A sharp and funny look at an unhappy woman’s quest to manifest a better life.
An investment banking analyst dreams of becoming a yoga teacher, but that’s easier said than done.
Allegra hates her job. That’s not saying much, since everyone at Anderson Shaw, the most prestigious investment bank on Wall Street, hates their job. It involves pulling constant all-nighters, doing busy work at a moment’s notice, and working such long hours that a steady stream of caffeine is the only way to survive. But Allegra has a secret: Unlike her co-workers, she doesn’t dream of moving up the banking ladder and making a seven-figure salary. Allegra’s passion is yoga, and as soon as she gets her yearly bonus, she plans to quit Anderson Shaw, take a yoga training program, and become a teacher. The only problem is that her job is killing her. After one impulsive night away from the office leads to unknowingly sleeping with her new boss, Allegra’s at rock bottom—stressed, unhappy, and in awful physical shape from sitting hunched over a computer all day. That’s when she runs into her idol, an Instagram yogi named Skylar Smith. Skylar wants to help Allegra break out of her terrible job and into the world of yoga, but some of Skylar’s suggestions (such as fasting for 48 hours) actually create major problems for Allegra at work. Eventually, Allegra starts to realize that she doesn’t fully trust Skylar’s intentions, and she might just have to take more drastic action to get her life back on track. Debut author Henry has a background in both investment banking and yoga, and she imbues the story with believable and horrific details that perfectly illustrate how cutthroat and all-consuming the world of banking is (employees having seizures after working too long without sleep or passing out after overdosing on caffeine pills). Allegra’s work life is an endless stream of misery, but, luckily, on the page it’s much more entertaining due to her profane inner monologue that points out the ridiculousness she encounters in both the banking and yoga worlds.
A sharp and funny look at an unhappy woman’s quest to manifest a better life.Pub Date: July 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-982114-53-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
Most likely to appeal to readers looking to see just how far the “enemies to lovers” trope can be stretched before it snaps.
A married couple’s long years of feuding come to an end in this romance debut.
In her first season, Lady Violet Grey was caught unchaperoned on a balcony with Lord James Audley. Although they only engaged in mild flirting and friendly banter, he immediately offers to marry her rather than see her ruined. The timeline jumps forward five years to a couple in great distress. Even though they were celebrated as a great love match, a year into the marriage they had a bitter fight that neither could forgive or forget. The chilly, uncomfortable silence lasts for four years, only breaking when Violet receives a note informing her that James was knocked unconscious after falling from his horse. She realizes she still loves him and rushes to his bedside, but he’s fully recovered by the time she arrives. Furious and convinced he played her for a fool, she decides to fake an illness of her own to show him how it feels. Their friends and family encourage them to talk to each other rather than plot and plan, but they are too afraid to trust each other after all the years of discord. Waters is a gifted writer. She deploys sharp, incisive prose to describe each character’s inner world, showing how each is a product of their upbringing and class. James resents being the neglected second son while Violet chafes at the bounds of feminine propriety. It’s clear the novel is attempting to create a comedic War of the Roses–style game of one-upmanship, but readers might lose patience as James' and Violet’s immature antics drag on. It’s difficult to root for characters so committed to nursing their feelings of resentment, animosity, and persecution.
Most likely to appeal to readers looking to see just how far the “enemies to lovers” trope can be stretched before it snaps.Pub Date: April 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9821-3611-6
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
With a clear setup for future adventures, this novel promises to become a likable series.
Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert is a tough, fair, and unemotional professional, but when her younger sister is murdered, Bree must confront demons past and present.
When Bree was a child, her abusive father killed her mother and then himself. Bree’s sister and brother were sent to live with one relative, Bree to another. But when Bree gets a panicked call from her sister, Erin, she rushes to their upstate New York hometown, where Erin is still living, only to find that Erin has been murdered—and Erin’s husband, Justin, is missing. Complicating matters is Matt Flynn, Justin’s best friend and a former cop and K-9 handler of his dog, Brody. Matt, who was forced to retire after being injured, firmly believes Justin is innocent. He, Bree, and Brody join forces to find out the truth, dealing with everything from suspicious characters to Bree’s own traumatic past—a past that includes a very sound reason for her fear of dogs. And just when Bree realizes she will upend her own life to care for Erin’s two children, the children’s scheming biological father shows up in town. Leigh, (Whisper of Bones, 2019, etc.) has a genuine talent for creating believable, appealing characters and realistic dialogue. These characters deserve a stronger plot, though readers will probably be content enough to hang out with Bree, Matt, and Brody.
With a clear setup for future adventures, this novel promises to become a likable series.Pub Date: March 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5420-0694-1
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Review Posted Online: Dec. 8, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2020
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