Book Review- Lisa Jewell's The Family Remains

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for a copy of Lisa Jewell’s The Family Remains.

The Family Remains is a sequel to Jewell’s 2019 novel, The Family Upstairs. The first novel in the series ended without necessarily requiring a sequel, yet left many of the characters adrift after escaping a traumatizing situation. The Family Remains brings a sense of closure to their lives, allowing the characters time to rebuild and process. Although, of course the story is not so simple, as that would make for a very dull book!

In The Family Remains, siblings Lucy and Henry are faced with confronting their past, when Henry decided to track down an old friend. Henry is a mysterious character and it is unclear if unresolved childhood damage has turned him into a dangerous adult. Lucy, who has been living under a different identity and fears exposure, is compelled to risk her secrecy and fly to Chicago to find Henry. Exposure for the siblings is further risked when the body of a pop-star washes ashore on the Thames, a decades old murder that involves the siblings.

You do not need to have read The Family Upstairs to understand or enjoy The Family Remains. They are independent books. However, I feel that my experience of the sequel was enhanced by reading the first book. I wish I had read them back-to-back, as I had forgotten many details of The Family Upstairs Jewell does not often write sequels, but I was pleased that she decided to revisit these memorable characters and give them closure, especially Henry.

I’m a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and I have read most of her books. Although I enjoyed The Family Remains, I felt it was a little slower paced and not as engaging as her other books. Perhaps it was due to the necessary information drops to remind us of the events in The Family Upstairs. Also, the first book was very chilling and unexpected, while The Family Remains had less overall tension. It was more of a closure story than a straight-up mystery, which made me feel happy for the characters that I had grown to like, but also didn’t lends itself to the normal surprise of her other books.

One small thing that drove this California native crazy…Lucy’s family goes to burger chain In-and-Out during their visit to Chicago. This chain does not exist in Chicago! Because I knew this, it momentarily took me out of the story.

If you’re a fan, absolutely read The Family Remains. If you’re new to Jewell, read The Family Upstairs.

Book Review- Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died

Thank you to Libro FM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died.

Nickelodeon child star Jennette McCurdy recounts a deeply troubled relationship with her mother, including emotional abuse that lead to a severe eating disorder. McCurdy’s mother had a long battle with reoccurring cancer, eventually passing away when McCurdy was in her twenties. McCurdy candidly explains the relief she felt with her mother gone and her struggle to overcome the toxicity of her upbringing.

I’m Glad My Mom Died is the hot non-fiction book of late summer 2022. I work as a bookseller and it is impossible to get in stock. Customers ask for it in hushed tones, as if saying the title aloud might bring bad luck. I don’t remember the last time a book has initiated so many interesting conversations.

I was drawn to the title. I had not previously heard of McCurdy, as she is a younger generation and I never watched her shows on Nickelodeon. A majority of the customers seeking her book are fans, however, you do not need to be a fan to appreciate her memoir. I’m generally drawn to non-fiction titles dealing with death and mother/daughter relationships, which is why the title, especially paired with the cover photo, made it appealing. Unlike McCurdy, I had a mostly wonderful relationship with my mom, but I can relate to that taboo sense of relief when a parent dies and you have the freedom of breaking away from your childhood, including family expectations.

This memoir is shocking! McCurdy’s mom uses her daughter as a proxy to chase after unfulfilled ambitions. McCurdy would do anything to please her mom and keep harmony in their household, which included relationship tension between her parents. In her focus on being a people-pleaser, McCurdy feels pressure to be perfect, including attending a strict schedule of extra-curricular classes aimed at improving her chances in Hollywood. McCurdy’s body is scrutinized as her mom, who also has an eating disorder, is proud of her daughter’s restrictive eating. The calorie restriction is not only to keep McCurdy thin, but to help delay puberty and keep her looking young to book kid parts. McCurdy develops a fear of puberty. McCurdy uses humor to lighten the topics and perhaps to deflect from truly difficult memories. Her pacing and sarcasm made me laugh. She has a strong comedic sensibility, but ultimately her memoir just made me feel really sad for her situation.

The feeling of hope comes towards the end, after her mother dies. McCurdy can finally let go of toxic relationships, not only the one with her mother, and make efforts to change her self-destructive tendencies. She feels empowered to make positive choices for her own health and happiness. She’s a strong woman.

If you can get your hands on a copy of I’m Glad My Mom Died, you should read it. If not, the audio version, read by McCurdy is a great option. It’s the non-fiction book of the season and definitely a pop-culture moment.

Side note, after finishing the book and doing a little internet digging about McCurdy, I discovered the book was originally a stage play that ran in Hollywood. I hope she reboots her play as i’d love to see it. Also, I had never seen her acting and watched a few clips. Specifically, I watched a bit of Sam & Cat, which she co-starred with Ariana Grande. The show is a cheesy comedy for kids and McCurdy is fine in her role, but Grande is shockingly unwatchable. I guess it’s different looking at it from the perspective of an adult, but I’m really glad that this show wasn’t on my step-kids radar when they visited us! Grande’s squeaky, babyish voice is going to haunt my nightmares.

Book Review- Erika Krouse's Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation

Thank you to Libro FM and Macmillan Audio for a copy of Erika Krouse’s Tell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation.

Despite having no previous experience as a private investigator, Erika Krouse is given an opportunity by a lawyer named Grayson who notices Krouse’s keen ability to get people to talk. Not only does Krouse have the gift of getting clients to open up and trust her, but she also has a knack for blending in with a crowd. Grayson hires Krouse for long-term case involving rape culture among athletes at a Colorado University. Krouse must confront her own history of sexual violence, while working this high-profile case.

Tell Me Everything is an excellent book. Krouse balances the genres of memoir, journalism, and true crime to reveal a story that is as engaging, as it is horrific. The case involved university football players who were accused of underage drinking/drugs, soliciting prostitutes, and rape. One of the biggest issues in the case was the cover-up by university officials and prominent members of society, who had an interest in supporting the football team, no matter how heinous the crimes. Additionally, teenage recruits were involved, as some of the illegal behavior took place during recruitment weekends, the parties used to entice young men to choose this particular university. The adult prostitutes often turned a blind-eye to the men being teenagers.

Krouse interviewed former players, both those accused and on the periphery, prostitutes involved, and the rape victims to try to get a full picture of the situation. The university and local authorities were determined to keep the crimes from being prosecuted, so Krouse used her power of persuasion to get confessions. One of the prostitutes that helped with the case, did so at great detriment to her personal life. Krouse had gained this woman’s trust through a guise of friendship, knowing that professional lines were blurring, eventually feeling guilt for this aspect of private investigation. The work was not always clean. Krouse often had to lie and manipulate to gain access to information.

Tell Me Everything is fascinating, but due to the grim content, a difficult read. Krouse’s private life and family relations are nearly as complicated as the case, which adds an interesting layer to the book. I felt heavy that Krouse has difficulties, but from a story perspective this added so much more to Tell Me Everything, much more nuanced than if she had simply written about the case. It could not have been easy to be so candid about her personal issues, but it certainly made Tell Me Everything an outstanding book.

If you like non-fiction that tackles complex societal issues Krouse’s Tell Me Everything is an excellent pick.