Saturday, August 22, 2015

Kid Konnection: New Chronicle Board Books


Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you two precious board books for little ones.

Summary: Get animals moving and grooving with each lift—or swing— of a flap! Wiggle inventive flaps to make a butterfly flitter away. Tug an unexpected pop-up to make a wide-eyed hippo stick out its tongue! Bold, graphic, and hilarious, this novelty book is perfect for interactive reading and playtime fun! -- Chronicle

ALL SHOOK UP! by Alain Crozon is a very cute board book. It even has flaps... and you know how little hands love flaps! Children can make all types of animals "move" by lifting or swinging the flaps. There is a bird, a butterfly, a bunny, an elephant, and even a hippo.

The picture book is a lot of fun and has adorable illustrations in vibrant colors. I was impressed with how sturdy the pages of the book and the flaps are. As a mom who had to replace lift-the-flap books because of overuse (or over-love!), that's an important feature for me. Check out the image below to get a better idea of just how unique ALL SHOOK UP! is:

Summary: Spot sweet surprises with each lift—or swing—of a flap! Cheep! Cheep! Who is cuddled under Mama's wing? Buzz! Buzzzz! Who has landed on that flashy flower? Discover hidden surprises and delight in interactive peekaboo play with this entertaining lift-the-flap book. 

WHO'S THERE? by Alain Crozon is another cute picture book. Like ALL SHOOK UP!, the book has whimsical illustrations that are also interactive; however in this book, there are hidden surprises underneath the flaps. For example, there is something underneath the mama bird's wing and a surprise inside the fish's belly.

When my kids were small, they loved the lift-the-flap books by Karen Katz. WHO'S THERE? reminds me a little of her books because there are secrets and surprises underneath the flaps. With the silly pictures and text, I think this book will have the same broad appeal!

Both ALL SHOOK UP! and WHO'S THERE are fun books with the flaps on every page that are guaranteed to entertain toddlers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!



Thursday, August 20, 2015

Review: Inside the O'Briens

Summary: From the New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice Lisa Genova comes a powerful and transcendent new novel about a family struggling with the impact of Huntington’s disease.

Joe O’Brien is a forty-four-year-old police officer from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. A devoted husband, proud father of four children in their twenties, and respected officer, Joe begins experiencing bouts of disorganized thinking, uncharacteristic temper outbursts, and strange, involuntary movements. He initially attributes these episodes to the stress of his job, but as these symptoms worsen, he agrees to see a neurologist and is handed a diagnosis that will change his and his family’s lives forever: Huntington’s disease.

Huntington’s is a lethal neurodegenerative disease with no treatment and no cure. Each of Joe’s four children has a 50 percent chance of inheriting their father’s disease, and a simple blood test can reveal their genetic fate. While watching her potential future in her father’s escalating symptoms, twenty-one-year-old daughter Katie struggles with the questions this test imposes on her young adult life. Does she want to know? What if she’s gene positive? Can she live with the constant anxiety of not knowing?

As Joe’s symptoms worsen and he’s eventually stripped of his badge and more, Joe struggles to maintain hope and a sense of purpose, while Katie and her siblings must find the courage to either live a life “at risk” or learn their fate.

Praised for writing that “explores the resilience of the human spirit” (The San Francisco Chronicle), Lisa Genova has once again delivered a novel as powerful and unforgettable as the human insights at its core. -- Gallery

I'm  still trying to catch up on reviews and it doesn't seem like I'm making much headway. The latest book that has been sitting in my finished pile since late June is INSIDE THE O'BRIENS by Lisa Genova. I read this novel while I was vacationing in the Outer Banks, and it is probably the most memorable book I read during that week. I absolutely loved this novel.

INSIDE THE O'BRIENS tells the story of Joe O'Brien, a man who is diagnosed with the neurological disorder called Huntington's disease. It also shows the devastating effects this diagnosis has on his entire family. Joe is a 44 year old cop, husband, and father of four adult children who lives in the Boston suburb and Irish Catholic neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Joe is a respected police officer and devoted husband and father who starts showing signs that something isn't quite right. He has outbursts of temper, disorganized thinking and involuntary muscle movements. When he receives the diagnosis of the rare, but fatal, Huntington's disease, the lives of the entire O'Brien family are turned upside down.

I thought INSIDE THE O'BRIENS was an excellent novel. I was riveted to the story and became fully entrenched in the lives of the O'Brien family. There were parts of this novel that made me laugh and many more parts that made me cry. Overall, I think this book resonated with me like few books do... which is rather ironic considering that the characters and their experiences are totally foreign to me.

I appreciated many things about this novel, but what I think I appreciated the most was how Ms. Genova brought these characters to life and put a name to such a horrible disease. Joe was the patriarch of this big family and he represented strength and stability to this family, so when he was diagnosed with a debilitating disease, it was a major strike to his wife and children. The way the author portrayed Joe and how he handled the decline in his body was well done and so very realistic to me.

In addition to dealing with Joe's diagnosis, the odds of carrying on the disease to his children was 50%. The children not only had to face that their father was slowly dying in a horrible way, but that they had to decide if they wanted genetic testing to see if they were carrying the gene. Knowing, or not knowing, whether they were potential victims to Huntington's would affect many of their future decisions. Just imagine how terrifying it would be to first wonder if you had it and then to know that there was a good chance that you were going to die from this disease.

I also appreciated how the author brought Joe and his wife and his children to life. I already mentioned how well she portrayed Joe, but I also thought she did a wonderful job with Joe's wife. She was a strong woman but the stress of taking care of Joe and worrying about her children was all consuming. My heart broke for her over and over again in this novel. In addition, I liked how Joe's four adult children all handled things very differently. I think the various ways they dealt with their dad's declining health and their decision to have genetic testing really hit home to me just how much the after shocks of this diagnosis changed everyone's lives.

There is no doubt that this book was not an easy read for me. I cried often and had a nervous stomach for so much of the story. What happened to the O'Brien family could happen to any of our families, and in many ways, it was a wake-up call for me. This novel showed how precious life is, but it was also a reminder not to take our health for granted. In addition, I loved how Joe eventually lived with his disease. (Notice I used the word "lived.") He showed his family what it means to live with a fatal disease with dignity, and that was the best gift he could give to his loved ones.

Like all of Ms. Genova's books, INSIDE THE O'BRIENS would make a wonderful book club selection. There is a reading guide available with sixteen questions along with some ways to enhance your book club experience. Some of the themes you might want to discuss include grief, loss, marriage, faith, and family. In addition, there are many beautiful themes you could explore life, dance, freedom, and control (or lack thereof!)

I loved INSIDE THE O'BRIENS and highly recommend it to fans of literary fiction!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Guest Review: Devil's Harbor

Summary: With heart-stopping thrills, a Walter White-esque villain, and a fascinating hero, Alex Gilly's Devil's Harbor is a thriller unlike any you have read before Nick Finn and his partner and brother-in-law, Diego Jimenez, are used to rough water. As Marine Interdiction Agents for Customs and Border Protection, the two hunt drug smugglers, human traffickers, and other criminals who hide in the vastness of the waters surrounding southern California. 

One night, Finn and Diego track a phantom boat off the Los Angeles coast, but it disappears before they can intercept it. They find a dead body in its wake, ravaged by sharks. Their investigation into the floater stalls when Finn is accused of using excessive force following the death of a suspected drug smuggler. 

Then Diego is murdered--and Finn is the number-one suspect. As he races to find the real killer and save his marriage, Finn is forced to partner with Linda Blake, the desperate captain of the Pacific Belle and mother of Lucy, a very sick little girl, to attempt the one thing he has devoted his life to stopping. 

In order to clear his name and save a child's life, Finn must smuggle narcotics by sea into the United States…and avoid the net that his CBP colleagues have cast for him. -- Forge

Booking Pap Pap is back with another great review. This time, it's for the novel DEVIL'S HARBOR by Alex Gilly. This thriller certainly seemed to have a lot of action going on! Here are his thoughts:

DEVIL'S HARBOR is author Alex Gilly’s debut thriller and from my viewpoint is a pretty good first effort. From the very beginning the action is fast paced as Finn and his partner/brother-in-law Diego Jimenez chase down a suspect drug boat. When Finn and Jimenez attempt to board the boat they are attacked and Finn kills the assailant. An internal investigation finds little evidence of smuggling or attack and Finn gets little support from management when the family sues for use of excessive force. In the meantime the action continues as Finn and Jimenez chase a suspect boat that mysteriously disappears before they can intercept it. In the boat’s wake, they find a body partially eaten by sharks. Finn and Jimenez think the case is tied to the unusual amount of “floaters” recently found in the waters off California and begins investigating when Jimenez is suddenly murdered. Finn, an alcoholic, burdened by the internal investigation and the current case, gets drunk and is beaten and robbed of his gun. Finn becomes the number one suspect when it’s discovered that his gun was used to kill Jimenez. His problems mount when his marriage comes under stress due to the drinking and the murder of his brother-in-law.

Now driven to find Jimenez’s killer and save his marriage, Finn’s investigation leads him to the boat, Pacific Belle and its owner, the attractive Linda Blake who has a daughter with serious medical problems. Finn is forced to partner with Linda Blake on a drug run from Mexico in the hope of saving her daughter and clearing his name.

Gilly has created very good character portrayals which makes it easy for the reader to form a detailed mental picture of each one. He has developed a realistic plot that captures the current environment of drugs, illegal immigration and Mexican gangs that exists in the Southern California area. The suspense and action in the novel is accelerated with his use of drug running speed boats, a dangerous Mexican town, sharks and murder. He adds in the element of surprise.

If I have one minor criticism, Gilly may have provided too many clues to the outcome and some readers may figure out the “surprise” ending well ahead of the conclusion.

Overall, DEVIL’S HARBOR is a fast paced thriller that will be of interest to fans of this genre.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his review and thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Review: Eeny Meeny

Summary: Two people are abducted, imprisoned, and left with a gun. As hunger and thirst set in, only one walks away alive.

It’s a game more twisted than any Detective Helen Grace has ever seen. If she hadn’t spoken with the shattered survivors herself, she almost wouldn’t believe them.

Helen is familiar with the dark sides of human nature, including her own, but this case—with its seemingly random victims—has her baffled. But as more people go missing, nothing will be more terrifying than when it all starts making sense…. -- NAL

EENY MEENY by M.J. Arlidge definitely sounds like a book I'd enjoy, but it wasn't really on my radar until I heard Mike Greenberg talk about it on his daily sports radio show Mike & Mike. The way he described this novel made it sound so good... and so twisted. I just knew I had to get my hands on a copy. I tend to agree with Mr. Greenberg on quite a bit so it wasn't surprised when I discovered that he was spot on with his thoughts on this book. I really, really enjoyed it!

EENY MEENY is one seriously creepy book. It begins with a scene of a boyfriend and girlfriend who have been kidnapped and placed in a deserted (and empty) swimming pool with nothing but an almost dead throw-away phone and a gun. The phone contains a message that says the only way to escape is if one of them kills the other one. Talk about a twisted game!

When Detective Helen Grace interviews the survivor, she isn't sure if the story is believable, but who in their right mind could make up a story like this? Though Helen has her own set of issues (which add another dimension to an already good story!), she is a thorough investigator and tends to believe the survivors.

As more and more cases of the "game" appear, Helen discovers that a few of the "players" have ties to her. An already tense investigation becomes personal for her as she discovers that the stakes are even higher than she every imagined!

I loved EENY MEENY! It was just the right amount of scary without being over the top, the mystery was tight, and I loved the character of Helen Grace. I honestly couldn't put down this book, but at the same time, I didn't want it to end. Thank goodness it's the first in a series!

I probably sound a bit twisted myself for saying this, but I loved the concept of this book and the crimes. A few of the scenes even made my skin crawl, and Mr. Arlidge didn't shy away from vivid descriptions or shocking surprises even at the expense of main characters. (Note: this book probably isn't for the faint of heart!) It was such a unique premise and so well done.

And that lead's me to my next point -- the mystery was set up and revealed almost perfectly. I admit that I had a few inklings, but I didn't fully understand all the details about the perpetrator. I am dying to discuss this but I don't want to give too much away. Suffice it to say that I wasn't totally surprised, but I was impressed with how everything came together. It all made perfect sense!

Finally, Helen is just a fantastic character and reminded me a bit of a female Harry Bosch. I mentioned earlier that Helen had some issues, but that's a tactful way of saying that Helen is still suffering the effects from her traumatic childhood. For most of the novel, the reader just knows that Helen finds the need to pay for some event from her past; and it's a pretty unconventional and disturbing way that she chooses to suffer. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the person responsible for these horrific crimes knows Helen personally; and it's up to Helen to figure out the who and why.

EENY MEENY was an extremely good mystery, but it was also special because the characters were so complex as were their relationships with each other. As a result, I do think EENY MEENY would make a fantastic book club selection. There is a reading guide with twelve questions included in the back of the book; however, I couldn't find an on-line link. Some of the themes you might want to explore include moral choices (like right vs. wrong and guilt vs. innocence), Helen's mental state, the role of women, co-workers, and family, self-doubt, guilt and more

I loved EENY MEENY and can't wait for the next book in the Helen Grace series POP GOES THE WEASEL. If you are a fan of twisted suspense stories, then I highly recommend this novel!

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read. Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.


Saturday, August 15, 2015

Kid Konnection: Sunny Side Up


Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a soon-to-be-released graphic novel that I adored!

Summary: Sunny Lewin has been packed off to Florida to live with her grandfather for the summer. At first she thought Florida might be fun -- it is the home of Disney World, after all. But the place where Gramps lives is no amusement park. It's full of... old people. Really old people.

Luckily, Sunny isn't the only kid around. She meets Buzz, a boy who is completely obsessed with comic books, and soon they're having adventures of their own: facing off against golf-ball-eating alligators, runaway cats, and mysteriously disappearing neighbors. But the question remains -- why is Sunny down in Florida in the first place? The answer lies in a family secret that won't be secret to Sunny much longer... -- Scholastic

I rarely read graphic novels, but when I do, I always enjoy them! I saw SUNNY SIDE UP by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm sitting on the shelf in my basement and remembered the Kathy (aka Bermudaonion) loved it. I was in the mood for a quick (but good) read and decided that the cover and title were so cute and screaming "summer."

SUNNY SIDE UP tells the story of Sunny Lewin, a young girl sent away from her home in Pennsylvania to visit her grandfather in Florida. Sunny thought this summer trip could be fun, especially if she visited Disney World; however, she quickly learned that it meant staying with her grandfather's house that smells like smoke and sleeping on an uncomfortable sofa bed.

Fortunately Sunny meets another kid her age, a boy named Buzz. Buzz's father is the gardener in the 55 and older community where Sunny's grandfather lives. Buzz introduces Sunny to comics, and together, the two create their own adventures like hunting down missing cats, collecting golf balls from alligator ridden ponds, and even finding a missing neighbor with dementia.

As Sunny's summer unfolds, the story also flashes back to the months leading up to her parents sending her to Florida. It wasn't a pretty picture. Sunny's older brother had some issues and the tension escalated on the Fourth of July. Soon after, Sunny was sent to Florida.. and left to wonder if it was all her fault.

I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by SUNNY SIDE UP and I mean that in the very best way. I thought this would be a cute story about a young girl visiting her grandfather at a 55 and older community in Florida... and it was. However, this story was also pretty deep and handled some very serious issues in a deeply touching way.

SUNNY SIDE UP is from the brother sister duo behind BABYMOUSE, and I was really surprised to learn that is is semi-autobiographical. This story is so well written (and drawn), and I love that it captures Sunny's inner turmoil. Parts of this story were heart breaking especially as it pertained to Sunny taking the blame for her brother's actions. She actually was holding all of her worries in, and she thought her parents sent her away as a punishment of sorts. Not exactly a light, fun graphic novel.

However, SUNNY SIDE UP did have its fair share of good times, too. I enjoyed the relationship between Sunny and Buzz, and their "hero" antics were adorable. I also found their shared love of comic books to be sweet, and in many ways, this graphic novel paid tribute to some pretty great comic book and superhero characters. I also laughed quite a bit at the things Sunny endured as part of living with her grandfather in a senior citizen community in Florida -- the early bird lunches, the cat ladies, and more!

One of the things that I appreciated the most about SUNNY SIDE UP was that it took place during my childhood -- Summer 1976. I could relate to Sunny's desire to visit Disney World, along with the bicentennial celebration. In addition, the drawings of the phones, suitcases, lunch boxes and thermoses, the Barbie toilet roll covers, and more were like a nostalgic walk down memory lane!

Overall, I can't say enough about SUNNY SIDE UP. I think it's a great story with wonderful illustrations that is not only certain to entertain but also to touch your heart. It's also a great way to initiate discussion with middle grade readers about some serious subjects. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Kathy (Bermudaonion) for sharing a copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Product Review: Mukava Tablet Floor Stand and Adjustable Table


Summary: Mükava is the world’s first ergonomic reading table that allows for reading of books, magazines, documents or any type of tablet or phone in any home or office setting. It is different from a tablet holder in that after you are finished reading, your Mükava turns into a useful side table. The Mükava stand can be adjusted to a more than 12 possible positions. Mükava pads work with most protective cases seamlessly, removing the need to remove the protective case like with most tablet holders and devices can be swapped out on a Mükava faster than any alternative on the market today.
I have a very unique product to share with you! It's a new concept that I happen to love! It's by a company called Mukava and it will make your reading time even better. It's a tablet floor stand and adjustable table. I was fortunate enough to receive one for review in the brushed steel -- see picture above. But it's also available in a gold tone too.

When I first took this stand out of the box, my initial reaction was that it was rather heavy. I don't know that the picture conveys just how solid this table is... it's actually a piece of furniture albeit one that you can still take from room to room. My second reaction was that there was virtually no assembly required! For someone like me who isn't too handy, that's a great thing.

Once I set up the floor stand, I was really impressed. It seems like Mukava has thought of everything. The stand is adjustable and can serve as a side table or a speaker podium (or anything height in between.) In addition, the actual part that holds your reading material is adjustable as well. It can tilt to almost any angle that will be most comfortable for you. 
And then I discovered the little things that make this Mukava Tablet Floor Stand extra special! There are two USB ports for charging your devices and a USB light. In addition, there are book bands that fit underneath which you can use to keep your book or magazine in place. Finally, there are magnetic pebbles which you can use to keep papers in place. 

You might be wondering how this metal plate can hold your tablet or your phone. Well, Mukava has thought of that too! They have included pads that "stick" to the plate so your device can't slip and fall.   These pads aren't actually sticky with chemical adhesives. Rather they have a patented adhesive system that consists of millions of micro suction cups to maintain adhesions between the pad and your device. With normal care, these pads should last for years. Mukava includes multiple pads in two sizes so you shouldn't really ever have to worry about replacing.

When I first started using the Mukava Tablet Floor Stand and Adjustable Table, I admit I had a reservation or two. First, I had to get used to the adjusting mechanism. There is an adjustment lever under the reading surface that allows you to adjust the height. You have to squeeze the lever with one hand while pulling the reading surface out and then up with the other hand. This took me a little while to do effortlessly. Secondly, the Mukava contemporary design doesn't really match my decorating style. It almost looks like a robot with its sleek design, which is super cool, but I don't think I want it sitting out in my family room. Having said that, I think it's ideal for a teenager's bedroom, a dorm room or even an office setting.

The Mukava Premium Tablet Floor Stand and Adjustable Table isn't cheap. It retails for $299 but I think it has its definite benefits. If you are looking for something with similar characteristics but costs less, then the Mukava for Monitor Arm might be the product for you. This product attaches to a counter or table, is much smaller in size, and costs $129. 

Mukava is also a company that understands the importance of giving back, and literacy is their priority. Their company, Project for Adult Literacy and Schools, LLC is focused on two causes -- adult literacy and building a school for homeless children in Jakarta, Indonesia. Twenty percent of their total profits go to their causes, with The Literacy Volunteers of Washington County and The Yayasan Kawula Peduli each receiving ten percent. Each table sold allows them to provide school books for one child for two years and valuable resources for adult literacy education for one adult learner. Gotta love that!

I think Mukava is going to change the way the world reads! Check out their FAQ page to learn more and see instructional videos. 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Review: Who Do You Love

Summary: An unforgettable story about true love, real life, and second chances…

Rachel Blum and Andy Landis are just eight years old when they meet one night in an ER waiting room. Born with a congenital heart defect, Rachel is a veteran of hospitals, and she’s intrigued by the boy who shows up alone with a broken arm. He tells her his name. She tells him a story. After Andy’s taken back to a doctor and Rachel’s sent back to her bed, they think they’ll never see each other again.

Rachel grows up in an affluent Florida suburb, the popular and protected daughter of two doting parents. Andy grows up poor in Philadelphia with a single mom and a rare talent for running.

Yet, over the next three decades, Andy and Rachel will meet again and again—linked by chance, history, and the memory of the first time they met, a night that changed the course of both of their lives.

A sweeping, warmhearted, and intimate tale, Who Do You Love is an extraordinary novel about the passage of time, the way people change and change each other, and how the measure of a life is who you love. -Atria

It seems like each summer, I read another new novel by Jennifer Weiner. It goes without saying when you've read this many books by the same author, some are better than others. I am happy to say that her latest book, WHO DO YOU LOVE, was one of my favorites. I'm not sure it's quite as good as GOOD IN BED, but it's a touching love story with two memorable characters.

WHO DO YOU LOVE follows the lives of Rachel and Andy from the time they first met in a hospital when they were just eight years old. Rachel has a serious heart problem which required her to spend a lot of time in the hospital, while Andy is in the emergency room with a broken arm after falling off a balcony. They immediately hit it off and bond over their feelings of isolation -- Rachel because she has a heart problem and Andy because he's biracial. After this initial meeting, they say their goodbyes and figure that they'll never see each other again.

Wrong! Even though Rachel has a privileged upbringing in Florida and Andy lives in Philadelphia with his single white mom, they meet again as teenagers... and the bond is still strong. The two fall in love. Of course, their relationship isn't easy given that Rachel is a wealthy white Jewish girl and Andy is a bi-racial runner who lives in Philly. Over the next three decades, Andy and Rachel meet many times and realize that their bond and love for each other still runs deep.

I read WHO DO YOU LOVE in a little over a day. It was extremely easy to read which makes it perfect for an end of the summer beach read, and I think that's because I liked the characters of Rachel and Andy so much. In fact, I loved both of these characters as well as their special relationship with each other. This novel definitely played with my heartstrings, though. Often times, I felt as if I were along for the ride with the many ups and downs of Rachel and Andy's lives.

I liked Rachel (although she went through a period in college when I had some issues with her), but I absolutely loved Andy. I admit that I usually appreciate a female character in a novel like this; however, Andy was such a great character. From the start, my heart went out to him because he had such a sad situation. He was biracial and living in the poor parts of Philly. He never knew his father, his mother wasn't always the best, and he never felt like he fit in. The thing that saved Andy, though, was his love of running.. and it didn't hurt that he was really good at it. I'm talking Olympic good! I'll also argue that Rachel played a pretty important role in "saving" Andy too!

I absolutely loved the dynamics of their relationship -- from the time they were kids, to when they were teens, to when they were adults. I thought the chapters that took place when they were teenagers were very well done. The way Ms. Weiner wrote about their relationship was so real and reminded me of pure teenage love. I also loved how she followed them to their college years when their relationship got much more complicated. In fact, I have to say that I felt so much of this story seemed real. I'm not sure if that's because the book was so well written or because I loved Rachel and Andy. Either way, it's a testament to the author for making me care so much about the characters and the story!

I will say that this book played with my emotions... in a good way. Of course, I wanted Rachel and Andy to be together, but for much of the novel, they weren't. It was definitely interesting to see how they maintained relationships with other people as well as how they kept finding their way back to each other. Thankfully, the ending was perfect in my mind!

WHO DO YOU LOVE would make a fun book club pick. There is a reading guide available with twelve questions along with some ideas to enhance your next meeting. Some of the themes you might want to explore include isolation, health factors, parent child relationships, dreams, relationships, self-identity, and love. You also might want to explore some of the symbols in the story like brokenness and healing.

I read the novel but I think the audio sounds great too. -- here's a sample. You can buy the audio here: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1InpB8E
BN: http://bit.ly/1MstQGa
Audible: http://adbl.co/1ggwXoM

WHO DO YOU LOVE is a love story that's both entertaining and heartwarming. Highly recommended for fans of Jennifer Weiner and women's fiction.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.