78: Happiness Falls

Synopsis

When a father goes missing, his family’s desperate search leads them to question everything they know about him and one another–both a riveting page-turner and a deeply moving portrait of a family in crisis from the award-winning author of Miracle Creek.

“We didn’t call the police right away.” Those are the first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean-American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing.

Mia, the irreverent, hyperanalytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything–which is why she isn’t initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don’t return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.

What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance. Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, race, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another.

The Good

A. Like many other reviewers have said this story is more about themes/messages than mystery which once you know what the story is doing, I think it is fine.

B. Messages: Heavy (in good way) conversations on ableism, racism, sibling issues, family issues, some philosophy of happiness, xenophobia, and more

The Bad

Does it feel like things happen just so there can be a conversation on topic?

Sometimes it can be #message aka heavy handed.

Was the story too long?

The Meh

A. The mystery

B. The mystery aka dad disappearance is more about being vehicle for messages than a straight up mystery.

C. The philosophical and message focus of story bogs down typical flow of a mystery? On the other hand, there is good things to be taken from this story.

Thoughts

A. Not to say the main character was not annoying but it is interesting having folks keep putting her down because of her personality to prop up others.

B. She be overthinking/pessimistic but she did have points that people easily dismissed at times.

won this from Random House Group via goodreads

73: Listen for the Lie

Synopsis

New York Times Bestseller | Good Morning America Book Club Pick

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?

After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.

But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie,” and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.

The truth is out there, if we just listen.

The Good

A. Different perspectives were interesting.

B. How everything went down with who killed Savvy – enjoyed.

The Bad

A. I do not like any of the characters.

B. Did not connect with the humor.

C. Lucy was annoying (corny?) with her, I want folks’ uncomfortable bit.

D. Felt like we were getting the run around at times.

The Meh

Is this book too long?

Thoughts

We are supposed to find rude behavior admirable in women that we do not like in men.

Is every thriller gonna be men = bad?

Story is not structured around who would want to kill Savvy.

(cover and synopsis from Celadon Books website)

I received Listen for the Lie from Celadon Books for review

79: Woman On the Ledge ARC

Synopsis

Obsession. Intrigue. Revenge. Whose secrets are you keeping? And why?

A woman falls to her death from a London bank’s twenty-fifth-floor roof terrace.

You’re arrested for her murder.

You tell the police that you had only met the victim the previous night at your office party. She was threatening to jump from the roof, but you had talked her down.

You’ve got nothing to do with this tragedy. You’re clearly being framed.

So why do the police keep picking holes in your story? Even your lawyer doesn’t seem to believe you.

It soon becomes obvious that you’re keeping secrets.

But who are you trying to protect? And why?

Obsession. Intrigue. Revenge.

The Good

Incredible job with the mystery

A. Set up/build up of mystery

B. Perception is played with well

C. Kept me as a reader guessing and on my toes

D. Pacing on point -knowing when to introduce things and keep up the suspense.

E. Presence of the lawyer added to story

F. I felt the authors legal expertise in areas of the story.

The Bad/Meh

The we got the motive portion was not as fun (no spoilers but of course it would not be) as the build up.

Overall, I did not have a lot to say but the biggest compliment is seeing post it notes throughout the entire book- of me guessing or just simply being into the story. I would definitely check out other mysteries from this author.

I won this on goodreads from Harper Perrenial

98: Drew Leclair Crushes the Case (& Drew Leclair Gets a Clue)

Synopsis

Fan-favorite detective Drew Leclair returns to crack the case of a sneaky locker thief in this heartfelt sequel to the critically acclaimed middle grade mystery series that’s been called “the perfect story for readers ready to progress from Nancy Drew.” (SLJ, starred review).

After breaking school rules the last time she solved a mystery, Drew Leclair has a new mission: get good grades, stay under the radar, and do not get suspended.

But when Drew finds out that there’s a thief breaking into the P.E. lockers and leaving behind cryptic ransom notes, it’s hard to resist cracking a new case. Especially when one of the victims is her best friend Shrey’s crush, and he’s practically begging her to get involved.

Can Drew catch the thief red-handed while staying out of trouble? And what does it mean when everyone around Drew is obsessing over crushes and the upcoming Wonderland dance, and Drew would rather work on her latest crime board?

The Good

I. Mystery

More focus on mystery than first in the series

More intriguing mystery than first in the series

II. Conflicts

A. Conflict with mom is really good. The mom is given more nuance and grace. B. They acknowledge the different point of views of Drew, her mom, and her dad.

C. Represents the messiness of divorcing parents & many aspects of growing up (such as sexuality) for a middle grade audience.

D. Progressive middle school – race, gender, sexuality, and etc

E. Reflects middle graders feelings well (in my opinion as someone who is not a middle grader)

III. Improvement from book 1 to 2. I read books one and two back-to-back, so I was able to see the progression of the stories closely.

IV. They did not wrap up everything neatly in a bow.

A good job was done leaving story open for if the series continues while leaving it at place that if it does not continue it is fine.

The Bad

The diversity representation can feel checkboxy but at same time it is interesting to have so much representation in terms of race, gender, sexuality in a middle grade story.

Thoughts

I. Right now I feel people are trying to explore how to create diverse worlds.

II. Drew mom would make a good character to explore in a adult novel.

III. With my likes and dislikes I wonder how those in middle grade age range will feel about this story?

IV. Societal idea that maturity = dating. If you are not dating you are emotionally delayed/ stunted…not it.

(cover and synopsis from goodreads)

I won this on goodreads from HarperChildrens/HarperCollins

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96: The Blonde Identity

Synopsis

A fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.
2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear.

That’s easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe–dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

Recommend to…

if you like stories that are heavily romance/the couple

if you like grumpy man and sunshine woman

The Good

I. The conflict of Sawyer being spy and having a relationship

II. Twists- did not see them coming

III. Hit on elements that usually don’t get hit on with amnesia

The Meh

I. It is heavily romance like 95% and 5% espionage

II. Zoe is kind of annoying and felt childish at times

III. Not connecting with the jokes and overall vibe at times

The Bad

I. Did they build the romance? I ask this when this story was again 95% romance.

II. This feels very cardboard cutout/tropey in terms of characters they came off flat at times

III. I honestly think the execution of the story was not for me. I kept wishing for more espionage/mystery to balance out the story.

Thoughts

A. Blond Identity is a play on The Bourne Identity

B. This would be better as a movie or show?

C. Spent half of this book trying to pinpoint what movie this book is like

(cover and synopsis from goodreads)

I won this from Willam Morrow via goodreads

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110: Promise Boys

Synopsis

A blockbuster mystery about three teens of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names—this page-turning thriller is perfect for fans ofKaren McManus, Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson.

“Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

“A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery.” —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of students—J.B., Ramón, and Trey—emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive—and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?

Find out who killed Principal Moore in Nick Brooks’s murder mystery, Promise Boys—The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying.

The Good

A. Mystery – It is an actual mystery with suspects, clues, victim who was murdered, and reveals.

B. Commentary on Black & brown majority schools

-how the boys are treated/seen

– Black savior (generally male) principal who treats kids like criminals or people who need to be straightened.

-weird narrative around saving Black & brown students

C. Represent Black men and boys relationship.

D. Represents Black and brown boys in general.

E. Get to see Black culture in school.

F. Giving empathy and nuance to many people who usually do not get it.

G. Has visions of ways Promise Prep and other schools like it (maybe) can improve.

The Bad

Story is on the nose about its messages at times.

The Meh

The culprit(s) was eh.

Thoughts

I. Black Majority Schools

A. Promise Prep gives dystopia easily like if they went further left this could be a dystopia school.

Also, it feels like they are taming wild animals or preparing these kids for jail.

B. Capture’s the weird philosophy around underprivileged Black & brown schools.

C. Would love to see a girl version of Promise Boys to show things Black and brown girls deal with in these types of schools.

D. The change in setting from a white majority school means that so much gets to be represented that usually is not represented.

II. Discipline

A. Why is discipline the only solution for Black and brown (and boys in general)? Discipline is used to fix poverty, all inequalities at these schools/ communities, and basically everything.

Is half of the things they are punished for worth the punishment? Then again are the kid’s guardians preparing for the world that treats them/sees them in a certain way?

B. This separation of the boys from being kids/young thus not being allowed the benefit of doubt or to make mistakes. Why does everyone assume they are guilty until proven innocent? Does it seem like adults are just waiting for kids mess up so they can set up a message especially for these kids?

C. Anger is the only emotion folks/society accept from Black & brown boys.

III. Black & YA & Mystery

– I am excited at the moment about the influx of Black ya mysteries we are getting this year. I say so far because I was excited about Black ya horror last year but that underwhelmed me.

-I am ready for a non-racial centered mystery for Black folks.

IV. The ending gives movie.

I received this for review from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group via bookishfirst

145: Blood Will Tell

Synopsis

From the author of the acclaimed debut No Bad Deed, a twisty novel about the bond between two sisters—and the crimes one covers up to protect the other. For fans of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben.

Schoolteacher and single mom Frankie Barrera has always been fiercely protective of her younger sister Izzy—whether Izzy wants her to be or not. But over the years, Izzy’s risky choices have tested Frankie’s loyalty. Never so much as on a night five years ago, when a frantic phone call led Frankie to the scene of a car accident—and a drunk and disoriented Izzy who couldn’t remember a thing.

Though six friends partied on the outskirts of town that night, one girl was never seen again . . .

Now, an Amber alert puts Frankie in the sights of the local police. Her truck has been described as the one used in the abduction of a girl from a neighboring town. And the only other person with access to Frankie’s truck is Izzy.

This time around, Frankie will have to decide what lengths she’s willing to go to in order to protect Izzy—what lies she’s willing to tell, and what secrets she’s willing to keep—because the dangerous game that six friends once played on a warm summer night isn’t over yet . . .

The Bad

I. Pacing

II. Are all stories now basically going to hold your hand and tell you through the mystery instead of sitting and letting things happen naturally?

III. Why is everyone so ready to talk to the main character?

IV. It is not a good thriller. The mystery is not interesting.

V. They possibly should have introduced things before having the girl go missing because I did not care about her or the mystery.

VI. The characters do not have a good connection.

The Meh

When story actually has murderer(s) and not just the main character interviewing people it is interesting.

The Good

The story has latino main characters but is not a racial thriller.



I won this in a giveaway from William Morrow on goodreads

135: The House Party

Synopsis

When a house party goes terribly wrong, a suburban town fractures, exposing disturbing truths about the community.

Maja Jensen is smart, stylish, and careful, the type of woman who considers every detail when building her dream home in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The perfect house that would compensate for her failure to have a child, the house that was going to save her marriage. But when a group of reckless teenagers trash the newly built home just weeks before she moves in, her plans are shattered.

Those teenagers are the “good kids”–the ones on track to go to college and move on to the next stage of their privileged lives. They have grown up in a protected bubble and are accustomed to getting by with just a slap on the wrist. Did they think they could just destroy property without facing punishment? Or was there something deeper, darker, at play that night? As the police close in on a list of suspects, the tight-knit community begins to fray as families attempt to protect themselves.

What should have been the party of the year will have repercussions that will put Maja’s marriage to the ultimate test, jeopardize the futures of those “good kids,” and divide the town over questions of privilege and responsibility.

An absorbing novel told through shifting perspectives, The House Party explores how easily friendships, careers, communities, and marriages can upend when differences in wealth and power are forced to the surface.

The Good

I. 🏠 Does a good job discussing: classicism, privilege, without going for the easy rich= bad, poor = good. The story was complex.

II. 🏠 🏠 Characters

A. They were neither caricature nor stereotypes. It allowed the story to be messy and for me to understand everyone’s point of view.

B. The story deals with the different viewpoints of everyone: people whose house was trashed, police, people who trashed it, parents, etc.

III. 🏠🏠🏠 Pace – it never felt like it was lagging.

IV. 🏠🏠🏠🏠 The ending is realistic.

Thoughts

🏡 A. “Victimless” crimes – someone has to deal with damage that is inflicted on a property. People put a lot into a property because a building even though it is material is a thing to a person. Also, property cannot matter more than people or justice.

🏡 B. Dealing with crime the assumption is the victim(s) are the only ones who are harmed but I think (odd as it may sound) actions have a reverberation. The incident in the story really was like a cracking glass (like on the cover) on everybody’s life.

🏡 C. What is justice with classicism?

🏡 D. The ability to skirt responsibility and also start over with a clean slate can be a privilege.

🏡 E. Why can’t they take responsibility for petty crimes? If there are so many safety nets for those with privilege?

🏡 F. The scary thing about some crimes is that they are serious. As soon as you say a person committed the crime it does not matter if it is true or not. People can and will always believe that it is true.

🏡G. I do not know what type of thriller this is classified as (domestic, psychological?) but I want more.

(book cover and synopsis are from goodreads)

received this in a giveaway on goodreads from William Morrow

209: Saving Eden

Synopsis 

Sixteen-year-old Angela and her father are the last survivors on earth. She dreams of adventure and romance but only finds it in books. In the confines of her garden paradise, she’s untouched by contaminants that caused the rest of humanity to mutate into murderous beasts or die. But staying in the garden sure gets lonely.

When a seventeen-year-old boy stumbles upon Angela’s home with news about a thriving community, his presence upheavals everything she knew about the world. She dares to leave her garden for the first time to find a better home.

In the authoritarian society that she finds the line between man and mutant is murkier than she expected. Her father is danger, and the men tasked with protecting the settlement are extremely fond of murder. With their lives on the line, can Angela create one last happy ending in a hopeless world?

Fans of dystopian societies, post-apocalyptic futures, diverse characters, fantasy, and coming-of-age adventures with heart will fall in love with this post-apocalyptic fairy tale.

The Good 

🌱Having a naïve/innocent Black girl as main character

🌱Talks a bit (not that much) /alludes to race which would not happen that much if the author was not Black. 

🌱Has interesting ideas as a dystopia – I found the dystopia world not being devoid of technology and having advanced tech as something that got my attention. 

🌱Diverse dystopia

The Bad 

🍃Should this book been longer?  First and second book needed to be mashed up into one? This needed padding it crammed 3+ book or 400+ pages storyline into 230 pages in ways the story suffered because of this. 

🍃How the story suffered- everything was too obvious, world felt undeveloped, character development choices was off, we did not get to know many of the characters, and the romance was not built.

🍃Disappointment in story being a okay not great one – it was not an engaging read. 

The Meh

🌿🍃🌱There is a pro/con for having advanced technology in a dystopia

Thoughts

🌾Assumption that dystopia will level the playing field- brute will be the deciding factor.

-so rich guy owning town, people with land and valuable resources have privilege which a lot of times is rich folks.

🌾We keep avoiding engagement with why people with powers would be harmed.

🌾 I want to see more Black young adult science fiction specific books- I think there is a lot of focus on fantasy but not enough on sci-fi. Then again sci-fi is considered a dead genre so as a whole it is not getting shine.

Black Science Fiction Recommendations ~Middle grade & Young Adult & Adult

A Phoenix First Must Burn Anthology – ya ~at least one dystopian short story

The Good Luck Girls – ya

Mirage by Somaiya Daud – ya

Shuri by Nic Stone – middle grade

Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord – adult

Skinned by Lesley Nneka Arimah – adult ~dystopian

(the synopsis/cover image is from goodreads)

199: When No One Is Watching

Synopsis

The gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

Introduction

I did not plan on finishing this  because I read a bit of the prologue and felt the message was heavy (that is the opposite of what I like as a reader, I like subtleness because it forces the reader to think and assess). So for Christmas someone surprisingly bought it for me which I think was a good thing actually because I do not think I fully read the prologue or first chapter. Also, I think with some of the conversations happening around the book I got to sit with them for the entire book. 

The Good

There are many points when I really enjoyed the Black history moments. 

Seeing different things happening through the various point of view characters was interesting.

The Bad

I. I do not like the Black voice they give characters now it feels so try hardy –for a lack of better way to describe it.

II. The racial conversations were so heavy handed and forced most of the time. 

III. Moments felt like they happened so the character((s) could have their reaction moment to whiteness. 

Theo= good white

 Kim= bad white

IV. It is not a good thriller. 

Thrilling moments do not land- it is not thrilling neither suspenseful. 

A. To be a good psychological thriller you have to be subtle. The message is so obvious and the reacting to whiteness voice is so loud it is drowning out the thrills.

B. The direction of the story was so obvious (admittedly I think I got maybe vaguely spoiled a bit following some of the conversations around this).

C. The situations that are meant to be suspenseful are rushed through quickly. Is there enough building up to the moments? There is definitely not enough lingering in the moments. 

D. It is close to reality so there is a lack of thrill because this really happens/is happening. 

Is this book for white people? A. Some of the conversations are so water is wet that it can feel like they only exist for the white gaze.

B. Then again I do not know because way too many non-Black people got mad and renounced this book which is wild because so much of the contents is again water is wet.  

Recommendations

Both are young adult contemporaries  so may seem the opposite of When No One Who Is Watching which is adult thriller but  all of them are about gentrification. It is good to read other books about gentrification.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi 

This Side of Home by Renee Watson