Warning: the book will make you cry more than it will make you smile, but the smiles will stay with you forever. Impactful, wise, wonderful!

A friend of mine recommended this book. It was fabulous. Definitely in my top five books of the year. The story is simple and sweet and alternated between the present and twenty five years ago, when four friends grew up together the year they turned 14. With a gift worth a fortune, one of the friends adds an 18 year old woman into the mix of memories past and today’s challenges. What sets this book apart is how deeply resonating each of the characters is at both fourteen and forty. Each one of the protagonists made me laugh out loud as well as made me cry. There are profound observations, pithy quotes and insanely silly, funny jokes. There is also the kindness of strangers and the cruelty of a world peopled with the broken. This book is a gift to all. If I could give it 10 stars, I would but, instead, I will just say that you should do yourself a favor and read this book!

Loved this book. It’s a bit slow going at first, but that just sets the stage. Wonderful,unique characters and an interesting plot. So much beautiful prose. A pleasure to read. A love letter to art.

I have read absolutely every one of Fredrik Backman’s books. I cannot give you a favorite. He has a way of writing that captivates and is truly amazing. I have to admit, My Friends, took a while to “get going” for me. This is a past and present story where it jumps back and forth. The premise is a “bit” far fetched, however, it is a work of fiction. Eventually, you really start getting into all the characters and story line. Louisa is by far the stand out here, followed by Joar IMO.The “past” part of the book, finds kids that would crumple to nothing due to their individual lives, but as a group of friends, they support each other and manage to drive through all the bitterness of life. Adults let them down left and right, as adults do, but their bond weathers it all. In the “present” , the “past” is told by Ted to Louisa , whose effervescent, and bold personality just blows off the pages. Her likening to Ali, one of the friends from the past, is unmistakable.Five misunderstood, misguided and left behind kids, from two generations, who all manage to claw their way to some version of happiness. This story will sit in my heart like all of Backman’s books do. It has some of the strongest characters he has developed which makes for one GREAT story! Definitely recommend.

This is one of those books I didn’t just read, I savored it. I’d read other books by Fredrik Backman so I knew what a good writer he is. He introduces us to the characters in a natural way and develops them so that we see their hearts and souls and know the best things and the worst things about them all. We really get to know all of them, not just one or two main characters. This book is about humanity and is full of heart and love of humanity, as if it was written about real people who really did all these things (and maybe it was). It started great so I started reading fast, enjoying it. I slowed way down near the end because I just really didn’t want it to end. Not at all. It was a good ending, I just didn’t want it to come. The book’s that good. Oh, and all throughout are the most creative turns of phrases, what a great writer he is.

Frederik Backman accomplishes something that few writers can. He tells human stories, real flesh and blood characters with such depth that the reader almost believes he or she has known them. As in his previous novels, My Friends are revealed to us in much the same way we learn about real friends, layer by layer, story by story. I find that, just as with A Man Called Ove, Backman has the uncanny ability to make the reader laugh and cry while on the same page. Each character is inherently good, yet flawed–just as most humans are–reminding us of what it means to be human in a world that is often cruel. The astonishingly brutal environment in which these characters live lies is stark contrast to their tender hearts and the love and devotion they hold eternally for each other. Whenever I read one of his novels, I’m always surprised at every plot turn–you just can’t out-guess him! My Friends is brilliant. Understated, but brilliant. It left an emotional impact on me. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

Fredrick Backman is very good at describing his characters. I would only say that every once in awhile it was a bit off, for example when Joar was very disrespectful to the minister at Ted’s father’s funeral. I do not believe Joar would have acted like that and I do not think it lends purpose to the story.Otherwise it was a very good book, very much like A Man Called Ove and Anxious People.

I’ve read hundreds of books, most of which I bought on Amazon, and this is the first time I’ve ever left a review for one. This book was everything a book should be: funny, sad, heartwarming, nostalgic, witty, thought provoking. There were so many times throughout that I would read a sentence and laugh and cry simultaneously. I fell in love with this group of friends, and only hope that someday I find the kind of camaraderie they had. Brilliant job, Fredrik Backman!!

When reviewing a book I often think of this truism: there is the truth and then there is everyone’s perception of the truth. Most if not all of us bring our own experiences and life choices to what we read as well. Hence, divergent opinions from readers about any selected book being reviewed at the time. Fortunately there are thousands upon thousands of authors writing books from which we can choose. So, then, one person may think there is too much descriptive material which slows the narrative down while another will want more. Of course some authors are better than others at writing narratives about places, clothes, food and the like but if they did not include such tangible items then we would all be reading nothing but short stories.Another divergent point is how realistic should the narrative be? In my opinion, an author has done his/her job when some facet of the human condition, whether negative or positive but certainly negative, is turned into a great read as nuanced, as wise and as powerful as THE WEDDING PEOPLE: A NOVEL by Alison Espach. Even though suicide is a serious topic and is not treated lightly in the book, it should be noted that those suffering depression have our concern and our hope for those needing it to seek help. On a positive note however, statistics show that people who were saved or rescued from the final act are grateful that they did not succeed regardless of how the “rescue” happened. Add Phoebe Stone, the MFC, to such a “literary” saved list!I try not to include spoilers but Phoebe’s intentions for checking into the exclusive Victorian Hotel have been mentioned several times already so consider that even though she meant it, she did not realize she had checked into the hotel with improper equipment for such a final act. However, regardless of her plan, the contrast is startling between her self-agonizing, self-criticism and constant worry about how others see her compared to the bombastic over-the-top, her-first-concern-is-herself, Lila, the bride. What better way to lift Phoebe up than being put in a position to help others with less weighty concerns than her own–or are they less weighty to each particular individual?Phoebe’s upbringing was so quiet and calm that she could not step outside what she assumed others thought of her, even when she was married. Once she met the crew in Lila’s wedding party, Phoebe started broadening her outlook for the first time in her life. How all this happens is a serious, laugh out loud, shed a few tears very believable fictional narrative about self discovery and self determination. Each character contributing to Phoebe’s evolution is fully presented as being different from one another with each having their own quirks, hangups and personalities. Then there is Clay, the groom, a person Phoebe could look in the eye and be totally honest with about her feelings and opinions. Phoebe’s growing relationship with each person is clever. Special note: there is a scene about a vintage car that will have readers laughing for days.Books that have stood the test of time are not compact, quick reads though many of us enjoy those too but rather are about the difficulty we have growing up then living a “normal” life (whatever that is) or that are written about unforgettable subjects i.e. the orphanages of Dickens day and then the “snake-pit” mental hospitals in the early 20th century (and do not forget the future–1984) and so on. One of the reasons so many of those books are still being read today is that they took a terrible situation and turned it into a story most of us could relate to while being grateful the situation(s) were eventually adequately resolved. I believe we will be reading this book for a long time. I loved it, read it in a day and will read it again, something I have only done one other time in all the centuries I have been an avid reader (LOL). With no hype or personal fixations, just simply my truth: the best book of the year.

This novel was set primarily in my hometown of Newport, RI, and Phoebe, the main character, is a college professor like me. That was enough to draw me in.It was the story that kept me reading, though. Unhappy woman wants to die in the Victorian inn of her dreams. Then she meets a bride living the wedding of hers. Such a creative and sometimes amusing plot moves the book along easily. A good read!

The Wedding People, by Alison Espach, is a coming-of-age (coming-to-life) comedy novel. It is the story of a suicidal protagonist who awakens to her life as an inadvertent addition to a week-long wedding party she disapproves of entirely. Her name is Phoebe, and she unexpectedly bonds with the bride. What ensues allows for revealing high humor. The loquacious and self-absorbed bride, Lila, bursts into Phoebe’s deep depression, to ask, “How do you like my hat?” In another scene, Phoebe returns clothing she borrowed from Lila’s mother and notices two bedside books: How to be Your Own Best Friend, and We Die Alone.Espach uses the week-long wedding as a character study of participants and their humanity as a platform for what might be obscured in the overreaching excess of a such a thing. Phoebe, unincluded in her own life, becomes personally involved as a foil for emotional honesty. She is sense and truth confronting a big happy day – a week, actually — dressed up like a life. Swept into it, Phoebe disapproves, pointedly and hilariously, of the whole idea. Alison Espach’s writing is funny, sharp, and smart, using humor and character development to great effect: Lila confides that her future mother-in-law mentions the bride’s dress is a little short. “That’s code…”Lila’s wealthy widowed mother: “’I fell in love with what Henry gave me. And he gave me so much. But loving someone like that doesn’t make you a better woman. Only losing them does.’” This seems a cynical comment but it is an honest appraisal of wrong judgement. It is the voice of experience, and Phoebe is listening to it. The Wedding People is filled with such occasions of unguarded sincerity. This makes for moments of poignancy as well as humor.Awakening to yourself is the undergirding theme of The Wedding People. Author Espach knows she is in territories of a dangerous stereotype. Yet, like her protagonist, Espach confronts emotional traps and rabbit holes of catastrophe to seek perspective. “Phoebe looks at her green dress. Six days ago she was ready to die in it. In some versions of this story she would already be buried in it. But in this version, Lila had it laundered by the hotel staff.” There are many ways to seek redemption.Throughout the wedding week Phoebe’s sharp mind functions like an analytic recorder, observing this contretemps and that message flashing between eyes, or wildly costly gestures unable to conceal misgiving hovering in the near and actual chaos encountered at the Newport RI. setting. Phoebe struggles to know how irony and satire carry the real message of truth. Frantic attempts to be perfect, no matter the cost, cultural fashion, or mandate, inevitably leave a wake of what it means to be human. And everybody’s truth is different.– Tom Casey

The title paints a different story than the dark beginning. Some of the writing is clever and engaging but other sections drag on and on about things not so relevant to the plot. Made it to the end which I always try to do and it redeemed itself a bit as not your usual ending trying to wrap it in a bow.

Please, please, please go into this knowing it’s different than Lights Out. I really think a lot of readers are going to start this expecting the same things from the first book and this is a different couple and different type of story. Where LO was a darkish romcom with lovable ridiculousness and banter this is more a a second chance romance with dark adjacent themes. I think it’s also going to be a little harder for readers to relate to the characters, you have a successful cam girl/s€x worker and a dangerous mafia MMC.So with that in mind, this was an awesome story. Allen has a real knack for character building and it’s hard not to love Lauren and Junior. Lauren and her roommates bring the humor from the first book, Junior is deliciously obsessed with the FMC and you get hints of Josh, Aly and a few previous characters.This is a really great second chance romance story and I liked how it ended differently than most mafia stories. While the plot was solid this has a really fluid storyline, there’s not a big build up to something or a huge problem that needs solving if that makes sense.I enjoyed the flow of the whole book, the positive outlook it brought to s€x work and kinks, the buildup, tensions and yearning between Lauren & Junior and I just really really liked it, it was a great read and you get a good hint of what’s to come in the next book.I definitely recommend but again just go in knowing this is bringing different vibes than LO.

“???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????????????. ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????, ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????, ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????????. ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????, ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????. ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????????, ???????? ????????????????????, ???????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????.”I’m not entirely sure where to start with this book because it’s stirring up some strong opinions. People tend to either love it or hate it. Personally, I was flipping between the audiobook and the physical copy, and I have to say, the narration was exceptional. Tiddy Hamsliton, Jason June, and Kasi Hollowell truly brought the characters to life. However, I found the book less interesting than the audiobook.“????????’???? ????????????????????????????????; ???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????. ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????????.”Now, let me clarify something: if you’re expecting this book to be anything like “Lights Out,” think again. This is not that book. While “Lights Out” was a Dark Romance Rom-Com that was playful and fun, this one dives deep into Dark Romance with plenty of spice, and trust me, it sizzles with spice. I really enjoyed it once I adjusted my expectations and embraced it from a different perspective. There are definitely some humorous moments, and I appreciated the snippets of Aly and Josh with their cat. The story focuses heavily on sex work and the thrilling atmosphere of a sex club, and it’s undeniably hot! The spice? Oh, it was absolutely on point, and it made me question my views in a way I loved.“???????????????????????????????? ???? ????????????????, ???????????????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????,“???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????.”???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????The side characters, especially Lauren’s roommates, were utterly delightful—I couldn’t get enough of them! I admire what Navessa Allen set out to achieve with this book; her vision is clear and bold. However, it didn’t completely hit the mark for me. I craved a bit more plot; while I loved the spice, I typically prefer a strong storyline to go along with it. I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Junior and Lauren that I was hoping for, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I’m giving it a solid 4-star rating, and I can’t wait to see what book 3 has in store for us!“???????????????????? ????????????????, ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????????, ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????, ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ????????, ???????????????????????? ????????????????. “???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????????.”???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????. “????????????????????, ????????????????… ?????????????????????”???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????. “????????, ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????-????????????. ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????????????.”“????????, ????????,” ???? ????????????????, ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????.“???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????????????????????????” ???????????? ????????????????????. “???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????????????????????????????????????”???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????. “????????, ????????????????????. ???????? ????????????’???? ???? ???????????????? ????????????????????????.”???? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????. “???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????. ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????.”

Despite the distinct lack of kittens and an abundance of complicated lives, Allen’s knack for character building is still ridiculously on point. You’ll fall for Lauren and Junior faster than you can say “ethically questionable life choices.” Lauren and her roommates still bring enough humor to make you forget you’re reading about, well, mafia and cam girls. And Junior? Oh, he’s deliciously obsessed with the FMC, in a way that’ll make you wonder if your own significant other is trying hard enough. Plus, you get just enough delightful hints of Josh, Aly, and a few previous characters to keep you in the loop without feeling like you’re missing an inside joke.This is a really great second chance romance, proving that even when your past is complicated, love finds a way. And the ending? It zigs where most mafia stories zag, which is surprisingly refreshing. The plot’s solid, but it’s the fluid storyline that really shines. Don’t expect some massive build-up to a single, Earth-shattering problem. Instead, it flows like a really good, slightly illicit conversation.I devoured the whole thing. The positive outlook it brought to s€x work and kinks was a breath of fresh air, and the buildup, tensions, and yearning between Lauren & Junior were enough to give me emotional whiplash in the best way. Seriously, I really, really liked it. It’s a great read, and the hints for the next book? Pure evil genius.

JamesPercival Everett2024 – DoubledayIs this really the best of all possible worlds? ‘Cause frankly, this world kind of sucks!I was born in Missouri. As a teenager, I grew up in northeast Missouri, in a small town called Milan, a two-hour drive from the Mississippi River. I once dated a guy from Edina, which is just due south of Memphis, where my favorite brother currently lives. Both towns have some complicated histories with slavery. Frankly, most of North Missouri does. For all of the talk of the southern half of the state being the “Little Dixie” part of Missouri, things weren’t that much different up close to the Iowa border. I heard stories growing up and knew the tales of Mark Twain. What might have once been a scandal to the fine folk of Missouri is now embraced as part of our culture! Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn evoke proud nostalgia for a past full of boyhood pranks and adventures. Hannibal has practically built an entire tourist industry off of it. What no one talks about, however, is the very dark face of what built those stories and that heritage they now embrace so fervently. And yes, I mean that in both senses of the word.James, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Percival Everett, dives into that darkness and says the quiet part out loud. It is so much more than a retelling of Twain’s classic story from the perspective of the slave, Jim, it is both a picaresque novel in its own right, while at the same time serving as a loud critique not only of its source material, but how we conveniently ignore the stories of the suffering and indignation of those around us because we don’t focus on them. When the light is turned on, we see a whole different world, revealing that how we think the world works is not how it works at all.Jim is a slave, owned by Miss Watson, one of the guardians for young Huckleberry Finn. His survival depends on his ability to act and present himself to the white world as just what they expect him to be. He speaks in broken, vernacular English, he affects a supernatural fear of the world, and pretends he is an ignorant black slave, unthreatening and harmless. It is an affectation Jim and his fellow slaves put on to survive, knowing that if they ever break it, their white masters will see it as a threat, and it could mean their lives. Yet, when he arrives in the safety of his home with his wife and daughter, Jim code-switches to speak with them in standard English, displaying that far from being ignorant, he is a cultured, well-spoken, well-read man, who looks to philosophy to give him some sort of answer for the reasons why the world is the way it is, only to find that the philosophy of the educated white man is empty and meaningless for a man who has always been enslaved.It is when Sadie overhears that Miss Watson is contemplating selling Jim that his world is shattered, and he decides to flee in the hopes of escaping his enslavement and maybe, just maybe, getting his wife and daughter out. It is while he is on the run that he happens upon Huck, who is himself escaping Miss Watson, though for very different reasons. Huck is himself also attempting to understand the world and why it is the way it is, especially for slaves, and looks to Jim for answers. This forces Jim to further contemplate the nature of identity and power and how those with the power chip away at the identities of those they subjugate to keep their stranglehold on them. As Jim and Huck venture down the Mississippi, their adventures reveal more and more of the nature of what it means to be black and what it means to be white in the world. As Jim comes into his own, Huck, too, has to accept hard truths, as Jim urges the young boy to make free choices and to see himself as a free man. It is with this in mind that James now claims his own identity, no longer fearing or being bound by the shackles of white expectations, but claiming himself and his family as his right.Everett’s retelling of what has been called the “great American story” is daring, and it lives up to the audacity of even trying. Far from the caricature of a slave that is the Jim of Twain’s novel, James is a full-fleshed out man, who has claimed what human dignity he could he a world that expects him to behave differently. He’s educated himself and his community, he has a family, and a mysterious past that is only barely explained in the ending, one that makes him so tantalizingly relatable and…well, human. And this is the key to the heart of the story. Of course, James is human, but under the systems of racism and slavery in America, Jim was not. This leads to the performative existence, this split identity (or dual consciousness, if you will), between the true self and the self of the colonizer, this dance between who I feel I am and who they expect me to be. As James makes his way down the Mississippi with Huck, that identity only becomes more complicated, as he sees the experiences of other enslaved people, and their dehumanization, and how the systems are rigged to continue that dehumanization, no matter who is at the wheel. Freedom is not an identity that can be given to James; he has to take it and claim it, to make a choice to be free.Media of late has decried several anti-slavery television shows and films exploring slavery, reveling in the horror of it for the shock value, overriding the very real message they say they are trying to express. Everett does not stoop to this level. James’s experiences feel truthful; he is seeing the everyday slights, humiliations, and tortures of so many other slaves for no other reason than being black, and thus, property, not truly human. Even those few people who claim they are “enlightened” and forward-thinking are not to be trusted. The minute their superiority as whites is questioned, the punishment comes. This dance for James underscores the African American experience in America, the inability they have always had to just be completely themselves, as whole people, accepted for who and what they are, because that existence is seen as threatening to the whites who hold the reins of power.For all of the darkness of slavery that James explores, the story also has its humor and its powerful insight. Huck’s childish observations are still as amusing in Everett’s expert hands as they were in Twain’s (Everett is himself a very funny raconteur), and provide a lighter grounding in the world. As a child, Huck explores these harder truths with the wide-eyed innocence of youth, even as he struggles to make sense of the senseless. James himself is not without a sense of sardonic humor, particularly in his observations of irony, satire, and the puffed-up vanity of the so-called “better” whites, notably Judge Thatcher. His conversations with the likes of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau are both cheeky and philosophical, most notably, Voltaire, whose novel, Candide, clearly influenced how Everett shaped this book. James argues vociferously with each in his dreams and hallucinations, noting that each of these men was born white and free. How could they possibly understand what it is to feel the lash or know inhumanity? His most pointed argument is with Voltaire directly, a man who spoke of the freedom of men, and yet believed in a racial hierarchy. These sequences not only allow us to see James’s inner philosophical life, but they let us see his wit and intellect, especially as we see him making his points. Even with Cunégonde’s warning ringing in his ears, knowing that the system is rigged against him ever being completely free, James makes free choices as a completely actualized man, who chooses who he wants to be and no longer allows for others to define who he is – not his enslavers, not white society, and not Mark Twain, either.If the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a story of poor, white childhood, James is its grown-up counterpart, the half of the story that Huck, in all of his childish, self-centered naivete, could not see. It is a nimble, funny, powerful exploration of what the other half of that great American novel was all about, the untold story of the man who was created to play before a polite, white audience. Jim was a mere caricature in Huck’s story. James is a fully realized man, one who has a voice and a mind, for all that the structures of whiteness and power have tried to strip him of it. While he will always be black, he no longer has to play at being what society tells him he is. He can now make the free choice to be himself.

This was an interesting read- it flowed well, and easily kept my attention. With slavery as the most important subject, one might expect it to have been more difficult to get through. However the author makes one think about it without making it more gut wrenching than needed in order to get the point across. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it could have been so painful that one would just stop reading it. He chose another approach, and the various messages were delivered loud and clear!

What an exceptional idea. This novel is a (sort of) retelling of Huck Finn, but from Jim’s perspective. The reason I say ‘sort of’ is because you will recognize some characters and moments from Huck Finn, but there are also some major deviations.There is also one incredible plot twist, and while I don’t want to ruin it, I will say it’s why I gave it four stars instead of five…I feel like the plot twist wasn’t really complete in some way. I wanted/needed more.In this telling, Jim is such an interesting character…one who both fights against the system to which he’s been born, and succumbs to its cruelty in some ways. He is both brilliant and biting and contradictory in so many ways. Jim yearns to be James, the more complete version of himself…but how do you achieve that without agency?There are moments of dark humor, tenderness, rage, and confusion. Ultimately, James is a portrait of a man trying to be a man, when his environment sees him as less than human.In some ways I am reminded of Frankenstein’s creature and a question of that book: can someone be good when treated so monstrously?

I am so glad I read it. Made me angry how we treated the black people who were forced to leave their homes and come to America and be treated non human. Would like to know more about the Author. Definitely deserved the Pulitzer Prize.

The character is the perfect outgrowth of Mark Twain’s creation. This writer takes us inside the head of a man who must pretend to be stupid though he reads the great books, he gives lessons to children on how to fool white people into thinking that they are dumb. Example. A slave could not warn a white of an onrushing fire without a slowed and brainless warning. To yell fire would offend slave masters. The journey of James is unexpected and rewarding for the reader.

I loved the perspective on adventure. It showed how resilient people can be who understand what they want and need. I loved that it showed what an horrendous crime and how dehumanizing slavery was for the slavers as well as the slaves.

This was a very well written book. It kept me engaged throughout. However, beware, it is brutally honest about the realities of slavery just before the Civil War, and a little heavy-handed in being sure the reader gets that point.

I’m a 50-year-old dad who reads approximately one book every leap year, so the fact that I finished this says a lot. Nate’s humor translates perfectly—dry, simple, sneaky, and somehow exactly what my brain needed after driving kids to sports for 14 straight years.The blank pages joke is great, but the real content had me laughing enough that my family thought something was wrong. If you like comedy that feels like a normal guy thinking out loud, this book delivers. Easy read, funny, and actually kept my attention, which is saying something.

I love Nate on stage, but much of his humor is in his delivery and does not translate into this book, which starts out just “Meh”. However, it picks up steam and has some funny stories. But if you want a hysterically funny memoir by a comedian, read Leanne Morgan’s book “What In the World?”. It had me in stitches!

Super good read. Love Nate Bargatze and have been a big fan for years now. The book is an easy read that’s funny and truly heart warming. Especially when he speaks about his dad & wife & daughter. Well his family in general. Highly recommend reading. Super enjoyable and he’s hilarious!

I don’t know if this is a review for the hardcopy book, or audio book. I bought both. I prefer the audio book because it’s read by Nate so it’s like he’s telling me a story. I love it!

I’m a fan of Mr. Bargatze based on snippets of his act that have been posted on various social media platforms. This book plows a lot of the same ground featured in his sets I’ve seen on social media, but there’s also a lot of material that’s new to me. Some additional insights into his family and growing up years are pretty funny too.

Nate Bargatze’s stand-up routines are nothing short of HILARIOUS, but unfortunately this book did not live up to that high standard. To be fair, this book is written in the same simpleton voice that Nate uses on stage (which I find to be endearing and down-to-earth), and it is good for a few occasional giggles. However, it’s not as funny as his stand up routines.In that regard, Big Dumb Eyes reminds me of Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan (another talented funnyman who wrote an amusing –but not hilarious– book). Both comics are clean, family-friendly, and very funny, which is why I enjoy their performances on stage. However, their books didn’t make me laugh as much as I had hoped.If you are looking for a funny autobiography written by talented comedians, I strongly recommend Born Standing Up by Steve Martin and It’s Not Easy Being Me by Rodney Dangerfield. Both are excellent reads in my opinion and every bit as funny as the comics themselves.If you enjoy Nate’s silly brand of humor, then you will probably be amused by this book. Just don’t expect to be rolling on the floor with laughter.

I love Nate Bargatze, but unfortunately, I was disappointed in the book. I realize it is based on his new show that is touring. But I found it disappointing as he wrote as he speaks without much change in writing style his story is interesting and endearing. The book Would have been better if he just wrote it as a story rather than the repetitiveinterjections that he uses. In his standup which I find so entertaining that I often rewatch them.

Nate Bargatze is my favorite totally clean comedian. He’s become relatively popular and famous during the recent years.He tells stories about family relationships- especially with his wife.

I’m a long time fan of Janet Evanovich books and I wasn’t sure I liked this new series. I read the first one and enjoyed it very much, but wasn’t sure it would support more. I’m very happy to say I loved this new addition. The story grabs you right away and holds your attention from beginning to end. I loved the ongoing love hate relationship with her ex, and the characters she collects along the way are all very entertaining. The mystery holds your attention with enough red herrings to keep you guessing and make you look forward to her next adventure.

Janet Evanovich returns with the second novel in the Gabriela Rose series, The King’s Ransom. This global action-adventure and mystery story is full of suspense, some humor, kidnappings, and much more. Gabriela is an expert at recovering lost treasures, stolen heirlooms, and missing assets. She’s often hired in suspected insurance fraud cases as well as by individuals and companies. But her latest job is brought to her by her ex-husband Rafer Janes and his cousin, Harley Patch. As president of a large private bank, Harley invested a significant amount of money in insuring many of the world’s priceless artifacts at the urging of his board. But recently, those insured pieces have been stolen and there’s no paper trail of Harley being directed to make the risky investments. He’s been suspended and unless the assets can be recovered soon, he is likely to go to jail. Harley and Rafer insist on accompanying her as the investigation takes her from New York City to London to Cairo to Florida to Italy.Gabriela is reliable, curious, cool under pressure, weapons and martial arts trained, and driven to succeed. She has excellent reflexes and is tenacious. She also has an aptitude for searching and finding things and loves the thrill of exploring the unknown. Rafer owns a dive shop, tends to drink too much, and seems to lack ambition. While they still have a lot of chemistry, they also spend a lot of time bickering. Harley is social and great at chatting, but he’s not so great at thinking through the ramifications of his actions on a business level (such as insuring assets well beyond what the bank the cover if all are lost). Readers are also introduced to Ahmed El Ghaly working at the Egyptian embassy. Will he appear in future books?Full of humor and vividly written, this novel grabbed my attention quickly. The premise is great and the story is over-the-top adventure. There’s plenty of action, danger, murder, and suspense in the story, and we get a little more character depth for Gabriela and Rafer in this novel. They’re becoming more dynamic characters in this second novel in the series. Readers also see how far into the grey line Gabriela and Rafer are willing to go to save Harley. There are also some romantic sparks between Gabriela and Rafer and there’s chemistry with her and Ahmed. I liked the ending with a thread that could be developed for the next book in the series.Overall, this is an engaging, fast-paced, and entertaining action-adventure story full of murder, corruption, threats, kidnapping and a multi-layered global conspiracy. If you can just enjoy the over-the-top scenarios and not try to make them something more substantial, it’s an enjoyable read. Also, Gabriela is completely different from Stephanie Plum so readers should expect significant differences.Atria Books and Janet Evanovich provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for November 11, 2025.

Gabriela Rose finds “things” for nice compensation. The Rosetta Stone. Lots of paintings. A coffin of a maybe brother of King Tut named Brendan. She comes across dastardly unknown criminals trying to thwart her efforts. But along with her ex-husband, Rafer, and Rafer’s adorable, dim bulb cousin, Harley, and a few terrific characters from London to New York to Cairo to Italy, Gabs pushes through. Adventure galore, not much gore, and Ms. Evanovich’s wonderful witty dialogue, this 2nd installment of The Recovery Agent series is a total winner. Highly recommended!

Love these characters and the fast paced action. This was just as engaging as the first book, with completely different locales and situations. But somehow the ex husband was still there to team up and save the day – well, he saved her life once and he saved his the next time. I love that the author keeps the score even between them. Fast, fun, interesting treasure hunt, unexpected twists. 5 fabulous stars.

Janet Evanovich is a master of creating consistently fun, quirky characters who possess that electric, undeniable chemistry. The King’s Ransom is no exception, delivering the signature blend of action, humor, and witty banter we’ve come to expect. The plot moves at a breakneck pace, and the recurring cast of misfits truly shines. Love Jim!The only negative for me was the excessive brand name dropping. Is that all paid product placement?