All articles filed in Fiction

The “marriage plot” is a common literary [and now film] device wherein the storyline is developed around courtship rituals.  Two people are perfect for each other only they can’t see it because a) there’s a love triangle (“27 Dresses”), b) religious/political differences (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) or c) other “insurmountable” obstacle (“Monster-in-Law”).  In the end,…

Since these novels are true YA (that’s the Young Adult genre), I read all three in 3.5 days.  I mean, I’m an almost-30-year-old reading stories meant for teens.  Whatever, it’s still juicy fun.  This is yet another series in the growing dystopian romance/female empowerment sub-category.  It was described to me as Hunger Games meets The…

The Sinclairs are a perfectly WASPy family, which of course is never perfect behind closed doors.  All of the blonde haired, blue eyed clan spends the summer on their private island, Beechwood, where each of the patriarch’s three daughters have their own home with their families.  The eldest children from each of these families have…

Hattie loves her children but rather than show that love with affection and sensitivity, she focuses on being a solid provider.  She does what she has to do to make sure her 11 children (and one grandchild) are fed, healthy, and out of harm’s way.  But whether it is her rough demeanor or the circumstance of…

Someone is dead.  We know the death occurred at a school trivia night (of all places) and that the names of three women – Madeline, Celeste, and Jane – are on everyone’s lips.  We immediately rewind to Kindergarten orientation day when the three women form a bond over champagne that is quickly tested when Jane’s…

Who here knew orphan trains were a thing?  I, for one, had no idea that through the 1920s, the Children’s Aid Society transported hundreds of thousands of orphaned children from busy Northeastern cities to the rural Midwest in the hopes of giving them new lives.  The idea was that children would have a better chance…

To say Celeste has a fetish would be a gross understatement.  She is beyond just “turned on” by 14-year old boys.  She likes them exclusively, to the point that she must drug herself to have sex with her [age-appropriate] husband.  She is incredibly specific in her tastes – not too muscular so they still seem boyish,…

The “rich” in this novel’s title is a vast understatement.  These are people who own five homes, fly only on their private planes, and spend $250,000 on a single dress.  It’s absurd…which is exactly why I lapped up ever juicy page.  I had no idea that this level of wealth existed, nor does Rachel Chu when…

Annie and Buster Fang grew up as part of their parents strange performance art.  As soon as they could, they busted out of their childhood homes and tried to forge their own paths as an actress and writer, respectively.  Turns out, being forced to participate in weird performances didn’t train them to lead normal, well…