Staff Choices

“A sharp and hilariously relatable novel about the business of weddings, the toll they can take, and the lengths one exasperated bridesmaid will go to for the love of friends.” 

Sara Goodman Confino’s debut novel, “For the Love of Friends”, is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud story that follows Lily, bridesmaid in five upcoming weddings, as she navigates the chaos that is bridezillas and wedding planning. Lily finds solace in her creation of an anonymous blog, detailing every bit of wedding mania along the way. Financial woes, mom-zillas, and Spanx galore, Lily lays it out in her increasingly popular “private” blog. However, few things remain as secrets on the internet. 

Keeping in theme with my last review, I could not help myself and picked up another wedding-themed book…and I regret nothing. Confino’s creative concoction of goofy, lovable characters, the snarky commentary of our protagonist, and pure comedic writing had me belly-laughing from start to finish. And who can resist a good love interest? Alex, a groomsman whom Lily swears off all romance with, will steal your heart with his gentle and kind character. The snark, the love, and the story make for a true page turner, and I truly could not put this book down. I am so excited to see what Confino brings to the pages next. 

I begin at the end by reading this last novel, Silverview, by author John Le Carre as my first foray into his extensive stable of books. I was not disappointed.  

Julian Lawndsley buys a book store on the English shore, leaving his hectic life in the city behind him. A rather unusual man, Edward Avon, wanders into Julian's shop one day casually advising him on an idea for the store. Seemingly at random, they bump into each other next at a local cafe whereby Edward informs Julian he knew his father when they were at school together. This seems to cement the beginnings of a friendship and a circumspect mentorship between them. Avon has a wife and a daughter but their relationships appear fractured. Further behind the scenes, something subversive has happened. Avon appears to be at the center of an investigation taking place by Domestic Security.

The story is told from different angles, time-frames, and makes us work at paying attention to the details so that we can piece together the story. Is Avon a con artist? A spy? Who else in his circle is aware of his actions? Who else is complicit? How will this end? I can only imagine that these might be the type of questions someone in this business might need to wade through to get answers.

An afterword by LeCarre's son, Nick Cornwell, is included. In it, he tells the reader that he has not been privy to more information about his father's real-life spy career than the general public already knows. His role in getting his father's book published posthumously is to let it stand on its own merit. 

“Matrimony meets mayhem in a modern British rom-com about a young woman charged with pulling off the biggest aristocratic wedding of the year - and the misadventures that ensue.” 

This is hands-down my favorite book of 2021, and if you’re a lover of Chick Lit and Romance, I highly recommend The Secret Bridesmaid! Sophie Breeze is a full-time professional bridesmaid. Working for brides all over London, Sophie poses as a bridesmaid and friend while working behind the scenes to plan and execute the perfect wedding. The gig of a lifetime lands in Sophie’s lap as a job offer from the Marchioness of Meade entails being the bridesmaid of the Marchioness’ diva daughter, Cordelia. Sophie must pull off the most famous wedding of the year (450 guests!) all while keeping her identity a secret and surviving the bride, who is determined to make Sophie’s life a nightmare. 

I wasn’t sure about this book when I picked it up, but the idea of a woman working professionally as a secret bridesmaid sold me on a check out. I could not put it down! Birchall creates the most colorful characters and creates a setting that places you right inside the story. This is not your typical Romantic Comedy, either. Birchall weaves in themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery all while making you fall in love with the characters and laugh out loud.  

This is Book One in the From Kona with Love series by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha. I had never heard of either of these authors before but when I read that the series would depict multicultural romance, love, loss, and redemption woven into a family saga set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii I knew that I had to give it a try.  Then I was beyond thrilled to find out that Kristoffer Polaha is an actor that I have seen in numerous television shows and during my Hallmark Christmas movie binge watching. 

In this beautifully written book that is part travel log and part romance, we are introduced to Andie and Warren. Andi has had a awful year, so she is now questioning the choices she made. In a quick decision, she escapes her problems by running off to Hawaii to help her friend, Api. What Andi finds is more than a coffee shop and run down plantation; she finds a purpose. She unexpectedly meets Warren Yates on Christmas Eve, a mysterious man who has a connection to the shop and wants to help Andie explore the island for whatever time she has.

Moments Like This delivers a beautiful love story wrapped inside two journeys of self-discovery.  The authors beautifully wrote the Hawaiian and Filipino cultures and traditions, wherein both cultures respect and honor family, love, and food. It is the perfect book to get into the holiday spirit, so grab a hot beverage, a cozy blanket, and snuggle in for a Hawaiian treat.

This movie directed by Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame is based on the 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in New Zealand. It is the story of two friends, Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme who form a strong bond. Pauline's relationship with her mother becomes increasingly strained and Pauline plots with Juliet to kill her. The girls plan a trip to Victoria park where the girls bludgeon Honora Parker to death. Kate Winslet is excellent as the affluent Juliet and it is  a well written and directed film. The girls were both arrested and spent time in jail. Juliet Hulme later moved to England and changed her name to Anne Perry, who became a successful author of murder mystery novels. A movie well worth watching.

Refugee High: Coming of Age in America chronicles a year in the life of staff and students at Chicago's Sullivan High School on the far northside of the city. Originally written in part as an article for Chicago Magazine, journalist Elly Fishman spent hundreds of hours at the school and in the community during 2017-2018, as anti immigration rhetoric continues following the recent presidential election.  Fishman focuses her reporting on four of Sullivan's immigrant students, whose families have all escaped violence in their home countries of Iraq, Myanmar, the Congo, and Guatemala. These young people must navigate a new country, language, and culture...in addition to surviving the normal hormonal teenage angst. The teens are often at odds with their parents, who still cling to the old beliefs of their homelands as their kids become "Americanized" by YouTube, rap music, Snapchat, and fast food. 

While Fishman shares some of the horrific and heartbreaking events that have forced these families to flee their native countries, she is clear to point out that Chicago also suffers from gun violence and gangs. These teens must take great caution to avoid the all to present danger that lurks right outside the school doors. The staff at Sullivan are truly heroic, especially Ms. Q, a no nonsense teacher who heads the ELL program on a shoestring budget that is always at risk of even further cutbacks. Despite the crumbling walls and broken furniture of the converted library that now houses the Newcomer program, it is a safe haven for these teens who are in desperate need of one, as well as a place where they can just hang out and be typical kids. 

This is an inspiring account of the modern immigrant experience in America. I was personally drawn to this book as I too am a graduate of Sullivan High School, which even decades earlier was a wonderful melting pot of different cultures and languages. 
 

1970's Bronzeville was in many ways like every other neighborhood during that time. Three young girls playing, gossiping and dreaming about their futures in this historic south side neighborhood, all third-generation daughters of the Great Migration, growing up in the shadows of Chicago's skyscrapers. One of them, the author, goes on to college, marriage, and a successful career as a journalist. These essays began during her time as a writer for the Chicago Tribune as a way to help her work through the heartbreak and despair she felt.

Her sister Kim and her best friend Dawn take divergent paths that sadly end in death for one, and prison time for the other. In writing about these experiences, Dawn Turner tries to understand the haunting question of what happened in between their innocent childhood, and the broken pieces of adulthood? This riveting memoir celebrates friendship and sisterhood as it delves into race, class, environment, addiction, resiliency and forgiveness.

Chapter One opens with a captivating sentence: "Stranger, whoever you are, open this to learn what will amaze you."

Author Anthony Doerr has created a novel that is vastly different from his last major work. This one stands unique on its own. Reading this book required a time commitment; however, the narrative easily flowed along and pulled me into the stories of Konstance, Seymour, Zeno, Omeir, Anna and, of course, the book within a book, Cloud Cuckoo Land. From Constantinople to Idaho to Korea and to the future, Anthony Doerr's new novel is an invitation to "time travel", to connect the dots on how an ancient manuscript can play a role in so many lives. During the course of centuries, the main characters within the pages endure hardship, heartbreak, exploitation, disappointment, strife, war, love - basically, life. People who have endured these challenges inspired others around them to learn and to wonder and to crave understanding. I found this book to be intriguing and philosophical.

The author's note says that this novel is intended as a paean to books. This is the best kind of tribute.

For fans of Anthony Doerr and those who enjoy reading an uncommon novel.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins has written various young adult fantasy and romance novels. She recently starting writing adult psychological thrillers as well. The Wife Upstairs is one of my favorite 2021 reads and I am looking forward to her upcoming novel Reckless Girls. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the witchy romcom I picked up by Erin Sterling was the pen name for Rachel Hawkins.

The Ex Hex is a lighthearted, quick read to get you in the holiday spirit. Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch, with a little bit Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic thrown in. The story centers on Vivi, who after a summer fling with Rhys ends badly, curses the man who broke her heart using a Bath and Body Works candle. Vivi moves on with her life until Rhys waltzes back into her life 9 years later and it just happens maybe Vivi's curse worked after all.

This second chance romance includes humorous banter and steamy chemistry. While the plot could be predictable at times, I still found this is a great read for getting into the spooky season, and perfect for anyone who needs a good light romcom.