Book Review - Kaplan’s Plot by Jason Diamond

 

Kaplan’s Plot by Jason Diamond follows Elijah Mendes, who returns home to Chicago to care for his dying mother and uncovers a dark secret about his family’s past. Elijah had hoped that if he ever returned home, it would be under better circumstances. His mother, Eve, is dying of cancer, his business collapsed after a damaging scandal, and he has nowhere else to go.

Elijah comes home feeling restless and uncertain about his future. While he wants to help his mother, he struggles with how to do so because their relationship has long been distant and strained. While assisting her in organizing the house, Elijah discovers a letter addressed to his mother that references a Jewish cemetery owned by their family. The letter also mentions a man Elijah has never heard of, his great-uncle, Solomon Kaplan, who is buried there.

Using the letter as a starting point, Elijah confronts his mother and begins to learn more about their family history. He discovers that Eve’s father, Yitz, was a powerful and notorious gangster in the 1920s. Ashamed of her father’s criminal past, Eve had buried the truth and never spoken of it. As Elijah digs deeper into his family’s history, he realizes that uncovering these long-hidden secrets may offer him and his mother a chance to finally connect.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book based on the synopsis. I felt conflicted while reading it. I enjoyed the chapters set in the past, but found the present-day storyline dull and unengaging. The sections focused on Yitz and his past were by far the most interesting, while Elijah’s storyline felt unnecessary, as very little actually happened.

I struggled to understand the point of the novel, as it often felt unfocused and disjointed. At times, I was confused about what was happening or why certain scenes were included at all. I also didn’t enjoy the author’s writing style, which felt padded with too much fluff. While the book was okay, I wouldn’t reread it or seek out other works by this author.

Book Review - The Goldens by Lauren Wilson

 

The Goldens by Lauren Wilson is about a woman, Chloe, who is drawn to an enigmatic influencer, Clara Holland. Chloe always dreamed of becoming a bestselling writer but was never sure what she wanted to write about. Then, when Chloe met the famous influencer, Clara, the pair became fast friends, and Chloe joined Clara’s inner circle.

Chloe moved into Clara’s mansion as Clara’s fame started to skyrocket. Clara began to act erratically, hosting wild, cult-like parties with crystals and a bonfire. Clara decided to open her home to other girls who wanted to live like her, but the only catch was that they had to follow rules Clara made up and couldn’t talk to the media.

Everyone claimed it was a cult, and Chloe started to feel unsettled when she learned dark rumors from Clara’s past. When a girl went missing from one of Clara’s parties, Chloe began to wonder about the rumors surrounding Clara. Chloe feared that if she didn’t escape, she might be next.

I was expecting so much from this novel, but it fell flat. I thought there would be some exciting twists or turns, but the novel was very predictable and felt cookie-cutter. Toward the middle of the book, it moved very slowly. I also felt like Chloe saw and knew what type of person Clara was (or becoming) but continued being friends with her, which made it annoyed at her. I would be open to reading more books by the author, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read it.

Book Review – The Spider Strikes by Michael P. Spradlin

 

The Spider Strikes by Michael P. Spradlin is about three best friends spending one last summer together before one of them leaves for America.

In the summer of 1931, Joshua and his family once again travel to their cabin in Salzburg, Austria, just as they have done for many summers before. Joshua is especially looking forward to getting away from his home in Heroldsberg because the Nazi presence there is growing stronger, and Jewish families like his are facing increasing harassment and cruelty.

Before his friend Rolf leaves for America with his father, Joshua invites him and their other best friend, Ansel, to spend time together at the family cabin. However, what begins as a relaxing getaway quickly turns dangerous when the boys discover that the Nazis also have a growing presence in Austria. A group of older Nazi boys begins following them after the trio hikes up the mountain to the cabin. As the situation becomes more threatening, the boys must figure out how to escape before things spiral even further out of control.

This is the third book in the series. While it can technically be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t really recommend it. I had only read the first book and didn’t realize this was the third installment until I started reading. Even so, I was still able to enjoy the story, although there were definitely some character nuances and backstories that I missed.

Like the first book, I thought this one was very well written. The characters are likable and easy to root for. I also loved how the author handled such a difficult subject in a realistic but accessible way that allows younger readers to both enjoy the story and empathize with the characters. Even though the book is short, it is action-packed and very easy to get engrossed in. I ended up reading it in one sitting. The ending leaves room for more adventures, but unfortunately, the author recently passed away. That genuinely made me sad because I had grown very attached to the characters and wanted to continue following their journey.

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 Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

 

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan follows Nina Redmond, a woman who loses her beloved job as a librarian and decides to open a mobile bookshop. Nina has a special gift for matching readers with the perfect book. Books have always been both her passion and her career until she suddenly finds herself unemployed and unsure of what to do next.

The one thing Nina knows for certain is that her future must still involve books. Inspiration strikes when she comes across an ad for a van that she considers transforming into a bookmobile. She plans to drive her mobile bookshop to different neighborhoods, bringing books directly to readers.

As Nina works to launch her bookshop, she encounters her grumpy landlord, who seems to want nothing to do with her, and a charming train conductor who serenades her with poetry and leaves thoughtful gifts. While adjusting to her new life, Nina begins to connect with the people and the place, and it slowly starts to feel like home. But will Nina be able to find her own happily ever after?

I wasn’t sure what to make of this book. I expected a cozy story about a woman finding herself and rediscovering her love of books. However, in the second half of the novel, several odd romantic and non-romantic subplots are introduced, followed by graphic and out-of-place sex scenes. I didn’t care for any of the love interests, who felt lukewarm at best, and I would have preferred they were left out entirely.

I also expected stronger female relationships, but many of Nina’s interactions with her friend Surinder revolved around men. Some of the male characters were sexist, and Nina often came across as helpless and immature. I thought the book was okay-to-meh read, but I wouldn’t continue with the rest of the series.

Book Review - Vesuvius by Cass Biehn

 

Vesuvius by Cass Biehn follows a thief named Felix, who steals a religious relic and must deal with the dangerous aftermath. Felix has spent most of his life surviving as a thief, so when he gets the opportunity to steal a helmet from a temple, he takes it, assuming it will be an easy payout. However, he soon realizes the helmet is a priceless artifact and a sacred relic of the god Mercury.

When Felix touches the helmet, fragmented memories of his forgotten past flash through his mind, stirring a simmering anger within him. To make matters worse, a powerful aristocratic noble begins hunting him down, determined to reclaim the relic at any cost.

Meanwhile, Loren, a temple attendant and aspiring councilman, is plagued by dreams and nightmares of Pompeii being destroyed. In every dream, he sees a mysterious boy at the center of the chaos. When an earthquake shakes the city and Loren unexpectedly crosses paths with Felix, he realizes Felix is the boy from his visions.

To uncover the truth behind his dreams, Loren must understand Felix’s connection to the relic, especially if he hopes to save his beloved city. As Loren and Felix work together to prevent the earthquakes and stop Loren’s visions from coming true, they discover someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden. Will the two of them be able to save their city and survive?

I didn’t really care for the book. I found it boring and lackluster, despite being interested in Felix’s connection to the relic. I struggled to finish because the story moved very slowly and felt repetitive. The parts I did want to know more about were either rushed or skipped over entirely. With multiple storylines, it became difficult to keep track of how everything connected. The pacing felt uneven, and I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, which took away from the experience. I wouldn’t go out of my way to read another book by this author.