Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

If you’ve ever been to a therapist, you’ll love this book. She describes how she chose this career. Her boyfriend breaks up with her because he doesn’t want to raise her child. She seeks out a therapist for herself, someone that doesn’t know her. In the book she chronicles the lives of several of her patients. Very interesting, not all end happily. Gives great insight to how therapists think, feel and act with their patients. I appreciate her honesty. I’m sure this book will give hope to many going through a difficult time. Entertaining, thoroughly enjoyed it. 

City of Girls

Wow. Not what I expected. A departure from Elizabeth Gilbert’s usual writing. Vivian has just flunked out of Vassar and is sent to live with her aunt in NYC. Her aunt owns and runs an off Broadway theatre. Vivi becomes friends with the showgirls and really enjoys the night life. She becomes quite promiscuous and is caught in an unfortunate dalliance which almost destroys her life. How can she recover from this?

Searching for Sylvie Lee

Sylvie Lee is missing. She traveled to The Netherlands while her Ma, Pa, sister and estranged husband remain in New York. She lived with family in The Netherlands until age 9. She never felt like she belonged either place. She’s an overachiever, but lost in life. Will she find love?  Figure out her life?  Will her family find her?

The Paris Secret

Flora is an art consultant, buys art at auction for her clients and specializes in lost art. She is assigned a collection found in an apartment in Paris sealed since WW2. That sounds familiar to me. She uncovers the mystery of the source of the art and the family that owns it. In the meantime, will she find love?

The Storied Life of A J Fikry

A J and his wife Nickie moved to Alice Island to open a bookstore after college. Nickie was killed in an accident earlier in their marriage. Her sister and her husband also live on Alice Island. A J lives with loss by losing himself in the bottle. A treasured, valuable book is stolen from him. One day he discovers a 25 month old left in the store by the mother with a note to take care of her. This is a story about finding love, friendships and family. 

Blessing in Disguise

I believe I have read almost all of Danielle Steel’s books. This one is probably my least favorite. It is so far fetched. Isabelle has 4 children, but has never been married for more than a few months. Her children have 4 different fathers all before she is 29 years old. And she still manages to develop a lucrative career without parental support. Just not very believable. 

Sunset Beach

Drue is 36 years old and her life is adrift. Her mother has just died. Her estranged father attends the funeral and offers her a job at his law firm.  Her mother has left her her family’s cottage on Sunset Beach. Drue is supposed to be working on the phones signing up clients. Instead, she gets involved investigating unsolved crimes. This book is more of a mystery than anything else. 

The Cactus

Susan’s life is very organized and predictable. Lawyer for the government, long-standing Wednesday night relationship with a man who sounds just like her and a comfortable living situation. Her mum dies and she’s pregnant at age 45. Then she discovers her mum left the house to her brother to live in as long as he pleases. She launches a legal battle upsetting family relations. There’s a big twist at the end that I don’t think anyone will predict. As many have said, Susan does remind me of Eleanor Oliphant. 

Waisted

If you have ever been overweight, you can relate to this book.  7 women, desperate to lose weight, go to a residential month-long program. The techniques used at this program include starvation, brutal exercise, humiliation and belittling. And to top it all off, they are being filmed for a documentary. 2 of the ladies are the main characters, Alice and Daphne. Alice struggles in her marriage. Alice and her husband are as different as night and day and up until now, he has been unwilling to compromise on anything.  It’s all about him- one of those types!  I love the way the author had these characters repair their marriage. Very well done. Daphne is surrounded by family that love her unconditionally. But, she doesn’t love herself. Again, her metamorphosis is very well written. What these ladies do to expose this program is remarkable. This book is inspirational. 

* I received a complimentary book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.