We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes
to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned
below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: Where The Girls Were and Darkening Song
Today, we recommend Where the Girls Were by Kate Schatz. Baker, who has always been a good girl and an excellent
student, has a bright future at Stanford waiting for her. When she finally
decides to let loose a little, she begins sneaking around with a hippie
named Wiley and finds herself pregnant, whereupon she is quickly shipped off
to a home for unwed mothers.
Baker is a smart, fiesty, strong-willed, likable heroine. She has a nice sisterly bond with her cousin, May, although May is a bit
flighty and not completely reliable. However, their bond is not nearly as
touching as the bonds she forms with her fellow housemates, particularly her roommate
Michelle. Each of the girls' stories is extremely moving and, most, if not
all, are truly heartbreaking.
At first, Baker's mother, Rose, seems a bit harsh. She seems more concerned
with keeping up appearances than with her daughter. However, later
revelations shed new light on her character and make it clear that she does
indeed love her daughter and truly believes she has her daughter's best
interest at heart.
The book ends very abruptly with Baker on the brink of a big decision.
Although the reader may think they know what will happen next, it is not
explicitly stated, so they cannot be sure. Accordingly, those who prefer a
definite sense of closure will be disappointed to be left
hanging.
Although the book is set in the late 1960s, it is surprisingly timely. It
is true that in the ensuing years, women's lives improved vastly. They
gained much more autonomy and control over their own lives. However,
scarily, in too many places, that is no longer true. Rights that had
previously been gained are now being viciously ripped away. Thus, this
book is a chilling reminder of what's at stake and how vigilant we have to
be to preserve and protect the rights that we have gained.
Today, we are recommending
Darkening Song. Eva is just an intern at a record label when she discovers young singing
phenom, Alora Storm-Jones, which changes the trajectory of both their lives.
This book is another cautionary tale and a reminder to be careful what you wish
for.
Alora seems like an entitled spoiled brat at first, but her backstory is
heartbreaking, and what happens to her on her rise to the top is even worse.
The more the story goes on, the more sympathetic and likable she becomes. Eva,
on the other hand, becomes less likable as the story goes on. Although she has
a traumatic background as well, she is more concerned with hanging on to her
burgeoning career than with the people in her life and their needs, including
Alora and the alleged love of her life, Ade.
The story has some exciting twists and turns. There are surprising
revelations, and characters who turn out not be what they first appear. In
Alora's eyes, for instance, her absent father is a hero, and her mother is a
villain. Neither of these things turns out to be true.
Numerous sensitive topics are dealt with in the book, including anxiety,
abuse, sexual abuse, and attempted suicide. Accordingly, if you are sensitive
to a particular topic, you may want to check out the trigger warnings before
you read it.
Movies: The Optimist
The post below is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for
Trafalgar Releasing. Although we will be compensated for this post, any and
all opinions expressed here are our own.
The Optimist will be released next Wednesday, March
11. Based on a true story, THE OPTIMIST follows Holocaust survivor Herbert
Heller and the unlikely friendship that transforms two lives. At 15, Herbert
escaped the Auschwitz-Birkenau death march, carrying the weight of silence
for six decades. When he finally breaks that silence, he forms a life-saving
bond with Abby, a troubled teenager confronting her own pain. Together, they
discover hope, healing, and the transformative power of being truly
seen.
Directed by Finn Taylor and produced by Jeanine Thomas, THE OPTIMIST stars
Stephen Lang and Elsie Fisher in an intimate, intergenerational story about
trauma, memory, and healing. Lang delivers a career-defining performance
opposite Fisher in a story developed over more than a decade by Thomas, who
first met Heller before his passing in 2021. The film honors Heller’s legacy
as an educator and survivor who shared his testimony with thousands of
students nationwide.
The ensemble cast includes Luke David Blumm, Leah Pipes, Ben Geurens,
Ursula Parker, Slavko Sobin, Stella Stocker, Oskar Hes, and Robin Weigert.
Produced by Jeanine Thomas and Noah Lang, with executive producer Todd
Slater, the film features cinematography by Antonio Riestra and Alexander
Surkala and editing by Kaufmanova Olina and Rick LeCompte.
“Herbert’s story shows how one person can change countless lives,” said director Finn Taylor. Producer Jeanine Thomas added, “This film is the fulfillment of a promise to honor his truth.” Stephen Lang called the role “a profound privilege.”
The film will be released nationwide on March 11, 2026, through Trafalgar
Releasing.
We recommend The Optimist. It is a film that really touches the heart. Herbert Heller's optimism and desire to help others despite everything he went through is inspiring. His relationship with Abbey and the way they help heal each other is truly affecting. It is a reminder of how important and special relationships between different generations can be.
And that's our view. Where the Girls Were was published today. Darkening Song will be published next Tuesday, March 10.
The Optimist will be released next Wednesday, March 11.
Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.
All images except film images used in this post are our own. Film
images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or PR
firms. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.
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