WWII Books about Books

 

The British Booksellers
Kristy Cambron
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 9, 2024)
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN-10: 0785232249
ISBN-13: 978-0785232247
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories that bind us in the fight for what matters most.

 A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington…until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

 When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

 As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of World War II, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

 ·Split timeline: WWI and WWI/Stand-alone novel/Book length: 118,000 words/ Includes discussion questions for book clubs

 My Thoughts:

Honest truth: I was surprised to find that this author has multiple published works. I felt that my advanced reader copy felt much like an early draft. There were odd sentence constructions, weird word choices, and sentences that kind of went nowhere. Also, “thrice” and “trice” are not the same word. I hope all this was cleared up for the final publication.

On to the story. The dual timeline mostly worked, although the jump in years in the past section (when Charlotte and Amos are barely in their teens to when they are young adults) was a bit jarring. The exposition of why Amos never showed up at Gretna Green was anticlimactic. I’d have liked to actually see it, rather than just mention it later. It’s never really explained why William sets up a trust fund for Amos.

 I found Eden, for all her bravery and single-mindedness to save the estate, to be kind of a secondary character. The blurb makes it sound like she’s much more prominent than she is. This story is really about Charlotte and Amos, how the must overcome past actions to move forward. The descriptions of bombing and its aftermath are harrowing. I knew a little bit about the bombing of Coventry—mostly the cathedral there—but didn’t realize it had been so heavily hit, and I appreciated the notes at the end of the book.

 Possible objectionable material:

Descriptions of war, both WWI and WWII. People are injured and die. One character is an alcoholic. Characters smoke and drink. Minor cursing. Kissing.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like stories set during war, those who love books, those who like second chance stories.

 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

 

The Wartime Book Club
Kate Thompson
Publisher: Forever (April 9, 2024)
Paperback: 512 pages
ISBN-10: 153875701X
ISBN-13: 978-1538757017
 
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

Inspired by true events, The Wartime Book Club is an unforgettable story of everyday bravery and resistance, full of romance, drama, and camaraderie and a tribute to the joy of reading and the power of books in our darkest hour.

The Isle of Jersey was once a warm and neighborly community, but in 1943, German soldiers patrol the cobbled streets, imposing a harsh rule.
 
Nazis have ordered Grace La Mottée, the island's only librarian, to destroy books that threaten the new regime. Instead, she hides the stories away in secret. Along with her headstrong best friend, she wants to fight back. So she forms the Wartime Book Club: a lifeline, offering fearful islanders the joy and escapism of reading.
 
But as the occupation drags on, the women's quiet acts of bravery become more perilous – and more important – than ever before. And when tensions turn to violence, they are forced to face the true, terrible cost of resistance . . .
 
Based on astonishing real events, The Wartime Book Club is a love letter to the power of books in the darkest of times – as well as a moving page-turner that brings to life the remarkable, untold story of an island at war.

 My Thoughts:

I was very excited when I found that Kate Thompson wrote another book about books and WWII. (I raved over her previous book here: https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/01/upcoming-fiction-releases.html). Her Facebook page is full of fascinating interviews and history, as his her podcast, “From the Library with Love.”

 This time, the book is set in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. These islands are in an odd geopolitical situation: They aren’t exactly “owned” by England, but they are “Crown Dependencies,” dependent upon Britain, while having their own governing bodies. Local languages are heavily influenced by their proximity to France. These islands were taken over by the Germans during WWII, leading to extreme rationing, and, near the end of the war, near starvation.

 This is the setting for this book. Mild-mannered Grace, the assistant librarian, protects the books the Nazis have banned, subtly fighting the Germans via using the library to keep spirits up. Her best friend, Bea, works for the post office, and lures Grace into warning people who are being reported to the Germans as Grace delivers library books.

 Grace also hides an American soldier, with whom she falls in love, despite the man obstacles they face.

 Eventually, Grace and Bea, and others who have subverted German control, are arrested and imprisoned. They each have their own way of getting out of the clutches of the Germans, and are reunited after the war ends.

 I love Kate Thompson’s storytelling. She writes beautifully, with a great eye for description, character, and dialogue. But just as much attention is given to the narrative. Look at this absolutely gorgeous bit of alliteration: “…the brutal, bloody, beautiful business of birth.” Wow.

 I gave Thompson’s previous book as a Christmas present to my teammates at school last year. I suspect I will end up doing the same with this one.

 There are extensive end notes about the real people and actions this book is based on, as well as book club questions, other reading, and a guide to places to visit in Jersy. And now I really want to go there.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Unwed sex/pregnancy. Drinking. Smoking. Descriptions of war and its effects. Hunger. Neighbors betraying neighbors. Deception—though in a good cause. Cursing, including a couple of instances of the "f" word.

 Who Might Like this Book:

Those who like books, WWII stories. If you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you will for sure want to give this one a try.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

The Underground Library
Jennifer Ryan
Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 12, 2024)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN-10: 0593500385
ISBN-13: 978-0593500385
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this novel based on true events from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

When the new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she is expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running the library, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?

Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she is only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.

Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.

When a slew of bombs destroys the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?

 My Thoughts:

I have generally enjoyed Jennifer Ryan’s WWII fiction. It was odd at first to read this one, since Kate Thompson had written about the same topic so very well last year. I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to like this book, after reading Thompson’s.

 But Ryan’s characters are completely different—though they fight some of the same battles—and Ryan takes a different angle on the Bethnal Green Underground Library.

 As always, Ryan’s characters and their trials feel real. I like how she brings her diverse group of characters together seamlessly, bringing them into a cohesive unit working to a common goal. The character of Mrs. Ottley was delightful, and the secondary characters in this book are well-developed. Some you love, some you hate—as it should be. Dialogue is natural, and the evens believable.

 Like Thompson, Ryan provides historical references and explanation of the real events that she used to inspire her story.

 Would I have liked this book better if I hadn’t read Thompson’s? Yes. But this is still a solid, worthy effort, and holds its place among slice-of-life WWII books.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Sex/pregnancy outside of marriage. One character considers a back-alley abortion. Parental pressure. One character is mistreated by her employer. Stealing. Lying. The usual issues you get in a book about WWII London.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Again, those who love books, who like WWII stories, and enjoy a little romance.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Neurodivergent Protagonist

 

Paige Not Found
By Jen Wilde
 
Publisher: Scholastic Press (April 16, 2024)
Hardcover: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 133888056X
ISBN-13: 978-1338880564
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

A thrilling adventure story that examines consent and privacy in a way that books have not had to before this generation where everything is online.

 Nothing about us, without us.

 When Paige learns that her parents enrolled her in an autism study without telling her, her world turns upside down. Suddenly she isn't sure if she can trust the two people she loves most. A chip was implanted in her brain that sends them information about her mood, brain activity, and location. It can even boost the chemicals that keep her calm or make her happy. So Paige has to wonder... can she even trust her own mind?

 Now the company that created her chip is days away from merging with the most popular social network in the world. And they are known for selling people’s private information to the highest bidder.

Paige knows there is only one thing she can do. Armed with the names and addresses of the other kids involved in the study, she must track them down and tell them the truth, so they can put a stop to the merger and get the chips removed for good.

 My thoughts:

This middle-grade novel focuses on Paige, a girl with autism, her neurotypical best friend Mara, and the people they meet as they try to do battle with an Elon Musk-type baddie who thinks neurodivergent people need to be fixed.

 Along the way, they make friends with other children with autism: Kelsey, who hates that her influencer mom posts Kelsey’s meltdowns for her followers to see. Marcus, who is nonverbal, and his protective big sister Gabby.

 Paige feels like her parents just want her to be “normal”, and when she finds out they had an experimental device implanted in her brain (they told her she was getting her tonsils out), she is angry that they can’t accept her for how she is. Even worse, the company that created the implant is about to enter an agreement with a Facebook-like entity, which means all the information about what goes on in the brains of Paige and other test subjects is about to go public.

 Rather than accept that fate, the kids fight back. And here’s the good thing: the way they do it is actually pretty realistic.

 Of course, there are problems along the way. There is the usual middle school trope of having a best friend become friends with someone else. Here it is further complicated by Paige’s realization that she is nonbinary and is attracted to Mara.

 Things are wrapped up with a pretty satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I found the narrative easy to follow. Paige’s conflicts were realistic, even though the underlying premise was maybe a bit out there. Descriptions of Paige’s personal challenges with autism, emotions, stimming, and anxiety were realistic, but, from the acknowledgements, I gather that the author, to, has autism.

 I loved this representation of the idea that those who are neurodivergent do not need to be “fixed” and that their voices matter in how they treated.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Anxiety meltdowns, hiding things from parents, lots of videogaming, sneaking around. Paige, while a “girl”, feels nonbinary and is attracted to another girl.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Those who like coming of age, neurodivergent characters, beating big corporations.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing and ARC for my honest review.

Speaking of colliding worlds...

Dungeons and Drama
By Kristy Boyce
Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 9, 2024)
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0593647017
ISBN-13: 978-0593647011
Reading age: 14+ years, from customers
Lexile measure: 690L
Grade level: 7 - 9

Publisher’s Blurb:

Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway. Crucial to this plan is to bring back her high school’s spring musical, but when Riley takes her mom’s car without permission, she's grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad’s game shop.

Riley can't waste her time working when she has a musical to save, so she convinces Nathan—a nerdy teen employee—to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she’ll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous.

But Riley didn’t realize that meant joining Nathan's Dungeons & Dragons game…or that role playing would be so fun. Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn't require as much acting as she would've thought...

My Thoughts:

We see a lot of books about girls who hope to make it big as the star of the show. I love that Riley doesn’t want center stage. Her love is behind the scenes.

However, her love for the stage gets her in trouble, and her punishment is, basically, constant parental supervision. Which means afternoons at her dad’s game store. She’s not a fan of the store or, really, her dad, since he split from her mother. She doesn’t think he’s very interested in her life.

There are some of the usual tropes: hate to love, fake dating. We pretty much know what to expect. But the tropes are executed well.

The teenagers act like typical cliquey teens. Riley looks down her nose at the RPG crowd, and Nathan doesn’t seem to have much use for her dramatic flair. One of the things I really loved about this story is how the groups learned to work together. Once Riley realized RPGing was really just acting, she embraced it—and brought in a friend. Both groups are enriched by their ultimate mingling.

Riley finds a whole new support group from the regulars at her dad’s gaming store. And she learns a lot more about her dad. They develop a closeness that had been lacking from their relationship.

Another think I really appreciated is the storyline of kids advocating to keep a program they love in their school—especially an arts-based program. So many programs are cut, and Riley works really hard to remind school administrators of the value of the drama program she loves. But she can’t do it alone—friends from both of her groups come through to help her make it happen.

The adults in this book are not painted as clueless or oppressive, just typical parents and teachers. Another plus!

 Possible objectionable material:

Dungeons and Dragons like RPG and LARPing. Same gender couple. Teenage hijinks—including sneaking behind parents’ backs. Parent/child drama. Divorce. Parental health scare. There might have been some minor cursing, but I didn’t make note of anything in particular.

 Who might like this book:

D&D fans, drama lovers, romance fans, coming-of-age fans. I think either gender can appreciate the story. The lexile level is lower than the suggested grade range, and that's okay--sadly, many teams are not where they should be.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Multiverse of Possibilities

 

The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee
By Ellen Oh
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (January 23, 2024)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0593125940
ISBN-13: 978-0593125946
Reading age: 12 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Mina has become the hero of her own story. Literally.

When Mina Lee woke up on Saturday morning for SAT prep, she did NOT expect to:

1. Nearly be fried by a superhero who turned out to be a supervillain.
2. Come face to face with Jin, the handsome boy of her dreams.
3. Discover a conspiracy involving the evil corporation Merco that she created.

And it’s all happening in her fictional world. Mina is trapped in the story she created. Now it’s up to her to save everyone. Even if it means losing Jin forever.

 My Thoughts:

Inspired by the groundbreaking A-Ha! Music video for “Take on Me”, this book combines webcomics, art, teen romance, loss, physics, and multiverse theory, simultaneously mocking and embracing the tropes.

 Mina, a Korean-American girl whose mother died a few years ago, is struggling as her senior year begins. Her father doesn’t want her to go into art—her mother’s profession—and seems to be erasing her mother’s memories from their lives. To prove that she has what it takes to be a successful artist, Mina decides to publish a webcomic. Her first attempt is boring. She doesn’t want to embrace the typical tropes—like love triangles—and her friends give her some tough love.

 Her second attempt is…inspired. The characters jump into her mind, including a grown-up version of a childhood friend who died.

 And this is where the multiverse comes in.

 Oh gives us just enough scientific explanation for us to willingly go along for the ride, without sciencing us to death.

 What I really enjoyed about this story is that the alternate universe characters know that they are not who they were before the comic started. They don’t know why they are suddenly compelled to do things that are outside their previous norm. Mina, shocked that she is responsible for their unhappy circumstances, helps them to fight against the compulsions that she created, while trying to fix the problem and allow them to be themselves again. By doing this, she learns the lesson herself—she needs to stand up to her father about her choices for her future.

 The solution to the problem is maybe a little frustrating. Mina is able to bring the tools she needs to fight her bad guys to life just by drawing them. It does make the eventual escape from them a bit too simple. On the other hand, Mina is also called on to make a great sacrifice—an understandable and needed one, but heartbreaking nonetheless.

 The final solution toward getting her back to her own reality was a little to close to The Wizard of Oz for my comfort.

 There were a few continuity errors in my ARC. Mina is lactose intolerant, but she eats cheese sticks and things with butter. On the other hand, when she orders a milkshake, she only dips her French fries in it because “that’s the only way I can have a milkshake.”

 Overall, I felt like the story was engaging, the dialogue and description were solid, and the characters who were supposed to be believable, were believable.

And…did Oh leave the door open for a sequel?

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Some violence of a comic-book nature. An over-the-top villain who does medical procedures on teens. Teenage cursing—mild. Teenage making out, also mild. No sex. A same-gender couple.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Fans of webcomics and comics in general will probably find this an enjoyable read. Although the protagonist is female, I think it will be equally engaging to boys.

 
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

An assortment of new releases

 

The Dread Penny Society: The Complete Penny Dreadful Collection
By Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (September 5, 2023)
Hardcover: 400 pages
ISBN-10: 1639931546
ISBN-13: 978-1639931545

 Publisher’s Blurb:

This beautiful, cloth-covered hardcover collector’s anthology compiles all the penny dreadful short stories from Sarah M. Eden’s five-book Victorian romance series. Included in this edition are three new, never-before-released stories.

 Each short story is written in the style of the Victorian fiction that became so popular during that time period. From ghost stories to adventures to mysteries, Sarah weaves these gothic tales among her romantic storylines, making it the perfect way to celebrate the Dread Penny Society series.

 My Thoughts:

This collection of “penny dreadfuls” is a lovely add-on to the completed Dread Penny Society Series. Many of the stories accompanied and paralleled the action of the individual novels; some are new. All are written in the style of the time.

 Separated from the novels, the stories still stand up well. There are a variety of stories, especially when adding in the ones that were not in the original novels. These stories run the range from adventurous to supernatural. Frequently, but not always, there is also a romantic element.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Some deal with the supernatural, like monsters in the forest or ghosts. All are treated in a light enough way that they should not give nightmares.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Anyone who liked Eden’s Dread Penny Society series and would like to have all the stories (with new ones) in a single volume. Anyone who likes the penny dreadful stories of days gone by.

 Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

  

Fair Rosaline
By Natasha Solomons
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 12, 2023)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1728281237
ISBN-13: 978-1728281230

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Was the greatest ever love story a lie?

 

The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love. Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.

Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo's gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realizes that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but her life .With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo?

 

Or can this story only ever end one way?

 

Shattering everything we thought we knew about Romeo and Juliet, Fair Rosaline is the spellbinding prequel to Shakespeare's best known tale, which exposes Romeo as a predator with a long history of pursuing much younger girls. Bold, lyrical, and chillingly relevant, Fair Rosaline reveals the dark subtext of the timeless story of star-crossed lovers: it's a feminist revision that will enthrall readers.

 My Thoughts:

I’ve been teaching Romeo and Juliet off and on for 20 years. Every time, I tell the kids, “Romeo is a player.” Clearly, Natasha Solomons agrees. Solomons does not follow the usual theory that Romeo is a teenager, and backs up her interpretation in the notes at the end of the novel. In this case, having Romeo be in his 30s makes him even creepier. No…pervier. Really. He’s not just a player, he’s a groomer and an abuser.

 Told from the point-of-view of Rosaline, the woman we only hear about in Act I of the Shakespeare play, this story takes the tragedy much deeper. Romeo leaves a wake of ruined girls behind him. He likes them young and innocent and, with Friar Laurence’s help, makes sure their lives are ruined after he loses interest.

 Rosaline’s character is well-rounded and beautifully imperfect. She is impetuous and opinionated and defiant. She’s also very smart, and once she puts two and two together and realizes just how Romeo has played her, she doesn’t just cry and whine. She acts. Her revenge is perfect and appropriate. She makes sacrifices to see justice served, and considers them worthy sacrifices.

 This story is not without heartbreak. How could it be?

 Possible Objectionable Behavior:

Unmarried sex, pregnancy, violence, death, drinking, mild cursing.

Who Might Like This Book:

It helps, but isn’t essential, for you to be familiar with the source material. If you like coming-of-age stories, this is a good choice.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

Between Monsters and Marvels
By Alysa Wishingrad
Publisher: HarperCollins (September 12, 2023)
Hardcover: 400 pages
ISBN-10: 006324487X
ISBN-13: 978-0063244870
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 Publisher’s Blurb:

A standalone high-stakes middle grade fantasy by Alysa Wishingrad, author of the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection The Verdigris Pawn.

 

Monsters are still lurking on Barrow’s Bay.

 

Dare Coates is sure of it. No drifter or ruffian could have killed her father, the Captain of the Guard, while he was on patrol. But everyone insists that monsters have been gone for years now. Dare’s mother. Her classmates. Even the governor, who swiftly marries her mother just months after her father’s death.

 

Dare’s suspicions grow even stronger when the governor suddenly ships her off to the mainland, away from any hope of uncovering the truth about her father’s death.

 

Or so she thinks. Soon Dare finds solid proof that monsters still exist and she starts to question everything she’s always known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust? Where is the line between good and evil?

 

The truth hides behind danger and deception. But with the help of an unlikely crew of cohorts and a stray beastie, nothing can stop Dare from finding out what happened to her father and exposing who the real monsters are.

 My Thoughts:

Dare is not an easy kid. She is full of awful. Among the children of the town, she is an outcast. They consider her father’s job—patrolling for monsters—to be a waste of time and resources. After all, all the monsters are gone.

 Dare knows better.

 After her father’s death and mother’s remarriage—to the governor—she is shipped off to the mainland to stay with the aunt who raised her father. And it is here that the adventure truly begins. Dare must learn whom to trust and whom to avoid as she unravels the mystery of how her father really died, and what the truth is about monsters and marvels.

 The narrative voice is strong, and while Dare knows she isn’t always likable, to us, the readers, she is a sympathetic character. We root for her as she finds friendship and discovers that maybe people aren’t all so awful after all.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

This is a fantasy universe, with unusual monsters. Lack of adult supervision. There is some minor violence, deception, dangerous situations. There is also a slight supernatural element as there is a ghost.

 Who Might Like This Book:

People who like spunky heroines, coming-of-age, learning to speak up for yourself. I think it skews more to the middle to top of the age range suggested by the publisher.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

The Name Drop
By Susan Lee
Publisher: Inkyard Press; Original edition (September 12, 2023)
Language: English
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1335457984
ISBN-13: 978-1335457981
Reading age: 13 - 17 years
Grade level: 7 - 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

New from the author of Seoulmates comes a story of mistaken identities, the summer of a lifetime, and a love to risk everything for.

When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.

When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.

It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the mistake: they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.

As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?

My Thoughts:

Told in dual points of view, this was a fun twist on a classic mistaken identity trope. From very different backgrounds, and with very different parental expectations, Elijah and Jessica both get an eye-opening summer experience. I like that they both show growth during their summer internship and even after things come crashing down—as they inevitably must.

 The supporting cast of characters is also interesting and well-rounded. They serve as more than just set dressing.

 Particularly interesting is the struggle to be female in a company in which a strong cultural preference for male hierarchy is present. Battling the slights—intentional or not—becomes an important secondary plot point. As does the rather superior attitude the corporate types take toward the interns and their value to the company.

 While the budding relationship between Elijah and Jessica is an important factor in the story, I found it refreshing that it wasn’t the be-all and end-all of the story. I like the misunderstandings that occur—and must be resolved—as they explore their very different lifestyles and backgrounds.

 Overall, the resolution is satisfying. You can’t help but root for these people.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Sexism, some racism and classism. Deception. Cursing, including a couple of F-bombs. Kissing.

 Who Might Like This Book:

If you like mistaken identities, this is a fun one. I think the publisher’s suggested age range is good. Their grade level might be referring to reading level; otherwise it’s a bit low.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my opinion.

Christmas at the Cat Café
By Jessica Redland
Publisher: Boldwood Books (September 15, 2023)
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN-10: 1801624844
ISBN-13: 978-1801624848

 Publisher’s Blurb:

It's the most wonderful time of the year on Castle Street, and there's a paw-some new business opening....

 It had always been Tabby's dream to work with cats and an inheritance from her beloved nanna has finally made that a reality. Idyllic Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay couldn’t be a better place for pastry chef Tabby to open a cat café with her boyfriend, Leon.

 But when Leon leaves her in the lurch, the pressure mounts for Tabby. With Christmas fast approaching, she has to open the café on her own – a daunting prospect, especially when she's been hiding her health issues from the ones she loves.

 Faced with local resistance to the café – and somebody seemingly determined that she won’t succeed – Tabby will need her friends, family and cats more than ever to recover her broken Christmas spirit and pull together for a Christmas miracle.

 Will the cat café bring the festive joy to Castle Street as Tabby had hoped or will it be a cat-astrophe? And can the magic of Christmas on Castle Street mend Tabby's broken heart as well as her business?

 My Thoughts:

This one was a bit difficult to engage with. There was just something about the narrative voice that didn’t click for me. Part of it is that, as “Tabitha” (aka, the writer) explains fibromyalgia, it reads very much like a women’s health website.

 As a character, Tabitha is…fine. She spends a lot of time trying to spare everyone else from worrying about her, and watching her learn to accept help is definitely a strong point. Her development of the cat café is pretty cute; the way she talks for her cats, each with its distinctive voice and accent, is somewhat less so—but at least she only does that in private.

 Tom is maybe a bit too good to be true, but he’s solid as the love interest. The villain, however…oof. Quite cartoony. Finding out who is behind attacks on the café is a little bit of a surprise; there wasn’t really anything to telegraph it.

 Side characters are good, particularly some of the café staff and regulars. Tabby does manage to overcome several adversities quite well. The best thing, though, is that she shows enough growth to be aware of when something isn’t right for her.

 As with any romance—Hallmark or otherwise—something must drive our love interests apart about ¾ of the way through. In this case, it makes sense, as does their resolution.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Tabitha has been living, unmarried, with her boyfriend for several years. Some drinking. Mild swearing. Death of a pet.

 Who Might Like This Book:

While it does have Christmas in it, it isn’t all about the holiday. If you like cats or have ever wanted to visit a cat café, you’ll probably quite enjoy this book. And of course, if you like “clean” romance, this is for you.

 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

Every Duke Has His Day
By Suzanne Enoch
Publisher: Griffin (September 19, 2023)
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1250842549
ISBN-13: 978-1250842541

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Brain meets Beauty in this sparkling, fresh take on the classic Bringing Up Baby – if Jane Austen had written it! A romantic comedy with a dash of chaos featuring the most ill-behaved poodle in Regency London, by New York Times bestseller Suzanne Enoch.

Michael Bromley, Duke of Woriton, has a passion, but it’s not for chasing ladies or gambling till dawn. No, his is the far more dangerous pursuit of the science of chemistry. He may be a tad eccentric, but he can navigate a society ballroom, and manage a polite conversation—if he must. He’s certainly capable of taking care of his aunt’s perfectly behaved poodle, Lancelot, while she’s on holiday.

Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering, third daughter of a viscount, is enjoying her second, spectacular Season in London. She is a Diamond of the Season and is adored by all—and especially by her precious black poodle, Galahad. To everyone else, however, Galahad is a demon dog. So much so that Bitsy’s most insistent beau and particular victim of Galahad’s bad manners, has hired a thief to steal the dog, clearing the way for his suit.

But none of them can plan for a chaotic encounter in the park, resulting in lost notes, a soaking in the Serpentine and an accidental dog swap…and Lancelot being kidnapped instead of Galahad! Determined to locate the dog, Michael isn’t thrilled to be saddled with a flighty female insisting on helping—except that Bitsy has a great deal more sense than he expected. And a sharp tongue to match. Still, what’s a scientist to do but continue to pursue an outcome, however unexpected it may be? But chemistry is all about attraction, and this is one formula with some hilariously romantic results.

 My Thoughts:

Honestly, I liked this far more than I expected to. Probably because Michael is not completely the typical “mad scientist”, oblivious to the effects of his behavior and anything that isn’t to do with science. Likewise, Bitsy has the self-awareness to understand that being the sparkling Diamond of the London season isn’t all there is to life.

 The mechanism by which they meet—and must continue meeting—is effective, and the dialogue between the two is very well done.

 Likewise, the B-plot is like its own little mini-romance, and is equally satisfying.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Deception, some drinking. Theft of animals. Threats.

 Who Might Like This Book:

This really reminds me of classic movie romcoms. Think Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Dog lovers might particularly enjoy this one.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for my opinion.

Ploof
By Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser
Publisher: Tundra Books (September 26, 2023)
Hardcover: 56 pages
ISBN-10: 1774881926
ISBN-13: 978-1774881927
Reading age: 2 - 5 years

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Come play with Ploof! Meet a friendly cloud full of feelings in this interactive picture book for fans of Hervé Tullet's Press Here, from the creator of Narwhal and Jelly and the co-creator of Science Explorers.

Ploof is a puffy cloud who's a little lonely — but now you're here, and the fun can begin! Can you help Ploof overcome their shyness? Play pretend? Make Ploof laugh with your funny faces, find their hiding spot, give them a high five! Full of imaginative and interactive fun, each page of this perfect book for preschoolers offers a chance to play. By following cues to say hello, clap, blow, shake, wave or make a funny face, young readers will be delighted to see the effects of their actions on Ploof. They'll learn social-emotional skills like empathy, encouragement and kindness through Ploof's emotional journey — and, along the way, they'll learn how to be a fantastic friend!

Join Ploof’s adventures in a brand-new series co-written and co-illustrated by Narwhal and Jelly creator Ben Clanton and up-and-coming picture book maker Andy Chou Musser.

 My Thoughts:

Full disclosure: I was a first-year teacher at Ben Clanton’s high school his senior year. I’m not sure we ever actually spoke to each other.

 This absolutely charming little book is perfect for reading with a little one on your lap. The various gestures prompted by the simple text will be fun to do together. The illustrations are cute, the pages uncluttered, and the story length just right for short little attention spans.

 Ploof would be a perfect gift to welcome a new baby.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

 

Bright Lights Big Christmas
By Mary Kay Andrews
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 26, 2023)
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 125028581X
ISBN-13: 978-1250285812

 Publisher’s Blurb:

When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.

 My Thoughts:

 I love Christmas romcom season. It always falls during the stressful beginnings of school, and I get to escape for a bit.

 This is not Andrews’ first Christmas novel; I reviewed The Santa Suit—which is briefly mentioned in this book—here. https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2021/11/cuddle-up-with-holiday-romances.html

 As with that book, the romance develops rather quickly. I’m not sure I catch the whole motivation for it, but it’s cute. It also lacks the typical conflict characteristic of most romcoms. Yes, there is a threat of separation for the couple, but they overcome it and we get our happily ever after.

 We never really look very deeply into Kerry’s personality or thoughts. We know she has lost her job and her boyfriend. We watch her gain confidence in a new endeavor. But it sees like all we see is the surface, nothing very deep. Her character changes little.

 Don’t get me wrong—it’s a satisfying story. It’s just that it ends up more on the Christmas fluff side of things.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Some drinking. Implied sex, closed door. Mild cursing. Some characters are gay.

 Who Might Like This Book:

If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, this book will fit very well!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.