Everyone Here is Lying – Book Review

Title:- Everyone Here is Lying

Author:- Shari Lapena

Date published:- July 25th 2023

No. of pages:- 336 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot;-4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Welcome to Stanhope – a safe neighbourhood. A place for families.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter Avery unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery’s family declare her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery’s neighbours become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth.

I always make a point of reading all of Shari Lapena’s books and this book is no exception.

Everybody Here Is Lying involves people living in the neighborhood of Stanhope, a quiet safe neighborhood. William Wooler is a successful doctor with a family–but he has a secret. He was having an affair and when his lover, Nora Blanchard wanted to end the things, he went back home. He was hoping for alone time but he finds his nine-year-old daughter Avery had returned home from choir practice. She has been kicked out of the practice and has walked home alone. An argument happens between Avery and William with William ending up hitting Avery. William instantly regrets of hitting Avery and he left the house. And then he receives a frantic call from his wife–Avery is missing.

Each of these characters have a secret–and quiet unreliable characters, except in my opinion, Erin who seemed to be the only reliable character. The story is intense, where everyone is a suspect and everyone is hiding a secret. It was fast paced and also quiet unputdownable as the main question was–what really happened to Avery? Did she run away or was she kidnapped by a random stranger? I was literally hooked into the story, wondering what is going to happen next. The ending in my opinion was unexpected and twisted with a small cliffhanger in the end.

I always love Shari Lapena’s books and this was no exception–worth four stars.

Only if You are Lucky – Book Review

Title:- Only If You’re Lucky

Author:- Stacy Willingham

Date published:- January 16th 2024

No. of pages:- 384 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 3/5

Writing:- 3/5

Overall rating:- 3/5

Lucy Sharpe is larger than life. Magnetic, addictive. Bold and dangerous. Especially for Margot, who meets Lucy at the end of their freshman year at a liberal arts college in South Carolina. Margot is the shy one, the careful one, always the sidekick and never the center of attention. But when Lucy singles her out at the end of the year, a year Margot spent studying and playing it safe, and asks her to room together, something in Margot can’t say no—something daring, or starved, or maybe even envious.

And so Margot finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls, Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one, the three of them opposites but also deeply intertwined. It’s a year that finds Margot finally coming out of the shell she’s been in since the end of high school, when her best friend Eliza died three weeks after graduation. Margot and Lucy have become the closest of friends, but by the middle of their sophomore year, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been brutally murdered… and Lucy Sharpe is missing without a trace.

A tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal—another gripping novel from an author quickly becoming the gold standard in psychological suspense.

I actually had high expectations for this book, as I read two previous books by the same author and which I enjoyed most. But this book didn’t live up to my expectations although it wasn’t bad as per-se

Margot is still trying to overcome the death of her best friend Eliza and attends Rutledge the college that she was planning to go with Eliza. While at the college, she meets Lucy Sharpe, whose personality reminded Margot of Eliza. So when Lucy who notices Margot asks her to be roommates with her and two other girls, Sloane and Nicole, Margot couldn’t really believe her luck. Their house is adjacent to the fraternity house. While at the party, Margot meets Levi, who was the last person to see Eliza alive. Margot hated Levi and then one night, while on the island, Levi was found dead. Lucy was last seen with Levi but then a few days later, Lucy also mysteriously disappeared.

Unlike her two previous books, this was actually slow burn and it was actually a bit boring to me at first. The audience for this book was also different, aimed towards college students. However, towards the end of the book, things started getting interesting and unputdownable which made me increase my rating from two stars to a three stars. We know that each of the characters are carrying a secret and Lucy Sharpe doesn’t seem to be who she is. The twist at the end was quiet unexpected.

Although I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did with her two previous books, nevertheless, I cannot wait to read her fourth novel. Worth three stars.

Stacy Willingham is the New York Times, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things and Only If You’re Lucky.

Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, was a 2022 finalist for the Book of the Month’s Book of the Year award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller award, and ITW’s Best First Novel award. Her work has been translated in more than thirty languages.

Before turning to fiction, she was a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her B.A. in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and M.F.A. in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, Britt, and Labradoodle, Mako.

The Lantern of Lost Memories – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Lantern of Lost Memories

Author:- Sanaka Hiiragi

Translated by Jesse Kirkwood Iragi

Date published:- will be publihed on 22nd August 2024

No. of pages:- 208 pages

Genre:- Japanese Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

From acclaimed Japanese author Sanaka Hiigari comes a heartwarming, life-affirming novel about a magical photo studio, where people go after they die to view key moments from their life—and relive one precious memory before they pass into the afterlife.

The hands and pendulum of the old wooden clock on the wall were motionless. Hirasaka cocked his head to listen, but the silence inside the photo studio was almost deafening. His leather shoes sank softly into the aging red carpet as he strode over to the arrangement of flowers on the counter and carefully adjusted the angle of the petals…

This is the story of the peculiar and magical photo studio owned by Mr. Hirasaki, a collector of antique cameras. In the dimly lit interior, a paper background is pulled down in front of a wall, and in front of it stands a single, luxurious chair with an armrest on one side. On a stand is a large bellows camera. On the left is the main studio; photos can also be taken in the courtyard.

Beyond its straightforward interior, however, is a secret. The studio is, in fact, the door to the afterlife, the place between life and death where those who have departed have a chance—one last time—to see their entire life flash before their eyes via Mr. Hirasaki’s “spinning lantern of memories.”

We meet Hatsue, a ninety-two year old woman who worked as a nursery teacher, the rowdy Waniguchi, a yakuza overseer in his life who is also capable of great compassion, and finally Mitsuru, a young girl who has died tragically young at the hands of abusive parents. 

Sorting through the many photos of their lives, Mr. Hirasaki also offers guests one guests a second a chance to travel back in time to take a photo of one particular moment in their lives that they wish to cherish in a special way.

Full of charm and whimsy, The Lantern of Lost Memories will sweep you away to a world of nostalgia, laughter, and love.

This is a short and quick to read, and heartwarming, heartbreaking and emotional story.

Mr. Hirasaki owns a peculiar photo studio–the studio is a different one and serves as a place between life and death and a door to afterlife. The studio will help the people, who have already died to recount their stories by flashing pictures of their lives, during their lifetime. We meet an eighty year old woman named Hatsue who worked as a nursery teacher, Wanaguichi who is a rowdy yakuza overseer and a young girl named Mitsuri who tragically died at the hands of abusive parents.

This is an unusual concept and plot of the story. You die and before you enter into he afterlife, you get final glimpses of your own life before heading off to afterlife. It’s emotional and kind of sad as well. I am particularly sad at Mitsuri’s life story, as she died so young compared to the other two characters. The story itself if very unique and the writing was also engaging as well. You get glimpses of what these three character’s lives were, their experiences, their life overall, before they died.

Overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to read more from this author. Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and PanMacmillan for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Sanaka Hiiragi (JP: 柊サナカ) is a writer, novelist, born in Kagawa, raised in Hyogo, and lives in Tokyo. In 2013, she debuted as the secret winner of the “KONOMYS Award”. A series of short stories set in a long-established classic camera store in Yanaka, and a camera mystery novel, “Yanaka retoro kamera ten no nazo biyori (Mystery Days at Yanaka Retro Camera Shop” in three volumes (Takarajima-sha), led to her writing for photography and camera magazines. She has also written “Jinsei shashinkan no kiseki (Miracles in the Photo Studio After Life” (Takarajima-sha), a story about a special photo studio that takes running lantern photos. On February 17, 2022, “Tengoku kara no takkyubin (Home Delivery from Heaven)” (Futabasha) was released. There is an episode about a photography club and cameras in chapter 4 of the novel. A humorous mystery novel about three girls at a photography school and a large format camera is scheduled to be released around July. Photo & Culture, Tokyo PCT “Sanaka Hiiragi no kamera numa (Hiiragi Sanaka’s Cameras No Way Out)” is being published weekly

When in Rome – Book Review

Title:- When in Rome

Author:- Sarah Adams

Date published:- September 20th 2022

No. of pages:- 320 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Opposites certainly attract for the stranded pop star and small-town baker in this charming slice of romance from the author of the TikTok sensationThe Cheat Sheet.

Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her “princess of pop” image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is.

When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He’s too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room—but only until her car is fixed—then she’s on her own.

Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose—she’s Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can’t help but get close to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more.

Amelia can’t resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.

At first, when I saw the title, When in Rome, I thought the story was based in Rome, Italy. Little did I know that the story is based in Rome, Kentucky.

Amelia is a famous singer, known around the world as Rae. Amelia wanted to get away from the life and being a fan of Audrey Hepburn, and trying to reenact the movie Roman Holiday, she drives to Rome Kentucky. She ended up stopping in front of Noah’s house. Noah is a pie shop owner. While her car is in repair, Noah has no choice but to allow Amelia stay in his house. The two start getting to know each other and start to fall in love. But both of them know that falling in love with each other is the worst thing they could ever do.

I actually loved the story. I loved the chemistry between Amelia and Noah. The story is well written and is engaging. The story is told in the POVs of Amelia and Noah. Of course the ending was predictable, but nonetheless, I actually enjoyed reading this romance book. I love how Noah is the grumpy sunshine and how he actually takes care of Amelia whenever she is in need. The story also talks a lot about Amelia’s fame, how her fame actually strained her relationship with her mother. I also like the close friendship between Noah’s sisters and Amelia.

This is the first book of the When in Rome series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall worth 4 stars.

My Daughter’s Revenge – ARC Book Review

Title:- My daughter’s revenge

Author:- Natali Simmons

Date published:- 14th August 2024

No. of pages:- 368 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:-Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

My first mistake was raising my daughter to be just like me…

His death is reported on the morning news. The man my daughter’s been dating. Dead. Gone…

I blink slowly – once, twice, three times. The hair on the back of my neck rises as I grip my coffee harder. My breath comes in short bursts.

I didn’t even know he existed until recently. Leah doesn’t tell me anything anymore. But I found the letters she hid. I know she fell head over heels for him. That he broke her heart.

And that he’s dead now.

I wish more than anything that the news is only shocking because of who it is, and what’s happened to him.

But I know my daughter too well for that.

My first mistake was raising my daughter to be just like me.

My second mistake might be what I do to protect her…

This was actually an intense psychological thriller book that will make you think about life choices…a lot.

Leah and Jules are mother and daughter and they both seemed to be having strained relationship. Leah goes to a music festival and meets a man named Dylan with who she has rendezvous. Little did she know soon that the man she slept with was actually her art teacher in school. Dylan has no interest in pursuing a relationship with Leah but Leah starts getting obsessed with Dylan…meanwhile Jules believes that her husband Adam is cheating behind her back and start chatting to a mysterious stranger online.

The story mainly talks about lies, cheating and deceit within the family. Jules and Leah doesn’t seem to be having a good mother-daughter relationship and Leah’s obsession towards her own art teacher makes the whole story interesting. The story was fast paced and as you read further in the book, you realize how both the main characters can be disturbing and unreliable. The writing was great and the author did a good job of getting the reader into the story. The ending was completely unexpected and twisted. The story is told in the perspective of both Jules and Leah so as a reader you will get to know what they really think of each other. Leah is portrayed as a disturbed teenager in the book while Jules was portrayed as a wife who doesn’t seem to be satisfied with the marriage.

The story was brilliantly written and is unputdownable and fast paced thriller–worth 4 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

The Mystery Guest – Book Review

Title:- The Mystery Guest

Author:- Nita Prose

Date published:- November 28th 2023

No. of pages:- 293 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 3/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 3.5/5

When an acclaimed author dies at the Regency Grand Hotel, it’s up to a fastidious maid to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty—in a standalone novel featuring Molly Gray, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick.

Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor.

When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know who killed J.D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?

As the case threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past—because long ago, she knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery post-haste. If there’s one thing Molly knows for sure, it’s that dirty secrets don’t stay buried forever…

If you haven’t read the Maid yet, which is the first book of the Molly the maid series, read the first book before reading the next one. Although, you can read this book as a standalone, in my opinion, the Maid was better than the Mystery Guest.

With that ado, let’s begin my review.

Molly is now the Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. The hotel is hosting an event of a very famous author named JM Grimthorpe who wrote dozens of bestselling novels. Molly and the new maid Lily is in charge of tea and food at the event. While the event is going on, Grimthorpe tells the audience that he has a secret that he wanted to share with the audience. But he never got to share with the audience as he falls dead on the stage. When investigated, Grimthorpe died from poisoning. How, he drank tea arranged by Lily, making her the possible suspect.

The story divides between past and present, though told in Molly’s POV. In the past, Molly was a ten year old girl whose grandmother was working at the Grimthorpe mansion at the time. We get snippets of what working with Grimthorpes was like and at the same time Molly getting to know most of the characters. The story was funny in someway but at the same time, this was slightly fast paced and entertaining. Molly is a likable and entertaining character and in the end you will realize how the past events have some sort of connection with the murder of Grimthorpes.

This book wasn’t great as the first but one Molly is as I said a likable character that will make you enjoy the story more. I am not sure if there is going to be a third book in the maid series but this second book in the series was OK. Overall worth 3.5 stars.

NITA PROSE is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery Guest and The Maid, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide. A Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Maid won the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Book of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mystery. The Maid was also an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. Visit Nita at nitaprose.com or on Instagram and X @NitaProse.

The Assistant – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Assistant

Author:- Nicole Trope

Date published:- will be published on 12th August 2024

No. of pages:- 334 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 4.5/5

She knows everything about you… but can you trust her?

I walk in to my interview with Ava Green and carefully hand over my application. It’s all made up, of course, but Ava doesn’t have to know that.

There is so much worry in her blue eyes. Her phone pings with constant messages and a small stain marks her crisp shirt. Breakfast with her two little girls before heading out to this high-flying job every morning can’t be easy.

Ava needs me, I think. More than anything.

The interview goes perfectly, because I have made myself into the perfect assistant. Now I just hope Ava never finds out why I’m really here. Not before she lets me into her home, and I meet her charming husband, and get to babysit her children.

Because I have plans for Ava. She just has to trust me…

A completely addictive psychological thriller that will have you gasping at the final twist. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Perfect Marriage will be reading late into the night.

I love reading Nicole Trope’s books and this book is no exception–one of the best psychological thrillers I have read.

Ava Green interviews and hires Grace as her assistant. What Ava didn’t know is that the Grace’s resume was fake. Grace on the other hand as plans for Ava and soon she gets into Ava’s life to the point of meeting Ava’s husband and children. Grace would do anything for Ava although Ava didn’t know that Grace was doing all these things for Ava.

This was an intense page turning psychological thriller. The story shifts into a past, then divides the POVs between Grace and Ava. The story is also quiet unpredictable which makes this book overall a good thriller. There was tension in the book, the ending was quiet unpredictable particularly the epilogue of the book. The writing was great overall and the author manage to get the reader into the story. There were some twists and turns in the whole story, many of them are quiet unexpected.

The Assistant is a unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you up all night–worth 4.5 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Once Upon a Broken Heart – OUBH series #1 – Book Review

Title:- Once Upon a Broken Heart

Author:- Stephanie Garber

Date published:- September 28th 2021

No. of pages:- 416 pages

Genre:- Fantasy/Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

A new series about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after.

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings… until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game ― and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy.

I enjoyed Caraval series although I am still yet to read the last book of the Caraval series. Once Upon a Broken Heart follows right after Finale in the Caraval series and this time, we see Evangeline Fox as the main character.

Evangeline Fox is heartbroken–her boyfriend Luc is going to get married to her stepsister Marisol . She makes a deal with a Fate named Jack known as the Prince of Hearts and whose kiss will be fatal to many. And just like that her life changes drastically to the point when she was going to get married to a Prince named Prince Appollo and at the same time Evangeline Fox must work with Jacks even though they couldn’t stand each other.

I actually did enjoy reading this book. It was twisty and I actually liked the chemistry between Jack and Evangeline even though they cannot stand each other. The only flaw in Evangeline’s character is she tend to be naive at some situations but other than that, the story as a whole was great and unputdownable. I enjoyed reading this book and couldn’t wait to read the next book in the series. Is it better than Caraval? I think in my opinion Caraval is better but I liked the book. Overall worth 4 stars.

Never Lie – Book Review

Title:- Never Lie

Author:- Freida McFadden

Date published:- September 19th 2022

No. of pages:- 286 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.

But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth

This might be my 6th (or 7th I lost track) Freida McFadden book I have read and my target is to read as much Freida McFadden books as possible so I can rate which books are her best and worst!

Never Lie follows the story of the newlyweds Tricia and Ethan who drives through in the middle of the storm for a house viewing. They get stuck in the storm and they then start spending the night at the house they have been viewing. Tricia was having bad feelings about the house–she found a light flashing on the second flood, even though both she and Ethan checked every room of the house, not to mention the food in the refrigerator. The house belonged to a psychiatrist named Adrienne Hale, who mysteriously disappeared three years ago and Dr. Hale’s boyfriend Luke was the main suspect. Then Tricia discovers a secret room filled with tapes of Dr. Hale’s sessions. As soon as she starts listening to the tapes, she realized the worst mistake…not to mention that there might be someone in the house.

The story was fast paced and a page turner. But despite that, I thought this wasn’t as great as her other books but it wasn’t bad either. The story is told in the POVs of Tricia and Adrienne and you can see that both the characters are kind on unreliable. No to mention the fact that you feel a horror element in the background of this book. However, the ending is the one that got me. The ending was so twisted and unexpected that I literally had to take a breather!

I will soon be doing a blog post on which Freida McFadden’s books are the best, so stay tuned!

This book worth 4 stars.

Behind Every Good Man – Book Review

Title;- Behind Every Good Man

Author:- Sara Goodman Confino

Date published:- 6th August 2024

No. of pages:- 347 pages

Genre:- Historical Fiction/ Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4.5/5

A wronged wife goes toe to toe with her cheating husband at the polls in this hilarious and heart-lifting novel by the bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write.

It’s a doozy of a bad day for Beverly Diamond when she catches her husband, Larry, in a compromising position with his secretary. What’s a DC suburban wife to do with a soon-to-be ex, two young kids, and no degree or financial support in 1962? Beat the louse at his own game, that’s what.

Larry runs the Maryland senatorial campaign for the incumbent candidate projected to win against his younger underdog opponent, Michael Landau. But Beverly has the pluck, political savvy, and sheer drive to push Landau’s campaign in a successful new direction, even if he already has a campaign manager who is less than pleased she has inserted herself into the race.

Now it’s rival against rival. She and Michael do make a great team…maybe in more ways than one. But with the election heating up, she needs to focus on one thing at a time. If Bev can convince Michael to go modern, pay attention to women’s issues, and learn how to dress himself properly, maybe she can show Larry exactly how much he has underestimated her their entire marriage—and make her own dreams come true in the process.

Beverly Diamond’s life changes when she finds her husband Larry cheating behind her back. Beverly has two children, no degree and she knows that her husband is going to divorce her soon. So in order to support herself, she enrolls to support Michael Landau, a young and upcoming politician who is running against her ex-husband. Beverly with her experience in politics starts using her knowledge to help Michael with his own campaign that will hopefully beat her ex- husband’s campaign.

I love Sara Goodman Confino’s book and I was excited to get my hands on this book. If you are into women empowerment, 1960’s setting, and the era when women hardly got into politics, then this book is one for you. Beverly is a very likable character and I like her overall courage and enthusiasm and her hardworking attitude to help Michael win the election. Not only that, I also like her relationship with her own mother and I like how the whole novel is based on how behind every good man there is a woman who will support you no matter what.

Overall this book worth 4.5 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Sara Goodman Confino teaches high school English and journalism in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and miniature schnauzers, Sandy and Gracie. When she’s not writing or working out, she can be found on the beach or at a Bruce Springsteen show, sometimes even dancing onstage. For more information visit http://www.saraconfino.com.