Tracy A.
I'm so glad I picked up this book. The main character, Mika, is in her mid-thirties and struggling with what her life looks like when she is unexpectedly reconnected with the daughter she gave up for adoption 16 years earlier. As the story unfolds, we meet a host of (mostly) lovable peripheral characters who support Mika despite some of her questionable decisions. Mika in Real Life is ultimately a heartwarming novel, but that sentiment is hard-fought after dealing with loss, silence, and the weight of secrets.
This memoir drew me in from the opening pages. It's written by the owner of the wildly popular restaurant The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine. Honest, heartfelt writing about the devastating losses French has faced along the way to current successes. A beautiful reminder of the importance of abiding hope. Also, delicious food descriptions!
The Shore takes place over the course of one summer in the beach town of Seaside, New Jersey. It's a quick, heartfelt book that will make you laugh, cringe, and cry. A mother and her two teenage daughters spend the bulk of the summer struggling with heartbreak, young love, and the weight of family secrets. The story occasionally flashes to the future, providing the reader with a glimpse of how the characters will live side by side with the grief of this summer in the years to come. Anyone who grew up visiting beach towns in the summer or working multiple seaside jobs during tourist season to make ends meet will appreciate this story.
Big fan of Linda Holmes and Maine here! Flying Solo is a light summer read filled with the perfect combination of mystery, romance, nostalgia, and friendship. Anyone who has ever agonized about whether or not to get married or move in with a significant other or move cross-country to be with a partner will connect with the main character's dilemma(s). As will people who fiercely guard their independence and alone time. Bonus: readers of the author's previous novel Evvie Drake Starts Over will appreciate the references to a few popular characters from that novel. I flew through this book!
Keefe does a remarkable job researching the Sackler family's role in the oioid crisis. At times this book reads like a novel. It is equal parts enthralling and infuriating. Pure greed at its worst. You will come away with a new perspective on the FDA and Big Pharma.