Book Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Sydney hates being the number 2 child, and not just because she's the youngest. Her mom has always been so proud of older brother Peyton, and her Dad doesn't seem to see her at all. Even when Peyton goes to prison for a DWI that paralyzes a teen, Sydney is still overlooked by her parents. Tension builds within Sydney as her privacy in the community disappears and Peyton's best friend Ames begins to get a little too close for comfort.

When Sydney decides to leave her private school to go to the local public high school for a bit of anonymity, she is enveloped by Layla, her brother Mac, and their cozy band of family and friends. Sydney meets with an acceptance she has been searching for and finds in a family pizza restaurant.

To me, the Chathams were like that merry-go-round out  in the middle of nowhere in the woods. I hadn't been aware they'd existed; it was pure luck to have stumbled upon them. Now that I had, I couldn't forget and go back to the way I'd been before. Just knowing they were out there changed everything. Especially me.

This story made me want to laugh, cry, and shout out "Exactly!" Getting to know Sydney, Layla, and Mac would have made my high school years magical.

"Relationships evolve, just like people do. Just because you know someone doesn't mean you know everything about them."

"Just because a person isn't talking about something doesn't mean it's not on their mind. Often, in fact, it's why they won't speak of it."

When faced with the scariest of things, all you want is to turn away, hid in your own invisible place. But you can't. That's why it's not only important for us to be seen, but to have someone to look for us, as well.

Saint Anything an amazing story. I love Sarah Dessen's writing - the truth in each story, the agony of emotions the characters express and the reader feels, and the ease in which simple words become a world I could be living next to any day of the week. Sarah Dessen writes about the community that readers live in, emotions they feel, and stories they can sink in to. Sarah Dessen is the friendly neighbour I wish I knew.

That was just it. You never knew what lay ahead; the future was one thing that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the chance to be anything. One minute you're walking through a dark woods, alone, and then the landscape shifts, and you see it. Something wondrous and unexpected, almost magical, that you never would have found had you not kept it going. Like a new friend who feels like an old one, or a memory you'll never forget. Maybe even a carousel.

I highly recommend Saint Anything as a great read. You may just have found yourself a new author, too!

From just Beyond My Bookshelf...

Book Review: The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner

None of us is bound by the past.

Kyra Winthrop, after barely surviving a diving accident, remembers very little of the last several years of her life. She can't remember the accident, her time in the hospital, or even her married life. She is fortunate to have a patient husband, a few good friends, and a wonderful island she can recuperate on.
But is this enough to give Kyra the life back she once had?



The Twilight Wife is a good, fast-paced story full of mystery. I enjoyed the well-created, suspense-filled scenes. The twists and turns kept me engaged, and I loved the scenery of the remote island in the Pacific Northwest. I correctly guessed some of the plot line early on, but I really enjoyed the mystery behind why it happened that way. It was good to read a book that brought shivers to my spine.

A.J. Banner has packaged up a nice stand-alone novel in The Twilight Wife. There was one passage that was of particular interest to me. It resonated deeply within me, and I felt a connection to the character as I read further.

What makes a woman so sure of herself? She has to know who she is, and to know who she is, she needs knowledge of her past. She remembers falling in and out of love, making a decision to marry or remain single. She remembers the choices that define her. But I don't have that advantage.

Thanks go to Simon & Schuster Canada and A.J. Banner for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

THE TWILIGHT WIFE - A.J. Banner

Publication: December 27, 2016

ISBN: 9781501152115

Don't forget to check out more by this author!

 

A.J. Banner graduated from high school in southern California and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. Her first novel of psychological suspense, The Good Neighbor, was a #1 Kindle bestseller, and was named by Harper’s Bazaar as the next Gone Girl. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and five rescued cats.

Cross-posted on Goodreads

From just Beyond My Bookshelf

I Am Coming Back, People!

Hello to my fellow book junkies that amaze me with viewing my little blog!

I just wanted to say sorry for being so erratic in my book reviews. I have been reading lots but not posting much. I worry too much about what others might expect of me. I used to write for the love of it until my health began to lead me astray. I am working hard at getting myself better, both physically and mentally, so I can amaze you all with my reviews...and hopefully much more to add to the blog in the future!

So bear with me as I start writing up the hundreds of book reviews I have hand-written notes for.

I love you, my crazy book lovers!

From just BEYOND MY BOOKSHELF...