The Family by Naomi Krupitksy

                                                        

 

Title: The Family

Author: Naomi Krupitsky

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: "Sofia Colicchio is a free spirit, loud and untamed. Antonia Russo is thoughtful, ever observing the world around her. Best friends since birth, they live in the shadow of their fathers’ unspoken community: the Family. Sunday dinners gather them each week to feast, discuss business, and renew the intoxicating bond borne of blood and love.

 
But the disappearance of Antonia’s father drives a whisper-thin wedge between the girls as they grow into women, wives, mothers, and leaders. Their hearts expand in tandem with Red Hook and Brooklyn around them, as they push against the boundaries of society’s expectations and fight to preserve their complex but life-sustaining friendship. One fateful night their loyalty to each other and the Family will be tested. Only one of them can pull the trigger before it’s too late." - Back Cover 

My Thoughts

The best book I've read in a long time, I could not get enough of this story. I loved the characters, the style it was written in, and how raw it felt. The characters are wonderfully human, a coming-of-age story that feels so very honest. To me, it felt like a fresh take on a classic mafia story.

This was exactly the book I needed to read right now. I typically don't enjoy novels that have so little dialog, but it was done so well that I didn't even miss it. The Family got me out of a reading rut and I'm so glad I pulled it off the shelf. I finished it two days ago and I'm still sad that it is over. It's a contender for my favorite book of 2023, yep, I said it. 

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American Royals by Katharine McGee

                                                         

Title: American Royals

Author: Katharine McGee

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: "When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

The most interesting part of this novel is that it is based on the premise that George Washington accepted the American People's offer to become their king and that this is the story of the modern American Royal family. When I realized that other nations that are now republics also maintained their monarchies in the story because their revolutions were inspired by the formation of The United States without a traditional monarch, I was geeking out. I'm not sure how many people reading this type of novel normally pick up on the brilliance of that choice by the author and the historical context that it brings, but I loved it. 

As for the plot itself, it is not super original,(oldest daughter is dutiful and has to marry someone suitable, younger siblings lost with no role, plain girl has a crush on her best friend's popular brother) but it is entertaining. It was disappointing that nothing really got resolved by the end, making it feel like a ploy to force the reader to continue the series, rather than choose to pick up the next book because the first was so good. Do I want to know what happens? Yes. Do I still find this tactic annoying? Also yes.

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Ms. Demeanor: A Novel by Elinor Lipman

Title: Ms. Demeanor

Author: Elinor Lipman

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: "Jane Morgan is a valued member of her law firm—or was, until a prudish neighbor, binoculars poised, observes her having sex on the roof of her NYC apartment building.  Police are summoned, and a punishing judge sentences her to six months of home confinement. With Jane now jobless and rootless, trapped at home, life looks bleak. Yes, her twin sister provides support and advice, but mostly of the unwelcome kind. When a doorman lets slip that Jane isn't the only resident wearing an ankle monitor, she strikes up a friendship with fellow white-collar felon Perry Salisbury. As she tries to adapt to life within her apartment walls, she discovers she hasn’t heard the end of that tattletale neighbor—whose past isn’t as decorous as her 9-1-1 snitching would suggest. Why are police knocking on Jane’s door again? Can her house arrest have a silver lining? Can two wrongs make a right? In the hands of "an inspired alchemist who converts serious subject into humor” (New York Times Book Review)—yes, delightfully."  - Back Cover

My Thoughts

Many of the books you'll find in past posts fall in the genre of historical fiction, a genre I clearly love. I am deliberately taking a break from my favored genre to explore the world of contemporary fiction and I'm glad I started with this novel! Ms. Demeanor (despite being about a woman who loses her job and is on house arrest) is light, funny, and relatable. The family dynamics are familiar, with a modern twist. Jane is relatable and remains delightfully unapologetic about the 'scandalous' act that was the catalyst for her home detention, which I find endearing. Probably because I fall into the category of educated, high achieving, rule-following, thirty-something woman just like Jane, so her not backing down feels like a justified rebellion.   

Were there some plotlines that were borderline far-fetched and convenient? Sure. Could I forgive them because the storyline was so enjoyable? Absolutely. 

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The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

                                                           

Title: The Personal Librarian

Author: Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives." - Back Cover 

My Thoughts

This story is about race, but it's also a coming-of-age story of a young woman who has been trained all her life not to stand out, not to draw attention, to be careful and cautious. I love Belle's transformation as she realizes in order to hide in plain sight, she must stand out. She is a woman working in a profession with mostly men, she is a woman from humble beginnings who must socialize with the New York elite, and she is an African American woman who must disguise herself in a white society. Shying away from any of those roles would cause more skepticism and rumors than leaning in, learning how to manage people while also expanding her skills and Mr. Morgan's library. 

Belle grows from every experience she has, good and bad. The depiction of her relationship with Bernard Berenson and all the social taboos surrounding it, not to mention the disappointment and heartbreak she endured, really give depth to her character.

This was an enjoyable novel and I think the authors having different types of writing backgrounds gave it a really unique feel, historical fiction with a modern pace.

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Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

                                                         

 Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Other books I've read by this author: The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer From a Gentleman

Synopsis: Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for . . . well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret . . . and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same—especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. When he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide . . . is she his biggest threat— or his promise of a happy ending?

My Thoughts

Hot take...Penelope Featherington is the best character Julia Quinn has written. The end.

Okay, maybe not really the end, but I find her so wonderfully and utterly relatable, more so than any of the other female protagonists. Don't get me wrong, I like Daphne, and Kate, and Sophie. They are all strong and smart and know what they want, but Penelope just feels less like a character in a novel, and more like my dear friend. She isn't an anachronistic heroine with strong opinions and attitudes that often dominate Regency-era stories; she's a wallflower who grows to possess all of the qualities of those other women but shows them in an understated manner. She is talented and pragmatic except in her long-term crush on the incredibly popular Colin Bridgerton and her long-hidden secret. 

 These are so delightful to read when you need something light and uplifting, because like most of the Romance genre, you know they will get their happily ever after. 

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The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

                                                          

Title: The Women of Chateau Lafayette

Author: Stephanie Dray
Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books by this author that I've read: America's First Daughter, My Dear Hamilton


Synopsis: "Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother...
1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette’s political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...
1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing—not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France firsthand, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...
1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

This novel has been on my TBR list for a while now and I'm so glad I finally got to it! A book with storylines from the American Revolution, French Revolution, WWI, and WWII? What more could I ask for in a story? 

While each woman's story stands alone, they are beautifully woven together through a shared home, a belief in fighting for what is right, and helping those without a voice. The romantic relationships each of the women have are complex, gritty, and wonderfully human in their imperfections; not fairytale love but love nonetheless. 

The relationship between The United States and France and the critical roles each played in helping ensure a future for both countries is also highlighted throughout the novel. Just like Lafayette and Adrienne, one would not be its best without the other.

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

                                                            

 Title: Lessons in Chemistry

Author: Bonnie Garmus

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. 

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.  - Back Cover

My Thoughts

This novel is such a breath of fresh air. I received it as a Christmas gift, perfect for my chemistry teacher heart. The cover art is amazing, the edges of the pages are teal and a periodic table lines the front and back inside covers... to die for. 

Then you get to the actual story, which had moments that made me laugh out loud and moments that were absolutely soul-crushing (in the best possible way, haha). I enjoyed that there were several viewpoints explored throughout the novel, my favorite being the one of Six-Thirty, Elizabeth's faithful dog. 

This novel felt like a step away from books I usually choose for myself, and it was fun to read something in a different style. Despite the casual and amusing writing style, there are some really profound sentiments about societal views surrounding women, and I found tears rolling down my cheeks near the end. 

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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