Editor’s Note: Jennifer Blankfein is a book blogger based in Connecticut and a frequent BookTrib contributor. The list below highlights eight recent standout reads she recommends. To learn more about the many books Jen has read this year, visit her blog, Book Nation by Jen.
We Begin at the End
by Chris Whitaker
This absorbing and inspirational novel tells the story of an addict mother, Star, who has lost her true love, Vincent, to crime and jail time. Her young teenage daughter, Duchess, thinks of herself as an outlaw but takes on the responsibility of caring for her neglected younger brother. She’s forced to grow up, doing her best despite the rotten cards she has been dealt. Walk, the middle-aged police chief, lives with the ramifications of his honor after sending Vincent, his best friend, to jail many years ago. Broken lives in this California town are all intertwined while the mystery of a current murder brings the past back to the present. We Begin At the End is a gut-wrenching, emotional story taking us on a journey of responsibility, forgiveness and lost love, leaving us mostly heartbroken with a hint of hope. I loved the characters and Chris Whitaker’s storytelling.
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Two Absorbing Stories of Women and Marital Secrets
Both of these compelling books are about women who step out of their marriages, but for very different reasons. One has lost the connection with her husband and therefore questions her own identity. The other reconnects with her first love, initially a childhood soulmate, despite her happy marriage. The neighborhoods in Tokyo, a beach town on Cape Cod, morals, romance, family and love, encompassing both humor and tragedy, make these stories about relationships worth getting lost in.
Fault Lines by Emily Itami tells the story of a Japanese housewife who finds sparks with a restaurateur who lights her up after she nearly jumps off her balcony to avoid another day with her husband.
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In Miranda Cowley Heller’s The Paper Palace, Elle, now married with children, reconnects with her old boyfriend one summer night which re-surfaces the old magnetic pull of soulmates along with tragic memories from their youth.
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(You can find great book club discussion questions for both books here.)
Both Are True
by Reyna Marder Gentin
Here is an easy-to-read and engaging story about Jackie, a New York Family Court judge who can’t help but let her personal life influence her decision-making. Feeling lonely and wanting to be in love, she invites her new author boyfriend, Lou, to move in. He still has ties to his ex, things are complicated, and one day, he moves out with no explanation. Blaming herself and trying to figure out her future, renewed hope arises when a teenage girl close to Lou ends up in Jackie’s courtroom. Romantic relationships, atypical parenting situations, and the challenges of family law are combined to weave a compelling love story with the realities of life. I enjoyed Both Are True along with all of Reyna Marder Gentin’s books and highly recommend them for a weekend escape! (For some great book club discussion questions on this one, click here.)
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Mary Jane
by Jessica Anya Blau
Nothing is better than a little 1970s sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll to accompany this coming-of-age story about a conservative young teen babysitter named Mary Jane. Her summer job with a therapist’s family opens her eyes to a carefree life void of order and filled with love, music and fun. Used to a quiet life of cooking with her mom and singing at church, Mary Jane becomes a crucial part of this unconventional family, bringing order to their chaos while exposing herself to the wild and liberal 1970s. Also living in the house for the summer is a famous rock star, who’s trying to get clean, and his actress wife, and this famous couple takes everyone’s experiences up a notch. Their lives are infused with humor, truth and unbridled passion, causing Mary Jane to think about how she wants to live moving forward. This book was a real delight — pick up a copy of Mary Jane for you and a friend. It’s sure to be a great holiday gift all will enjoy!
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Three Unique and Engaging Quick Reads
Although these reads offer very different stories, all three have characters that crave human connection and make certain choices that impact their lives. Some characters grapple with identity and choose to share their truths with each other; another is desperate to fit in and chooses to connect with those from her past; and one character is desperate to check out, examining her life choices in an effort to explore what could have been. No matter which you choose to pick up, all are quick and engaging reads that give you something to think about!
In Rufi Thorpe’s The Knockout Queen, Bunny and Michael are unlikely friends; she is popular and lives with her wealthy dad in a big house, and he lives with his aunt in the small cottage next door. They both have secrets and are hiding their personal struggles until they choose to open up to one another — all of which leads to a beautiful story of connection.
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In Jeanette Escudero’s The Apology Project, Amelia realizes she alienated herself from everyone in her life, and after her failed 40th birthday party, she chooses to offer up apologies, one by one, and start fresh. If we could be forgiven for all the mistakes we made throughout our lifetime, what would life be like today?
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“It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you want to escape to is the exact same place you escaped from. That the prison wasn’t the place, but the perspective,” writes author Matt Haig. In his novel The Midnight Library, Nora feels so unhappy in her life, but before she can end it, she’s given the option to see how things would have turned out had she made different choices along the way. It’s thought-provoking and offers wonderful discussion fodder for book groups.
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