For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

My Rating: 5 Stars!

Here’s why:

I got this book through Book of the Month for my November choice, but just got around to it this month! In the rush of the year ending, I had so many books on my list to get to, I shelved a few BOTM options; however, this year I am trying to read at least one BOTM read, whether that be from the current month or one I skipped last year.

For Better and Worse is about a couple, Natalie and Will Clarke – both lawyers who met in law school – and their son, Charlie. Natalie works as a criminal defense attorney, and Will works with his partners at a firm. When a threat begins to arise in their community, potentially putting their son at risk, Natalie wants to take matters into her own hands, not trusting the broken legal system she works for. In the meantime, this brings up an age-old discussion her and Will had on their very first date, putting it to the test: are they smart enough to commit a crime and not get caught?

***

From the get-go, this book had me hooked. The entire premise is so intriguing, which is why I picked it that month. The fact that two lawyers think they can get away with a crime, and not get away with it because they’re smarter than the system is SO GENIUS to me. There were a few elements I did not like about the book, particularly one character’s actions, but the main plot points overshadowed this element in my ranking.

Hunt did a great job with crafting this storyline, building suspense, and making the characters believable. She left this book with the potential of a sequel, and I definitely could see that happening; but the “cliff-hanger-y” way she ended it leaves the reader with this eerie sense of premonition, like they already know what could/will happen next if the characters continue on the paths they’ve chosen. I LOVED IT. A few reviews I saw thought the ending wasn’t good, or the conclusion of the climax in the plot wasn’t good, but I disagree.

I am giving this book 5 Stars because of its ability to capture my attention, the way the author crafted the storyline, the uniqueness of the story itself, and the cleverness of the ending.

If you want an intriguing, suspenseful, thriller with an intellectual side thrown in (since you are in the minds of lawyers!) this book is for you!!

Check out For Better and Worse today!

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Fiction

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

My Rating: 5 Stars!

Here’s why!

Where to start with this book? My sister and I both got this novel for Christmas, and I was so excited! This book has been on my to-read list for a few months now, and I was so excited to dive in to this heart-breaking, yet beautiful true love story ❤

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is about the man who tattooed the “identification” numbers on the Jewish prisoners that came in and out of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. His name was Lale Sokolov, a Slavakian-Jew, who – by chance or luck – finds favor from the Tätowierer – tattooist – who is in need of an assistant.

One day, while Lale is mindlessly tattooing the arms that come his way, trying to not think about what he is doing to his fellow man, he looks up and makes eye contact with the young woman who he is tattooing, and in doing so, falls completely in love with her. Throughout their time at Birkenau, they steal glances, moments, and attempt to find some happiness in this hell-hole.

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I LOVE TRUE STORIES! Especially when the story comes directly from the person who it is about. Author Heather Morris directly interviewed Lale, getting to know him personally, and becoming like family. The way Heather was able to take this “interview-like” situation and make it feel like a novel is truly magical. Fun fact: this book was picked up as a screenplay originally, but ended up losing steam and turning into a novel. (My guess is, though, based on its popularity, a movie will eventually happen!)

I am giving this book 5 Stars for many reasons:

1. This is a powerful story that needs to be told/known, and I am so thankful that it has been!
2. Heather Morris’ writing and the way she captured Lale’s story
3. The truth, honesty, and love behind the characters
4. The fact that I couldn’t get enough so I read the acknowledgments, interview notes, maps, etc. that were in the back of the book

Full of hope, love, loss, trauma, and redemption, you could say The Tattooist of Auschwitz captured my heart from “first glance,” too. 🙂

If you want to give a Holocaust/WWII book a try, but don’t want it to feel like an autobiography/history book, pick up your copy of The Tattooist, it won’t disappoint!

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fiction/World War II/Holocaust/War/Romance