In modern day L.A., Lark is a savvy, white-collar criminal trying to assemble a new crew to assist in his perfect plan-to-end-all-plans. Peabody is a tired middle-aged cop who cares more about his family than his dead-end job. And Anthony is a newly hired dogcatcher who’s just fallen in love. These three men couldn’t be more different. But their lives become intertwined when Peabody is called on to investigate the disappearance and deaths of several of Anthony’s kennel colleagues. Suddenly, L.A.’s dogcatchers are dropping like flies. But Anthony’s too ga-ga over his new flame to wonder if he’s next. If he only knew his girl’s true nature, he wouldn’t just be worried, he’d be outta there faster than you could say, “here, boy!” Because she wears fur under her silky smooth skin, and answers to Lark, who, besides being a criminal mastermind, also happens to be a werewolf bent on world domination. Anthony’s girl is just one of his many disciples. Anthony and Peabody don’t know it yet, but they’re about to come into uncomfortably close contact with some very sharp teeth! You follow me so far? Good, because that’s only the first twenty pages or so. What comes next is an intricately plotted dog-eat-dog tale of blood, money and fangs that defies definition. First time adult novelist Toby Barlow has written a romantic supernatural noir mystery (in blank verse, no less!) that will keep you guessing right up until the final dogfight. If you are addicted to Stephen King or devoted to Dean Koontz, then Sharp Teeth is right up your dark alley. A four-star thriller—go fetch ST from your nearest library or bookstore asap! This one can’t wait to be read in paperback, it’s that cool AND that hot!
Why Should Your Parents Have All the Fun?
Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow
02.27
I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
01.26
Uber-nerd Denis Cooverman (aka “The Coove,” as dubbed by his equally dweeby and possibly closeted best friend, Rich) decides to go for broke in his valedictorian speech and declare his love for head cheerleader Beth Cooper for all to hear. Unfortunately, “all” includes her huge military boyfriend, Kevin, who drives a Hummer and wouldn’t mind driving it over Denis after learning of his latent love for Beth. Even though perpetually sweaty Denis does manage to entice the intrigued Beth over to his house for a little “fat-free sourdough Gorgonzola pretzel dip” and then on to Queen Mean Girl Valli Woolly’s parent-free graduation party, they are dogged by Kevin and his squad of muscle-bound goons every step of the way. Will Denis ever get Beth alone long enough to figure out of they are meant-to-be, or just meant-to-be-friends? This Say Anything send-up is so freakin’ funny that I pretty much giggled my way through each page. Each chapter starts with a quote from some teen movie, (which is a party game in and of itself to try and figure out which movie is being referenced) along with a cartoon image of Denis, showing his increasing anxiety and worsening facial contusions as he continues to collect punches from Kevin and Co. each time they make a pit stop in Beth’s Cabriolet convertible. There were so many priceless moments of almost peeing my pants in this naughty teen sex dramedy that if I started listing them, I’d never stop. I’ll leave it at this: If you heart Superbad, then you are going to be McLovin’ I Love You, Beth Cooper.
You’re Not You by Michelle Wildgen
09.01
Bec is a college student at loose ends. Not crazy about her advertising major, she’s successfully avoided deciding what to do with her life thus far by partying hard with her roommate and best friend Jill and carrying on a guilty affair with a married professor. Then, while looking for a new part-time job that pays more than waitressing, she answers an ad for a home health-care aide. Expecting a weak, bed-ridden old lady, Bec is surprised to find that wheelchair-confined Kate, afflicted with Lou Gehrig’s disease, is young, smart, and sophisticated, with a wicked sense of humor. Like this exchange: “‘Oh my god,’ I said embarrassed. ‘You think I’m like those TV movies where the person with the disease teaches everyone how to live.’ Kate laughed soundlessly. ‘It’s always so nice of us.’” When Bec begins working for Kate and her husband Evan, she discovers a whole new world of witty conversation, gourmet cooking, and urbane dinner parties. Soon Bec is so immersed in Kate’s life that it becomes difficult for her to distinguish where Kate’s life leaves off and her own begins. Kate is dying, but Bec’s life has just begun. Will she ever be able to establish her own identity and personality while under Kate’s charismatic shadow? This sharply observed novel, full of painful realizations, hilarious conversations and some of the best food descriptions I’ve ever read, perfectly captures that time in our early 20’s when our adult identities are beginning to form and we are so easily influenced by those around us whose personalities are set and stronger than our own.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
05.04
Margaret Lea leads a reading life in her father’s antiquarian bookstore, making a modest living writing short biographies of interesting, if little known, dead people. Then the famously reclusive author, Vida Winter, asks her to write Winter’s own biography. Margaret is puzzled by the invitation. The solitary woman is known for her habit of publishing conflicting accounts of her life, all of which have been proven to be utterly fictitious. Still, Margaret is intrigued, so she accepts the challenge of teasing the truth out of Vida. As Vida begins to spin a Gothic tale of an insane mother, a set of feral twins, a ghostly gardener, and a tragic fire, Margaret begins to question whether or not she’s being told the truth. She wants to believe Vida, but her own deep, dark secret, also having to do with damaged siblings, makes her question the writer’s every word. Can Margaret trust Vida’s story? And as the tale grows more grisly, does she even WANT to? This wonderfully chilling suspense novel, a 2007 Alex Award winner has a slow build and a stunning conclusion. This book reminded me of Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and of course, the now classic Flowers in the Attic. Go ahead, try and put it down after the first chapter–I dare you!
What Girls Learn by Karin Cook
05.04
Tilden is a twelve-year old mess. Her free-spirited mom has just uprooted her and her sister Elizabeth AGAIN, this time to go live with this guy on Long Island who owns a chauffeur business. Just as she and her little sis are getting settled, Tilden’s mother discovers she has a lump in her breast. How Tilden and Elizabeth deal with their mother’s cancer makes for a story that is both brave and tearful. This is definitely a three-hankie read.
The Necessary Hunger by Nina Revoyr
05.04
Back in the day (1986), the WNBA was just a twinkle in some future sports promoter’s eye. But girls were still taking the ball to their male counterparts. Nancy and Raina, stepsisters and all-star players, are living out their last year of high-school stardom living, breathing and worshipping the Cult of the Hoop. But the girls are tired of dealing with the college recruiters that dog their every step, and the racism that is leveled at them because of their mixed African-American and Japanese-American household. In addition, both girls are dealing with their emerging sexual identities as young lesbian women of color. Can their already stressed-out friendship take the pressure when their teams come into direct competition–with each other? After reading this sharp and sweaty novel of competition on the riot-grrl level, you’ll be saying, “SHE got game!”
The Tribes of Palos Verdes by Joy Nicholson
05.04
Medina Mason may know how to catch a wave, but she just can’t catch a break. In this psychologically tense first novel by Nicholson, Medina tries to surf away her problems. But that is getting harder and harder to do with a mother who is eating herself to death, a father who has a new girlfriend every week and a twin brother who is growing more and more distant. While Medina eventually finds redemption in the waves, it’s a wild and bumpy ride, filled with exhilaration and disappointment. Crack the binding on this baby and prepare to hang 10!
Franco American Dreams by Julie Taylor
05.04
Abbie is no stranger to the club scene. As a nineteen year old aspiring fashion designer, she’s “been there, done that” about a hundred times. And she’s got a plan to get the hell out of the boring Dallas Design Institute and onto the catwalks of New York City. But what she didn’t plan on was falling for the fabulous Franco. Now Abbie has to make a difficult decision. Will she wimp out and follow Franco, or will she dump the dude and go for fashion and fame? Way back in 1997, Julie Taylor was paving the runway for couture-chick-lit., when the ideas for Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model were still waiting to born in Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks’ collective brain cells. But you know what, RR readers? Taylor’s novel still feels funky fresh. If you loved The Devil Wears Prada
Foxfire by Joyce Carol Oates
05.04
You probably thought gangs were just for guys. Well, you haven’t met Mad Maddy Wirtz and Legs Sadovsky. In this totally tuff novel, Maddy, Legs, and three other girls decide that they have had enough of the conservative 1950′s scene and form a girl-gang called Foxfire. They pledge to always uphold the sisterhood no matter what, in the face of male oppression. Only the men aren’t going down without a fight. One group has to lose and one group has to win, and Legs is determined that Foxfire will overcome the odds…or die trying. And if you saw the lame modern-day version of this story on the big screen, forget about it! (Even though it was one of Angelina Jolie’s first roles–she’s good, but the movie sucks!) The book is way better, so shelve the video and give this paperback a chance. You won’t regret a single boy-bashing minute of it!
The Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham
05.04
Can you imagine being forced to marry someone you didn’t know and couldn’t possibly love? That’s the situation that’s facing Rachel, a tough independent chick who’s trapped in the strict traditions of a Hasidic Jewish family. The only way Rachel can escape the hard demands of her family is through the romance books that she is forbidden to read, but that she manages to beg, borrow and steal anyway. Will Rachel bow to the traditions of her religion? Or will she make a stand for her own, new beliefs? Either way, its gonna suck for Rachel, and you’ll find yourself hanging in with her until the bitter end of this novel.