I was so excited to listen to The Newcomer. I downloaded it on audio to listen to on road trips this summer. Unfortunately, I found myself without as much time in the car alone as I thought. The book was not a good one to have playing with little ears in the back, so it took me quite so time to finish. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in this book. The description and cover led me to believe that it would be a light-hearted with some suspense thrown in there. However, I found it to be difficult to listen to-I couldn’t relate to the characters and just found the storyline to fall flat. It also didn’t help that one of the characters was a young child and the narrator’s screechy/whiny voice was not appealing to listen to. I’m not sure if I would have liked it better if I read it opposed to listening.
I’ve read several of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s book and really liked them! I devoured Daisy Jones and The Six and One True Loves is another favorite! So, I was anxiously anticipating Reid’s latest release, Malibu Rising. First of all, the story takes place in the 80’s so there’s some fun flashbacks about that time period. The book follows Nina Riva and her famous family leading up to their infamous annual party. It also looks back at their family’s tumultuous history. I thought this would be considered a “beach read” but I was wrong, it was much more than that. I found myself being sad for the Riva family and being invested in what would happen. The story ends in flames and with some new beginnings. Malibu Rising was my favorite read of the summer.
*This book has sexual abuse and could be disturbing to those facing similar traumas.* The Paper Palace is full of lies, family drama, love and explores how certain choices lead us in a different direction than we may have chosen. Elle Bishop is at a crossroads in her life and must choose between her husband and the love of her life. Set amongst their summer home in Cape Cod, this story unravels over years. The Paper Palace was very difficult to read at times due to the nature of some things that happen. However, I thought it was beautifully written and was one that I will not forget.