The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healy (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Thriftbooks) • Historical Fiction • 2017
Short synopsis: It’s the early 1900s in Boston and four friends find solace in their weekly meetings at the Saturday Evening Girls Club. There’s Caprice who desperately wants to own her own hat shop, but doesn’t have the money to make it happen; Ada, who is secretly taking college classes; Maria, who wants to escape her family, especially her alcoholic father; and Thea, shy and quiet and unsure of what she wants in life.
Oh, I just loved this book! It was like a warm hug. I think my new favorite micro-genre is books written about girls living in the early 1900s in Boston. There’s just something really empowering about that time period for (white) girls, and it’s fun to read about. I loved the way this book focused on friendship, and the way the love stories in the book were neatly added in without detracting from the emphasis on friendship. I don’t think the writing was all that good—it was a bit rudimentary at times—but it kinda worked for a book in this genre, and it didn’t bother me too much.
You Have a Match by Emma Lord (★★☆☆☆)
Print • Owned (Little Free Library) • YA • 2021
Short synopsis: When Abby signs up for a DNA test, she’s not expecting to find out anything interesting about her family line. Instead, she discovers she has an older sister that her parents never told her about. In order to get to know one another better (and find out why Abby’s parents gave her older sister up for adoption), the two girls decide to spend a few months at a sleepaway summer camp.
This book felt like a slog to me. I read another book by Emma Lord (Tweet Cute) that was such a sweet YA love story and I expected this book to be the same, but it definitely was not that. This book focused more on this budding relationship between Abby and the new sister she never knew about, as well as the mystery surrounding why the sister was given up for adoption. There was a love story thrown into the mix, but it really didn’t need to be there and felt like such an afterthought. I love any YA story set at a summer camp, so that’s what immediately drew me into this story, and I thought the way the sisters got to know each other felt honest and real. But most of this story was just blah and I don’t know if I fully bought the reason Abby’s sister was given up for adoption. (It was unnecessarily complicated.) Not one I would recommend, unfortunately!
The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Libby • Historical Fiction • 2017
Short synopsis: Noa, a 16-year-old young girl, has been cast out of her home after getting pregnant by a Nazi soldier. She finds unlikely refuge with a traveling German circus where she must learn the trapeze and try to keep the mystery of the baby she has with her a secret.
This is the second WWII novel I’ve read this year, after being burned out on them for a bit of time. It was selected by my book club, though, so even though I wasn’t too excited to read another heavy WWII novel, this one had a very unique premise: a traveling circus during WWII. It was so interesting to get a glimpse into circus life during wartime, and how this place was used as a refuge for people who just needed something else to think about during a hard, dark period in their lives. The story mainly focuses on the enemies-to-friendship relationship between Noa and one of the other trapeze artists, Astrid, and there was something so heartwarming about the way their friendship bloomed and strengthened when faced with lies, hard truths, and the utter trust that is built when you’re flying through the air on a trapeze and believing the other person will catch you. This was a stunning book with an unexpected ending, and I can’t wait to discuss it at this month’s book club meeting!
What are you reading?
Maybe it’s because I have a daughter named Abby, but I am continually shocked – SHOCKED – by how often this name shows up in movies, TV shows, and books. It feels like every other female character is named Abby. I read waaayyyy less than you do, so maybe I’m off base, but “Abby” just seems to be everywhere.
And I get it – it is an awesome name (slightly biased?!) – but it feels a little overused?!
Abby is one of my favorite girl names, too! (And, funnily enough, Levi is one of my favorite boy names – so I love your kids’ names so much!) It does seem to be overused in TV/books/film, though. So many Abby’s!
If you haven’t already, you should read The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. It’s one of my favorites.
I read The Boston Girl and loved it so, so much! I want more books about girls in this time period, set in Boston!
The Orphan’s Tale sounds good- yes, there are a lot of WWII books out there, but not many that involve a traveling circus.
Right now I’m reading Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, based on your review. Ha ha… I know your review was lukewarm, but from what you said it sounded like a book I would like, and so far I’m liking it. I am keeping in mind what you said about it getting hard to keep all the characters straight, so I’m making sure to pay close attention to all the characters and their relationships to each other. If there’s something I’m confused about, I go back right away to make sure I understand what’s going on. I’ll let you know what I think when I’m finished!
Ooh, I’ll have to find your review if you’ve posted it on your blog! The more I think about that book, the more I like it, so at least it has staying power! Will be curious of your thoughts about the ending.
I am not usually a giant fan of historical fiction (I mean, it’s fine, but not a genre I gravitate towards), but The Orphan’s Tale has such an interesting premise.
I’m reading Mirror, Mirror, which is a retelling of Snow White and so far I’m mostly bored. Ha. Maybe it will get better!
It was such an interesting premise! I think nowadays, writers who try their hand at WWII fiction have to come up with something unique since everything has (seemingly) been told already.
I didn’t care for You Have a Match either. I gave it 3 stars but could have given it 2. I didn’t think the reason for giving the child up for adoption was realistic either. And overall I just felt meh about it.
I just finished ‘These Small Things’ which is an Irish novella that has gotten a lot of buzz. It’s a quiet story but I really liked it and gave it 4 stars. Now I am reading Matthew Perry’s memoir about his addiction journey. It’s been an interesting read so far. I wasn’t a huge friends fan but watched quite a bit of the shows so it’s interesting to find out what was going on with him behind the scenes.
You Have a Match was very, very “meh” and the whole adoption storyline just didn’t make sense to me. Oh, well.
I have been interested in Matthew Perry’s memoir but I don’t know if I can handle all of the addiction talk. I’ll have to read your review!
I just finished The Social Climber, it was good! I am just starting Trespasses, I shall report back.