 Hi Families form the heart of most of the books this week. Our new book club discussion is of The Nest, a warm, perceptive novel about four adult siblings and the fate of their shared inheritance. Meanwhile, our First Impressions reviewers have been reading Tell Me How This Ends Well, a multifaceted story, laced with black humor set during one family's Passover festivities in 2022; and The Half Wives, an uplifting novel set on one day in 1897 San Francisco that explores love gained and lost. Relationships also form the heart of two more First Impressions books: Castle of Water, a castaway love story that far exceeds its generic premise with, among other things, an examination of how we deal with cultural stereotypes; and The Last Lament, a beautiful written story about young love, devotion, heart-break, and courage while trying to survive in post WWII Greece torn apart by war. Then we round things up with the opportunity to enter to win copies of The Night She Won Miss America, inspired by a true story of a young woman who vanishes the night she wins the 1950 Miss America title.
Your Editor, Davina |
  BookBrowse Book Club  The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Published Apr 2017, 368 pages
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A warm, funny and acutely perceptive debut novel about four adult siblings and the fate of the shared inheritance that has shaped their choices and their lives. " The Nest ambles along so beautifully, what a pleasure to read! It's a wise, funny, compassionate family drama, full of irresistible surprises, witty conversations, and necessary emotional truths." - Jami Attenberg, author of The Middlesteins "A masterfully constructed, darkly comic, and immensely captivating tale...not only clever, but emotionally astute. Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is a real talent." - Elizabeth Gilbert "Starred Review. [A] generous, absorbing novel...Sweeney's endearing characters are quirky New Yorkers all... [a] lively novel. A fetching debut from an author who knows her city, its people, and their heart." - Kirkus
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 First Impressions: Members Recommend
Each month we give away books to U.S. resident members to read and review (or discuss). Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every three months. Here are their opinions on four recent releases.  Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Publication Date: Apr 2017
Novel, 288 pages
Number of reader reviews: 27
Readers' consensus: 4.6/5.0 Members Say "Wow. I am grateful to have received this book from BookBrowse. It manages to do the impossible: transcend its seemingly generic premise of two people stuck in an island. It's far deeper than that. Among other things, it deals with stereotypes that we all have of other cultures and countries and how we can break these notions and even learn to see our differences as attributes... This is a great read and I highly recommend it." - Christopher R. (Brooklyn, NY)
" Castle of Water is ultimately a love story. It is also about survival and loss. The two main characters are stranded on an island for most of the book. As their love enfolds, the reader roots for this very unique but dear couple. ... It is hard to categorize this book but I don't know a reader who wouldn't enjoy it." - Jan T. (Leona Valley, CA) "This was a truly wonderful reading experience and everything I look for in a novel! There are only two characters and yet I wasn't bored for one moment and was completely absorbed in the story and island. Great for book clubs, romance novel lovers, and anyone just wanting a wonderful and engaging story." - Elizabeth P. (Lake Elmo, MN) More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
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First Impressions: Members Recommend
 The Half Wives by Stacia Pelletier Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: Apr 2017
Historical Fiction, 336 pages
Number of reader reviews: 24
Readers' consensus: 3.7/5.0 Members Say"This novel is magnificent! You would have to be heartless to not love this book. Proof of my admiration for the author's skills is evidenced by many notes and turned-down corners -- sentences that demonstrate wisdom, poignancy, and well chosen words. Although set in 1897 San Francisco, this is so much more than a historical novel; it explores love, both gained and lost, the importance of truthful communication in a relationship, second chances, the many forms love takes, surviving grief, and moment-to-moment coping." - Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA) "There are so many great lines in this book that put you in the shoes and the emotions of the characters. This novel would make a great book club selection. It encompasses so many layers of loss." - Yvonne K. (Magnolia, TX) "This is a beautiful novel with an uplifting ending. I highly recommend it and intend to read the author's previous novel." - Barbara B. (Holbrook, NY) More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
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First Impressions: Members Recommend  Tell Me How This Ends Well by David Samuel Levinson Publisher: Hogarth Books
Publication Date: Apr 2017
Novell, 416 pages
Number of reader reviews: 12
Readers' consensus: 4.1/5.0 Members Say "Its 2022 and a family gathers for Passover. And the hilarity begins. All the serious, earth shattering, jaw-dropping troubles that can happen to each individual does happen and somehow Mr. Levinson makes it all funny, enjoyable and OH 'something like that happened in our family.' And we recognize some of our great crazy relatives. I smiled or laughed all the way through." - Lee M. (Creve Coeur, MO)
"The real question is, tell me how this book is so funny, sad and scary all at the same time. Anyone who has found a place in his heart for The Family Fang, the Sisters Brothers, and The Middlesteins will want to sit down and hear the story of the Jacobsons. Nuff said." - Maggie R. (Canoga Park, CA) "I loved this book. It is a many faceted story: black humor, anti semitism and a wonderfully dysfunctional family. I did not find it very futuristic except for an unerring prophecy of Israel. I would like to say more but it would be more enjoyable to read it yourself." - Joane W. (Berlin, MD)
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First Impressions: Members Recommend
 My Last Lament by James William Brown Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: Apr 2017
Historical Fiction, 352 pages
Number of reader reviews: 20
Readers' consensus: 4.2/5.0 Members Say "Set in Greece at the end of WWII, this fascinating novel pulled me into the lives of the peasants struggling to survive after the Germans have left leaving them bereft and penniless. Many years later, Aliki, perhaps the last "lamenter" (one who sings a eulogy for the dead) is asked to make a record of the lost art of lamenting. However, Aliki tells her own story of that terrible time, of Stelios, a young puppeteer and the orphan Taki of their struggles and those of their fellow Greeks. The book becomes a lament for the life and traditions and human tragedies inflicted on and by the Greeks who survived this terrible time. We are all familiar with the stories of the Jews sent to death camps and the Nazi cruelties but this book takes us to a country we have read little about. I strongly recommend it for book groups." - Sandra H. (St. Cloud, MN) "A beautiful written story about young love, devotion, heart-break, and courage while trying to survive in a country torn apart by war. I was wrapped up in all three of the main characters and how they learned to survive and depend on each other. There was no pause in this story it flowed effortlessly. It was so hard to put down because you were right there in the story shadowing this orphaned family." - Cheryl P. (Lebanon, PA) "Aliki's tale is full of humor and pathos, regret and understanding. Highly recommended." - Eileen C. (New York, NY) "The highest compliment I can give a book is to read it again. This is a book worth reading more than once and I will be reading it often." - Janine S. (Wyoming, MI)
More about this book | Read all the reviews Buy at Amazon | B&N | Indie
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 Win This Book
 The Night She Won Miss America
by Michael CallahanPublishes in hardcover & ebook: April 18
336 pages
Enter the Giveaway From the Jacket Inspired by a true story, a young woman is swept up in the glamour and excitement of chasing the title of Miss America 1950-only to vanish the night she wins. Betty Jane Welch reluctantly enters the Miss Delaware contest to make her mother happy, only to surprisingly find herself the judges' choice. Just like that, she's catapulted into the big time, the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. Luckily, her pageant-approved escort for the week is the dashing but mercurial Griffin McAllister, and she falls for him hard. But when the spirited Betty unexpectedly wins the crown and sash, she finds she may lose what she wants most: Griff's love. To keep him, she recklessly agrees to run away together. From the flashy carnival of the Boardwalk to the shadowy streets of Manhattan to a cliffside mansion in gilded Newport, the chase is on as the cops and a scrappy reporter secretly in love with the beauty queen threaten to unravel everything--and expose Griff's darkest secret. Reviews "A wild tale ... Early in her pageant experience, Betty muses that 'Miss America does odd things to people.' Clearly, she had no idea. Callahan creates a story that is brisk-paced and fluid." - Kirkus Reviews "Callahan has crafted an intriguing suspense story marrying the frothy, fashion-fueled pageant world with the secrets people have to live with." - Booklist "This plot-driven story blends aspects of romance, mystery, and thriller... Fans of mid-century drama, beauty queens, and gripping romance will enjoy this adventurous read." - School Library Journal " We have 5 hardcover copies of The Night She Won Miss America by Michael Callahan to give away. This offer is open to residents of the USA only, except for BookBrowse members who are welcome to enter wherever they live. Enter the giveaway | Past Winners
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