Audio Book Review: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: July 2010

The Cousins family thought they knew how their summer was going to be. Spend a week at the family home in Tuckernuck and then prepare for Chess's wedding in September. But those plans would not pan out as it was supposed to. When Chess calls off her engagement and then her finance ends up dead, everyone's world is thrown into a tailspin. Birdie, decides that instead of just her and Chess spending a week at the family home, it should be both of her girls for the entire month of July. Then her sister, India decides to join them as well. These four women will grow closer as family and help Chess heal from her heartache.

I have always wanted to plan a trip with my mother and my sister. Just us girls hanging out at the beach without a care in the world. Tuckernuck sounds like the perfect place, where there is no cell service, not electric and no hot water. Having to have groceries brought in by boat every morning and the trash taken away using the same method at night.

When Chess suddenly and inexplicably calls off her wedding, Birdie is shook. At first she thinks to call off the week in Tuckernuck, but when she sees how Chess is suffering she decides to extend the trip and call in reinforcements. With the help of her younger daughter Tate and her sister India, they are determined to get Chess out of the depression she has gotten herself into and try to make her life a little more cherry.

Lots of interesting things happen on the island of Tuckernuck, most importantly, these ladies learn how to love. To love themselves and one another and a few might even find love from the opposite sex.

Elin Hilderbrand's books always make me want to take a vacation. One day I hope to visit the Northeastern beaches.

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Review: Twisted Family Values by V.C. Chickering

Twisted Family Values by V.C. Chickering
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: 2019
 

"Always do your Thornden best!" This is the family motto in Twisted Family Values. This book travels over 30 years following the lives of two of the Thornden's, Elizabeth and Charles. Elizabeth "Bizzy", is the daughter to Claire, a no nonsense woman who is the queen of keeping up appearances. Charles "Choo" is the son of Cat, the person who everyone in the family can trust. These two are cousins and best friends and we get to see them conquer the world from the age of 12 until they reach their 40s. A lot of things they get into are not acceptable to their family, most of all Claire. Will these two be able to remain friends long into their lives, or will they just have to settle at being family?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When I read the description of this book, I was very excited to read it. The beginning hooked me in right away, but then throughout each section, there was a lull, a point where it felt like there was a bit too much information. There were also times when it was predictable, but I don't really have too much of an issue with that.

Everyone has drama in their family and I'm sure we all have an extended family member out there, who feels more like a friend or a sibling than a cousin or aunt or uncle. Bizzy and Choo are best friends, as they go through life, they lean on each other to learn different aspects of life, sometimes their friends and family don't understand their relationship, but they don't care.

Through their teens, college, and adulthood, this family goes through a lot, but will Biz and Charlie be able to survive it all and remain friends.

Good book and I will read more by this author.



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