Book Review: The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

-
Image
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was published on March 5, 2024 and falls into the mystery and thriller genres. I was thrilled when I learned that I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review. However, I wasn't able to read and review the novel until now. This novel is reminiscent of the television show 666 Park Avenue and is definitely what I call a slow burn.   With that being said, it had twists and turns that had me guessing to the very end. Although the book is told from Rosie Lowan's perspective, there are some flashbacks to a previous owner that adds some mystery to the storyline. The transitions between the two perspectives are done exceptionally well. There are a mix of characters that are likable and unlikable. My favorite characters were Rosie and Max. Unfortunately, I didn't quite trust Rosie's husband Chad or the doorman named Abi. Lisa Unger has become one of my favorite authors, and I wish I had star
Post a Comment

Book Review: Little Miss Stoneybrook . . . and Dawn (The Baby-Sitters Club, #15) by Ann M. Martin

-
Little Miss Stoneybrook . . . and Dawn - The Babysitters Club #15 - Ann M. Martin
In the process of rereading books from my childhood, I picked up the book Little Miss Stoneybrook . . . and Dawn (The Baby-Sitters Club, #15) by Ann M. Martin. Typically, I don't care for books that are written about beauty pageants because they don't usually represent them correctly. This book was no exception. One of the reasons I usually take exception to books about pageants is that I participated in them for eleven years (from age 8 through age 19) and have fond memories of them; beauty pageants are usually portrayed in a negative light, especially by those who have never competed in them. After the death of JonBenét Ramsey, beauty pageants were put in more of a negative light. Pageants where contestants wear a lot of makeup started to be referred to as glitz pageants, and many pageants popped up where there was minimal makeup worn. (Yes, I know this book was written pre-JonBenét.)

The events in the beauty pageant weren't exactly represented correctly. There isn't usually a parade of the girls where they introduce themselves. Usually, the girls are introduced by an emcee who reads a little biography, or snippet, about the contestant as they walk the stage / runway. And, just as a side note, not all beauty pageants have a talent portion or interview portion. However, the little girl who won the pageant was representative of a portion of the girls who do enter pageants, but not all girls and their mothers are like these particular characters. 

Another thing that wasn't exactly represented correctly is that there is no way babysitters, let alone ones that haven't competed in pageants, would prepare their charges for the competition and be backstage getting them ready. I understand why the author wrote the book this way; Ann M. Martin was trying to teach the lesson that being competitive isn't always worth it, especially when it can ruin friendships, but I feel like it would have been more realistic if the babysitters themselves had competed in a pageant themselves.

What I did enjoy about the book was the sub-plot of Dawn's family problems. When her parents divorced, Dawn's mother moved to Connecticut with the kids. Dawn's brother Jeff was having a terrible time adjusting to life on the East Coast and wanted to move back to California to live with their father. I felt like this was a very realistic situation for the most part. However, I'm not sure that the kids would have been separated from each other. Overall, I gave Little Miss Stoneybrook . . . and Dawn (The Baby-Sitters Club, #15) three out of five stars.

Synopsis:  When Jessi and Mallory are given a special ceremony for joining the Baby-sitters Club, Dawn is envious because she didn't get one. To prove she is a great babysitter, Dawn jumps at the chance to help out the Pike family and prepare Claire and Margo for the Little Miss Stoneybrook beauty pageant. But, things get out of hand when the rest of the members of the club decide to enter some of the kids they babysit for into the pageant to show that they are the best babysitter.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Product Review: Mr. Clean: Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist - Gain Scent

-
Image
One particular weekend night, I was watching television, and a commercial came on advertising Mr. Clean: Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist. In the ad, it mentioned that it would take off grime and dirt after spraying it on the surface and wiping it off with a simple swipe. It went on to mention that it could be used in the bathroom, and I thought, "I really need to try this product on my bathtub." Excited, I couldn't wait to buy it and looked for it at the grocery store the next day while I was getting my weekly groceries. I wasn't expecting to actually find it in stores yet because it usually takes the stores in my area a few weeks to get products in stock after I see it advertised on television. Much to my surprise and delight, my local Kroger Grocery Store actually had the Mr. Clean: Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist in stock and in no less than two scents. I grabbed the Gain Scent bottle and stuck it in my grocery cart. Eventually, I decided to use it to cle
Read more

Book Review: Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross

-
Image
Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross is the story about Julia and her mother Jacqueline attending a memorial service on Chipmunk Island for Ginny, who was an old friend of Jacqueline.  When something seems off at the memorial, Julia decides to delve into the cold case of Ginny, and in the process of the investigation, a murder takes place on the island. Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the Advanced Readers Copy of Hidden Beneath (Maine Clambake Mystery, #11) by Barbara Ross in exchange for my honest review.  I first became familiar with this series and author while reading a collection of short stories that included one from the Maine Clambake Mystery series.  I was excited when I was approved to read this newest book and was not disappointed. This newest edition can be read as a stand alone as the author does a fantastic job of recapping the backstories of the characters from previous books in the series.  I found all the main characters to be
Read more

Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich

-
Image
Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich is the latest installment in the Stephanie Plum book series and opens with Joe Morelli asking Stephanie to dog sit his dog Bob while he is out of town testifying at a trial.  The typical chaos ensues when Stephanie has to bring Bob along to apprehend all of her FTAs and has her asking herself if she wants to be married. Each book in this series typically follows the same formula and is wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow at the end.  It's because of this that I enjoy the series . . . I always know that Stephanie is going to get herself into some sort of trouble and need Ranger or Morelli to help her, and the bad guy is always caught.  Sometimes, I just need something familiar and predictable to read.  And, I don't mean that in a bad way either because it allows me to escape reality and gives me a few chuckles along the way.  It's like the comfort food of books for me. The last few books I felt like someone had ghost written
Read more