Book Review - What Makes Us by Rafi Mittlefehldt + Giveaway

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The only thing Eran Sharon knows of his father is that he left when he was a baby. Eran is a senior in high school who is living with his overly protective mother who refuses to talk about his father. Eran is deeply passionate about social justice and equality. When he learns that the Houston police have launched a new program to increase traffic stops, he organizes a peaceful protest with this classmates.

When a heated moment between two protestors goes viral, a reporter connects the Sharon family to a tragedy fifteen years earlier. The reporter asked if Eran is anything like his father who is a supposed terrorist. After finding out about his father, Eran wonders how much alike he is with his father.  He worries, even more, when people he knew for years start treating him differently.

The novel isn't usually my choice genre but, I found the book to be an emotional read. I sometimes wonder if the "sins of the father" should be passed on to the children and to which degree do we inherit our personality. I thought the novel was an interesting read on how forgiveness and perception.

  **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (October 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763697508
ISBN-13: 978-0763697501

Praise for WHAT MAKES US

What Makes Us is a heart-stopping, heartbreaking read — a book full of heart. Mittlefehldt’s thoughtful, nuanced exploration of identity pulled me in from the very first page, and I could barely put it down. Eran’s story takes a universal coming-of-age theme — finding out your parents aren’t who you thought they were — to a tightly wound and thrilling extreme. Most important, this book provides satisfying, much-needed representation of a contemporary, complex Jewish teen and his family. ―Lisa Rosinsky, author of Inevitable and Only

Provocative. ―Kirkus Reviews

A viral video reveals a teen’s dark family history, leaving him to reckon with his heritage, legacy, and identity in this fiery, conversation-starting novel.

Eran Sharon knows nothing of his father except that he left when Eran was a baby. Now a senior in high school and living with his protective but tight-lipped mother, Eran is a passionate young man deeply interested in social justice and equality. When he learns that the Houston police have launched a program to increase traffic stops, Eran organizes a peaceful protest.

But a heated moment at the protest goes viral, and a reporter connects the Sharon family to a tragedy fifteen years earlier — and asks if Eran is anything like his father, a supposed terrorist. Soon enough, Eran is wondering the same thing, especially when the people he’s gone to school and temple with for years start to look at him differently.

Timely, powerful, and full of nuance, Rafi Mittlefehldt’s sophomore novel confronts the prejudices, fears, and strengths of family and community, striking right to the heart of what makes us who we are.

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Photo Credit: Damien Mittlefehldt

Rafi Mittlefehldt is a writer who has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance theater critic, and children’s author. His debut novel was It Looks Like This. Rafi Mittlefehldt lives with his husband in New York City.

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Shortly after the horrific Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, I read an article that mentioned one of the bombers having left behind a wife and three-year-old daughter. It was a throwaway line, but it stuck with me — I couldn’t stop thinking about that girl, who was too young to understand what had happened. When would she find out who her father was, and how would she process that? How would others react to learning about her family history? Would she keep it a secret? Would her mother?

What Makes Us began very simply as a story exploring those questions. But as I fleshed out the two main characters, Eran and Jade, their personalities took the story deeper, toward matters that are personal to me but relatable to so many. Eran’s volatility and tendency to react instinctively force him to confront issues of impulse control and anger management. And both characters’ uncertainty regarding their own pasts compels them to wrestle with self-determination and to ask, What makes a person? As the novel switches between Eran’s and Jade’s perspectives, we see them reluctantly frame and then try to answer this question, all against the backdrop of a community on the brink of chaos.

        

WEEK ONE

OCTOBER 14th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

OCTOBER 15th TUESDAY Book Queen Reviews REVIEW

OCTOBER 16th WEDNESDAY BookHounds YA INTERVIEW

OCTOBER 16th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

OCTOBER 17th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

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Book Review - Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

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Finn and Layla are a young couple who went on vacation to celebrate their love. On the way home, Finn decides to use the restroom at a nearby service station. He leaves Layla in the car and locks the doors behind him. When he returns, Layla is gone. That was the story that Finn told the police after Layla's disappearance. However, that isn't the whole story.

Ten years after Layla's disappearance, Finn is engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen.  They share each other's grief over Layla's disappearance. Even though they are engaged, Finn feels that he doesn't know everything about Ellen. There is something about her that he doesn't trust.

After running an ad announcing their engagement, one of Finn's old neighbors claims he saw Layla.  Then a memento from Layla's past shows up on their doorstep. Shortly email comes in claiming to know secrets from Finn's past. Is Layla still alive? What secrets is Finn keeping?

This was my first novel from B.A. Paris and it was quite disappointing. I didn't really care for much of the characters. I thought the ending to be far fetched and some parts were predictable. None of the main characters really appealed to me. I thought most of them to be dull and annoying.  I might give her other books a try but, maybe after the sour taste of this book is gone.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh + Giveaway

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Quinn Collins has never left her small hometown of Harbor Pointe. She wants to stick around in case, her mom who abandonded her and her family, decides to return. Quinn has bought the flower shop that her mother once owned. She wants to create a one of a kind design so, her mother can finally notice her. And, perhaps, her mother would see the woman Quinn has become and realizes her mistake of leaving her family behind.

Howver, Quinn is completely swamped with renovations and the flower expo. Luckily, Olympic skier Grady Benson, caused damage to a local shop and was court ordered to do community service. Grady has always taken the easy way out on life and never listened to his coaches. The duo are complete opposite and are constantly butting heads. But, as the continue to work together, they see glimpses of each other's vulnerability. Will Quinn and Grady realize that they need each other?

I thought the story was good but, I was annoyed that each character gave up on each other so quickly. They kept showing each other they cared but, as soon as one person makes a mistake or is at their lowest point, they are ready to throw in the towel. I felt like they like each other and want to fight for each other but, they failed to do it. Overall, I enjoyed the story but, I could do without the many "Oh, she's too good for me" or "He's a bad boy, and I am not like that".

**Disclosure - I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Title: Just Let Go  
Author: Courtney Walsh  
Release Date: June 5, 2018  
Genre: Contemporary Romance

For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help. Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press. Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town—and Quinn’s life—possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two more books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Courtney Walsh is giving away a grand prize of a library of Courtney Walsh’s books and a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

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Book Review - The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde by James L. Rubart

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When Toren Daniels disappeared eight months ago, his family were a bit relieved and started to move on. While he was a supportive and kind father, he had a short temper that he could no longer control. Little things would cause Toren to go into a fit of anger. When Toren shows up out of the blue at their home, they are shocked to see him alive but still angry over the hurt he has caused. Toren tells them that he has changed, but he has done so in the past with little results to show for it.

However,  Toren and the family start to notice little changes in him upon his return. He started to become kind, patient, understanding and fun to be around. He is no longer the angry father and husband his family knew him as. While is he is learning to become a better person, pieces of his old hostile personalities are starting to break through. Will Toren be able to keep his anger in check? How did he manage to control his anger?

I have read the classic "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Frankenstein" while reading another book by the author. The first few chapters I was completely captivated, but then towards the middle of the book, it started getting boring and repetitive. The story became predictable and in some parts, hard to follow. I also had a tough time liking any of the characters. The wife was upset when Toren showed his anger, but she would do things to purposely make him lose his anger. Toren, who grew up in an abusive relationship with his father didn't like what his father was doing to his family, but yet Toren continues to treat his family in the same way. I also found it annoying that they made Toren chose either his family or his chance to play in the NFL. It made it seem that for him to become a better person he only had to focus on his family.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**