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Book Reviewed by:A psychic on the verge of stardom who isn't sure she believes in herself and a cynical journalist with one last chance at redemption are brought together by secrets from the past that also threaten to tear them apart.
Psychic-medium Sylvie Young starts every show with her origin story, telling the audience how she discovered her abilities. But she leaves out a lot—the plane crash that killed her parents, an estranged adoptive family who tend orchards in rainy Oregon, panic attacks, and the fact that her agent insists she research some clients to ensure success.
After a catastrophic reporting error, Thomas Holmes's next story at the L.A. Times may be his last, but he's got a great personal pitch. "Grief vampires" like Sylvie who prey upon the loved ones of the deceased have bankrupted his mother. He's dead set on using his last-chance article to expose Sylvie as a conniving fraud and resurrect his career.
When Sylvie and Thomas collide, a game of cat and mouse ensues, but the secrets they're keeping from each other are nothing compared to the mysteries and lies they unearth about Sylvie's past. Searching for the truth might destroy them both—but it's the only way to find out what's real.
Sylvie and Thomas are believable characters because the author displays their good and bad traits with great timing and good emotional response (windellh). This is not a romance although there is a relationship. It is more of a dual coming-of-age in early adulthood for two people, each with a traumatic past. There is also a family saga involved for each of them. Along with some very poignant animal companion moments. I did cry at one point (Peggy T). The two main characters set off traveling together, both with bad intent, filled with animosity and hate. As they delve into the past, they each end up sharing their basic humanity and vulnerability with the other even though their cross-purposes continue. An intriguing, engaging read (Samantha H)...continued
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(Reviewed by First Impressions Reviewers).
In Nan Fischer's novel Some of It Was Real, psychic-medium entertainer Sylvie Young comes under the scrutiny of Thomas Holmes, a reporter determined to expose her as a "grief vampire" who takes advantage of people mourning loved ones. Whether or not you believe their claims of clairvoyance and communication with the dead are real or sincere, self-identified psychics like Sylvie are in high demand, and the performances and services they provide make up a multi-million dollar industry in the United States.
Professional psychic performers can be seen on television shows and in advertisements for psychic hotlines, which give the option of calling a number to talk to someone who can allegedly provide insight about the future. Some ...
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Fresh, surprising, and compulsively readable, Some of It Was Real sucked me right in with its rich characters, sparkling wit, and captivating story arc. This debut is more than a page-turner; it's an unflinching exploration of identity, trauma, and transcending the past, and it kept me riveted all the way up to its jaw-dropping conclusion.
