Always, in December - Emily Stone

Always, in December by Emily Stone
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh, I so wanted to love this book.

Josie is not a fan of December. However, a chance run-in with a stranger (Max), makes the first holiday season of the book a little more bearable. Could there be more?

I know this was marketed as a Christmas book. I don't think it was very Christmassy aside from the first part is set in December as well as the last part.

I *loved* the first part of this book. I liked the characters, their interactions, the deeper aspects of the story. Unfortunately, the book doesn't continue in this same vein, or even the same tone. Part 2 shifts to Max's perspective. It is much less engaging and more sweary. The book went downhill from there for me, including the ending. There were moments of sparkle but not enough to sustain the rest of the plot, dialogue, and character devolvement for me. I think my hopes were just too high after part 1.

Content: language, closed door romance

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

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Kind of a Big Deal - Shannon Hale

Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Typically, I am a Shannon Hale fan. So when I saw she had a new book, I was excited to get my hands on it. I was disappointed.

This book was wonky. Really just...odd.

Josie Pie peaked in high school. She was the "It" girl - popular, star of all the shows, etc. But when she dropped out of high school to pursue a career on Broadway, reality sets in. It is not a reality she likes. Then she learns she can escape into (literally, INTO) books. Will this bring the success and adoration she craves?

I don't know that I can say anything about this book other than it was odd. Josie jumps in and out of different genres and story lines interspersed with flashbacks of high school and Broadway as well as current day interactions with the girl she nannies and others. There's this whole thing with the Muses. It was just weird.

I love books about books. This premise appealed to me. I think the book just failed in carrying it out. It was all over the place. Josie was whiny and depressed. Lots of making out and talk of making out. It was like so much of her character revolved around that. Family dynamics that were over the top. An extra weird conclusion.

I was not a fan.



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Still Alice - Lisa Genova

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

Pages:  292 pages

Publishing Date:  July 6, 2007

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty years old, she’s a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she becomes increasingly disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life--and her relationship with her family and the world--forever.

My Thoughts:
I debated 4 or 5 stars on this book.  Since I’m still thinking about the story and characters several days later, I believe it has earned a 5. 

This book was both fascinating and heart breaking.  I have not had anyone close to me diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  This was a very eye-opening read.

Genova really fleshed out all the characters.  They were human to the fullest extent in emotions and reactions in dealing with Alice’s diagnosis.  I felt for them.  The devastation for Alice to have been ultra-successful and cerebral and learning that everything she had built her career – and to a large part her life – on was going to disappear.  That she wouldn’t remember her education and professional knowledge or even worse, not recognize herself or her family.  I can only imagine it now based on what I’ve read in this book.

Such an amazingly well-written book on an important topic. 


For readers sensitive to things, there is some language.