Scribbles & Wanderlust

- Book Review: “The Light Over London” by Julia Kelly
  
  Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on March 18, 2019
  
  The Light Over London by Julia Kelly
  
  Publisher: Gallery
  Published: January 2019
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781501196416
  Rating: ★★★★
  
  It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.
  
  In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene’s life had been decided for her—she’ll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.
  
  Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.
  
  While searching through a client’s estate for antiques to bring back to the shop, Cara stumbles across an old tin filled with trinkets and a diary. The diary belongs to a young Cornish woman in 1941, experiencing her first romance and making a name for herself as a Gunner Girl. Cara has experienced recent turmoil in her life and solving the mystery of the owner of the diary rejuvenates her. She is determined to identify the owner of the diary and return it to her, especially because it may lead to answers in Cara’s own family’s past. The Gunner Girl, Louise, breaks free from her mother’s oppressive control by enlisting in the ATS, and then becoming one of the first women in Ack-Ack Command, shooting down German planes bombing London and other large cities—but she also finds herself caught in a whirlwind romance that does more harm than good.
  
  I was listening to this book on audio, two hours away from finishing, when I had to return it to the library—so I ran to the bookstore and bought it to finish! I love the WWII fiction that’s coming out lately, focusing on the brilliant efforts women made during the war, the unsung heroes and lesser-known stories, the powerful female friendships taking center stage over the wartime romances. Don’t get me wrong, romance is fine, but the accounts of these brave women are far more inspiring, empowering, and interesting to me. (Plus I love a good modern-day heroine who is a curator, archivist, librarian, etc…)
  
  What touched me most about this novel was Louise’s story. She’s swept up into a love affair as epic as the movies, full of urgency due to the war. She’s desperate to leave her mother’s grasp and defiant in anything her mother believed, but also wants to find herself in the midst of turmoil. Her search for an identity, to know herself and her strengths and weaknesses, and subsequently finding the thrill of independence among other like-minded women, was such a joy to read, even during her naivete in love. I want more of this. More female empowerment, more female friendships, and less focus on finding The One in order to make oneself “whole.” The Light Over London is all about second chances, starting over, reinvention, independence, and strength amidst chaos.
  
  This book is perfect for fans of Guernsey Literary and The Alice Network (likely also Lilac Girls and The Nightingale, though I’ve yet to read those!). Next on my TBR is The Huntress so expect lots of feminist history reviews!
  
  This qualifies as book 2 of 10 in my library books challenge.
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review
- Mini Reviews
  
  Posted at 6:25 am by Laura, on February 25, 2019
  
  Today I’m sharing two vastly different novels — one is deeply character-driven, and the other deeply plot-driven — both eliciting similar ratings for enjoyment. Should be fun!
  
  A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
  
  Publisher: Viking
  Published: September 2016
  Genre: historical fiction
  Rating: ★★★.5
  Summary: In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.
  
  Mini Review: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this novel. Character-driven narratives are my jam, but for a novel to be almost entirely devoid of plot was astounding. This novel follows a man living in confinement as a Former Person in a Moscow hotel following the Revolution. He was once a member of the aristocracy, and as the decades pass he continues to live with one foot in nostalgia and one foot looking toward the future. I enjoyed his turn of phrase, how he made the most of his circumstances, and the way time (passage of, experience within the moment, and history itself) altered while he was trapped in the hotel. He was an individual who still saw his “comrades,” the believers of the People as one homogeneous group, as individuals. When one girl’s life rests in his hands, he moves from a life of leisure to one of purpose, which was a joy to watch develop. (The experience was a bit like reading a narrative of the Earl of Grantham through the eyes of Carson the Butler in Downton Abbey.) I can’t pinpoint what exactly pushed me through to continue reading, but I’m glad I did!
  
  When You Read This by Mary Adkins
  
  Publisher: Harper
  Published: February 2019
  Genre: contemporary
  Rating: ★★★.5
  Summary: For four years, Iris Massey worked side by side with PR maven Smith Simonyi, helping clients perfect their brands. But Iris has died, taken by terminal illness at only thirty-three. Adrift without his friend and colleague, Smith is surprised to discover that in her last six months, Iris created a blog filled with sharp and often funny musings on the end of a life not quite fulfilled. She also made one final request: for Smith to get her posts published as a book. With the help of his charmingly eager, if overbearingly forthright, new intern Carl, Smith tackles the task of fulfilling Iris’s last wish. Before he can do so, though, he must get the approval of Iris’ big sister Jade, an haute cuisine chef who’s been knocked sideways by her loss. Each carrying their own baggage, Smith and Jade end up on a collision course with their own unresolved pasts and with each other.
  
  Mini Review: Perfect for fans of Attachments and Eleanor Oliphant, this novel is a modern-day epistolary told through emails, blog posts, online therapy submissions, text messages, and other snippets from the characters’ virtual lives. There’s so much that can be gleaned from a person’s online presence! Though the formatting kept me from deeply connecting to the characters, I really enjoyed this quick read for all the ways one can see how people go about their days — their “external” communications with other people, as well as their “internal” struggles that still leave a footprint online (for example, all those pizza deliveries!). It’s also a captivating discussion on grief and death in the modern age — by emailing or writing on the loved one’s wall, knowing they’ll never see it or respond to it but somehow it helps us cope — that remarkably stays bittersweet and even funny without becoming too gloomy.
  
  This qualifies as book 1 of 10 in my library books challenge.
  
  Posted in Reviews 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: historical fiction, mini review, review
- Deal Announcement: Chloe Gong, YA Fantasy
  
  Posted at 12:13 pm by Laura, on February 22, 2019
  
  Deal Announcements feature my most recent deal as an agent and the story behind it. Writers and readers should experience how an agent knows when they’ve struck gold and sign an author, the beginning of the journey to publication.
  
  I’m so excited to announce the publication of Chloe Gong‘s These Violent Delights!
  
  Tricia Lin at Simon Pulse has acquired, at auction, Chloe Gong‘s debut YA fantasy These Violent Delights, pitched as a Romeo and Juliet retelling by way of The Godfather. A monster has awakened in 1920s Shanghai, killing off citizens and stirring trouble between two feuding gangs. The rival heirs, Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai, must work together before the monster destroys all they hold dear, even while the Chinese Civil War breaks out around them. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency did the two-book deal for North American rights.
  
  Once upon a time…
  
  In early summer 2018, I received an intricate, complicated, multi-layered, no-way-she’s-a-rising-sophomore query for a gorgeous, thrilling, and dark manuscript that was a blend of historical science fiction fantasy. I was immensely intrigued and requested to read 50 pages…and a week later requested to read the full…and a week after that (which was about two weeks before I left for Greece) I offered representation. I was so blown away by Chloe’s writing, enthusiasm, skill, and intelligence (she’s going to rule the world one day, mark my words) and I knew I had to represent her! Her acceptance was the last email I read before flying out of the country!
  
  Before diving into edits we needed to clear up some matters. I wanted to be sure nothing bad would happen to her academically or legally if we were to publish her work, as she is a student in the US from New Zealand. We spoke with her academic and international advisors to make sure every rule was followed, as well as making sure none of this would complicate her studies. With the green light, we were able to dive into edits, polish this up, and present this to editors across YA and Adult markets. (I mean seriously, it’s that good.)
  
  It was so important that the editor not only connected to the writing and story, but also to the Chinese experiences, to the history of Russia’s pogroms, to the deep understanding of Shanghai’s tumultuous history, to the complicated matters of generational and cultural diaspora. Tricia Lin hustled for this project, and I’m so thrilled she and Chloe will be bringing These Violent Delights into the world!
  
  And the rest…is history.
  
  Congratulations, Chloe! You’re going to be a published author!
  
  Posted in agenting, deal announcement | 6 Comments | Tagged agenting, deal announcement
- If We Were Having Coffee…*
  
  Posted at 2:08 pm by Laura, on February 17, 2019
  
  *Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American.
  
  Hello! Happy Sunday afternoon. It’s been a while since I’ve updated the blog, and I thought I’d gather ’round here and have a little chat about life. Grab your favorite hot beverage and let’s swap updates…
  
  If we were having coffee… I would tell you that I recently purchased a brand new laptop for work, which meant giving up all of my Adobe Creative Suite software. I’m now without my favorite Photoshop and InDesign programs, and relying on Canva until I decide which of the two I’m willing to subscribe to for the year. Y’all, seriously, I understand the cloud is great and everything, but do we really need to do subscription services each year for all of these programs, and therefore boatloads of money down the drain? I’d rather go back to disc downloads…*sigh* I used InDesign for my blog (though it’s not as if I’m designing a whole lot), and I used Photoshop for social media (and again, it’s not as if I was using it a lot), though the thought of going without one of the programs is daunting. Especially when I’m not a huge fan of what Canva can offer so far, at least on the free platform. What do you use?
  
  If we were having coffee… I would tell you that January was a very difficult month for my family. Without going into detail, let’s just say it made work life, personal life, and me-time a dark and stormy place. Thankfully we’re out of the woods and everything is much better and looking to only get better from here, but man! It really was scary, the beginning of this year.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that wedding planning is going well and on track. We have the hotel and attendants’ clothing locked in, we’ve narrowed down the florals, we’re going to have linen discussions in March, and all the marriage counseling and church-related elements are underway. We’re even thinking about our honeymoon in spring 2020! Whenever I tell people this they seem impressed and shocked — I guess that means we’re ahead of the game? What else would you expect when bride, groom, mother-of-the-bride, and mother-of-the-groom are all Type A? Spreadsheets are our friends.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that I’ve had a rough time of it with my reading for 2019. I’ve DNF’d as many books as I’ve actually completed reading so far this year (if not more than). I knew going into this year that my challenge would be to read books I genuinely enjoy and to set aside books that just aren’t hitting the right notes for me — to focus on quality over quantity. However, on the flip side, I’m carving out time for myself in the mornings to read for pleasure, and that’s been very rewarding. Instead of hitting snooze several times and racing out of bed to start my day in a rush, I’m getting up with the alarm, taking my time, easing into the day before 8am and feeling refreshed for work by 9am. It’s fantastic! What are your morning routines? In what ways do you carve out time for yourself?
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that I’m debating about doing some sort of social media detox. At least on FB and Twitter. (Perhaps it’ll be my thing to give up for Lent.) It feels so toxic, especially Twitter, with its echo chamber and voices shouting into the void and repetitive drama. At this point I’m here to help my clients promote their books, and that’s it. I’m rarely on there for anything else. Have you had issues with social media? Have you tried going on a detox before (and if so, how’d that turn out for you)?
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d tell you that agenting is going so well. I’m super proud of all my clients and what they’re accomplishing, and I can’t wait to share all sorts of good news! I’m also incredibly thankful for the encouragement and advice from other agents in the industry. It takes five to seven years (years) to really get your career off the ground, to start reaping the rewards of all the hard work and hours you put into this job, all for a tiny slice of commission. The first two years were very hard, the third year I started to get more clients, more deals, and year four was the best to date. I’m only partially in my fifth year and I can actually see myself living on this income. I can’t tell you how thrilling that is, especially because I’m in a field that’s entirely a game of luck and chance. I’m sure other self-employed / entrepreneurs out there get what I’m saying. 2019 is a catch-22 year for me, though, in terms of time and human ability to get All The Things Done, and I’m already falling behind on reading requested submissions. Cross fingers success continues, and perhaps I’ll be able to step away from my part-time work and truly enter agenting wholly, completely full-time.
  
  If we were having coffee… I’d confess that I really miss Greece right now. Spring can hurry up and get here, but only if it includes the bluest of blues Aegean Sea and cloudless skies and endless cooling breeze on hot, sunny days. I’m such a fall/winter girl, but Syros really spoiled me for good summer weather.
  
  ~
  
  So, how are you doing? What’s new with you? Let’s chat!
  
  Posted in Update Post | 14 Comments | Tagged if we were having coffee, personal
- Book Review: “The Kingdom of Copper” by SA Chakraborty (ARC)
  
  Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on January 8, 2019
  
  The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty
  
  Publisher: Harper Voyager
  Publishing Date: January 22
  Genre: fantasy
  ISBN: 9780062678133
  Rating: ★★★★★
  
  With Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe..
  
  Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.
  
  And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.
  
  Five years after the traumatizing attack on those Nahri held most dear, Nahri is married to the emir, trying to establish a home for herself in a kingdom run by a controlling madman, and searching for that spark of inspiration and hope for Daevabad’s inhabitants. Ali, meanwhile, has been exiled to the sands, and is struggling to control his new water magic, twisting it to be useful for the people of the desert rather than something to cause destruction. As a generation celebration draws near, Ali is summoned home and Nahri must work alongside him to restore a ruined hospital, a symbol of peace and hope for the city. Little do they know that a warrior is in their midst, and every fine thread they’ve grappled to hold onto will snap in the blink of an eye.
  
  The Kingdom of Copper was one of my most anticipated reads for 2019. I adored the first of the trilogy, and this book held up to my expectations. It’s just as heart-pounding, adventurous, political, humorous, and heart-breaking! Nahri is fully immersed in court culture, trapped in a golden cage and struggling to find a way to express herself without fear of Ghassan’s wrath and tyrannical power. She’s also grown in her magic as well, and I thoroughly loved the way the palace speaks to her and answers her call. While The City of Brass introduced us to the politics and magic of this world, Kingdom of Copper immerses us further into its history, the way prejudices run deep, and introduces us to the vast array of creatures and their abilities. From beginning to end, I was immersed in the magic of these pages. The fate of Daevabad lies in the family drama at the heart of the city.
  
  Thank you, Harper Voyager, for providing the galley for review!
  
  The rest of the review will contain spoilers. If you have not read The City of Brass yet and would like to remain unspoiled, please do not read below the break.
  
  Continue reading →
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR
- Flipping Through the Pages: Autumn Rewind 2018
  
  Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on January 3, 2019
  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!
  
  Through the Lens
  
  October through December was a busy whirlwind. In October we had our engagement shots taken, in November Tasha’s debut Empire of Sand released, and in December I made a roundup of my favorite books of 2018––all seven of which were five-star reads!
  
  Life Highlights
  
  Part of the whirlwind of the fall months was all the wedding planning we accomplished. I found my dress and veil, we found the photographer and immediately took engagement photos about two weeks after, and we picked our DJ (three of the four things I needed last season!). November brought on Thanksgiving in town, and we had relatives from Ohio and Arizona come in to celebrate in a relaxed and fulfilling way. December was chaotic with all the music commitments, but by the time Christmas Eve rolled around I felt the joy, peace, and wonder of the season. My family also flew out to Nebraska to visit my future in-laws, and we came back in time to ring in the new year with friends. In agent life news, I’m super thrilled to share (again) the sale of KayLynn’s YA fantasy––we worked so hard to make the magic happen, and I can’t wait to share her world with…well, the rest of the world!
  
  Bookmarked in the Community
  1. “November 2018 Recap: On My Shelves” @ So Obsessed With — I admire Hannah’s ability to be a mother and still find the time to enjoy her personal hobbies. In this month in particular, she didn’t blog much but she read 30 books (*gasp!*)! It took me half a year to get to 30 books!
  2. “On Playing Catch-Up” @ BookmarkLit — On the flip side is Lauren, who talked about all the reasons she’s fallen behind on her usual reading, and the ways in which she’ll try to catch up or improve her reading. Plus, I admire a good spreadsheet and goals list!
  3. “My 2018 Retrospective” @ Alexa Loves Books — Alexa compiled a heartfelt post looking back on 2018 and all the ways in which she grew, discovered, and improved. It’s so wonderful especially when you have fantastic people surrounding you and supporting you in your hopes and endeavors.
  4. “Most Anticipated Books of 2019” @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie compiles lists of anticipated adult books (this one highlighting the first half of the year) and I love scrolling through them! There are plenty on this list I’m looking forward to myself, including Priory of the Orange Tree (even though I haven’t read any of her other books) and The Au Pair (even though suspense/thriller is not at all something I like to read––this one looks really good nonetheless).
  Popular Posts on Scribbles
  
  Ignoring my MSWL post, which gets hundreds of hits a month…(yay!)
  1. Book Review: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield — Setterfield is one of my favorite authors, purely for The Thirteenth Tale, and it was so great to see that storytelling style happen again in her third novel.
  2. End of Year Book Survey V — I love doing this round up! It really helps you look back on your reading year and realizing which books stand out most to you. Apparently a year goes by and I’m still in awe and anguish over The City of Brass, haha!
  3. 2019 Bookish Resolutions and Reading Challenges — All in all, 2018 was a difficult reading year for me, so I made my resolutions as a way of reminding me what reading is all about: enjoyment. Read what you enjoy. Life is short. No one needs to spend time doing something they don’t like, so I’ve given myself permission to set books aside even if they’re just meh.
  Cherished Reads
  
  The Romanov Empress by CW Gortner ★★★★.5
  
  Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce ★★★★★
  
  Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris ★★★★★
  
  Progress Update on Reading Challenges
  
  Required Library Books: 15 / 17
  
  The Passion of Dolssa || Big Little Lies || The Zookeeper’s Wife
  Saga Volume 1 || The Night Bookmobile || Sweetbitter
  The Psychopath Test || Planetfall || A Long Way Home
  Ocean at the End of the Lane || Small Great Things || The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill
  The Glass Castle || The Circle || Goodbye, Paris
  
  Fun Library Books: 16 / 5
  
  Mr. Churchill’s Secretary || Surprise Me || Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
  My Oxford Year || Malice at the Palace || The Bird and the Blade
  Save the Date || Radio Girls || Kings of the Wyld
  The Lost Queen || The Romanov Empress || Dear Mrs. Bird
  The Glass Ocean || Meet Me at the Museum || Empress of All Seasons
  In Your Dreams
  
  Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 0 / 8
  
  Fantasy:
  
  The City of Brass || Spinning Silver || The Queens of Innis Lear
  A Secret History of Witches || The Bird and the Blade
  Kings of the Wyld || The Girl in the Tower || Empress of All Seasons
  
  Historical Fiction:
  
  Between Two Fires || Mr Churchill’s Secretary || The Passion of Dolssa
  Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie || The Clockmaker’s Daughter
  Radio Girls || The Lost Queen || The Romanov Empress
  Dear Mrs. Bird || Once Upon a River
  
  Rock My TBR: 11 / 16
  
  Crazy Rich Asians || The Passion of Dolssa || The City of Brass
  Between Two Fires || Now That You Mention It || Slightly South of Simple
  The Queens of Innis Lear || Royals || China Rich Girlfriend
  A Secret History of Witches || The Girl in the Tower
  
  Overall Challenge: 47 / 45*
  
  *It was clear I wouldn’t be able to reach 50 books, and I was bummed about that. So I adjusted it to 45 and felt much better about my accomplishment. (Yes, that’s how this year has been.)
  
  Random Obsessions
  
  On TV/Netflix: New GBBO episodes––for New Beginnings, the two new seasons with Pru, Sandy, and Noel, as well as the holiday episodes––kept me busy during the holiday season. I was also vegging out in front of The Office. It all began with wanting to watch Christmas episodes, and turned into a full-blown multi-season rewatch…
  
  On Film: Finally saw The Family Stone and Die Hard on New Year’s Eve. One because it’s totally my kind of movie and I hadn’t seen it before; another because everyone’s trying to convince me it’s a Christmas movie (it’s not; it’s set at Christmas with Christmas music but it is not a Christmas movie).
  
  In the Shopping Bag: Old Navy’s 50% sale in November burned a hole in my wallet, but other than that I’ve kept things on the down low. Girl’s gotta pay for 2019 health insurance.
  
  Miscellaneous: I swear, I swear, this is the last time I will binge chips and queso. I SWEAR.
  
  Looking Toward the Future
  
  Clarissa’s Bear No Malice came out January 1, the Beau’s birthday is coming up, followed by my birthday, and lots of further wedding planning (hotel blocks, transportation, rehearsal dinner, save the dates, cake, and attendants’ outfits). Wish me luck!
  
  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts!
  Posted in This Season's Rewind | 6 Comments | Tagged rewind, this season's rewind
- MSWL for 2019
  
  Posted at 5:15 pm by Laura, on January 1, 2019
  
  Also Known As
  What I’d Like to See in my Agent Inbox in 2019
  
  In general, my manuscript wish list stays the same no matter the season or year! But for 2019, I’m really hoping to see these kinds of projects in particular appear in my inbox. Similar to 2018, but with some adjustments.
  
  Please note: my inbox is flooded with YA and Adult fantasy. I don’t mind that one bit! But I’m already pretty particular about fantasy, and I do represent a variety of fantasy writers already. To really expand my list, I’d like to see more in these categories and genres…
  
  ~
  
  Adult Historical Fiction || I love all sorts of historical fiction, especially when it branches off little-known aspects of history, or it takes on a fresh new look at popular historical events (WWI and WWII, for example, are incredibly common on the shelves, but it’s how the story is told or the unique perspective the story is told through that brings them to the shelves). For example, my favorite historical fiction includes Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy and early British history), The Alice Network (WWI/WWII parallel narrative shining light on female spy networks), The Romanov Empress (about Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, wife of Alexander III and mother of Nicholas II), and Dear Mrs. Bird (WWII advice columnist/slice-of-life narrative). I would love to see some more light shed on impressive women in history and the things they accomplished despite society’s limitations (STEM, feminism, code-breaking, politics/reigns). Admittedly, I’m most drawn to European (specifically English) history, but I’m open to reading anything as long as the premise is compelling and fresh.
  
  Adult Contemporary/Historical Parallel Narratives in Fiction || There are great ways to introduce parallel narratives in historical and contemporary women’s fiction. Some of my favorites include anything pertaining to archivists, curators, scribes, researchers, and academics. Sometimes the parallel narrative is in the form of epistolary fiction –– artifacts and documents the curator, archivist, or researcher in the modern day stumbles across that takes us into the historical narrative literally (like The Weight of Ink and Possession) or figuratively (Meet Me at the Museum). I especially adore fiction that follows said curator, archivist, and academic on their journey, like The Clockmaker’s Daughter. I’m open to two historical narratives (Letters from Skye) as well as one historical and one contemporary, just as long as both narratives are tied in some way while still having two separate, compelling journeys.
  
  Adult Contemporary Women’s Fiction || Some of my favorite contemporary women’s fiction tends to be a bit on the morally ambiguous side of things, tackling taboo topics or shedding light on a hot-button issue in a new way. The queen of this, I think, is Jodi Picoult. I also adore women’s fiction that is about the average woman doing average things, experiencing the difficulties of everyday life, and growing from it — such as Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, A Window Opens, Leave Me, Goodbye, Paris, and The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living. On the flip-side, I love chick-lit — humorous women’s fiction that’s appealing to a millennial audience, about young women in the workplace and the silly things that happen in their life. My absolute favorite is Sophie Kinsella, along with The Hating Game, Attachments, and You and Me, Always. Romance is not a primary draw for me, but it doesn’t turn me off to the story, either!
  
  Adult Historical Fantasy || I’m such a sucker for these, especially if there are elements of romance. The voice and the writing in historical fantasy is exactly what I love about the two genres separately. It’s accessible, even when it’s a world entirely different from our own. The characters’ voices are enticing, their daily life is familiar, as if I’ve always been a part of it, thanks to the historical aspects of the world. Some of my favorite books and series, such as Outlander, Daughter of the Forest, and The Winter Witch, are historical fantasies. Others, such as City of Brass, Uprooted, The Bear and the Nightingale, and The Queen of Blood, are inspired by history and folklore, though not necessarily part of actual historical pasts. I’d love to see more historical fantasies inspired by other cultures’ histories and folklore, much like my client Tasha Suri’s Empire of Sand.
  
  Young Adult Contemporary Fiction || It is all about the voice for me when it comes to YA contemporary. When I read YA contemporary, I need to feel like I’m talking to my high school best friend. Teen readers can spot inauthenticity in a heartbeat, and you want to make sure you have their desires and heartbreaks in the voice of your protagonist. You’re not an adult trying to be a teen — you are a teen. That said, I am seeking fantastic rom-coms like When Dimple Met Rishi (technology camps!), Royals (royals’ sidekicks fall in love!) and Anna and the French Kiss (study abroad programs!), badass heroines like Dumplin’ (fighting against stereotypes!), books that handle mental states with honesty like When We Collided and What to Say Next, and great family and friendship dynamics like Emma Mills, Morgan Matson, and Jenny Han. Perfect examples of this are my own clients Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door) and Nina Moreno (Don’t Date Rosa Santos). I’d love to see more characters with fun and interesting jobs, unique hobbies, and (as a past drum major) more marching band narratives! I tend to lean on the lighter side of things, with hope at the end of the tunnel, rather than something dark and gritty from the get go and very little humor to carry throughout. I do like tear-jerkers, but I want that spark of hope and inspiration at the end.
  
  Young Adult Historical || Historical fiction is very hard to break into in YA. Sometimes it needs to have magical elements, sometimes it needs to be an era that readers are familiar with. Look to your own city, look to the history books, look to your family history, and see what seemingly small event had a large impact for that area. A Prisoner of Night and Fog is set in Germany in the 1930s, not quite WWII but through the perspective of someone in the middle of the frightening changes in the country; Outrun the Moon is set during the San Francisco earthquake, and how race and economic status barriers fell in a state of emergency; A Madness So Discreet is set across America in the 1800s, battling patriarchy and standing up for those unlawfully sentenced to mental institutions; The Forbidden Orchid is set in Asia as a Victorian girl hunts down her father, a man in the middle of a race to find a perfect, rare orchid; The Bird and the Blade, though partially based on a folk tale, is inspired by historical events during the Mongol Empire and the Great Khan’s reign of power. There are so many more — but great YA historical fiction requires an intriguing and original premise, a general accessibility, and bringing the past to life. I would love to see historical fiction set outside the US and Western Europe!
  
  ~
  
  For a final once-over, feel free to follow my #mswl and #MSWLaesthetic on Twitter, read my Manuscript Wishlist post, follow submission guidelines, read up on Publishers Marketplace deals, and catch up on this blog once in a while to read my thoughts and reviews of published works. Every little bit helps to getting representation! Oh, and as a reminder:
  
  ALWAYS seeking: diversity. Race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, mentality, health, economic status, religious affiliation, all of it. The obvious shouldn’t need to be said — that I want my projects to reflect the beautiful diversity of the world, that I want to see and share with others life through another’s eyes, that I want to see these differences expressed through art and creation and culture, that these books need to be on bookshelves — but that’s the state of things. So yes, there is no question to it: I want diversity.
  
  ALWAYS open to queries: even during times of the year when publishing seems extra busy, or extra slow, or I’m on vacation or traveling — I am open to queries. I never close. I read every single query. It’s unfair to you as the writer to try to keep track of all the agents who are opened or closed, and (selfishly) it’s unfair to me to be closed when something truly remarkable could have been in my inbox for me to represent. SO! With that said, if I’m busy or traveling or on vacation, I’ll have an away message up with clear, simple instructions about what will happen with your query in the time I’m away. I am never closed to queries.
  
  NEVER seeking: anything set in space, anything set in the future, thrillers and suspense (psychological, military, legal, political, or otherwise), all nonfiction (poems, essays, memoirs, how-tos, everything nonfiction), paranormal romance, erotica. If your project uses any of these concepts to describe it, it’s an automatic no. I’m not the agent for any of these projects, so please do not send them to me.
  
  ~
  
  I hope this is helpful! I’m looking forward to receiving great manuscripts and selling lots in 2019!
  
  Posted in agenting | 0 Comments | Tagged agenting, personal
- 2019 Bookish Resolutions and Reading Challenges
  
  Posted at 9:15 am by Laura, on December 31, 2018
  
  To be perfectly honest, there were only a handful of standout books I read in 2018. I see my progress on Goodreads and looking back on the year doesn’t bring me much satisfaction or joy. With precious little time to spend reading for pleasure, I hope my goals in 2019 will help curate a great reading list on which to reflect and be proud.
  
  Major Goals
  
  READ 45 BOOKS || I’ve had to come to terms within the last year that challenging myself to fifty books really is, um, quite the challenge. Which is both good and bad. It means I’m spending more time dedicated to reading great manuscripts, but it also means finding the time to read for fun is getting limited. A friend suggested not setting a Goodreads goal, or feeling obligated to stick to it, and the mentality of it would change. Even still, I’ll shoot for forty-five great books this year! (I’ve already accepted there may be lots of DNFing.)
  
  READ 10 LIBRARY BOOKS || That won’t be hard, to be honest. I’ve been reading more and more from the library recently — I have a feeling I may surpass ten library books!
  
  READ MARILLIER AND GABALDON || Like I said last year (and failed) and the year before (and also failed), I want to read more Marillier and Gabaldon. It’s almost necessary now for Gabaldon, since Outlander season five will be out in 2019, and I haven’t finished that book yet! And for Marillier, I own so many of her books and left them unread, and really need to get through that pile.
  
  Bonus Goals
  
  READ MORE FROM TBR || Last year my goal was to read more from my TBR and less from ARCs. And I think overall an aspect of that went really well — I did read fewer ARCs! But I haven’t been very good with my TBR. Just take a look at my bookshelves, shaming me here in the living room as I type this…
  
  READ MORE GENRE FICTION || Part of my job at the library is to expand my readers advisory knowledge, and one genre I’m lacking in is mystery. I think I can dive into the genre with something more familiar to me — like historical fiction. There are a few historical mysteries on my TBR so I’ll start with those and go from there!
  
  What are your reading goals in 2019?
  
  Posted in books | 6 Comments | Tagged books, personal, resolutions
- End of Year Book Survey V
  
  Posted at 7:10 am by Laura, on December 29, 2018
  
  This is the fifth year I’m participating in Jamie’s (@ The Perpetual Page-Turner) End of Year Book Survey. In 2015 I shared my bookish life in Hermione gifs, 2016 in Pevensie gifs, 2017 in Gilmore Girls gifs, and this year I’ll share it in Nadiya from Great British Bake Off gifs! I’m looking forward to reading your 2018 book survey too.
  
  Note: This includes all books read in 2018 – they do not have to be published in 2018.
  
  Number of Books You Read: 47
  Number of Re-reads: 0
  Genre You Read the Most From: historical & fantasy
  
  1. Best Book You Read in 2018
  
  I actually answer this question last after filling out the survey, and I think based on what has stuck with me all these months and what has filled up the most categories, I have to say City of Brass (with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine a very close second)!
  
  2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
  
  From Twinkle With Love, which admittedly was mostly disappointing because I may have expected something else from it. I set the bar super high, and I really was most excited for this book last year. Ah well. I’m still looking forward to There’s Something About Sweetie!
  
  3. Most Surprising (in a good way or bad way) Book You Read in 2018?
  
  Spinning Silver — again, I was expecting something more along the lines of Uprooted. I’m quite glad it wasn’t, though! The book went a totally different direction than I expected, with narrators I wasn’t prepared for, and this surprise was definitely a good one!
  
  4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (and they did) in 2018?
  
  Uh, well, I push my clients’ work more than anything, so Empire of Sand takes the ticket! I pushed this book hardcore on Twitter and Facebook, to my friends on coffee dates and catching up sessions — everywhere. Seriously, get this book. It’s a gorgeous Mughal-Indian fantasy and it has received four starred reviews (out of four trade reviews!! Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal all love it!).
  
  5. Best Series You Started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?
  
  Series: Kings of the Wyld — Can’t wait to start Bloody Rose!
  Sequel: China Rich Girlfriend — Looking forward to reading the final book!
  Ender: none! Lots of first and seconds of series read this year.
  
  6. Favorite New Author You Discovered in 2018?
  
  I’ve read two Kevin Kwan novels this year, and definitely plan on picking up the third book early in 2019 to round out the trilogy. His writing is fun, witty, and over-the-top, and I devoured every word!
  
  7. Best Book from a Genre You Don’t Typically Read/was Out of Your Comfort Zone?
  
  I really don’t enjoy reading nonfiction, but I was fascinated with A Long Way Home. Memory is both a strength and a weakness — how much of this journey does Saroo actually remember versus what he was told or imagined as a child? — but whatever the circumstances, I still found it incredibly moving he survived Calcutta and managed to find his little village via Google Earth.
  
  8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?
  
  The City of Brass was definitely the most thrilling and action-packed novel I read this year, hands down! When I had to set the book aside (for work, errands, adulthood responsibilities) it was all I could think about. I finished it in January and I’m still thinking about it. It was one of the most complex novels I’ve read in a long time, and I’m very much looking forward to Kingdom of Copper.
  
  9. Book You Read in 2018 That You are Most Likely to Re-Read Next Year?
  
  Honestly, re-reads don’t happen for me much anymore. But if I could re-read a book in 2019 that I read in 2018, it would be The Clockmaker’s Daughter or Once Upon a River. They’re my favorite authors, and there was so much packed in the narrative — interweaving story lines, little details that appear later. Exquisite.
  
  10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2018?
  
  The Girl in the Tower is so pretty and wintry. It utilizes the reds and purples in a cool way, rather than a warm one. I could burrow in those colors. The covers for all three of the books in the Winternight Trilogy are great — they look like a sunrise!
  
  11. Most Memorable Character of 2018?
  
  A tie between Nahri and Dara, both in City of Brass. Oh, my heart.
  
  12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2018?
  
  The Bird and the Blade is just…wow. WOW. It was such an affecting read, even more so that I know the music score to the opera it was inspired by. Like the music, it swelled and soared and ugh what a beautiful ride.
  
  13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2018?
  
  Since this book made me go down a research rabbit hole, The Romanov Empress takes the cake for most thought-provoking! I was fascinated with the family, the web across Europe, and overall history of Russia as it unfolded, year by year, through Maria’s eyes. There are dozens of parallels from the Romanov dynasty and the country it is today; it’s unsettling as well as heartbreaking.
  
  14. Book You Can’t Believe You Waited UNTIL 2018 to Finally Read?
  
  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Massive thank you to Hannah for saying just the right words to capture my attention and make me read this book. It was nothing like I expected and yet everything I could ever want it to be, and I just want to hug Eleanor and set her next to all of my Jane Eyre copies. Jane, Eleanor, and I are besties now.
  
  15. Favorite Passage/Quote From a Book You Read in 2018?
  
  This is what I have always done, how I have always found myself when I’ve been lost. When I first went to music college, eighteen years old and paralyzingly shy, when ringing my parents from the pay phone in the corridor just made me miss them even more, I would feel the strength in the neck of my cello, flatten the prints of my fingers into the strings, and forget.
  
  […]
  
  I play and play; through thirst, past hunger, making tiredness just a dent in my soul. […] I play on until the world is flat again and the spaces between my heartbeats are as even as the rhythm on the stave in front of me.
  
  — Goodbye, Paris
  
  16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read in 2018?
  
  According to Goodreads, the shortest book I read this year was Jan Brett’s newest picture book, The Snowy Nap, and the longest was The Queens of Innis Lear (not surprised!!).
  
  17. Book That Shocked You the Most
  
  The Glass Castle. I just can’t. Those parents. Jeannette herself. I just can’t.
  
  18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
  
  Royals is probably the only one I can place in this category, as most of the romance story-lines I read this year were tragic or hanging *side-eyes Chakraborty*. So. GO DAISY AND MILES!
  
  19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship of the Year
  
  Clay and Gabe in Kings of the Wyld. I mean, come on. Only a bromance would survive all the crap they went through in the Wyld! Their deep friendship and understanding — with each other and with the rest of their band — was awesome to read and experience.
  
  20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 from an Author You’ve Read Previously
  
  The Clockmaker’s Daughter is now my favorite Kate Morton novel. Kate Morton is on my auto-buy list, and she just keeps getting better and better with her already great books.
  
  21. Best Book You Read in 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY on a Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure
  
  Goodbye, Paris for sure. I had never heard of this book, and I didn’t see any of my friends reading it either, but a librarian recommended it to me “because [you] loved Eleanor Oliphant” and she nailed it.
  
  22. Newest Fictional Crush from a Book You Read in 2018?
  
  Dara in City of Brass, goddammit Chakraborty. *sobs*
  
  23. Best 2018 Debut You Read?
  
  Dear Mrs. Bird to add some variety here — I read a lot of great 2018 debuts! Dear Mrs. Bird fits right into my wheelhouse, with its historical WWII fiction, slice-of-life story line, empathetic-to-the-point-of-destruction protagonist. I was so engrossed in the audiobook (seriously, listen to the audio if you can!!) that I missed streets and exits when driving because it was so well-read and well-written!
  
  24. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
  
  City of Brass takes the prize again! Cairo and Daevabad were both brilliantly described. I felt I was actually there among Nahri and the people and djinn, could see and smell and taste and touch everything. And not once did it feel like I was being bogged down with descriptions too much
  
  25. Book that Put a Smile on Your Face/was the Most FUN to Read?
  
  It’s a tie! Kings of the Wyld and Royals both put ridiculously huge smiles on my face while I read, and I enjoyed every second of them!!
  
  26. Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry in 2018?
  
  Dear Mrs. Bird — the scenes with London bombings, the fights with best friends, all of it was so gut-wrenching and drawn out and agonizing.
  
  27. Hidden Gem of The Year?
  
  Goodbye, Paris was unexpectedly wonderful and perfect. I wish more people knew about it. It’s basically Eleanor Oliphant but with music, which speaks to me on such a deep level.
  
  28. Book that Crushed Your Soul?
  
  Sweetbitter, and not in a good way. I wish I could scrub that book from my memory.
  
  29. Most Unique Book You Read in 2018?
  
  Saga, mostly because I don’t read graphic novels. The librarians have their own internal book club (Genre Study, to help with readers’ advisory-related questions and suggestions from/for patrons) and one particular month’s book was to read Saga plus another graphic novel. I can definitely see the appeal of graphic novels, and they’re good for visual readers, reluctant readers, and readers who want vivid storytelling in a new form. Not for me, but it was definitely a unique experience!
  
  30. Book that Made You the Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
  
  Small Great Things, but I wasn’t mad at the book. I was mad at myself. I berated myself for the whole review, really.
  
  1. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2018?
  
  I stumbled across more IG bookstagrams than I did blogs. Lately I’ve loved bookcooklook, somekindofalibrary, and idlewildreads. All three of them have, in my eyes, aesthetically pleasing accounts. No extra fuss for props and flashy objects — just books and tea and bakes! (I’m a huge fan of that sort of simplicity, and genuinely don’t understand the appeal of crowded shelves full of POPs, candles, and clingy bookmarks.) Plus they have great snippet reviews on their posts mixed with a bit of behind-the-reader glimpses and discussions, which I enjoy.
  
  2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2018?
  
  The Bird and the Blade is probably my favorite, if anything because I enjoyed the book so much.
  
  3. Best Discussion/Non-review Post You had on Your Blog?
  
  I didn’t write on the blog as often as I used to outside of book reviews and seasonal wrap ups, but I did post about my reading list prior to leaving for Greece! Sometimes it’s difficult to pick out your vacation reading…
  
  4. Best Event that You Participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
  
  I was lame (but mostly poor) this year and didn’t participate or attend any bookish events. I was, however, FaceTimed into Tasha Suri’s book launch in London for a few minutes! Does that count?
  
  5. Best Moment of Bookish/Blogging Life in 2018?
  
  *incoherent screaming about a client’s book and exciting news that isn’t public yet*
  
  That.
  
  7. Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
  
  MSWL 2018, no surprise there. I’m glad it’s proven helpful to writers, and it has certainly made my inbox full of great stuff, so I’ve made an update post for 2019 already!
  
  8. Post You Wished Got a Little More Love?
  
  Weirdly, selfishly, my seasonal rewind post that included my engagement *ducks and hides*
  
  9. Best Bookish Discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
  
  Once more, I was over my head in work-related industry stuff and didn’t get to discover a whole lot. However, I’ve really enjoyed browsing IG bookish posts that don’t require a whole lot of props or coffee––simple slice of life posts that happen to have books are totally my aesthetic!
  
  10. Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges or Goals that You had Set for Yourself at the Beginning of This Year?
  
  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
  
  Oh, I’m sorry — right, okay, the question…
  
  Well, I read more library books for fun than intended, but not enough off my own TBR shelves in my home library. I had to lower my goal of 50 books to 45 in order to be anywhere near finishing the challenge. And I read more historical and fantasy this year, but none for my Gabaldon / Marillier self-appointed challenge.
  
  You know what, though? I won’t feel guilty about that. I surpassed my agent goals in 2018, and that’s what really counted for me personally in the end. This career is about all those baby steps and I walked so many of them.
  
  1. One Book You Didn’t Get To in 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?
  
  OH GOD SO MANY. The one that’s probably staring at me the most is The Poppy War, but I’m also terrified. The rest of the Queens of Renthia series. Basically all my WWII historical fiction books. Yeah…Poppy War may be one of the first…
  
  2. Book You Are Most Anticipating for 2019 (non-debut)?
  
  The Downstairs Girl, Her Royal Highness, The Huntress, The Witch’s Kind, I Owe You One, the list goes on and on… They’re all by authors I adore, all covering topics and themes I’m super excited to dive into. What’s not to love?
  
  3. 2019 Debut You are Most Anticipating?
  
  The Ruin of Kings sounds amazing, Spin the Dawn because duh, and this interesting novel I read about ages ago, The Western Wind, in an interview on Publishers Weekly simply because of the strange historical details the author had to twist in order to incorporate into the plot of the novel. So…why not?
  
  4. Series Ending/A Sequel You are Most Anticipating in 2019?
  
  Kingdom of Copper, it’s a given. I have the galley sitting right next to me!
  
  5. One Thing You Hope to Accomplish or Do in Your Reading/Blogging Life in 2019?
  
  ONE thing?! Oh jeez. Attend Book Expo, writers conferences, online contests…I’m also already scheduled for three writers conferences, Pitch Wars, and WisRWA’s Fab Five contest. But that’s work-related. Bookworm self, I would like to really and truly read the rest of my Marillier and Gabaldon collections, and not feel burdened by blogging a review for them (or any book, really). Blogging shouldn’t feel like a chore!
  
  I have all these high expectations, plus a wedding to plan and experience, for 2019 sooooooo cross fingers and wish me luck!
  
  6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone
  
  Bear No Malice by Clarissa Harwood and Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *pushes*
  
  ~
  
  What’s on your year-end review? Do we have any similar titles? Which books are you going to read, too? Good luck and have a great 2019 reading year!
  
  Posted in books, Update Post | 8 Comments | Tagged books, End of Year Book Survey, personal
- Book Review: “Goodbye, Paris” by Anstey Harris
  
  Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on December 27, 2018
  
  Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris
  
  Publisher: Touchstone
  Published: August 2018
  Genre: contemporary
  ISBN: 9781501196508
  Rating: ★★★★★
  
  Grace once had the beginnings of a promising musical career, but she hasn’t been able to play her cello publicly since a traumatic event at music college years ago. Since then, she’s built a quiet life for herself in her small English village, repairing instruments and nurturing her long- distance affair with David, the man who has helped her rebuild her life even as she puts her dreams of a family on hold until his children are old enough for him to leave his loveless marriage.
  
  But when David saves the life of a woman in the Paris Metro, his resulting fame shines a light onto the real state of the relationship(s) in his life. Shattered, Grace hits rock bottom and abandons everything that has been important to her, including her dream of entering and winning the world’s most important violin-making competition. Her closest friends–a charming elderly violinist with a secret love affair of his own, and her store clerk, a gifted but angst-ridden teenage girl–step in to help, but will their friendship be enough to help her pick up the pieces?
  
  Grace and her boyfriend David are heading home from a wonderful concert in Paris when a woman in the metro faints and nearly dies on the tracks. David’s rescue spawns a media frenzy — who is this mysterious hero, and can we figure it out with CCTV recordings? Through a series of twists and turns we come to know Grace: her loneliness and seclusion, the silent trauma of her past, the humor, heart, and passion for music. Her violin shop, where she makes violins, violas, and cellos for musicians of all ages, is doing well enough that she can create a cello specifically for a world-wide competition for makers. When life spins out of control, she relies on the support and encouragement of her unlikely duet of friends, Nadia and Mr Williams, to set her back on her feet and take the spotlight.
  
  Closing out the year with a five-star read, my seventh for 2018! The librarians have a genre study book club and this holiday season we did a Secret Santa-style event: we expressed our favorite kinds of books and authors to someone whose taste is different from ours, and they recommended titles. An exercise in readers advisory techniques! And my Secret Santa nailed it: she recommended this book, and I was over-the-moon.
  
  Grace’s naivete felt so authentic to me, her emotional and mental abuse incredibly powerful and heartbreaking. As someone who has also suffered similar past traumas, I sat there reading, thinking oh no, Grace, you have no idea, oh no, what an awful way to learn. She’s such a strong and capable woman, and I adored Nadia — her anger, her passion, her need for validation and respect — and Mr Williams — his spunk, his intelligence, and overall gentlemanly demeanor — for their unwavering, unconditional support of Grace through all her trials and triumphs. What a powerful, moving little novel.
  
  I rarely find characters that feel like kindred spirits. I’ve been lucky enough to meet both Grace and Eleanor in one year. Grace’s talent and gift for music touched my soul. For anyone who has loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, for anyone whose heart broke over the moral complexities of Me Before You, for anyone who wants to read and experience the sweeping power of music through words — this is the book for you.
  
  Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review
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- Hello, I’m Laura!
  
  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent and librarian, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I have a passion for Victorian culture, Gothic lit, and music. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!
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