Secrets and Lies by Jacqueline Green

Secrets and Lies by Jacqueline Green

Release Date - May 6, 2014

Publisher Website - Little Brown/Poppy
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 320 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Can you keep a secret?

Tenley Reed and Sydney Morgan have never seen eye to eye -- until now. United by a common goal, they are determined to find out who was behind their friend's murder. Joined by Emerson Cunningham, a gorgeous but troubled teen model, the girls start their own investigation. But in the isolated beach town of Echo Bay, it's hard to know who's a friend and who's an enemy.
Secrets and Lies is the second book in the Truth or Dare series -- and will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.

You may recall that the first novel in this series, Truth or Dare, didn't quite win me over. I decided to give the sequel a chance mostly because of the bold, and intriguing ending. I did end up enjoying Secrets and Lies much more than Truth or Dare, and found myself drawn into the story in a way that I hadn't been with the first one.

The choice to kill off Caitlin, a major character, at the end of Truth or Dare injected some much needed stakes into the story. It rejuvenated my interest, and left me cautiously hopeful about the sequel. The pay off of this bold choice was peppered throughout this sequel, and it proved to be the right decision. Caitlin's story is still a huge part of the novel, even more than I was anticipating. Part of me was scared her story arc was going to be a dropped thread, but it's woven into the story seamlessly.

The stakes in this one felt higher. This 'Darer' does not shy way from violence. The tension created by this 'cat and mouse' game was palpable, and is the strongest element in the story. I felt like these girls were being hunted, and because of that I was able to immerse myself into the story.

Likewise, the reasons for the girls keeping quiet felt more dangerous too. I was not a fan of the secrets in the first novel. In the second we see that other people could be hurt by things being revealed, and that the consequences are much graver than previously thought. It made me more sympathetic to these girls, and what they are going through.

The reveals, especially about Caitlin's ties to everything, were what kept my interest. This is much bigger than first known. We find out that others are being targeted, and that it goes back much further than I expected. This widening of the 'world' in terms of who is impacted by this 'game' helped the story immensely. The explanation for why the game is still going on after the definitive ending of the first book also felt reasonable, and true because of this new information.

These girls are much more resourceful and proactive than I was expecting. They are not just sitting back and being passive about their situation. They are on the defensive. They are able to, and rather quickly, unravel some huge clues. The ending feels like a step in the right direction for them to unmask everything. This is where my only concern comes in. Series of this nature tend to go on much longer than needed. These girls are capable, and it doesn't feel realistic for this to be drawn out more than one other book. I hope the third installment wraps this up tightly, because I see potential here for the series as a whole.

These types of novel are quick, entertaining reads and this one will appeal to a very specific market. It is a case of 'what you see is what you get' and that is a good thing if you're in the mood for this type of book. If it's what you're looking for I think you'll enjoy your time spent with it, otherwise it may not hit the mark. There is plenty within the pages that left me, personally, looking forward to the upcoming installment, and all the questions still yet to be answered.

Fans of the Pretty Little Liars series should consider picking this series up. It's got all the secrets, betrayals, and scandals to keep you turning the pages. While I like this one more than the first, I am hoping for a third book that continues to improve the series the way this one did and a spectacular finish.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Release Date - May 13, 2014

Publisher Website - Random House Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 240 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

There are some books that are simply too hard to review. This can be for many different reasons. Some are because you don't want to ruin the plot. Some are because you could never due justice to the incredible writing, and some are simply because your love can't be formed into the right words. We Were Liars is almost impossible to review because of all of this.

Part of what this novel does so well is to make the reader feel like they are part of this world. The make the reader feel like they are in on a secret. You feel like you're part of this family, dysfunction and all. It makes you feel like you're part of this friendship, including every secret and lie. Lastly, they let you be part of this forbidden romance, stolen moments included. It's mesmerizing and completely engrossing.

I've never read a novel by E. Lockhart before this one. Her writing style was poetically beautiful. It's magnetic in that it pulls you in, lushly descriptive, and stunning. I think the writing is the element that most stands out for me. She brings the setting, characters, and plot to life easily, and with such captivating prose.

Unreliable narrators are some of my favourites, and Cady is no exception. Her murky, dreamlike narration compliments the sleepy summer days on the island setting. It also kept me guessing. Obviously when a narrator is unreliable (for any reason) we should expect some surprises, and as the synopsis indicates, secrets. I think the pacing and reveal was perfectly executed, and left me ugly crying on the bus.

This review is shorter than I would like for a novel that completely stunned me, slayed me, and broke me. Yet,  I don't want to say anymore. Do yourself a favour and don't spoil We Were Liars before you experience it for yourself. This books is one of those that you don't just read, you truly do experience it, and this aspect is what makes unraveling it's secrets truly memorable. Allow yourself to experience the novel as it's meant to unfold, and be swept away into the story of the Liars.

As soon as I closed the book I immediately wanted to open it again and read it all over again, but this time as someone in on the secret. This time as a Liar. You'll finish this feeling connected to the characters, and this group of people. I do, however, recommend perhaps getting two copies; one for you and a friend though. Trust me when I say you'll be dying to talk to someone about it when you're done.

Saying Goodbye To Norman Bates (In More Ways Than One)

As you may know Kelly, from Kellyvision, and I are doing TV recaps. We recapped American Horror Story: Coven on her blog, and now we're recapping Bates Motel (season 2) on mine. Please note, this is more our reactions/thoughts than a true recap, and obviously there will be SPOILERS!

Kelly is everything in blue, and I am the other colour (is it brown? Whatever it is).

This is the finale. Saying goodbye to this show (for this season) was difficult for me (and I think for Kelly too). I can't wait for it to come back!

**********************************************************************************************************

Bates Motel - The Immutable Truth 

Season finale. Not ready for this to be over.

Same.

I totally forgot they hadn’t gotten Norman out of the box yet before the end of the last episode.

Welcome to another episode of Kelly's Claustrophobic Nightmare!

So Romero is out looking for Norman. Love how Dylan is just like “Yup, totally just killed Nick Ford” and Romeo just like “Meh, hop in”. The police in this town are awful (except that one girl when they needed her to be).

I know, right? He's just like, "Not listening!"

Searching Nick’s house is a good idea, at least in theory. I find it sort of hilarious that Nick Ford’s security is robbing him. He also seems to not know who Norman is. Liar (or maybe he just doesn’t know the name of the kid).

Totally lying. (Also, good lord, Romero BRING THE GUY WITH YOU. He could have been lying!)

OMG! Dylan screaming for Norman is making me teary. I want them to have a real sibling relationship. Answer him, Norman. Call out. Awww. I started crying when Norman started yelling for Dylan. He’s going to be okay. What is this show? I am worried about a serial killer (well future one, anyways). Freddie Highmore is killing this scene and looks awful (obviously). Also, the hug!

I know! Absolute genius. Poor Norman.

Norma is obviously concerned. Don’t act so surprised that Dylan found him, Norma. Geesh. I wonder if they made her not wear eye makeup in this scene on purpose because of the crying, or because she was in a rush and wanted to get there? Either way works.

Vera Farmiga is amazing in everything, always.

Norman is trying to tell her about his Miss Watson dreams. Norma is like “Forget out them. Do not talk of them”. Haha. Basically Norma’s way of dealing with everything.

Yeah, she's like, "this conversation is NOT HAPPENING."

Um, Norman would not get to come home already. He would be in the hospital longer than an afternoon I would imagine. Gotta love TV time.

He's got to be dehydrated and the injuries look horrible.

I think Norma really does like Emma. I believe her here. She is sad. She is going to miss her.

She has a point, though. Where would you even start that conversation?

Oh, Norma’s BFF is not talking to her now. George obviously talked to her. Norma needs to use the “my son was in danger” get out of jail free card.

Now that Nick is dead, her council seat is so gone.

‘I don’t know what people want from me. I even went out with her brother. Tried to sleep with him’. Norma, this may not be the best conversation to have with your son. Just saying.

Tried to sleep with him? Um, Norma. Tried to?

Norman wants to talk about Blair and what he realized in the box. Norma thinks Blair seduced and took advantage of him. Norman actually thinks he killed her. Norman is utterly convinced. Freddie Highmore is SO SO SO SO good. So good. *chills*. I am still saying no. Norma is trying to talk him out of it, and is forcefully adamant here. I think she might think it too, but doesn’t want it to be true.

I think Norma is all about plausible deniability here.

Why do you want a gun, Norman? I predict only bad things. Shocking right?

Romero wants to move on this polygraph. Interesting. So Romero wants to re-open the case if Norman fails the polygraph. I guess you can only look the other way for so long. If Norman believes he’s guilty though, won’t the polygraph reflect that? It’s your reaction to things, so if he truly believes it, the thing is not going to work.

Right, but if he's stressed the whole time, he'll pass. That's why they're not admissible in court, because it's an inexact science.

Norman is ‘getting his things in order’. I think I know what he wants the gun for now. We know it’s not going to happen. This is totally him saying goodbye to Emma, I think.

Oh, look, it's Norman's dog! Oh, poor Norman. (Also, I love that apple pie is on his list.)

Oh, Norman is going to tell her Dylan’s story. This is not yours to tell Norman. Not at all. Dylan has every right to be pissed if he finds out. Emma is such a caring person. She’s the type that would run up to Dylan and give him a hug. I bet Norman is trying to talk her into staying so Norma has someone after he kills himself.

Emma did an amazing job in this scene.

OMG! Zane’s sister is basically like “Dylan who?”. Um, wait. Dylan and Romero are there.. Oh, did she do that FOR them or did they catch her? I think they may have wanted her to, but you never know.

She totally just set up her brother.

He made a ‘to do list’? He even packed up his taxidermy. I wonder how this ends up not happening because we know it doesn’t.

Well, there's the pie.

How is she not getting that he’s saying goodbye? I guess maybe you don’t think that way but it seems pretty obvious.

Norma is great at not seeing stuff she doesn't want to see.

Okay, so she is in on it. This is where I start praying Dylan is alive at the end of this episode. Is Romero going to arrest Zane? Assuming Dylan (or someone else) doesn’t kill him first. DO NOT SHOOT THE DOGS! That makes me angry. Oh, pretty sure Zane just killed his sister. Run, Dylan! Oh, Romero. I approve of the fact that you just saved Dylan, but pretty sure police officers are not supposed to just shoot like that.

Bastard!

Yeah, I don't think there was an imminent threat but I'm not unhappy about it.

Love that Romero is now making up ‘the story’. I am just thankful Dylan is okay, and I predict will live at least until next season. Romero wants Dylan to step into the leadership role. He basically wants someone he controls (and is less sadistic) in charge. I support this, except that it’ll put Dylan in more danger.

It's a good story.

I am surprised that Norma went to Dylan with this stuff about Norman. You’re right Norma. It’s not Norman’s fault, it’s kind of YOURS for not getting your son the help he needs. She just wants to run away to Montreal. That is not the answer. Dylan is right. I do love this talk about Dylan’s past, and how it made Norma feel. I think it’ll help Dylan a lot. It’s her version of goodbye. She basically told him thats he does love him. I think Dylan needed to hear that.

Oh, God, the look on his face. "You bought me a ticket?"  RIGHT? He wanted her to want him.

This is such a great scene. I feel like the actor who plays Dylan is overlooked because of Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore but he's very good, too.

Oh Norma. Dylan is right. Norman needs to be somewhere. It’s the best thing for him. He needs help. He needs to be institutionalized. Dylan wants him to take the test. Dylan is the voice of sanity in this show. I still say it’ll show whatever Norman THINKS is the truth, so it doesn’t matter.

Cosign.

She just found Norman’s suicide note. She’s going to get to him in time and stop him. At least that is my guess.

Did he seriously leave her a dead stuffed bird?

So Norman knows that he killed his father. Um….Norma just full on kissed Norman. That was not a motherly kiss. Their relationship is so weird. Is it wrong that I feel like this moment is important? I don’t like it, but they had to go there with the kiss. It’s going to get more inappropriate from here, isn’t it? She managed to talk him (guilt him) into not killing himself, but I am not so sure they’re ever getting past this. Norman knows something about himself that he can never unknow.

That was so inappropriate.

He is totally going to pass. We are also seeing the descent into Psycho Norman. So, he did kill Blair.

Wow. This scene.

As predicted, he passed. He believed that HE didn’t kill her but that NORMA did so he passed.

Did you get chills with that last scene? I got chills. So reminiscent of Psycho how he looked at the camera and smirked a little. OMG! So he just got away with his first murder? Well, you know what I mean. His first murder that wasn’t for protection of someone else (that we know of). My head is reeling because I thought it was too early. I guess we’re headed to ‘Psycho Norman’ much quicker than I anticipated.

It did. Just--wow. This scene, this episode, this season, this show. Just wow.

So basically this episode represented Norman’s last chance. Norma can’t bare to see him as anything but her little boy, and basically told him that if he died she’d kill herself, and that made him fully develop this split personality to deal with what he had done. Push it off to someone else. I think he could have been saved before this, but after this episode there is no going back. It’s sort of Norma’s fault (I feel anyways). She ignored it, and now I think it’s too late to help him even if she wanted to.

It's not too late (she could still institutionalize him) but the window is almost closed and a drastic step is all that's left.

Goodbye Norman, Hello Mother basically. So when is next season starting?!

March, probably. :(

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week.
BOOK 

Cover of Atlantia by Ally Condie

I was not a big fan of Ally Condie's Matched series. I felt the first novel had a lot of potential, but didn't quite enjoy the sequels as much.

I am  however intrigued by the premise of her new book. It also has a STUNNING cover to entice me with.

I read that this was a stand alone and that actually appeals to me more. I felt Matched itself was strong, but the later novels didn't hold up, so perhaps a stand alone will work better. I love the tagline as it immediately induces shivers.

Excerpt from Isla and the Happily Ever After 

It's not a secret that I adore Stephanie Perkins' novels. They are truly wonderful. It should also be no surprise that I am eagerly awaiting the release of Isla and the Happily Ever After. We recently were teased (tortured, same thing) with a chapter excerpt. It's adorable, and perfect. 'Thank you, slutty funnel' may just be one of my favourite lines. It already has heart, humour, and Isla is adorable. Why is it not August? Because, NEED!

MOVIE/TV

The Amazing Spiderman 2

I may be one of the few that really liked this movie. Perhaps it was due to my distraction with Dane Dehaan (how blue are his eyes?!) and his KILLER performance as Harry Osborn. The changes from the comic book were done well, and they referenced the source material where it really mattered (at least to me). Either way I, once again, found Andrew charming as Peter Parker, and felt the movie was fun overall.

Gotham (the TV series)

A pre-Batman Gotham is the hook for this amazing looking TV show. We get brief glimpses of these iconic characters (Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman and, of course, Batman himself) but the catch is that it's the origin stories. It's Bruce Wayne as a boy, it's Catwoman as a young girl. The trailer is solid, and has instantly sold me on checking it out this fall. Pretty sure I am going to fall in love with it. Seriously, watch this trailer. You'll want to watch it... immediately.

OTHER

Book Expo America

This year's BEA is shaping up to be an AMAZING week filled with lots of bookish fun. I am excited to get to see Kelly from Kellyvision and to just be surrounded by bookish people. Two weeks from this Sunday (so TOMORROW) is when I officially start my vacation. Already counting down the number of shifts I have left.

What are you obsessed with this week?

Unspeakable Blog Tour - Guest Post

As part of the blog tour for Unspeakable, I was able to get Caroline to write a brief guest post to share something about the novel. Since the novel is inspired by the real sinking of the Empress of Ireland I was immediately curious about this aspect of the story. I asked Caroline to discuss the benefits and challenges of grounding her story in a historical event.

Her answer is enlightening, and wonderful...

Great question. My series, GREENER GRASS: my new release, UNSPEAKABLE; and my upcoming Fall book THE GOSPEL TRUTH, are all historical fiction. Each one is set in very different time periods and circumstances but in all, the historical event is a huge part of the setting and the plot from the Irish potato famine, to the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, to slavery in the south. Not only do the characters deal with the struggles we all have in every day life, on top of that they are caught up in an incredible moment in history.
 For Ellie, in UNSPEAKABLE, it’s the night she barely escapes the sinking of the Empress of Ireland. How can she go on, how can she ever be happy again, when so many did not survive? I read a lot of Titanic survivor accounts to get a sense of lives after the tragedy. I love both reading and writing historical fiction because it really makes history come alive.
 Researching and learning as much as I can about the time and the events is an obsession, really. :) The challenge for me is to know when to stop researching and start writing. I try to balance it by focussing on the fictional characters. That way, the story isn’t just about what happened -- but who experiences it and how it changes them.

I also reviewed Unspeakable today (spoiler - I loved it) and urge you to check out this wonderful novel.  

If you happen to live in the Ottawa area there is going to be an exhibit showcasing artifacts salvaged from the wreckage at the Canadian Museum of History starting May 30th. As someone who didn't know anything about this prior to reading Unspeakable, it's certainly inspired me to learn more. I will definitely be checking out the exhibit.

Here are some links to where you can purchase a copy of the book

Chapters // Amazon Canada

What do you think of novels that are based, even in part, around a real life event? How important is accuracy to you?

Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat

Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat 

Release Date - May 6, 2014

Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 288 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

On her first voyage as a stewardess aboard the Empress of Ireland, Ellie is drawn to the solitary fire stoker who stands by the ship’s rail late at night, often writing in a journal.

Jim. Ellie finds it hard to think of his name now. After their wonderful time in Quebec City, that awful night happened. The screams, the bodies, the frigid waters … she tries hard to tell herself that he survived, but it’s hard to believe when so many didn’t. So when Wyatt Steele, journalist at The New York Times asks her for her story, Ellie refuses. But when he shows her Jim’s journal, she jumps at the chance to be able to read it herself, to find some trace of the man she had fallen in love with, or perhaps a clue to what happened to him. There’s only one catch: she will have to tell her story to Steele and he’ll “pay” her by giving her the journal, one page at a time.

As a Canadian I was a little shocked to hear that this tragic event happened and that hardly any of us actually know about it. I certainly didn't until I had this book come on my radar. A harrowing story of a tragic event that is also infused with hope. It inspired me to want to know more about the real story behind this moving work of fiction.

The care in which Caroline wrote this novel is evident right from the beginning. She meticulously researched the events leading up to the sinking, as well as life on the ship itself. It was apparent that she wanted to not only write an enjoyable story, but wanted to be respectful of the tragedy that had happened. The story certainly pulls you in, and the characters quickly endear themselves to you.

The sinking, and the events surrounding it were painted in a horrific, unimaginable light. The scenes were gripping, and vivid. It was the aftermath that truly resonated with me however. The survivors, and the guilt they carried was a palpable thing throughout the novel. The guilt and memories eat at Ellie to the point that the events themselves are unspeakable to her. She becomes haunted by that night, and all that was lost.

Ellie's strength was an unexpected one. It wasn't a physical strength, but an inner one that carried her through everything. She finds the ability within herself to go on. She finds something worth striving for. She has her past come back to haunt her, and after all she's been through it might have been enough to defeat her, but she pushes through. It's this kind of strength that I think needs to be shown more. It's often forgotten, but is just as heroic as any physical feat.

Jim has a stormy past of his own. The reveal of that past, and how he became the haunted man he is today was beautifully done. It's one of my favourite parts of the novel, and ties everything together. While I won't spill how we learn his story, I will say that it feels like we get to know him along with Ellie. They had only stolen moments together, and as she learns about him, the reader does too.

The romance is going to, at first glance, draw comparisons to Titanic. It has similarities, but more differences once you fall into the story. Much of the novel is spent with Jim's fate being unknown. The diary Ellie clings to may be her last link to a man she opened her heart to. This tension drove the story and kept me turning the pages. Caroline gives us just enough to keep us hooked, and reveals things as they are needed.

As much as the romance is a large part of the story, Ellie is the focus. It's her the reader follows and learns to care about. It's her that we see learn things about herself she wasn't expecting. We get to see her turn the tragedy into a strength inside her. Her story fascinated me, and I am glad we had that as the primary focus.

A heartfelt read that showcases the crushing weight of survivor's guilt, and the beauty of hope. This novel is based on a real life event I knew nothing about, and it's story is every bit  has heartbreaking as the Titanic. Those who love romance, and a captivating story will want to devour this one.

The Blonde by Anna Godbersen

The Blonde by Anna Godbersen

Release Date - May 13, 2014

Publisher Website - Weinstein Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 400 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Marilyn Monroe is at the height of her fame, the object of the world’s desire. Attention is her drug, the very definition of who she is. Her own wants and needs have become fleeting at best, as if she sees herself only through others’ eyes. But there is one thing Marilyn still wishes for beyond all else—to meet her real father. That’s the part you already know, the legend—but here’s the part that’s never been told.

In Anna Godbersen’s imaginative novel, set at the height of the Cold War, a young, unknown Norma Jean meets a man in Los Angeles—a Soviet agent? A Russian spy?—who transforms her into Marilyn the star. And when she reaches the pinnacle of success, he comes back for his repayment. He shows her a photo of her estranged father and promises to reunite them in exchange for information: Find out something about presidential candidate John F. Kennedy that no one else knows. At first, Marilyn is bored by the prospect of, once again, using a man’s attraction to get what she needs. But when she meets the magnetic Jack Kennedy, she realizes that this isn’t going to be a simple game. What started with the earnest desire to meet her father has grave consequences for her, for the bright young Kennedy, and for the entire nation. The Blonde is a vivid tableau of American celebrity, sex, love, violence, power, and paranoia.

Marilyn Monroe a spy? Intriguing right? I would bet that the word implausible probably crossed your mind. That was my initial reaction as well. The Blonde, however, mixes hard facts with the most thrilling fiction to create something that is not only entertaining, but read as true as any biography. A fun, scorching thriller that I predict will burn up the beach this summer.

The level of detail, research, and plotting put into capturing that essence of Marilyn's world shines brightly throughout the novel. Anna Godbersen takes significant events, and concrete dates and makes you see them in a different light. It doesn't take make, a tweak here, a twist there, and I was ready to buy into Marilyn living a double life. A large part of if this novel works for you or not will be how quickly you buy into the notion of Marilyn as a spy. I felt it was presented logically, realistically and that the author made it fit together like a missing puzzle piece.

The essence of Marilyn and what we know about her breathes through these pages. Her carefully crafted persona, her desire to have her true voice heard, and, of course, the damaged, broken girl who was looking for something she never found. There was a nice balance between the strong, forceful Marilyn, and the destructive, obsessive, girl underneath. She was layered, and much more complex than I think people would expect. Marilyn's movie starlet persona was something she painstakingly built with a specific purpose. She often asked people if they wanted her to 'be Marilyn' for them. This lends itself all to easily to the fictional reality Anna is painting. Someone who is already hiding behind a mask, it's easy to imagine they'd have another one.

The love story of Marilyn and Jack felt dangerous, obsessive, and magnetic. Even though I knew nothing good could come out of it, I still hoped. Hoped they could save each other. Hope that Marilyn would get to finally have all she wanted. Having Marilyn fall in love with the charming president was not a stretch. I certainly will never look at the beathy, sensual rendition of Happy Birthday Marilyn sang to him the same way after this novel.

As everything unravels, and that fateful day of November 22 looms closer the tension increases. The novel speeds towards not only John F Kennedy's death, but Marilyn's as well. The mystery, and conspiracies that surround each of their deaths allowed for some twists and turns in the story that were generally surprising. The ending is much like Marilyn herself - haunting.  It left me consumed with theories long after I finished the last page.

The novels biggest victory is that as it pulls you deeper under it's spell you begin to wonder. The question of 'what if' is instantly haunting and ever present as you fly through the pages. The ease in which fact and fiction are entwined and blend together allows the reader to bridge that gap easily, and ultimately, the story Anna Godbersen weaves felt entirely plausible.

The Blonde is a white hot twist on the story of Marilyn Monroe. A tantalizing thriller, a deliciously scandalous love story, and at it's heart a portrayal of a broken girl who left Hollywood used and discarded. After The Blonde you just may question how she got to that ending.