Summer Reading Challenge: Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford

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 Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford!

About the book:

Twenty-six-year-old Evelyn Beegan intended to free herself from the influence of her social-climbing mother, who propelled her through prep school and onto New York’s stately Upper East Side. Evelyn has long felt like an outsider to her privileged peers, but when she lands a job at a social-network startup aimed at the elite, she has no choice but to infiltrate their world. Soon she finds herself navigating the promised land of Adirondack camps, Hamptons beach houses, and, of course, the island of Manhattan itself. Intoxicated by the wealth, access, and influence of her new set, Evelyn can’t help but try to pass as old money herself. But when the lies become more tangled, she grasps with increasing desperation as the ground beneath her begins to give way.

A sparkling debut that is “full of ambition and grit” (Emma Straub), Stephanie Clifford's Everybody Riseis a story about identity and loss, and how sometimes we have to lose everything to find our way back to who we really are.

Evelyn is under intense pressure (by her mother and her job) to climb to the top tier of the social ladder.  As you read this book, you will see Evelyn navigate through crew races, high tea, gossip, ladies who lunch and rubbing elbows with the rich and famous.  Evelyn gets engrossed in a culture that she is having a hard time (financially) being in and understanding.  Of course, where there is climb to the top, there is the inevitable fall that comes with that and Evelyn does this spectacularly.   She finds out that her lies (many to herself) to get to the apex of society have caught up with her and she has lost the spot in society that she craved.  However, this leaves the chance for Evelyn to rise (everybody, ha!) again and really understand the importance of friendship and family.  There are several laugh out loud moments in this book that readers will appreciate.  Make sure you get your hands on our copy of this cautionary tale!

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Stephanie Clifford is a Loeb-award winning reporter at the New York Times, where she currently covers Brooklyn courts. She joined the Times in 2008 from Inc. magazine, where she was a senior writer. Stephanie grew up in Seattle and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son and two cats. EVERYBODY RISE is her first book

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter |Facebook 

Summer Reading Challenge: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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 One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid!

About the book:

From the author of Maybe in Another Life—named a People Magazine pick and a "Best Book of the Summer" by Glamour and USA TODAY—comes a breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

This is the third book by this author that I have read.  Each and every time she comes up with some unique premise that I think her next book could not possibly be as good.  However, she continues to stun me with the concepts that the she writes about and examines.  Can we first talk about how gorgeous this cover is?  It's subtle, understated and I just think it's amazing!

If the cover does not catch your eye, then the synopsis of this book will hook you in.  After I read the back cover this book I immediately thought "Ohhhhh, that's a good question!  Who does she pick???"  This is not your traditional love triangle since our main character Emma, thought her husband, Jesse was dead.  He's been gone for YEARS (where was he???).  She eventually finds a way to move on from the loss of her childhood sweetheart (again, years later) and falls in love with Sam.  When she thinks she has the rest of her life figured out, well, Jesse comes strolling back into the picture and Emma has a choice to make.  This book takes you on an intriguing journey of love and grief in different forms.  This is a beautiful work of art and it's amazing how Reid writes about the reemergence of Jesse.  This is a book that will have you underlying so many wonderful lines that it will look like a college textbook!  Even though this book had a unique premise, it felt very real.  The characters felt real and the entire journey felt possible.  Be on the look out for this book in our Popular Collection and thank us later! 

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author, essayist, and TV writer from Acton, Massachusetts. Her debut novel, Forever, Interrupted, has been optioned with Dakota Johnson attached to star. Her second book, After I Do, was called a "must read" by Kirkus. Her most recent novel, Maybe In Another Life has been featured in People, Cosmo, Bustle, Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, USA Today and more.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit. 

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter |Facebook 

Summer Reading Challenge: Appetite by Sheila Grinell

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 Appetite by Sheila Grinell!

About the book:

When Jenn Adler returns from a year in India, she has a surprise for her parents: a young guru from Bangalore whom she intends to marry. Her father, Paul, is wary of this “beggar” Jenn has brought home―who, he suspects, is conning his much-loved daughter―while her mother, Maggie, is frightened that this alien stranger will steal away her only child, her focus in life. 

In the months leading up to the backyard wedding, Maggie is forced to reevaluate her virtues as she casts about for support, and Paul faces an unexpected threat at work―one that Maggie could help him meet, if he would only ask. But even with these distractions, the two parents are focused on one primary question: Can they convince their daughter she is making a terrible mistake before the wedding takes place?

Jenn, the daughter of Paul and Maggie, has come home after a year in India.  Not only has she come back home, she has brought her fiance, Arun, to meet her parents.  To say that her parents are less than thrilled about her prospective husband would be the understatement of the year.  Paul thinks that Arun is trying to take advantage of his daughter and Maggie is afraid that Jenn will no longer be around for her to dote on.  The current dilemma with their daughter causes them to gain a little perspective about their own lives. Maggie and Paul have issues of their own to deal with: Maggie feeling second fiddle to Paul's work and Paul feeling the pressure when it comes to his research.  Throughout the book Maggie really struggles with the decision to interfere with her daughter's life when she believes Jenn is making a big mistake or just letting Jenn live out her own life by giving up that control.  Are Maggie and Paul able to show Jenn how they perceive Arun and prevent a marriage?  Or, are they able to put everything aside for the sake of their daughter's happiness?  Are they able to navigate through their own lives and issues?  How all of this plays out is very interesting and worth reading!  I think everyone can relate to the family dynamics of this story and its characters!

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Toward the end of her forty-year career as a creator of science museums, Sheila Grinell began to write fiction. Born in a taxi in Manhattan, she studied at the Bronx High School of Science, Harvard University, and the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in Phoenix with her husband and dog.

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter |Facebook 

Summer Reading Challenge: The Assistants by Camille Perri

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 The Assistants by Camille Perri!

About the book:

A wry and astute debut about a young Manhattanite whose embezzlement scam turns her into an unlikely advocate for the leagues of overeducated and underpaid assistants across the city. 
 
Tina Fontana is the hapless but brazen thirty-year-old executive assistant to Robert Barlow, the all-powerful and commanding CEO of Titan Corp., a multinational media conglomerate. She’s excellent at her job and beloved by her famous boss—but after six years of making his reservations for restaurants she’d never get into on her own and pouring his drinks from bottles that cost more than her rent, she’s bored, broke, and just a bit over it all.
 
When a technical error with Robert’s travel-and-expenses report presents Tina with the opportunity to pay off the entire balance of her student loan debt with what would essentially be pocket change for her boss, she struggles with the decision: She’s always played by the rules. But it’s such a relatively small amount of money for the Titan Corporation—and for her it would be a life-changer . . .
 
The Assistants speaks directly to a new generation of women who feel stuck and unable to get ahead playing by the rules. It will appeal to all of those who have ever asked themselves, “How is it that after all these years, we are still assistants?”

Tina is low-man on the totem pole and stuck in her job.  She is the assistant to a media mogul who can't seem to function without Tina.  She's barely scraping by on her salary and is struggling to pay off her student loans (preach!).  However, one day a miscalculation happens that lands Tina with a check to pay off her entire student loan debt (Hallelujah!!!!).  No one will notice, right???  She eventually cashes in the check and feels like a weight has been lifted.  However, one lowly accountant, Emily, knows the truth and promises silence for her own student loans to be paid in full.  Of course, Tina promises to help Emily out and this sets in motion a Robin Hood type scheme against the one percenters.  But, we all know that things do not always go as we plan and this is true for Tina and her friends.  These events only bring a group of misfits together (and maybe a little love)!  There are plenty of laugh out loud moments from these characters and I enjoyed every minute of it.  We experience some great female friendships in this book and some emotional moments that make us really feel for the women.  Make sure you get your hands on this book by checking it out from our Popular Collection!

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Camille Perri is the author of The Assistants. She has worked as a books editor for Cosmopolitan and Esquire. She has also been a ghostwriter of young-adult novels and a reference librarian. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from New York University and a master of library science degree from Queens College. Perri wrote the first draft of The Assistants while working as the assistant to the editor-in-chief of Esquire.

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter

Summer Reading Challenge: The House of Bradbury by Nicole Meier

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 The House of Bradbury by Nicole Meier!

About the book:

Mia Gladwell’s life is going nowhere. The media has skewered her debut novel, her fiancé Carson, a successful Hollywood producer, has jumped ship, and now she’s living in her sister’s carriage house―unattached, unemployed, and uninspired. Then she learns that the Los Angeles estate of iconic author Ray Bradbury is up for sale, and she feels an immediate urge to buy the wonky old house, convinced that moving into the late author’s home will inspire her to create her best work yet.

Life in the Bradbury house is not what Mia imagined, however. Soon after moving in, to fulfill a debt she owes to Carson, she agrees to take in a pill-popping young actress as a tenant, and suddenly she finds herself in a balancing act between her needy ex, an unpredictable starlet, and her disapproving sister, who’s keeping a close eye on her. Add to this a series of mysterious sketches left at her doorstep by a stranger, and Mia’s life is more complicated than ever. As she searches for clues, though, Mia discovers insights into her own life. Maybe moving into Bradbury’s house was a big mistake―but maybe not.

Mia Gladwell is in serious need of a fresh start.  Her professional (her novel) and personal (her fiance, Carson) aspirations have fizzled.  The house of the famous author Ray Bradbury has been put on the market and Mia purchasing the house is a sign to jumpstart her creative and personal future.  In order to get started on her new life she has to ask her (now) ex-fiance for the money to help purchase her new home.  Carson has a stipulation about loaning her the money: take in a young actress with a little bit of a drug problem.  Simple enough, right?  Well of course not!  With Zoe being famous (and fighting her own demons), a new house to take on, finding mysterious notes at her house (are they meant for her or Zoe?) and a sister with her own problems, Mia has her work cut out for her.  However, she soon discovers that she shares some of the blame in her break-up with Carson and starts to learn more about who she is and wants to be. This is a great story about self-discovery and overcoming obstacles (and not just from one character!)  This book was a very fun and quick read!  

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Nicole Meier is a native Southern Californian who pulled up roots and moved to the Pacific Northwest. She works as a freelance travel and lifestyle writer.

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter |Facebook 

Summer Reading Challenge: Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

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 Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica!

About the book:

In downtown Chicago, a young woman named Esther Vaughan disappears from her apartment without a trace. A haunting letter addressed to My Dearest is found among her possessions, leaving her friend and roommate Quinn Collins to wonder where Esther is and whether or not she's the person Quinn thought she knew.

Meanwhile, in a small Michigan harbor town an hour outside Chicago, a mysterious woman appears in the quiet coffee shop where eighteen-year-old Alex Gallo works as a dishwasher. He is immediately drawn to her charm and beauty, but what starts as an innocent crush quickly spirals into something far more dark and sinister than he ever expected.

As Quinn searches for answers about Esther, and Alex is drawn further under the stranger's spell, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes readers on a taut and twisted thrill ride that builds to a stunning conclusion and shows that no matter how fast and far we run, the past always catches up with us in the end.

Mary Kubica has somehow done it again!  In her newest psychological thriller, Don't You Cry, Kubica somehow continues to keep you guessing throughout the entire story.  I really enjoyed her first novel, The Good Girl, and was blown away by the twists and turns.  However, I think her latest book somehow takes it a step further.  Quinn's roommate, Esther, has gone missing.  She has no clue where Esther is and Quinn has very littler information to gather clues from: Esther made a major withdraw from her bank account, she had put an ad in the paper to find a new roommate, she planned to have the locks changed on their apartment and a letter addressed to "My Dearest".   Quinn suddenly realizes that she may not actually know who her roommate truly is!  A little bit down the road, a woman (named Pearl) finds her way into the coffee shop where Alex holds a job.  How does he fit in?  Well, you need to read the book to find out.  You will discover the events that unfold through the eyes of both Quinn and Alex and about some important side characters as well (and maybe murder, GASP!).  You will not find out who is crazy, good or bad or who has secrets until the very last page.  Just know that once you dive into the action, you won't want to put this book down until you find out how these stories connect.

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

About the author:

Mary Kubica is the New York Times bestselling author of THE GOOD GIRL and PRETTY BABY. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children and enjoys photography, gardening and caring for the animals at a local shelter. Her third novel, DON'T YOU CRY, will be released in May of 2016.

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter |Facebook 

Book Review: Runied by Amy Tintera

We were given the opportunity to read Ruined by Amy Tintera.  Read below to find out what this book is about and to see what the Vise Library thought about it!

About the book:

Amy Tintera’s new YA fantasy trilogy blends the romance of Kiera Cass’s Selection series and the epic stakes of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen in a story of revenge, adventure, and unexpected love.

Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war; her parents were killed and her sister was kidnapped. Even though Em is only a useless Ruined—completely lacking any magic—she is determined to get revenge.

Her plan is simple: She will infiltrate the enemy’s kingdom, posing as the crown prince’s betrothed. She will lead an ambush. She will kill the king and everything he holds dear, including his son. 

The closer Em gets to the prince, though, the more she questions her mission. Her rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.

Emelina, or Em, is just trying to survive.  She is royalty from Ruina which is is known for magic (and obviously other kingdoms are afraid of this).  Both of her parents are dead and she is trying to find her sister, who was kidnapped from the kingdom of Lera.  In order to find out where her sister is being held, she poses as the princess from another kingdom that is betrothed to prince, Cas, of Lera.  She is hoping to infiltrate their kingdom and seek revenge against the royal family.  However, all of that does not go according to plan.  Cas is not like his father (who had Em's parents killed) and seems to listen to her.  She still has to find a way to rescue her sister and wrestle with the guilt of betraying Cas.  When a neighboring kingdom plans to attack Lera, Em must make a decision that has no easy answer.

This book was such a great fantasy novel.  There was so much intrigue with Em being not who she appears to be and the potential with Cas.  There are a few devastating things that happen when one of Em's close friends is captured.  Em is a strong female character and she learns to overcome her lack of magic. There are times where I laughed out loud when she would banter with Cas.  My favorite part in the book is near the end when Em really gets to be herself and shows who she is to *other* people.  Be warned that there is a major cliffhanger, but you will enjoy this book so much that you can let it slide.  We can't wait for book two!  Look for this book in our Popular Collection when it releases next month!

Find it: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Parnassus Books

About the author:

Hi! I'm Amy Tintera, and I write novels for young adults. I grew up in Austin, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism. After receiving a masters in film at Emerson College I moved to Los Angeles, where I promptly discovered I didn't enjoy working in the film industry, and went back to my first love, writing.

Connect with the author:

Website | Twitter |Facebook | Goodreads