Thanks to Edelweiss and Dutton for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Fiona Davis is an auto-read for me, so I was excited to have the opportunity to read an advance copy. Like so many of her books, this one is historical fiction and starts out in New York. The story alternates between New York in 1978 and Egypt in the 1930s, featuring Charlotte Cross who in the 1970s is an associate curator at the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Egyptian Art.

Another major character is 18-year-old Annie Jenkins, who crosses paths with Charlotte at the Museum. Annie is a survivor who seems to be getting a big break as she becomes an assistant to quirky and iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum.

This is a well-written story of hope and family, past and present, combining art, anthropology, fashion, and feminism. It’s a page-turning mystery with history and danger from a possible Egyptian curse.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was so entertaining! It was funny, punny, with lots of romance novel jokes, and a murder mystery too. Gags about stiletto heels (and pantaboots), plaid, a small Scottish island with people wearing multiple hats: The barmaid is the island midwife and medical examiner as well as the local GP and the sister of the DCI - Detective Chief Inspector).

The concept is tongue in cheek – three actual authors collaborating on writing a book about three authors writing a book. Here’s how the real-life authors accurately describe their book: “The excruciating jokes, the atrocious Scottish accents, the tropes, the puns, the murder of nefarious male authors – all written with a wink and a nudge and a great deal of love, and maybe a teeny grain of truth.”

To be honest, it took me a few chapters in before everything clicked for me. The three main characters weren’t all that likable at first, but the more time I spent with them, the more endearing they became. And that went for the Scottish characters too, from Beatrice the sheep to Loren the dog as well as the humans. And then there’s a murder and the three American authors are the main suspects. They realize the best way to prove they didn’t do it is to find out who did.

If you’re in the mood for a feel-good murder mystery with some romance and lots of jokes, a few red herrings, an edge-of-your-seat climax, and a happily-ever-after ending with a Scottish location, this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

The title was charming. The premise was intriguing. And the novel was an appealing page-turner, although a bit predictable. But sometimes that’s the kind of book I feel like reading, with a heartwarming happily ever after.

“The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern” tells the story of a woman of a certain age getting a second chance at love with her first boyfriend of sixty years ago. The narrative is told in two timelines and two locations, alternating between 1920’s New York and 1987 Florida. In addition to Augusta’s coming-of-age story, author Lynda Cohen Loigman inserts a story of Augusta’s Aunt Esther, a woman who learns to both survive and thrive despite the limitations of society.

Growing up in a middle-class Jewish family in New York, Augusta had always wanted to become a pharmacist like her father. While he encouraged her, they both knew it would be difficult as in the 1920s women were not expected to have a career. When Augusta’s mother dies, Aunt Esther comes to live with them - to keep house, cook, and clean.

And that’s when the novel becomes something more. Esther helps people, mostly women, with her mixtures and elixirs, potions and powders, and often her homemade chicken soup. This is where the novel veers into magical realism, and also provides a message about women’s strength and ability to overcome the time period’s restrictions.

“If a person is denied a formal education,” Esther told Augusta, “She must be inventive in her quest for knowledge She must study the folktales and the old stories. She must learn however she can. She must use every tool at her disposable.”

This is a second chance story of misunderstandings and magic, medicine and miracles, fate and forgiveness. It is about Augusta, who “wanted to be a woman who yes, had suffered losses, but whose heart had not yet been broken beyond repair. A woman who was curious and hopeful and who still believed in the glimmers of magic that made their way quietly into the world.”

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I’m always up for a Flavia de Luce novel – I’ve read nine so far and have found them entertaining and different enough from any other cozy mystery to keep me turning the pages. And by the way, each book’s title is a quote taken from an assortment of British poems.

The first novel in the series, "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie," introduces us to Flavia, a precocious 11-year-old chemist and poison expert. Now in book #11, she is probably 14 years old and an orphan with a very adult British attitude. Living in 1950s England in an ancient country house called Buckshaw, Flavia nonchalantly deals with post-war rationing, dead bodies, poisons, spies, kidnapping, and murder.

What makes this series unique is Flavia’s nearly adult perspective and her appealing voice. As the narrator, she shares what she’s thinking as well as observing. Her snide comments are amusing and entertaining.

For instance, she explains her interest in chemistry: “I was only truly myself when I was alone among the glass flasks and retorts in that dear chemical lab in the otherwise abandoned east wing of Buckshaw – great-uncle Tarquin died 25 years ago, he left behind a laboratory that caused the chemists of Oxford and Cambridge to weep with envy. He had also left behind a treasure trove of his notebooks and journals which, despite being placed under strict embargo by some obscure and shadowy government department, had remained at Buckshaw, where I had been devouring them for years.”

In this novel Flavia is determined to solve the murder of a neighbor, Major Greyleigh, who apparently died from eating poison mushrooms cooked by Flavia’s housekeeper Mrs. Mullett. Ignoring warnings from the local inspector to leave the investigation to the professionals, Flavia hopes to clear Mrs. Mullett’s name as she gathers clues, interviews various suspicious people, consults with devoted servant Dogger, all while traversing the area on her trusty bicycle Gladys.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t live up to the earlier novels in the series for me. Parts of the story were confusing and hard to follow, with a major plot twist that came out of nowhere and was never satisfactorily explained. If you’ve been reading these all along, then by all means crack this one open and see if you enjoy it as well as the others. If this is the first you’re hearing of Flavia, go back and start with number one. I guarantee it will be delightful and charming.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's, Crown Books for Young Readers for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this page-turning coming-of-age YA (young adult) novel about a Korean high schooler’s journey as she discovers her identity both on and off the plate.

Jackie Oh turns to cooking as therapy – to relieve the stress her parents have heaped on her to go to an ivy league college, especially since she’s not naturally a high achiever in school. And her older brother is in prison which is sad for everyone. Author Patricia Park says” From repurposing leftovers at her grandparents’ Manhattan deli to competing on the TV cooking show Burn Off!, food feels like a problem Jackie can actually solve in a world that makes zero sense.”

I loved the relationship Jackie has with her grandparents. Their conversations are both humorous and heartwarming. She watches the cooking show Burn Off! with her grandparents and describes how they bonded: “It was a show I didn’t have to translate into English, and they didn’t have to translate into Korean. Food is like the universal language.”

Throughout the novel Jackie is learning about herself and often fighting stereotypes: gender, ethnicity, family, etc. “Every day,” says Jackie, “I walk around feeling like I’m carrying an invisible backpack full of stress bricks. On top of my actual backpack loaded with textbooks, notebooks, and my laptop. I just feel all this pressure weighing down on me, all the time.”

The story is told in Jackie’s first person, so we learn about her and what makes her happy: “Recipe-making is my mental happy place.” She also admits, “I’m obsessed with leftovers – each time you cook something, you have to think of how you’ll transform its afterlife.” And “In the kitchen, I’m in my zone. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I love cooking so much. Being in the kitchen helps me shut out all the scary nonsense from the outside world. Cooking is my therapy.”

Patricia Park says, “This novel was inspired by two things: My love of cooking with leftovers, and the fears and frustrations those in my community have faced over anti-AAPI hate. I’ve spoken with many students across the country like Jackie, who don’t understand why they and their family are being targeted. Who, like Jackie, cannot make sense of this moment and are done being “model minorities.” To my fellow Asians in America, who are tired of being pushed around (literally, metaphorically) – I also dedicate this book to you.”

I enjoyed this book, which is both realistic and humorous. The ending surprised me (no spoilers) and I think it would be a great book to read in a group and discuss together. Plus, there are recipes!

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved this! Deserves more than 5 stars! A heartwarming, historical, coming-of-age story that takes place during a time of massive cultural upheaval, this remarkable novel explores the power of friendship, hope, and progress.

The novel begins with this paragraph, “In 1964, a small miracle of a summer happened in Kate “Corky” Corcoran’s tiny, segregated town because of a softball game, a pastor feud, a drugstore sit-in, and a girl named America who Corky saw run as fast as Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph, the fastest woman in the world.”

After reading that sentence, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s well-written, with realistic characters, authentic dialogue, and edge-of-your-seat plotting. The book smoothly shifts from various characters’ points of view, including a dog, as well as an omniscient narrator. The suspenseful foreshadowing kept me turning the pages in anticipation. Talented author Lynda Rutledge (“West With Giraffes”) creatively takes the larger 1964 issues of racism and the Civil Rights Movement, women’s rights, the Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy assassination, Viet Nam war, Martin Luther King Jr., and makes them personal by telling the story from the perspective of naïve 13-year-old Corky.

Rutledge explains how “The moral of this novel, if it has one, is about the absolute miracle of friendship and also about the miraculous ability that books and sports possess to draw those new worlds together.” Of course the book she is referring to is “To Kill A Mockingbird” and the sport is girls’ softball. If you want to read similar heartwarming 5-star coming-of-age novels of small-town drama mixed with poignant humor after finishing this one, I highly recommend “The All-American” by Susie Finkbeiner, “The Incredible Winston Browne” and “Kinfolk,” both by Sean Dietrich.

This would be great for book clubs and is one I’ll be telling everyone to read. Don’t miss this feel-good novel!

Thanks to Book Club Cookbook & Pegasus Crime for an advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I couldn’t resist this gorgeous book cover teamed with the title, plus it’s a mystery! This debut went beyond my expectations. In addition to being an entertaining murder mystery set in Lafayette, Louisiana, the novel explored racism, society’s attitude toward mid-life women, faith, and economic inequality. Heavy subjects respectfully handled with humor and wit.

The story begins with Glory learning that her best friend – a nun beloved by the community – has been found dead. Although the police say it’s a suicide Glory suspects Amity’s cause of death is a cover-up. So she (along with her reluctant daughter Delphine) become amateur sleuths to obtain justice for Amity, and in the process discover layers of fraud, lies, and crime in their community.

While the well-written novel contains humor it is also a realistic portrayal of a Black woman of a certain age who grew up in the segregated south. But what kicks this novel up a couple of notches from the usual cozy, is that Glory is not typical in her attitude, behavior, or appearance. She’s a flawed, church going part-time bookie who works out of a coffee shop. She is brashly opinionated, but also loyal and warmhearted. And Delphine says she has a hoarding problem.

The book’s title is a play on words – it’s the character Glory’s name (Glory Broussard), the name of a Catholic prayer, plus a phrase summing up feelings and intentions.

I enjoyed the plot twists that kept me guessing as well as the mother-daughter relationship. I appreciated how the author incorporated the local culture into this engaging murder mystery while avoiding clichés. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Thanks to Random House & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This book checks all the boxes – heartwarming story, loveable and realistic characters, clever premise, magical realism/fantasy, a book about books, a bit of romance, and a buddy-read with Val. I was surprised this was a debut, as the writing and plotting were smoothly professional.

The story juxtaposes the fantasy of a world-famous reclusive children’s author who lives on mysterious Clock Island - five miles outside of Portland and reachable only by ferry - with the world of foster care. Author Meg Shaffer explains how she “chose to focus on the hopes and dreams and wishes of a child in foster care more than the intricacies of a very complicated system.”

There are themes of family, both birth and chosen, and how books can bring comfort to those “who, in dark times, find a light shining from the pages of books.” Also themes of bravery (and courage), integrity, and creativity.

Clock Island is the setting of the fictional children’s book series and is also where this story takes place. This mysterious spot is reminiscent of those other fantasy locations Hogwarts and Narnia. The author credits Gene Wilder’s Willie Wonka for influencing her as well and I found myself making comparisons as I was reading.

This was a feel-good novel I encourage you to read. I’ve had this brilliant book for almost a year and am glad I finally read it.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark Publishers & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This book checked some of my favorite boxes – fashion, friendship, and an ending with a surprise twist.

The novel begins with the definition of “Favor – An act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. Friendly regard shown toward another, especially by a superior.”

Author Adelle Griffin incorporated the concept of “a favor” and then surprised me. The premise sounds predictable, with one girlfriend offering to carry a baby for her friend who can’t conceive. So that’s the favor, yet the friendship is a bit unusual, as is Evelyn, one half of the friendship who sweeps into Nora’s life in an overwhelming and overbearing way.

When I read the book’s description: “At I'll Have Seconds, a high-end fairytale vintage dress shop in Manhattan, Nora Hammond loves nothing better than pairing a rare find with the perfect client.” There was no question I was going to read this book.

It’s a story of the haves and the have-nots – wealth vs. debt, children (pregnancy vs. infertility), employment and more. It’s a story of girlfriends, trust, and honesty. It’s an unexpected yet heartwarming story of family and forgiveness.

I highly recommend this extremely readable novel!

Thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This book was everything I expected from Patti Callahan Henry. It’s a beautifully written, engrossing and unique story, with likeable characters, and even a bit of a mystery. This was a dual timeline between the 1940s and 1960s, centering on two sisters who are sent to the countryside through an evacuee program to avoid the bombing in London during World War II.

Fourteen-year-old Hazel tells her five-year-old sister Flora Lea a special story all their own. “The name of their new land came to Hazel right as prayer, a name that already existed, that had waited for them, a name of secrets, of the earth and its rivers, just like the two sisters: It’s called Whisperwood and the River of Stars.”

The stories always began in the same way: “Not that long ago and not so far away, in a land that is right here,” Hazel whispered into the dark, “there was a land where anything could happen, where we might become anything we wish, where a river of stars runs through its woodlands. Keep your eyes open for hidden doorways! They’re everywhere, but visible only to those who are worthy. And we are worthy.”

Trish Todd, VP & Executive Editor of Atria Books, says that author Callahan “has poured all the love of books into this novel, illuminating how we tell ourselves stories to protect the ones we love, to keep our memories of them alive, and to seize onto the hope that imagination and storytelling can offer.”

This is an unforgettable novel that I highly recommend.

This was such a good book! It reads like a well-written memoir even though it’s historical fiction. And while it has been arduously researched from an enormous amount of available resources, it flows smoothly and made me feel like I was right there with the young Jacqueline Bouvier (to be later Kennedy Onassis). That impression is helped by the fact that it’s written from Jacqueline’s point of view, about her college year abroad in postwar Paris.

Although it primarily takes place during 1949-1950, there are so many references to the recently ended World War II that the novel provides a dramatic portrayal of that period’s heartache and recovery. Soon after 20-year-old Jacqueline arrives for her junior year of study, she observes that “five years after the Liberation, the city was still struggling to recover from the dark days – central heating and hot water were rare, everyone still so thin, wearing threadbare clothes.”

Jacqueline shares impressions of all that she experiences during her stay, but the war is never far from anyone’s thoughts. “The war had touched everyone in France, each person I met hiding their sorrow behind a fine veneer. I had imagined this a joyful time of hope and rebirth, yet I was discovering a nation still raw with anguish.”

In addition to the wartime past, Jacqueline is also exposed to the current political climate of spies and subterfuge. She learns not all are who they seem and not everyone is to be trusted. This element of intrigue provided additional substance to the novel.

But there are also parties to go to, champagne to sip, country house weekends as well as classes to attend, and papers to write. Due to her parents’ social connections, Jacqueline is introduced to several members of the upper crust and tells of her time at operas, museums, dinners, and events.

Based on the lives of several real people, the novel explores the life of Jacqueline Bouvier before she became American royalty. As the publisher writes, “Evocative, sensitive, and rich in historic detail, Jacqueline in Paris portrays the origin story of an American icon. Ann Mah brilliantly imagines the intellectual and aesthetic awakening of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and illuminates how France would prove to be her one true love, and one of the greatest influences on her life.” I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to Mariner Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Delphinium Books for an advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

If you like David Sedaris, you’ll like Eileen Pollack. And because she lives in New York City and has a sarcastic and observant wit, she reminds me of Fran Lebowitz, another female Jewish author who writes nonfiction essays and lives in New York.

This book was my introduction to Eileen Pollack, who is an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. She is the former director of the Master of Fine Arts Program at the University of Michigan. Pollack holds an undergraduate degree in Physics from Yale University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Iowa. Wow! I’m impressed.

The autobiographical essays are all personal descriptions of her life experiences as well as her emotions, thoughts, and observations about herself and how others see her – a tourist in Israel, dating as a 60-something woman, growing up the child of the only dentist in town (the Catskills), on being Jewish, childhood camp experiences, working at Howard Johnson, etc. I felt like I knew her quite well by the time I turned the last page.

Some of the essays were very entertaining and I found myself laughing out loud. Other essays were too long and a little dry and overly wordy. I skipped over those when I found my mind wandering, so can no longer recall the title or topic. The best part of a book of essays is that you don’t have to like them all to read the book. Try them and see which ones resonate with you. Just like life, essays can be like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get…but chocolate! Of course you’re going to like some of them.

Thanks to Atria Paperback/Simon and Schuster Publishers for a gifted copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This 3.5 star book had a lot of buzz when it first came out in 2020. I received a gifted copy from the publisher in 2021 but just recently read it in May 2022. I didn’t intentionally put it off, but it took the suggestion from my friend Val that we both read it and then discuss together to make me pick it up. And it turned out to be a different type of book than I thought. No matter how others have labeled this novel, it is not a romance, but a story of friendship, best girlfriend friendship.

This is about two long-time best friends who live in New York City, both single but different in so many ways. Dannie is organized and has her life planned out – her career, her boyfriend and now fiancé, her budget, and her future – including where she will be in five years. Bella is the “poor little rich girl” – wild, whimsical, impulsive, and believes in fate.

After accepting her boyfriend’s marriage proposal and receiving her dream job offer both on the same day, Dannie falls asleep. When she awakens she’s with a totally different (and sexy) guy, a different apartment, a different engagement ring – and it’s five years in the future. She tells herself it’s a dream and files it away in the back of her mind.

But four-and-a-half years later she meets Bella’s latest boyfriend, who is the very same guy from that long-ago premonition/vision/dream/alternate reality. That’s the set-up but it isn’t the story you’re expecting. And you’ll need tissues.

Even though there are aspects of the plot and the characters I would argue with, and some things I would have changed completely, I still found myself engrossed and emotionally caught up in the story. This would make a great book group read and I’m looking forward to discussing with my friend.

Thanks to NetGalley & Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I couldn't wait for this latest title of Anne Tyler's. I've read and enjoyed almost all of her books, and this one was just as wonderful as the others. As usual, it's about a family - starting in 1959 when the Garretts take a family vacation and continuing to the present. Parents, children, grandchildren. There are many characters, but I didn't have trouble keeping track of them as the names and personalities were distinct and memorable. Once more, Tyler writes expertly of family relationships - children and their parents, and those children grow up to become parents themselves and then grandparents. For instance, it was sweet to read about David as a grandfather, and remember when he had been first a child with his toys and songs, then a college student bringing home a girlfriend, and then also as a parent. When his son Nicholas and young grandson Benny return home during the pandemic, I marveled along with David at how Benny was so similar to the young David.

But don't expect this to be an overwrought, epic, multi-generational saga. This 256-page novel features only the significant conversations, actions, and thoughts of the various characters. Yet when I finished reading it I felt that I knew exactly what Tyler was trying to convey, as Greta explains, "So this is how it works...this is what families do for each other - hide a few uncomfortable truths, allow a few self-deceptions. Little kindnesses...and little cruelties."

No one can write about family dynamics like Tyler. How people really interact with each other. What they think, what they say, and actually do. As one character notes, "Oh, the lengths this family would go to so as not to spoil the picture of how things were supposed to be!"

Some people complain that Tyler's books don't have a plot, but they're missing the point of her brilliant writing. "French Braid," like her other novels, is a family portrait containing insightful observations, portraying their relationships with each other, the love and the irritations, the miscommunications and misunderstandings. And it's Tyler's observations, descriptions, and what she chooses to focus on that make this another amazing book that I highly recommend.

Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own. #TheMagnoliaPalace #NetGalley

I have never been disappointed by anything I've ready by Fiona Davis and her newest novel stands up to my expectations. It is a dual timeline (1919 and 1966) with a strong, independent women in each period, plus a variety of memorable characters and a mystery. The storylines come together at the end of the novel in a very satisfying conclusion.

Davis says in her Author's Note how she "likes to layer a fictional story over the scaffolding of historical facts," and she has done so quite cleverly in The Magnolia Palace. The palace itself was the home of the immensely wealthy Frick family and is today's Frick Collection, a world famous art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection features Old Master paintings and European fine and decorative arts, including works by Bellini, Fragonard, Goya, Rembrandt, Turner, Velázquez, Vermeer, and many others.

We are introduced to the Collection and the Frick family in 1919 through Lillian Carter, or as she was known at the time, Angelica the artists' muse. Through a fortunate misunderstanding, she is hired as Helen Frick's personal assistant and moves into the Fricks' home. This works out well for her since she needs to keep a low profile due to being a murder suspect, which is another misunderstanding. The alternate timeline is 1966, and features British fashion model Veronica Weber, who inadvertently finds herself locked in the museum with a museum intern during a snowstorm.

Both of the young female main characters are models with unstable financial situations, without anyone to depend on other than themselves. And on top of that Lillian is falsely suspected of murder. Whether 1919 or 1966, both women have precarious social standings, but the pair ultimately demonstrate integrity when faced with the opportunity to be dishonest and deceitful.

Davis does an excellent job in describing the Fricks' style of living: the clothes, the food, the music, and the classes - as well as the art, of course. But it is ultimately the characters that make the book so readable. I had trouble putting it down as I became involved in Lillian's predicament of being so entrenched in the Frick family instead of following her dream of being a Hollywood star. By introducing Veronica's story, Davis has the opportunity to explain what really happened back in 1919. But alternating between the two women's narratives creates a delicious tension that kept me turning the pages.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This debut was definitely in the "amazing" category and worth all of its 5 stars! It's a story of family, identity, and tradition, told from the points of view of several of the characters. The multiple voices narrating the characters' struggles, triumphs, and histories assist in bridging one generation to the next. As Ballentine Books' Executive Editor Hilary Teeman says, this is "a saga about a mother’s secrets, a family’s uncertain future, and the legacy of what we inherit through our recipes, our pasts, and often our untold stories."

The first characters we meet are brother and sister Byron and Benny in current day, as they listen to the recording their recently deceased mother left for them, narrating the previously unknown story of her life. The author adds characters and situations, locations and various historical periods a little at a time in each of the short and quick moving chapters, as one might add recipe ingredients which will come together in a delicious story to feast upon. Sorry, I couldn't resist the food allusions.

I really liked the way the characters discover their connections to each other as we learn of their secrets and how the novel all comes together to illustrate the concepts of home and family, longing, loss, second chances, and love. One of the most important themes that comes up repeatedly is risk, and several characters demonstrate their determination to take a specific risk in order to survive. Author Wilkerson explains that "Most of the characters in this novel are people who do not quite fit into the boxes that others expect of them. They struggle against stereotypes and the gulf between their interests and ambitions and the lives which other people expect them to lead, based on gender, culture, or class. Their difficulties are both universal and specific to the times and places in which they live."

Skillfully plotted and beautifully written, I couldn't stop thinking about this deliciously multi-layered story. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the Book Club Cookbook Galley Match program & Harper Perennial for an advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard about the concept: The Great Gatsby is reimagined and told from the points of view of Daisy Buchanan and two other women from the classic novel. But I was blown away by this amazing historical fiction/mystery and can't stop thinking about the clever premise and how well author Jillian Cantor told the stories of these women. She incorporates the action and characters from F. Scott Fitzgerald's well-known story, but in this version the women are cast sympathetically, with much more description of their lives. They are portrayed as likeable, independent, intelligent, and strong, within the constraints of the 1920's. Additionally, Cantor successfully captures the style and tone of the 1925 novel with vivid cultural details: the cars, the clothes, the drinks, the jewelry, and the lifestyles.

Just a short summary of the plot from the book jacket: "On a sultry August day in 1922, Jay Gatsby is shot dead in his West Egg swimming pool. To the police, it appears to be an open-and-shut case of murder/suicide when the body of George Wilson, a local mechanic, is found in the woods nearby. Then a diamond hairpin is discovered in the bushes by the pool, and three women fall under suspicion. Each holds a key that can unlock the truth to the mysterious life and death of this enigmatic millionaire.

"Their stories unfold in the years leading up to that fateful summer of 1922, when all three of their lives are on the brink of unraveling. Each woman is pulled deeper into Jay Gatsby’s romantic obsession, with devastating consequences for all of them."

Cantor says this can be read as a companion to The Great Gatsby, or on its own as I'm sure most people will read it. I had read Gatsby years ago in an English Lit university course, so I reread it last November, knowing I would read Fools in January. With the original fresh in my mind I was amazed at how this novel fit so well with Gatsby, almost like a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces making the story complete. Most of the women in my book group hadn't read Gatsby recently, and they felt the novel was totally readable as a standalone.

I highly recommend this fascinating novel, which Cantor describes as "an exploration of the interior lives of women, their struggles, their triumphs, and most of all, their secrets."