Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 384 pages
Published: June 2024

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland was a top pick in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club's 2024 Summer Reading Guide. It was listed under family drama, and this book had plenty of that. A year after their mother dies of lung cancer, the four adult Jacobson children gather in their family's beloved beach home for one last vacation before their father sells it to retire in Florida. While cleaning out their things, the youngest sibling, Noah decides to buy a lottery ticket. The two sisters go in with him, but their older brother and his wife refuse to participate. As luck would have it, they win and are quite literally millionaires overnight. But as we have often learned in real life, money does not buy happiness. Instead this family gets a lot of unfulfilling material items, emotional baggage including guilt and resentment, and a large physical rift amongst the haves and have-nots within the Jacobson clan. 

The story was engaging and kept my interest in that I was curious to learn what happened to this fictional family, but I didn't really care. It wasn't like they were truly struggling before, and the winnings brought out some of their most undesirable traits. I do appreciate the greater lesson, the author crafted along the way. I do enjoy this particular author's writing style (see The Most Likely Club), but this story just didn't live up to the hype like I thought it would. It was a light summer read with a happy ending, and, upon reflected, I think that's all I should have expected.

Recommendation: This book was a little on the long side, and it wasn't my favorite read for the summer nor was it the worst thing I've read. I'm putting this one in the take it or leave it category. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More

Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 349 pages
Published: July 2021

Not a Happy Family is an aptly-named mystery by Shari Lapena. It is about a very (white) privileged trio of siblings who immediately upon learning their parents have been murdered begin to calculate what benefits they will reap from their untimely deaths. Enter their bitter aunt who is sure their father (her brother) has adjusted his will to include a larger portion for her, and the siblings absolutely lose their mind because instead of inheriting tens of millions, they may only get a few million dollars. The whole plot, while realistic in some circles, was almost laughable. 

Most of the book vacillates between each of the family members providing more information with each short chapter leaving the reader more confused as to who the actual murderer was. You do learn at the end, but it's just beyond that revelation that the author introduces a twist that provides a satisfying ending. 

This book was a Book of the Month Club selection, and it didn't disappoint. My rating is a little low just because I couldn't really relate to the characters and their "problems." But it was an interesting read. I was invested to complete it. The author does a great job creating suspense and intrigue, thus engaging the reader. 

Recommendation: I would definitely recommend this novel as a quick read for mystery lovers. It will keep you guessing until the very end! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pages: 320 pages
Published: May 2021

One of my May reads was a new release snagged from Book of the Month. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a mystery thriller that features protagonist, Hannah, who is about a year into her marriage with Owen while also trying to bridge the sometimes awkward step-parenting gap with his 16-year old daughter Bailey. On a seemingly normal day, Owen does not come home from work but instead leaves, separately, Bailey with a bag of cash and Hannah a note that seems to point to Bailey reading: Protect her. The bulk of the story is Hannah trying to figure out where her husband has absconded and why and also how to fulfill his request to protect Bailey. In a search for answers, both Hannah and Bailey find themselves traveling from the west coast to central Texas, and ultimately learning that they will have to close that awkward gap in order to survive - physically, relationally and emotionally.  

I found this story to be intriguing. The characters were well-written and the dialogue engaging enough to keep me invested as a reader. The plot was solid, albeit with a few holes, and the ending was fulfilling. Overall, it was fun read. 

Recommendation: I would recommend this read as an entertaining, driving choice ... just in time for your summer reading list.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More

The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich by David Bach

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Length: 03:59:00
Narrated by: Mizuo Peck, David Bach
Published: May 2019 

This quick read was recommended to me by a good friend. Similar to the style of Who Moved my Cheese, The Latte Factor by David Bach is a small book that packs a powerful punch. Told in story form, the author offers a 3-step solution to attaining financial freedom.

The book is told in such a way that any reader can comprehend. You don't have to be an investor or a math whiz to understand and put his advice into practice. My main issue with this book is that for this practical advice to work, you have to already be at a certain place in life. You must have a stable, consistent income where you have the ability to buy lattes (or whatever your guilty pleasure might be) so that you can give them up. You will get no argument from me: Putting aside ~$300 per month in an interest-bearing account will help you go far, but there are simply a lot of people who don't have that "extra" $300, and it's not because they are buying lattes, or cigarettes, or whatever. It's because they are paying the light bill, or the mortgage, or buying school supplies for their children.

While I think the advice is common sense and easy to put into practice, you have to be starting at that level. Having said that, I think this book is probably best for a recent graduate who doesn't have an enormous amount of debt or financial responsibilities or maybe someone who is about five years into his or her career. The author might want to consider a slightly different approach for other target audiences.

Recommendation:  This book is a quick read (or listen) with some valuable advice. I just don't think it's a one size fits all type of solution. Thanks to the Fort Worth Public Library for the borrow!

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More