By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult – a Review

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult – a Review

 

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Description:
Two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.

In 1581, Emilia Bassano—like most young women of her day—is allowed no voice of her own. But as the Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, she has access to all theater in England, and finds a way to bring her work to the stage secretly. And yet, creating some of the world’s greatest dramatic masterpieces comes at great cost: by paying a man for the use of his name, she will write her own out of history.

In the present, playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. Although the challenges are different four hundred years later, the playing field is still not level for women in theater. Would Melina—like Emilia—be willing to forfeit her credit as author, just for a chance to see her work performed?

Told in intertwining narratives, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on—even if it means they will be forgotten.

 

 

Review:

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is a standalone novel about two woman’s POV that take place in present time and in a different era, 1581.   The two heroines are Melina Green in the present, who is a talented writer; and Emilia Bassano, who also is a writer, but her talent is not recognized openly, as women were not accepted.  Both women hide their names behind a man, as women were not acknowledged.

Emilia Bassano, at a very young age, is forced to become Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, and for years he treated her well. He takes her to the theatre in London, and she secretly writes her own poems and plays. Working secretly, Emilia has to sell her play to male playwrights, in order to get her work on the stage. She makes an agreement with a young actor, William Shakespeare to be the playwright of her work. Later on in life, when Emilia became pregnant, she was forced again to a marriage, since she had no money, and her husband treated her badly, always beating her up.  That was a very sad part of the story.

In the present, Melina Green is inspired by her ancestor Emilia Bassano to write her story, and make her voice heard, though she needs to get Andre (her roommate and gay friend) to present the play, and pretend to be his assistant. Her play actually wins the contest, with Andre entering her play into a competition, which she wins.  Jasper, a former critic of her work, begins to become attracted to Melina, and slowly she reveals that Emilia Bassano’s book was her work.  Though there are five centuries between the timelines, it seems that male privilege is still in power.  

I will say that I thought the book was a bit slow in the first half, though it did pick up later on.  I read that Picoult did a lot of research and stands by her feeling that Emilia Bassano’s work was the true playwright for William Shakespeare.  Melinda in the present time, manages to finally have a chance to show her play, with help from Jasper.  The historical part of the past, will have Emilia, as she gets older, begin to write her own books; with Bassano actually being a real person.

By Any Other Name was an interesting story, with historical fiction, feminism, passion, heartache, and love.  It was a different kind of story by Jodi Picoult, which was very well written. If you are interested in possible real-life changes from the past, I suggest you read By Any Other Name.

Reviewed by Barb

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A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

 

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Description:

A tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina.

Present Keaton Smith is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort, North Carolina, on the market—the home that Keaton didn’t know existed until now—she jumps at the chance to head south. Keaton’s grandparents died in a tragic car accident before she was born, so she’s eager to learn more about the family she never met. But even though she has help from her charming next-door-neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, Keaton soon finds that she has more questions than answers.

1976: After meeting her adoring husband Townsend, Rebecca “Becks” Saint James abandoned the life she knew and never looked back. Forty years later, she’s made a name for herself as the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But she’s struggling behind the façade. Becks strives to make the lives of those around her as easy as possible, but this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make.

As both Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of the women in their family for generations. For fans of Summer of ‘69 and The Notebook , Last Summer on Sunset Lane explores the power of family, the bonds of friendship, and the boundless nature of love.

 

 

Review:

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is another wonderful story that we have come to expect from Harvey.  Keaton Smith, has been fired from her successful job; and her mother asks her to travel to Beaufort, North Carolina (her childhood home) to clean up the home that hasn’t been lived in for decades.  Keaton’s mother and uncle have never returned to that home, after the death of their parents; and once it’s cleaned up, Keaton will put it on the market to sell. There are two POV’s in this story, the present and in the past, 1970’s.

Rebecca (Becks) and Townsend fell in love, and despite her family not accepting that her husband was of a different religion, she married Townsend having a wonderful marriage. Rebecca Saint James became a household name in Beaufort, as the best hostess in North Carolina, with her annual suppers and local parties; with everyone hoping to get invitations to their historic home. Keaton finds her journals, and begins to learn about Becks wonderful life with Townsend for more than 40 years.  Her grandparents died in a car accident, and Keaton was determined to discover what really happened all those years ago.

Keaton quickly meets a number of friends of Becks, who recognize her as she looks like Becks, and they go out of their way to make her feel welcome.  A friendship with these wonderful older ladies, escalates as she learns more about Becks; keeping the memory of Becks and the wonderful things she did all these years.  Keaton works hard to clean the place, and even her newfound friends would come over and help her.  She also meets her next-door neighbor, Bowen and his wonderful adoring son, Anderson; which will lead to a slow burn romance, and her feelings about possibly staying in Beaufort.

A Happier Life is a wonderful journey with fascinating chapters revolving around Keaton in present day and Becks from the past, learning more about what happened to Keaton’s grandparents when they died. It was nice to see Keaton’s brother show up, and help her find more clues to solve the mystery. I love how Keaton begins feel at home, especially with Becks friends and how much they all loved Rebecca Saint James.

A Happier Life was such a heartwarming and wonderful story that was so very well written by Kristy Woodson Harvey.  If you enjoy a story of family, bonds of friendships, and the love of two generations; you should read this book. 

Reviewed by Barb

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Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland – a Review

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland – a Review

 

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Description:
After the Jacobson siblings win a life-changing fortune in the lottery, they assume their messy lives will transform into sleek, storybook perfection—but they couldn’t be more wrong in the new laugh-out-loud novel from beloved author Elyssa Friedland.

The four Jacobson children were raised to respect the value of a dollar. Their mother reused tea bags and refused to pay retail; their father taught them to budget before he taught them to ride a bike. And yet, as adults, their financial lives—as well as their personal lives—are in complete disarray.

The siblings reunite when their newly widowed father puts their Jersey Shore home on the market. Packing up their childhood isn’t easy, especially when they’ve all got drama brewing back home. Matthew is miserable at his corporate law job and wishes he had more time with his son; Laura’s marriage is imploding in spectacular fashion; Sophie’s art career is stalled while her boyfriend’s is on the rise; and Noah’s total failure to launch has him doing tech repair for pennies.

So when Noah sees an ad for a Powerball drawing, he and his sisters go in on a ticket. Matthew passes but the ticket is a winner and all hell breaks loose as the infusion of cash causes sibling rivalries and family secrets to resurface. Without their mother, and with their father busy playing pickleball in a Florida retirement village, the once close-knit siblings search for comfort in shiny new toys instead of each other.

It’s not long before the Jacobson’s start to realize that they’ll never feel rich unless they can pull their family back together.

 

 

Review:

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland is a fun story about a family of four Jacobson siblings, who spend the summers in LBI (Long Beach Island) on the Jersey Shore.  The story begins when their widowed father tells the family that he has put his home on the market, much to their chagrin. Everyone is spending the July 4th weekend together, not too happy about the sale; but their dad is determined to move to Florida. We meet the four siblings, Matthew, who is a wealthy lawyer; Laura, who thought all was well in her marriage; Sophie, is an artist, as well as a teacher; and Noah, the youngest, makes little money doing tech work. During their time of helping to pack up the place for the sale, we get a see each of the them in their own environment, which gave us a view of their lives.

Noah says he wants to buy a lottery ticket, as it is currently in the millions; Laura and Sophie want to join in, with only Matthew not interested. To their shock, they win part of the lottery (a couple of others share the prize), making them instant billionaires. Laura, Sophie and Noah are all thrilled at their winnings, anticipating that their lives will change for even better. The three of them learn quickly that winning all the money is not always the answer to their own problems, especially with each of them doing extravagant purchases, taking trips, buying a new expensive house, making donations, etc. They also began to feel guilty of leaving Matthew out of the group, even though he and his wife were very wealthy on their own.

Each of the characters were so enjoyable, entertaining and fun; I loved how close they all were, as they were always committed to each other.  Laura and her husband became closer once they won the money, though they bought a huge house, but over time, she missed her friends.  Sophie loved doing her art, but she did miss her teaching days.  Noah, who truly was lonely, managed to spend too much of his winnings. Matthew and Beth were not worried about money, but in time Matthew will quit his job, looking for something more filling. The Jacobson’s were a close-knit family and knew they needed to resume a normal life with their family.

Jackpot Summer was a fun, sweet engaging story, filled with family, love and laughter. I loved all the mentions of places in LBI (I am a Jersey Girl), which was so much fun to catch. Jackpot Summer was a different kind of story, which was so very well written by Elyssa Friedland.  I loved every minute of this book, and suggest you read Jackpot Summer.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi – a Review

A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi – a Review

 

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Description:
Full of humor and compassion, a profound exploration of sisterhood, healing, and the ineffable beauty of life from France‘s most beloved contemporary novelist

Laughter, tears, the transformative power of love, unexpected revelations, and striking natural these are the ingredients that combine to make best-selling author Virginie Grimaldi’s American debut the feel-good read of 2024. Grimaldi is among France’s top ten contemporary authors and her uplifting, unputdownable literary novels have quickly garnered her millions of adoring fans. This, her American debut, is among her most delicately wrought and emotionally compelling novels to date. 

Emma and Agathe are sisters. They were thick as thieves when they were young but have always been as different as can be. Agathe, the younger sister, is disorderly, chaotic, and fiery. Five years older, Emma has always been the more mature sister, the defender, the protector, the worrier. Their relationship as adults is scarred by a tragedy that transformed their happy, ordinary childhoods into something much more complex and challenging. For a long time, Emma hasn’t wanted to be involved in Agathe’s life. But then they must return together to the Basque Country, to the house of their adored grandmother, to empty out her home and in the process to reconcile, to remember, and to pour out what is in their hearts. 

The story alternates between Agathe and Emma’s childhood and their present day, with everything in between, and readers see them as young girls, teenagers, young women, mothers, wives, partners, individuals, sisters. This is a story that encompasses whole lives, complex lives, women’s lives, asking all the while how the scars of the past can be healed and what, in the end, is a good life.

 

 

Review:

A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi is a family-oriented story that centers around two sisters, Emma and Agathe.  Virginie Grimaldi is a famous author from France, and this book was brought into America, as her debut. Both sisters as young children were close, but as they grew older, things slowly fell apart. Emma is the oldest, with Agathe being 5 years younger. A Good Life is told via flashbacks, from the each of the girl’s earlier and present years.

Emma is the mature sister, always protecting and defending her, especially Agathe’s wild and reckless escapades. Agathe has always had many ups and downs, with Emma dedicated her life to protecting her younger sister, sheltering her from the worst of their mother’s fits of anger.  Emma always made sure during the summers to spend most of their time with their beloved grandmother’s house near the ocean, giving them a reprieve.

After many years being distant, their beloved grandmother passed away, and they decide to meet and help clean up their grandmother’s house, as it has been sold. In the process, the memories of their childhood help them reconcile and bring them closer, with all the scars of the past.  They enjoy that one week vacation, enjoying the town and ocean, and discover all that they lost; with a new bond bringing them back.

A Good Life is an emotional story of love, heartbreak, grief, mental health and the ins/outs of their dysfunctional family. The book continually alternates between both Emma and Agathe in the past and present, as we learn everything about them during their troubled days, as their younger selves, grown women and sisters.  A Good Life was very well written by Virginie Grimaldi

Reviewed by Barb

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Look on The Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – a Review

Look on The Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – a Review

 

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Description:
Lark Smith has always had a plan for her life: find a fantastic guy, create a marriage as blissful as her parents’, pop out a couple of kids and build a rewarding career as an oncologist.

Things aren’t going so well.

For one, the guy didn’t work out. Theoretically, she’d love to find someone else, but it hasn’t happened. Two, she’s just been transferred out of oncology for being too emotional. (Is it her fault she’s a weeper?) Three, her parents just split up.

Deviating from the plan was…well, not in the plan. A potential solution comes from the foul-tempered and renowned surgeon Lorenzo Santini (aka Dr. Satan). He needs a date this summer for his sister’s wedding. His ancient Noni wants to see him settled. In exchange, he could make a few introductions and maybe get Lark back into the field of her choice.

As a sucker for old people and fake relationships, Lark agrees. Teeny problem—she instantly falls for his big, warm family. Especially his estranged brother.

Meanwhile, Lark’s mom has moved in with Lark’s flamboyant landlady, Joy, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. The three women have a long summer and a big beautiful house on the ocean to figure out what’s next…and quite possibly learn that the best things in life aren’t planned at all.

 

 

Review:

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins is a sweet family oriented standalone novel. The story revolves around three women POV’s, but Lark Smith (our heroine) takes the lead; with Ellie, her mother and Joy, a wealthy friend sharing some of the stories. We meet Lark, who is a doctor resident in Oncology, but since she gets too emotional with her patients, she is sent to work in ER (emergency room). Lark is very intelligent, and her coworkers in the emergency room, respect her knowledge, and she builds a friendship with them; even though she wants to return to oncology. To her surprise, Dr. Santini (who is known as Dr. Satan), offers her a deal, paying her money, to help Lark attend his families upcoming events, including his sister’s wedding; as she would be his fake girlfriend.   He also promises her that he can get her contacts to return to oncology when it’s over.

Dr. Satan (Lorenzo) has a terrible reputation at the hospital, as he is rude, obnoxious, arrogant, with no one liking him. Lark is strong and always answers back at Lorenzo’s nasty comments. But when she meets his family, and is shocked how likeable they all are; in a short time. she fits in with them, having a great relationship with them all (except Lorenzo).  Lark quickly finds herself being attracted to Dante, Lorenzo’s younger brother, who is sweet and caring. Can she continue to keep her fake dating secret?

The other two storylines revolve around Ellie and Joy. Ellie, discovers her husband might be cheating on her, and decides to move out and ends up staying with Joy, as Lark is also staying at Joy’s huge house, by the beach.  Ellie and Joy develop a wonderful friendship, with each helping each other. Ellie has to deal with her husband and learn more about what she thought was betrayal. Flamboyant Joy, became wealthy due to ex-husbands, is also obsessed with plastic surgery over the years, making herself look pretty.  She is thrilled to have both Ellie and Lark staying at her place, especially since she was lonely after her brother’s death. Joy will find herself a wonderful job at a memory care place livening up the patients, and is thrilled to throw parties for both Ellie/Lark’s family and the Santini family. The three women have a wonderful summer together in helping each of them discover what is next.

There are emotional flashbacks with Lark and her deceased love from years before.  She loved Justin since they were 13 years old, and when he had leukemia, she was also there for him, and in time he was able to recover. Years later, when they were planning their wedding, the leukemia returned, but again he was able to recover; with something else effecting his body, and he died.  Lark has never gotten over Justin’ death, and when a memory flashes, she discovers that Dante was the fireman who helped her get to the hospital, to see Justin before he died. The back story revolving around Justin and Lark was very sad and emotional.

What follows is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, sadness, tragedy and life changing issues.  Lark was an amazing and passionate heroine, whom I loved throughout the story.  I was happy that she would find love in the sweet epilogue. Look on the Bright Side was a fantastic story, that was emotional, captivating, trauma, and romantic.  Look on the Bright Side was so very well written by Kristan Higgins.  You need to be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

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Only the Brave by Danielle Steel – a Review

Only the Brave by Danielle Steel – a Review

 

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Description:
Sophia Alexander, the beautiful daughter of a famous surgeon in Berlin, has had to grow up faster than most young women. When her mother falls ill, Sophia must take charge of her younger sister, Theresa, and look after her father and the household, while also volunteering at his hospital after school. Meanwhile, Hitler’s rise to power and the violence in her very own town have Sophia concerned, but only her mother is willing to share her fears openly.

After tragedy strikes and her mother dies, Sophia becomes increasingly involved in the resistance, attending meetings of dissidents and helping however she can. Circumstances become increasingly dangerous and personal when Sophia assists her sister’s daring escape from Germany, fleeing Germany with her young husband and his family. Her father also begins to resist the regime, secretly healing those hiding from persecution, only to have his hospital burned to the ground. When he is arrested and sent to a concentration camp, Sophia is truly on her own, but more determined than ever to help.

While working as a nurse with the convent nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, Sophia continues her harrowing efforts to transport Jewish children to safety and finds herself under surveillance. As the political tensions rise and the brutal oppression continues, Sophia is undeterred, risking it all, even her own freedom, as she rises to the challenge of helping those in need—no matter the cost.

In Only the Brave, Danielle Steel vividly captures the devastating effects of war alongside beautiful moments of compassion and courage.

 

 

Review:

Only the Brave by Danielle Steel is a powerful, historical novel about a courageous woman in World War II Germany. The story follows, Sophia Alexander, our heroine and eldest daughter, who at a young age, was faced with her mother’s illness, watching over her younger sister, and a war looming. Sophia learns to become a surgical nurse, helping her father, who runs a hospital, where he is the lead surgeon. Though they are not Jewish, both of them secretly try to help runaways. When her mother dies, Sophia steps in and helps her pregnant sister, Theresa and her husband escape to Switzerland.

Sophia works as a nurse with the convent nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, and becomes increasingly involved in the resistance, attending meetings of dissidents and finding ways to help others escape. Her father was asked twice by Hitler’s people to euthanize Jews in camps, and after his last denial, they arrested him and was taken to Dachau, a concentration camp for criminals.  At the convent, Sophia finds an American officer disabled, and treats him back to health; with both of them beginning to have feelings for each other.  She is still determined to do her final vows and remain a nun; the officer leaves after he is recovered.  Sophia will receive a contact from him, notifying her that her father died.

Due to her family’s guilty association with the father and her missing sister, the Nazi’s arrest her, and she is taken to Ravensbrück. While in the concentration camp, she helps perform surgical procedures, and befriends a Nazi officer, who shares food with her, as well as the camp friends. Sophia, and her 4 friends, plan a successful escape from the concentration camp, fleeing to a convent.

Only the Brave is an emotional story filled with heartache, courage, bravery, hope and tragedy. I also really like some of the secondary supporting characters.  As the war comes close to an end, Sophia will have to choose to be a nun or choose love. The story captures the devastating effect of war, and Sophia rising to the challenge of risking everything, to save others. Once again, Only the Brave is very well written by Danielle Steel; in a fantastic historical novel.

Reviewed by Barb

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Funny Story by Emily Henry – Review & Giveaway

Funny Story by Emily Henry – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

 

 

Review:

Funny Story by Emily Henry is a rom-com/dramedy novel about two opposites.   Daphne, our heroine, is a children’s librarian, who is wonderful with the kids; where she is happy and content.  To her shock, her fiancée Peter, decides to dump her (so close to her wedding) after his bachelor party, to be with his childhood friend, Petra. With no place to go, Daphne ends up sharing an apartment with Miles (Petra dumped him).

Miles is very likeable, as he is charming, caring, easy going and loves to have fun. In the early days, the roommates mainly avoided one another, but one day, they get an invitation to Peter and Petra’s wedding.  Daphne finds herself becoming comfortable around Miles, with them becoming friends. After a night out a bar, they accept the invitations.  Miles and Daphne tell their exes that they are now dating (fake), and are happy together.

Both Daphne and Miles have their own family issues, which bring them closer to each other.   Daphne’s mother lives further away, and speaks to her weekly; her divorced father she rarely sees, and to her surprise, he will show up later in the book.    Miles is close to his sister, Julia, who also decides to show up, but sooner than later. Miles is exactly the opposite of practical and socially awkward Daphne in her journey to self-discovery.  Miles goes out of his way to get Daphne out, as he takes her to different places, including where he works at a bar, where she meets other great friends of Miles. I also liked Ashleigh, a new found friend, and loved Julia, who was lots of fun.  In a short time, she finds herself falling for Miles, as he also has feelings for her.  I really loved Miles and Daphne together. What was great about Miles was his putting others before him, warm hearted, caring, and helping her to open her heart in rediscovering herself.  

What follows is a sweet wonderful story about two opposites who eventually find love. Miles was always there for Daphne, and she managed to find friendship with Ashleigh, Julia and others that Miles introduced to her.  Funny Story was a very good storyline, that kept us unable to put the book down.  Funny Story was very well written by Emily Henry.  This was a fun read, which I suggest you read Funny Story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Emily Henry’s publisher is graciously offering a hardcover copy of  FUNNY STORY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon – a Review

Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon – a Review

 

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Description:
Her husband’s cheating on her. She hates Boca. Sylvia is mad and she isn’t going to take it anymore. She’s moving back north, to the city of her dreams—with her best friend, Evie, in tow. Think a screwball comedy featuring a sophisticated Thelma and Louise with martinis in hand . . .

When sixty-three-year-old Sylvia finds her husband in bed with the floozy of their Boca retirement community, she’s shocked and furious . . . at first. By the time her head stops spinning, Sylvia realizes that actually, this isn’t what she wants anymore anyway.

So she enlists her best friend, the glamorous older widow Evie, to join her in setting up a new life in Manhattan. Sylvia’s ex-husband may have lost her life savings, but Sylvia and Evie are scrappy and determined, unopposed to pawning jewelry and roughing it in tiny apartments. And before long, Sylvia signs on to revive her decades-old wedding planning business with a former professional rival. Sylvia has a lot to prove, and beneath it all, she can’t help but Will she ever be able to get back into the dating game?

Sylvia doesn’t want to be twenty-five or thirty again. Her age gives her wisdom, experience, and perspective. A career, sex, fun, and a new romance—her entire second act is stretched out in front of her, beckoning to her. It’s her time, and watch out, world, Sylvia is coming!

 

 

Review:

Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon is a standalone humorous novel that was a fun read. The story starts off when meet Sylvia, our heroine, who walks in on her husband having sex with a neighbor.  Sylvia hasn’t been happy for a while, and when her husband tells her they lost her life savings, due to bad investment; Sylvia decides to leave her husband, and start off at a second chance at life.  Sylvia is 63 years old, and convinces her bff, Evie (widow in her 70’s) to move to New York, in hope to work again as a wedding planner.

Sylvia takes all her jewelry and sells it at a pawn shop, to give her money to find a place that she and Evie can live.  It was fun when they did not like the small places they found, until someone tells her about finding nice places with people who go away for a year, and rent.  In a short time, Sylvia manages to get a job as a wedding planning business with her former rival.  She is assigned in helping a young lady planning her wedding, with many issues along the way; her boss is thrilled how well she is doing.  Evie, who used to play the piano, also revives her music at a restaurant.

What follows is a fun heartwarming story, with ups and downs in their new adventure; as both ladies find the courage to follow their dreams.  There was a lot of laughter, and even some weird moments. I did not like Sylvia ex-husband, as he was a jerk.  I also thought her meddling daughter wasn’t likeable, but that changed in the last third of the book. I did get a kick out of when her ex comes, and then the daughter, with her man hiding naked in the other room; pretty hysterical.

Sylvia life changes as her career escalates, a new romance, sex, fun, and together with Evie, their second chance becomes successful.  Even though this story revolves around sixty/seventy set, there is so much fun and laughter throughout the book, as well as some problems. Sylvia’s Second Act was a fun story of second chances.  Sylvia’s Second Act was very well written by Hillary Yablon.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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