Monday, July 18, 2016

Summer Reading Challenge: So Close by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus





This summer, members of the Vise Library are participating in a Summer Reading Challenge. We have received copies of several books from publishers for honest reviews. We hope that you enjoy these reviews (and books)!  This week's book is So Close by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus!






About the book:

From international #1 best-selling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus comes a story about a girl from the trailer parks of central Florida and the two powerful men who shape her life―one of whom will raise her up to places she never imagined, the other of whom will threaten to destroy her.

Amanda Beth Luker has spent her whole life desperately looking for someone who can show her the way out of her trailer park Florida town. And then, finally, help arrives―in the form of Tom Davis, a successful lawyer with political aspirations who grew up just a few towns over from Amanda. But it’s his wife, Lindsay, who really captures Amanda’s imagination. Strong, smart, and determined, she gives Amanda something she’s never had―a role model. Meanwhile Amanda is introduced to the wealthy, charismatic, and deeply troubled Pax Westerbrook. He clearly desires Amanda, but if she gives in will that move her closer to the life she’s always dreamed of―or make it impossible?

Amanda rides Davis’s political success all the way to Washington, where he becomes Senator and will later be tapped for president and even make a bid for the White House. But when Amanda starts to suspect, and later confirms, his moral indiscretions, her loyalty is tested. Will a girl from a trailer park even be believed if she goes public with damning information? Will she be willing to risk losing everything she’s gained?


Amanda comes from very humble roots and wants to rise above her situation. She gets a job working for a lawyer (Tom) that has aspirations of his own.  His wife, Lindsey, is someone that Amanda can see herself looking up to.  She thinks that Lindsey and Tom have the perfect relationship.  However, as time goes on Amanda realizes that their relationship may not be everything that is cracked up to be as Tom's political spotlight begins to rise.  Meanwhile, Amanda is intrigued by a rich and very troubled man named Pax.  Pax has his own demons to deal with and in a way scared of what Amanda represents.  

So Close is a book about multiple chances and gives great insight into the political arena.  This book also drives home the fact about being able to choose your friends but not your family.  This is also a book about going after what you want but feeling like you have responsibilities that you can never relinquish (in Amanda's case: her family).  Loyalty is a common theme but told with through the voice that we all are familiar from McLaughlin & Kraus.  Just be warned that you will not be able to put this book down once you start it!

Find it: Amazon Barnes & Noble |







About the authors:

Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus met at New York University’s Gallatin School of Indi-vidualized Study, where they both graduated with concentrations in Arts in Education. Before teaming up to write The Nanny Diaries, Kraus had continued in the arts and McLaughlin worked as a business consultant within the private and public sectors. 


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