An enjoyable read full of book industry antics and plenty of dramatic surprises.
After taking drastic measures to deal with writer’s block, a struggling author finds herself part of some unexpected plot twists.
Once upon a time, Pippa Jones was a big name in the book world. Her debut novel was a smash and was made into a movie. But since then, she hasn’t published anything—even though she’s three years past the deadline for her next novel. But as a busy mom who feels more distant from her husband every day, she finds it hard to focus on writing—that is, until her agent calls and says she needs to turn a novel in ASAP or pay back her advance. Of course, she’s already spent the advance on an office renovation. In desperation, Pippa turns to a suggestion from her son: What if she wrote a book that was intentionally empty? A novel called Blank, full of literal blank pages, could highlight the fakery of the publishing world and, if it became a bestseller, show how ridiculous it is that some books succeed regardless of their content while truly great books languish in obscurity. Pippa’s out-there idea could revive her career…or completely tank it. Meanwhile, Pippa also faces family and friendship issues, but maybe she’ll be lucky enough to have second acts in both her work and her personal life. Owens (an author as well as a podcaster, bookstore owner, and publisher) clearly understands the publishing industry and has many thoughts about what she sees as its limitations. Her book shines, though, when focusing on Pippa’s personal drama and the way her support system surrounds her when she’s in crisis. It’s unclear if readers would actually shell out money for an empty book, but they’ll always be interested in is scandal, betrayal, and heartwarming bonds.
An enjoyable read full of book industry antics and plenty of dramatic surprises.Pub Date: today
ISBN: 9781662516696
Page Count: 270
Publisher: Little A
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War.
A young woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam casts a deep shadow over her life.
When we learn that the farewell party in the opening scene is for Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s older brother—“a golden boy, a wild child who could make the hardest heart soften”—who is leaving to serve in Vietnam in 1966, we feel pretty certain that poor Finley McGrath is marked for death. Still, it’s a surprise when the fateful doorbell rings less than 20 pages later. His death inspires his sister to enlist as an Army nurse, and this turn of events is just the beginning of a roller coaster of a plot that’s impressive and engrossing if at times a bit formulaic. Hannah renders the experiences of the young women who served in Vietnam in all-encompassing detail. The first half of the book, set in gore-drenched hospital wards, mildewed dorm rooms, and boozy officers’ clubs, is an exciting read, tracking the transformation of virginal, uptight Frankie into a crack surgical nurse and woman of the world. Her tensely platonic romance with a married surgeon ends when his broken, unbreathing body is airlifted out by helicopter; she throws her pent-up passion into a wild affair with a soldier who happens to be her dead brother’s best friend. In the second part of the book, after the war, Frankie seems to experience every possible bad break. A drawback of the story is that none of the secondary characters in her life are fully three-dimensional: Her dismissive, chauvinistic father and tight-lipped, pill-popping mother, her fellow nurses, and her various love interests are more plot devices than people. You’ll wish you could have gone to Vegas and placed a bet on the ending—while it’s against all the odds, you’ll see it coming from a mile away.
A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War.Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781250178633
Page Count: 480
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
A spicy novel that’s a must-read for fans of a British accent.
A rock star’s daughter decides to study abroad in search of her own experiences, finding romance and intrigue along the way.
For 19-year-old Abbey Bly, having a rock star for a father isn’t as glamorous as it seems. For one thing, she shares her name with Abbey Road, and for another, the only version of the famous Gunner Bly she knows is the helicopter parent she lives with in Nashville. Hoping to find her way outside her father’s sphere of influence, Abbey decides to spend a semester in London studying European history at Pembridge University. Promising to keep her father updated on every aspect of life abroad, Abbey heads to her shared apartment expecting to find three female roommates…only to find that she’s actually living with three men. Afraid that Gunner will order her home, Abbey decides to keep Lee, Jack, and Jamie’s gender a secret (lucky their names sound androgynous!) and sets her sights on adventure. While working on a research project about a mysterious painting and adapting to Britain’s drinking culture, Abbey finds time to explore a little romance despite her housemates’ strict no-fraternizing rule. First there’s Jack, a commitment-phobic Australian hottie who can’t seem to stay away from Abbey; then there’s Nate, a sexy bassist who keeps forgetting he’s taken. Toying with nonexclusive relationships and exploring her sexuality, Abbey can’t help but feel excited about all the experience she’s gaining, but has she really, truly found herself? Kennedy’s novel is a page-turner—who wouldn’t want to travel to a foreign country and meet interested potential lovers down the hall? Abbey is a relatable character who yearns to stand outside her father’s shadow, and though the love triangle is a focal point, it never outshines the heroine’s growth.
A spicy novel that’s a must-read for fans of a British accent.Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9781728299792
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Bloom Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
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