saving him with her slingshot - one of the rare times the slingshot is even mentioned in the book. Wade was clearly good for Grace, he grounded her and she softened during their time together, but the whole time I couldn't help feeling she didn't deserve him. The way she treated him during Spring Break was sad. And as for Wade, he acts like he has a big secret and when we finally find out what that is his character makes much more sense. And that brings me to the gas station scene - the only scene in the whole book that felt real and made me want to keep reading. Unfortunately, the whole book fell limp after that and then it was over.

    Egads. I'm not sure what to compare this book to or to whom to recommend it. Honestly, if you really want to read this go for it obviously, but if you're on the fence, just don't. This book will be released in April.

    On an aside, I do want to bring up the book's Goodreads page. As of this writing, the reviews are skewed to either you love it or you hate it, there isn't much middle ground. Taking a closer look at the five star reviews we find typical advanced readers who rate five stars to kiss the publisher's butt and keep getting early copies, and then there are a lot of sock accounts purportedly by the author herself. Several accounts have no friends or are only friends with one or two other sock accounts, and they have all given the book five stars without an actual review. File this one under "authors behaving badly."

Amelia Unabridged

 Amelia Unabridged
Ashley Schumacher
304 pages
Wednesday Books, 2021

From Goodreads: Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.

In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.

When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.

I'm not sure I have the words to convey how absolutely beautiful this book from debut author Amy Schumacher is. Amelia Unabridged wormed its way into my heart from the very beginning and by the end I find it situated in there so firmly, I don't think I will ever forget this gorgeous novel.

Take a look at the cover for a moment. The hand drawn image of a young woman, Amelia, screams "take me seriously," and the illustrations of a whale and foliage suggest a charm within the pages. The colors are dark and cool, suggesting a melancholy throughout the pages, but the colors surrounding the couple sharing a book together are warm and inviting, maybe even hopeful in the face of the darkness that surrounds them. Now read the description of the book again. Grief stricken at the death of her best friend, Amelia goes on a quest to find the source of special edition of the book they both loved, and finds herself in front of the young author himself. My first impression before even reading the book was that they didn't match very well but after reading, they do, they do! 

In the hands of a lesser author this book could have easily disintegrated into something campy and twee. Something I've read dozens of times before, and despite enjoying them very much while reading, didn't stay in my memory even a few months later. Somehow Schumacher manages to create something so beautiful, raw, and realistic here that I'm in awe. According to her bio on Goodreads, she has a degree in creative writing but I think she has a way with crafting words that is rare, you either have it or you don't. Regardless of how she does it, she's on my must read list now.

Amelia's heartbreak is so raw and realistic I really felt for her. Her best friend Jenna is her anchor in a disrupted world where her father leaves and her mother stops caring, so losing that turns her entire life upside down. The timing makes it worse, on the cusp of starting college Amelia only has the summer months to figure out how to live life without Jenna. Her spur of the moment trip to Michigan is so unlike Jenna but is the start on her path to finding her true self. Enter N.E. Endsley. Some might argue that their dependence on each other is unhealthy and I agree, but don't hold that against the author because that is realistic. That's how life is; sometimes we cling to our partners with such emotional voracity... here Schumacher has written life as it actually is.

I can't recall the last time I read such a satisfying and stunning book, and if you love YA you ought to add this to your TBR immediately, or better yet preorder a copy. Amelia Unabridged is due out February 16, 2021.

Viral BS

Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them
Seema Yasmin
272 pages
John Hopkins University Press, 2021

From Goodreads: Can your zip code predict when you will die? Will testosterone supplements boost your libido? Should you space out childhood vaccines? Does talcum powder cause cancer? Why do some doctors recommend e-cigarettes while other doctors recommend you stay away from them? Health information--and misinformation--is all around us, and it can be hard to separate the two. A long history of unethical medical experiments and medical mistakes, along with a host of celebrities spewing anti-science beliefs, has left many wary of science and the scientists who say they should be trusted. How do we stay sane while unraveling the knots of fact and fiction to find out what we should really be concerned about, and what we can laugh off?

This book caught my attention because of our current Covid situation, marked by disinformation. It can be extremely frustrating when you know the science and facts, but others refuse them and continue spreading false information, so I thought maybe this book would show the way between fact and fiction and help set the record straight on some other medical misinformation, some of which has been spread for decades and then some. I was drawn in by the book's simple question and answer format in short chapters. What a great way to get information to the casual layperson who may or may not know what to believe anymore.

The first chapter was about weight-loss teas, which I've never believed in, but the descriptions of how they can actually be toxic are surprising. Even more shocking is that they aren't regulated in any way. Ditto vitamins and supplements. Yikes. Other topics I found interesting: the recent trend of eating your placenta after giving birth (my OBGYN asked me if I wanted it and in my drug induced haze I believe I said "Throw that shit out."), is trauma inherited, diet sodas in relation to Alzheimer's/stoke (I call Diet Coke "mom juice"), mammograms, statins, supplements, and fracking.

Ultimately and unfortunately, I don't think I was the intended target for this book. Most of the information presented was old news to me and I admit to skimming a few sections. The topics are explained in simple manner, which I sometimes found lacking or a little over generalized. As for the section on vaccines, well, you're never going to change anyone's mind on that so why bother. 

And I don't know if it's just because I have an advanced copy, but there is no bibliography or endnotes. For someone who gives us a numerical list in the appendix of what to look out for in deciding if something is true or false, the author doesn't provide the reader with much to go on besides studies mentioned in the text. Should we just take her word for it? (I mean, probably because this is published by a reputable university, but still.) 

If this sounds like something you're interested in, by all means get a copy and read it. I'm not saying it's poorly written beyond a couple over generalizations; but if you already have a great handle on viral medical mysteries, then I'd say this is one you can probably skip. 

One of the Good Ones

One of the Good Ones
Maika and Maritza Moulite
384 pages
Inkyard Press, 2020

From Goodreads: ISN'T BEING HUMAN ENOUGH?

When teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Perfect. Angelic.

One of the good ones.

Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind—why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?—Happi and her sister Genny embark on a journey to honor Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there's a twist to Kezi's story that no one could've ever expected—one that will change everything all over again.

 

Hey, you. STOP. Stop what you are doing right now and preorder this book. Or if it’s after January 5th, go buy yourself a copy right now. I’ll wait. You will not have regrets and I could tell you why but that would be spoilers. 

Kenzi is a social justice YouTuber ready to turn eighteen and spread her wings in a wider scope, when tragedy strikes. The first half of the book shows us what has happened to Kenzi’s family in the months after her suspicious death while in police custody. Whether in person or on television, we’ve all seen the mothers of those taken by police, crying out for their babies, but this book goes far beyond that and shows how the whole family unit suffers, and in fact grows, as they try to understand and heal together. In her wake, Kenzi has left two sisters who don’t understand each other, and two pastor parents who are trying to be a rock for their girls but are suffering through their own issues as well. Before she died, Kenzi had planned a road trip to celebrate her graduation, following Route 66 using The Green Book as a guide (if you don’t know look it up.) Now her sisters and two of her friends will take the trip together and chronicle it for her YouTube followers. 

Then comes the second half of the book AND THE HUGE GIGANTIC TWIST I did not see coming and is why I’m pleading to you again, buy yourself this book and consume it ASAP. 

But I digress. The road trip portion of the book was my favorite part, I really enjoyed following the group as they visited boarded up Green Book hotels, museums, monuments, and even the Grand Canyon (admittedly slightly off course.) Heading into this I knew the basic history of the Green Book but I find myself even more fascinated now and I’ll be looking up a digital copy for myself and exploring more. 

Of course one of the main themes is the title itself, One of the Good Ones. The belief among whites that there are “good ones” and “bad ones” when it comes to black people in America. The “good ones” who study and work hard, are “articulate,” and fall within the whites narrow definition of what makes a good person. Then there are the “bad ones” who are seen as less ambitious, talk loudly in a vernacular white people feel threatened by, and presumably push drugs. These judgements rely on what we see at first glance and fail to take into account black people's literal humanity. This is something Kenzi's sister Happi thinks about frequently during the road trip; something we should all spend more time thinking about.

I loved One of The Good Ones, written by the same sister team who brought us Dear Haiti, From Alaine last year. I’m giving it 4.5 stars because even though I loved the book on so many different levels, I think it could have been better with one less POV, a shorter first half, and an even greater emphasis on the road trip. But seriously, go get it.

You Have a Match

You Have a Match
Emma Lord
320 pages, 2020
Wednesday Books

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby's growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

Emma Lord's first novel, Tweet Cute, has proven to be very popular this year and I even have it on my shelf... unread, though, so this was the first book I've read by Lord. The book is due out in January 2021, which seems fitting because one of the book's main themes is new beginnings. Undoubtedly when you find you have a secret sister you knew nothing about for sixteen to eighteen years, that's the start of something new, but many of the main characters are also facing new beginnings in their lives, whether it be going off to school, closing a family business, starting new relationships, or even under going a personal rebranding on Instagram.

I'm always a little wary of heavy technology use in contemporary novels because they don't always age well, however Lord manages to weave Instagram into her novel thoroughly, both literally and more importantly, metaphorically - and that's why I think this book will age gracefully even if we ever come to a time where Instagram is dead (I hope not, I love wasting time on Instagram!) 

Savannah, the older sister, runs a popular influencer Instagram account focused on wellness. What started out as a hobby has become a bit of drudgery in her life, though she's hesitant to admit that at first. Opposite, younger sister Abby is a wary of Instagram. She's a talented, budding photographer and she knows a good Instagram account can only help her, but she doesn't trust herself to pick the best shots to showcase. Actually, Abby comes off apathetic towards social media in generall. As a gift, her friend Leo set up an account for her a couple years ago, and since then picks the photos himself from a shared dropbox. Since Abby has almost nothing to do with it, she doesn't even know how many followers she has! I think that's the way she likes it and you can see how embedded social media is in this story. The plot cannot stand without it.

But there are so many different interwoven plots to this book. Both Abby's parents and Savannah's adopted parents play a significant role in the book, and not just because they are the protagonists' parents, but because they have their own drama going on related to the adoption. Something contentious between the two couples is mentioned in the beginning of the book, but when we come to the meat and potatoes of the issue, it's bigger than we thought. I was a little surprised by what happened eighteen years ago, and then saddened. Would it be something they could get past for the sake of their girls, or would this strange extended family be a stressful mess? Yikes, this was the part of the story that left me on the edge of my seat.

You Have a Match is also a YA romance. Abby and Leo have been dancing around a relationship for months and I really enjoyed their story. They had a lot of "moments" at summer camp and I just wanted to scream, "Get together, already!" In addition, Savvy (as they call Savannah) is also dealing with her own relationship issues. I really enjoyed the romance aspect of the book and while I wish it had been elaborated on, the more important issue for the main characters was their sister relationship and adoption, so I can't be upset that that's what took the forefront.

The themes in this book are enduring and heartfelt. I really enjoyed reading You Have a Match by Emma Lord, and now I'm looking forward to reading her debut book, Tweet Cute, even more! This book made me smile and even laugh while taking on a tough issue. I definitely recommend it for YA lovers.