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: Nobody in Particular, So Happy Together, & The Ghostwriter
Me - Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales is a very cute young adult romance between a princess and an American commoner.
Both main characters, Princess Rose and Danni, were well-developed and easy to root for. The two of them grew so much as well, with Danni becoming more confident and Rose becoming more open with her feelings by the end. The side characters, such as their friends, Eleanor and Molly, weren't as fleshed out and had almost non-existent personalities, but they were also enjoyable to read about.
Friendship was a big theme throughout the story. While Danni's friendships with Molly and Eleanor were pretty instantaneous and would've benefited from developing at a slower and more natural pace, they were still sweet. The most compelling friendship was that of Rose and Molly, who are estranged best friends in the beginning and slowly work their way back into each other's lives. Gonzales really took the time to let readers understand the conflict between them and feel for both characters, making it all the more satisfying when they finally worked things out.
However, the relationship that truly stole the show was the romance between Danni and Rose. From the start, their chemistry and banter were great, and it was so much fun watching them come into each other's orbit and develop feelings for one another. They communicated well, supported each other, and treated each other with care and respect. I also loved that the story's conflict largely came from outside of the relationship, meaning we got to see them work together rather than against each other when things got difficult. So often in romance books, the third act conflict involves a huge miscommunication/fight/
This book does get emotional at times as some of the characters are dealing with grief, among other issues, but for the most part, it has a lighthearted tone and features plenty of Gonzales's signature snarky humor.
Whether you're a fan of Sophie Gonzales, royalty romances, or young adult romances in general, I'd definitely recommend this book!
Me - Today, I am talking about So Happy Together by Emma Worley. At first, this book seems like it is going to be about this horrible, unlikable main character who is stalking this poor guy whom she briefly dated and now is convinced is her soulmate. However, it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that. This book has so many twists and turns that you never know who to root for from one moment to the next. That keeps it exciting, but also a bit exasperating.
Of the three main characters, Jane, the stalkerish main character; Colin, the object of her affection; and Zoe, his current girlfriend, Colin is the least well-drawn and the most mysterious. He is mostly seen through the eyes of the other two. Thus, the surprising friendship between Jane and Zoe, who seemingly should be rivals for Colin's affection, plays a central role in the plot. However, nothing and no one is quite what they seem in this very dark and gripping story. Even in the end, you are not sure who to root for. If you like a book where nothing turns out to be what you thought, and there is no fine line dividing good from evil, you should enjoy this.
Mom again - Today, I am talking about The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark. On the verge of bankruptcy, ghostwriter, Olivia Dumont, is hired to write a book for the great horror writer, Vincent Taylor, who is actually her enstranged father. Perhaps, haunted by his childhood in which his two siblings were murdered and many people suspected him of the crime, although he was never charged or tried for it, Vincent was never much of a father. Now, he is finally ready to talk about that night, and Olivia is determined to uncover what actually happened.
This is an enthralling story that slowly unravels piece by piece. It has some unexpected twists and turns, and refreshingly doesn't always develop as you think it will. However, it is hard to reconcile the dichotomy of some of the characters. Like the character of Danny, Vincent's murdered sibling, ultimately, you don't know whether to hate him or feel sympathy for him. While normally this would be a good thing because it would show that the character has shades of dark and light, thus rendering him more realistic, in this case, the two sides are too extreme, so you don't know how to feel, and that is true of other characters as well.
The ending of the story is also less than satisfying. A major part of the resolution is not actually played out in the story, even in flashback; it is just meant to be inferred from what the characters say. This makes the reader feel cheated because no one wants to read a book where some of the important action takes place off the page. Show, don't tell, isn't that one of the golden rules of writing?
However, overall, the plot is still exciting, and the characters are interesting. Therefore, it is still possible to enjoy this intriguing book even though it is disappointing in some ways.
Movies: Dahlia and the Red Book
Today, we are recommending the film Dahlia and the Red Book. This is a story about a young girl learning to unleash the creativity within. When Dahlia's father dies, she finds his red book full of mysterious writing, and she is transported into the story and tasked with completing it. This is an exciting story that is perhaps too scary for young children, but should appeal to those from about age 8 to age 12. Although some parts of the story don't always make sense, and the resolution is not completely satisfactory, overall, it is fun.
And that's our view. So Happy Together and The Ghostwriter will both publish next Tuesday. June 3. Dahlia and the Red Book is available for streaming on Apple +.
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. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter.
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