The Favor

The Favor- Adele Griffin (audiobook)
Genre: Contemporary Adult Fiction

What an interesting and at times suspenseful look at adult friendship - in The Favor Adele Griffin (with Kristen Sieh as our narrator) takes us on a complex journey with Nora and Evelyn from the moment they meet in I’ll Have Seconds - a vintage retail store. Nora, who works there, finds just what Evelyn is looking for and more so it seems a friendship is born. The friendship immediately became awkward for me when Evelyn talks Nora into selling her some vintage books with an offer she can’t refuse. Here was a woman accustomed to getting what she wanted and a woman who was just a bit starstruck giving in. I was slightly uncomfortable with this dynamic throughout the novel (and to be fair to this reader, Nora’s husband is too). The women stay in touch, often in the form of Evelyn needing Nora’s help as a stylist and a personal assistant - often intruding into Nora’s personal life.

We learn that Nora and her husband are in significant debt largely due to their infertility journey. They are just keeping finances under control and have just one embryo left on which their hopes for a family of their dreams rest. The tension in their city apartment is palpable. When Evelyn offers to be a surrogate - at a really good financial deal, it almost feels too good to be true.

And that is where Griffin excels for me. I was on edge the entire time I was listening. Is Evelyn for real? Would Nora’s marriage survive the friendship? Would Evelyn carry the baby to term and let her go? Griffin does an excellent job of creating and maintaining these tensions. I also appreciated her look at the “influencer” lifestyle and exploring its impact on Evelyn’s pregnancy and Nora’s experience. This culture has become so prevalent, and I’m not sure we always think through the consequences of it for creators and for consumers. And, as with the relationships, Griffin doesn’t offer easy solutions here either. She doesn’t provide an easy answer. Neither does she resolve the friendship issues that ultimately develop between Nora and Evelyn easily. Nora’s struggle becomes the reader’s struggle, and again I was 100% engaged the entire time. The ending (spoiler free) does provide a twist, and not the one I expected. 

How Can I Help You?

How Can I Help You - Laura Sims

Mystery & Suspense

I have been faced with many of the stereotypes that surround librarians in my time in the library. From questions like, “why did you have to go to school to do this?” to suggestions that the entirety of my job involved reading books and talking about them to the notion that we live to shush. So when I see a cover that has a flaming book card, the librarian rebel that I consider myself to be is drawn in pretty quickly. What could be happening?

I was equally intrigued by the title of this book. Quite quickly I was given a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a serial killer and the author who studies her- not perhaps, your typical librarians. Margo has started her new journey in the library as a result of fleeing her career as a nurse. Because, in an effort to “help” her patients she often hurries their deaths, and she gets caught one too many times.  Patricia feels she has failed as a writer and leaves a stale relationship behind hoping to forge a new life as a reference librarian. Quite the pair - and when they become connected become even more so. Patricia figures out Margo’s secret past and decides that perhaps her writing career isn’t over after all. 

So, initially, I questioned why Sims was just “giving” us everything - I couldn’t imagine being surprised. And yet, no spoilers, I was. The revelations just sort of creeped up on me. And when I say creeped, I mean creepy as well. Margo’s drive to kill was much more fully developed (sent me to google some things). Patricia’s fascination with her as a writer was explored as well. Suffice it to say, I was surprised more than once. Having just completed another suspense book that explored the mind of a writer (The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill), I was interested to see where this one might take me. First, I thought, I guess I don’t have it in me to be an actual writer. I don’t have the drive that Patricia has. As her fascination with her story grew, I thought, maybe, it was OK that I don’t. I am definitely intrigued to find more books about writers who are writing. 

I started with librarians - ended with writers and would definitely recommend How Can I Help You to readers of suspense, no matter their profession, with the caveat that for me it was a slow burn. (Again, no spoilers, but no pun intended.) Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to evaluate the book. 

Act Like a Lady Think Like a Lord

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, Celeste Connally

Mystery/Suspense, Romance

The second in a series, Connally’s work challenges her readers to challenge social restrictions and step outside their comfort zones. The book is understandable without having read the first, but I do plan to. Again, I’m initially drawn to this book because it is set in the time of Austen. Austenites are always looking for the adjacent read. While this book is significantly from Austen on the surface, I’m thinking Petra and Elizabeth Bennett Darcy would likely be friends. Petra is recovering from the loss of her husband and still reeling from the loss of her friendship with Duncan. After declaring her intent to remain a spinster, she has drawn the wrath of her Uncle Tobias who doubts her ability to make such a decision, she is working to maintain her place in society. At a ball she learns of the death of her acquaintance Lady Milford and the involvement of Drysdale and his asylum for “hysterical” women. Young Martin, who has useful information, is brutally murdered before he can share it. Petra is determined to find out what is happening. Against all common sense she finds herself deeper involved and more in danger every day. 

Petra has a mind of her own and like Elizabeth Bennett will remain true to herself when others might find her crazy. I mostly admired her except when I wanted to urge her to calm down. I guess if she had, countless women would have continued to suffer in the fraudulent asylum. She is intelligent, resourceful, daring, and a bit stubborn. She has help from her best friend, young Teddy from the street, and I look forward to seeing him develop as the series grows. Because of my not reading the first books, I am not fully sure that I understood Duncan completely, but I enjoyed the dynamic between him and Petra. The ending clearly hints that we will see more of them together, or not.

I would absolutely recommend this to my Austen reading friends, my mystery loving friends, and my friends who prefer a gentle romance. It is a good reminder of how far women have come. I love that Petra is true to herself as she navigates her independent future, and I love the challenge to the reader to get to know herself (or himself, of course) and to live accordingly. The book also served, for me, as an uncomfortable reminder of how much we still need to progress with regard to how we deal with mental health. I was scared at the lack of power the women in this book had and the treatment they received. While I know we know more and are doing better at taking care of all people, I feel we still fail more than we should in areas of mental illness and health. I like that this book provokes this kind of thinking in the reader. 

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Collected Regrets of Clover

The Collected Regrets of Clover - Mikki Brammer:  Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Pickens

What a fascinating look at the impact of death and loss on the development of Clover; Brammer grabbed me on the very first page. . Beginning with witnessing the death of her teacher in kindergarten, experiencing the loss of her parents, and the grandfather who raised her, Clover’s experiences lead her to become a death doula. She spends her life alternating between being isolated in the apartment left to her by her grandfather, still filled with his things and comforting her clients as they approach death. She recognizes that she is lonely and spends some time at grief group meetings where she meets Sebastian who ultimately hires her to stay with his grandmother who is dying. Simultaneously she begins to spend some time very reluctantly with Sophie who has just moved into her apartment building. These experiences combined very slowly encourage Clover to step out of her comfort zone and begin to live.

Brammer explores Clover’s development in such a lovely and compassionate way. Because I feel so shaped by an early loss in my life - I was drawn to Clover immediately. Since I had the novel in audio form, the sadness communicated by Jennifer Pickens reinforced Clover’s sense of loss. The beautiful way that she comforted others drew me in as well. Her slow growth through meeting Sebastian and working with his grandmother, and taking chances with Sophie, and through the love of her grandfather’s friend Louie who continued to look after her. All of these characters are fully rendered with strengths and weaknesses of their own which contribute to Clover’s journey. She has to accept failures in these folks and be brave enough to develop friendships anyway.  Seeing her find joy and curiosity and safety in the world again is an absolute pleasure. And certainly while I love the hint of  a happy, romantic ending, I also  love that she is setting out on her own adventure in the end. 

In many ways the city setting serves as a character. Clover spends a great deal of time moving through the city - walking - thinking - growing - changing. When I visit the city,  I am overwhelmed and anxious now, and I love seeing how it proves to be a part of Clover’s healing. Her apartment as well - as Clover takes the brave step of going through her grandfather’s things and making the place her own, Bremmer provides a beautiful illustration of her inner growth. 

We are always looking for ways, I think, to process the loss that death brings. Some of my favorite books - The Book Thief, The Midnight Library - even The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue that features the inability to die - explore the topic from a variety of perspectives. For me what seems so special about this one is that it ultimately affirms the value of a life well lived. I am slow to change - I fear it. I appreciated Brammer's patience with Clover. I appreciated the cast of characters who love and support her. They remind me to be patient with myself. In a season of change, I don’t have to cross every bridge quickly, but trusting in my friends and challenging my fears - while always moving forward is really just good enough. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook to review. 

A Lady's Guide to Scandal

Irwin, Sophie. A Lady’s Guide to Scandal. Penguin Books, 2023. 

If you like Jane Austen…four words designed to lure me into reading a book. Sophie Irwin’s second novel A Lady’s Guide to Scandal did not disappoint. Set in 1819 primarily in Bath, the novel features Eliza Somerset - Lady Somerset - recently widowed from an apparently loveless marriage. She finds herself unexpectedly inheriting both land and money from her late husband - with one clause - a big one - a morals clause. If the new Lord Somerset finds her behavior lacking in any way, the inheritance reverts to him. And by the way…the new Lord Somerset is the same Oliver she broke off with ten years earlier under the direction of her mother to marry her late husband. 

I have read some books with the Jane Austen connection that I’ve found truly disappointing; happily, this one was delightful. I enjoyed the elevated vocabulary that evokes Austen to me. I nearly laughed out loud at the allusion to Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women. I do love a good nod to Collins of Pride and Prejudice. While I am not a prude, this was very much rated G which - again, closely aligns with Austen. For the Austen readers who love a longing glance, and just a touch of the hand, Irwin has triumphed. And while Austen herself wasn’t a huge fan of Bath - Irwin brings the city to life in a way that does it great credit. The cast of characters from the Melvilles to the Winkworths is well developed and delightful - love them or dislike them heartily. 

Also, Eliza and her cousin Margaret, are fully developed very dynamic protagonists for whom I could not help but cheer on their journey - to Bath, to independence, to love (real love, not the “arranged marriage” kind). Together they shock many of those around to find a house in Bath and to experience as much of freedom and friendship as Eliza’s mourning allows. 

The modern overtones are a lovely reversal - a woman who has some means financially and an independent spirit is a nice change from Austen’s poor young lady wanting love, but needing a certain financial stability. While Eliza was still restrained largely by societal expectations, she and Margaret use their time in Bath to experience as much growth as society will allow. Margaret’s love interest - a woman - is a very modern addition. 

 As I switch from reading primarily YA to adult from reading for work to reading for pleasure or enlightenment, I am always seeking connections and things that speak to me. At first I thought - how can I relate to this one? What am I to learn? Shall I just be entertained - which is FINE in my new world.  But then. I was able to witness 2 young ladies stretch beyond the barriers created by society and sort of reinforced by their desires to please. They explored hobbies and interests; Eliza learned to drive; they pursued relationships that would have terrified them even at the beginning of the novel. Perhaps as I approach a new stage in my own life, I need to consider their courage. I tend to do what is expected. I tend to avoid confrontation. I don’t stretch myself as I could. While I have had a fine life that has made me happy, I begin to wonder what it might feel like to pursue that which pleases me, simply because.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to evaluate the book.