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 week. 

MOVIES/ TELEVISION 

Trailer for Last Night in Soho

Trailers for movies releasing in the fall have started to release. This includes movies that will be headed to film festivals and many of them will start out with Oscar buzz. 

Last Night in Soho has just released its first trailer and it looks incredible.

It is being called a psychological thriller and it seems to have some horror elements. I love the colour pallette! 

Poster for Last Night in Soho

They released the poster art for the movie along with that fantastic trailer. Again, I love the colour choices and it captures the vibe of the trailer perfectly.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Elizabeth and Monty by Charles Casillo

Elizabeth and Monty by Charles Casillo

Release Date - May 25, 2021 

Publisher Website - Kensington Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 352 pages
My Rating - 4/5

**received for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Violet-eyed siren Elizabeth Taylor and classically handsome Montgomery Clift were the most gorgeous screen couple of their time. Over two decades of friendship they made, separately and together, some of the era’s defining movies—including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Misfits, Suddenly, Last Summer, and Cleopatra. Yet the relationship between these two figures—one a dazzling, larger-than-life star, the other hugely talented yet fatally troubled—has never truly been explored until now.

“Monty, Elizabeth likes me, but she loves you.” -Richard Burton

When Elizabeth Taylor was cast opposite Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun, he was already a movie idol, with a natural sensitivity that set him apart. At seventeen, Elizabeth was known for her ravishing beauty rather than her talent. Directors treated her like a glamorous prop. But Monty took her seriously, inspiring and encouraging her. In her words, “That’s when I began to act.”

To Monty, she was “Bessie Mae,” a name he coined for her earthy, private side. The press clamored for a wedding, convinced this was more than friendship. The truth was even more complex. Monty was drawn to women but sexually attracted to men—a fact that, if made public, would destroy his career. But he found acceptance and kinship with Elizabeth. Her devotion was never clearer than after his devastating car crash near her Hollywood home, when she crawled into the wreckage and saved him from choking.

Monty’s accident shattered his face and left him in constant pain. As he sank into alcoholism and addiction, Elizabeth used her power to keep him working. In turn, through scandals and multiple marriages, he was her constant. Their relationship endured until his death in 1966, right before he was to star with her in Reflections in a Golden Eye. His influence continued in her outspoken support for the gay community, especially during the AIDS crisis.

Far more than the story of two icons, this is a unique and extraordinary love story that shines new light on both stars, revealing their triumphs, demons—and the loyalty that united them to the end.

I remember watching A Place in the Sun and thinking that Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor were two of the most beautiful people I had ever seen. They both have an ethereal beauty that you cannot look away from. It also doesn't hurt that it is a really great movie with each giving one of their best performances. That movie also launched a life long friendship between Monty and Liz which is the focus of Charles Casillo's book. 

Nonfiction books are always a bit of a challenge to review. You can't discuss them the same way as you would fiction. Research is vital to a nonfiction book and Charles Casillo has certainly done his research. Peppered throughout are quotes from people to highlight and expand upon the points being made and to source where information is coming from. Quotes from both Elizabeth and Monty are also used which I found important in this case. The writing is smooth and concise making for a quick and enjoyable reading experience.

I only knew the barest of details about Montgomery Clift going in. I knew about his tragic accident that left him a vastly different man than he was prior. I knew about the substance abuse that started before the accident and worsened after. I also knew about his early death. The story of Montgomery Clift is a heartbreaking one but I wasn't sure just how much until reading this book.  Montgomery definitely had his demons and seemed like he would both trigger the impulse for people to take care of him and push them away with his outlandish behaviour. The book paints a portrait of a broken man who was loved by those around him very much despite his flaws (and he was definitely a hot mess, especially at the end).

I was even less familiar with Elizabeth Taylor. I have only seen one or two of her movies but I was certainly aware of her scandals and affairs as any fan of classic Hollywood would be. Her story parallels Montgomery's in many ways which I what drew them to each other. They had similar childhoods which bonded them. Their friendship was unconditional and easily the most important relationship to either of them. They both seemed lonely even when surrounded by other people. 

This book mainly focuses on their friendship and the time when they were in each other's lives. It does briefly touch on their childhoods and Elizabeth's life after Montgomery's death but that is not the focus. Those looking for an indepth look at the infamous Liz and Richard Burton relationship will not find that here, but it is touched upon. This is the story of a friendship and the two people within it. 

Fans of either Elizabeth or Montgomery will definitely want to pick this one up. It gives you a great snapshot into the lives of these two stars and the enduring friendship they shared. I also recommend it to those with an interest in the golden age of Hollywood. They will also want to pick up this read that spotlights two of that era's brightest stars.

Waiting On Wednesday .... Like Me

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Like Me by Hayley Phelan

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A propulsive psychological thriller that follows an aspiring model down a social media-fuelled rabbit hole of obsession, narcissism and self-destruction.

For nineteen-year-old Mickey, Instagram offers a tantalizing portal into the world she wishes she inhabited. Though beautiful, cunning and privileged, Mickey finds herself with a stalled modelling career, an escalating drinking problem, few friends and next to nothing in the bank. To numb her growing despair, she spends her days frantically refreshing her Instagram feed, obsessively tracking the movements of Insta-famous model Gemma Anton.

Gemma is a perfected version of Mickey, living a seemingly perfect life: a skyrocketing career, a famous photographer boyfriend and adoring followers--the life Mickey wants more than anything for herself. She studies every detail Gemma offers through the window of her phone, trying to absorb, learn, mimic, become the object of her growing fascination.

Then, a chance encounter thrusts Mickey into a world of opportunity, and she is met with surprising, and immediate, success. But as her online persona begins to take over her life, Mickey finds it increasingly difficult to separate reality from the façade of Instagram.

Engrossing, sharp and astute, Like Me is a shimmering portrait of infatuation, disconnection and identity in the digital age--and a dazzling introduction to a brilliant new voice in contemporary literature.

I have seen this one described in glowing terms and it definitely made me curious to check it out. This one seems to dive into the social media age we are living in and the obsession that can come from that. 

This feels like a perfect book to toss into your beach bag for a day at the beach or poolside. If you're Canadian you can enjoy it this summer as it releases July 6, 2021. If you live in the USA you'll have to wait until February of 2022 to pick this one up!

Expected release date - July 6, 2021

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy

Release Date - May 25, 2021

Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy

Pages - 336 pages
My Rating - 4/5

**received for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Waylon Russell Brewer is a fat, openly gay boy stuck in the small West Texas town of Clover City. His plan is to bide his time until he can graduate, move to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine, and finally go Full Waylon, so that he can live his Julie-the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music-Andrews truth.

So when Clementine deviates from their master plan right after Waylon gets dumped, he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show, Fiercest of Them All. What he doesn’t count on is the tape accidentally getting shared with the entire school. . . . As a result, Waylon is nominated for prom queen as a joke. Clem’s girlfriend, Hannah Perez, also receives a joke nomination for prom king.

Waylon and Hannah decide there’s only one thing to do: run—and leave high school with a bang. A very glittery bang. Along the way, Waylon discovers that there is a lot more to running for prom court than campaign posters and plastic crowns, especially when he has to spend so much time with the very cute and infuriating prom king nominee Tucker Watson.

Waylon will need to learn that the best plan for tomorrow is living for today . . . especially with the help of some fellow queens. . . .

Julie Murphy's books are like little jolts of sunshine. They leave you happier than you were before picking them up. It's not that they don't deal with tough topics, because they do, but there is a feeling of hope at the center of them that shines through. Pumpkin fits the Julie Murphy mold perfectly and it does so with an extra bit of snark.

Waylon, like most teens, is trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. Self discovery is something that weaves through the entirety of this book. He knows some things about himself and isn't afraid of showing what he is comfortable with in himself but there are still some things he is learning and figuring out. He doesn't have all the answers even if he has some of them. This felt so important to me. Who you are can flow and change as we experience new things and that is shown to be true with Waylon's journey in this book. There isn't one correct path to adulthood for everyone and that is such an uplifting theme to see explored in these books.

Waylon and Clementine's codependent relationship is having a bit of a shake up as they both start to want different things for themselves. Their bond as twins is special to them both but they are discovering they each have their own dreams and hopes. The unsettled feeling that Waylon in particular experiences feels like a stand in for the uncertainty of that time in your life. You are just learning who you are but are expected to  make all these decisions that will impact your future. I loved the sibling connection in this one because it showed you so much of who Waylon is through it.

A Julie Murphy book would not be complete without a romance. This very sweet romance makes the rest of the book even sweeter. The family connections and friendships are given as much weight as the romance and that balances everything out and gives it a more grounded perspective. Waylon and his grandmother have the sweetest connection. It is such a joy to read about all of the relationships in this book because they are all nicely fleshed out even if they are just a side element.

My favourite part of any companion novels are getting to catch up with the characters you've loved in previous books. This trio of books is no exception. It offers us a chance to see those characters through new eyes and gives us a glimpse at how they are doing. It's a treat for those who have read the previous books and one I was thankful for.

Julie Murphy is says goodbye to Clover City with what is perhaps her most heartwarming read yet. Waylon sends off the series with impeccable style and offers a thoroughly enjoyable read in the process. 

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 week. 

It is a very small one this week as, again, not much was released.

MOVIES/ TELEVISION 

Trailer for Dear Evan Hansen

As someone who enjoys musicals this adaptation of the Broadway hit was obviously going to be on my radar. The trailer, to me, looks great.

Lots of chatter about Ben Platt perhaps being too old for the role, but I think it works. I am glad that those of us not able to go see him perform on Broadway are getting to see him in this role. The music makes you emotional and I predict a bunch of people will cry while watching in theatres. 

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

The Obsession by Jesse Q Sutanto

 

The Obsession by Jesse Q Sutanto

Release Date - February 2, 2021 

Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 304 pages
My Rating - 3/5

**received for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A classic sort of love story... except somebody might wind up dead.

Nobody knows Delilah like Logan does. Nobody. He makes sure of it by learning everything he can through her social media and watching her through a hidden camera he has trained on her house. Some might call him a stalker. Logan prefers to be called “romantic.”

A classic sort of love story... except somebody might wind up dead.

Nobody knows Delilah like Logan does. Nobody. He makes sure of it by learning everything he can through her social media and watching her through a hidden camera he has trained on her house. Some might call him a stalker. Logan prefers to be called “romantic.”

But after Logan sees Delilah killing her abusive stepfather, he realizes there’s still more about her to discover. His sweet, perfect Delilah isn’t so perfect after all.

Delilah knows she should feel guilty, but all she feels is free. She’s so over the men in her life controlling her. Except Logan saw what she did, and he won’t let her forget it.

Delilah is done being the victim. And she refuses to be a character in Logan’s twisted fantasy. If Logan won’t let her go… she’ll make him.

But after Logan sees Delilah killing her abusive stepfather, he realizes there’s still more about her to discover. His sweet, perfect Delilah isn’t so perfect after all.

Delilah knows she should feel guilty, but all she feels is free. She’s so over the men in her life controlling her. Except Logan saw what she did, and he won’t let her forget it.

Delilah is done being the victim. And she refuses to be a character in Logan’s twisted fantasy. If Logan won’t let her go… she’ll make him.

Obsession, blackmail, and murder. The synopsis of The Obsession sold me on this book. I was intrigued by the little tease about Delilah and could not wait to pick this up. The Obsession is certainly fun in an over the top way. It's got everything dialed up to an eleven which, sadly, is not always a good thing.

The writing is zippy and keeps the narrative flowing. It crests the sharp turns of all the plot twists going full speed. This means that not all of them land but you can't look anywhere else. It's a book easy consumable in one sitting for those who just hang on and go for the ride.

This is a book that hangs itself on its twists and reveals. Some are genuinely clever and well handled. There are others that venture into the more outlandish category. It requires the reader to suspend disbelief in order for the plot to work. This book demands the reader to check everything st thr door and follow where it leads.

There is nothing passive about Delilah. There might have been once, but abuse at the hands of her stepfather has changed her. We see this side of her character surface when she kills that abusive stepfather. We see a character who is intriguing and compelling. Part of me wishes we had this character in a different plot. She was the most interesting element of the story to me and the ending definitely made me want to follow her.

Logan is your typical unstable stalker. He is convinced that Delilah is meant to be with him and is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen - even if he has to blackmail her into dating him. We've seen his type before and there is nothing new or interesting to be found in his character. If the plot did not deviate from where I expected it would go, and if Delilah had not been so interesting, I would have rated this one lower than I ended up doing. 

This book's content warnings should be pretty obvious. There is a lot of focus on abusive relationships. The stalking aspect of the story could also be triggering to some. I would not recommend it to those who may struggle with those themes as they are prevalent and woven into the story.

If you like Pretty Little Liars or Riverdale I predict you'll enjoy this. It will offer a fun read that will definitely be a distraction. Just keep your expectations in check, and remember that some of it is more on the ridiculous side. I am invested enough to pick up the sequel, and I feel that is a testament to how well the author set up the ending of this one.

Waiting On Wednesday ... The Ex Hex

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.

That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.

Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

This releases in early Oct which makes it a perfect read for the spooky season. Based on the synopsis it seems to mix witches and romance which happen to both be favourites of mine.

I love that Vivienne has to work with her ex to unbreak a curse she put on him. It's going to be a fun one to read and I think a perfect pairing with Practical Magic as there are definitely similar vibes.

Join me with your pumpkin spice latte, and fall scented candles while enjoying this one under a cozy blanket when the Halloween season arrives.

Expected release date - October 5, 2021