Steph Reads: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

The Good Girl follows the story of Mia Dennett, a young school teacher who comes from a massively wealthy family making her the perfect target for an abduction demanding a hefty ransom. The story takes place through the eyes of Mia and her captor during the time she is living as a captive, as well as after her return switching perspective between the Detective on the case and Mia's mother. Upon her return from being held captive, Mia has selective amnesia which has blocked most of her memories of her time in the Minnesota woods with her captor, making her case all the more interesting and complex.

Kubica manages to pen this story switching between points of view as well as places on the timeline without confusion and is able to reveal a great deal about many characters in few words. Overall I enjoyed the set up of this story as well as the ending, but I felt the middle of the story was a bit lengthy without much development. It was most likely intentional, but just when I thought the characters were getting somewhere in a scenario or conversation, the chapter would end and the point of view would shift to a different character and part of the timeline forcing me to abandon the momentum I had going in a previous scene.

I do think that the ending of this story was worth the wait and well worth the repeated taunt at some sort of fulfillment in the mid portion of the story, but I do think other books (such as Gone Girl and Girl on the Train) do a better job at keeping a more consistent engagement with the story. When people refer to these types of stories as 'thrillers' or 'roller coaster rides,' I would say with this novel I felt a peak at the beginning, one long plateau, followed by a last peak where as with the previously mentioned novels I feel a ton of bumps along with the massive peaks throughout the story's entirety. Again, I think the ending of this book is very well done and made me want to read the story again (seriously, read the Epilogue...my jaw dropped and I gasped on the subway), but be prepared for a bit of a slow burn with this one!

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline11/22/63 by Stephen King
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by Courtney Robertson
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

Steph Reads: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

11/22/63 is the story of a modern day time-traveler attempting to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  This was my first Stephen King novel and I can say with confidence that it won't be my last. King put an immense amount of research into this novel and it was certainly not for nothing--the details in the world building, the backstories of the characters, and the realistic touches included in every scene kept me completely glued to and immersed in the story with every page.

The story follows Jake Epping, a high school English teacher who gets roped into a conspiratorial plan by the owner of the local diner where a 'rabbit hole' to the past is located. The rules of the rabbit hole are as follows:
-it always brings you to September 9, 1958 at 11:58am
-upon returning through the hole, no matter how long you have stayed in the past, only 2 minutes will have elapsed
-you can change the past but every return to the past 'resets' the timeline
-the past does NOT want to be changed
The novel follows Jake as he navigates the 50s and 60s, waiting for the fated day on November 22nd 1963, when he will attempt to change the course of history as we know it.

Through the course of the story, we get to see Jake test the theories of timelines and time travel and make many mistakes along the way which is perhaps my favorite part of the novel.  I love world building (which there most certainly is a ton of in order for King to paint a realistic portrayal of 1958) as well as testing the rules of something not otherwise established.  Time travel is certainly not a novel subject in pop culture, but I don't feel like it has previously been done as well as King does it in this book by creating definitive rules and repercussions of such a hypothetical, ambiguous idea.  This book is definitely a long one, though I feel like it was necessary in order to develop an investment in the character's life in the past. What above love, relationships--the new life established in the years waiting for the assassination attempt?  The novel took its time to explore niches in the culture of the 50s and 60s as well as teach Jake some unforgiving lessons delivered by a timeline that doesn't want to be altered.  The book is lengthy leading up to 1963, though it doesn't feel like it drags as it is full of events that are both dreamy and nightmare worthy.  Suddenly its like someone presses the fast forward button leading up to the assassination date and everything happens all at once climaxing in an ultimately bitter sweet ending that left me teary-eyed.

I recommend this book for anyone who loves conspiracy theories, world building, and doesn't mind things getting a bit cerebral.  This book was definitely a thrilling ride!

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by Courtney Robertson
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

Steph Reads: Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

I was on the look out for another chick-lit read while I was completing my first clinical rotation in the ICU this past fall. I was seeing some pretty powerful stuff on the daily, so I wanted something light and easy to read! I found this novel, Baby Proof, by Emily Giffin (author of the Something Borrowed series). The book cost me all of a quarter at the thrift store so I gave it a shot!

This book follows Claudia, a successful and independent book editor in Manhattan who has met the man of her dreams, Ben.  Their ideals and morals line up in the most picture-perfect ways down to their desires for the future after marriage: neither one of them want children.  Things are perfect for the couple and Claudia scoffs at others who are bound down by their children until one day, Ben decides he wants to be a father.  The question this novel asks is how much are we willing to compromise when it comes to true love and your potential soul mate????
Overall, I enjoyed and hated this book at the same time. It was an easy read and I do enjoy how realistically Giffin illustrates scenes and portrays characters, however it left no lingering thoughts or ponderings in my head other than general annoyance with how the book ended.

**WARNING! SPOILERS FOLLOW!**
Claudia and Ben separate after Ben's decision that he wants kids despite his prior promises.  The majority of the novel is the couple separated and perfectly depicts the following scenes: the magnetic pull felt toward an ex despite better judgments, family awkwardly asking where an SO is (not realizing yet they are no longer in the picture), seeing an ex with another person and questioning their romantic involvement, must I go on??? Giffin is without a doubt a terrific and talented author, because through every one of these scenes my stomach sank and I got actual chest palpitations. My issue with this is why do I want to live through these terrible moments along with the main character Claudia??? The majority of women have felt these feelings before as they are quintessential to nearly every breakup.

I might have recommended this book to someone going through a breakup to kind of get through it with the main character if the ending were Claudia finding some sort of inner peace with herself, BUT (spoilers, I warned you!), Claudia and Ben end up getting back together at the end. We don't know if they are going to have kids or not but we know that one of them is going to seriously compromise for the other in the biggest way.  Nothing is learned by the end of this book. The characters go through hell and back but it doesn't really matter because everything ends up just peachy in the end.

I wouldn't recommend reading this book unless you're a masochist who wants to go through all the stages of a breakup just for the fun of it.  (PS You're sick!)

xx,
SJ

Steph Reads: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

It had been a while since I had read a Liane Moriarty novel so I decided to end the Summer off with a perfect chick-lit read: Big Little Lies. This story is told in the voices of 3 very different women who all have at least one thing in common: they all have children in the same kindergarten class. Jane is the young newcomer to town who has a haunting past she is trying to escape. Celeste is a startlingly beautiful woman who on the outside seems to be picture perfect. Madeline is the sassy and vivacious one in the group who can't help but get wrapped up in drama. The book begins by hinting at a catastrophe occurring at a parent Trivia night at the elementary school that will ultimately become the story's climax. The book then starts from the beginning with chapters alternating perspective between Jane, Celeste, and Madeline. Each chapter ends with a small segment of detective interviewing occurring after the Trivia night (what all the events in the book are leading up to!). This thoughtful touch is a fun way to try and piece together the puzzle and get a little more information on characters the book doesn't flesh out quite as much.   Kindergarten may seem like a placid setting for a book promising drama; however, you will not be disappointed!

I loved this book perhaps even more than I loved The Husband's Secret. I enjoy Moriarty's captivating writing style and her ability to create characters that are relatable and meaningful.  I love that every time I read one of her novels, I find bits of myself in each of her characters causing me to care more about them and be more understanding of their actions.  I would mark this book as a must read if you enjoy chick-lit novels dripping with humor and satire and if you are patient enough to hold out for the shocking revelations!

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends by Courtney Robertson
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Lianne Moriarty
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Someday Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

Steph Reads: 'Something Borrowed'

      I found this book for a buck at my local thrift store before I made the move to NYC.  I had seen and enjoyed the movie based on this novel and thought it would be fun to read a book set in the Big Apple as a newcomer to this city! 

This story is about Rachel White, who is a smart and spunky attorney at a prestigious law firm. She is also the long time best friend and maid-of-honor to Darcy Rhone,  a confident, gorgeous girl who seems to always get what she wants. The story follows Rachel after having one too many drinks at her 30th birthday party and ending up in bed with Dex, Darcy's fiance. The story takes many twists and turns as good girl Rachel attempts to get what she wants while having an epic internal battle between what's right and wrong.  Can Rachel really betray Darcy in order to be with the man she loves? Or will Rachel let Darcy win, yet again, and stand at the altar as Dex takes Darcy's hand in marriage? 

     Overall, I enjoyed this book for what it was. It was an easy read that I used to get my mind off of Anatomy and exams.  I will say, though, that at some points it was really hard to care about the characters and their outcomes. At its core, this book is about cheating, which isn't exactly admirable or likable.  Rachel, our leading lady who we are supposed to be rooting for, can be a bit whiny and immature at points which made me not care what happened to her by the end of the story.  I'm not even going to go into detail about Dex, the man that as a reader I should be swooning over along with Rachel rather than going 'ummmm your best friend is WAY better, go with him instead!' The most relatable character in the story was actually Darcy as I am positive that everyone has known or is currently friends with a Darcy. She's that girl that everyone desperately wants to be friends with but also secretly kind of hates. Darcy's character is what kept me reading this book because I found it so fascinating when I realized everyone has their own version of Darcy. 

     I would recommend this book if you are looking for an easy chick-lit read and don't mind less than stellar characters to get involved with.  This book was well written and I finished it in a relatively short amount of time, but I was never rushing to pick it up again after putting it down.  

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler