Review: The Woman in the Photo

There are a number of themes and nuances to Mary Hogan's latest novel, The Woman in the Photo. You can choose to analyze and consciously ponder your thoughts on DNA, social class, adoption, and natural disasters (to name a few), or you can get completely lost in a well told, interesting historical novel. I admit I was mostly in the latter category but I definitely found myself thinking about nature vs nurture while I admired the strength of the two heroines in this novel.

Here's the synopsis:

In this compulsively readable historical novel, from the author of the critically-acclaimed Two Sisters, comes the story of two young women—one in America’s Gilded Age, one in scrappy modern-day California—whose lives are linked by a single tragic afternoon in history.
1888: Elizabeth Haberlin, of the Pittsburgh Haberlins, spends every summer with her family on a beautiful lake in an exclusive club. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains above the working class community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the private retreat is patronized by society’s elite. Elizabeth summers with Carnegies, Mellons, and Fricks, following the rigid etiquette of her class. But Elizabeth is blessed (cursed) with a mind of her own. Case in point: her friendship with Eugene Eggar, a Johnstown steel mill worker. And when Elizabeth discovers that the club’s poorly maintained dam is about to burst and send 20 million tons of water careening down the mountain, she risks all to warn Eugene and the townspeople in the lake’s deadly shadow.
Present day: On her 18th birthday, genetic information from Lee Parker’s closed adoption is unlocked. She also sees an old photograph of a genetic relative—a 19th century woman with hair and eyes likes hers—standing in a pile of rubble from an ecological disaster next to none other than Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. Determined to identify the woman in the photo and unearth the mystery of that captured moment, Lee digs into history. Her journey takes her from California to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, from her present financial woes to her past of privilege, from the daily grind to an epic disaster. Once Lee’s heroic DNA is revealed, will she decide to forge a new fate?

The synopsis had it right - The Woman in the Photo really was "compulsively readable." In fact, it may have helped me have an even better cardio workout than usual. I was totally riveted before the flood took place in the story but I knew reading about the actual event would be pretty intense. I got to that part as I was on the exercise bike at the gym and I was so tense and heartbroken for the characters that I pedaled a little harder than usual. My boyfriend jokingly said I was trying to outrun the flood but, in a way, I think he was right. I was so completely immersed in the story that I think I was trying to urge characters to move faster, to get out of harm's way because I knew what was coming. Does that sound a little ridiculous? Maybe. But trust me when I say they were very powerful chapters. 

I wasn't really sure why Elizabeth's POV was first person while Lee's was third. I also wasn't a fan that all of a sudden we no longer had Elizabeth's perspective. I don't know why Hogan wrote it like that but I was a little sad when I realized she wouldn't be going back to Elizabeth. All that being said, I did enjoy the dual perspectives. It would have been interesting to read a novel purely from either character but joining the two brought a much deeper meaning to the story.

Mary Hogan hooked me at the start with a story about a historical event I knew nothing about and kept me engaged with characters whose lives intrigued me. The Woman in the Photo is so much more than a fictional retelling of a horrific natural disaster though. Hogan weaves together a captivating story about two different young women that will keep you turning the pages until there are no more to turn.

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Search Angel

I love when I get completely invested in a story. So much so that I'm not aware of time passing and end up getting a sunburn when I'm reading outside. OK, maybe not the sunburn part. I read The Search Angel by Tish Cohen last weekend in essentially one sitting because I was so into it. And yes, I got a bit of a sunburn because I was paying too much attention to this amazing book and not enough attention to the sun! :) I really wasn't expecting to love this book but I really did. The story grabbed me and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. 

Here's the synopsis, courtesy of the novel's page on HarperCollins Canada:

As the owner of the upscale children’s boutique Pretty Baby, Eleanor Sweet is surrounded by gleaming strollers, organic cotton onesies and roundbellied expectant mothers. It’s a serene atmosphere of new beginnings—but for the graffiti-splattered record shop next door and Eleanor’s fierce desire for a baby of her own. Her wish is finally granted in the form of Sylvie, an orphaned baby en route from earthquake-stricken Baja California. But when Eleanor’s husband unexpectedly gets cold feet and backs out, her dream of adopting Sylvie is at risk.
Adopted herself, Eleanor has always been reluctant to search out her birth mother, afraid of what she might find. But she is determined to save the adoption and to give Sylvie the family she deserves. Eleanor hires Isabelle, a search angel, to find her birth mother. What Eleanor discovers about love and family isn’t what she expects, but it gives her a new understanding of what it means to be a mother.

Reading about Eleanor was so enjoyable as she was a fabulous character. Even though I think having a baby right now is more of a nightmare than the dream that Eleanor thinks it is (hey, I'm only 26), I could still relate to her and her story. She's wanted a baby for so long that, like many women in her situation, she has become focused on a baby and only a baby. That need really came through the pages and I hurt for her when her ass of a husband (he really wasn't an ass overall but I hate that he hurt her like this) pulls out of the adoption and leaves her. I was just as anxious as she was when she was trying to find her birth mother even though I can't personally know how emotional and tumultuous that would be for someone.

I can't remember ever hearing of search angels before and I think it's a wonderful idea and it was an interesting part of the book. It didn't hurt that Isabelle was a really great character as well! She had an awesome personality but also had her own issues with adoption that were explored as well. Her story complemented Eleanor's and I'm glad we really got to know Isabelle. I kept my fingers crossed that she would be able to find Eleanor's mother and that everything would work out for the best.

I really loved reading about Noel and Eleanor. Noel owns the "graffiti-splattered record store" next to Eleanor's Pretty Baby store and immediately rubs her the wrong way. It's clear what would eventually happen, right? But I loved seeing how their relationship evolved. I could tell where things were likely going to head between the two of them but I found myself conflicted because I didn't feel like there was a clear separation between Eleanor and her husband.

As a fun aside, I loved that Eleanor owned a great dane and I also loved that his name was Angus. My first beta fish was named Angus and my best friend has a great dane so I know what they're like. Every scene with Isabelle and Angus cracked me up because she really didn't like him and compared him to massive things, like a buffalo or UPS truck. As a fun extra, here is a picture of Tron, my BFF's great dane. He's just over a year old now!

Photo courtesy of Marisa's Instagram

Isn't he beautiful? :)

I thought The Search Angel was an amazing and emotional story and I think everyone would enjoy it. I hadn't read any of Tish Cohen's books before this one but she's on my radar now. I loved this book and I definitely recommend it. But, as a word of caution, make sure you put on sunscreen if you start reading this one outside. You don't want to end up with a sunburn! :)

Happy reading :)

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for an honest review.*