Book Review – Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

 

 

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez is a coming-of-age novel about three teenage boys navigating their sexuality in an intolerant world.

Jason Carrillo is a popular jock with a steady girlfriend. However, he can’t stop thinking about being intimate with other men. Kyle Meeks is a swimmer on the swim team who has won many awards for his athleticism. He doesn’t “look” gay, but he is, and he is terrified of his parents or school classmates finding out. Nelson Glassman has proudly admitted his sexuality to the entire world, but he is afraid of confessing his feelings to the boy he loves.

I thought the book was an enjoyable read. I liked that the book ended on a positive and hopeful note. I was expecting one of the characters to have an unfortunate ending. While I did enjoy the novel, I had a hard time liking Nelson. While he was brash and fun, I didn’t like that he could be quite abrasive. I especially didn’t like how he would try to get people to admit things before they were comfortable or how forceful he could be with Kyle when trying to express his interest.

While the book is a straightforward read with no twists and some dated slang, it did help pave the way for more queer stories to be told. That is one of the reasons I enjoyed it a bit more, as it was a trailblazer in its own way.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

 

Book Review – The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow

 

The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow is a picture book about a mole finding his voice and self-confidence.

Mole is shy and spends a lot of time by himself. However, on one of his walks, he discovers a tiny thing and brings it home. He makes the tiny thing comfortable and treats it like a beloved guest. Mole is used to not having many friends, so the tiny thing becomes his imaginary friend, whom Mole includes in his games and adventures. Soon, Mole is able to find his voice and make new friends.

The book is a cute and fun read. It teaches little ones about self-confidence, friendship, imagination, and being brave, while also showing how a little bit of encouragement can help. The illustrations have a soft, cozy vibe that, paired with the heartwarming message, creates a warm, nurturing reading experience. I think the book would be perfect for a fall reading session with little ones.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review – The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams

 

 

 

The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams is about a woman, Vivian Schuyler, whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious suitcase belonging to her long-lost aunt is delivered to her.

In Manhattan in 1964, Vivian Schuyler had just graduated from Bryn Mawr College. She wants something different from the life her privileged socialite parents envision for her. Rather than settling into the expected role, Vivian dreams of becoming a journalist and chasing noteworthy stories. When she receives a bulky overseas parcel in the mail, her life takes an unexpected turn. As she investigates the suitcase and its contents, she discovers it may be connected to a dark chapter in her family's history. The suitcase belonged to an aunt she never knew, a woman whose existence is rarely discussed because she was rumored to have committed a crime of passion against her husband before fleeing with her lover.

In Berlin in 1914, Violet Schuyler Grant is trapped in a loveless marriage to Dr. Walter Grant, a scientist decades older than she is who openly cheats on her. Violet tolerates the marriage because it provides her with security and allows her to pursue her work as a female physicist in his laboratory. Things begin to change when one of Dr. Grant’s charismatic former students comes to stay with them for the summer.

Lionel Richardson, a captain in the British Army, quickly becomes enamored with Violet and urges her to leave her husband and escape Germany as the threat of war looms. As Violet spends more time with Lionel, she finds herself drawn to him. However, as their relationship deepens, she uncovers truths that complicate everything she thought she knew. Will Violet be able to leave her husband, find her freedom, and escape before war descends upon Germany?

The book is told through dual timelines and narrators. I was excited to read it because I had previously enjoyed two other books by the author. Unfortunately, I found this one to be an insipid waste of time. I don't think Vivian's storyline was necessary, as it added very little to the overall story. I also found her unrealistic and overly privileged, especially with some of the situations she found herself in. The number of men who seemed willing to throw themselves at her or do whatever she wanted simply because she was attractive became increasingly annoying.

I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if it had been significantly shorter and focused solely on Violet's story, with perhaps an epilogue showing her reconnecting with her family. Violet had her own issues as a character. I struggled to understand why a woman portrayed as intelligent and capable would continue to stay with a husband who openly flaunted his affairs in front of her and their friends.

One of my biggest pet peeves was the way the diary entries were written. Names and certain descriptions were abbreviated or hyphenated rather than spelled out. It became frustrating trying to guess what the writer was referring to. I don't think it was done to keep the book clean, considering it contains profanity and detailed sex scenes. The choice to abbreviate and obscure parts of the diary felt unnecessary, pointless, and ultimately more irritating than intriguing. Much like the book itself, it felt like a gimmick that added little to the overall experience.

 

Book Review – I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

 

 I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh is about a tragic accident and the devastating truth behind it.

Jenna Gray’s entire world comes crashing down in a matter of seconds. Desperate for a fresh start, she leaves everything behind and moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast. As she tries to rebuild her life, she is haunted by fear, grief, and memories of the fateful November night that changed everything.

Slowly, Jenna begins to put the pieces of her life back together and starts to believe that happiness may still be possible. However, someone from her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences could be deadly.

I thought the book was an okay read overall. It had one major twist that caught my attention, but after that, I found the rest of the story fairly predictable. I also had a hard time getting into the book. The characters felt somewhat boring, and I never really found myself rooting for any of them.

I especially struggled with some of Jenna’s decisions. She seemed completely convinced that a certain person would find her, yet she never really tried to get help and instead seemed to accept whatever consequences might come. Then, when she believed someone was actively after her, she turned off her phone and opened the door without even checking who was there first. Considering how concerned she claimed to be about her safety, those choices didn’t make much sense to me. As a result, I found it difficult to connect with her character and fully invest in the story.

 

Book Review – The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

 

  

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio is the story of a woman, Emily Wilson, who discovers a dark secret hidden within her family’s history.

When Emily Wilson was in her twenties, she seemed to have it all. She had written a bestselling novel, had a handsome husband, and shared a beautiful home with him. However, ten years later, everything has changed for the worse. Her husband tells her he is leaving her for another woman, and to make matters worse, Emily has been struggling with writer’s block and is unable to finish a new book.

When her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend a month on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily happily accepts. She hopes that returning to the island, where she made many cherished childhood memories, will help heal her heart and inspire her writing. While staying at her aunt’s house, she discovers a red velvet diary dating back to 1943. As her curiosity grows, Emily begins to suspect that the diary belonged to someone in her family.

I was excited to read this book because the premise sounded interesting. However, as the story progressed, my interest started to wane. The characters felt boring and one-dimensional, and I never found myself rooting for any of them, especially Emily, who kept making what I felt were some questionable decisions.

I also have no idea why almost every person connected to the diary seemed to change their name and refuse to talk about the past. It felt like they wanted to tell the story, but kept dragging their feet for no real reason, and Emily seemed in no rush to find any answers. Several moments felt unbelievable to me. For example, an elderly woman serving as a pallbearer seemed odd, and one character suddenly revealed she had cancer, and only a month to live, came completely out of nowhere. It was especially strange since she had apparently never mentioned it to her best friend. The insta-love between some of the characters felt equally unrealistic.

Overall, I felt there were too many coincidences and implausible moments throughout the story. There were also quite a few loose ends that left me wanting more answers. While the premise had a lot of potential, the execution ultimately fell flat for me.