The Wife by Alafair Burke- Battle of the Book

What's up everyone? 

I hope all is well!

The June book for The Spine Breakers was The Wife by Alafair Burke. 

Yes, another psychological thriller.  This book club group seems to be following the theme.
That being said The Wife was definitely the psychological thriller that I enjoyed the most. 

Angela (nee Mullen) Powell's husband, Jason is accused of rape and sexual misconduct toward two women.  
Burke's story follows Angela has she discovers his husband's infidelities and how her past that she worked so hard to keep buried in the past, might come to light. 

Is Jason innocent? Did he really do the things that he's being accused of? Will Angela always be faithfully by his side? 

In between character narratives and flashbacks, Burke weaves in emails and police reports to help tell this story. 

Burke made sure that the story wrapped up nicely at the end. (Which, is a big thing to me!).  I saw a few people on Goodreads had asked questions about if there would be a sequel.  I gotta be honest, I don't think that I would want there to be a sequel.  I liked it just the way it ended. 

Bookpage conducted an awesome interview with Alafair Burke.  You can check out the interview here. 

The Wife tackles topics that are very irrelevant for 2018.  Which, to me at least, kicks it up a notch. 

Jessica read the book before I did and I remember texting her being like "Colin did it, didn't he!?".  Followed up with "NO! It wasn't Colin.... It WAS Jason!"  I was all over the place with my guesses but that's what made it fun.  Trying to figure out what happened and the who done it.  I'm sure for some people, it's going to be totally obvious who did what - but for me, I had no idea. 

I definitely think that The Wife qualifies as a beach read. I give The Wife 4.5 coffee beans out of 5.  It was a definite page turner.  I liked how the ending played out and I thought it was well written and that it brought to light a topic that is very much real and happening in 2018. 

~JB

Lovesick by Jacqueline Levering Sullivan - Reshelved Books

Hi all, 

Anyone who's looking for a sweet book to read, raise your hand! Today I bring you a quick review! It's beautiful here in NJ, which is a nice change from the winter like weather we were having for quite some time! (I'm happy to see that the weather got the memo of it being the end of April :P )

This book was sent to us for as a requested review.  It was sent to us for an honest review. 

Here it goes...!.

Lovesick by Jacqueline Levering Sullivan tells the story of 16 year old Jeanmarie Dowd in 1952. Jeanmarie is in the crossroads between being a good best friend to Terry and a good friend to Chuck Neary (who just so happens to be Terry's boyfriend!). 

What did I like about this book, might you ask? Well. I liked how it took place in 1952.  I liked how Sullivan was able to lend certain terminology and characteristics to bring the reader into that year. 


The book just didn't focus on Jeanmarie and Chuck though.  There was also a focus on Jeanmarie's relationship with her sister, Iris. I liked how Sullivan was able to tackle a few different topics: the relationship between Jeanmarie/Chuck, Jeanmarie/Terry and Terry/Chuck.  

I felt like the relationships between Jeanmarie, her family, her friends and Chuck were all very real and very relatable. 

By no means was this book a lighthearted read.  There were topics presented that were heavy- Chuck's illness, Iris's potential involvement with Russia during a time of uncertainty and most notably, Jeanmarie's feelings toward Chuck. A varying degree of emotions were presented in the book. 

I really did like the story, I liked how it was a shorter read but something that was able to hold my interest. It was a book that I was able to finish in one time. 

If you're able to get your hands on this book, I would definitely recommend it! 

I give this book 4.5 coffee beans out of five! 

~ Jillian

Every Day by David Levithan - Reshelved Books

Deweys... 

I just finished a wonderful YA novel. 

And I'm itching to share it with you!! To me, this book is something beautiful.  I loved the concept.  I loved the way that the story was told. 

I just loved this book.  It's as plain and as simple as that.

Every Day by David Levithan tells the story of "A" and Rhiannon. 

When "A" wakes up each morning, "A" has a new body and it's never the same body twice.


When we meet "A", we find "A" waking up as a 16 year old boy named Justin. It's during this day as Justin that "A" meets Rhiannon. 

"A" is instantly taken back and captivated by Rhiannon.

Now here is the thing about "A", when "A" wakes up in a different body, "A" usually sticks to following the daily tasks of that body.  "A" doesn't like to cause disruption or any change. 

Once "A" meets Rhiannon that all changes.... 

Rather quickly, "A" started to throw caution at the wind and make decisions that were rather reckless.  The impacts of some of "A"'s decisions did negatively affect Nathan.  Nathan woke up on the side of the highway, in his parent's car- unaware of how or why he got there. 

In 16 years, "A" never once has had an encounter where discovery is the end result. 

In a weird twist of events, "A" comes close to jeopardizing all that "A" has known. 

Will "A" become known? Will Rhiannon and "A" be able to sustain their relationship? 

What will happen with "A", Nathan and all of the commotion that Nathan is causing? 

Well... I'd suggest that you read the book to find out! 

For a book that's worth 4.5 coffee beans, I think that's pretty fair!

I feel that Every Day is a good representation of the power of love.  You can see how much "A" does love and care for Rhiannon and how much "A" is willing to risk. 

I liked how there was no protagonist (I say this because Nathan is able to move forward past his experience). When the reader looks at the book as a whole, there were three main characters.  The bodies that "A" visited daily, those were just extra (if that makes sense).  Yes, we got to learn a little bit about the bodies but after meeting Rhiannon, "A" was just using those bodies as vehicles. 

Don't get me wrong, the "bodies" that Levithan wrote for "A" to visit were very diverse. Male, female; boy, girl; black, white, Asian; and poor, rich. The family dynamics and the background stories for each body were all different. You got to see bodies who had "perfect" families, bodies who were suffering from mental illness (Kelsea who wanted to take her own life) and the body who was suffering from a drug addiction. 

I loved the ending.  I thought it was beautiful.  I loved how "A" was able to find the perfect representation in a body that would be constant and consistent for Rhiannon.  I loved how "A" took the time to make memories for Rhiannon and Alexander.  I also was proud of "A" and I liked how as the reader, you were able to see that "A" was able to grow.  

I will gladly say it again that I give this book 4.5 coffee beans.  I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for an easy and quick read that is an enjoyable yet powerful read.

~ Jillian

The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!

I just finished an absolutely amazing book.  It was just the book I needed to distract myself from my life. I could NOT put it down.  What was this magical book, you ask?  Diane Chamberlain's The Stolen Marriage.  


I love Diane Chamberlain.  She blends suspense with women's fiction (and this time historical fiction) in a way that just makes you keep wanting more. 

In this novel we meet Tess, a young woman who is studying to become a nurse and who is engaged to a newly minted young doctor named Vincent.  Tess and Vincent grew up together in Baltimore's section of Little Italy, both as devout Catholics and both with families who love the couple and each other dearly.  It is also1943, the middle of WWII, and  the beginning of a large polio epidemic, which at this point is hitting it's hardest in Chicago.  Vincent, being the good man and enthusiastic new doctor he is, goes to Chicago to volunteer his time.  What he claims to be a few weeks turns into a few months and Tess is well... she's upset and lonely.  So, rather than sit home and sulk, Gina and Tess take a girl's weekend trip to Washington D.C.  Only Tess makes one large and horrifying mistake that changes EVERYTHING.  

Now, while I absolutely adored this book I did have one complaint.  I wanted more.  I felt that the ending was too abrupt, and prior to the epilogue, I was hoping that this novel would continue into a sequel.  WHY DID IT HAVE TO END SO QUICKLY!?!? 

So Dewey Readers, I give you a rating of 4.5 out of 5 Coffee Beans.  (But, I gave it 5 on GoodReads.)  

Until the next read!
~Jessica