Book Review: The Other Woman

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

Think your mother-in-law is evil? You need to read The Other Woman by Sandie Jones.

The Other Woman is a fun, quick, thrill ride with characters that will drive you nuts. Emily has met the man of her dreams, Adam. But, Adam's mom, Pammie, is not her biggest fan.

The novel begins by introducing the couple and showing readers how they meet and fall in love. Then, readers meet Pammie as Emily is introduced to her the first time. From their very first meeting, it is clear Pammie is ready to engage in some major psychological warfare.

At first, Pammie seems simply manipulative and possessive when it comes to her son. But, as the pages turn, it becomes more obvious that Pammie is not merely manipulative - she is diabolically evil. She will stop at nothing to prevent her son from marrying Emily. She is the ultimate Monster-In-Law.

As it becomes clear Pammie is trying to stop this wedding, my spider senses started tingling. Something about the whole thing just did not make sense to me. Why was Adam such a pushover? Why couldn't he see what his mom was doing? Why on earth would Emily still want to marry into this family of crazy?

Without giving anything away, I can tell you that the plot does thicken. I figured it out - and I am betting you will, too. However, that won't make the ride any less fun.

I flew through the book. It is one of those page-turners that you just can't stop reading - even when you know it is insane. It's like trying not to look at a wreck on the side of the road - you just have to look, right?

If you are looking for a fast-paced, lightweight thriller to get you out of a reading slump (or to make you feel better about your own in-laws), then this is the book for you!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and review!

Book Review: Rush

Rush by Lisa Patton

If you were a member of a Southern sorority (or wanted to be) and/or you loved the book/film The Help, then this is the book for you.

Rush, by Lisa Patton, is true-blue Southern fiction. As someone who was fully entrenched in my sorority during my school years at Georgia State University, reading this book was like going to a college reunion.

When Patton began describing the rush ("recruitment") events, it was like I went back in time. Things I thought I had forgotten came rushing back. I loved feeling sentimental about things like rush parties, bids, and the entire process.

But, what this book more enjoyable is that while it focuses on sorority life from the lens of a mother/alum acting as an advisor the year her daughter (and legacy) goes through recruitment, there is more to the story.

This not simply a novel about mother/legacy rush bonding. It is a novel that also brings the people who work hard behind the scenes to life - those who keep the house running smoothly. Readers get to know the house mother, the housekeeper, the house cooks, and the rest who are paid little to make the lives of the wealthy even better.

Set in Ole Miss, this novel brings to light racial issues still occurring to this day/ At some points, I found them cringe-worthy, which I believe was the point. It is very hard in 2018 to think these things still exist, but as someone who grew up in the South can attest, racism is alive and well. This added element brought a level of depth to a novel that would have been lacking without it.

This novel is sugary-sweet, so if you are not a fan of sap, you may want to pass on this one. But, for the rest of us, it is a perfect read that will leave you feeling hopeful.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lisa Patton for providing me with a copy to read and review! This one will be released August 21, 2018.