You'll Grow Out Of It by Jessi Klein

It has been a while since a book has given me a belly laugh, and it was a welcome relief from the otherwise depressing news seen around the world. In You'll Grow Out Of It, author Jessi Klein remarks anecdotally about things as varied as "Cads" (man goobers) to Bar Method classes. My favorite chapter in the book was the one where she talked about The Bar Method. For those unfamiliar with The Bar Method, it is a workout that utilizes a ballet barre, and small pulsing movements that are incredibly challenging and leave you sore for days! She was absolutely spot on in her assessments, and I found myself with an affinity for Klein. I highly recommend this book for fans of Tina Fey and Amy Pohler. If you are looking for a reprieve from the sorrow of the world, this book offers just that and more. 

Synopsis

In YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT, Klein offers-through an incisive collection of real-life stories-a relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond. These include her "transformation from Pippi Longstocking-esque tomboy to are-you-a-lesbian-or-what tom man," attempting to find watchable porn, and identifying the difference between being called "ma'am" and "miss" ("Miss sounds like you weigh ninety-nine pounds").

This book is unique in its feminine perspective and hilarious thoughts on life. I really loved it, and I think you will as well. Order the Book here

Happy Reading!

   

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

If you are looking to add a book to your list, then follow your fellow bookie's advice and read Before The Fall by Noah Hawley. The last thing you probably want to read about on your summer vacation is a plane plunging into the ocean, but stick with me, reader. There are only two survivors of this plane crash-a man who is a down and out painter and a 4 year-old boy who now, as it stands, is the only surviving member of a wealthy family. Was this a mere tragedy, or was there something more sinister, a conspiracy perhaps at the heart of this awful story. Told in alternating narrative between past and present, this book weaves the reader into a masterful story that is truly fantastic!

Synopsis via Amazon
On a foggy summer night, eleven people--ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter--depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs--the painter--and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.

With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the crash and the backstories of the passengers and crew members--including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot--the mystery surrounding the tragedy heightens. As the passengers' intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it merely by dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations. And while Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage.

Amid pulse-quickening suspense, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.

Happy Reading!
*Thank you to Grand Central for my copy of  Before the Fall*

Esther the Wonder Pig

Esther the Wonder Pig

Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter & Caprice Crane

In the past year, I have learned so much about myself, my eating habits, and what eating meat not only does to my body, but also to the planet. I happened to listen to a podcast about 6 months ago where Russell Simmons spoke of eating animals and why he quit eating meat. Without getting in to the details, he talked about factory farming and the horrific conditions in which animals are slaughtered, and how we, the consumers essentially eat the stress of the animal. Much of what he said made a lot of sense, so I decided to try to cut out meat from my diet. It was surprisingly easy, and I didn't miss eating meat, though many told me I would. Then I read this story about a sweet little pig named Esther, and how she came to live with Steve and Derek. I flew through the pages of the book, and was really entertained by the way Steve writes about Esther. Yes, it was funny and charming, but more importantly, it resolved my strength to show compassion to animals in my life, and more broadly in the world. While reading, I couldn't help but laugh and think about the parallels between Steve (Me) and Derek (My husband). I'm always bringing animals home, and my husband is always threatening me "don't bring another animal home!" 

While this book does not push a vegan or vegetarian agenda, I think it raises some points that we all should consider, and Esther has become one of the faces for animal rights. I think that is wonderful, and I think the broader message is that if we could all raise the level of consciousness for what we eat, that is never a bad thing. 

Synopsis

In the summer of 2012, Steve Jenkins was contacted by an old friend about adopting a micro piglet. Though he knew his partner Derek wouldn't be enthusiastic, he agreed to take the adorable little pig anyway, thinking he could care for her himself. Little did he know, that decision would change his and Derek's lives forever. It turned out there was nothing "micro" about Esther, and Steve and Derek had actually signed on to raise a full-sized commercial pig. Within three years, Tiny Esther grew to a whopping 600 pounds. After some real growing pains and a lot of pig-sized messes, it became clear that Esther needed much more space, so Steve and Derek made another life-changing decision: they bought a farm and opened the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, where they could care for Esther and other animals in need. Funny, heartwarming, and utterly charming, ESTHER THE WONDER PIG follows Steve and Derek's adventure--from reluctant pig parents to farm-owning advocates for animals.
Note: Thanks to an incredible Kickstarter campaign that was funded by donors, Steve and Derek purchased the farm. A truly remarkable story that highlights the collective kindness that makes the world an awesome place to be!   To read an excerpt, click HERE

Happy Reading! 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for an early copy of the book. I received this book in exchange for a fir and honest review. 

No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Refearn

No Ordinary Life by Suzanne Redfearn

Grand Central Publishing 

Suzanne Redfearn delivers another gripping page-turner in her latest novel, a story about a young mother's fight to protect her children from the dangerous world of Hollywood.

I am very excited to celebrate a new book written by Suzanne with you, dear readers! Suzanne is one of my favorite authors, who knocked it out of the park with Hush Little Baby. If you haven't read Hush Little Baby, please add it to your TBR list immediately. You can read both of Suzanne's books this month, and I promise you will be satisfied. Now that my plea's have been voiced, I will tell you I enjoyed reading her new release, No Ordinary Life. Suzanne skillfully immerses the reader into the world of Hollywood starlets, and the pressures that mount in a world that is always changing, and incredible fickle. Faye's desperation to change her life's circumstances drive her, and subsequently her family, into a life of fame and a solution to their financial difficulties-but with consequences attached to those decisions. It is a bit of a cautionary tale, but for those who choose the glitzy Hollywood life, it will read like a memoir. I will not spoil the ending for you, but I encourage you to read the synopsis for yourself, and then find the ordering link at the bottom of this page. 

Synopsis

"Faye Martin never expected her husband to abandon her and her three children . . . or that she'd have to struggle every day to make ends meet. So when her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems like her prayers have been answered. But when the reality of their new life settles in, Faye realizes that fame and fortune don't come without a price. And in a world where everyone is an actor and every move is scrutinized by millions, it's impossible to know whom to trust, and Faye finds herself utterly alone in her struggle to save her family. 

Emotionally riveting and insightful, No Ordinary Life is an unforgettable novel about the preciousness of childhood and the difficult choices a mother needs to make in order to protect this fragile time in her children's lives."

 Author Spotlight

Suzanne Redfearn is the author of Hush Little Baby, which was chosen as a Target Recommends selection and Target’s Emerging Authors program. She graduated summa cum laude from California Polytechnic University and, prior to becoming an author, was an architect. She is an avid surfer, golfer, skier, and Angels fan. She lives with her husband and children in Southern California. No Ordinary Life is her second novel.

To order a copy of No Ordinary Life, please visit one of the following links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble