Book Review: The Manicurist’s Daughter

• Publisher: Celadon Books
• Publication Date: March 12, 2024
• Author: Susan Lieu
• Genre: Biographies & Memoirs | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 320

⭐⭐

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Blurb:

Susan Lieu has long been searching for answers about her family’s past and about her own future. Refugees from the Vietnam War, Susan’s family escaped to California in the 1980s after five failed attempts. Upon arrival, Susan’s mother was their savvy, charismatic North Star, setting up two successful nail salons and orchestrating every success―until Susan was eleven. That year, her mother died from a botched tummy tuck. After the funeral, no one was ever allowed to talk about her or what had happened.

For the next twenty years, Susan navigated a series of cascading questions alone―why did the most perfect person in her life want to change her body? Why would no one tell her about her mother’s life in Vietnam? And how did this surgeon, who preyed on Vietnamese immigrants, go on operating after her mother’s death? Sifting through depositions, tracking down the surgeon’s family, and enlisting the help of spirit channelers, Susan uncovers the painful truth of her mother, herself, and the impossible ideal of beauty.

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My Thoughts & Opinions:

I typically enjoy biographies and memoirs. And while I did enjoy the beginnings of The Manicurist’s Daughter, my interest waned after 54% I still managed to skim the remainder of the memoir and I don’t think I missed anything noteworthy.

As a reader that has a tendency to “mouth” foreign words and phrases, the constant barrage of Vietnamese names and phrases became a detriment to my ready enjoyment. I lost track of people and/or relatives, especially when there were only Vietnamese names involved. As such I probably would have enjoyed listening to an audiobook version so I wouldn’t have to fumble over pronunciations.

The memoir wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought the book would delve more into the body image/malpractice angle of her mother as well as the effects of the interratial marriage between her and her Korean husband. But, I just got smatterings of them.

The Manicurist’s Daughter wasn’t the best memoir that I’ve read. But it wasn’t the worst, either. Two okay stars.

I won an ARC from Celadon Books through the Bookish First raffle. I was also invited to read the DRC from Celadon Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: If Love Could Kill

• Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor
• Publication Date: February 6, 2024
• Author: Anna Motz
• Genre: Health, Mind & Body | Nonfiction | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 272

⭐⭐

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Review

If Love Could Kill is a collection of 10 case files of women involved in violent acts that the author was involved in. The book provides a psychoanalysis of each of the 10 women and the why’s for their propensity toward violence.

Cases were varied and included psychological disorders such as Munchausen’s Syndrome, Self Mutilation, and Erotomania, among others. But in the end it all comes down to the vicious cycle of the abused becoming the abuser after an endless cycle of violence.

I didn’t particularly care for the book inasmuch as I was probably expecting more of a true crime type narrative. Instead, I felt like a student in a case studies class analyzing symptoms, dysfuctions, and therapies.

The book eventually becomes a platform for the author promoting her political beliefs and reforms. Something that I didn’t need to read about. Two okay stars.

I received a DRC from Knopf, Pantheon through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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Book Review: The Mud Monster

• Publisher: BooksGoSocial
• Publication Date: September 23, 2023
• Authors: Jay Allen, Bill Taylor
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 36

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Blurb

Imagine you are alone in the woods searching for a lost ball, with rumors of a Mud Monster lurking in large mud holes around you.

In the adventurous and funny children’s book, The Mud Monster, Bullwrinkle the young Shar Pei finds himself in a sticky situation.

And what about The Mud Monster himself? Is he real or created in someone’s overactive imagination?

But as Bullwrinkle goes against his mother’s rules by entering the woods alone, he discovers the muddy consequences of his actions.

Your kids will laugh out loud at Bullwrinkle’s hilarious antics to find the lost ball, while they learn the importance of following family rules.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

The Mud Monster is a cute and education story geared towards children ages 3 – 8. In it, your child will learn two “grown up” words such as imagination and stubborn. And what better way to instill learning new vocabulary than with adorable illustrations and a story that also teaches family values such as respect and honor.

The characters are fun and are portrayed by family friendly pets like a Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, and of course the star — a Shar Pei named Bullwrinkle.

A wonderful, fun and entertaining read, The Mud Monster is sure to please any pre-schooler. Five adorable stars.

I received a DRC from BooksGoSocial through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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DRC Review: The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street

• Publisher: ViaNova Productions
• Publication Date: October 2, 2023
• Author: Sarah Sparks
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Health, Mind & Body | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 32

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street is yet another installment in the cute Monsters on Mill Street series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The rhymes made it so fun and entertaining, that when read aloud to the young ones, it can really be a time with loads of laughs, snickers, and giggles. The illustrations like always are so adorable and full of personality.

The main character in this particular book is Becks who is more fidgety and hyperactive than anyone else she knows. Becks can’t sit still for the life of her. Until one day things get way out of hand and Becks is forced to reckon with the aftermath of her actions.

Like the other books in the Monster series, there is a subtle life learning moment built in. It is sure to resonate with parents and children alike…That it’s good to take some time out to relax and have some quiet moments. That actions do have consequences.

The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street is a perfect book for pre-schoolers who are at the age where social interactions demand acceptable behaviors. Five fun stars.

I received a DRC from ViaNova Productions through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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DRC Review: The Angriest Monster on Mill Street

• Publisher: ViaNova Productions
• Publication Date: October 2, 2023
• Author: Sarah Sparks
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Health, Mind & Body | Parenting & Families
• Page Count: 34

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Blurb

Meet Albie, a small but fiercely temperamental monster, whose oversized emotions set off a chain of disastrous events, including earthquakes, tornadoes, and flooding that engulfs the entire street! Join in the adventure as monsters scurry for cover and Albie attempts to quell the mounting chaos. Will life on Mill Street ever be the same?

With lively illustrations and playful rhymes, each book in the Monsters on Mill Street series follows an energetic and lovable monster on an adventure filled with chaos and unexpected challenges. Every child will recognize a piece of themselves in Albie and the colorful cast of characters on Mill Street.

But wait, there’s more! Because the Monsters on Mill Street series is specifically designed to assist children in developing executive functioning and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills , it’s a treasure trove for parents, grandparents, and educators who are looking to inspire young readers and empower them to overcome life’s challenges.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

The Angriest Monster on Mill Street is another installment in the Mill Street Monsters series. I didn’t care for it as much as the author’s other book, The Messiest Monster on Mill Street, as I thought it could be a little scary for some preschoolers. However, the story does convey an important lesson on controlling emotions — that seeking help with issues is sometimes necessary and good for one’s wellbeing.

As with the other books in the series, the illustrations are cute and colorful. I loved how the emotions were illustrated. Though it got a little scary at times.

The rhyming wasn’t as distinct in this book. So I didn’t find it quite as fun to read. But I suppose it had a lot to do with the subject matter.

Overall, The Angriest Monster on Mill Street was a cute rhyming book that is sure to convey some important lessons in anger management to the young ones. Four stars.

I received a DRC from ViaNova Productions through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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DRC Review: The Messiest Monster on Mill Street

• Publisher: ViaNova Productions
• Publication Date: October 2, 2023
• Author: Sarah Sparks
• Genre: Children’s Fiction | Parenting & Families | Self-Help
• Page Count: 32

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Blurb

Max’s messes are legendary-paint on the walls, spills on the floor, crumbs in his fur, and toys scattered everywhere. Max never intended to be messy; there was simply too much to do and too much fun to be had. That is until one day when his mess becomes an uncontrollable monster of its own!

With lively illustrations and playful rhymes, each book in the Monsters on Mill Street series follows an energetic and lovable monster on an adventure filled with chaos and unexpected challenges. Every child will recognize a piece of themselves in Max and the colorful cast of characters on Mill Street.

But wait, there’s more! Because the Monsters on Mill Street series is specifically designed to assist children in developing executive functioning and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills , it’s a treasure trove for parents, grandparents, and educators who are looking to inspire young readers and empower them to overcome life’s challenges.

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My Thoughts & Opinions

The Messiest Monster on Mill Street was such a fun and entertaining read. I loved how everything rhymed with a sing-song rhythm. Reading the story aloud just drew big smiles and lots of giggles.

With cute illustrations, the story came to life in such a delightful way. The colors perfectly showcased the main character Max as well as his mountains of messes. I just had a grand time reading the storybook.

Not only is the story fun and entertaining, the book is educational as well. Life skills are taught in a very thoughtful, non-threatening and amusing way.

Overall, I am very pleased with the book — storywise as well as illustrative-wise. Highly recommend it for both parents and grandparents, alike. I certainly intend to get a few copies as Halloween stuffers for the grands. Five outstanding stars.

I received a DRC from ViaNova Productions through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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ARC Review: Making Friends With Monsters

• Publisher: Pinkus Books
• Publication Date: April 4, 2023
• Author: Sandra L. Rostirolla
• Genre: Own Voices | Parenting & Families | Teens & YA
• Page Count: 298

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading this novel. And at the beginning, it was somewhat depressing. But as I continued reading, it became clear that there was a message behind the story. A message that would evoke deep and moving images in my mind.

Samuel Nolen is seeing and feeling the effects of an unexpected six-year drought. As a sheepherding family, the drought has caused undue hardship for everyone. The family have had to drastically cut back on water usage and they were forced to sell their sheep stock at a loss. Even toilet flushing became a luxury.

As bare necessities became luxuries, and the Nolen family struggles to make ends meet, each of them begin to crumble under the enormous stress. The result is a dysfunctional family desperately in need of rescue.

Making Friends With Monsters is a thought provoking novel that brings to the forefront life issues many of us have encountered or experienced at one point or another. It is not an easy read due to the subject matter. But the messages within it needs to be front and center when difficult subjects arise.

I loved how author Rostirolla crafted such a moving story and incorporated the first person point of view from a twelve-year-old perspective. Having the narrative unfold in this way softened the impact of the difficult subject matter.

Rostirolla’s characters are so real and they could be your neighbors down the street. Her protrayal of Samuel especially, was very touching and I could feel the pain of what he was going through. There are a number of other characters that really added some depth and nice final touches.

In the end, we are awarded with twenty-six takeaways or tenets that help us understand the “monster” inside each and everyone of us. Five excellent stars.

I received a digital ARC from Pinkus Books through Edelweiss+ and NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

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