Adele GriffinCritiques

There are favors and there are FAVORS. This is a crazy story about an extremely wealthy woman attempting to create a social media presence that she does small and then big favors for a struggling couple living in NY. This book was a tiny bit slow in the beginning but there were a couple of fun surprises.½

What I liked best about this book was the scrapbook pages before and after each chapter. Pictures, letters and little mementos were drawn by the illustrator (Lisa Brown) to accompany Jennie's memories and stories. The process of taking pictures of the dead wasn't unknown to me before now; there were several such pictures at family member's old house and though its creepy it was highly fascinating at the same time.

What didn't work as well for me was Jennie's narration. I'm not entirely certain why, just that no matter how interested I became in the story Jennie would draw me out of it almost immediately. She had a very formal sound to her voice, not stiff exactly, but as if sharing the story wasn't the first thing she wanted to do.

I know very little about Civil War America, as far as the culture and what happened outside of the battles is concerned. It was fascinating to read about Jennie's family and in hindsight what she couldn't see about her Aunt and Uncle, or even her cousins, she observes and discounts. She observed her cousin Quinn's odd behavior from the first, but chose to discount it. She was so worried about not being tossed out (now that her fiancee was gone) she didn't want to see I think.

The ending is darkly hilarious--secrets are laid out and Jennie finally gets back her own. I was kind of disappointed, only because the epilogue made her exit feel less climatic. I think this will appeal to fans of history (this is chocked full of historical tidbits) or of suspense/mysteries honestly. It has a gothic appeal to it in fact.

I loved the book so much but at the same time I really wanted to punch both Evelyn and Nora. I loved their friendship, but it was easy to get mad at Evelyn and Nora because of their faults and mistakes they made. They both had a reason to be mad at one another but they should've communicated it before it blew up like it did. They obviously aren't perfect but they could've talked it out. But OH MY GOSH the ending!!! Literally caught me so off guard. Nora and Evelyn are a fun duo that just happened at complete random which I feel made the story even better.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Adele Griffin for giving me the opportunity to receive an arc for this book

3.5 Stars

Story about unlikely friendships, family, infertility, social media and the ever present money issues! What is a price you are willing to pay and when is enough actually enough.

Quick read, with a lot to discuss. Can relate to most of the book and found it realistic to a point. I did have a hard time with Nora and Evelyn’s friendship…just too much fan girl. I found most of that annoying…Evelyn was manipulative, throwing her money around and Nora immature and star struck. Didn’t buy into the relationship between Nora and Jacob. The fixation with the Poet was an odd twist I’m not sure I liked.

I enjoyed the writers style, easy flow between characters and situations. First book by this author and look forward to her next book. Good beach read because of so much going on!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.½

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark Publishers & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This book checked some of my favorite boxes – fashion, friendship, and an ending with a surprise twist.

The novel begins with the definition of “Favor – An act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. Friendly regard shown toward another, especially by a superior.”

Author Adelle Griffin incorporated the concept of “a favor” and then surprised me. The premise sounds predictable, with one girlfriend offering to carry a baby for her friend who can’t conceive. So that’s the favor, yet the friendship is a bit unusual, as is Evelyn, one half of the friendship who sweeps into Nora’s life in an overwhelming and overbearing way.

When I read the book’s description: “At I'll Have Seconds, a high-end fairytale vintage dress shop in Manhattan, Nora Hammond loves nothing better than pairing a rare find with the perfect client.” There was no question I was going to read this book.

It’s a story of the haves and the have-nots – wealth vs. debt, children (pregnancy vs. infertility), employment and more. It’s a story of girlfriends, trust, and honesty. It’s an unexpected yet heartwarming story of family and forgiveness.

I highly recommend this extremely readable novel!

Nora works in a vintage clothing shop. One evening, Evelyn waltzes in and purchases multiple items from the shop. Nora immediately feels a kinship with Evelyn. As they become closer, Evelyn pays Nora to source clothing for her, stage dinners/parties, etc. Evelyn also gifts Nora a priceless cloak made by Dior and worn by a poet that Nora admires. Nora tells Evelyn that she and Nora's husband, Jacob, have been trying unsuccessfully for a child. Nora offers to carry their child, but Jacob and Nora wonder if they should accept.
This is a novel that examines the complexities of friendship, and what it means to be a friend. It highlights trust, love, concern for others. While I thought the connection between Evelyn and Nora seemed to be a bit unbelievable, I did enjoy the story and hoped for a true friendship and connection between the two. Nora's reveal at the end was interesting and surprising.

Danny es una adolescente cuya vida no es demasiado fácil. Vive con su madre, una enamorada del teatro, y no conoce a su padre más que por la fotografía que hay en la estantería del salón. Su madre siempre ha sido una mujer bastante extravagante que le ha contado a su hija miles de historias sobre su padre. Danny decide escribirle una carta. Él por fin aparece y Danny se da cuenta de que la realidad no tiene nada que ver con las fantasías de su madre. Sin embargo, eso también le sirve para comprender que prefiere las ‘‘locuras’‘ de una madre, que siempre se ha preocupado por ella, que la vida respetuosa de un padre que nunca ha estado allí.

Summery with an edge. A book that made me miss those childhood summers of freedom and friends. It's also completely addicting and I'll be so tired now that I've stayed up all night reading.

I was so excited for this book because-- 70's, and summer, and ADELE GRIFFIN. I know Ms. Griffin doesn't make most people's lists of fave authors, but she's super high on mine. You wanna know why?? It's because her books fucking GO FOR IT. They aren't perfect, and things don't always go the way I want them to go. The characters are HARSH. But I love the fact that it's so completely different with a unique writing style.

It's the summer of 1976-- the bicentennial. Man, it made me wish I was alive to celebrate America's 200th year. I'll bet is was a great party. Anyway, the setting and the era was complete perfection. I loved the 70's fashions and slang. I loved the way summer came through this book so hard I could almost smell the sunshine and sunscreen.

Characters: As I started reading it, I really took Jean's side. It's about 2 girls with nothing in common except that they both spend summers in a town on Fire Island. I feel like Fritz (the other girl), is the one that most people will gravitate towards-- she's definitely more likable.... but you know me. I have to be a rebel and like the one I'm probably not supposed to. The thing is, Jean was flawed and had all the resources and advantages, but at the same time she had an inner pain that I could relate to. She goes through a big character arc, deals with heartbreak, but she's the type who will always land on her feet eventually. She's the type that I root for.

Now we get to the end. Holy smokes. The ending gives this book an edge that honestly, I think it needed. Up until then it was just about a love-triangle-- and those can get annoying. About 3/4ths of the way through things started getting INTENSE and I could not stop reading. I was up super late because I just HAD to know. Don't you love when that happens??

OVERALL: OMG YES!!! It's the perfect summer book--- plus it's the 70's!!! How many 70's YA books are there being published? It's addicting, cool, edgy, and about so much more than a love-triangle.

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UPDATE: I just saw a color version of this book and WOAH!!! It's BEAUTIFUL!

Adele Griffin tells the "biography" of an up-and-coming artist on the NYC scene named Addison Stone. Addison Stone was a mystery... in her life and in her death. She lived in her own world, had her own demons, and created so much beauty in so little of time. Dead before the age of 20, so many people wondered why... and what would her legacy ultimately be? A former (and very brief) teacher of Addison chose to take on the task of getting to know everyone in that inner circle... anyone who could shed light on the the true Addison Stone. And Addison Stone turns out to be a girl many people thought they knew, but maybe only a few people really did.

My Thoughts:
The idea of this book is SO cool!! I met Adele Griffin at BEA (and because I freaking LOVE her, I was 2nd in line!!), and when she explained that this book was a fiction non-fiction, I was so intrigued. I have never read a book like that before. I've never even heard of a book like that before. I think it's the coolest idea ever. I mean, as an author that has to be so fun to create this character in your head, and then "interview" everyone this character knows and get their take on your character's life. Not sure that my explanation there actually made sense, but what I'm meaning to say is it sounds like it would be really fun to write a book like this.

So reading the actual book was just as fun. It's about this girl who was basically born with an amazing talent. She was made to create art. Not only because she was super talented (which she was), but also because her soul was made to be eccentric. Throughout the book you get to see actual pictures of Addison, along with pictures of her art. It's all in black and white, but I was told the final copies will be in color, and I'm really excited to see what those look like!!

Addison goes from free spirit child, to troubled teen, to young adult living on her own in New York City on the brink of fame and fortune. She is someone who was hard to relate to most of the time because she was very troubled and also had a unique way of thinking about life. She also just doesn't react to things the way I would and seemed to be sort of an enigma. But at the same time Addison had very teenagery immature moments that I thought were plain and common. For instance her inability to let go of her ex-boyfriend Zach Frat. She was in love with someone else, but still had this obsession with getting back at Zach. I've DEFINITELY been there before. And it was really immature, but who can help themselves when it comes to ex-boyfriends?

Anyway I don't have better words for this book other than cool and unique. It really feels like an actual biography and I had to remind myself multiple times that none of these people really exist. (But it would be really awesome if Lincoln Reed did because HELLO!! Sexy!!). I had fun getting to know this frustrating intriguing girl. I kind of wish it was longer though because I felt like I was just getting into to it and it was over already. But also that is sort of the point when you have a life cut short. I definitely think everyone should give this book a try. It's going to be like nothing you've ever read in YA Fiction.

OVERALL: A fiction biography that highlights the life of an It-Girl in NYC and how she got there. I enjoyed the book and also wanted more from it. I loved the images throughout the book and how they just added to the realness of it. It made me forgot that I was reading Fiction at times as it is really true to the biography format and feel. I would definitely recommend this cool and unique book!!

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A story of siblings who have some damage in them. Thea lies and Alex is a mess. Ever since she did her senior internship at Haute, she doesn't eat and she can barely even leave the house. Alex is definitely hiding something, and Thea and Joshua (Alex's boyfriend) seem powerless to help. With Thea's lying getting more and more out of control and Alex feeling like Xander (the guy who runs the volunteers at her new senior internship) could be someone to lean on.... things are bound to explode.

I really got into this book. I absolutely loved the writing in this book! I was semi-obsessed with it. The way the characters talk and think, they just have such an authentic voice. These characters have personalities that I really haven't seen in other books (and I read A LOT). I have never met another Thea. I felt achingly bad for her, and she wasn't even supposed to be the sister with the problems. She wanted to fit in with her sister, to be noticed by her.... and it kind of turned her into a headcase.

Alex on the other hand was harder for me to get. Yes something happened to her that caused her to feel out of control, but what I didn't get was how Xander made that all better for her. This guy that she didn't really pay much attention to, one day... BOOM it's insta-love? Not quite sure I was feeling that. I said earlier this week on my blog that I dislike it when a girl needs a guy to solve her problems... I think it relays a bad message.

One other thing that was different about this book was the chapters were alternating POV's in alternating tense. Thea's chapters were all in first person... Alex's in third. I didn't mind it though, it made it easier to follow actually.

So, I really liked this book and the thing that is putting me off a full 5-Star rating is the insta-love and the ending! I like when an author gives you some credit and gives you a chance to imagine where the characters might go, but I like some problems cleared up.... these problems were just blowing up! And the ending left me feeling like Alex is a bad sister, and I don't think she really was deep down.


PS- Not a fan of the cover. When I first saw it I thought the book was going to be about a WWII girl. It's fine, but it just doesn't say modern-day at all.

I was give this to review via NetGalley...thanks!
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http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com/

Though this was a pretty good book, it wasn't one of my favorites.(as you can see, i have to experience writing reviews :P) I just wanted people to know that this book is one that leaves you hanging in the end, you don't find out exactly what happens, it's up for the reader to decide I guess. I just wanted to warn people like me, who depise not finding out what happens. That's all from me.

An interesting but not entirely successful novel that explores the relationship between two teenage sisters, one of whom, Jane, suffered from serious mental illness and has recently died after being struck by a car. Griffin presents the points of view of the siblings in alternating chapters.

Although Jane died in the spring, and it is now summer, she has been unable to leave the earth. She lingers on at the place she loved best, the now derelict home of her deceased grandparents. The reader learns that Jane’s psychosis (elevated mood, delusions, and auditory hallucinations) first presented when, as a twelve-year-old, she went on a camping trip with her grandmother and grandfather. She believed that a fish her grandfather had caught, subsequently eaten for supper, was trying to reassemble itself within her so that it could return to the lake. Since that time six years before, Jane had been on antipsychotics. The medication kept the worst of her symptoms at bay but it failed to alter her sense of being out of step with the rest of the world.

Though a year younger than Jane, Lily Calvert has always felt like the older sister. She’s pretty, popular, and actively involved in school clubs. She also has a sensitive, steady boyfriend, Caleb, a classmate of Jane’s with his own unusual history. It wasn’t easy for Lily to grow up with Jane. In fact, the Calvert family’s existence essentially revolved around her illness. Since her sibling’s death, Lily has leaned heavily on Caleb, who (somewhat unconvincingly) has put his own life on hold to provide emotional support to her. (While his friends are almost all off to college in the fall, he’s made no post-secondary-school plans.) Lily has also been reluctant to attend parties and social gatherings since her sister’s death. It’s a small town; her loss and the family circumstances are known to most.

The big event of the novel is a party held by a school classmate. An exchange with another attendee forces her to confront some things she’s been hiding from herself.

The alternating points of view and lots of light dialogue keep the novel moving at a brisk pace. The subject matter is heavy, but Griffin’s book is not as dreary as one might expect. In part, this is because the treatment of Lily’s bereavement is very superficial. The denouement and resolution are far too quick and neat. Not a bad read, but not a particularly memorable one either.

It was a different style from what I normally read which is I guess why book clubs exist, they make you read outside of your norm. I couldn't stand Addison, but in the end you see that she was a product of her surroundings. I didn't like her, but I did feel for her. I wouldn't say that I liked or disliked this book; it was just something that I read.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is such a well written and overall put together book with all the pictures, art and media throughout, that some readers still wonder if Addison is a real person. (She isn't: the girl in the photos is Giza LaGarce.) If I knew less about this book I might believe she was indeed real and what I was reading was a true story.
I truly enjoyed the plot and the ending was perfect.

Every page packs energy and surprises as this character refuses to be steered away from achieving her goals.

Becket and her twin brother are about to celebrate their tenth birthdays...and it just so happens to fall on the tenth of the tenth month. Convinced this can only be the true sign of luck, Becket decides to celebrate big time no matter what her brother's wishes are. She also has decided that the two of them will make a certain, twin-birthday wish. But things don't quite go as planned...they might just turn out better, but with surprises, she might or might not be able to master.

I did read the first book in this series, but it's not necessary to read it as a series. While the first book does set the stage for the farm, characters and such, it was still no problem to dive right into this book. In other words, it can be read as a stand alone.

To say Becket is full of spunk is an understatement. She's a character, which says what she wants and doesn't let others barely get a word in edge-wise. Her determination and energy are inspirational, although this is also what causes her troubles. She's got a good heart, but sometimes, looses sight of what others might feel around her. Her over-eagerness gets her into interesting situations, and it's hard not to feel for her twin brother as he tries his best to often steer clear. Still, the sibling relationship is golden and full of ups and downs.

The text is appropriate for the intended audience, and thanks to the lovely illustrations sprinkled everywhere, tons of fun to read. There's never a boring moment.

I was definitely not disappointed in this second book in this series for children. Becket and her brother Nicholas and her sister Caroline are all back. This story revolves around Beckets and Nicholas tenth birthday party and a Halloween fair at school. There are lots of laughs in the story. I really like this group of kids. I received a copy of this book from Algonquin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This is a wonderful start to a new book for children age 7-11. This would also be wonderful for parents to read to their children. I love Becket and her twin brother and their older sister Caroline. These children move from the city to a farm and have adventures during the summer as they meet other children. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from Algonquin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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Starting with changing her name to Becket, the middle Branch is ready for the country! Her older sister and younger brother aren't so enthusiastic, but Becket is sure that if she follows her "Becket List" for "How to be a Country Kid" she'll succeed in her goals of making a new best friend and getting a younger, just-right-for-the-country dog.

Of course, nothing goes the way she has planned. The new best friend she thinks she's found doesn't like her, her enthusiasm at camp is misunderstood and everyone thinks she's snobby, and her little brother, who she was all ready to help get over his many fears and issues, is settling in much more easily than she does! As she tries to earn money, makes mistakes, and slowly settles in herself, she finds that there are positive and negative aspects of her new life, just like her old life, and that as long as she keeps trying she'll eventually succeed.

Line drawings by LeUyen Pham show an exuberant girl who goes headlong at life and sometimes trips along the way. She's white with lots of freckles; their old friends from the city, the Fairs, are black. The girl she hopes to make her new best friend is black. Fair warning - the dog dies at the end. It's not traumatic and clearly expected throughout the book, as the dog is an ancient, wheezy pug who clearly is coming to the end of his lifespan.

At just 200 pages, this is a welcome addition to chapter books for younger middle grade readers, specifically 3rd and 4th graders. Becket is a relatable character, even if her readers haven't moved from the city to the country. She's putting her best face on a difficult change and she makes mistakes, missteps, and bad choices like every other kid. Her family is always there to back her up and help her out, but they give her a chance to assert her independence and make mistakes as well.

Verdict: This is a great choice for readers who are facing big changes in their lives or who are ready to move on to more independence and need reassurance that, although mistakes can happen, things will work out in the end. The death of the dog at the end of the story is a quiet ending, surrounded by family, and leaves the way open for more stories about Blackberry Farm.

ISBN: 9781616207908; Published April 2019 by Algonquin; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Life on a farm flips into a whole new light with never ending energy and silly insights.

Rebecca's family is leaving the city apartment and heading out to a farm, and she's got the perfect list on the amazement of farm life. So far, her list only has one item, leave the city. But changing her name to something more farm fitting only begins her increasing list. Now know as Becket, she's ready to become the true farm girl with so much enthusiasm that it leaks off the pages as she explores what life in the country really is like.

Becket is a ball of energy pure. Everything she does, even eating dinner with her family, turns into excitement with a twist of thoughts, which border on ridiculousness without ever stepping over the line. The story, while an easy read, holds a very quick pace thanks to her bubbliness. As to real adventure in the traditional sense, there isn't much beyond every day life and situations. But it's exactly these moments that portray life in the country, which Becket molds with a sense of excitement and exploration.

The authors manage to bring across a fairly real impression of what life on the farm is like, something city kids will find intriguing. Still, the simpleness of this life (or not always as simple as it appears with Becket) is exactly the adventure in these pages. It's Becket's rambling, constant, can't-be-turned-off enthusiasm which makes this a fun read, one that even more reluctant readers will be willing to grab up.

How to describe this book accurately without giving anything away? Oh dear. Well the first word that pops into my head is definitely one that is popular around the movie scene. That, my dears, would be twist! Tighter will take your brain, twist it until you're not sure what way is up, and then put you back down to try to navigate the world normally again. It's eerie, well-written and just all around fantastic!

With references to the classic novel The Turn of the Screw, this story at first follows the original very tightly, and then branches off into its own unique and amazing storyline. Jamie arrives in Little Bly after the reader finds out that she has a dark secret she is taking with her. In fact, her family is prompting her to go in an effort to pull her out of a sort of depression that surrounds her. As I got to know Jamie, I found myself understanding her more and more until all of the sudden, remember that word above, TWIST! Oh, this book is fantastic.

The characters in this book are so vividly written. From Jamie, our main character, right down to her young charge, each of them has their own unique personality and quirks. I did not necessarily like Jamie's character, but I did understand her. In terms of plot, the story moves along at a quick pace, always giving you just enough to keep you reading. By the time I got to the end of Tighter I was reading at a lightning quick speed just to see what happened! The ending did not disappoint.

I apologize for being so vague, but let me tell you that anything else I say will be a spoiler. Trust me when I say that the less you know when you go into this book, the more you will appreciate the overall story with its twists and turns! If you are a fan of The Turn of the Screw, or even if you are not, you will find this a fascinating new story. Plus, well, it's by Adele Griffin, and so you know it will have great voice.

Tell Me No Lies begins with a moment in time for 8th grade Lizzy as she has a grand mal seizure at school. Fast forward to her senior year of high school as she navigates popularity, friends, and her long time crush, Matt. Friendship dynamics shifts as a new girl, Claire, has a big impact on Lizzy and helps change her perspective of life. Matt becomes a possibility, and an older brother comes into the picture. With art and 80's music, Tell Me No Lies is a realistic glimpse into the world of today's teenagers. This book takes a look at friendship, discovering who you really are, being true to yourself, and first loves. "Nerds are for real. Authentic."

Brilliant. Review to come...

She's Got Books on Her Mind

You know who's my new friend? Adele Griffin. After reading Amandine I am more than ready to read more. She crafts the tale of Delia, our main character, who just moved into town. Delia's a loner, overweight, and has a secret that can come and bite her back if she isn't too careful. The story is told in the past tense. Delia is trying to come to terms with how things turned out all messed up. She starts her story off with her meeting a strange girl with a lab coat and ballet shoes asking her if she wanted to see a journal she keeps of all of her ugliest things. The girl's name is Amandine and she likes to shock people. She likes to be noticed to which is evident based on her clothing. She also likes to manipulate you into staying her friend after you realize that even if she's very different from everyone else and she seems like a ton of fun to be with, in reality she's very harsh and will do anything to get what she wants even if it means trying to hurt you.

I loved the way the story was told in past tense. Delia has one of those wise, I've-seen-everything type of voices. It was easy to slip into her world because of that. I don't know how but Delia just got to me right away. I cared about her and could never think of seeing her as someone in the wrong. She may have played games with Amandine but she never meant anything to go to far. Amandine had a way of making her feel like she was in the wrong by putting others against her. And everyone just adored Amandine because she was so casually... her. She just does everything so overdramtically. She's one person and then she's another. Nice, sweet, the perfect daughter that her parents could hope for. But, she was so... pushy and mean. The lives of others were just a game to her. I couldn't help be fascinated just like Delia was by how she interacted with people and swayed them onto her side.

"I did not think she could tell I was staring at her, but she knew. It was something I learned about her, later. That Amandine was always aware of her audience."

Delia's secret was an interesting one. I think by Amandine trying to hold it over her head she made the situation worse for herself. Sometimes enough is enough but then Amandine of course had another trump card. The story was basically showing how things can spiral out of control. How if you don't take a hold of what makes you you there just may be a chance that someone will come up and give you a new identity, a new way of being. It shows you how easily the world can change you and one person can mess up what you percieved the world and people to be. It also about learning from your mistakes. Really what I thought about the message of the story was to choose your friends wisely and make sure they aren't crazy people... But, no really is was a great story with great messages. It was haunting and it was beautiful.

"Ah, nobody learns anything from being happy."

Overall: Absolutely loved this book. It made me think. It's characters were fascinating. I loved this story so so much. I loved everything about it and more. And of course I loved it because how can I not be a fan of someone who's a fan of another great author - my favorite author - Robert Cormier - the genius.

Not for me...DNF