Book Review - Phaedra Patrick's The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with an advanced copy of Phaedra Patrick’s debut novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- After his beloved wife Miriam dies, pensioner Arthur Pepper discovers a mysterious charm bracelet hidden in a shoe box. Arthur, a man who has found little reason to travel beyond his village or change his routine, finds himself stepping outside of his comfort zone and traveling around the world, as he works through the charms to reveal Miriam’s secretive past.

LIKE- The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is utterly delightful and charming. Patrick has written a heartfelt story with plenty of humor and several memorable characters. One of the best aspects of her story, is its unpredictable. Arthur’s journey is an odd one, filled with unexpected plot twists that kept me turning the page. I liked the theme of self-discovery and it’s a joy to see Arthur’s whole world open up as he allows himself to venture outside of his comfort zone.

DISLIKE- Not a single thing to dislike.

RECOMMEND- Are you a fan of stories that leave you with the warm fuzzies? Yes? Get yourself a copy of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper ASAP! This is Patrick’s debut novel and I can’t wait to read her next project.

Book Review - James Hannah's The A-Z of You and Me

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advanced copy of James Hannah's novel, The A-Z of You and Me, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Ivo is only in his early 40's, yet his life is coming to an end. As he spends his last weeks in a hospice, a nurse gives him a game to play: he must recall memories with associated body parts for each letter of the alphabet. Beginning with "A", Ivo recalls a childhood memory involving an Adam's Apple. Ivo remembers his life, love, and regrets, as his pain medication makes his mind increasingly foggy, and he succumbs to his disease.

LIKE- I like the concept of The A-Z of You and Me. The idea of connecting body parts to recalled memories, generates compelling stories and it provides an interesting framework for the novel. The book deals with Ivo's relationships and often poor choices with regard to friends and experiences. To that end, the story is filled with memorable secondary characters; people that you wouldn't want to know in real life, but make for a good story. There is a very sweet memory involving knitted hearts hung in trees in the middle of the night. It's magical and cinematic. 

DISLIKE- I just didn't connect with Ivo, which is a huge problem. He's definitely a character that has made some bad choices, but he's still the protagonist, and I felt that I should be rooting for him. It's clear that his health isn't going to improve, but I wanted to care about his final decisions to make peace with his past.  I felt indifference towards Ivo, which is almost worse than disliking a character. I can't quite pinpoint the issue causing my indifference, possibly character voice? 

RECOMMEND- No. Ultimately my disconnect from Ivo makes Hannah's debut novel a no-go as far as recommending it. Although, if Hannah's second novel catches my interest, I'd give him a second chance as a writer. The A-Z of You and Me isn't terrible, it just didn't have the emotional impact that I anticipating.