Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing: a painful and gritty memoir with humor, wit and stark realism

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry is a painful and gritty memoir. The opening line: “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead” says it all. The riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry from his childhood and his dream of fame, to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. A story of a young boy being shuffled from his mother’s in Montreal to his father’s in Los Angeles. A story of a fourteen year old nationally ranked tennis star in Canada. A story of a twenty four year old who would land the role of a lifetime and the fame he always dreamt of. To the outside world, Matthew Perry had it all. However, hidden behind the smile and wise cracking jokester was a man who was lonely, feeling unworthy of love and in a dark battle of addiction to drugs and alcohol. Matthew Perry’s journey to sobriety is filled with his trademark humor and a stark realism that many have never seen and he takes readers on this journey with frankness, self-awareness and extreme vulnerability. 

Many who know me know that I love Friends. It is my comfort show. A show I watch when I want to laugh and to relax. My favorite character has always been Chandler Bing. The vulnerable man who uses humor to hide his fears, insecurities and loneliness. Matthew Perry has been one of my favorite actors for years and his death in 2023 hit me hard. When he released this memoir, I was torn about reading it. I wanted to read it and yet, I was afraid. Recently, I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. I usually don’t listen to audiobooks; but there is something about this book and listening to Matthew Perry narrating it. It was difficult to listen to. It is deeply intimate and eye-opening. I was in tears, knowing he had come so far, so filled with hope and yet he is gone from this world. His voice reminds me of someone else I know who battled with addiction and it added to the pain of his story. He intended his memoir to help those who struggle with sobriety and I pray that it does. I highly recommend Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. 

Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing 

is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

 

Saving 6: an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance with dark, gritty and heartbreak themes

Saving 6 is the third book in the Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh. Joey Lynch is the second son in a broken family. He has spent his entire life trying to keep his unraveling family together after his older brother leaves them behind. He is the protector and pseudo parent to his younger siblings while teetering precariously on the cliff of addiction. The only light in his dark life is Aoife Molloy. The firecracker classmate and his boss’s daughter, she is always looking forward with a bubbly, strong and self-assured attitude. Ever since the first day of secondary school, she has been curious about the fiery, hothead boy that grows each day. They begin a complicated, tangled and very complex friendship as Aoife wants to get closer to Joey while he is desperate to keep her at arm’s length. What they don’t know is that their relationship is combust into a deeper relationship that will change their lives forever. 

Readers meet Joey and Aoife in Binding 13 and Keeping 13 and in Saving 6, we see the beginning of their relationship. I would describe their relationship as an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story. Aoife goes toe-to-toe with Joey as Aoife wants to get closer to this bad boy; however, is she ready for his reality? This story is heartbreaking, gritty and very real. I loved Aoife’s character as a strong woman who doesn’t run from Joey, even after she learns the dark secrets he tries to hide. Joey is desperate for a normal life, for a mother’s love. Overall, I loved this story. It took a while to read it as it is filled with very heavy topics that my mind needed time to process. I also loved seeing the other side of the story from books 1 and 2 without completely rehashing it. I highly, highly recommend Saving 6. Word of warning though, there is harsh language and violent moments and it may not be the story for some readers. 

Saving 6 is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Whole New World: what if Jafar got Genie's lamp first?

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell is a part of the Disney Hyperion A Twisted Tale series. What if Jafar got the lamp first? When Jafar finally obtains the Genie’s lamp, he uses his first two wishes to become sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Agrabah lives in fear as Jafar still has his third and final wish to make. To stop the madman, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine must find a way to unite the people of Agrabah and fight back. With the network of Agrabah’s thieves, they start to thwart Jafar’s plans. Will the Street Rat become a leader? A princess, a revolutionary? It all starts with the question: what if Jafar was the first to summon the Genie? 

I love the Twisted Tale series and A Whole New World is a great twisted story. With the beginning following fairly closely with the beloved Disney film, the twist occurs and the story turns gritty, dark and a thrilling ride to the very end. The story also adds elements of the Genie’s origins and history that was absent from the original movie. A Whole New World is my fourth book of this series and I cannot wait to read the rest. My only complaint is the ending seemed rushed and it was over quickly despite the build up. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted story. If you love the Disney stories and want to experience a twisted tale, I highly recommend A Whole New World. 

A Whole New World is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Looking for Smoke: a story of murder, mystery and a stark reality for Native women

Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell is a young adult fiction of murder, mystery and a very real situation plaguing young Native women. Mara Racette recently moved to the Blackfeet Reservation with her parents and is on the outside looking in. When Loren Arnoux includes her in a traditional Blackfeet giveaway to honor her missing sister, Rayanne, Mara thinks she is finally making friends. However, when Samantha White Tail, another girl from the giveaway, is found murdered, everyone who was a part of the giveaway becomes a person of interest. Each one may have had a motive. From Mara and Loren to Brody Clark, the class clown, and tough guy Eli First Kill, each with a deep mistrust of each, take the matter into their own hands to clear their names. Can they discover the truth? Is one of them a murderer?

I love stories about Native Indigenous people and their culture and struggles. So when the opportunity to read Looking for Smoke came up, I jumped at it. In a powerful debut novel, Ms. Cobell weaved a story of loss, betrayal and mystery that was engaging with a shocking twist and surprise that had my jaw on the floor! Weaved through the story is the very real nightmare of missing and murdered native women. The statistics the author discussed at the end of the book were heartbreaking and horrifying! The characters were complex and the growth throughout the story was great. The imagery and the descriptions of the festivals and rituals were breathtaking. I could not put this story down and read well into the night. I am looking forward to reading more stories by KA Cobell. I highly, highly recommend Looking for Smoke. 

Looking for Smoke will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on June 4, 2024

Forever Only Once: a gritty, hard hitting romance

Forever Only Once by Carrie Ann Ryan is the first book in the Promise Me series. Hazel Noble lives her life by strict measures. She has survived horrors and found the strength to build the life she loves. However, when her group of friends make a pact to start looking for love, Hazel finds herself the first one up. Cross Brady has no need for love. All he wants to do is live his life as peacefully as possible. However, when an accidental meeting with Hazel causes his life to take a dramatic turn. Taking their new found relationship as slow as possible, Hazel and Cross cannot deny the spark between them, but someone is determined to keep them apart. Is it someone from Hazel’s past or is it someone a little closer to home? 

Forever Only Once is such a great story. There’s suspense, action, packed with friendly and flirty banter and a tad bit of spice. Hazel is a woman who is trying to live in peace, determined to leave her painful past behind her and yet, a threat still lingers in the back of her mind. Cross is the typical older, protective brother who looks out for those he feels needs the backup. I loved that Cross understood Hazel’s hesitations and followed her lead as to how fast or slow they take their relationship. I also loved their support system of friends and family. It is a gritty, hard hitting story with great characters and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend Forever Only Once. 

Forever Only Once is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Brooklyn: a captivating, powerful story with gritty realism

Brooklyn by Tracy Brown is a story of a master manipulator and serial survivor who will destroy anything in her path in order to get what she wants. The story opens with a murder and Brooklyn Melody James leaves behind a web of lies, heartache, and betrayal. As her life slips away, she recalls the events that brought her there. Brooklyn learned the art of the hustle of her parents, who used the church to get money and she is determined to be the type of woman who lives by her own rules. After one explosive fight with her parents, she runs away to New York City. There, she charms her way into the inner circle of hustlers and picks up the necessary tricks of the trade. With an inflated ego, ambition and ruthlessness, she leaves a trail of burned bridges and broken hearts. Little does she know that her reign of terror is about to end; but the question isn’t who will do it, it’s who wouldn’t? 

Brooklyn is the third book I have read and reviewed for Tracy Brown and I think this one is my favorite. I devoured this book in two days. I was hooked from the opening chapter and I could not put it down. It was captivating from the beginning with its powerful story with its heartbreaking grittiness and realism. At first, Brooklyn was easy to sympathize with as she realizes the facade her family puts up is all a front but as she goes from group of friends to group of friends, her behavior and lack of remorse is heartbreaking. Even at points when it seems she is turning a new leaf and getting on the straight and narrow, her selfishness rears its ugly head. The identity of her killer was a shocker! Sadly, Ms Brown passed away before this book was published but I hope she knew how impactful her stories have been for me and millions of other readers. I highly, highly recommend Brooklyn! 

Brooklyn is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

A Cry in the Dark: a dark mystery with secrets and hidden agendas

A Cry in the Dark by Denise Grover Swank is the first book in the Carly Moore series. Carly Moore is a woman on the run. Trusting no one and the ink barely dry on her new identity, she wants to simply disappear. When her car breaks down and with no money, Carly finds herself stuck in Drum, a smalltown in the Smoky Mountains. Drum is a town with secrets of its own and the residents keep a distrusting eye on any outsiders. Since she is stuck in town, she takes a temporary waitressing job at a local bar. It isn’t long before she witnesses a cold-blooded murder in a darkened parking lot. Carly soon realizes that she left behind one nightmare for another. The clock is ticking and bodies are piling up. Not knowing who to trust, Carly senses that if the killers aren’t stopped, she will be next. 

A Cry in the Dark is the second book by Denise Grover Swank I have read. The first was a romance that I didn’t care for. I hoped that her darker mystery books would be better. Unfortunately, it was not the case. I was bored. The book started great with an eerie, auspicious situation. However, Carly was a hard character to like and root for. While the residents of Drum were certainly distrusting and even when the murders started happening, I was bored. The events seemed far-fetched and the drama a bit overdrawn. How can you be jealous of a relationship that happened years before you met the individuals? A relationship that had run its course and there was no lingering feelings? I have a feeling that Denise Grover Swank is not the author for me. However, if you enjoy dark, gritty mysteries, you may enjoy A Cry in the Dark. 

A Cry in the Dark is available in eBook and audiobook