Tips for Tuesday - Books: West of Wicked, Save the Date, Too Close Too Home, & Hope Rises; & Movie: Pretty Ugly: The Lunachicks

 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: West of Wicked, Save the Date, Too Close Too Home, & Hope Rises

Me - West of Wicked is a dark retelling of The Wizard of Oz, following a grown-up Dorothy who lands in Oz and must figure out whom she can trust and how she fits into the past and present of this strange and perilous land, all while trying to return home to Kansas.

This was an interesting and unique take on the classic story that so many of us know and love. The most enjoyable aspect of the book, by far, was learning about the history, magic, and politics at the heart of this version of Oz, in which nothing and no one is quite as they seem.  Dorothy’s journey begins similarly to the original story, with her heading off down the yellow brick road in the hopes that the wizard will help her find her way home. However, after that, the story quickly diverges from its source material. Many of the twists and turns were pretty obvious and predictable, but others took me by surprise. Either way, it was entertaining to see how everything unfolded. The book ends on a cliffhanger with some questions answered and others left to be explored in the sequel. I look forward to seeing where things will go.

Though the plot was a lot of fun, the characters and relationships were, unfortunately, much weaker. In addition to Dorothy, we see takes on other familiar characters such as the scarecrow, a man who has lost his memories and may be harboring dangerous secrets and the tinman, a vicious, heartless mercenary who is hunting down Dorothy on behalf of the wicked witch of the west. Additionally, original characters are introduced, most prominently being Cleo, a former servant of the witch of the east. Each of these characters was mysterious and intriguing in their own way. Although I was interested in learning more about their backgrounds, none of them were developed enough for me to truly care about them.

This book also featured the beginnings of a romance between Dorothy and the scarecrow– called Rook in this version– but it was so insta-lovey that I never cared much for it, especially since there seemed to be nothing more between the two of them than lust and attraction, since they didn’t even know each other well enough to have developed real feelings. That said, there was decent chemistry between them, and they shared a few cute moments. The end also seemed to hint at a love triangle that I expect to form in book two, and I’m curious to see how that will play out.

Those who don’t enjoy retellings, or specifically dark and/or romance-heavy takes on classic children’s stories, probably won’t enjoy this one, and I wouldn't recommend it to readers searching for fleshed- out characters or a beautiful, moving romance. However, if you enjoy creative retellings with fun and engaging plots that will leave you craving the answers that will hopefully be revealed in the sequel (or sequels– I'm not sure whether this is meant to be a duology or a longer series– ) then this one is well worth the read!

Mom - Today, I am recommending Save the Date by Mallory Kass.  This book is the story of not one but three romances revolving around a wedding. The bride, Marigold, has to deal with an unresolved relationship from her past on the eve of her wedding. The maid of honor, Natalie, is secretly in love with the groom. The bride's sister and the groom's best friend are in a fake relationship.

Two of these stories are really heartwarming, sweet, and believable. The third is less so. Marigold and her ex, Hugo, don't feel believable as a couple. While they are as cute and sweet as the others, it doesn't seem likely that they would make it as a couple, as their lives are too completely different. This takes away a bit from the enjoyment of their story.  

Natalie and Jonathan have been friends since college. Thus, they have a history and a deep friendship, which makes their relationship feel very real and credible. You don't really see Marigold and Jonathan interact much, which makes it easy to root for this pair as a couple. 

Olivia and Zack work together really well. He clearly cares about her and is always there when she needs him. He is extremely good for her because he tones down her Type A personality, which is something she really needs. 

The book is filled with plenty of romantic novel clichés, but there is enough uniqueness to keep it interesting. Plus, the characters are mostly likable, and the romances are mostly charming and convincing. Any big fan of romantic stories will enjoy this triple dose.

Mom again - Today, I also recommend Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass. This book also involves three intersecting stories, but this time, it is a thriller. Reagan is still processing her neighbor's death from a car bombing that was allegedly meant for her when her supposedly dead husband turns up in a picture. Sasha is preoccupied with the mysterious behavior of her son, Dex, and is afraid he may have had something to do with the bombing. Meanwhile, Andi is trying to hide the fact that she accidentally killed her nemesis, her ex's new wife, after having a very public fight with her. 

Separately, these stories are quite intriguing, and the way they connect is exciting and plausible. The book is quite fast-paced, and there is no letdown in the action. Plus, the story is unique enough to stay interesting throughout. There are also plenty of shocking and unpredictable twists.

The main characters, however, are not differentiated enough.  At the beginning, so many characters are introduced at once that it's hard to remember who is who. Once you get into the story, the three main characters still don't seem that different from each other. The only way to tell them apart is to remember which character name is associated with which storyline, so if you're not good with names, you may find this story confusing. However, if you are, you can probably still enjoy it despite the character's similarities because the plot is extremely compelling.

Mom yet again - Today, I also recommend Hope Rises by David Baldacci. This book is a sequel to his previous book, Nash Falls. Although you don't necessarily have to have read that book to read this one, the two books work well together, and I would recommend reading them both. Also, be warned that this review may contain spoilers regarding the previous book.

Walter Nash, using the new identity of Dillon Hope, completely unrecognizable as himself, and ostensibly still working with the FBI, gets a job as a bodyguard to Victoria Steers, the woman who destroyed his family. He is really just waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge. However, disconcertingly,  he finds that Steers isn't the woman he thought she was, and he begins to feel empathy for her, which distracts him from his mission. 

Unlike the previous book in the series, this one is mostly told from Walter's point of view. However, the book is also very much Victoria's story, perhaps even more so than Walter's. She is also the more interesting character.  She is uniquely well-drawn with numerous shades to her that lift her beyond a normal cartoony one-sided villainous character like those that appear in most books of this type. 

It works well that the book is mostly told from Walter's viewpoint, as seeing Victoria mostly through his eyes more effectively establishes her character than seeing her from her own would.  Her presence elevates this book to a whole other level. It is so much more than the average vigilante story that it seems like it will be.

Movie: Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks

Today, we recommend Pretty Ugly: The Story of The Lunachicks. This fascinating documentary tells the story of the groundbreaking all-female punk rock group, the Lunachiks. The group, which was active from the late 80s through the early 2000s, was known for blending punk rock and female activism. Their story is largely told through the point of view of the band's various members.

And that's our view. All books mentioned in this post were published last Tuesday, April 14. Pretty Ugly: The Story of The Lunachicks will be available in select theaters as well as digitally for purchase or rental starting this Friday, April 24. 

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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