Review: The Dutch Orphan

I enjoyed Ellen Keith’s debut novel, The Dutch Wife, back in 2018 when I read it. I even got to meet her and hear how her first book came to be. Always inspiring to hear from debut authors! I didn’t love the book but I liked it enough that I knew I’d read the Canadian author’s next novel, whenever it came. That moment is finally now as The Dutch Orphan is out in the world today. I read it a few weeks ago though… “read” might be a bit of a stretch. I skimmed. I wanted to know the ending and how Keith wrapped up things for her characters but I didn’t really care. And that made me so sad!

Here’s the book’s description:

Amsterdam, 1941. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as her Jewish friends are forbidden from performing with her onstage, and the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased. Johanna helps organize the Artists' Resistance, an underground network that arranges for Jewish musicians to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies. When Johanna is told about a Jewish orphan who is headed for deportation, she does not think twice: she takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from everyone, including her sister, Liesbeth.
Meanwhile, Liesbeth de Wit finds herself torn between her sister and her failing marriage. She knows Johanna is an ally of the Resistance, while her husband actively supports the Dutch Fascist Party. As the sisters navigate the ongoing Nazi occupation, they find themselves growing further and further apart. And when another charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on Liesbeth, her predicament only deepens.
As the war unfolds, secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond. Eventually, both women are forced to make a choice that will alter their lives forever: the choice between family and freedom.

I think my ultimate problem with this novel was the characters. I couldn’t understand their motivations, not really. And, sure, a part of that is I literally cannot imagine what it would be like to have my city become occupied by Nazi soldiers. I recognize that. But Keith still should have been able to make me see why they were acting in certain ways. Johanna, for example, seemed like a really smart woman but she acted like an absolute idiot on a number of occasions in the novel that put herself and others in danger. Liesbeth, on the other hand, had absolutely no spine until suddenly she did? Maybe I missed the growing of the spine because I had really started skimming by that point but the plot points in the novel at that spot didn’t quite seem like enough to make her change. I also couldn’t forgive her for something she did and I don’t know how other characters would be able to either.

I knew that Keith had a connection to the resistance in the Netherlands because of the event I went to after the release of The Dutch Wife (recap here). She also wrote a good part (if not all) of The Dutch Orphan while living in Amsterdam, which is where the book is set. I appreciate that kind of connection to the story and I really feel like that came through in the heart of the story. And it was that heart that had me finish the book.

What Keith’s novel does well is really hit home what it was like to live in Amsterdam specifically, and the Netherlands generally, during World War II. For some reason, I always forget that they were occupied by the Nazis beginning in May 1940. So, I appreciate that reminder of history and the examples of how everyday Dutch residents worked to protect their Jewish neighbours and undermine the soldiers’ orders. I had the feeling that I was there right alongside Jo and Lies, which, to be honest, was really hard sometimes. The suffering was intense and I was thankful for my own life circumstances as I read it.

All in all, The Dutch Orphan was an interesting historical fiction read with a lot of heart. I didn’t love Ellen Keith’s sophomore novel but I’m still willing to give her another chance whenever she publishes a third. I think if you really like learning about World War II history, especially the parts that we don’t always learn about in Canada (even though Canadians played a role in liberating the Netherlands), you should still pick up a copy of this one from your local library.

Content warnings: miscarriage/stillbirth, pregnancy, infertility, war, prison camps, murder, infidelity, suicide

*An egalley of this novel was provided by HarperCollins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Lunar Love

Sometimes a romance doesn’t quite hit all the right notes but is still a pretty good read that you don’t really want to put down and you still need to know how the Happily Ever After will come about. That was how I felt with Lunar Love, Lauren Kung Jessen’s debut novel (which was published back on January 10). I liked it (and expected to like it more) but I also didn’t dislike it and wanted to finish it to see how it all wrapped up.

Here’s the book’s description:

Always a matchmaker, never a match...
Olivia Huang Christenson is excited-slash-terrified to be taking over her grandmother’s matchmaking business. But when she learns that a new dating app has made her Pó Po’s traditional Chinese zodiac approach all about “animal attraction,” her emotions skew more toward furious-slash-outraged. Especially when L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O’Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family’s legacy…
Liv knows better than to fall for any guy, let alone an infuriatingly handsome one who believes that traditions are meant to be broken. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal: they’ll find a match for each other—and whoever falls in love loses. But Liv is dealing with someone who’s already adept at stealing business ideas…so what’s stopping him from stealing her heart too?

I should really know better. I have to be very, very careful with enemies to lovers tropes. I don’t love them and I’m very picky about them. So, it’s not really surprising that that’s what was bothering me right off the bat with this book. Kung Jessen had to work really hard to win me back once the enemies part dissipated and Liv and Bennett started to become friends - and then something more. I can handle some enemies to lovers books but with this one, I was really upset with how Liv acted. She was rude and was not behaving like a business owner (or a decent person tbh). I was really disappointed in her. Bennett wasn’t much better but somehow his behaviour wasn’t quite as upsetting. Maybe because I was feeling like the story was very much Liv’s and she was the one who was doing really problematic things.

For those who aren’t aware, I’m white so I can’t talk too much about Liv and Bennett’s Chinese American culture and how they feel about their heritage. I do know, however, how extremely important it is for Chinese American (or Canadian, etc.) readers to see themselves in books like this, for those who don’t identify as Chinese American to read books like this, and for Chinese American authors to have the opportunity to publish books like this. Personally, I really liked learning more about the Chinese zodiac while reading this book and seeing what Liv’s family life was like.

Even with the few issues I had, this book did not read like a debut. It was solid and well-written. It was mostly just my own issues with the trope (that felt like more than the trope’s fault) that had me struggling a bit. I felt connected with the characters (even when I was telling them they were being idiots) and I could really immerse myself in the story. That’s a major win.

Lunar Love is Lauren Kung Jessen's debut novel and, while I didn’t love it, I was pretty invested and I’m really looking forward to what she writes next. I found a snippet of something that told me about her next book (maybe at the end of the egalley?) and it sounds absolutely delightful and I’m definitely going to be picking it up.

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: The Rom-Com Agenda

I love rom coms (this should shock exactly no one). So, when a novel has rom com in the title? I’m intrigued. I cozied up with Jayne Denker’s The Rom-Com Agenda this winter (it was published on January 10) aaaand…it was fine. It was cute and kept me entertained enough but ultimately? It was just ok.

Here’s the book’s description:

You know how the story's supposed to go... but love makes its own plans.
STEP 1: Find yourself
Leah Keegan is used to being alone, especially after taking care of her sick foster mother for the past year. But now there’s nothing keeping her in the sweet town of Willow Cove. It’s time to move on. Again.
STEP 2: Win back the one who got away
Eli Masterson thought he and Victoria were meant to be together until she decided to jet off to Rome for a year. Eli is determined to win her back. But how?
STEP 3: Become a romantic hero
Changing Eli’s physical appearance is easy, but to turn Eli into the sophisticated-yet-vulnerable ideal man, his girl pals force him to watch classic rom-coms. And take notes.
STEP 4: Fall in love?
Inadvertently drawn into the makeover scheme, Leah ends up being Eli’s guide through the wild world of meet-cutes and grand gestures. Even though she believes Eli doesn’t need to change a thing about himself. Even though she just might be falling for Eli . . . and Eli falling for her.

A thing I learned (or maybe confirmed?) when reading this book was…I don’t like makeover stories. Usually the person getting the makeover doesn’t actually need it. They’re just trying to change to suit the desires of someone who does not even a little bit deserve them. Maybe it’s just because I’m not in their position but can’t these people see that if someone doesn’t like them for them then…the hell with them? You are good enough. You don’t need to change your clothes or work out more or become more sophisticated. You are great just as you are. That is what I wanted to tell Eli. Also that he was a total idiot and I wasn’t entirely sure Leah deserved him. But Leah was also kind of a knob and her excuses for not wanting to get involved in a relationship were weak. All in all, this was not a great way to start a rom com.

I did enjoy the whole “watch rom coms so you understand women” thing. Even though everyone should realize that rom coms are not at all realistic. If you’re trying to have a romance that you saw in a movie, you’re in trouble. That’s not real life. That is, however, a really great way to hang out with someone you’re interested in but aren’t really sure how to pursue so the tension starts to heat up and that’s fun. I did think the movie watching was going to be a bigger part of the book but it wasn’t, really. Or at least, it wasn’t as I expected. The absolute best part? They had Eli watching Bull Durham which is the best baseball movie. Yes. I said it and I stand by that decision.

I think my favourite things about this book were the big group of friends the reader's introduced to and the setting. Small towns are fun and this one, which is usually busy in the tourist season but pares down to just the locals in the winter, was fun to get to know. The bit at the beginning with the friends realizing that Leah works everywhere was too funny. While some of the friends had their own issues (and I’m sure we’ll see them in future books) and were a bit too zealous in their makeover plans, they were, at their hearts, amazing friends. I was happy to see that and was thrilled when they took Leah under their wing without making it obvious that they thought she needed friends (even though she really did).

All in all, The Rom-Com Agenda was cute and fun but Jayne Denker’s latest book won’t stick with me for too long. Pick it up if you want to meet a fun cast of characters, feel some nostalgia with the rom com movies mentioned, and get a Happily Ever After.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.* 

Review: Coronation Year

I don’t know if any of us could have predicted that the year Jennifer Robson published Coronation Year would be an actual coronation year. While her novel’s focus was on June 2, 1953, a day that was all about Queen Elizabeth II, this story is about far, far more than Her Majesty and the royal family. And the novel is amazing because of that. I was completely riveted and loved every moment I spent reading this book.

Here’s the book’s description:

It is Coronation Year, 1953, and a new queen is about to be crowned. The people of London are in a mood to celebrate, none more so than the residents of the Blue Lion hotel.
Edie Howard, owner and operator of the floundering Blue Lion, has found the miracle she needs: on Coronation Day, Queen Elizabeth in her gold coach will pass by the hotel’s front door, allowing Edie to charge a fortune for rooms and, barring disaster, save her beloved home from financial ruin. Edie’s luck might just be turning, all thanks to a young queen about her own age.
Stella Donati, a young Italian photographer and Holocaust survivor, has come to live at the Blue Lion while she takes up a coveted position at Picture Weekly magazine. London in celebration mode feels like a different world to her. As she learns the ins and outs of her new profession, Stella discovers a purpose and direction that honor her past and bring hope for her future.
James Geddes, a war hero and gifted artist, has struggled to make his mark in a world that disdains his Indian ancestry. At the Blue Lion, though, he is made to feel welcome and worthy. Yet even as his friendship with Edie deepens, he begins to suspect that something is badly amiss at his new home.
When anonymous threats focused on Coronation Day, the Blue Lion, and even the queen herself disrupt their mood of happy optimism, Edie and her friends must race to uncover the truth, save their home, and expose those who seek to erase the joy and promise of Coronation Year.

I’ve been reading (and loving) Robson’s books for a number of years now and have known about her for even longer (you know how it is…so many books, so little time). My favourite is her 2017 release, Goodnight from London, but every book I’ve read (and I’ve read all but one), is so, so very good. Coronation Year, though? This, I felt, is Robson at her best. She took a moment in time many of us know about - Queen Elizabeth’s coronation - and used it as a starting point to talk about the people who would have been impacted by it. The real people, the ones we can really identify with. (Since I don’t think I have any readers who are members of the British royal family?) Robson gave those characters a story that I adored and was so well put together.

I mention characters, plural. I was a wee bit worried when I realized the story was going to jump around between three different characters who were all connected by the Blue Lion hotel. That seemed like a lot of people to keep track of but I don’t know why I was concerned - Robson handled the multiple perspectives so very well and I never felt like I was missing out on someone’s story or was rushing through pages to get back to another character. Stella’s point of view might be the one that I would have liked to see more of but she was by no means neglected. I liked that her story pulled in characters that readers would remember from Goodnight from London, The Gown, and Our Darkest Night. (I don’t think I missed any other character Easter eggs…please do let me know if I did!) Each character had a unique point of view and they worked together seamlessly.

As the book’s description mentions, there was a bit of a mystery Edie needed to figure out - why was her hotel floundering and who would want to hurt her business - or her? I knew who the culprit was (and yes, found myself wanting to shake all the characters at numerous points saying, Why can’t you see that they’re the ones who are evil and ruining everything?!?) but the motive behind it and the climax was more than I could have imagined and was done really well. I was on the edge of my seat!

I love a Happily Ever After and really appreciate that Robson gives hints of romantic storylines in her books. But her stories are more about romantic entanglements and her knowledge of history, particularly British history, is where she excels. I never feel like she’s lecturing me and she provides just enough details that I can picture the scene perfectly and yet don’t feel like there’s been the dreaded info dump. It takes real skill to do that and I know that, when it comes to historical fiction, I am always in good hands with Robson.

I could go on and on about Coronation Year but all you really need to know about Jennifer Robson’s latest novel is that I loved it. Completely and whole-heartedly. If you’re a historical fiction fan, you must read this one.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by HarperCollins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Reasonable Adults

I had really, really high hopes for Robin Lefler’s debut novel, which was released this past December. Reasonable Adults seemed like such a good read and one that took place in Ontario, where I live? Bonus! Alas, it let me down in ways I can’t quite put my finger on but are reasons why I only just now, finally trying to put my thoughts into words.

Here’s the book’s description:

A swanky new gig at a luxury artists’ retreat in Muskoka, a delightful canine companion and a chance at a clean start. It should be smooth sailing from here . . .
Everything has fallen apart for Kate Rigsby: she is freshly single—separated from an ex she never really liked—and freshly fired—from a job she never really liked, either. Somehow, she’s reached the age of thirty-one and the only things she truly cares about are her goldendoodle, Eric, her two best friends, and proving to her parents (and, if she’s honest, to herself) that she made the right choice moving to the city. Except, instead of thriving, she finds that her life has taken a nose-dive. So when a job at Treetops Creative Retreat suddenly lands in her lap, she’s thrilled. Three months at a glorified arts and crafts workshop for grown-ups that boasts five-star cuisine and a helipad, and she’ll be well paid? The perfect escape. So what if her contract spans the depths of winter? Neat! A charming life experience! She can learn to snowshoe.
But when Kate arrives at the retreat, nothing is as she imagined. She didn’t read the fine print, her targets are impossible, her boss seems committed to seeing her fail and there happens to be an extremely off-limits fellow staffer who has no business being so gorgeous.
Part self-discovery, part rom-com and part comedy of errors, Reasonable Adults is a hilarious debut about finding yourself—and maybe love—along the way. A little summer-camp romance never hurt anyone, right?

I could see why a lot of people might like this book and really like Kate. I saw one review compare her to Lorelai Gilmore which, I can see. I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan and have been from the very start but even I can acknowledge some of the problematic behaviours in that show. Kate was strong and smart but forget that often. She had a weird relationship with herself and while I wanted to root for her…I just couldn’t get totally behind her.

And the romance part of it? I didn’t get it. I thought maybe it might be between Kate and one character but then was like, no, that doesn’t make any sense. Then I thought it could be someone else. Nope, my first instinct was correct but so was my instinct that it didn’t make sense. I just couldn’t see the pair together. Or maybe I couldn’t see the issues that they were so clearly putting in their own way? Like just…figure it out?

Also…heads up for a sexual assault scene. And then a scene where the victim is blamed and while that character tries to say he understands why he was being a complete asshole immediately after judging her…I was lost. It was not cool and I did not like it one bit.

I did, however, adore the setting. I grew up in kinda-sorta cottage country in Ontario so I really identified with where the book took place. (Not that I’ve ever gone to a resort like Treetops!) Feeling like I was in Muskoka right alongside the characters was my favourite part of the book. Along with the dog. Who doesn’t love a doggo?

So…Reasonable Adults was very much not a win for me. I wanted to love Robin Lefler’s novel but I just couldn’t get into it as much as I should have. Will I read her next one? Perhaps. But it’ll be a library borrow if I do.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: One Woman’s War

I love World War II spy stories. This is not a secret. I love a lot of spy stories, to be honest. So, naturally, I was interested when I heard about One Woman’s War by Christine Wells. It had WWII, it had spies, it had Ian Fleming, and it had Operation Mincemeat. I was sold. And, happily, it was a great read!

Here’s the book’s description:

World War II London: When Victoire "Paddy" Bennett first walks into the Admiralty's Room 39, home to the Intelligence Division, all the bright and lively young woman expects is a secretarial position to the charismatic Commander Ian Fleming. But soon her job is so much more, and when Fleming proposes a daring plot to deceive the Germans about Allied invasion plans he requests the newlywed Paddy's help. She jumps at the chance to work as an agent in the field, even after the operation begins to affect her marriage. But could doing her duty for King and country come at too great a cost?
Socialite Friedl Stöttinger is a beautiful Austrian double agent determined to survive in wartime England, which means working for MI-5, investigating fifth column activity among the British elite at parties and nightclubs. But Friedl has a secret--some years before, she agreed to work for German Intelligence and spy on the British. When her intelligence work becomes fraught with danger, she must choose whether to remain loyal to the British and risk torture and execution by the Nazis, or betray thousands of men to their deaths.
Soon, the lives of these two extraordinarily brave women will collide, as each travels down a road of deception and danger leading to one of the greatest battles of World War II.

Paddy is considered to be one of the women who inspired Ian Fleming’s character Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond series. When I heard that, I was so intrigued. I knew Fleming had pulled a lot from his own war experience to inspire Bond and it made me curious to get to know one of the women who kept Bond in line (or tried to, at least). As with most historical fiction, Wells did take a few liberties with Paddy’s character but she explains that in the detailed notes at the end of the book. I know I’m reading fiction but I admit I get totally swept up in the story and sometimes forget that what I’m reading may not have actually happened in that manner.

Reading more about Operation Mincemeat and seeing how Wells interpreted it was really interesting. If you don’t know anything about this plan, I highly recommend reading up on it and watching the movie of the same name on Netflix (which is, in turn, based on a non-fiction book with the same name). The lengths the Allies went through to trick the Nazis is bonkers and the fact that this operation actually worked is totally mind-boggling. I love it so much.

Wells lost me a bit with Friedl. I didn’t really care about her part of the story and I didn’t really see how it connected with what was happening to Paddy and those in her storyline. I’m finding that more and more historical fiction novels are trying to connect more than one character together when they really don’t need to be and most of them are not done all that well. I’m not sure why that is but it’s something I’ve noticed - and you all know I read a lot of historical fiction!

One Woman’s War was fascinating and Christine Wells’ novel kept me entertained throughout. My favourite WWII historical fiction tale? No, but it was still a great read and one that helped me understand what it would have been like during the war just a little bit more.

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

Review: Pride and Puppies

I’ve gotten away from reading “true” romances these days. You know the ones, where the entire plot is based around two characters who will end up together at the end of the story without much else happening. I make an exception for Lizzie Shane, however. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying her Pine Hollow series and the latest, Pride and Puppies, was no exception. It was so delightful!

Here’s the book’s description:

Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez is single—again—and she blames Jane Austen. She made brooding, aloof men sound oh so dreamy. But after years of failing to find her own Mr. Darcy, Charlotte decides it’s time to swear off dating. She’s going to lavish all her love and affection on someone who actually deserves it: her new puppy, Bingley.
And there’s no one better to give her pet advice than her neighbor and coworker George Leneghan. He’s quiet and patient and, best of all, way too sweet to ever be her type. But as their friendly banter turns flirty, the unimaginable happens—Charlotte starts catching feelings.
Just as Charlotte is trying to untangle what it is she truly wants, George announces he’s contemplating a cross-country move. Suddenly, Charlotte wonders if she’s kept her soulmate in the friend zone so long that she’s entirely missed her chance at a happily ever after. Dear Reader, could it be possible she’s had it wrong all this time?

First things first, this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling. It is, however, an homage to Jane Austen, an author who is clearly close to Lizzie Shane’s heart. Charlotte and her sisters were all named after Austen characters - and yes, Charlotte can’t believe she’s named after heroine Elizabeth Bennet’s best friend who marries the horrid Mr. Collins - because their mother had loved the author. So, once you know that you’re not expecting Mr. Darcy to stride across the moors, you can buckle in for a sweet and fun romance that has lovely Austen touches.

I love a good friends to lovers trope but it’s always hard when it’s clear one of the characters has romantic feelings from the start and the other is an oblivious idiot. That was the case with this book as George most definitely wanted to date Charlotte as soon as he met her but Charlotte just didn’t see him as someone for her. Surprise, surprise, she had some work to do on herself and her self-esteem. A bit of a tired trope? Perhaps. But it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this book one bit.

Part of the appeal of these books is the small town they’re set in, Pine Hollow. It’s the quintessential small town setting and so lovely. I’d move there in a heartbeat. The neighbours all look out for each other, there are great shops and restaurants to enjoy, and they have lots of nature in their backyard. What’s not to love? (Why, yes, I am a small town girl at heart.)

You don’t have to read all the books in Lizzie Shane’s Pine Hollow series but I think you should. Pride and Puppies was such a lovely romance and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series. What kind of doggos will we get to meet next?!?

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*