Book Review- Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan is Killing It

Finlay Donovan is beyond stressed. The recently divorced, single mom of two is struggling to meet the deadline for her latest book. Her bank account is reaching zero and she’s desperate, but not desperate enough to commit murder.

While at a coffee meeting with her agent, a stranger overhears pieces of their conversation and mistakes Finlay for a hitman. After her meeting, the stranger, a woman with a husband issue, contacts Finlay with a proposition for a hit job. Unable to properly disengage herself from the situation, Finlay agrees to go to dinner with the target, planning on assessing the case, perhaps issuing a stern warning, rather than committing a crime. The guy is a jerk after all, and Finlay has had her own husband troubles. A mishap occurs and although she didn’t commit murder, Finlay is left with a dead body that she must handle. Every move makes her appear more guilty and serves to confirm her involvement with a murder. Can Finlay hide the body and complete the job without getting caught? Will she manage to get back on track with her manuscript? Can she prove to her ex-husband that she is capable of life without him?

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is catchy. I was drawn to the clever title and fun cover. Seriously, isn’t this one of the best book covers? I thought it would make an ideal costume if there was a contest to dress like a book cover!

The story itself is entertaining, if not a bit ridiculous. You absolutely must suspend your disbelief. Finlay is a plucky character and I think relatable to many women who might be recently divorced and struggling to get back on their feet. While I found the premise to be engaging, the overarching plot gets silly. It’s just so outrageous. However, if you want an escapist read, this could be a good pick. I took it on vacation, and for a light read, it was enjoyable. It has minor amount of gore, but it falls into the comedy-mystery category, so possibly a good pick for people who like a mystery, but don’t like anything too dark. It’s an easy read. The humor and tone reminded me of the TV series ( also a book, but I have only see the series) The Flight Attendant.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It is the first in a series. If you had asked me while I was still reading, if I was planning on picking up the next one, I think I would have said no. However, there is an enormous cliff-hanger at the end of the first book, leaving me curious to see how it is all going to play out. Although, I would be more inclined to watch a tv series version, rather than continue reading the books.

Book Review- Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation

Best friends Poppy and Alex are complete opposites. She is a free spirit and he is a rule follower. She’s a bit messy and unfiltered, while he is restrained and proper. She likes to go with the flow and he always has a plan. The biggest thing they have in common is an undeniable chemistry than neither wants to confess, keeping both Poppy and Alex in each other’s “friend zone.”

Keeping with a tradition that they have had since college, Poppy and Alex take an annual vacation together. It doesn’t matter where they are living or who they may be dating, this annual vacation is non-negotiable. Years into this tradition, they have a disastrous trip that threatens to end both their friendship and any possibility of a romantic connection. Told in a non-linear fashion, the story unfolds in chapters that reveal their history, the details of the disaster, and the aftermath.

This was my second Emily Henry novel, the first being Beach Read, and I am hooked. Henry has a gift for writing snappy and humorous dialogue, plus simmering tension with clear subtext. I love her characters and developed a pretty deep book-crush on Alex! I think People We Meet on Vacation might have had an edge over Beach Read, because I loved the vacations, especially the last part being in Palms Springs. As a frequent visitor to Palm Springs, Henry has the sights and flavor of the city down to a T, from the colorful, yet dumpy motels to the more fabulous spots.

People We Meet on Vacation is fun and romantic. I like to compare Henry’s books to an episode of Gilmore Girls, which in my world is high praise. The similarities include the rapid dialogue, brand of humor, and quirky characters. However, another similarity is that both have a huge heart and the problems that the characters encounter can be quite heavy. The sweetness present in Henry’s novels is never saccharine, but it is also the type of sweetness that leaves my heart happy.

I read that People We Meet on Vacation is being turned into a movie, which I feel would work very well. I can’t wait to see who gets cast as Alex and Poppy.

Book Review - Natasha Sizlo's All Signs Point to Paris

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of Natasha Sizlo’s memoir, All Signs Point to Paris.

Natasha Sizlo wants to find love. The forty-something divorced mother has recently disengaged from a steamy, yet tortured, off-again/on-again romance with a man who was not ready to commit, leaving Sizlo heart-broken. Two events align to send her to Paris. The first is the death of her beloved father, whom on his death bed, told his two daughters that his spirit would meet them in Paris. The second, is a psychic, who tells Sizlo that her soul mate is a man who was born in Paris on November 2, 1968.

Sizlo decides to take a chance both on love and on a psychic’s correct prediction, by not only planning a trip to Paris, but also putting herself on social media and dating sites, seeking men with those specific attributes. In Paris, with the help of her sister and a few friends, she dates several men and makes connections throughout the city. Sizlo discovers that although she may have trouble finding a romantic partner, her life does not lack for love and that it takes a community of people to fulfill ones needs.

I loved All Signs Point to Paris. At first, I was skeptical. I don’t believe in psychics, but the Sizlo does not force that belief on her readers. In fact, I think she is taking it with a grain of salt too. She is serious about the endeavor, but more with a “what do I have to lose, let’s take a chance,” type of attitude. The memoir is about the discoveries she makes regarding her relationship with her sister and friends and learning to love her life that already exists. At the end of the book, she has a lovely and very adult conversation with her former boyfriend, that I think everyone wishes they could have when finding closure with a relationship. A conversation to tie-up loose ends, but also honor that there was once love and something good, even if it is time to more forward.

The book is filled with all things Paris: the foods, the sights, the smells…a sensory delight. I’ve never been to Paris, but I felt like I was on the trip with Sizlo. I loved how so many locals took up her cause and engaged with her, especially an evening when women who were following her on social media met for drinks. Sizlo shares her experience in such a warm and open way, that she connects with strangers at every turn.

The flip side to this is in her efforts to connect with the French, she disengages with her sister and friends. Towards the end of the trip, Sizlo’s sister, who has been supportive, expresses her sadness at missing out on bonding time. As you might expect from a good story arc, even in non-fiction, Sizlo has a wake-up call and turns her attention to her sibling.

Sizlo is fabulous and I loved following her search for love in Paris. She has a fantastic Instagram page with pictures from the trip. I still don’t believe in psychics, but I do believe in following your heart and taking chances for love.

One final note, there is some fun bits for fans of Emily in Paris!