"Sweetness" by Christy Jordan | Cookbook Review

Publishing Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
Pages: 304
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

"A celebration of sweetness in all forms - sweet foods, sweet memories, sweet blessings, and a sweet life - in recipes by Christy Jordan of Southern Plate."

Whether you have a natural sweet tooth or just occasionally need something sweet to satisfy a craving, we all have a place in our homes - well, in our stomachs - for a little sweetness.

Christy Jordan's new cookbook Sweetness has plenty of recipes that would help fill that place in an instant.

From cakes to cookies to milkshakes and beyond, you're bound to find something you're itching to make. As I was going through the recipes, I found myself so excited at all the possibilities of what I could make! Everything looks and sounds so delicious.

But when I came to one particular recipe, I knew I couldn't pass it up: Funnel Cake. You know, that delicious doughey concoction they serve at amusement parks and special events? How could I pass up an opportunity - or, excuse? - to make this in my very own home.

Funnel Cake (p.208)

To my pleasant surprise, Funnel Cake is incredibly easy to make. It involves a few ingredients, all of which are common and can easily be found at your local grocery store or, if you bake with any regularity, probably just in your pantry.

It took a bit of trial and error to get the cooking time just right - neither under- nor over-cooked - but by the end I was pretty darn good if I say so myself.

You can put whatever you want on top, but I used whipped cream and fresh strawberries, which made for an absolutely scrumptious treat, let me tell you. When I posted the above picture on my Facebook, there were calls for me to host a Funnel Cake party.

While I was very happy with how that recipe turned out, I should also mention that I tried another recipe that didn't go quite so well. I made S'Mores Muffins, which sounded great - chocolate and marshmallows, what could go wrong? But unfortunately, I found them very bland and won't be making them again.

All in all, this is a really cool cookbook. There's a huge variety of desserts and tasty treats to choose from, and most seem to be pretty straightforward. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you're looking for some sweet Southern recipes.

*I received a NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: "Darktown" by Thomas Mullen | Book Review

Hi everyone! Welcome to this stop on the Darktown blog tour! This is my first ever blog tour, so I'm super excited to be writing to you about a book I really loved. At the end of this post there'll be a 1940s playlist, put together by the lovely people over at Simon & Schuster Canada, which I highly recommend you give a listen while reading the book (I've been listening to it on loop - I love 40s music!). Also, be sure to check out the other stops on this tour - which are shown below - for some cool extras!

Darktown by Thomas Mullen

Publishing Date: September 13, 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 384
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

From Goodreads:

"Responding from pressure on high, the Atlanta police department is forced to hire its first black officers in 1948. The newly minted policemen are met with deep hostility by their white peers and their authority is limited: They can’t arrest white suspects; they can’t drive a squad car; they can’t even use the police headquarters and must instead operate out of the basement of a gym.

When a black woman who was last seen in a car driven by a white man turns up fatally beaten, no one seems to care except for Boggs and Smith, two black cops from vastly different backgrounds. Pressured from all sides, they will risk their jobs, the trust the community has put in them, and even their own safety to investigate her death. Their efforts bring them up against an old-school cop, Dunlow, who has long run the neighborhood like his own, and Dunlow’s young partner, Rakestraw, a young progressive who may or may not be willing to make allies across color lines."

This is a fantastic read. It's a compelling story about a murder and the racial tensions surrounding it in 1940s Atlanta. It's about what happens when the black officers try to do the job they were hired to do, without the constraints the white officers have put on them. It's incredible and eye-opening to read a story about cops who aren't publicly allowed to do their jobs - all because of the colour of their skin. They have the title of "Police Officer", but when they try to flag down a white officer to help them make an arrest, instead of help they nearly get run over as the white officers yell racial slurs and laugh. Not even the Records lady wants to help them when they request information.

The characters were fascinating. The main characters felt so well-rounded and full of life to me, and it was interesting to read their different perspectives. Boggs and Smith, both of whom have pride in their jobs and want to actually be able to help, go through and deal with so much over the course of this story. They're faced with the choice of obeying the rules black cops were bound by and not doing anything about the murder, or doing the right thing, the job they as human beings should be allowed to do. As I mentioned earlier, it was eye-opening to read about the horrible racism and injustice they faced every single day.

Rakestraw was also an interesting perspective because you can tell that he's uncomfortable with the way his partner, Dunlow, treats the African American people they encounter, and yet for a long time he cowers, not wanting to mess with his comfortable position among his fellow white officers. On one hand, seeing the awful ways in which the white cops treat black people, you can sort of understand being afraid to disrupt the status quo - but nonetheless, it was frustrating to read about Rake wanting to step in and stop the racism and brutality, and then doing nothing. It was a real relief when he decided to help Boggs and Smith with their investigation.

The city of Atlanta itself seems like a character - the way Mullen creates the atmosphere of 1940s Atlanta really brings the place to life, and the whole time, I felt like I was there. I could feel the thick, muggy heat - it, like the tension, was palpable.

This book is incredibly uncomfortable at times. It can be jarring to read or even think about how cruel humans can be to each other and how terribly prejudiced someone can be toward another simply because of the colour of their skin. The depth of injustice and of corruption in the police force back then is almost unimaginable, and Mullen does a great job of interweaving these tensions with a compelling murder mystery.

Now, while you go read this awesome book, be sure to check out this Darktown-inspired playlist:

*This book was kindly sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"The Couple Next Door" by Shari Lapena | Book Review

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Publishing Date: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 320
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Anne and Marco Conti's seemingly perfect lives are turned upside down one night when their 6-month-old daughter, Cora, is abducted from their home while they're at a dinner party next door. They're immediately pegged as the prime suspects, but it's much more complicated than that.

What follows is a story of lies, deception, and breakneck twists. As it starts off, we as the readers have mixed feelings about the parents. Even though they checked on Cora frequently, Anne and Marco left their 6-month-old home alone while they were next door, which is really not advisable. That said, the onus is of course on the kidnapper.

What may at first seem like a cut and dry situation is actually a dark and twisted tale. Once the action of the story gets going, which is pretty much immediately, the suspicion begins. Can we really trust these people? Is everyone really telling the truth?

We get several different perspectives in this story, from the parents to the neighbours to the lead detective. It's hard to trust some of the characters because you get this deep sense that they're "off", or that they're not letting us (or the police!) in on everything they know. At first, with all the secrets that were being revealed, I was left wondering which couple the ominous title alludes to, but it's actually relatively obvious.

The sheer amount of twists and secrets that are revealed are nearly whiplash-inducing, and that makes for a pretty entertaining story. I really liked the way those things were revealed as well, because it was done in such a way that I couldn't guess what was happening or what people were hiding until I was specifically told.

Whether or not you see the ending coming, this is a great thriller and I definitely recommend it if you want a quick read that packs a punch.

*This book was kindly sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"The House Between Tides" by Sarah Maine | Book Review

The House Between Tides
by Sarah Maine

Publishing Date: August 2, 2016
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 400
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

After her last living relative dies, Hetty heads to her family's long-abandoned ancestral home, Muirlan, in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. When she arrives, she discovers that a century-old skeleton has been found under the floorboards. Her plans to renovate the place come to a grinding halt while she and some locals search for clues as to who the murder victim might be.

As it turns out, Theo Blake, a famous painter and naturalist (and a distant relative of Hetty's), came to Muirlan in 1910 with his new wife, Beatrice. The two were there for a short time, and their stories are shrouded in mystery - Theo seemed to be obsessed with a local boy, Beatrice disappeared suddenly from the island, and Theo eventually became a shut-in, his paintings reflecting his dark turn.

The first thing I want to say about this book is that the writing style is beautiful. In a book where art is so central to the story, it feels right to have the writing reflect that as well. Maine writes stunning descriptions, not only of the scenery, but of the characters' feelings. Her writing is poignant and so fitting for this story.

The story spans 100 years and we learn it through two different timelines - 1910, when Beatrice and Theo are living in the house, and 2010, when Hetty and the locals are searching for answers about the house's mysterious inhabitants. I was drawn mostly to Beatrice and her story in 1910, and always found myself wanting to read more of her story. She is an independent woman with such gumption, and I found her intriguing. She's brought to this place that, initially, she doesn't care for (she'd rather be vacationing in Europe), but that she tries to enjoy for her husband's sake. She ultimately gets wrapped up in what could be considered a scandal if people found out about it, but I was rooting for her all the way.

I felt a kind of disconnect with the love story in Hetty's timeline - I didn't really feel a spark between the two characters and so when something did happen between them, my reaction was something like, "Oh...ok". I wasn't opposed to that pairing, and in fact I think it was a good fit, but there wasn't much leading up to it that had made me root for them. When I was reading her timeline, I found myself mostly interested in finding out who the body belonged to.

The mystery unravels at a good pace and I must say, I very much enjoyed this book. If you like mysteries, love stories, and switching between timelines, I definitely recommend reading The House Between Tides.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware | Book Review

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Publishing Date (Paperback): July 12, 2016
Pages: 352
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Out of the blue, Nora is invited to a hen party for an old friend she hasn't seen for nearly a decade. What should be a fun weekend with a few people in the English countryside turns into a night of horror, betrayal, and revenge.

I love me some psychological thrillers, there's no two ways about it. I love that feeling of knowing something is off, but not quite being able to put my finger on what exactly it is. Maybe it's because I read this immediately after finishing another psychological thriller that blew me away, but this one didn't quite do it for me.

Now, don't get me wrong - this is a really well-written, intriguing story that I barely put down. But some points of the story dragged a little and I was left hoping the story would move along quicker, especially leading up to the action.

Once we got into the more intense part of the story, the clues kept coming, and along with those, the doubt about who we thought committed the crime. This story really makes you question the characters you feel like you've come to know, even though you've really only spent a weekend with them.

An interesting tidbit: Reese Witherspoon's production company has acquired the rights to make this story into a movie, and I'm definitely looking forward to that because I think this story will lend itself well to the big screen.

Overall, In a Dark, Dark Wood is an interesting, twisted thriller, even though it does drag in some places. Despite not being bowled over, I really enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it to anyone in the mood for a quick, dark read.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Valentina" by S. E. Lynes | Book Review

Valentina: A hauntingly intelligent
psychological thriller by S. E. Lynes

Publishing Date: July 1, 2016
Pages: 280
Publisher: Blackbird Digital Books
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

When Shona moves into a cottage with her partner, Mikey, and their daughter, Isla, in picturesque rural Scotland, they think all that's ahead of them is bliss. How very wrong they are. With Mikey working offshore and Shona left alone with their baby in the isolated countryside, Shona quickly becomes restless. But just when she needs her the most, Shona meets Valentina and they become best friends. But everything is not as it seems.

Valentina is an intense and, as the subtitle suggests, highly intelligent psychological thriller. The tension is palpable throughout as we feel the effects of cabin fever starting to show in Shona, and as little things keep cropping up that aren't quite right.

We know something is off before Shona does, and as such we start picking up on clues, trying to guess what exactly is going on. I was able to figure out most of what was at play fairly early on, but it was a hell of a ride anyway. I could barely put this book down because it was so intriguing. The story leaves you wondering: who can you really trust?

Initially, I found the switch in perspective we get about two thirds of the way through a little awkward, but I quickly became engrossed in the new information, the other side of everything leading up to that point. The story is so well written and you find yourself feeling empathy for and understanding points of view you wouldn't normally identify with.

I found the characters themselves really interesting and it was easy for me to become invested in their stories. Shona is a no-nonsense Scottish journalist, trusting and strong, a woman who wants to do what she thinks is best for her family. Mikey is a doting husband and father, the picture of the hard-working provider. And then there's Valentina, the mysterious, free-spirited best friend who seems to know more than she's letting on.

Valentina is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read to date, and it's definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far. It's a page-turner that will leave you second-guessing yourself. Psychological damage can make people do drastic things...

*This book was sent to me by Blackbird Digital Books in exchange for an honest review.

"You, Me and the Rest of Us: #NewYorkStories" by Alex Clermont | Book Review

You, Me and the Rest of Us:
 #NewYorkStories by Alex Clermont

Publishing Date: March 31, 2016
Pages: 123 (eBook)
Publisher: See The Sun
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon | Kobo

New York City: the Big Apple, the City that Never Sleeps...whatever you call it, chances are you know it by name, and even if you've never been there, you can probably picture the hustle and bustle in your head. You, Me and the Rest of Us: #NewYorkStories is a collection of short stories that brings the people of NYC to life.

Something I look for a lot in books is character diversity - and this book has it in spades. There are so many different people in this collection, and I really do mean different: there are a variety of races, genders, ages, sexualities...it really reflects the cultures present in the city.

This collection is very much about the "human experience". Everyone deals with different issues in their lives, and with these characters we see everyone from a young man from a small town moving to the big city, to a pair of immigrants envisioning their newborn's future, to a group of vigilantes tired of seeing their friends get killed by cops. We really get to know and feel for people from all walks of life.

The writing in this collection makes the characters so vivid, and it makes me care about them and become invested in their stories. Whether or not I could see myself in each character's situation, I was always able to empathize with them easily and understand why they felt the way they did or why they were reacting the way they were.

I've mentioned before that correct grammar is important to me, and there were quite a few errors in this book, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the stories. In fact, out of the 14 stories, there was only one I didn't really identify with. In a collection of stories, I'd say that's a pretty good ratio!

If you love New York City (or the idea of it), I definitely recommend giving this collection of short stories a read.

*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

"The Voodoo Killings" by Kristi Charish | Book Review

The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish

Publishing Date: May 10, 2016
Pages: 352
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

In a world where zombies and ghosts are publicly accepted as real, and where (before it was outlawed) zombies were raised to help solve their own murders, Kincaid Strange is a badass "practitioner" - essentially a necromancer, though she prefers not to be associated with dead people sex stuff - just trying to pay her rent. But things take a twisted turn when she gets a call about a new zombie - one unlike any she's seen before.

When I first heard the plot of this story, I was completely intrigued. I love books with supernatural elements and I don't know that I've ever read an urban fantasy novel before - certainly not like this one, anyway. It uses tropes we know well - zombies, ghosts, necromancy - and spins a page-turning tale of mystery, betrayal, and an underground city.

As I started the novel, I was instantly drawn to Kincaid Stange's (can we just take a moment to appreciate how cool that name is?) snark. I find snarky and sarcastic characters very entertaining, and Kincaid is all of these things. Also badass, she's a complete badass.

The story is set in Seattle, where the Otherside is stronger due to the city's proximity to water. Kincaid "pulls a globe" every time she needs to examine a zombie's bindings, a habit that's taking its toll on her health, and calls on her ghost roommate, Nate, by writing on mirrors. "Ghost" as in actual ghost, not as in rarely there. Nate, a now-deceased 90's grunge rock star, is one of my favourite characters as he provides a lot of comic relief.

I got a lot of iZombie vibes from this story which, for me, is a really great thing because it's one of my favourite TV shows (and the comics are great, too). We've got zombies, a Seattle setting, and there's even a brief mention of someone getting their brains from a morgue!

The Voodoo Killings is the first in a new series and personally, I cannot wait for the next novel. This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year, if not ever. The story will thrill you and the ending will leave you itching for the next one!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Batch" by Joel MacCharles & Dana Harrison | Book Review

Batch by Joel MacCharles & Dana Harrison

Publishing Date: May 3, 2016
Pages: 352
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon

It all started with a blog. In 2008, the food blog "WellPreserved.ca" was created; it now holds more than 700 recipes and has inspired a food festival, pop-up events, and even a graphic design company.

The first part of the book gives you instructions on seven different styles of preserving, including fermenting, cellaring, and infusing, which are the methods I used in the recipes I'll talk about at the end of this post. For complete beginners like me, these chapters will basically be your preserving Bible because they give you the basic knowledge you need to get started.

The recipes are organized by ingredient, which makes grocery store trips a dream when you're making things from this book. In each chapter, you'll learn a few different ways to preserve an ingredient, such as peaches, peppers, and meat. At the end of each chapter, there are recipes that show you the delicious ways you can use the preserves you've just made.

Along with each recipe, you can see the level of difficulty which, as a complete newcomer to preserving, I really valued. I wanted to start off easy so I could learn along the way and work up to some harder recipes.

Clockwise from left: Penne a la Chili-Infused Vodka (p. 178);
Fermented Pancakes with Maple Syrup with Dried Blueberries
(pp. 140 & 132); Fridge Pickles (p. 194)

The first things I made were Fermented Pancakes with Maple Syrup with Dried Blueberries. The maple syrup was easy to make, but you need to be very careful not to burn the syrup because that can happen in an instant. The pancakes were time-consuming (as pancakes generally are) but completely worth it because in all honesty, they are the best pancakes I've ever had - and my whole family was in agreement! My only problem was that there seems to be a missing step in the recipe - it never tells you what to do with the egg yolk mixture. Basically though, you just have to combine everything.

The pickles were by far the easiest recipe I made, and they were such a yummy snack.

Being the pasta freak I am, the penne recipe was definitely my favourite out of all the things I made. The recipe calls for chilies, but I went a step down in heat and used jalapenos instead. This recipe is SO delicious, I can't recommend it enough. It was my first time eating and making penne a la vodka, but it certainly won't be the last time!

I'm really pleased with how all the recipes I tried turned out, and I'm looking forward to trying more of these recipes and methods this summer when there are more foods in season!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Sirocco" by Sabrina Ghayour | Book Review

Sirocco by Sabrina Ghayour

Publishing Date: May 3, 2016
Pages: 240
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon

The word "sirocco" means "a hot, dry wind blowing from East to West, often carrying with it flavours of the Mediterranean". And this cookbook is exactly that.

Sabrina Ghayour is back with her second cookbook, full of delicious recipes from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The recipes are inspired by the flavours of the East, but use the ingredients and cooking styles of the West. From snacks to main dishes to desserts, Ghayour uses simple, everyday ingredients to make wonderfully flavourful food.

As I flipped through this book looking for recipes I wanted to try, I found myself flagging practically everything - the recipes just sound (and the photography looks) that good!

As the introduction suggests, it's easy to find most of the ingredients required in this cookbook. For the recipes I decided to make, all the ingredients were either things I had at home, or things that we regularly buy for our household anyway. It was convenient to not have to look for "special" ingredients!

Clockwise from left: Dark Chocolate & Pistachio Cookies (p. 219);
Kofta Burgers (p. 181); Two-Cheese Melts with Thyme-Roasted
Onions (p. 30); Grape Leaf-Baked Feta (p. 81)

I ended up making two appetizer/snack recipes, one main dish, and a dessert. All of them were delicious. I think my personal favourite was either the Kofta Burgers or the Two-Cheese Melts with Thyme-Roasted Onions, but it's a tough competition.

Everything was pretty simple/easy to make and didn't require a whole lot of effort, which is a plus. I think people of most skill levels in the kitchen would be able to make these recipes with no problems.

To top it all off, these recipes are approved by everyone in my family who tried them, which means that in some cases, they're even picky-people-approved!

Sirocco is full of simple, delicious recipes and it has quickly become my favourite cookbook!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Spark Joy" by Marie Kondo | Book Review

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Publishing Date: January 5, 2016
Pages: 291
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Spark Joy is the companion to Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. In this illustrated guide, Kondo explains her KonMari method in-depth to prepare you for clearing your life of all the "stuff" that doesn't add joy to your life.

The ultimate goal of the KonMari method is for you to find the things that spark joy in your life. All else can be discarded, with a few exceptions, such as essential tools and utensils.

Kondo encourages you to touch and hold every item as you're tidying, in order to feel that spark, or lack thereof, that it emits. She believes that if you pay close attention to an object and the way you react to or feel about it, you'll know whether it sparks joy in your life.

She also stresses the difference between tidying and cleaning, and this is something major that anyone interested in tidying needs to pay attention to. Moving things around and wiping the bookshelf they were on is not tidying - it's cleaning. Tidying is when you actually clear your space of things you no longer need or want.

The KonMari method is very much a way of life, and not one I can see myself completely dedicating myself to. There are, however, some great tips on tidying, regardless of whether or not you intend to immerse yourself in this way of life.

The most valuable section for me personally was the one where we learn that the order in which you tidy items is of the utmost importance. Like most people, I've always tidied by area, but this is inefficient because things in a certain category pop up in other places and when that happens, I'm practically back at square one. It makes so much sense when the information is presented, but it's something I'm not sure would have occurred to me on my own.

Spark Joy is a great book for you if you're ready to revolutionize the way you tidy. If you're not at that stage yet, there are definitely still some great tips to learn from this book.

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts" by Janet DeLee | Book Review

Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee

Publishing Date: May 1, 2015
Pages: 253
Publisher: CreateSpace
Links: Goodreads | Book Depository | Amazon

At the age of fifty eight, Ginny Lawther decides that she can still take a leap of faith in order to accomplish a dream. She just needs some support from others doing the same. Ginny starts the Ideal Life Club and meets three other people who need support following their dreams...and one who needs help with a ghost problem. They have their action plans in place, but will they be able to achieve their dreams with all the ghosts that keep popping up?

This book is absolutely delightful. It's a funny, hopeful story that makes you want to get up and take your own leap of faith and follow that dream that's been niggling at your mind.

The characters are so very different from one another and yet they come together to support each other and make sure each of them knows they can take steps to achieve their dreams. I felt like I was there in the Ideal Life Group with them, and am actually currently coming up with some steps I can take to put one of my own ideas into motion.

I really identified with the characters' desires to follow their dreams and admired their bravery and determination to take a leap of faith in order to do so. I especially related to Hilda and Jerry, who wanted to make crafts and be a musician for a living, respectively. They wanted to do something creative for a living but struggled to figure out precisely how to do that. In this day and age, it seems like almost everyone wants to do exactly that, and you have to have something really unique in order to be successful. And they certainly have that!

I love the way the characters' stories interweave, and in many ways, they show us how interconnected our lives are on this little planet of ours. The ghostly apparitions really brought everything and everyone together to get to the bottom of some mysterious happenings, and I love that the group could come together in such a way to try and help each other.

My one complaint in all this is that there are quite a few grammatical errors, but if you're not as particular about grammar as I am, then this really isn't an issue.

If you're looking for a little push to follow a dream, or if you're just looking for a sweet, optimistic read, this is the book for you.

*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

"Eligible" by Curtis Sittenfeld | Book Review

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Publishing Date: April 19, 2016
Pages: 656
Publisher: Random House Large Print
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Amazon | Kobo

Even if you've never read Pride and Prejudice (like me, I say ashamedly), you probably know the story: girl's family is pressuring her to marry, girl meets guy, girl thinks guy is a snob, girl and guy fall in love. This is of course an oversimplified summary of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's beautifully complicated relationship, which is retold in Eligible.

This is the story of Liz Bennet set in our modern era. Liz lives in New York City and writes feminist articles for a women's magazine, but heads home to Cincinnati after her dad has a heart attack. She quickly learns that her family needs her more than even she could have guessed. And along the way, she meets a tall, dark stranger...whom she finds repulsive.

Almost everything in this story has been adapted to modern times. Curtis Sittenfeld addresses a lot of the issues we deal with in modern-day life, including racism, trans- and homophobia, fat shaming, classism, and pressure to marry. Since the Bennets (particularly Mrs. Bennet) consider themselves part of the upper class, we see a lot of the wealthy and their prejudice toward minorities. Some of the aforementioned issues are much more prevalent in today's society, while others have been around for centuries and show just how little we've changed in some ways.

With regards to marriage, many of us are still under a lot of pressure from our parents to get married, although not quite as early on in our lives. Rather than the young age of 20 that she was in the original story, Liz is 38 in this retelling, while her older sister Jane is nearly 40. There's still a lot of pressure to marry, it's just that in modern times, you have longer before your parents start losing hope.

This story is very much written in the style of the original in terms of having old-timey words and cadence, yet it still feels like a modern style because of the story. It's a really cool juxtaposition!

I love the ways in which the author changed the sisters' relationships. The way Liz and Darcy's relationship gets started, for example, is perfectly adapted to how we do things now. I can absolutely see that whole scenario playing out in real life. And Jane and Chip Bingley's storyline - another fantastically strange relationship I can picture.

I'd go so far as to say that most of the Bennets are unlikable in this story because of their, well, pride and prejudice, and yet I'm compelled by their stories. Eligible is definitely a book I'm going to pass along to friends and family who love Pride and Prejudice.

If you're in the mood for a fun, long read, then cozy up with your favourite drink and enjoy this modern retelling of a wonderful classic.

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Still Mine" by Amy Stuart | Book Review

Still Mine by Amy Stuart

Publishing Date: March 1, 2016
Pages: 320
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

Clare is on the run. She's running from her abusive ex, leaving her old life behind, when she's hired by a mysterious stranger named Malcolm to investigate a missing person. When Clare arrives in Blackmore asking about Shayna, the locals become suspicious of her. Will she be able to find the missing woman and also escape her ex?

I want to start off by saying, Clare is such a great character. We get to know pieces of her background story throughout the novel - she's dealt with abuse in the past and has been lucky enough and resourceful enough to get herself out of that situation. Now, as she learns more and more about Shayna and the people she surrounded herself with, Clare is so determined to find out where the missing woman is. As she gets closer to Shayna's friends and family over the course of one week, Clare suspects that several people know more than they're letting on. Even when Malcolm is ready to give up on Shayna's case and move on, Clare persists, wanting to know exactly what happened to her. She trusts her instincts and they're usually right.

I love books about small towns because you tend to get an in-depth look at what happens when a small group of people are in such close proximity for most of their lives. Not only is Blackmore a small town, it's also a mining town. This affects the town dynamics, especially in a place like Blackmore where there's been a mine disaster. That kind of tragedy can either bring a small town together or tear it apart. Still Mine definitely addresses these small town issues in a big way - and adds a whole lot of drama and suspense.

The story takes place over the course of one week and, as you can imagine, there's a lot of info to be learned in such a short amount of time. All the new information that came up kept me intrigued throughout, and built so much tension. The end was particularly well-written, with all that tension coming to a head and the story coming full circle.

Still Mine is a tense, intriguing story led by a determined woman learning about someone's past while trying to escape her own.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Eat Better, Live Better, Feel Better" by Julie Cove | Book Review

Eat Better, Live Better, Feel Better by Julie Cove

Publishing Date: March 1, 2016
Pages: 298
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

Eat Better, Live Better, Feel Better is an interesting new cookbook all about alkalizing your life. It includes a 4-step program to ease you into the alkaline lifestyle.

I was interested in this cookbook because I like learning about the different ways you can feed your body - i.e. vegan, paleo, gluten-free, alkaline - and I love having recipes for clean eating.

This cookbook is very educational on the subject of an alkaline diet, and there's tons of useful information provided. You'll learn everything from what exactly the alkaline lifestyle is, to how to check your pH levels, to the symptoms of overacidity in your diet. There's a list of foods and their alkaline levels...even an alkaline food pyramid! It's full of beautiful pictures, adorable illustrations, and delicious-sounding recipes.

I went through the whole book looking for recipes I could sink my teeth into. Like I've said before on here, I do consider my kitchen very well-stocked...in spite of this, I could only find three recipes to make based on what I had at home.

Clockwise from left: Chai-Spiced Hemp Mylk (p. 121);
Lemon-Lime Chia Fresca (p. 120); Wild Summer Berries
with Vanilla Almond Lemon Cream (p. 257)

Now, that's subjective because it all depends on what kind of food you stock your kitchen with; part of what I learned from this book is that if I were to eat alkaline, I'd have to do an overhaul because there are a lot of different- and sometimes fancy-sounding things required for several recipes, and they're not what I consider everyday ingredients based on how and what I eat now.

Having said all that, I was able to find three recipes (in addition to the recipe for alkaline water, which I also made because several recipes call for it) as I like to do for cookbooks. For me personally, these are all an acquired taste. They're things that in my mind I think I could get used to, or that I need to tweak for my own taste buds next time I make the recipes.

All in all, this cookbook teaches you all about what it means to eat an alkaline diet and why it's good for your body. It's full of alkaline, mostly vegan meals, and even though the ones I tried weren't my favourite, there are still tons of recipes I'd like to try from this book!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"The Passenger" by Lisa Lutz | Book Review

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

Publishing Date: March 1, 2016
Pages: 320
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

After Tanya Dubois' husband dies suddenly and under suspicious circumstances, she decides to flee town instead of sticking around and answering to the police. She dyes her hair, changes her name, and cashes in her credit cards. The thing is, she's innocent...so why would an innocent person try to disappear?

Throughout the novel, we get hints at Tanya's (now Amelia, and many other identities) dark past through cryptic email exchanges with someone she used to know. I found that way of revealing information about her very interesting, and it made me want to know what happened that was so bad that she had to leave her hometown and disappear.

In terms of characters, there wasn't enough to Tanya-Amelia-etc's character for me to really empathize with her. She had lost so much of herself over the years, so perhaps it was the author's intention to have her essentially be a shell, but it made it hard for me to really root for her and be invested in her life.

However, it was really cool to read about Tanya-Amelia-etc as well as Blue, another mysterious woman rarely seen but somehow always present, navigating this off-the-grid life. There were so many times when they had to get themselves out of messy situations involving strength, cunning, and a lot of dirty work, and I enjoy reading about these kinds of scenarios.

The Passenger is a fun, fast-paced read that takes us on a literal journey of escapism. The focus is mainly on the action and although the two main female characters are undoubtedly badasses, it would have been nice for them to have more depth. Regardless, this is an enjoyable read that'll make you feel just a little more confident in your ability to disappear, if you ever needed to.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Hot Thai Kitchen" by Pailin Chongchitnant | Book Review

Hot Thai Kitchen by Pailin Chongchitnant

Publishing Date: March 8, 2016
Pages: 264
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

Pailin Chongchitnant grew up in Thailand, watching all the beautiful, fragrant food being made in her kitchen. She became a Cordon Bleu-educated chef in San Francisco and, wanting to share her knowledge and teach people about Thai cuisine, she started her own cooking show on YouTube called Hot Thai Kitchen!

Pailin really seeks to educate in this cookbook. There is so much interesting, useful information in this book for those of us who are interested in learning about Thai food - there are nearly 100 pages before the "Recipes" section, with everything from how Thais eat, to iconic dishes from different regions of Thailand, to the structure of a Thai dish.

One section I found very interesting was "How to Make an Educated Substitution". In this, Pailin teaches us what we need to consider about the recipe before we decide what substitute to use. What you use depends on several factors, and it's great information to have so you can rest assured you're still making an authentically Thai dish.

Another great section is "Where to Buy Thai Ingredients". It's important to note that Thai cuisine involves a particular set of ingredients. I consider my kitchen to be very well-stocked, but I was missing tons of ingredients because Thai food involves a lot of ingredients I don't generally keep on hand. That said, I was still able to make delicious food from this book, using only what I had at home.

And now, on to the food!

My absolute favourite dish I made, and the one that was by far the biggest hit with my family, were the Crispy Spring Rolls. For some reason I had anticipated these being hard to make, but I actually found them pretty simple and kind of therapeutic to make! I didn't have spring roll wrappers, which the recipe asked for, so instead I used rice paper and I think it worked out really well. These spring rolls are so delicious and I'm already looking for an excuse to make more.

Clockwise from the top: Crispy Spring Rolls (p. 162); Street-
Style Fried Bananas (p. 225); Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with
Soy Sauce & Chinese Broccoli

Whenever I'm at a restaurant and I see that they have fried bananas, that's my go-to dessert. So when I saw this recipe for Street-Style Fried Bananas, it wasn't even a question, I knew I was going to make these. Again, I didn't have the Namwa bananas or sweet plantains that the recipe called for, so I used regular bananas and they worked great. This dish is a nice balance of sweet (from the sugar and coconut) and savoury (from the sesame seeds).

The last dish I made from the cookbook was Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Soy Sauce & Chinese Broccoli. Now, I made a lot of substitutions in this recipe (instant noodles instead of rice noodles, broccoli instead of Chinese broccoli), but I kept the sauce pretty close to what was called for. Even though the ingredients were quite different from the recipe, I really like how the dish turned out!

All in all, Hot Thai Kitchen is a very informative cookbook full of pretty photography and delicious recipes. It's great for anyone interested in learning about Thai cuisine and becoming acquainted with new ingredients!

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"The Flood Girls" by Richard Fifield | Book Review

The Flood Girls by Richard Fifield

Publishing Date: February 2, 2016
Pages: 336
Publisher: Gallery Books
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

Set in the small town of Quinn, Montana, The Flood Girls is a story of redemption with a wild cast of characters. The writing immediately draws you into the lives of the characters, particularly Rachel Flood, who has returned to Quinn nine years after leaving disaster in her wake.

In an attempt to make amends with her mother, Laverna, and the town she left behind, Rachel joins the town's softball team, the Flood Girls, and takes a job at The Dirty Shame, the only bar in town. Here she meets Jake, Red Mabel, Black Mabel, the Sinclairs, and several other women who are important parts of the team.

Each character is so very different from the next, and yet in their own ways they're all absolute bad-asses who know what they want and stick up for it. I loved each and every one of the protagonists, from the cantankerous yet caring Laverna, to the young, cheeky, and absolutely fabulous Jake. They're all so beautifully written that I truly felt like I knew them and came to love each of them, quirks and all.

The Flood Girls are very tight-knit and protective of their own at first, some reluctant to let Rachel in. But eventually she proves herself and her determination to make amends, and the ensuing relationships are at once hilarious and heartwarming. I especially loved Rachel's relationship with Jake, the 12-year-old next door who accessorizes his outfits with thrift store finds. Jake's eager-to-learn, wise-beyond-his-years personality was an absolute delight to read, and he and Rachel forged such a strong, meaningful relationship. The sass is strong with that one.

Over the past couple of years, I've been spending quite a bit of time in a small town and I've gotten a feel for what it's like to be a resident: everyone knows everyone (gossip and all!), and everyone is interconnected in one way or another. I've also gotten a sense for how quickly people are willing to help others who may be in need.

That small town nature is very present in this book. There are a lot of good things in Quinn, but just like in any town anywhere, there are also some dark ones, like abuse and intolerance. And when one of their own is affected, the Flood Girls don't stand for it. They defy the people who tell them the way things "should" be and despite their differences, they stand together to help each other. And those were some very emotional moments.

My mind is kind of blown by how many difficult, important themes Richard Fifield manages to eloquently address. Through these wonderful characters he's created, we learn about redemption, friendship, intolerance, love, betrayal, grief - all while still being able to laugh with the characters, somehow. The Flood Girls are incredible women (and a really awesome boy!) who will stay with me for years to come.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"Hidden Bodies" by Caroline Kepnes | Book Review

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

Publishing Date: February 23, 2016
Pages: 448
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

In this sequel to the acclaimed You, Joe Goldberg is back and he's still looking for love. This time around, our charming sociopath's search takes him to Los Angeles, where despite his contempt for the L.A. culture, he fits right in. But will all the hidden bodies from his time in New York come back to haunt him?

First off, even though this is a sequel, you could easily read Hidden Bodies as a standalone novel because at the beginning, the author spends a few pages recalling the events of the first book.

I've seen Joe described as Holden Caulfield meets Patrick Bateman, and it's so true, I think that's a great description of him. He travels in search of something more in life, all the while telling us his views on the world he sees, and at the same time, he's a sociopath and he usually sees L.A. and its people in a disdainful way. He doesn't let it show though - outwardly, he's so charming and he fits right in with pretty much everyone he meets, despite his inner monologue showing us what he really thinks of those around him.

When Joe first gets to L.A. and starts acclimating to the new territory, joining social media, trying to make it in Hollywood and such, I was a little skeptical about what he was doing and what direction the story would go in. It seemed at first like Joe was going against everything he'd stood for in You. It didn't feel right. But as I got more and more into the story, everything came together and made sense, given the strange new setting. I ended up really liking the fish-out-of-water aspect of Joe being in L.A.

Hidden Bodies is very different from You. There's no more second person narration, which was something major that I liked about the first one because it's so unique. I don't think it suffered for having a different kind of narration though, and it makes perfect sense with the progression of the story from the last book. There are also far fewer book references this time around; instead, there are a lot of references to movies and music, which I liked. Once again, I have a bunch of titles I need to check out after reading Joe's story!

Overall I really enjoyed this sequel, even though I wasn't sure about the new setting at first. Caroline Kepnes does such a great job of building tension with regards to the events of the first book haunting Joe's thoughts, and by the end there was so much action and drama...I was anxious and exclaiming "Oh my god!" out loud. If you enjoyed You, I think you'll like Hidden Bodies as well, but you should keep in mind that this sequel is very different. Personally, I could read this series forever because it's interesting to read such a unique and, yes, disturbing perspective. Joe Goldberg is back in full force.

You can read my review of the first book, You, here.

*This book was sent to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

"13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl" by Mona Awad | Book Review

13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad

Publishing Date: February 23, 2016
Pages: 224
Publisher: Penguin Canada
Links: Goodreads | Indigo | Book Depository | Kobo

Lizzie has never liked the way she looks. She's "the fat girl" and she has low self esteem when it comes to her appearance. As Lizzie grows up, she decides to lose weight, but that process brings problems of its own. Will Lizzie ever be anything other than the fat girl?

Let me start off by saying, this wasn't what I was expecting. I was looking forward to a charmingly funny story about a big girl who's uncomfortable with her body at first, but learns to love herself at whatever size she is. This is not that book.

We see Lizzie through different stages of her life - when she's fat, when she's thin, when she goes by different variations of her name. Through much of 13 Ways, I found it hard to identify with Lizzie, but around the middle I started to get more into the story and was more able to appreciate it for what it is: a story about a human who has a hard time liking herself because of her weight and low self esteem, and how it affects all of her relationships - with herself, her female friends, her husband, and her parents.

I've seen this book described as "hilarious" and "funny" multiple times, but personally, I found the funny parts few and far between. And even then, I didn't find them so much funny as I did relateable. When Lizzie goes clothes shopping, for example, she searches for the items that are the "Least of All Evils". That is so incredibly true to life, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read that. It's so hard to find plus-size clothes (although it's getting easier nowadays), that that's what I've personally been reduced to for most of my life, and I'm sure most, if not all, plus-size people would identify with that.

Mona Awad gets right some of the anger that comes with being bigger, as well as some of the hardships we face, including socially, societally, and personally. At the same time, I found it hard to identify with Lizzie for most of the book. I found that she had so much self-loathing, which I know is true of a lot of us fat people because the media and our North American society as a whole tells us that we're basically the opposite of the ideal, attractive body type. I was hoping that she'd gain some sort of self-confidence in herself somehow, but that didn't even happen when she lost the weight. She became obsessive in her diet and exercise, and she became so bitter - about herself, about other thin women, about fat women...no one was safe from her judgment.

I really liked how the author portrayed Lizzie's relationships, they were all really interesting. I found myself sobbing uncontrollably through one particular chapter, where we get to see more of her relationship with her mother. Her mother wouldn't tell her anything, but it was so clear that she knew she was sick and was trying her best to enjoy and absorb every moment with her daughter during her visit. She knew she wouldn't have very many chances to see her daughter anymore because Lizzie lived far away, and it was so heartbreaking to read.

I have a complicated relationship with this book. On one hand, I found it hard to identify with the sad, angry Lizzie, but on the other hand it's interesting to read how her relationship with herself affected her relationships with other people. This feels like something I would have read in one of my university English classes, and I did always enjoy dissecting these kinds of stories because they raise important and interesting issues. Ultimately, I found 13 Ways depressing, but it certainly made me think.

*This book was sent to me by Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.