A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty / Accidents of Marriage....book reviews

I just looked - the last book review I did was in August 2015!  I've surely been slacking around here.  I have read many, many books since then and mostly likely read a couple that should have merited a mention here.

When we were living without the Internet like Luddites for, oh so, long I found myself reading actual books more than I have in a while.  Oh sure, pre-Internet loss, I read books - but generally a page or two - a chapter if I was lucky before I went to bed (that's what binge watching Parenthood on Netflix will do to you - I'm only up to Season Four, so no spoilers please!).  During and after the Internet loss, I have found myself ensconced on the back porch with a couple of very good books (and, if the current one continues on its current trajectory we can add it to the list).

But I finished A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson a few days ago and my first thought was to come tell you about it.

When I first picked up this book, I assumed it was a quick, easy read.  You know the kind that doesn't require that the reader actually pay attention.  Until I turned it over and read the summary,

"A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family.  Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there.  Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager.  But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and will stop at nothing to defend their future."

Interesting...the Amazon review that I pulled has spelled Ginny wrong.

At any rate, it seemed like an interesting read so it came home with me.  I cracked it open the other day and was hooked.  In fact, I believe I spent about a day and a half on the back porch with my nose stuck in it.  This is the kind of story that pulls you back to it every chance you get because you need to find out what happens next - it's a ""the laundry can wait" kind of book.

I enjoyed this one so much, I will be seeking out other books by this author.

Next up we have Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers.  This one really captured my attention.  Other than the title, the thing that piqued my interest was the blurb on the front cover:

"One of those rare novels that is both unputdownable and unforgettable."  - Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Husband's Secret

Although I can't remember off the top of my head, I know I have read some Liane Moriarty's books and thoroughly enjoyed them, so I was ready to buy this one before I even read the summary on the back...

"Maddy is a social worker trying to balance her career and three children.  Years ago, she fell in love with Ben, a public defender, drawn to his fiery passion, but now he's lashing out at her during his periodic verbal furies.  She vacillates between tiptoeing around him and asserting herself for the sake of their kids - which works to keep a fragile peace - until the rainy day when they're together in the car and Ben's volatile temper gets the best of him, leaving Maddy in the hospital fighting for her life.  Accidents of Marriage is a provocative and stunning novel that will resonate deeply with women from all walks of life, ultimately revealing the challenges of family, faith, and forgiveness."

The only nit I had with this book is that the ending was ambiguous...which isn't a bad thing; I just really wanted to know how this one ended, not be left wondering - but other than that, yes, I enjoyed it so much, I spent a little over a day on the back porch with this one.

So if you are on the hunt for something new to read, I would definitely recommend both of these books.