Fave Reads | Book Chatter

Big Little Lies
By Liane Moriarty
Berkley, 9780425274866, August 2015, 512pp.

The Short of It:

I waited far too long to read this one and now I want to read all of her books.

The Rest of It:

Many of you read this book when it first came out. Many of you have seen the TV show. But I think there is a group out there that has avoided it for two reasons:

Too much hype
It’s too fluffy

I am here to tell you that although I may have avoided it for the two reasons above, I was completely wrong in doing so.

Picture a story full of relatable characters but set in a small town, full of gossipy women (and men). Add an elementary school. Add bullying, domestic violence and other domestic affairs that keep the town buzzing. What you end up with is an unputdownable book that has a little bit of depth.

These women are so accurately drawn that I could put names to at least three of them because they are so similar to the women I’ve known throughout my life. As they say, everyone has a story and these women have their own as well as secrets which makes for great fun while reading a book.

The story is centered around something that has happened. As a reader, you do not know what but you know it’s bad and you know it affects the entire town. With each page turn, you are given a tiny glimpse into the night it all went down. This device was very effective. It kept me guessing right until the end.

I enjoyed Big Little Lies so much that I now want to read everything by this author. If you haven’t read it but want something to distract you from all the politics and day-to-day strife, find yourself a copy.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

The Turn of the Key
By Ruth Ware
Gallery/Scout Press, 9781501188770, August 2019, 352pp.

The Short of It:

I needed a book that I could not put down and this was it.

The Rest of It:

Nanny stories are quite popular. Add a supernatural element, difficult kids, weird parents and a big, spooky house and you have a winner. Now add technology. I mean, cameras, apps, smart refrigerators and TVs and you up the creep factor by 100%.

Rowan finds the nanny position of a lifetime. A high-paying, live-in gig that will take her to the beautiful Scottish moors. The house is unique. An old Victorian in the front, but the back half of the house is all gleaming and new, outfitted with the latest technology. At first, Rowan is impressed by this. Sandra and Bill, architects by trade, restored what they could but re-imagined the rest but all of its gadgetry proves to be a bit much for Rowan when she is immediately tasked with watching the children for ten days while the parents are at a business conference.

Did I mention that the last four nannies all left within a two-year period? Or that the house has a history of death and violence? Or that some in the town believe it to be haunted?

This was such a fun book to read. I was completely immersed and could not turn those pages fast enough. It’s sufficiently creepy and keeps you guessing with all its plot twists. The ending felt a tad rushed but overall, I really enjoyed this one and found it to be really entertaining and fun. I read it in one day. A work day, which should tell you something.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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