August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski - Reshelved Books

Hey there Dewey Readers!

Is there a better way to spend a birthday than by sitting outside with a new book and margarita? I don't think so.  And if the book just happens to take place down the shore in Lavalette, NJ it's damn near impossible to think of anything better. This basically sums up my past Wednesday.  The sun was shining, I was drinking tequila, and I devoured Doktorski's latest novel August and Everything After in one sitting, only getting up for minimal bathroom breaks and to refill my mason jar glass.  Ahhh the single 26 year old life.   

So about the novel.  August and Everything After follows the story of Quinn, who is spending the summer down at her aunt's shore house.  Quinn had an especially tough year.  There was a scandal with her high school music student-teacher, and her best friend passed away in a bike-automobile accident that she blames herself for.  Having just graduated high school, everyone is focused on college and the future, but Quinn is struggling with just focusing on the now.  Then Quinn meets a bad boy.  Okay, he CAN be considered a decent guy.  He has a good heart, but he's a hot mess himself and he's tossing up red flags all over the place.  When Quinn is supposed to meet him for pizza, he shows up drunk.  I mean come on, girl.  Then she finds out he used to abuse prescription drugs and he ASKS her told hold a few pills for him! Seriously!? But, they both have their demons, they're both trying to figure life out, they both DO have good intentions, and they both DO love each other.  Whether love is enough........ I don't know.   

I love Doktorski's books because of the New Jersey and shore references, obviously.  These books are a pleasure to read and they are on my list of favorite things.  In this novel in particular, Quinn's aunt is a single LIBRARIAN who moved from North Jersey to live down the shore.  HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS IS MY LIFE GOAL!?  I want to be Quinn's aunt and be a coastal librarian. Ugh. That's the dream.  What else did I love about this book?  Quinn and her aunt drive up to North Jersey and buy a drum set at Sam Ash on 17.  Hello Paramus!  That's where I purchased my flute and piccolo.  I don't think they're in business anymore though... but don't take my word on that.   

Did I love this book? Yes. I adored it. 
Would I recommend this book?  Without a doubt.   
How many coffee beans would I give it?  A million and a half.  

This book is EVERYTHING and more.

Until the next read!
~Jessica 

P.S.  The main characters from The Summer After You & Me are side characters in this book, which just makes me love it even more! And for all you readers close to New Jersey, Jennifer is coming to the Hawthorne Library on Saturday, June 16.  You can sign up here. It's free. 

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian - Battle of the Book

I have a confession to make everyone... 

I recommended this book for The Spine Breakers and I couldn't read it!!

I couldn't get into the book. 

20 pages into this book and I hated it. 

That 20 pages itself was a struggle to get through. 

I'm so sorry Chris Bohjalian!!! :( (But thank you to standing up for me to Jessica!)

I'm starting to realize that psychological thrillers aren't really my jam... 



Because of the brave, we are the home of the free... Have a great Memorial Day everyone!

~ Jillian

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian - Battle of the Book

Hello Dewey Readers!  

As you know, Jillian and I also read for our book club called the Spine Breakers, and this month's selection was the Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian.  

This book sounded so promising!  It had great reviews!  And the premise was creepily interesting.  Basically, to sum this book up in a nutshell, the main character is a flight attendant who likes to sleep around.  She likes to drink, and has been known to drink to the point where she blacks out. One morning she wakes up in bed next a man who is dead.  But he didn't just die in his sleep!  His carotid artery was slashed and he bled out.  Next to him on the ground is a broken wine bottle.  The reader isn't sure who killed him, and even our lovely flight attendant isn't sure if she or someone else killed him.  

Who knows?  Well, I guess I know now. 

To me the book was kind of lengthy.  No short chapters that made our last book club selection a breeze!  Also, I did not like the ending.  In fact, I zoned out on the ending and had to ask my co-woker who happened to be reading this book at the same time (not Spine Breaker related) what happened.  She wasn't crazy about it either.  

So Dewey Readers, I give out a rating of 2 out of 5 very sad Coffee Beans.  

P.S.  Jillian picked this book, so we'll blame her.   

I'll be Yours by Jenny B. Jones- Reshelved Books

Hopefully the 4th was with everyone on Friday, and everyone had a nice cool margarita yesterday on Cinco de Mayo! 

It was finally warm and sunny here in New Jersey... Now it's chilly and raining...

We've gone from Winter right into Summer and now into Spring. 'Cause you know, that's how we do it here on the East Coast...?

 
First things first, I started to read I'll be Yours by Jenny B. Jones but then I stopped because the rescue doggies made me really sad. Given my current situation with my dog, I don't like to talk about them or think them because it just makes me too sad. 

Secondly, I was watching a Country music countdown last weekend and they mentioned an artist by the name of Cale Dodds and I saw that they wanted you to vote for his new video. As we know from previous posts, sometimes when I'm reading a book, I like to associate songs with the story. 

(I'm always down for checking out a new musician!)

I listened to a couple of songs for a few days before picking this book back up. 

While I was reading, all I could think of were the few Cale Dodds songs that I had heard. 
This post is not by any means a PSA for Cale Dodds BUT if you're interested in a new music, I strongly suggest checking him out. 

Now, getting us back on track to why you're here....

Shirt: Banana Republic Factory, Jean Jacket: J. Crew Factory, Bracelet: Kendra Scott, Nails: OPI Humdi-Tea

In I'll be Yours, we met Harper O'Malley and Ridley Estes. Both Harper and Ridley attend the same high school.  Ridley is friends with Harper's older brother, Michael.  We learn early on that Ridley has a verbal agreement with Coach O'Malley (Harper's dad) to play for the USK Eagles next year.  Harper agrees to tutor Ridley, IF Ridley tutors Harper in the ways of love. 

Now, I'm not going to lie... I was caught a little off guard by that. I was thinking to myself "What kind of book is this?!"

Ridley is the kind of guy that my 16 year old self would have loved to date. Heck, my 28 year old self wishes there was a 28 year old Ridley out there! 

(As you get further into the book, you'll understand where I'm coming from on this end).

Harper has her eyes sent on new student, Andrew.  To her, he is the Ying to her Yang; he is the perfect nerd for her.  Unfortunately for Harper, she's never once had any interaction with a boy that she's liked before. This is where she needs Ridley to come in. 

We learn that Harper was adopted at a young age after tragedy strikes her.  Harper is taken away from her mother and placed with the O'Malleys.  I don't want to give too much away because there would be no point in anyone reading the book, you know? 

After one chance encounter at Ridley's house, Harper and him are pulled together in a new way. This encounter helps to bring Harper and Ridley closer together and in a way, I think it makes him more real to Harper.  He isn't this all star jock football player, who for lack of a better word, is a d*uche. 

Unknownst to Harper, Ridley is a lot like her.  Harper and Ridley were able to let their guards down in front of each other.

Don't get me wrong, I loved a lot of things about this book but I think my favorite line might be when Ridley tells Harper: "I don't kiss other people's girlfriends".  For some reason, I found that to be so very powerful.  It definitely was a pivotal point in the book and it changed the way how I thought the book would end. 

I'm currently reading another book by Jones entitled In Between and I can safely say that I'm really enjoying it! The tone is different, Katie and the characters in this book are definitely making me laugh out loud.  Jenny B. Jones made me giggle and laugh just like Kristan Higgins did. 
If you're looking for a good way to kick off your summer, I would like to think that this is a solid recommendation. 

I'll be Yours gets a solid 4 coffee beans out of 5!

Have a great week everyone!

~ Jillian

The Summer After You & Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski - Reshelved Books

Hey there Dewey Readers!


I love a beach read.  Heck, I adore the beach.  But do you know what I love more than beach reads and the beach combined!? That's right! Books that take place down the Jersey Shore. 

Jennifer Salvato Doktorski's novel The Summer After You and Me is the PERFECT Jersey Shore beach read.  So, at bit about the novel:

Lucy lives down the shore.  Seaside to be exact.  She's a local, she works during the summer at the burrito place near the boardwalk, she has a twin brother, and she has, or rather had, a large crush on her Benny neighbor Connor until her promised to call her and never did.  (Her brother never trusted Connor.) Her family's home also had to be gutted after Hurricane Sandy, and they are just starting to get back on her feet.  That's right, this novel takes place in a recent post-Sandy world, sort of making it function as a recently based historical novel. Pretty cool, right?  Well, the novel can also be considered an example of environmental fiction.  Why? Because each chapter opens with a small fact, cited from Lucy's school thesis about the "Dating and Mating" habits of sea life.  Lucy, who has been emotionally scared by Connor believes that if sea creatures can live and reproduce without love, maybe humans should as well.... it's less.... messy.  She might have a point there.  

Anyway, I love this book.  I love the romance, I love the setting, I love the Jersey references.  I mean come on, not only Seaside but also references to Rutgers University, Bruce Springsteen, Asbury Park, and so many more are hidden throughout the pages of this book. It's wonderful.  

So Dewey Readers, I leave you with a rating of 10 out of 5 Coffee Beans. 

AND THE BEST PART.  Jennifer is coming to the Hawthorne Library on June 16.  So if you're in the area and want to meet her, you can!  It's FREE.  And you can register here. How cool is that?

Happy Reading!
~Jessica