A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Viking for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Single Thread takes place in 1932. Violet Speedwell is a "surplus woman" after the Great War took both her beloved brother and fiancé. Yet she is struggling with the notion that her life will be spent caring for her grieving, resentful mother.

After saving enough money, Violet strikes out on her own and moves to Winchester, which is home to one of England's most impressive cathedrals. She gets a job as a typist and befriends the broderers —women who embroider kneelers for the Cathedral, a tradition that brings comfort to its worshipers. Many in the group are rebelling against society's rules in order to maintain any kind of happiness.

There are reports that there is another war on the horizon with the rise of the Naza party in Europe. Violet must continue to fight for her independence and craft a life for herself in a time and place where women aren't expected to thrive.

This is a story of love, friendship, and discovering one's identity.

I've been enamoured with Chevalier's work since Girl With a Pearl Earring. Recently I had the pleasure of reviewing New Boy which was part of the Hogarth Shakespeare project. She didn't shy away from the huge undertaking/responsibility of retelling Shakespeare's Othello—her compact version delivers a sucker punch and I encourage you to pick it up.

A Single Thread is both meticulous in detail and in the telling of the story. It is character-driven, so if you are the type of reader that is more interested in narratives that are plot-driven, than the pacing of this book may be too slow for you.

Chevalier's research is impeccable and meticulous. Although the real-life embroidery expert, Louisa Pesel, makes an appearance, Tracy focuses her attention on the thread of fictitious Violet Speedwell. She is an engaging character, but I was frustrated with, and didn't fully understand, her relationship with Arthur, especially after she went to such great lengths to assert her independence.

Where this book excels is in the finer writing that carefully details the art of embroidery and the history of the time period. Although this book isn't quite as memorable as her other works, Chevalier delivers a rich and authentic work of literary fiction with an interesting premise.

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TRACY CHEVALIER is a New York Times bestselling author of nine previous novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been translated into thirty-nine languages and made into an Oscar-nominated film.

Chevalier was born and raised in Washington, DC, and now resides in London with her husband and son.

Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, Macmillan, and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dan is an obsessive list maker—he tries to solve all of his problems by making lists.

This story unfolds entirely through Dan's lists where he uses them almost like journal entries in his hopes of saving his family, his bookstore, and ultimately himself.

I devoured this book in one sitting.

I'm not going to lie, at first I was disappointed when I discovered that the whole book was made up of lists, I mean...who wants to read lists? Well, when they are written by Matthew Dicks you do.

Dan is completely overwhelmed with life and is suffering from anxiety. It was suggested to him by his former therapist that he log his feelings—this is where the lists come in. And he pretty much records everything from the day-to-day mundane, to what is plaguing him.

Having left his career as a teacher to open a bookstore, Dan is feeling tremendous pressure to succeed. He has yet to turn a profit and this is causing him anxiety and guilt since he hasn't disclosed this information to his wife, Jill. Not only does she thinks that everything is going swimmingly, she's also basking in the glow of pregnancy—having a baby is another source of stress for Dan.

Jill was a widow when they met, and Dan has always felt competition with her dead husband, Peter. He feels like he can never measure up and is incredibly insecure where Peter is concerned because he wouldn't be married to Jill if Peter was still alive.

We learn so much about what it is like to be flawed and human through Dicks' unique book. This narrative style could have easily failed, but instead, readers will be utterly enchanted by the raw beauty of Twenty-on Truths About Love. It was moving, funny, and incredibly real.

MATTHEW DICKS is a writer and elementary school teacher whose novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.

Dicks lives in Newington, Connecticut, with his wife, Elysha, and their children, Clara and Charlie.

#HCCfrenzyPresents: Meet Brian Francis

Photo credit: Girl Well Read and HarperCollins Canada. Do not use without written permission.

The HCC Frenzy team hosted an event to celebrate the release of Brian Francis' new book, Break in Case of Emergency. We indulged in amazing fare and atmosphere at WVRST in beautiful downtown Toronto.

Brian was engaging, warm, and funny—he spoke at each table and readers were given an opportunity to hear about the book and ask questions.

This book is a bit of a departure for Francis in that it marks his YA debut. Although it didn't start out that way. He was originally writing an adult contemporary novel, about a female impersonator, but Francis realized that it wasn't working. He then brought in the character of the daughter, and framed the story as a dual narrative. However, after reading Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese, he was inspired to write a story about reconciliation, and then Toby took over the story as the narrator.

With Francis' signature wit, Break in Case of Emergency is a vulnerable story about a non-traditional father and daughter relationship, and a young girl reconciling with herself.

Break in Case of Emergency

Life hasn't always been easy for 15-year-old Toby. Her mother died by suicide five years ago, and her father is not in the picture having abandoned her mother when she was pregnant.

When the book opens, Toby is living on a dairy farm with her grandparents. Struggling to find any light in her world, she’s making plans to follow a similar route as her mother. But her plans are suddenly interrupted when she’s told that her estranged father is returning home. Oh, and that he’s gay, and a famous female impersonator.

BRIAN FRANCIS is the author of three novels: Fruit, Brian's first novel, was a 2009 Canada Reads finalist and is an Amazon and 49th Shelf “100 Canadian Books to Read in a Lifetime” title, Natural Order was a Best Book 2011 selection by the Toronto Star, Kobo, and Georgia Straight, and Break In Case of Emergency is his newest book and YA debut. Brian is also writer and columnist for The Next Chapter on CBC Radio.

Francis lives in Toronto.

Because You're Mine by Rea Frey

A special thank you to the author, Rea Frey, Edelweiss, Macmillan, and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lee is a single mother of a child with sensory processing disorder. She is highly protective of her son and spends her days making sure that Mason's routine is always adhered to so that his world stays on its axis. When her best friend, Grace, tempts her to go away for a girls' weekend in the mountains, her first instinct is to say no. But Grace won't let up and convinces her that she deserves time off, to recharge her batteries.

Noah is Mason's tutor—he's handsome, patient, charming, and is the first man that has sparked Lee's interest in what feels like forever. He has agreed to stay with Mason so that Lee can go on the getaway. It's only a weekend after all.

But a lot can happen in 48 hours and someone winds up dead.

Everything is not as it seems and it appears that everyone has a complicated past. Lee is hiding who Mason's father is, Grace has a secret that will destroy Lee, and there's more to Noah than meets the eye. The moral of this story: trust no one.

At the beginning of the book there is a note from Frey to her readers. She shares for the first time publicly about her own experience with sexual assault as well as addresses some very important issues that come up in the story—sexual abuse, alcoholism, and suicide. It is incredibly brave of her to share this personal account with her audience.

Because You're Mine opens with someone falling to their death. Frey uses this to frame her story, alternating between a week before the fall and a week after the fall, from past to present. She deftly weaves the narrative through the perspectives of three unreliable narrators: Lee, Grace, and Noah. Her characterization is so good, readers will find themselves switching loyalties more than once.

This novel is both a character study as well as a layered and plot-driven narrative. Frey also employs some diary entries which are a compelling and effective tool to ratchet up the suspense. Someone is really struggling with a number of issues and emotions.

Through complex characters and strong pacing, this book has it all—secrets, lies, murder, revenge, betrayal, obsession. Frey explores some pretty complex relationships: between mothers and their children, between friends, between siblings, and between men and women. The writing is taut and twisty, and that ending...whoa!

REA FREY is an author (fiction and non-fiction), nutrition specialist, and International Sports Sciences Association certified trainer. She has been featured in Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal, and Whole Living. Her debut novel, Not Her Daughter, was released in August of 2018 and has been optioned for film.

Frey lives in Chicago, IL, with her husband and daughter.

The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton

A special thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Waite Clayton's pre-World War II-era story is an emotional and harrowing depiction of the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe, and of the one brave woman who helped them escape to safety.

The Last Train to London is an illumination of an unsung hero from an actual historical event. Tante Truss, as she is known, is a fierce and brave woman that constantly risks her life to save as many innocent children as she can.  

This story is a deep, slow burn with a lot of characters to keep track of and ultimately readers may find themselves disconnected. Written in short chapters and voiced by a number of characters, Waite Clayton frequently loses any momentum which is why the story doesn't gain traction until about two thirds of the way through. The narrators are not omniscient and because there are multiple viewpoints offered, there is a lot of context given to create the much bigger picture that is going on.

What is most moving is that this book is about the profoundness of kindness, and for standing up for what you believe in—for the good and for what's right. This is a timely message as the world needs more empathy, love, and goodness right now.

The Last Train to London is a beautifully written and captivating read.

MEG WAITE CLAYTON is a New York Times bestselling author of The Wednesday Daughters, The Four Ms. Bradwells, The Wednesday Sisters, and The Language of Light. Her books have been published in six languages.

Waite Clayton was born in Washington D.C. and now resides in Palo Alto, California with her family.

Permanent Record by Mary H. K. Choi

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pablo is an NYU drop out and is now working the graveyard shift at his local bodega, selling overpriced goods to the posh neighbours. He's in over his head with debt, dogging credit collectors' phone calls and letters, and doesn't know how he's going to come up with his next rent payment.

During a snowstorm, at 5:00 a.m., pop sensation Leanna Smart wanders into the shop. At first Pablo doesn't recognize her, she is by herself with no entourage in sight. There is instant chemistry and soon the two are involved in an intense relationship that has to be kept on the down-low—Pablo puts everything on hold to be with Leanna.

But then the world finds out...

Permanent Record is a character study and comment on society's warped obsession with celebrity culture and social media. True to Choi, her characterization is the perfect combination of complex and endearing. Pablo is an interesting, layered, and dynamic character with an affinity for creating unique pairings of junk food. With Lee, we get a glimpse of celebrity—how the public obsesses over them, the relentless machine of the paparazzi, and how image is everything no matter how fake. And in this artificial world, Pab and Lee's relationship is real and actually quite beautiful.

New York City is so much more than the setting. It becomes a living, breathing character in this story. Choi's sweeping descriptions of the city capture the grit and beauty—even if you have never been to NYC, you can visualize it because of her writing.

Choi strikes the right balance of teenage angst and awkwardness against a beautiful love story. Readers will love this cast as well as this whirlwind affair. Congratulations, Mary, on another fab book!

MARY H. K. CHOI is a writer for The New York Times, GQ, Wired, and The Atlantic. She has written comics for Marvel and DC, as well as a collection of essays. Mary's debut novel Emergency Contact was a New York Times bestseller.

Choi grew up in Hong Kong and Texas and now lives in New York.