bethreadsandnaps's reviews
2672 reviews

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

4.0

 

I’ve been impressed by Julie Clark’s novels over the years, and this one did not disappoint. 

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter down on her luck. She has to pay a court settlement to her nemesis, and she can’t score any work. But when the ideal, lucrative job lands in her lap, she takes it despite it being to ghostwrite her estranged father Vincent’s memoir. He was finally going to write about the pivotal time in 1975 when his older brother Danny and younger sister Poppy were murdered in his family home. 

Olivia is an interesting, secretive character. It makes some sense since she is the child of two secretive parents. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and the time jumps back to 1975. I felt like I got a good sense of Vincent’s family back in 1975. 

This was a fun ride, as all of Clark’s books are. At times, you don’t want to think too hard because a few pieces don’t make the most sense (Olivia wouldn’t talk to either of her parents for decades?). I felt that sometimes this novel circled the drain a bit too long before coming to a conclusion. Ultimately, though, I thought many elements of this were well done, and I had a great time immersing myself in the story. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review. 

It publishes June 3, 2025. 

Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat by Patricia Williams

4.0

This book was rough. Pat (Rabbit) Williams had a hard life. Though it wasn't enjoyable, per se, to read, there was a lot there. A true rags to riches story. I felt like this memoir didn't pull together as much as I wanted. What I mean is that there is so much depravity that it felt like her husband Michael was the main impetus for Pat to get her act together (or at least it sounded that way). A man as impetus isn't the narrative I necessarily wanted, but of course I'm glad that Pat did stop her life of crime and got what she needed from comedy and was able to support her family in a legal way.  

El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott

3.0

 

Set in Michigan in 2008, Abbott explores the dynamic of three sisters from the perspective of Harper (her sisters are Pam and Debra). Harper has always felt different from her sisters, notably because she’s lesbian and never married. When she arrives on the doorstep of her divorced sister Pam, she finds out that Pam is involved in a pyramid scheme called The Wheel. Attracted by the money and urged by her sister, Harper becomes involved in the pyramid scheme as well.  

The murder takes a while to occur, which is fine, but that meant it didn’t explore the “whodunit” part for very long. I didn’t understand how people in such a financially depressed area could gather up $5,000 to participate in The Wheel, but I guess it was more of an upper crust poor? 

I’m not sure Abbott’s writing is for me. I’ve only read one of her novels in the past, and that one was lukewarm. And I found this one lukewarm as well. I think the author keeps her characters at a distance, which frustrates me as reader. 

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

It publishes June 24, 2025. 

 

Rental House by Weike Wang

4.0

Keru and her husband Nate are childless by choice, and they are navigating being a couple from very different backgrounds. Keru is of Chinese descent, and her parents believe in hard work and living well below their means. Nate is from a poorer white family, and you can see his parents' thinking during the recent election. 

I was rooting for them, but for most of the novel I thought they were a lot younger than they were. 

The cultural differences were interesting to see. And I thought Wang bringing up how immigrants vs. expats delineated was fascinating. A lot to think about in here although it comes in a deceptively small package.  

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

4.0

 

Katherine Center does it again with her newest rom com that has a lot of heart! Katie works as a video producer, and - in order to not get laid off - takes a gig in Key West profiling her coworker Cole’s brother “Hutch” as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. He’s saved Jennifer Aniston’s dog, so this is a big deal. ;) 

Once she gets to Key West, Katie has to confront two big fears: her body image issues (wearing a bathing suit) and not being able to swim as she makes a documentary about a swimmer. Hutch is swoon-worthy, but will he be able to help Katie confront these fears in a way that supports her? 

There’s a fun cast of peripheral characters in this novel, like Aunt Rue and Hutch’s dog George Bailey. The story is fun and light with some heart - a delightful combination. The only part I wasn’t a fan of is when Cole came to check on them, and it sent in motion the part of the novel that separated Katie and Hutch. It felt a little too forced (but yet unique) although I get that rom coms always have this separation.   

I really liked the audiobook narrator Patti Murin. She was a great choice to narrate Katie. It was easy to empathize with her, and she had a perfect balance of emotion without being too over-the-top.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an Advance Reader and Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

It publishes May 20, 2025. 

 

Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations by Richard Wagamese

4.0

Beautiful writing in life-affirming morsels. This is great advice. I think longer passages on each topic would have helped. 

This book runs the risk of going in one ear and out the other without conscientious study.

Shopgirls: A Novel by Jessica Anya Blau

3.0

 

Blau’s sophomore novel SHOPGIRLS features 19-year old Zippy, who works at the department store I. Magnin in San Franciso in 1985. This is a coming of age novel, as Zippy learns how to live on her own out of the shadow of her mother and her stepdad and figures out her career and have a relationship (although that’s a bit slapdash). 

This novel felt very breezy with little substance. It seemed like Blau aged up Mary Jane from her debut novel. Zippy is pretty naive in some ways, but a prodigy in others. Much of the novel takes place at the department store with many “shopgirls” introduced. They all go by Miss So-and-So. A lot of characters but they do get some differentiation. Zippy’s roommate Raquel is Zippy’s mentor, and quite a bit of time is spent on whether they can eat that day. They switch between eating days and non-eating days. 

There are some elements that Zippy deals with (like her suddenly-appearing father and the guy she meets) that seem very rushed. I thought MARY JANE was a much better novel, and this one disappointed me. 

➕ I really liked the chemistry among all the shopgirls. It felt like a very realistic working environment - sometimes supportive, sometimes pretty vicious. 

➖ I wanted more 1985 vibes. At many times, this felt like it took place in the 1960s or before. And then there was a reference to Bill Cosby that seemed very much from the 2010s or 2020s.  

➖ This novel felt rushed. So many strands felt incomplete or needed to be fleshed out more. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

It publishes May 6, 2025. 

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

2.5

 2.5 stars

I'm not sure I "got" this one. I didn't really enjoy this quirky family. I didn't feel much of anything toward any of the characters. I didn't get the pet bear, the taxidermy dog, or the incest.

I did like when revenge was sought. 

It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

4.0

 

4 ⭐️

IT’S A LOVE STORY by Annabel Monaghan

Jane Jackson was a child/teen star in a sitcom, used as a frequent punchline (I’m getting Kimmy Gibbler vibes). Now she’s a creative executive and wants to get her passion project produced. She bites off a little bit more than she can chew when she says she can get the hottest musician (who also helped on her sitcom back in the day) to write a song for the movie. Now she has to lean on workplace nemesis Dan Finnegan, whose favorite movie is THE NOTEBOOK, to help her out when Jack is going to be in his hometown of Long Island. 

This was a cute rom com ride with similar vibes as NORA GOES OFF SCRIPT, but this time it’s with a perpetually single main character who has never had a relationship. Jane’s problem is that she pretends to be what men want her to be instead of herself. Will Jane be able to show her true self to Dan, and will he accept her for who she is? 

➕ I really liked the time Jane spends with Dan’s family in Long Island. What a fun, crazy family! (This would be fun to see in a movie.)

➕ I warmed up to Dan pretty quickly.

➕ This was a cute rom com with a tie-in to being famous as a teen and forging your own identity as you let go of the past.

➖ The beginning of this novel seemed rushed and forced, so the set-up wasn’t as solid as I thought it could be. 

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. 

It publishes May 27, 2025. 

 

The River Is Waiting: A Novel by Wally Lamb

4.0

 

4 ⭐️

THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb

Corby is married to the love of his life and has healthy toddler boy/girl twins. Sure, he’s had some bad luck in the job market, but that can be overcome, right? Until he decides to take comfort in alcohol and pills, and an ensuing tragedy ends up changing the trajectory of his life. 

If you enjoy the podcast Ear Hustle, I think you might really like this novel. The author Wally Lamb does a lot of work in prisons, and that interest gives the reader a keen look at what the day-to-day life in a prison looks like (it’s not as dramatic as Orange Is the New Black). Corby is a frustrating character, so much so that I can see readers giving up on the book because of him. Now I like a flawed main character, so I was fine with it.

➕ I couldn’t put this novel down. I stayed up hours past my bedtime to read. 

➕ I liked Corby’s voice - I’m a sucker for first person perspective.

➕ This novel tackled some unique topics, like grief from a very particular perspective (no spoilers).

➕ I thought Emily was a very good character, and she reacted a lot better than I would have.

My list of negatives looks rather long, but I’d say it’s more like caveats. If you’re okay with these, then I think you’re set up to enjoy this novel more. 

➖ Depressing. It feels like you level down at steady intervals throughout the novel. I kept thinking we’re at the bottom, and then it dropped yet again.  

➖ I can see readers becoming very frustrated with the main character Corby.

➖ The vast majority of the novel takes place in prison. Day-to-day prison. I didn’t mind it, but I can see some readers not liking the slow train through a prison sentence. 

➖ Some of the education pieces, like racism in the prison system, aren’t folded in as seamlessly as they could be. 

➖ The ending starting with Chapter 40. Maybe I’ll come around on it. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster / Marysue Rucci Books for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review. 

It publishes May 6, 2025. 

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