Nicole About Town

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The New Mother: A Novel by Nora Murphy | REVIEW

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

The New Mother: A NovelThe New Mother: A Novel by Nora Murphy
Publication Date: May 30, 2023
Publisher: Minotaur Books / Macmillan
Pages: 304
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Rating: ★★★
Synopsis:

From the author of The Favor, The New Mother is a tense suspense novel that builds to a gripping game of cat-and-mouse, as well as a searing exploration of what it means to be a “good” mother.
It wasn’t the sort of neighborhood for murder.

Natalie Fanning already loves her newborn son, Oliver, with everything she has. From the moment he was born she knew that she was meant to be his mother, even though she didn’t want that to be all she was.

When Oliver refuses to sleep, and her husband Tyler returns to work, Nat is left mostly alone in a new house, in a new neighborhood, the task of keeping her small son healthy and happy on her shoulders alone. No one else can breastfeed Oliver; no one else will protect him like she can; no one can help her.

No one, that is, except her neighbor Paul.

Paul is everything Tyler isn’t, and provides the lifeline she needs in what feels like the most desperate of times. When Paul is helping with Oliver, calmed by his reassuring, steady presence, Nat feels like she can finally rest.
But Paul wants something in return. It’s no coincidence that he has befriended Nat—she is the perfect pawn for his own plan.


REVIEW

As I begin my review, I have to admit that I am childless by choice. However, that doesn’t mean I hate children. In fact, I love them and I’m really good with them. I just prefer when I can return them to their parents. I am very happy being the beloved aunt and godmother to a whole horde of children. Reading “The New Mother: A Novel” by Nora Murphy made me very happy about my choice.

Now, this book is billed as a mystery-suspense novel, but it’s not a traditional mystery. We already know who committed the murder and why. The real mystery revolves around whether they will get away with it or not. The only thing that kept me guessing was whether Natalie or her husband would figure out what was going on with Natalie. While I initially thought the extensive descriptions about breastfeeding and dealing with a colicky child would be excessive, they actually served as a powerful tool to highlight just how desperate Natalie had become. I found myself shaking my head in dismay that she wasn’t receiving the help she so clearly needed.

I listened to an early audiobook version of this novel courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. The narrators did a superb job, of effectively conveying Natalie’s desperation and Paul’s psychopathy. Overall, “The New Mother: A Novel” by Nora Murphy is a good read that demonstrates motherhood is not a one-size-fits-all experience.

Yellowface: A Novel by R.F. Kuang | REVIEW

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Yellowface: A NovelYellowface: A Novel by R.F. Kuang
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Publisher: William Morrow / HarperCollins
Pages: 336
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Asian American
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis:

What’s the harm in a pseudonym? Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel.

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars: same year at Yale, same debut year in publishing. But Athena’s a cross-genre literary darling, and June didn’t even get a paperback release. Nobody wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers to the British and French war efforts during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface takes on questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation not only in the publishing industry but the persistent erasure of Asian-American voices and history by Western white society. R. F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.


REVIEW

Yellowface: A Novel is the first book I’ve read by R.F. Kuang. If any of her other books are as well-written as Yellowface, then this certainly won’t be my last. Firstly, I appreciate that the author chose to write about the publishing industry in a way that doesn’t glamorize it or present a false image of writers’ lives. Instead, she delves into the gritty reality and exposes the racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic aspects that exist within the publishing world. R.F. Kuang metaphorically ignites a fire by shedding light on these issues.

Listening to the main character, Juniper, attempt to justify her acts of plagiarism, identity theft, cultural appropriation, and outright fraud is both frustrating and enlightening. As someone who works in academia, I have encountered various forms of plagiarism over the years, and all of Juniper’s justifications are familiar excuses. It is disheartening and eye-opening to witness how far she is willing to go to maintain her facade, although not entirely surprising. She finally attains the success she always desired but could not achieve through her own mediocre abilities. She will cling to that success with unwavering determination.

Yellowface: A Novel effectively sheds light on the daily experiences of racism faced by people of colour (POC). It goes beyond overt racism, such as being subjected to slurs, and explores the more subtle and deeply ingrained forms of racism. POC are often introduced as the token friend of a particular race, face accusations of only being hired for diversity purposes, and have their feelings and experiences dismissed under the guise of “not everything is about race.” However, for POC, race is an integral part of their identity. It shapes their experiences, influences their perspectives, and affects how they are perceived and treated by others. The book delves into this weighty topic, and I appreciate not only that R.F. Kuang addresses it in Yellowface: A Novel but also how she addresses it.

The Nigerwife: A Novel by Vanessa Walters | REVIEW

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

The Nigerwife: A NovelThe Nigerwife: A Novel by Vanessa Walters
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Atria Books / Simon & Schuster
Pages: 320
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis:

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

“The perfect beach read…catapults you into a world that most of us have never seen before—and will have you glued to every page.” —HuffPost

“White Lotus meets Big Little Lies” (Good Morning America) in this riveting domestic drama about a young woman who goes missing in Lagos, Nigeria, and her estranged auntie who will stop at nothing to find her.

Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a hand­some husband, a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, and a glamorous group of friends. She left gloomy London and a troubled family past behind for sunny, moneyed Lagos, becoming part of the Nigerwives—a com­munity of foreign women married to Nigerian men.

But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her auntie Claudine decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with only a cell phone and a plane ticket to Nigeria, she digs into her niece’s life and uncov­ers a hidden side filled with dark secrets, isolation, and even violence. But the more she discovers about Nicole, the more Claudine’s own buried history threatens to come to light.

An inventively told and keenly observant debut novel, The Nigerwife offers a razor-sharp look at the bonds of family, the echoing consequences of secrets, and whether we can ever truly outrun our past.


REVIEW

Let me start by acknowledging that the title of the book may not be very appealing and could discourage some readers. However, I strongly encourage you not to let that deter you from picking up this hidden gem. Trust me, if you overlook this one, you’ll be missing out big time because The Nigerwife: A Novel by Vanessa Walters is an absolute masterpiece right from the beginning.

With its rich and exotic backdrop and a diverse cast of larger-than-life characters, this captivating tale of a search for a missing woman is truly unique. What sets it apart is the fact that it unfolds in a world of glamour and wealth, which is a refreshing departure from the usual settings we encounter in similar stories. Gone are the clichéd down-and-out environments that typically serve as the backdrop for such narratives. Instead, in The Nigerwife: A Novel, we are transported into a seemingly perfect life and marriage that are not as idyllic as they initially appear.

So, do yourself a favour and dive into this extraordinary book. Immerse yourself in the captivating world that Vanessa Walters has created, and get ready to be spellbound from start to finish.

Homebodies: A Novel by Tembe Denton-Hurst | REVIEW

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Homebodies: A NovelHomebodies: A Novel by Tembe Denton-Hurts
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Harper / HarperCollins
Pages: 320
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / African American & Black / Women
Rating: ★★★
Synopsis:

Urgent, propulsive, and deeply insightful, Homebodies is a thrilling debut novel about a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her job in media and her searing manifesto about racism in the industry goes viral.

Mickey Hayward dreams of writing stories that matter. She has a flashy media job that makes her feel successful and a devoted girlfriend who takes care of her when she comes home exhausted and demoralized. It’s not all A-list media parties and steamy romance, but Mickey’s on her way, and it’s far from the messy life she left behind in Maryland. Despite being overlooked and mistreated at work, everything finally seems to be falling into place—until she finds out she’s being replaced.

Distraught and enraged, Mickey fires back with a detailed letter outlining the racism and sexism she’s endured as a Black woman in media, certain it will change the world for the better. But when her letter is met with overwhelming silence, Mickey is sent into a tailspin of self-doubt. Forced to reckon with just how fragile her life is—including the uncertainty of her relationship—she flees to the last place she ever dreamed she would run to, her hometown, desperate for a break from her troubles.

Back home, Mickey is seduced by the simplicity of her old life—and the flirtation of a former flame—but the life she left behind in New York refuses to be forgotten. When a media scandal catapults Mickey’s forgotten letter into the public zeitgeist, suddenly everyone wants to hear what Mickey has to say. It’s what she’s always wanted—isn’t it?

Insightful, funny, and deeply sexy, Homebodies is a testament to those trying to be heard and loved in a world that refuses to make space, and introduces a standout new writer.


REVIEW

When I first picked up Homebodies: A Novel by Tembe Denton-Hurst, I had the expectation that it would primarily revolve around the infamous letter written by the main character, Mickey. However, to my pleasant surprise, this book goes beyond that initial premise and delves deep into Mickey’s various relationships, her experiences as a black woman, her queerness, and the significant roles that all these aspects play in shaping her life.

From the very beginning, this book had me hooked. Once I started reading, I found myself completely captivated by the story, unable to tear my eyes away from the pages. In fact, I was so engrossed in Mickey’s journey that I ended up finishing the entire book in just one sitting. The narrative skillfully explores the complexities of Mickey’s life, drawing the reader into her world and making us feel like we are right there alongside her, experiencing every triumph and setback.

What struck me the most was how, despite not sharing many similarities with Mickey, I still found myself identifying with her on a deep level. As a reader, I couldn’t help but cheer her on and root for her throughout the book. There were moments when I wanted to reach into the pages and give her a high five for her accomplishments, and there were other times when I wished I could shake some sense into her when she made questionable decisions.

The author’s portrayal of Mickey’s character is so vivid and authentic that it evokes a strong emotional response. I questioned her choices, pondered her motivations, and felt a genuine connection to her journey. By the time I reached the end of the book, Mickey and her life had left an indelible impact on me in ways that I never expected.

In summary, Homebodies: A Novel is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of identity, relationships, and the complexities of navigating one’s own path. It is a book that will resonate with readers on multiple levels, regardless of their background or experiences. Tembe Denton-Hurst’s storytelling prowess and her ability to create deeply relatable characters make this a must-read for anyone seeking a compelling and impactful literary experience.

What Lies in the Woods: A Novel by Kate Alice Marshall | REVIEW

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

What Lies in the Woods: A NovelWhat Lies in the Woods: A Novel by Kate Alice Marshall
Publication Date: January 17, 2023
Publisher: Flatiron Books / Macmillan
Pages: 336
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Rating: ★★★★
Synopsis:

They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison . . .
They were heroes . . . but they were liars.
Twenty-two years ago, Naomi Shaw believed in magic. She and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent that summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder—the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.

And they were liars.

The day she learns that Alan Michael Stahl has died in prison, Naomi gets a call from Olivia. For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi is forced back to the town she'd escaped. She sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.


REVIEW

Just wow!

If I could leave my review at that and be done with it, I would. The reality is that “What Lies in the Woods: A Novel” by Kate Alice Marshall is one hell of a book. I love thrillers and read a lot of them, so it can be hard to find one that truly impresses me or leaves a lasting impact. This one does both.

The story itself is simple, but the added twists and turns make it complex. It’s not too complex to follow, but just enough to keep you guessing. All of the characters are nuanced, and the author does a fantastic job of making them three-dimensional. Each character brings something to the story and helps drive it forward. I had several moments where I was shocked, moments where I wanted to shake some sense into the characters, and somewhere I simply wanted to cry or rage alongside them.

I listened to this book on audiobook, and it was phenomenal. Karissa Vacker, the narrator, did a great job. While it’s too early to say if she’s one of my top narrators, she is definitely one to watch. Her portrayal of the individual characters was completely believable, and her vocal characterizations never made me cringe. Her narration was flawlessly done.