A Stunning, Honest, and Compelling Debut
581614
Arlan's Mountain Lines is a stunning debut in the travel writing genre. Immensely relatable, Arlan's decision to take on his journey through the mountains is emotionally compelling, tinged with humor, and completely honest about the perils of making a trip that started with a simple Google search. Excited to see what's next from this author! Definitely worth your time!
414230
For other young adults filled with thoughtful and compelling questions about faith and doubt, Andrea Palpant Dilley's first book will feel like fresh air. She recalls vivid tales of growing up as a young child in Africa in a medical missionary family, her sense of awkward displacement returning to American suburban life, countered by positive experiences in a healthy church communiy during adolescence. These provide the contrasting backdrop for her twenties when doubts rage. She wrestles with all she's been taught to believe with candor and keen intelligence. Chapters, with titles such as "Why can't God be more like Eric clapton" raise the significant theological questions that trouble her, like the silence of God. Her story also illustrates how important mentors prove to be.  Through them, she recognizes not only the suffering in the world, but the goodness she sees and experiences. Without needing complete answers to her questions, one senses she is a pilgrim on a living adventure of faith. I suspect this will the first of many books from an exceptional writer.
3308819
A very interesting, well-crafted book. Mila Gee's style is poetic and immediate in an almost palpable way; she holds nothing back. This is an astute inner travelogue that also allows for a glimpse into the aspects of her heroine's past, rarely available to visitors, as well as into present day Cuba. Even though the book is rather serious, somehow it manages to retain light-heartedness and humor throughout, including its dark and painful moments. Gee's illustrations for each chapter are delightful. A very promising debut!
4772849
This story was beautifully written.  What an amazing debut!  The characters were so believable, I almost felt like an intruder into their very realistic lives.  There is nothing more you could ask for, as a reader, than to be so engrossed you have an emotional stake in the lives of the characters, of the story.
There were a few different spots, however, within Marin's dream state that tripped me up as to whether she had woken up, or exactly where she was or which state she was in.  Even still, it took nothing away from the story or the feelings I took away from this strong debut novel.

A couple of my favorite passages:
"What struck him the other night when she'd crossed her last important milestone of childhood, was not how close she was to becoming a woman, but how all this time, she'd been nothing but a child."
"That time Mare, right before knowing a thing?  When you can feel it but can't quite name it?  That's the best part.  Enjoy it, darling."

Ms. Naranjo has several published works online that are sure to enrapture anyone that enjoys her unique, sucks-you-in-every-time writing style.
2153485
From the very start of Aiden Rileys Ray Ryan I was able to connect with Ray, our protagonist.  I never thought that liking English so much was strange; I thought it was normal.  This line, thought so briefly on the first page, grabbed me and sucked me in.  I was that strange child too; the one who loved English so much that setting pen to paper was more of a compulsion than a desire.
While we shared such a fundamental, my life has been much different than our lovely Ray.  He crashed into adulthood with all the aplomb of gangly giraffe, one who has seen his best friend, Kevin,  succumb to the temptation of fast money and an easy life.  For one who feels deeply and sees clearly, the suffering of a friend tugs at the heart strings and scars the soul.
Its a coming of age novel of that wonderful British variety, full of silent humor and real to the bone moments.  A rough dad, deciding the right moment with a girlfriend, and trying to pull his friend out of the mess of a life he has made.  Its beautiful and deep, a well written piece that shines brightly as a debut novel.
2395463
"The Reluctant Chameleon," Pearl Watkins' impressive debut novel is described on its cover as "a classic coming of age novel, part J.D. Salinger and part Virginia Woolf." Though her writing certainly deserves to be in such stellar company, it would be a disservice to read her comparatively. Watkins has a strong, unique voice, able to captivate on its own merits.

For the most part, women are not the protagonists of heralded "coming-of-age" narratives. If we figure at all, it is in bit parts, as the prey dragged along to the cave or a milestone of angst on a hero's highway to manhood. An extraordinary revelation of Watkins' protagonist Anwyn Jones is that we deeply feel her perplexity, cluelessness, self-doubt, and spunky courage as she tries to navigate young adulthood, indeed, young womanhood, with little but cultural propaganda, and illusions to guide her.

The narrative begins in 1968, set in Wales and in Southampton, England. Though the author must have written this at a remove of years, her ability to convey an immediacy of experience puts you firmly in time and place. Her voice is at once agonizingly personal and undeniably universal.

Her character descriptions are so crisp, there is no mistake with whom you are spending time. For example, her landlady: "Everything about her seemed to be made of weathered grey wood-her hair, her face, her hands, even the floor length dressing gown she wore in the mornings..."

And then there are her exquisite metaphors. In lieu of the huff and puff, thrust and conquer of male descriptions of youthful sex, she gives us: "When he is far enough advanced on his journey the journey stops mattering and the only thing that matters to him is the destination; you are no longer a person, a gentle, loving, willing human being, you are now merely the vessel that was designed to receive his important offering; he has a plane to land and you are the runway..."

Don't be misled. Watkins is not a man-hater and men aren't the bad guys. Refreshingly, there are no bad guys (Well, there is one, but it is the reader who passes judgment not the author.) As a note, I would add that men should read this book. (How many male coming-of-age books have women read by academic requisite or choice?) Men should read this book because it offers one of the most intimate, candid expressions of what a woman might be feeling while coupling instead of the thrashing of waves and ringing of carillons we've been conditioned to associate with "making love."

The "Reluctant Chameleon" is about more than young love or what passes for it. It is about embarking on life as an independent being. One of the book's most poignant scenes relates the heartbreaking derailment of a promising talent and the abandonment of a dream which Watkins renders so beautifully and subtly, it is haunting.

"The Reluctant Chameleon" deserves a wide readership. It should be reviewed in periodicals that matter and that have influence over what is stocked in bookstores and placed on library shelves. And it deserves a large e-book readership. Sadly, there is a tsunami of poorly written books flooding today's market, but gladly, there are still wonderful offerings that stand out as classically great reads. "The Reluctant Chameleon" is one of them.

Patricia Kurtz
820887
When I was given the opportunity to read and review this book, I didn't know quite what to expect. Key words in the blurb like out of his head on acid, abusive relationship and lost a fortune were intriguing yet left me wondering if it was a book I would be able to get into.

So, one morning after breakfast, I sat on the sofa with a large mug of tea and opened Red Dirt. 150 pages later, I emerged - rather reluctantly as I wanted to carry on reading - but dogs needed walking, washing needed doing and children needed attention. However, it didn't take me long to finish the rest of it!

Red Dirt is a fast moving tale centred around three Irish migrants  Fiona, Murph and Hopper  and it is divided into three sections told from three different perspectives (first person, second person then third). They flee to Australia following the collapse of the Celtic Tiger. Their stories are moving because they all have roots in the loss, confusion and hopelessness experienced by a generation of young people when their homeland seems to have nothing to offer them. The novel is certainly one about trying to find yourself, yet not being fully aware that you are trying to do that. Its about chasing the dream, and sometimes almost catching a glimpse of it, yet not quite reaching it. Its a novel of sensual experiences, whether strange or downright disturbing. And its about the human condition of wanting to matter, needing to matter, to someone, anyone, even if just for a moment.

The author is certainly one to watch. This is a fantastic debut and certainly bodes well for her future novels.

In summary, Red Dirt is raw. It is brutally honest. And it is, at times, appropriately elegiac.

*Many thanks to the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
2760690
Sean Hoen's debut memoir is truly compelling. While on its surface and in its pages there's much darkness, Sean's avoids cynicism and offers and ultimately hopeful tale of struggle and survival. Even though 'Songs Only You Know' may appear to be a book about rock & roll, drugs, and depression, it's anything but. Those items are simply ingredients in a powerful tale of growing alongside family and friends in a turbulent environment. You don't have to be a musician or a survivor of substance abuse to appreciate and relate to this story. Sean's a powerful writer, discussing his past and himself in a frank way - sometimes brutally so - that is refreshing and, more importantly, touching. I felt as if I knew versions of the characters he describes throughout, and they and the scenes remain fresh in my mind days and weeks after finishing the book. Highly recommended.
515181
Delivering on all counts, Hilary Davidson's startling debut The Damage Done  is so much more than what meets the eyes. As you turn the pages of this pulse-rating crime fiction, Davidson deftly transports you to a mystery-laden setting where you will be plunged into a deep, dark tragedy that will leave you breathless until you have reached the final written word.

On hearing that her deeply troubled, drug-addicted younger sister Claudia has been found dead in her apartment in New York, a shock-stricken Lily Moore rushes home from Spain. A successful travel journalist, Lily made her escape to Spain a year ago to get away from the troubles in her life, namely her sister Claudia who has been living on the edge of life.

Lily was soon, however, baffled to learn that the body at the morgue belongs to a complete stranger, who has been impersonating Claudia. The whereabouts of her sister therefore remains unknown and the new turns of the events sends her into a state of utter panic. What has happened to Claudia? Where has she disappeared to?

And so, the frantic search for Claudia begins in earnest and when Claudia transforms from victim to suspect in the eyes of the police, Lily becomes determined to find out the truth behind all the baffling mysteries surrounding the disappearance of her sister. In her quest to search for her sister and the person responsible for the tragic situation, Lily makes sure that not a stone is left unturned.

Through all the chaos that ensue, Lily confronts her own past and a string of people who might have any information about Claudia including her next-door neighbor, Lily's former fianc, and even Claudia's obsessive ex-lover. Then there is the life of Claudia's impostor that Lily has to dig through to find answers. What emerges is a terrible truth shocking beyond belief that ultimately threatens to take a toll on Lily and those she loves.

With haunting details and heart-quickening twists that you won't anticipate even in the slightest, The Damage Done explores the issue of identity theft in a new light, cautioning us about the threat it poses. The cleverly-woven plot sends you spiralling down an unknown path, as Davidson guides us through her heroine's family secrets as well as the peculiar bond between the two sisters and their dysfunctional relationship.

Easily one of the most refreshing crime thrillers to emerge this year, Davidson's The Damage Done is a first-rate mystery debut that is thoroughly entertaining and highly satisfying. So sit back and enjoy this racing thrill ride of a novel full of mystery and suspense that guarantees escapism at its best.
1761679
Depending on the individual reader, Free Fall: A Late-in-life Love Affair, by Rae Padilla Francoeur, may well be greater than the sum of its diverse parts.  Although the sensual cover of the book and the additional frontal descriptor, "an erotic memoir," establish a certain tone and set of expectations for the reader, this open and honest oeuvre functions on multiple levels and holds a wide variety of appeals.  So focusing on "the affair" and "the erotic" alone belies the full range and impact of this bold adventure, this complete sharing of a post-mid-life transition for one single mother, feminist, journalist, editor, and director of creative services at a prestigious museum.

What is remarkable is that Francoeur never allows herself to be derailed for fear of highly arched eyebrows, puritanical criticism, or even sheer voyeurism.  She is an utterly adroit raconteur whose amazing story--in all its sadness, joy, and sheer physicality--just happens to be true.  Whether she is detailing the fine qualities or tremendous struggles of her bipolar poet-mate of eighteen years or wading through the angst-ridden maze of mental health bureaucracy, she is both generous and unsparing.  Similarly, there are no holes barred when she recounts the heady, sweaty exhilarations of her new relationship with a totally different kind of lover, albeit a longtime friend of her former mate.

Perhaps most notable is the quality of the writing itself.  Early on the process of the writing, the author's own grown daughter read the first two chapters and said, "Mom, this was not easy to read.  But I love your writing."  That is indeed a telling remark.
For the truth is, this 288-page story is captivating and impossible to put down.  Even as the reader fears for the protagonist-author, he or she hangs on her every word.  The tension and suspense implicit in the telling of this more-than-candid tale propel the reader forward, initiating a kind of second-layer leap of faith or simultaneous free fall.  Only readers who are willing to suspend their innermost objections, who are capable of listening without judgment, who are intrigued by the intersection of compassion and desire, will take that giant leap of faith required in any genuine free fall.

Traveling between her beloved seaside home in beautiful Rockport, MA and the small, artsy Chelsea apartment of her New York man, Francoeur traverses much territory, but the emotional depth of the back-and-forth journey exceeds the linear miles.  In her acknowledgements at the end of the book, she admits, "Free Fall has asked a lot of my friends and loved ones.  It is deeply personal and takes up subject matter not commonly broached among friends."  Therein lie its power and its reach, its abiding tenderness and its unleashed passion.  Intrepid readers--or anyone who has ever contemplated a radical personal and professional change in later life--might well embrace this free fall, while still hanging on for dearest life.
3000908
Reviewed for Chicago Review of Books at:[...]

Time-traveling, world-hopping literature boasts an impressive best-of listPhillip Pullmans His Dark Materials, Audrey Niffeneggers The Time Travelers Wife, and Madeleine LEngles A Wrinkle in Time, to name a fewbut its time to make space for one more: Emily Henrys YA debut, The Love That Split the World.

Adolescence is ending for Natalie Cleary. Shes spending her last summer in Kentucky with her best friend, her adoptive family, and her ex-boyfriend-turned-friend Matt, before moving across the country to attend Brown University. But all normalcy comes to a screeching halt when Natalie receives a dire warning: she has has three months to save himwhoever he is.

Then again, Natalie has never been normal. When she was a small girl, an old woman began appearing in her bedroom in the middle of the night, weaving stories reminiscent of Native American folklore, biblical tales, and Aesops fables. The woman, who Natalie dubs Grandmother, shares her insights on love, loss, and life:

  Sometimes the most beautiful moments in our lives are things that hurt badly at the time. We only see them for what they really were when we stand at the very end and look back.

Its in these passages Henry proves her talent not only for beautiful, minimalist language, but also for conveying wisdom with poignancy and the perfect amount of sentiment.

Natalies adoptive parents dismiss her experiences with Grandmother as a response to the trauma of being torn from her Native American roots as a small child. But Natalie cant ignore Grandmother, and so she dives head-first into solving the mystery of who she needs to save, why, and how.

Then Natalies world changesliterally. One second everything is ordinary, and the next minute shes in a town that looks eerily similar to her own, with small differences. Houses and storefronts have changed. Her ex-boyfriend Matt doesnt know her and is dating her best friend. And theres a handsome, haunted boy shes never met before, Beau Wilkes.

As the weeks pass, she finds herself moving between the two parallel worlds and falling in love with the simple, sincere Beau, who composes piano melodies for her and promises a future full of evenings on their front porch with beer-and-cereal snacks.

Despite Natalie and Beaus adolescence, Emily Henry has painted a connection as deep and real as their adult counterparts relationship in The Time Travelers Wife. A tragic Romeo and Juliet kind of love. A love at once universal and distinctive. As Natalie tumbles head-over heels, she realizes: Love is giving the world away, and being loved is having the whole world to give.

As summer begins to fade, Natalie understands the end of her short, romance-filled season is looming and that its time to heed Grandmothers warning. But she still doesnt know if the boy shes supposed to save is Beau, Matt, or even her own dad or brother.

Blindly, Natalie embarks on a journey navigating multiple worlds and moments in time. Dont try too hard to understand the science or logic behind the tale Emily Henry weaves. Marvel instead at her ability to create worldspluralthat are more robust and realistic than many of the singular worlds other writers attempt to build. Marvel at her creation of a literary Russian nesting doll, full not only of worlds inside of worlds, but stories inside of stories.

Storytelling is one of the greatest human traditions. While Natalie understands this to an extent, Grandmother urges her to fully comprehend the significance of her late-night tales:

  The stories, she says. Its all in the stories.

  What is?

  Everything. The truth. The whole world, Natalie.

Its all in The Love That Split the World, too. Love and pain. Joy and devastation. Like Grandmother, Emily Henry proves a masterful storyteller, reminding us how it feels to love deeply and believe blindly, no matter the cost.
1260971
As a megafan of the Young Adult fiction, it's hard to believe this is Stokes's debut novel.  She brings a freshness and authenticity to the genre that stands out amongst the derivative works of vampire romances and dystopic, post-apocalyptic metaphors for adolescence. Taylor's voice comes out so clearly that I'm surprised Stokes isn't a high schooler sharing her diary.

Stokes writes with a such a balance of pressing intrigue and natural fluidity that I often found myself pushing forward at 3am even though I had made unkept promises to stop reading since 10pm.

It was well worth taking the trip to find where the staircase ends.  It's a reminder that our lives are not permanent and that the internal journey is often the most adventurous and rewarding one in our lives.
2879582
I'd say this is a compelling debut from a vibrant artist. It's saturated with description and does an effective job of painting all the visual details needed to transport yourself there as a reader. Set in the epic surroundings of Big Sur, a fairly ordinary tale takes on a cinematic feel. With fresh and sarcastic dialogue, theres a realistic youthfulness to the characters. The plot line definitely veers to the surreal after a strangely eerie twist (no spoilers!). Yet, a more basic theme is that of womanhood and the complexity of self awareness. The leading female, Ivy, is both vulnerable and empoweredfearful and resolute. Its like a coming-of-age story wrapped up in a thoughtful thriller. The graphic illustrations are a nice, moody interruption to reinforce the contemporary vibe. I look forward to seeing how this writer grows with her next work. Beautiful imagination!
3963452
This book was waiting for me on my doorstep when I got home today, and I'm certain to finish it before I go to bed (way too late) tonight.

Full disclosure: the author is a friend of mine, but that doesn't sway my review of what I've read so far.  It's raw, and honest, and beautiful, and painful, and poignant, and poetic, and authentic.

Kait doesn't gussy up her life experiences to make them more palatable, nor does she grind them in the dirt to make them more gritty.  You can hear her truth shouting from every page, and you, like me, may even find some of it to be your truth.

She's unafraid to let her voice be heard -- or rather, she may be terrified, but she has the courage to put her voice into the world.

Pick it up. Read her beauty and her pain and her joy and her love. Take this gift that Kait has offered, these very personal pieces of herself, and you may find that a piece of herself is much like a piece of yourself, and that just as we see Kait, she sees you.
2444969
I have never read anything like this book before. Especially not in YA. I am not being melodramatic when I say that I think what Albano is doing here is starting a revolution, not just in the plot of her book but also in the genre itself; the way she handles such a serious issue with compassion and through the lens of a teenage girl who is still discovering who she is, is hard and not often attempted. But this book manages to both confront the sad reality of human trafficking head-on, while also creating a nuanced cast of characters you want to get to know.

Beyond the love story that the synopsis describes, Finding You is a book about female friendships and their power. It's also a story centered on abuse/trauma survivors - something I not only think our media diet could stand to have more of, but also think that we girls need to see more of. I hope that someone, somewhere is reading this book and realizing that they're not alone; I know that's what I felt as I read it. Albano's storytelling is captivating and deeply relatable, despite the fantasy world in which her characters live, and it's a beautiful contribution to the boundary-pushing genre that I believe YA is and a growing collective of voices speaking out against sexual violence.

What a debut. What a freaking debut.
2965441
Karen Cleveland's debut novel is a stunningly compelling story about a CIA analyst caught up in a moral conundrum. It is fast-paced, tautly-constructed, and utterly un-put-downable! I devoured it in a single day and then was left wanting more. Despite the unusual setting, readers will find themselves relating to and empathizing with Vivan Miller as she navigates the ethical implications of her circumstances and actions as she desperately seeks to protect her young children, as well as the life she and her husband have constructed. Who can she trust? Where can she turn for help? Can she make choices that ensure the safety and well-being of her children? Every chapter reveals another complication, more questions and demands that Vivian make more calculated choices. Cleveland smartly keeps her readers on edge along with Vivian, equally unable to discern whether Vivian should trust any of the cleverly-constructed supporting characters, most notably, Vivian's beloved husband, Tom. Cleveland has penned an instant classic thriller that deserves to be a wildly successful bestseller. I can't wait to read more from her! (Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy of the book.)
2788700
'Everything Is Illuminated', Jonathan Safran Foyer's debut novel is far beyond anything that I would have expected for a first-time writer. The novel takes place almost entirely within the confines of the Ukraine, and his story, rumored to be semi-autobiographical, is told through the eyes of two young and very different men.
The first of these is Alex, a young Ukranian boy is hired by his grandfather to be an interpreter for Jonathan, an American-- who has come seeking a woman inextricably linked to his family. What emerges is a novel that is both witty and heartbreaking at times. These characters are not only realistic, but multi-dimentional, as the author exposes their deepest insecurities and fears.
Safran Foyer has not only found his voice with this novel, but he has created a voice for his characters as well.