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Review: The Holdout by Graham Moore

April 13, 2020 milelongtbr 4 Comments

One part legal drama, one part thriller. An amazing, compelling story all the way around.

The Holdout is a fascinating read with multiple timelines, points of view, and enough twists, secrets, and deceptions to keep the reader guessing until the final pages.

Synopsis:

Ten years ago, Bobby Nick, a black teacher was acquitted of the crime ok the decade after a jury found him not guilty of murdering Jessica Silver, his white teenage student, and daughter of a billionaire real estate developer.

The jury deliberated for months while Maya Seale, the lone juror convinced of Nock’s innocence persuades the other eleven one by one to change their vote to not guilty. Unfortunately, during the trial, the court of public opinion already condemned Bobby, he faced scorn for getting away murder. The public didn’t treat the jurors much better. Even their own families blamed them for letting a guilty man walk free.

Now, a decade after the trial Maya is back at the hotel where she and the other jurors were sequestered. A true-crime series that wants to interview the jurors on the anniversary of the verdict, and see whether they stand by their decisions. When the juror who organized the reunion– and was the biggest advocate for convicting Knock of Silver’s murder– winds up murdered in Maya’s hotel room she finds herself a suspect, and that finding the truth may be the only way to exonerate herself.

I enjoyed The Holdout in audiobook format and the narration was spot-on.

Analysis:

The Holdout is a unique thriller, with its courtroom slant and alternating between the past and present crimes. For someone who reads a lot of thrillers, it was refreshing and captivating.

Moore’s resumé includes the award-winning screenplay of The Imitation Game, and his ability to keep his audience thinking and enjoying themselves at the same time.

This book is a perfect break from the typical psychological thriller while still enjoying the twists and tension we love.

And whether in the jury deliberations, while Maya is trying to prove her innocence, or just a simple conversation you can feel the tension through the entire novel.

The Holdout is without a doubt entertaining but has substance as well. The plot moves fast but still takes time to explore themes of racial tension, justice, perception, and morality. The characters were all complex and hearing from all the different points of view within the novel was an element that showcased the inner thought processes and motivations behind everyone’s decisions.

Takeaway:

The Holdout is a mesmerizing blend of thriller and legal drama, taking the better aspects of each to make something fresh and memorable. This five-star read is my favorite new thriller of 2020 so far with its compelling plot, surprising depth, and a stunning ending. It’s sure to be on many best thriller of the year lists, so get reading and see for yourself!

Content Warning:

suicide, racism, sexual assault, inappropriate student/teacher relationship, adult language

Review: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

April 9, 2020 milelongtbr 2 Comments

What exactly is Big Magic? Most readers are familiar with Elizabeth Gilbert and her wildly successful Eat Pray Love memoir, but the concepts in Big Magic, her guide to “creative living beyond fear” are new.

This self-improvement guide to fostering creativity is an inspiring and motivating read, and for many who are stuck at home during COVID-19, it may be the perfect time to start reading it. Finding a creative outlet and pursuing it may be giving a stick to the Border Collie running wild in our minds, as Gilbert puts it in the book.

Synopsis:

Gilbert views ideas as living entities that visit people when inspiration strikes.

Being open to nurture and tend to those ideas is key for them to blossom into something bigger than itself, and for being lucky enough for the genius of inspiration to return to you.

Too often, people let things get in the way of engaging their creative side, and Gilbert suggests that the number one reason is fear.

Fear of what others will think.

Fear of taking on such a project.

Fear of failure.

Gilbert challenges readers to “live a life driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear” and suggests that this is the key to experiencing Big Magic and realizing the benefits of living a creative life.

The book takes on a broad definition of creating from the obvious artistic endeavors such as writing and painting to the unique interests that similarly nurture the spirit, such as figure skating. Gilbert presents creativity as play for adults, and I definitely agree that it’s a fabulous outlet just to do something for the fun of it.

Analysis:

As a self-identified “creative type” I can easily relate, but the range of creativity mentioned makes it so those who don’t identify as strongly as a creative could still benefit from this book.

The book discusses ideas being alive and about synchronicities and multiple discoveries that have lead people to have the same idea at the same time.

Then a crazy thing happened.

While reading the book for the first time last November I had a Big Magic moment of my own.

I had a discussion with a friend about a different book and the next day when I picked up Big Magic the chapter I read was essentially the exact same conversation I’d just had with my friend. Gilbert saying nearly the exact same things I’d said only a few hours earlier.

Granted, she had written these words a few years earlier, but having them reach me with such uncanny timing was enough to have me believing in the magic Gilbert discusses… and give me goosebumps.

I’m confident that Big Magic will give you the push you need to embrace or find your creativity. Right now seems an especially important time to do this, with so much of the world having their routines and sense of normalcy disrupted.

Going back through the ideas Elizabeth Gilbert has laid out has inspired me as well, and given my Border Collie a job in writing this blog.

Whether it’s sewing, painting, or something else entirely I challenge you to find something to channel your creative energy right now, and read or listen to Big Magic for inspiration.

Best Books of 2020: Literary Fiction and Genre-bending Emotional Reads

April 7, 2020 milelongtbr 2 Comments

This list of titles is the best books of 2020 I’ve read that stand out in the genres of literary fiction and genre-bending emotional fiction, plus one from each category that I’m looking forward to so much that they’ve made their way to my TBR shortlist.

I’ve been loving these two categories lately because they’re so immersive and really give the reader an opportunity to escape reality and be in someone else’s life for a while. If you’re looking for a book to get lost in, make you think, and make you feel any of these titles would be the perfect choice. These may not be light reads, but they’ll definitely be worthwhile ones.

Best Books in Literary Fiction

These books all feature important themes, stunning writing, and well-developed characters.

Writers & Lovers By Lily King

The writing in March’s Read With Jenna book is stunning, some of the richest prose I’ve had the pleasure of reading lately. The plot is slow moving, but nuanced and none the less a compelling read.

The nuanced characters and exploration of Casey’s effort to live a creative life, overcome her grief, and choose a path in life will give readers cause for contemplation. Ninteys era Boston is brought life and becomes a character of its own thanks to King’s evocative writing.

As an added bonus, the book is peppered with countless literary references, which is always a treat for bibliophiles.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

This Reese’s Book Club pick is a modern tale that provides commentary on race, class, prejudice, and privilege. The story is compelling and fresh, with humor to bring an air of levity to the serious themes. You’ll find yourself cheering for Imira to stand up to her boss and stand up for herself in the aftermath of the viral video where a stranger makes false accusations based on the color of her skin and presence in an affluent neighborhood.

This book is one you’ll want to talk about. And, if the story and conversations this book has started aren’t impressive enough, this is Reid’s debut novel.

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Ann Fowler (TBR)

A Good Neighborhood has received countless accolades for being a powerfully provocative story, discussing sexual abuse, race, privilge, and environmental issues. Count on Fowler’s lyrical writing and rich characterization to balance out the difficult issues that arise in this story of injustice and forbidden love.

With all the amazing things I’ve read about this book, I’m glad I added it to my Book of the Month box because it’s going right to the top of my TBR list.

Best Books in Genre-bending Emotional Fiction

Ok, this may be a subgenre of my own creation. These books all combine and transcend genres to tell magical stories that pack an emotional punch.

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Growing up is hard enough, but try aging chronologically.

Part magical realism, part coming-of-age story, Onna takes us on a unique adventure as she wakes up on her 19th birthday in the body and life of her 51-year-old self. She hardly has time enough to adjust to the changes in her body, let alone society during the 30 years she missed before it’s time for another leap.

You’ll love the pop culture references through the decades and the way Oona deals with the complications of living out of order. It’s a fun book, but don’t let that undermine the heavy emotions that arise as a complication of Oona knowing too much- or not enough – about her own life.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Serle’s latest delight, In Five Years, is lovely women’s fiction with a touch of magical realism as Dannie wakes up to spend an hour five years in the future, much of it in bed with a man who is definitely not the one she just got engaged to.

That one magical hour is always in the back of her mind as her career advances and relationship stalls over the next four and a half years, until one day she meets the handsome stranger from her future. Or is it past?

Things unfold for Dannie in unexpected ways, and what could have been a simple romantic comedy turns into a much richer and emotional exploration of female friendships, fate, and love.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (TBR)

Josie Silver’s sophomore novel deals with love and grief as Lydia’s long-time boyfriend Freddie is killed on her 27th birthday. This is just the beginning as a devastated Lydia is struggling to function let alone learn to move on from her loss. So, she eventually takes sleeping pills to cope with the long, lonely nights.

They do help her sleep, but also open up the door to a magical parallel universe; one where Freddie is alive. Although far from your typical romance novel, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird has received a lot of praise and has all the makings of a book that makes you cry and warms the heart at the same time.

I’ll be reading this one as soon as I get stocked up on tissues.

Well, there you have it!

Six of the best books I’ve read from 2020 that you’re sure to love if you’re looking for something thought-provoking, emotionally charged, and unique. Enjoy and be sure to comment your thoughts about any you’ve already read.

March 2020 Reads

April 1, 2020 milelongtbr 1 Comment

In spite of a week or so where I didn’t pick up a book at all (thanks to stressing over COVID-19) I managed to finish 8 books.

That’s a pretty solid number for me, and while I usually emphasize quality over quantity, these hit the mark on both! All but one of my March books I loved and were either four or five-star reads!

The Standouts :

There were two books this month that are a step above the rest, and early favorites for making my book of the year list.

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Nostalgia. Love. Heartache. Hope. Oona gave me all the feels, and I loved the time-hopping, the musical and pop culture references, and utter uniqueness that we see here. This book doesn’t really stick to one genre, which I don’t mind. It’s great for those who love women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, time travel, or coming of age stories.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Love Writers & Lovers. King’s writing is sensual and evocative, and this work of Literary Fiction is a beautiful exploration of living a creative life, dealing with loss, and choosing a path. I found myself being torn between wanting to keep reading and seeing how everything was resolved and not wanting the novel to ever end.

Five-Star Reads :

A couple more that I loved and rated five stars, but didn’t hit me quite as hard as the above standouts.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil de Grasse Tyson

I chose the audiobook of this title for my nonfiction read this month after hearing an interview with Tyson. He self-narrates, which I loved; the tone of his voice was rich and his passion for the topic is evident. Full of his unique humor as well as countless facts and insights about amazing topics, this is a great primer on big ideas.

The Holdout by Graham Moore

One part legal drama, one part thriller. Amazing, compelling story all around. This was a fascinating read with multiple timelines and enough twists, secrets, and deceptions to keep the reader guessing until the end. The Holdout is my favorite thriller of 2020 to date.

Four-Star Reads :

In Five Years: A Novel by Rebecca Serle

I should know better than to think I’m going to read a Rebecca Serle novel and enjoy a fun, light read. This book was, by all means, fun. I loved the descriptions of NYC and all the meals and wine the characters shared. But this book also kind of broke me. No regrets.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

Catherine Center is quickly becoming a go-to author for touching stories full of hope and love. You can’t help but feel good when you’re reading them, even when there are things that break your heart a little. This book comes out in July, but I highly recommend you pre-order it or go read Center’s other books if you haven’t already.

Unfollow Me by Charlotte Duckworth

Unfollow Me is a suspenseful thriller that had some unlikable yet incredibly intriguing characters, which isn’t always easy to achieve. With its gripping plot and commentary on important issues such as postpartum depression and privacy in the age of social media it’s definitely one to read.

Three-Star Books:

I had high hopes for this one, but it didn’t leave much of an impression on me.

The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward

This book disappointed me. Truthfully, had it not been a Reese’s Book Club pick I probably would have DNF’ed it. It’s a very slow-paced character-driven novel, and I didn’t connect to a single one of the characters. The resolution fell flat for me as well, but if you’re a diehard RBC follower or love family dramas you might have better luck.

With March in the books I’m very happy I got so much good reading done. The one book I wasn’t so wild about definitely was counterbalanced by the seven other amazing reads, many of which I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

What was everyone else reading in March? Anything you can’t wait to get to in April? If you haven’t read any of these I rated four and five stars I highly recommend you add them to your April TBR!

Best Book Releases of 2020: Psychological & Suspense Thrillers

March 28, 2020 milelongtbr 5 Comments

Hello, friends! I’ve got a great list of recent thriller recommendations based on titles I’ve been loving lately.

As I’ve mentioned, my reading taste is rather broad, I enjoy a number of genres and always say that as long as the book tells an interesting story and is well-written I can see myself enjoying it– even if it’s out of my genre comfort zone.

That said, there are a number of genres I gravitate to and tend to more often than the rest.

I thought a fun way to outline my reading taste would be to outline those favorite genres and give a couple of titles within each that I’ve really enjoyed lately, as well as one title from each that has made it to the shortlist of my endless TBR.

I’ll be posting the different genres in segments grouped together by similar interests, so if you’re taste isn’t quite as broad as mine you’ll likely enjoy the title

Psychological Thriller Recommendations:

I love a good, fast-paced thriller that messes with my head and has enough twists to keep me guessing until the end.

Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey

Woman on the Edge is a fast-paced suspenseful thriller that opens when a woman on a subway platform gives her baby to a stranger before jumping in front of a train.

I binged this book in a day. It was impossible for me to put down until I made sense of all the twists and secrets that unfolded in this story, and it had more character depth and substance than is typically seen in the genre.

Check out my full review here.

2. The Holdout by Graham Moore

Part legal drama, part thriller, part murder mystery, Graham Moore defies genre and expectations with this book.

It’s a fascinating story that explores the most controversial case in recent history, where Bobby Nock who was undoubtedly guilty in the court of public opinion, was acquitted of murder after one juror, Maya, eventually swayed the opinion of the all the others.

When they meet to film a retrospective on the anniversary of the controversial verdict and one of the jurors gets murdered things start to unravel around Maya.

It’s a compelling read that got me thinking and left me in shock when the truth was finally revealed.

3. You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (TBR)

This duo writes exciting and shocking books, so they’re an automatic read for me and a clear way to jump on my TBR shortlist. I’ve been excited for the release of You Are Not Alone as soon as I heard about it.

“You probably know someone like Shay Miller.
She wants to find love, but it eludes her.
She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end.
She wants to belong, but her life is so isolated.
You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters.
They have an unbreakable circle of friends.
They live the most glamorous life.
They always get what they desire.
Shay thinks she wants their life.
But what they really want is hers.“

The book came out on March 3rd and has generated a lot of buzz in the reading community. It’s sure to be a shocking and exciting read.

Check out the full synopsis here if you’re interested.

Suspenseful Thriller Recommendations :

This subgenre may not be quite as intense, but the slower pace often leaves room for even more complexity and stunning writing.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

It’s possible that The Glass Hotel was my most-anticipated release of 2020, and it did not disappoint.

Emily St. John Mandel is a master storyteller this time weaving together the lives of a diverse cast of characters who center around Johnathan Alkaitis, a businessman and financier involved with both legitimate ventures and a Ponzi scheme that eventually unravels the lives of all who trusted him.

Alkaitis’ lover, who flees and tries to start a new life after the Ponzi scheme’s collapse eventually goes to work as a chef on a container ship. One night she vanishes from the ship without a trace, and an investigation begins.

I wouldn’t rely too much on the synopsis you see at your book retailer to get a feel for this book, but can say if you’re a fan of the author’s writing style or enjoy a tensely woven narrative with complex characters and evocative writing, this will be a great choice for your next read.

2. Unfollow Me by Charlotte Duckworth

Unfollow Me is a gripping domestic suspense novel about the tangled lives of a Mommy Blogger who suddenly goes off the grid, a slightly obsessed fan, and a follower for another reason altogether.

I enjoyed my ARC of this book so much I read it in a day, and thought the author did a great job building nuanced tension and creating characters that had depth, even if they weren’t particularly likable.

There are thrills and surprises in this book to keep you reading and guessing till the end. Check out my full review for more details!

3. The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel (TBR)

Abby from the blog Crime by the Book put The Familiar Dark on my radar a few weeks ago, and it’s a title I’m very excited to read.

As the title suggests, this is a dark and twisted tale of the lengths a mother goes to for answers after the murder of her daughter.

It’s an unsettling and gripping book with unlikable characters, but those can often be compelling and interesting reads. So, if none of that has dissuaded you from looking further into it, go pre-order your copy now!

The Familiar Dark publishes on March 31.

Well, there you go!

Hopefully, if you’re a thriller lover you will find a title or two to add to your own TBR from this list… and you enjoy other genres as well or if thrillers aren’t your thing, be sure to check back for my recent favorites in other genres!

Review: The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

March 21, 2020 milelongtbr Leave a Comment

I’m a relatively new romance reader. A few years I gave the genre a try, and I’m glad I did because they often read like you’re watching your favorite rom-com movie. They also serve as a great way to have a fresh and fun read if you’re in a rut or need a palate-cleansing book.

The queens of the genre, Christina Lauren do it again with the Honey-Don’t List that follows a celebrity couple as their marriage implodes, and their assistants who just might come together despite their differences and initial impressions of each other.

The power couple in question, Melissa and Rusty Tripp gave off serious Chip and Joanna Gaines vibes, though to the extreme and gone wrong under the effects of fame, travel, and the tension in their lives.

The book was cute and funny, and while the romance between Carey and James seemed to take a back seat to the drama that was happening on the book tour with their bosses, I thought it was an enjoyable read and definitely recommend fans of the author to check out the latest book for a fast and playful romance.

I gave the book four stars, though if you’re a hardcore romance and CLo fan then you might love it even more!