Tips for Tuesday - Books: Never Been Shipped, What Kind of Paradise, & That Kind of Girl; Movie: Prime Minister

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Books: Never Been Shipped, What Kind of Paradise, & That Kind of Girl

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson was a decent book that simply didn't stand out to me.

The main characters, Micah and John, were pretty well-developed, but I didn't love either of them. The romance between the two of them was cute, but it began so abruptly. They were childhood friends who hadn't spoken in more than a decade. Then all of a sudden, upon seeing each other again, they were both completely obsessed with each other in a romantic way, even though they had only ever been friends. John had clearly been interested in Micah back when they were younger, too so it made sense that his attraction to her was present again. However, Micah seemed to have viewed John as a friend in the old days, so it was jarring to see her lusting after him so strongly. Despite that, I did enjoy them as a couple. I really appreciated the fact that they continued to value their friendship even after they started hooking up. I also liked that there was no major third-act conflict. Micah and John handled their feelings and approached their relationship maturely as adults with little to no miscommunication that is so often present in romances.

Some aspects of the plot felt underutilized, such as John's relationship with his father. It was mentioned a few times but never in depth, and it felt strange that the author introduced such a heavy topic only for it to barely impact the story. I also would've liked to learn more about Micah's relationship with her ex, Rider. He was an awful person who clearly caused Micah a lot of pain, and yet once again, it felt like we only scratched the surface.

The pacing wasn't bad, although my attention faded somewhat towards the end, and the writing was solid. There was also some nice LGBTQ+ representation. I can see why people might have a great time with this, and I recommend that anyone who thinks it sounds interesting give it a try. Personally, though, I enjoyed it for the most part, but I just didn't connect to it.

 

Mom - Today, I recommend What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown. Jane has little memory of her life before she and her father began living off the grid in Montana with little contact with the outside world. However, as Jane grows older, she learns that her father may not have been completely truthful with her about their past, and she begins to push back on the restrictions she has always lived under. When her blind devotion to her father leads to her involvement in a crime, she flees to San Francisco to find out more about the mother she never knew.

This gripping novel centers on an extreme father/daughter relationship. Accordingly, if you have issues with psychological manipulation or unsettling family dynamics, you may find it triggering. It also examines other extremely topical issues, including the perhaps too rapid march of technology and the extremism that causes some to try to force their views on others by any means necessary without regard for consequences. These things may also be triggering for some people. However, if you can get past all that, it is a well-written, fast-paced, exciting, and quite timely book. 

Mom again -Today, I also recommend That Kind of Girl by Natalie C. Anderson. This book, about a teenage sleuth who finds things for her wealthier classmates and suddenly ends up embroiled in the mystery of a classmate's death, is extremely reminiscent of Veronica Mars. Roxie, the main character of the novel, also has the feisty personality of Ms. Mars minus the snark.  Plus, her touching relationship with the uncle who took her in is a reminder of Veronica and her father's relationship. That is where the similarities end, however. The gist of the plot is completely original. If you enjoy a book where seemingly disparate stories link up in surprising ways or one that involves intriguing puzzles needing to be solved, you should enjoy this one. 

Movie: Prime Minister

Today, we highly recommend the film, Prime Minister. Anyone who needs a reminder that there are still people who go into politics for the right reasons and don't lose sight of what is really important throughout their entire political career will want to see this film. Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, is not only an inspiration but the perfect example of the kind of caring, committed leader we all should want and would be lucky to have. 

And that's our view.  Never Been Shipped and What Kind of Paradise are available now. That Kind of Girl will be published on June 24. Prime Minister will be in theaters this Friday, June 13. 

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