Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A Failed Attempt at Meaning

Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor

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This is the story of a missing kid, told from multiple perspectives.  Her best friend, the gay mate (these are so thinly drawn they may as well have been named “girlie” and “token”), her mother, and on and on.  It works to a point, but there’s also a “we” voice, and those voices are just a bridge too far.  Its supposed to be a deeper, spirit of the forest/all missing children whispering to us thing, and it is an UTTER fail.  Kills momentum, never fails […]

Just to see what everyone was talking about

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

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I believe this was a Reese Witherspoon pick, as well.  For a while there, it certainly seemed to be everywhere, so when I needed to spend another $15 to get free shipping from Target, I added it to the cart. I admit, I read it on a plane from Melbourne to Sydney, and did NOT read it closely enough to have pegged the family angle, or the identity of the corpse.  It’s either nicely played, or I wasn’t paying attention – let’s give it to […]

I am yearning for more of these books.

Lady Helena Investigates by Jane Steen

Lady Odelia's Secret by Jane Steen

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I finished the second book in this series yesterday, and I am already impatient for the next. If Elizabeth Bennet was crossed with Harriet Vane, you’d have Lady Helena. Widowed at the start of Lady Helena Investigates, and quite bereft, Lady Helena remains determined (a) not to marry again in a hurry (if ever) and (b) not to allow her brother (the Earl and head of the family) to steamroll her into running her estate his way.  Helena is the youngest in a family spread […]

Strong, Strong Candidate for Worst Book of the Year

Seducing Donavan by Lisa Lanay

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Haley is a Dr with her own home, two very cool doggos, and a super rich bestie that she helps out with money matters.  Haley is a FUCKING BOSS. Donovan is a man child who hates commitment. Haley plays games that are beneath her to get Donovan to change his ways. Donovan.  Who is WAY BENEATH HER. Haley: you are worth better. I hated this book.

Heavy Going but Uplifting

Skin Deep by Hayley Lawrence

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The Best Niece in Australia recommended this, along with The Ickabog, to me.  One of these things is not like the others! Its heavy going.  Scarlett was heavily scarred in an auto accident, and learns a lesson about beauty being on the inside from a family she meets in the remote mountains she escaped to with her father.  Its a tough lesson, since she’s been taught by her grandmother that her physical beauty is an intrinsic part of her value as a person. Gran was […]

Why was I avoiding Emily Henry?

Beach Read by Emily Henry

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Oh, this was so much fun.  An opposites-attract rom com where both protagonists are authors (write what you know, I guess!). January has inherited a house from her dad – the titular beach house – where he had a second life, with a second wife.  She would not be here if she had any other options, but she’s between novels with zero inspiration, and the bills won’t pay themselves. Gus is your standard New York Lonely Boy (thanks, Girls 5Eva), a Franzen/Eggers style writer who […]



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