Author Archives: GPL

Review: Looking for Lovely

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Looking for Lovely: Collecting the Moments that Matter
by Annie F. Downs
5 stars

Our Assistant Director, Emily Ellis, kept mentioning how much she loved Annie F. Downs, so I thought I’d give one of her books a try.   I have to say, I share her love.  Annie F. Downs’ writing is friendly, engaging, and totally relatable.  In Looking For Lovely, Downs describes how she decided to look for the beautiful things in her life, even when things don’t seem so beautiful.  She breaks up her book in short stories that each reflect on something lovely in her life, and how within that lovely she’s able to see God’s hand in her life.  Downs does a nice job of incorporating Biblical scripture in with her personal stories, and in the end creates an uplifting, fun read.  Highly recommend.

 

Read-alikes

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

Wild and Free by Jess Connolly & Hayley Morgan

Everybody, Always by Bob Goff

Review: Watch Me Disappear

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Watch Me Disappear
by Janelle Brown
4 stars

Watch Me Disappear was GPL’s Well Red book club’s pick for June.  Mystery/thrillers are my favorite genre, so I was excited to read this and have a chance to discuss it.  The plot centers on wife and mother, Billie Flanagan, who one days goes for a hike and disappears.  A hiking boot is found and nearly everyone assumes Billie is dead.  A year later, her 15 year old daughter, Olive, begins to have visions that her mother is alive and begs her father to help her search for Billie.  Jonathan is in the process of writing a loving memoir about his life with Billie when he finds some information on Billie’s computer. Perhaps Billie’s life is not what it seemed.   As the story continues more revelations about Billie’s past and present are revealed.    Where is Billie and was her disappearance something that she orchestrated?  Or was she kidnapped?  Or did she fall and was killed like everyone originally believed?  Brown does an excellent job moving the plot alone and writing some great twists.  I will definitely check out more of her books!

Read-alikes

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

Anne’s Summer Reading Hits

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This summer I have been keeping busy reading juvenile fiction. These are my top four selections:

#1: Restart
by Gordon Korman

This is a MUST read – my favorite book of the year!!!

A boy wakes up after falling off a roof with amnesia to find out that he was a real jerk. How does he “restart” his new life?

 

#2 Superstar
by Mandy Davis

A homeschooled boy on the autism spectrum must attend public school so his mom can go back to work after the death of his astronaut father. This book has many Indiana references.

 

 

#3 End of the Wild
by Nicole Helget

This book touches on so many topics with balance and sensitivity: death, poverty, fracking, environment, forgiveness and PTSD. A poignant read!

 

 

#4 Mr. Gedrick and Me
by Patrick Carmen

A modern day Mary Poppins! Since Stanley’s father died his household is a disaster, until Mr. Gedrick appears one day and sets things back in order. Delightful read!

 

 

Review: The Kiss Quotient

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The Kiss Quotient
by Helen Hoang
4 stars

Helen Hoang’s debut novel is stellar! Stella Lane is a gifted mathematician who looks at her romantic life as a problem that needs to be solved with practice…and the help of a professional. She makes a lesson plan and hires escort Michael Phan. He reluctantly agrees to help her out. Soon their lives become entangled and, as one might expect, their business partnership turns more personal as we learn about the characters’ hidden depths and vulnerabilities. Hoang does an excellent job spinning the romance novel trope of rich man-poor woman on its head with her refreshing characters. A great, steamy summer read!

 

Read-alikes:

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

 

Review: The Zoo at the Edge of the World

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The Zoo at the Edge of the World
by Eric Kahn Gale
3.5 stars

The Zoo at the Edge of the World is an intriguing fantasy about a boy who is learning about what it means to protect the jungle. Marlin is the son of a world-famous explorer, Ronan Rackham. Rackham built a resort for the wealthy on the edge of the British Guiana jungle, and Marlin and his brother help tend to the animals. Marlin has trouble communicating with people because he stutters, but he has no problem talking to the animals in the zoo. One day, a jaguar is captured and added to the zoo’s collection of animals. He gives Marlin an amazing gift that will change his life forever.

 

Read-alikes

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce

The Last Wild by Piers Torday