No time for a intro this time around---going straight to the reviews!
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Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach
As the new hot actress, Olivia has the eyes of the publicâand the paparazziâon her at all times. Â When her latest breakup with her boyfriend literally spills out onto the street in New York city, it seems the whole world got front row seating to her meltdown. Â When her friend (and publicist) insists she go away to a retreat to reset, even Olivia has to admit it might be a good idea. Â Some meditation, yoga, all-around spa time---what could go wrong? Â And of course, that is what Olivia is about to find out. Â Fast-paced and painted with shades of Nxivm and Scientology-type cults, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Â Iâm not sure I believed people would go as far as some of their âtrue believersâ did, but I also have a hard time believing those real cults exist, so my radar is clearly set to ânaive.â Â I wouldâve liked a little more meat at the end, but still, definitely worth the read.
Special Note: Â Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The Finalists by David Bell
Six college students gather together to interview for a significantly notable scholarship; one that will cover their tuition, and even guarantee a paying, full-time job after graduation. Â The students are all different, with their intelligence the only criteria that really brings them together. Â But when one student dies before the scholarship interviewing even begins, the remaining students and school representatives must decide how far they are willing to go in order to keep the scholarship contest going. Written with the heat of our current social issues, asking tough questions about race and what it means to win something that comes about because of wrongs committed against previous generations, this book shines the light on some very timely scenarios. Â This wasnât one of my favorites from David Bell, and I found it a little difficult to believe in parts, but then again, they say truth really is stranger than fiction.
Special Note: Â Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The Midcoast by Adam White
Andrew has moved his wife and two children back to his hometown in Maine, and while some things have changed (or appear to), others have stayed the same. Â Ed, the guy who was kind of a jerk to Andrew when he was younger has grown up and married, Steph, the girl Andrew once lusted after. Â Now the âitâ couple in town, with Ed owning and managing several businesses and Steph as the town manager, their lives couldnât be more different from what it was like when they were all in high school. Â Even though Andrew is impressed with Ed and Steph, he just canât get his head wrapped around how much things have changed, and the more Andrew digs, the more he starts to wonder if anything has really changed after all. Â Great read; full of thought and planning and truly different in its approach! Â I do have to admit I sometimes had trouble following the timeline of the narrator, but Iâm glad I stuck with it---it was absolutely worth it.
Special Note: Â Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
