Book Review: Tracking the Caribou Queen by Margaret Macpherson

By Lauren Bell

Tracking the Caribou Queen is Margaret Macpherson’s memoir of her settler childhood, in which she does the minimum of what every settler in Canada should be doing: coming to terms with our privilege and acknowledging our complicity in the colonialism and microaggressions that shape Canadian society today.

Macpherson’s childhood was spent in Yellowknife amongst her siblings and family, with much of her social interactions being tinted with their “otherness” from the individuals around them. She grew up painfully close to the colonialism of the North; her father was the principal of a local residential school. Now, as an adult, Macpherson is painfully aware of the discrimination that happened around her and looks back at her memories with a critical eye. That being said, I found that her analysis lacked a certain depth. For example, she would finish a narrative recount by asking, “Why? Why did I do this? Why did I think this?” yet never spent time exploring possible reasons to answer those questions, seeming resolved to stay in the ambiguity of it all.

Tracking the Caribou Queen started as a personal reconciliation project for Macpherson, as acknowledged in her author’s note. I think readers must be aware of this to ensure their expectations for this book. For instance, Tracking the Caribou Queen provides limited cultural and historical context for the events in the book; this is effective, as she is writing from the perspective of a child who wouldn’t be well versed in that information, however it may not meet the needs of a reader hoping for something more educative on the policies and colonial context that occurred in the North. This book is much more suited to someone looking for one personal perspective of life in Yellowknife in the 1960s–1970s.

I would have also liked to see some more character development for the individuals in her story. Despite seeing significant characters multiple times, I feel like they’re quite flat, and that I can’t attribute many traits to them. Colonialism and systemic racism, two major themes in the novel, are layered concepts and it would have been nice to see that reflected.

The part of the book that I was most pleased with was the ending. Macpherson finishes with public school and is finally able to acknowledge the biases she encountered and her privilege growing up, and she is beginning to make amends with this. Moreover, the theme of the final chapter seemed to include the importance of being in the moment, something that Macpherson struggled with throughout the memoir. Most importantly, it let the memoir conclude neatly, but not perfectly, reflecting the reality of settlerhood, and the long way still needed to go to reach true reconciliation.

Thank you to NeWest Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

By Erica Wiggins

Content warnings: domestic violence, child neglect

It Starts With Us is the long-awaited sequel to Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, It Ends With Us. These novels do need to be read in order as It Starts With Us continues from where It Ends With Us ended. It focuses on the relationship between Lily and Atlas and is told in first person alternating chapters. It debuted at number on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Colleen Hoover writes romance and YA fiction and has sold over 20 million books. She writes that It Starts With Us is a thank you for the support she has received from her readers.

Many readers have a love-or-hate relationship with Hoover’s books, but for me, it is love. It Starts With Us shows us what can happen even after someone leaves an abusive relationship, especially when children are involved. You are not always able to completely sever the tie to that person. It can also affect how you interact with people moving forward. It felt like an accurate portrayal of what could happen, and I thought she approached this topic carefully and thoughtfully.

When It Ends With Us was written, there was no intention for a sequel, but I am so glad it was written. Lily gets to become her own person and continue to grow and build her resilience. We get to watch Lily and Atlas fall in love all over again. I love their interactions, the slow pace that they move, and watching their connection grow. The letters Atlas writes added a tenderness to their story and it truly becomes about these two finally getting their happy ending.

Hoover took the time to fill out the story with some great supporting characters. I had two favourites. First Theo, his weekly therapist, who at just twelve is giving Atlas advice and Josh—I just loved the relationship that develops here (but don’t want to give any of the story away).  

I appreciated that we got to see a little more of Atlas’ history in this story. We get to see more of what his life was like before he met Lily. It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is a reminder of how good can come out of a bad childhood. It doesn’t hurt that Atlas is gorgeous and in his element as a chef.

I know readers’ feelings about this book will be mixed. Domestic violence is a difficult topic to address, even more so in a fictional book. However, it is a reality of our world, and the effects can be long-lasting. I am by no means an expert, but I felt it was portrayed in an accurate and considerate way. I loved having the opportunity to read this book and follow Lily and Atlas on their journey to happiness. I will be recommending this story to fans of Hoover who want to see just a little more of where this story goes.

“P.S. It is my wish for you to be my fish”

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: injury, injury detail, blood, self-harm, animal death, confinement, violence, kidnapping, psychological torture

Emily Wilde’s novel Encyclopaedia of Faeries is about a Cambridge professor and dryadologist’s first-hand account of her experiences studying a rare and elusive group of northern faeries while compiling the first complete encyclopedia of faeries. Unfortunately, the Hidden Ones, fae made of ice and cold that live in the north, are considered little more than myth, and Emily’s attempts to complete her research in a small northern town are complicated by struggles with the locals and a meddlesome fellow scholar. This story is told through Emily’s field notes as she recounts her experiences getting to know the northern locals, her encounters with several species of northern fae,  her attempts at managing her meddlesome Cambridge colleague, Wendell Bambleby, and her own nagging desire to learn more about the mysterious faeries of the north.

Emily is a delightful character to follow; she’s blunt, harsh, and prefers books and research to people, and I really enjoyed being in her mind throughout this story. Bambleby acts as her perfect opposite, ridiculous, extravagant and affectionate, and the two of them make an excellent pair. I adored the way their relationship developed and how their personalities contrasted. All the side characters were also interesting and fleshed out, which could have been challenging with the story being told from Emily’s perspective, but Fawcett handled it expertly. The small northern town felt grounded and real, and I was invested in the people and their struggles, while also feeling a strong connection to Emily. This book, and our narrator, don’t shy away from the fact that Emily’s main motivation is academia. Most of her actions are motivated by her fascination with the fae, but Fawcett also does an excellent job of showing Emily’s concern for the locals of the area without Emily herself realizing just how involved she’s gotten in the lives of her research subjects. I admire how Fawcett captured the complexity of Emily’s character (and I also loved how Bambleby was there, seeing that complexity in her all along. He was delightful and melodramatic and fully reflected my love for Emily while reading).

I also adored the way the fae were presented in this book and seeing them through Emily’s eyes was captivating. Emily is a woman who is fascinated by faeries, and she depicts them in all their complexity and unpredictability. Some fae were helpful and generous, while others were ruthless and cruel, and even those who were friends followed a logic that humans can’t always understand. I really enjoyed how the fae were connected to stories and found the whole fae aspect of the story fascinating and delightful to read. The pacing of this book is slower, but that suited the field guide style and allowed a short read to feel full and complex, alluding to a much wider field of faerie studies that I wish existed.

I am a huge lover of the “memoir/research notes of a scientist studying a magical phenomenon” fantasy subgenre, so this book was perfect for me. The exploration of northern faeries was fascinating, the villagers were wonderful, and Emily and Bambleby were an absolute delight to read about. If you’re a fan of A Natural History of Dragons, or want to read a narrative book with the same spirit as the field guide in The Spiderwick Chronicles, I would definitely recommend checking this book out.

Book Review: The AfterGrief by Hope Edelman

By Caprice Hogg

Hope Edelman’s The AfterGrief will help anyone who has experienced grief or loss. The author did extensive research and interviewed people who have suffered all types of grief. She published their stories along with her own story of loss after her mother passed away from breast cancer when Edelman was only a teenager. While I could not personally relate to many of these stories, it was helpful to read about others and to better understand their process of healing. When some of us are paralyzed by grief, it can helps to know that we are not alone. The book offers ways to not “let go” of your grief, but to find ways of living with it. “Grief can only be supported. It cannot be fixed.” She speaks of the importance of talking about your loss and sharing your story in order for healing to occur.

Edelman differentiates between new grief and after grief and explains that time does indeed change our experience. Very little information has been written about the “after grief”—the period that follows the initial grieving process. This book gives people a way to deal with their pain long after their loss has occurred. The after grief can hit at times that are least expected and our emotions can be overwhelming.

Edelman asks questions such as “how do we allow a major loss in the past to inform us, to guide us, even to inspire us, without letting it consume our identity?” Her answer: “We decentralize it. We wait and watch and allow for other life experiences to accumulate over the long arc. We actively search for meaning.” This book gives hope to those who are suffering. 

Grief does not go away. It does not heal itself, but with time and effort, it can be less of a burden. Our grief can eventually turn into something beautiful, something precious. It takes tremendous effort, but it can be done. Meaning can be found, and while the loss will always be present, there are ways that we can honour those who have passed on by turning our pain into something that brings value to our lives. It can be a difficult process to revisit those memories and especially our most painful moments, but the result will allow us to experience joy and happiness in our life again. This part of the process can only happen in time, and it cannot be rushed.

I highly recommend The AfterGrief to anyone who has experienced loss or trauma. It helps to put the pain we feel into a new perspective. It gives the reader a sense that we are not alone in our pain, and it also gives us hope. There are techniques we can do to help ourselves get through grief and look forward to feeling joy again.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh

By Lauren Bell

“Everyone in Orange County’s Little Saigon knew the Duong sisters were cursed.” So begins The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh. Enter Mai, the latest tragedy of the Duong family curse. At 65, she’s not expecting much from her yearly meeting with her Kaua‘i psychic, yet at this appointment she leaves with an unexpected prophecy: this year there will be a birth in the family, a marriage, and a funeral, if she can fix the damaged relationships with everyone in her family. What makes this fortune all the more desirable is that the baby born will be a boy—meaning the end of the Duong generational curse, where the Duong women only give birth to daughters, and none know love or happiness. But what makes this prediction bittersweet is that Mai has been estranged from her two sisters and mother for ten years, and that her three daughters each harbour a deep resentment towards her. Thus begins the difficult path of Mai’s reconciliation. Naturally, there is a funeral, a birth, and a wedding; however, they do not play out in the ways imagined.

Told in third person, each chapter shares a perspective from one woman in the family, showing what their current life looks like and how their strained relationships to each other have affected it. Essentially, the Duong women are all very similar—fiery, stubborn, and passionate (what society might call “difficult,” but these are the traits that made me love and root for the characters), enhancing Huynh’s strong feminist voice that underlies the novel. I found The Fortunes of Jaded Women to be very reminiscent of Crazy Rich Asians, with the Duong family being the central, complicated, overly involved, but fiercely protective family. However, the roots of superstition and the unique commentary on identity, immigration, upward mobility, and biracial relationships set it apart from Kwan’s. This is what makes The Fortunes of Jaded Women such a valuable read: in between the pages of satire, Huynh still finds space to discuss serious topics.

Moreover, Huynh describes these experiences in such a way that can provoke empathy in readers of all backgrounds. I found Huynh did a good job of capturing the voices of each character at each point in their lives, despite differences in age and values. The scenes of housewife/reality TV show-style arguments between the family members, I think, were the peak of Huynh’s writing, as reading them made me feel as if I really was in the midst of the chaos. I read this book within two days, despite it being an averaged sized novel—which I think speaks to the plot’s allure. I would highly recommend this read.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff

By Sara Hailstone

Content warning: World War Two, depiction of concentration camps, death.

Hannah is a Jewish woman fleeing Nazi Germany after her husband Isaac is killed in a pogrom and she loses their unborn child. She is also a famous cartoon satirist under a male pseudonym who has ridiculed the Nazis through her artwork, which renders her need to flee Europe more urgent. Mirroring the plight of the rejected passage of the MS St. Louis in 1939, Hannah is turned back from Cuba to Belgium, where she seeks out help and shelter from her estranged childhood cousin Lily. In trying to leave occupied Belgium and prevent any trouble from befalling her cousin, Hannah has no choice but to join the resistance group known as the Sapphire Line and earn the trust of its enigmatic leader, Micheline, to try to secure connections and get herself out.

Based on the real-life leader of resistance group the Comet Line, Andrée de Jongh (who received the George Medal in 1946), Micheline grows the network to hundreds of individuals with her sharp wit and unwavering determination to undermine the Germans. When Hannah is checked for ID during a mission for the line, she shows them Lily’s card as cover—but in doing this, Hannah is the cause of Lily, her husband Nik, and their young son Georgi’s arrest. Imprisoned at the Breendonk camp near Mechelen, the family is soon placed on the list to be deported to Auschwitz. Hannah must do something.

Pam Jenoff pulls the reader through a suspenseful page turner in feeling out what it was like for the men and women who stopped a train full of prisoners en route to Auschwitz. Set during 1942 in Belgium, the novel navigates historical truths of resistance and bravery in situating relatable characters fleeing the Nazi fist through a fictional Sapphire Line. The historic Comet Line, an underground network of safe houses, coded correspondence, and organization in alliance with British intelligence quietly ushered 776 fallen Allied airmen out of occupied Europe. The Sapphire Line is envisioned further as the main characters work against all odds to stop a train leading to the infamous death camp with families trapped inside.

The author of New York Times bestsellers The Lost Girls of Paris and The Woman with the Blue Star, Jenoff shines with this new novel, which will rise to the surface with its strong characterization aligned with a spellbinding and heart-pumping plotline. Based on sound historical research and using creative license to situate compelling characters within historical context, Jenoff brings to light a moment of humanity and grueling reality when ordinary citizens and resistance fighters worked together to fight back against Nazi control.

The strength of Code Name Sapphire lies in engaging characters and their backstories that weave an intricate web between past and present throughout the novel. The plotline is layered with sharp turns that build momentum, picking up speed to throw the reader into the final hours in which they come face-to-face with the challenging decisions that the characters make under immense pressure. 

In the end, the characters are not fully likable because of the decisions they commit to survive. Jenoff expertly crafts ethical questions about what people are capable of doing when fighting for their lives. Her characters are flawed; inevitably, they are human, and they are not bent to serve idealized character arcs.  

I found that the ethical questions of the novel let the reader face themselves in wondering how they would act under such historical and moral circumstances and in knowing that the distance in reading about the historical imagining is not comparable to having lived through the actuality of the event itself. We don’t fully know what it was like. We don’t fully know how we would act.

The author’s purpose in writing this novel stemmed from a fascination with the fact that the Belgian resistance stopped trains and saved hundreds of people, even though some were caught again. For me as a reader, there is irony in coming across a novel that is set within the same historical circumstances of a book I am writing too, one in which a man whom my grandmother had loved was on one of those trains. Collision of the personal, fictional, and historical makes this novel much more profound for me and perhaps others.

I think, within the calamities of our own lives and present circumstances, we would hope that someone would stop the train and get us off. I think we would want to be brave enough and would not fully know how we would act if pushed to the brink to do whatever it took to get our family off the train.

Thank you to Park Row Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Animals by Cary Fagan

By Melissa Khan

Living a simple life in a small quaint village, Dorn has no need for adventure. He makes his miniatures and finds ways to stay content—yet life is far from idyllic. His relationships with his cold father and philandering brother are strained, and his feelings for the beautiful schoolteacher, Ravenna, are wanting to come out.

Adventure is brought into his life when the government sponsors the “Wild Home Project,” wherein wolves, rats, minks, otters, and even bears are brought into people’s homes. Suddenly, his fellow townspeople are acting stranger than usual, and Dorn can’t quite figure out the draw of living with such danger. I was surprised that Dorn was not one of the people who initially signed up for the project and that he remained skeptical of it throughout the story. Considering the title of the novel, I expected the animals to play a bigger part. But following his perspective gives readers the feeling of being on the outside, as Dorn is, and the reader can be just as curious as he is about the strange behaviour he observes.

But when someone close to him is found dead, and a mysterious note appears at his door commissioning one of his miniatures, something changes for Dorn—could it be confidence? For the first time excitement and tragedy are fuelling him. I enjoyed the quiet shift we see in our main character and the way it is subtly woven into the story. Even at the climax, it still felt somewhat subdued. The conflict between Dorn and his brother felt like a real conversation between rival siblings, not overly dramatic but painfully impactful, even amongst the fantastical elements. Even his relationship with Ravenna was so delicate and fine, and made me question if it was really there at all. 

This book can be aptly referred to as a fairy tale, full of magic realism. A relatively quick read, I found myself intrigued in every chapter. It wasn’t the most thrilling, and I don’t think the length allowed me to really connect to any of the characters. They all seemed like sketches, not enough to really see, but as a reader I did feel somewhat attached and invested in their endings, which I thought was one of its biggest strengths. “Does Dorn live happily ever after?” will be a question I continue to ask myself.

Thank you to Book*hug Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Fairy Tale by Stephen King

By Erica Wiggins

Fairy Tale is the latest novel from storyteller Stephen King. It tells the story of Charlie Reade, an average kid carrying a difficult load. After losing his mom, his dad starts drinking and Charlie must learn to take care of himself. Then one day Charlie meets Howard Bowditch, the recluse who lives at the top of the hill. Mr. Bowditch has fallen, and Charlie gets him help and takes care of Mr. Bowditch, his house, and his dog Radar. When Mr. Bowditch dies, Charlie inherits the house and a whole lot more responsibility. There is a locked shed in the backyard, and this isn’t any old shed—it is the portal to another world where Charlie must lead the battle between good and evil. It is interesting to note that King said that this story was a result of the pandemic because he needed “something to entertain himself.”

Fairy Tale is the perfect title for this novel; King expertly weaves his newest story, incorporating many of the fairy tales we all know and love.

“… I see a clear thread leading up through the years to Mr. Bowditch and the padlocked shed behind his ramshackle old Victorian. But a thread is easy to break, so not a thread but a chain. A strong one. And I was the kid with the shackle clamped around his wrist.”

What can you say about a master of writing? It is a challenge, but here goes.

For me this book did not disappoint. From the first chapter and illustration, you are drawn into this world. Written as if Charlie is telling you the story, he debates the right place to start to ensure we as readers get the full picture. I love the honest way that Charlie relates his experience, cementing early on that he is a reliable narrator. Charlie is endearing. I was drawn to him and the strength he shows through challenging situations. As mentioned, each chapter begins with an illustration, which gives you a peek into the next chapter and is masterfully created to tie into the story. As someone who is not very visual, it made imagining this place and these characters so much easier. I found myself saying “one more chapter” and being unable to put the story down.

While Mr. Bowditch is in the hospital, Charlie begins to take care of his elderly German shepherd, Radar, and instantly falls in love. So did I. This adorable, sweet, and loyal dog becomes an integral part of the story and after Mr. Bowditch passes away all Charlie wants is to save Radar. I think anyone who has owned a dog will be able to relate to this feeling.

The world below the shed is called Empis. This world is incredibly well developed and engaging. There is a blurring of reality and fantasy that can only be accomplished by an author like King. Charlie’s journey into this world is an adventure full of expertly created characters, connections, and the creepy horror King is known for.

The excitement continues until the very end of the book, leaving you guessing what will happen. It all gets tied up very neatly and leaves us with an epilogue that brings us back to the present. This will be a book I easily recommend to fans of King, fantasy, and horror, and it is at the top of my favourite King books.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Secret of Markie Beach by Hannah Grieve

By Dylan Curran

“The privilege of a happy childhood in a small town is that you grow up with an innate sense of security . . . If you were lucky it could get downright boring. All that changed in one summer.”

—The Secret of Markie Beach 

With this strong debut, author Hannah Grieve weaves an intricate and carefully layered tale full of twists and turns set in the fictional town of Markie. Reminiscent of southern Ontario’s very own beaches, hidden coves, and local histories, this novel blends the familiar gossip of small towns with a hint of mystery. Who are the Sunshine Girls and how are they connected to the disappearance of seven girls over a decade ago? And what does it mean for our main character, eighteen-year-old Alana, when the clues slowly start hitting too close to home? Grieve is careful to not reveal too much at once—as we flip eagerly to the next page we realize the genius in her writing. The breadcrumbs she has left us makes us hungry for more. I found myself devouring the writing in just a few sittings. With a host of characters who at once comfort and complicate their motives, there is a hesitancy to trust anyone completely. One can never be too sure of any character’s next step. It is for this reason that even until the last few chapters of the novel readers continue to revisit their hypothesis, gathering clues from each subtle crooked smile, pregnant pause, and stolen glance.

From the marina to the hidden cabin in the woods, Grieve paints a vivid picture of the not-so-innocent Markie and its residents. A few of my favourites are Jamie and Eric. The former is a spunky, forthright, and intuitive thinker who doubles as Alana’s best friend. In the novel we frequently find ourselves laughing at her quick wit and unfiltered opinions. As the narrator remarks, “Jamie would deny this, but she was popular in high school. It was ironic because she really disliked most people, except for me.” A close second is the alluring and somewhat intimidating Eric. Although we are warned early on that he is an outsider, new to Markie, there is something magnetic about his personality that keeps us (and Alana) coming back for more. You’ll have to read the book to see why—no spoilers here! A few honourable mentions are Nina, Ben, and Addie, whose backstories are carefully interwoven into the main storyline and make for compelling stories about friendship, betrayal, and redemption.

The rich and diligent attention to detail in this novel is one of its star qualities. Grieve is certainly an emerging Canadian author to look out for, especially for readers with a penchant for character-driven writing with crisp dialogue. I felt like a fly on the wall. Every new development launched a whole round of questions. While guided by Alana’s inner monologue, many of the plot points reveal just how unreliable it can be to only trust what you know. Readers will need to look just outside of their comfort zones to reveal the truth about Markie and the Sunshine Girls.

Book Review: The Maid by Nita Prose

By Melissa Khan

Molly loves her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Every day she takes pride in restoring rooms to a state of perfection, even when those around her have no trouble expressing that they find her more than a bit odd. The only person in her life she knows she can trust is her Gran, but in the months after her death Molly has had difficulty navigating the rules and intentions of those around her. Then one morning, while going in to clean the hotel’s wealthiest guest’s suite, Molly stumbles across a crime scene and suddenly finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.

The investigators dismiss Molly at first, but soon her unusual behavior makes her their lead suspect. They just can’t figure out if Molly is as naïve as she seems or if her innocence is a practiced facade. Molly becomes tangled between friends and foes, and while some try to use her trusting nature against her, others prove themselves to be faithful allies.

I personally found Molly as a character to be sweet and endearing, but I also understand how frustrating one may find her. There were instances during the story when characters were clearly manipulating her and Molly was completely oblivious to their motives, and although I would cringe while reading, I actually appreciated these little moments of characterization. Molly learns throughout the story how to recognize when characters are lying to her and I liked seeing this growth.  

Not every character had negative intentions, and those who cared about Molly were easily the best part of the story. After the death of her Gran, Molly was able to create her found family, who were genuinely there to support and love her. The complex grief Molly felt from losing her grandmother was also beautifully shown in small moments throughout the story. Readers could tell how devastating her loss felt, and how unsure Molly was with how to deal with it. Which is what made me wonder why Gran, knowing how naïve Molly was, didn’t do more to ensure Molly’s security. She could have paid more attention to the nest egg she left for her, or not have kept so many secrets. But honestly, the discovery of these little secrets gave more to an otherwise simple story.

The mystery itself wasn’t complex, and the ending was resolved in a neat little package. The writing style was easy to follow which made for a light read—as light as a murder mystery can be—and leaves the reader feeling good. I found that although the resolution to the mystery was predictable, the part that kept me reading was Molly’s relationships with the other characters. I wanted to find out what happened to them and make sure they were all okay. Much like the friendships made in the novel, this story was comfortable and reliable.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Witcha Gonna Do? by Avery Flynn

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: emotional abuse, confinement, forced imprisonment

Witcha Gonna Do? is a fourth wall-breaking witchy romcom following Tilda, a woman from a powerful line of witches with no magic of her own, and Gil, a magical history scholar with dark secrets. After Gil and Tilda are set up on their fourth blind date in a row and Tilda humiliates herself and embarrasses her family one too many times, her insecurities are at an all-time high. Then, while trying to film a video for her family’s social media, Tilda accidentally ruins her sister’s spell and freezes her whole family. Now it’s up to Tilda, Gil, and a team of magical misfits to save her family. Oh, and there’s a secret shadow organization bent on Tilda’s family’s destruction that they have to watch out for too.

I’ll be honest, I really struggled with the beginning of this book. It’s told in first person, dual point of view, and is full of fourth wall breaks with the two main characters speaking directly to the reader. Because Gil’s character is a bit more reserved, I didn’t find his chapters quite so jarring, but Tilda is sassy and snarky, and her fourth wall breaks took some getting used to. I think this writing style will be really tough for anyone who isn’t a fan of this type of informal writing, but once the story got going, I was able to get used to it.

I really enjoyed Gil and Tilda’s characters, and I mostly enjoyed the progression of their romance. I definitely liked how this book handled communication—while the characters do keep secrets from each other, the book did a good job of avoiding any major miscommunication drama (which I appreciate). The side characters were interesting, particularly Tilda’s fellow magical misfits. I understand that this is the first book in the series, so I do wish we had gotten to know Tilda’s family and sisters more, because the book painted a bit of an inconsistent picture of her parents in particular. Overall, the book’s primary characters were fun to read about.

The description of the world in this book also felt a bit incomplete. I enjoyed how magic was so pervasive, but I have a hard time understanding where exactly the book is set—does it take place in a completely magical world, or in our world with a hidden magical community? Things like the Council and the Resistance, two major organizations that affect Gil’s actions within the book and supposedly pose major threats to Tilda and her family, are also vaguely explained. While I understand that this is at its core a romance, I found the idea of these two shadow organizations to be fascinating and was a bit disappointed not to see them explored in more detail. I wanted a more exciting climax as well, since the big bad was set up to be so, you guessed it, big and bad (did you like that? It’s a bit more informal than what I usually put in these reviews. If you didn’t, this book probably isn’t for you. If you did, hi, and also, I think you’d have fun with Witcha Gonna Do?).

Criticisms aside, overall, I did have fun with the book. The world felt magical, Tilda was a fun and relatable main character, Gil was an interesting and well fleshed out male lead, and the pacing of the book was pretty good. I was intrigued by each plot element even though I feel like certain things could have been explored better, and I enjoyed the development of Gil and Tilda’s relationship. Overall, the book is a fun, quick read, and while I may have wanted a bit more in the world-building department, I still had a good time reading it.

If you’re a fan of witchy romcoms, enjoy a really (like really really) informal writing style, and don’t need too much world-building, I think you’ll have fun with Witcha Gonna Do?.

Book Review: A Molecule Away from Madness by Sara Manning Peskin

By Danielle Szewc

Many of us are affected by degenerative cognitive disease and mental illness, whether it be a family member or a friend. We also know that DNA, proteins, and vitamins are essential to life. However, a single DNA base pair mutation, a misfolded protein, or the lack of a specific vitamin can impair the brain’s natural functions and cause Alzheimer’s and other degenerative cognitive ailments that affect those we care about.

As a reader who has always been deeply fascinated by neurology and molecular biology, Sarah Manning Peskin's A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of the Hijacked Brain hits the mark on what it set out to be—a narrative that a simple change in or lack of essential molecules can lead to molecular dissonance along with personal and familial struggles.

Peskin, an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, compellingly writes about the medical and biological factors involved in degenerative cognitive diseases. She divides the book into three distinct areas: mutations in DNA, misfolded or misaligned proteins, and the presence or lack of small molecules such as vitamins and environmental toxins. She relays the history of medicine, and molecular biology in an eloquent fashion while detailing the problems that the doctors and biologists of the time faced while trying to determine the causes of these degenerative diseases, some of whom even faced embarrassment by peers.

A Molecule Away from Madness skillfully and artfully explains scientific processes in an easy-to-understand manner and is an impeccable read for those new to the subject or those who are knowledgeable and would like to know more from a humanized case study perspective. I enjoyed the fast-paced writing style of the woven stories of each disease—outlines from a patient and family perspective which moved into the historical and scientific perspective of discovery, experimentation, and application. Peskin writes in an easy-to-follow manner and has anecdotal humor. Those who have read Oliver Sack’s books are sure to enjoy A Molecule Away from Madness.

Thank you, NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Hold My Girl by Charlene Carr

By Larissa Page

In Hold My Girl, Charlene Carr crafts an incredible moral dilemma impacting two very different but forever-connected mothers. Two eggs, intentionally switched by a nurse during the IVF process, lead to one stillborn and one healthy baby to two separate mothers known to each other but not realizing their connection until the healthy baby is ten months old. The birth mother, Katherine, sees her seemingly perfect life begin to implode while the biological mother, Tess, sees her imploded life begin to look hopeful again.

As with any moral question observed over the course of a story though, we learn there is so much more than meets the eye for both mothers and see them each fight for themselves and their shared daughter in different ways.

This story was so original. A legitimate fear, a completely believable plot (especially since the switch was intentional). I really enjoyed how it presented the conflict, the switch, right at the beginning, then the story followed both mothers as they work through it (via mediation, court, leaning on family and friends, etc.) throughout the following months. I felt like each mother learned an incredible amount about their own lives in the process and became different characters by the end of the book—it was fantastic character development.

I found this to be a quick read, engaging and propulsive. The hints and twists kept the story moving at a great pace while the focus of the story itself was on this moral question: who should “have” Rose (the child), the biological mother or the birth mother? I also liked how more morals other than the main dilemma were called into question.

Ultimately, this book was full of love and healing, even though it was also full of heartbreak and trauma. It drew out a lot of empathy from me, as the reader, and made me question what I felt about different situations. All the feelings expressed by each of the characters were relatable and understandable. I feel like readers from all walks of life will understand where these characters come from, why they make the decisions they do, and why have the feelings they have, even if the reader doesn’t share things in common with the characters.

I think this story brings some really important things to light, not just things about birth mother/bio mother rights even though that is a big question asked. It also shines a spotlight on infertility and IVF and the internal struggles those parents face. It discusses some forms of addiction as well as conflicts of race and interracial families. Hold My Girl gives us not only a learning opportunity and a chance to question some of our own internal biases, but also a compelling story worthy of your time.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Anne by Kathleen Gros

By Larissa Page

We all know the story of Anne of Green Gables and of Anne with an E. In Kathleen Gros’s Anne, she gives us a modern-day adaptation (sort of) of our favourite classic.

Anne is a foster kid in and out of houses thanks to her quick temper. Green Gables is an apartment complex where Matthew (the building’s handyman) and Marilla (an accountant) live in their parents’ old apartment. Diana is a kindred spirit that lives on the top floor and Rachel Lynde is the cranky old lady from the first floor. Gilbert is still a bully, and Anne detests her red hair. So, many of the elements of this adaptation are key points of the story that we already love with some that have been changed. Either way, Anne is the lovably precocious main character everyone comes to love.

One of the reasons this caught my eye is because I wanted to give it a pre-read before deciding if it would be good for my young reader. She is a fan of graphic novels (as am I), and this one is of a story and character she’s already familiar with. I was thrilled for this graphic novel to be filled with inclusivity, 2SLGBTQIA characters, themes of unconditional love, standing up to bullies, and building a home with new people. It had some young crush themes that were presented in a way that I felt appropriate for a tween/pre-teen.

It was a quick read, and I expect will be for some children as well, but in being so it makes it accessible (particularly for kids who may not be as quick of readers) and easy to pick up. It also had a feeling of nostalgia because these are characters we already love.

I will be thrilled to hand this off to my middle-grade reader. I can see us having some discussions surrounding handling bullies, sharing our feelings, getting a handle on emotions, and things like that. Plus, she’ll be excited to see the pictures, and experience Anne in her own generation.

Thank you, HarperCollins Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp

By Meghan Mazzaferro

The Wolf Suit is a graphic novel that follows Bellwether, an anxious sheep who just wants to live comfortably in his house doing crafts and enjoying his own company. But every once and a while he needs to brave the forest in search of food, and after one too many close calls where Bellwether’s quest for lunch almost winds up with him becoming lunch, he decides he is done living in fear and puts his crafting skills to the test to build himself a wolf suit. Unfortunately for Bellwether, pretending to be a wolf isn’t easy, and he just might run into some real wolves on his travels.

This graphic novel chapter book is suitable for children six and up and is absolutely delightful. The story follows timid Bellwether as he pushes himself to be brave and leave the comforts of home in spite of the potential dangers. The plot takes a fun twist on the sheep versus wolf dynamic, and I enjoyed how Sharp took the time to let the story breathe. Bellwether is fleshed out as a character and each step of his journey feels well explored while still having a quick pace and a simple story to keep young readers entertained. This book would be great to read as a family, but the pages are also well organized, and the words are easy to read if the young reader in your life wants to dive into the story on their own. The book is also divided into short chapters, which means you can read the story as quickly, or slowly, as you want.

On top of the fun and exciting plot, the art style of this book stands out. It is relatively simple and not too cluttered with enough detail to keep the reader visually engaged. I particularly loved the contrast between the indoor and outdoor spaces and enjoyed how the visuals in the story contradict the narrator at times—while Bellwether feels safest inside, the minimalist and dark space seems so empty once the reader is introduced to the vibrance of the rest of the forest. The simple designs also highlight the important plot devices visually—particularly Bellwether’s window—which I loved.

I also found the character designs absolutely wonderful. Bellwether is a delight to look at, and there were several times when I had to pause and admire a particular expression (typically ones where Bellwether is especially stressed out or flustered because they were just too relatable). Likewise, I found the wolf characters both fun and scary to look at. It felt like we were seeing the wolves the way Bellwether would, and I found the claws in particular to be really well done. I appreciated how the art was interesting enough to hold readers of all ages’ attention while still being designed to not be too scary for the target audience. The art does an excellent job of complementing the writing and telling a complete story, and you can’t have one without the other.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and the story it told. It does a great job of exploring a character type that most readers are familiar with while telling a fresh story in a fun and visually stimulating way, and I really appreciated the book’s overall message. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good graphic novel no matter their age, though I definitely think it would be especially fun to read as a family.

 Thank you to Annick Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

By Christine McFaul

The Do-Over is a fun and frothy new YA rom-com by bestselling author Lynn Painter (see also, Better Than the Movies).

Sixteen-year-old Emilie Hornsby had the perfect Valentine’s Day planned, down to the perfect outfit, perfect gift, and perfect moment to finally tell her perfect boyfriend, Josh, that she loves him. But what is it they say about best-laid plans...? Instead of the perfectly dreamy Valentine’s Day Emilie had imagined, the day ends up a complete and total nightmare. By the end, all she wants to do is fall into bed and forget it ever happened. But that proves impossible when she wakes up to realize it’s somehow still February 14th.

Emilie soon finds herself stuck in the same heart-bedecked twenty-four-hour time-loop, trying to figure out what possible reason the universe could have for making her re-live the worst moments of her life. But as she continuously experiences different versions of her divorced parents’ ambivalence, the discovery that Josh has been cheating on her (probably), and the crash that has her literally running into her surly, but oh-so-swoony, lab partner Nick over and over again, she begins to realize that maybe she had Valentine’s Day all wrong the first time around. Which begs the question, how many more repeats will it take for Emilie to realize what she’s missed? And what happens if she runs out of do-overs before she finally gets the day right?

In my opinion, this type of Groundhog Day-style plot, where the same twenty-four-hour time period forms the majority of a narrative, must be well-executed or risk the whole story becoming stale. I am happy to report that in The Do-Over, Painter had me hooked from page one and I stayed that way until the end. From its candy-heart-coloured cover, to its larger-than-life plot (with the perfect little twist at the end), reading this book felt like falling into a giddy romp. Painter packs the book with fun, from the hilarious secret confessions that kick-start each chapter through to the recommended playlist at the end. And I would be remiss not to mention the lovely dedication that Painter includes, which can’t help but make her readers feel appreciated and seen (I won’t spoil it, but it couldn’t be a more perfect Valentine’s message).

The Do-Over is a fresh and frothy modern YA romance. Whether you are the type that loves or hates the sugary-sweet holiday that is Valentine’s Day, this book has something for you. For rom-com readers young or old this book would be the perfect sweet treat this upcoming February 14th.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Sugar Thief by Nancy Mauro

By Kaylie Seed

Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, drug use

Food influencer Sabine Rose has decided that the best thing to help her career is to travel to her hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Once there, she plans to show her fans everything about her family’s small-town bakery and the history surrounding the infamous ‘Persian’—a pastry whose recipe is a strongly guarded secret. After a decade of being away from family, Sabine is not prepared for the sudden passing of her father. Especially after she only finds out about his death from her family after landing in Thunder Bay.

Told from different points-of-view, in a few different times, what unfolds is a cozy mystery that follows Sabine’s past and present, snippets of her father Francis’s life in Italy and immigration to Canada, and Sabine’s assistant Wanda who is watching everything unfold in front of her.

Nancy Mauro’s novel The Sugar Thief is an exploration of family that spans generations. While there’s a strong focus on Sabine and her father Francis and how he developed ‘the Persian’, the secondary plot with Wanda is just as engaging. Each of the main characters and secondary characters felt like real people, and I appreciated that they were well fleshed out. There are a lot of characters, but they are all unique and easy to distinguish who is who. Mauro explores immigration and family relationships while also touching on themes such as substance abuse and how that impacts a person both personally and professionally.

Mauro grew up working in her family's bakery and her love and appreciation for food is evident throughout The Sugar Thief. The descriptions of the different foods had my mouth watering—I could truly imagine eating these delicious-sounding treats! As I am lucky enough to experience the real-life Persian, I will say that it is described slightly differently in the book as Mauro intends to keep the delectable pastry recipe a secret.

While at times The Sugar Thief’s pacing didn’t feel consistent, it was neatly tied together in the end. I would consider this one literary fiction, but readers who like cozy mysteries and books that have a heavy focus on family will also enjoy The Sugar Thief. Since this book is based in my hometown, it was neat to read about different landmarks in the area and know that others will get to imagine these for the first time.

I should also note that there are parts of Mauro’s story that are based on actual events, and she speaks more about that in her acknowledgements at the end; I encourage readers to read that as well. I also recommend this to those who have a love for desserts as they will appreciate the baking aspect in this novel.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The End of Her by Shari Lapena

By Robyn Rossit

The End of Her by Shari Lapena is a domestic thriller chock-full of suspense and intrigue. Set in upstate New York, it tells the story of Stephanie and Patrick, who are settling into life with their colicky twin baby girls. Stephanie stays at home with the girls, and while this is difficult, she doesn’t mind. But then a woman that Patrick would have rather stayed in the past, Erica Voss, suddenly drops into his life and starts raising questions about his first wife who passed away in a car accident. When the police become involved, Stephanie begins to lose trust in Patrick. Not sure who or what to believe, she knows she has to ensure her girls are protected at all costs.

What I enjoyed most about The End of Her was the characters. Stephanie, who is battling brain fog due to sleep deprivation, is constantly questioning what is real. I felt a strong sense of sympathy towards her and wanted to protect her. Her story and what she was going through, both with her baby girls and with Patrick’s investigation, felt real and drew me into the story. Erica also was a really interesting character full of twists and turns. The reader is really left guessing regarding what her intentions are. Patrick as well was a mystery; I found myself constantly unsure if Stephanie should trust him or not.

The pacing of the story kept the book firmly glued in my hands. It was a quick read but one that was full of tension and at times, danger. Lapena’s writing style lent a sense of urgency to the plot and made me want to uncover everyone’s secrets. I wasn’t really able to fully guess the ending which to me is always the mark of a great thriller. While I enjoy trying to figure it out, I love it when I am thrown off by twists and turns.

While The End of Her is only the second book by Shari Lapena that I’ve read, it certainly will not be my last. I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed her novel The Couple Next Door. If you’re looking for a fast-paced domestic thriller to get caught up in, I would certainly recommend The End of Her. Fair warning though: once you start you may not be able to put it down.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Making a Scene by Constance Wu

By Lauren Bell

If you’re like me, you’ll recognize Constance Wu from the movies Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Hustlers (2019), but you may also recognize her from the sitcom Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020). Making a Scene is her memoir in essays about her life; from growing up in Richmond, Virginia to discovering community theatre and “making it” in Hollywood. That is the synopsis on the back of the book—however, after reading the book (or to be more honest, even just from reading the introduction), I have come to reject that description. On the whole, it is much too surface level of a depiction, especially when the point of Wu’s book is to “make a scene” or make meaning out of her experiences—regardless of how ordinary or mundane they may seem on the outside.

As the summary describes, the title comes from Wu being told “good girls don’t make scenes” growing up, but also from a time when she wanted to give her unnamed character (“Girl”) her own story. I believe this is what Wu wanted to do with her essays—name the background individuals, give them histories, and find themes in the beginning, middle, and end of her essays. Because of this, you don’t mind reading about the mundane and ordinary things in life because Wu writes them to have significance.

Her essays are not told in chronological order, nor are they placed by significance, but rather as to reveal another trait or layer to herself: passionate, hardworking, stubborn. Some of the essays I particularly enjoyed were “Montana Gold,” where she describes working in a bread bakery, And “Of Course She Did,” about a traumatizing elementary teacher she had.

I picked this book to read not as a superfan but as someone who enjoys reading memoirs, and curious about the actress that starred in two movies that I enjoyed. Moreover, I was also interested in her perspective on being an actress in a whitewashed industry and in the #MeToo era. She discusses this in the essay “Jurassic Park,” where she uses an analogy to the T. rex to explain the mix of emotions she felt toward her cultural identity from working on Fresh Off the Boat. “Do As I Say” is probably the other most important essay on her career, because this is where she describes the series of events (instances that readers may already be aware of) that pushed her into choosing to step out of the limelight and prioritize her needs by seeking handpicked roles over publicity-based ones. My respect for Wu sincerely grew after reading that essay and her unheard media narrative, not only for the bravery it takes to put her peace first but also for rejecting the media’s perception of being a successful actress, and truly dedicating herself to her art. What I have also come to admire about Wu is her unwavering ability to hold herself accountable for her actions, whether they be from serious mistakes (e.g., her cruel relationship to her younger sister), or less scarring ones (e.g., writing “penis” all over the set of Fresh Off the Boat).

I would recommend Making a Scene to readers like myself, vaguely aware of Wu and curious about her life, but also superfans, or individuals who haven’t heard of her at all. I think each reader would come out with something different, but still feel the underlying theme: that we are all complex, multifaceted individuals that shouldn’t be held hostage to one image of us.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Temple of No God by H.M. Long

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: murder, violence, gore, child death, rape

Temple of No God is the second novel in H. M. Long’s Hall of Smoke series of standalone fantasy books, and follows Hessa, now a High Priestess of the god of the north. After bringing tentative peace to the north, Hessa discovers a new god in the south with a frightening power, and she is recruited to back one of the three heirs vying to unite the Arpa empire. While marching her army south, Hessa must navigate the rising threat of the Arpa empire and shifting loyalties within her own camp, all while journeying to unlock a buried magic that will bring the new Emperor unimaginable power. But even Hessa herself does not know what she will do once she reaches the heart of the empire: crown a new emperor, or destroy Arpa from within its heart.

Hall of Smoke is a fantastic novel, and I was curious to see how a sequel following the same main character and set in the main world, but which could be read as a standalone, would play out. While I definitely recommend reading Hall of Smoke first, I do appreciate how Temple of No God can be read on its own. This book has its own worldbuilding and explains enough of the events of book one for a new reader to understand what’s happening, while also crafting a new plot unrelated to the first one.

Hessa is an incredibly complex and compelling character, and I enjoyed following her in this story. She is a fierce barbarian queen while also being a wise priestess, and I enjoyed the way Long balances Hessa’s status as a legend in her world, grounded in several fight scenes where we get to see how Hessa has earned her reputation, and with a deeper look into the character’s psyche, wants, and insecurities. I found her magic in this book really interesting, and I loved the way the fight scenes were written. These books have cinematic action scenes; they’re intense and visceral, and absolutely suck you into the story. They’re also an interesting tool to develop the characters, particularly Hessa—she is a warrior priestess with the power of the gods in her veins, but she is also mortal, and watching her fight in different settings demonstrates both her powers and her limitations in an interesting way.

Most of the other characters are also well developed, and I particularly liked Uspa, an outcast Eangen whom Hessa takes under her wing and who worms her way into Hessa’s affections. The only character I wish I knew more about is Imnir, Hessa’s estranged husband. He is crucial to the plot and to Hessa’s character, but I found him difficult to connect to and a bit underdeveloped. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book, and it was through them that I got invested in the plot.

This story has a new setting, and I enjoyed the journey through the Arpa empire. I could visualize the scenes and felt immersed in the world. I also found the plot interesting, and the new god, their priests, and dark magic were frightening and intense. I enjoyed the mystery and background scheming, and while I do feel like the mystery progressed a bit slowly and the reveals were a little rushed, the novel was still well paced, and I was invested the entire time. I found the climax really interesting, and it had me on the edge of my seat. Long does an excellent job of developing the power and skill imbalances between mortal and immortal warriors, and that imbalance and Hessa’s disadvantage were particularly interesting in the final battle.

Overall, while it didn’t quite captivate me as much as Hall of Smoke did, I found the story really enjoyable and intense, and I would definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of Viking-inspired fantasy and intense, standalone stories.