Author: Lisa Helm

Saoirse

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by Charleen Hurtubise

Sarah Walsh is on the run. The threat to her life is so intense that she steals the identity of another woman and flees to Ireland. On her flight, she meets Paul, a man who takes an uncomfortable interest in her, but Sarah has no one, so she accepts Paul’s help navigating a new country, even agreeing to stay with him and his family upon arrival. However, just like Sarah, Paul isn’t everything he appears to be. Soon, Sarah starts finding her own people and making friends, which is a huge relief after dealing with Paul and his oppressive family. The one exception? Paul’s dad is a kindly doctor who actually recognizes Sarah’s vulnerability and notices and encourages her artistic talent.

Her new friends anoint her with the name Saoirse (meaning ‘freedom’-an appropriate christening, as we shall soon see). 

The novel alternates between Sarah’s time in Ireland as Saoirse, where she begins to reinvent herself and build her life anew,  and Sarah’s past in Michigan, where we learn of the trauma she endures and her need to flee. The catalyst for the main conflict of the story (I’m not spoiling it because it happens at the beginning of the novel) is Saoirse’s public recognition as an artist, where she wins a prestigious award and is compelled to hold a public exhibit of her work. 

The novel is one of resilience, heartbreak, love, found family and the importance of art in healing and recovery.  I found it romantic (although at times frustrating with regard to Saoirse’s choices and rationale), infuriating in its themes of the archaic nature of the lack of a woman’s right to choose, and intriguing in its discussion of art. The chapters are organized and titled according to various artworks produced by Saoirse that seem to reflect, in both subject matter and medium, various periods of her life.

I both read and listened to this novel. If you are so inclined to listen to the audiobook, the narrator is wonderful.

Thank you to Netgalley and Caladon House for the copy.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature

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by Donna Everhart

Hey, so apparently in 1918, men who were drafted into the army were succumbing to venereal diseases, and it was all the fault of women ( insert look of incredible annoyance here). In fact here is the quote “What the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the navy are hereby authorized and directed to adopt measures for the purpose of assisting the various States in caring for civilian persons whose detention, isolation, quarantine or commitment to institutions may be found necessary for the protection of the military and naval forced of the United States agains veneral Disease” from the Chamberlain – Khan Act of 1918.

Here’s another quote from Trials of Nina McCall: Sex, Surveillance and the Decades-Long Government Plan to Imprison ‘Promiscuous’ Women by Scott Stern: “It is the philosophy they helped to cement: that women and promiscuous people are dangerous and morally inferior and that they need to be stopped, locked up, and reformed.” Seriously. This information is provided by the author at the beginning of the novel…just to get your anger primed.

This novel discusses this time in American history, and I was outraged every second I was reading it.

Our main characters are 24-year-old Ruth, who was forcefully detained by the sheriff and endured a humiliating internal exam by a doctor who proclaimed that she had a venereal disease…all for walking alone to work at the cafe one morning. But hey, she was pretty and alone, so that made her promiscuous and a threat to mean right?

Then there’s Stella, just 15, pregnant by her own father, and her parents are the ones who turn her in. She gets sterilized and locked away, because apparently, she’s a threat too.

And don’t get me started on the other women who were forcefully detained for owning their own business, being mentally ill, or hey, you’re just too darned pretty to be single, so you pose a threat.

All of these women are institutionalized at the State Industrial Farm Colony for Women run by a woman by the name of Dorthoy Baker…a woman with a far more interesting past than the women she houses. Baker runs her institution using questionable measures. Her charges are punished for not enthusiastically embracing their rehabilitation .

To say I enjoyed reading this novel would not be suitable; I was, however, incredibly drawn in by its subject matter, themes and writing. Women of a Promiscuous Nature would make an engaging addition to book clubs. I would also recommend it as an independent study for high school classes; its writing style is accessible, as is its subject matter.

Thank you to Kensington Press and Netgalley for the copy.

Maureen

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by Rachel Joyce

Many of us remember Harold Fry’s journey to see his old friend Queenie during her final days, but have you ever thought about what his wife, Maureen, felt when he left? Was she abandoned, jealous of “another woman,” or hurt that he didn’t ask her to join? In this novel, Rachel Joyce brings us into Maureen’s world. This time, Maureen sets out on her own journey, driving over 500km to visit her son’s memorial, which is in a garden made by Queenie.

Maureen is different than her husband. Where her husband is likable, kind, and accepting, Maureen is anything but. She is a grumpy, judgmental old lady whom you can’t help but pity at the beginning of the novel. However, just as Harold does, Maureen embarks on a journey of reflection. She thinks not only about her childhood, marriage, and motherhood, and the heartbreaks that come with them, but also about how she interacts with new people. She must put aside her pride and resentment, ask for help, and embrace the softness beneath the emotional shell she has built.

I really liked this novel; it is a short, beautifully written read. As Maureen continues her journey, we can’t help but feel a range of emotions towards her. If you loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you will enjoy Maureen as well. 

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the copy.

A Scar Like a River

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by Lisa Graff

Thirteen-year-old Fallon has secrets. All of them center around the origins of the scar on her face, a scar that runs from  just above her left eyebrow to the top right edge of her upper lip. And when you’re in 7th grade, the last thing you need is an ugly scar; however, thankfully, Fallon has two incredibly close friends and a deep interest and talent in musical theater that helps. Upon the sudden death of her uncle, Fallon is forced to confront her truth and ultimately reveal her secrets to those she loves. 

The novel is told from Fallon’s perspective. While the story behind her scar and her secrets is traumatic, most of her narration focuses on things many 13-year-olds experience, like dealing with snobby classmates, worrying about her talent, and navigating family and friendships. Fallon comes across as likable, positive, and funny. Even when serious things happen, she responds with a sense of lightness and optimism that shows her strength and resilience.

Even though the novel deals with serious subject matter, it never feels dark or ominous thanks to the brilliant characterization of Fallon, her voice, and her strength. 

The audience for this book is ages 9-14. There are trigger warnings of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. 

A Scar Like a River is a great addition to any middle school library and works well for independent reading or small group book discussions.

Thank you to Little Brown and Company and Netgalley for the copy.

Grace

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A. M. Shine

Grace is my first encounter with author A M Shine. Rooted in traditional Irish folklore, this Irish Gothic Horror novel is set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. The novel opens with a prologue in which Declan desperately tries to save his wife, Chrissy, and his daughter, Grace, from an unseen terror pursuing them. We then quickly move forward to Grace on a tour boat, braving rough seas to reach an island the captain is clearly reluctant to visit—not only because it is perpetually cloaked in dense, ominous fog, but also because he refers to it as “LaVelle’s Island.” Just a few days before, Grace had been working in her antiquarian bookstore, sharing wine with her friend Carrie, when she received a call from a priest in Croaghnakeela informing her of her biological mother’s death. Grace always knew she was adopted, but she knew nothing about her origins. Driven by curiosity and a need for closure, she returns to her birthplace.

When she arrives, her life will be forever changed. You see, the island has been plagued by an unnatural evil, a force that is responsible for the disappearance of children, but has lain dormant for years, that is, until the death of Grace’s mother, Chrissy. 

The chapters focus on individual characters, gradually revealing the islanders’ histories and their encounters with evil. As the story unfolds, readers piece together the mysteries of Valentine Lavalle, the young priest’s role, Grace’s significance, and the fog’s prevalence.

The novel is grisly, unsettling, and rich in Irish mythology. I thoroughly enjoyed it; the plot twist at the end was truly wicked, especially after everything we readers have endured. 

To be honest,  I would have really liked Grace to have a bigger role in the novel. The fact that she owned a rare and old bookstore made me believe she would use the tomes at hand to try to solve the island’s mystery. Instead, we get Father O’Malley as the main character, who pieces together the bits of information he gets from the island’s inhabitants. Also, I prefer a simmer before a full boil when it comes to horror and mystery novels. Grace is a novel that throws you right into the violent horror that is responsible for all the death and destruction. The novel then mostly concentrates on its origin, which is fine. 

Grace will be out in February.

A solid three stars. I look forward to reading more from A M Shine. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus Bloomsbury for the copy.

The Safekeep

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by Yael Van Der Wouden

The Safekeep is a novel that explores themes of pain, loss, isolation, identity, and love. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the protagonist, Isabel, leads a life marked by routine and emotional detachment. Although she maintains a relationship with her two brothers—Hendrick, to whom she is close, and Louis, whom she finds irritating—her social circle is limited. Isabel continues to live in her childhood home following her mother’s death, with few connections beyond her aunt, uncle Karel, and Johan, a persistent suitor whom she entertains out of obligation. Her days are consumed by managing the household, particularly through meticulous inventory of its possessions. She fixates on counting the spoons daily to ensure nothing is missing. The house serves as her sanctuary and sole companion, yet it ultimately belongs to her eldest brother, Louis.

Isabel seems cold and rigid. When Louis brings his mistress, Rose, to live at the house for a month while he is away, Isabel is incensed, recoiling from any attempt at friendship from Rose, and especially affronted when Louis says Rose can sleep in their dead mother’s room.

Isabel’s life can be divided into two parts: before Rose and after. Rose becomes the catalyst for various revelations about Isabel’s history, relationships, and sexuality. The novel’s first third focuses on Isabel’s character and her daily routines, illustrating her lonely existence and posing the question of whether it is by choice. The second third explores Rose through her journal entries, as read by Isabel, while the last third examines the consequences of decisions made and the insights gained about oneself and others.

The novel is skillfully crafted. Its sensual scenes are neither gratuitous nor exploitative, and the unfolding love story is both poignant and ultimately hopeful.

I Medusa

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by Ayana Gray

“ He is wealthy and popular…he will not be punished. Meanwhile, the girls here are prey.” (I Medusa).

I Medusa turned out to be an unexpected surprise. The novel unfolds over a year. Medusa, or Meddy, is 17 and preparing with her sisters for a spring feast. Unlike her sisters—Euryale and Stheno, both goddesses—Meddy is mortal. Her parents, gods of the Sea Court but not Olympians, still resent their lesser status. Meddy feels powerless compared to her family but possesses intellect, courage, and a strong sense of justice. She is sensitive to injustices in the court, including discrimination and mistreatment of women and children. These qualities attract Athena, who invites Medusa to be her acolyte in Athens, where, as myth suggests, chaos soon follows.

Ayana Grey does an incredible job in humanising Medusa as a 17-year-old girl. From her infatuation with Posidon and her inability to recognise the fact that he is grooming her for his own sexual conquest (she is constantly making excuses for his behaviour, attempting to convince herself that he sees her as special and that his love for her is different from the “love” he has for his wife, Amphitrite, or his mistresses). In fact, we, the readers, can’t help but yell at her in her naivety… However, her way of thinking seems very age-appropriate.

Medusa is characterized as a young woman we can’t help but love, even though her choices frustrate us. Gray reminds us of her age and that her choices stem from her parents’ poor upbringing—for example, she has no idea what sex is and is confused by her body’s response to seeing Poseidon with a sea nymph during her spring feast. She is often ruled by her heart rather than her mind. Her pursuit of justice turns violent, first with her fists, then with the power her curse gives her.

*spoiler warning*

I was so brokenhearted at the end, even though it was no surprise. Meddy goes to sleep with hope and optimism in her heart. Dreaming of her future where she can use her curse in a way to benefit others, just to meet her demise before the sun rises. We get to know Meddy intimately; she is characterised as an empathetic, sweet young woman, even after she is cursed. She is a victim of those in power, not a monstrous villain as most myths portray her.

Ayana Grey uses her narrative to discuss the nature of rape culture and the issue of men in power getting away with exploiting young women … two issues that we are facing today. It would make an amazing book club pick or novel for study, as it offers a plethora of points of discussion.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the copy

Hamnet

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by Maggie O’Farrell

I love Shakespeare and loved teaching his works. When I taught Hamlet, I also explored Shakespeare’s life and the play’s historical background with my students.

Because of this, my review is personal and shaped by my love for Shakespeare and his famous play.

The novel begins as we meet Hamnet, the son of William and Agnes. He is desperately looking for an adult to help his twin sister, Judith, who has suddenly become very ill. We see the story through Hamnet’s eyes—his worry for Judith, his confusion when he can’t find help, and the pain he feels from his grandfather’s abuse.

I loved this book. The main character is Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes. (Shakespeare’s real wife was named Anne, but that detail doesn’t matter here.) Agnes has become one of my favorite female characters in literature. We first meet her as a young girl, witnessing her mother’s traumatic death during childbirth. Her mother was gentle, mystical, and almost otherworldly. Later, we learn about Agnes’s abuse by her stepmother, who always knew that Agnes’s mother was her husband’s true love. Like her mother, Agnes is a healer, a bee whisperer, and sensitive to the spirit world. Because of this, both her stepmother and the townspeople see her as odd and unmarriageable.

But when a young man arrives to tutor her brothers and takes a particular interest in her, she cannot help but recognize that beneath him, his hidden mind and a soul that is unlike any she’s known.

Spoiler alert!

We find out that poor little Judith has the plague, and Agnes uses every bit of learning she has gleaned over the years to cure her child. In the meantime, William, who is off with his players entertaining audiences with his plays, is sent. The attention is focused on Judith; all the while, we should be concerned about young Hamnet. Young Hamlet is the sweetest son/brother, selfless, smart, and incredibly brave. We, the readers, are indeed heartbroken over his death. 

The novel then explores the grief of Agnes and William. Agnes’s deep heartbreak stands out, especially since we have followed her life so closely throughout the story.

I am bewitched by O’Farrell’s writing. Its lyrical style is enchanting and impactful. She brilliantly varies timelines and various character points of view to keep the reader mesmerized with the story and empathetic towards her characters. 

I would definitely use this novel as a mentor text and as a literary study for my students.

Season of Fear

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by Amy Cooper

Season of Fear was the perfect book to start my new year. An easy, fast-paced read that was hugely entertaining and at times poignant in theme. 

Ilse lives with her mother and sister in Heulensee, a small village surrounded by the forest Hexenwald, a forest filled with bloodthirsty beasts like the Nachzehrer, a vampiric creature, and the enormous serpents Lindurum. In order to stave off the beasts of Hexenwald, the women, just the woman, have to feed the “Saint of Fear” their terror. The more authentic and terrifying their screams, the more satiated the Saint will be. But not before it devours a woman or two.

Heulensee is a village that follows several religious practices that are detrimental to women. They are the ones who have to feed the Saint. They are the ones who must undergo a rite at 18, during which they must visit the Saint’s lair and survive the night to placate not only the monster but also the preacher. 

Unfortunately,  Ilse has a problem. She does not feel fear. She feels sadness, anger, and a plethora of other emotions, but she does not feel fear, a fact that angers the Saint, who then threatens her that if she does not express adequate fear, it will devour her sister Dorthea. So Ilse is then banished to Hexenwald in order to find a way to defeat the Saint and save her sister. On her journey, Ilse learns about herself, the origins of the Saint, and a way to use her absence of fear to protect herself and those she loves. 

I really enjoyed this novel; it reads like a traditional fairy tale, complete with folk-eating beasts and lessons to be learned. 

Thank you to Little Brown and Co. and Netgalley for the copy.

Wild Reverence

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by Rebecca Ross

Wild Reverence is a slow-burning Romantacy story. For most of the book, we are schooled in a world of Gods, Goddesses, and Mortals. We have the Immortals of the Under Realm and the Immortals of the Skyward Realm, and poor Matilda’s parentage includes both… which leaves a young girl struggling with a sense of identity and belonging. When tragedy occurs in her Under Realm home, she is forced to leave and find solace in Skyward, but will she be accepted? 

In the meantime, Matilda has met the boy of her dreams, Vincent, the only problem is she can only meet him in his dreams, oh, and he’s a mortal. For a chunk of this novel, Matilda’s and Vincent’s story is secondary; they “grow up,” each finding their place in the world (or, in Matilda’s case, her worlds), and each coming face to face with their newfound powers and the discovery of their weaknesses. Each faces betrayals and moments of weakness, but in these moments, each learns who they truly are and what potential they have to save the ones they love, unless, of course, it is contrary to what the fates allow.

So I’m not a huge fan of Romantacy, and I’ve never read anything by Rebecca Ross. I picked up Divine Rivals once and carried it around the bookstore, but didn’t end up buying it, and I am beginning to rue that day. Not that you need to read the Divine Rival books to fully enjoy Wild Reverence. I really admire Ross’s writing. It is really quite beautiful. Her prose is vivid, and the plot unravels like a movie in my imagination. 

A perfect Christmas read AND a perfect gift for those in your life who are fans of Romantacy. 

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the copy.

Fox

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by Joyce Carol Oats

It took me a while to read this novel. Because of its VERY heavy subject matter, I had to take a good, long break between reading sessions. Not because it wasn’t incredibly engaging, but because I couldn’t sit with the incredibly “icky” feeling that would sit and grow in the pit of my stomach, but then again, most of Joyce Carol Oats’ writing makes me feel unsettled. She does not tiptoe around issues and immerses her readers in this psychological web of disturbed characters.

Everyone loves Mr Fox. He is a romantic, dashing English teacher who recites poetry. All the adolescent girls in his class adore him, and each feels especially special if chosen for his “Looking Glass Bookclub.” However, as his name implies, Mr Fox is a sexual predator who preys on his students. He is selective with the students for his club: they must be pretty and come from wealthy, powerful families.

One morning, a damaged car is found stuck in a bog. Inside is the mutilated body of Mr Fox. 

Who could have killed him? Was it the Headmistress who had a crush and discovered his secret? Or a parent, seeking revenge for their daughter’s trauma? The detective faces many suspects.

As the story progresses, more secrets are revealed, revealing a dark side of human nature. 

Oats mostly writes in the first person, placing us in the minds of various characters, including Mr Fox. Spending time inside the mind of a serial paedophile is incredibly taxing, so reader beware.

This novel explores class, exploitation, secrets, lies, and half-truths. Every character is deeply flawed. It’s hard to find any redeeming qualities among them.

Even though Joyce Carol Oates often writes on difficult topics, she is one of my favourite authors. Her talent with prose (she shows rather than tells) snares the reader until the end, when she releases you, unsettled.

Obvious trigger warnings for child sexual abuse. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the copy.

Gone Tonight

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by Sarah Pekkanen

Is psychopathy hereditary? This is one of the questions readers will have whilst reading this novel. Ruth is keeping secrets. Secrets about her past. No one knows what she has done, not even her own daughter, Catherine. A catastrophic event happened when Ruth was still in high school, and she’s been on the run ever since. And you know what? She’s done a pretty good job at evading the people of her past, her father, mother, and even the brother she is so close to, who has had to live with her disappearance. Throughout life, she has perpetuated the lie that  when she became pregnant in high school, her overly religious parents abandoned her. She’s also done a pretty good job at raising her daughter, Catherine. As a single mother, Ruth has raised her daughter to be a successful nurse on her way to a new city and a new job. 

But life begins to go awry when Ruth starts showing signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Ruth begins to write the truth of her life, or at least what she remembers, in notebooks because she believes her daughter should know the truth of her parentage and the truth behind her mother’s story. 

Devastated by her mother’s diagnosis, Catherine cannot understand her refusal to get formally assessed or make care plans. Suspecting something is amiss—her mother’s responses feel more like lies than simple memory loss—Catherine starts investigating. What she uncovers proves to be confusing and contradictory than expected. Yet, bits of truth slowly emerge, forcing Catherine to realize she may not know the woman she’s called mother at all.

Pekkanen has organized her novel in chapters written from the viewpoints of both Ruth and Catherine, allowing us to see their individual perspectives. However, neither Ruth nor Catherine can be considered a reliable narrator, which adds ambiguity to the truths we encounter as readers and aligns our discovery process with Catherine’s.

Overall, this book offers an engaging and accessible read—an ideal respite between heavier novels. Its fast-paced plot makes it easy to finish in one sitting. 

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the copy.

The Forest of Missing Girls

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by Nichelle Giraldes

This book is a creepy hybrid where young women go missing and the community comes together to track down their kidnapper, or worse yet a serial killer and a supernatural science fiction novel (I’d reference a novel in particular but then I would be hugely spoiling the plot). 

The novel starts with Lia Gregg returning home to her mother, Elizabeth, and her sister, Evie, to their little house in the woods. Her father is there too, but he seems disengaged from his family and, well, is basically disengaged from the entire plot, to be honest. Lia has experienced a breakup with her boyfriend, and she’s feeling a little lost. Soon after her arrival, Evie and her friend Maddie are hanging out in the backyard when Maddie disappears. Maddie’s disappearance immediately causes concern because, for years now, young girls have been mysteriously disappearing from the area. 

Soon, we, the readers, come across a chapter written from a different point of view. We are suddenly experiencing an alternative plot from the viewpoint of a very confused girl. Could she be Maddie? Could she be another one of the numerous girls who have gone missing? All we know is that she is absolutely clueless about who and where she is. All she knows is that there is this woman named “Mother” who is caring for her.

I was really entertained by this novel. It is a puzzle, and as soon as I started putting together the pieces, when all of a sudden a picture started forming, I couldn’t wait to see what the picture looked like in its entirety. 

I would have a problem with the science-fiction/supernatural element of this novel, but Giraldes skillfully weaves it into her storyline.

A great book to add to your Christmas reading list!!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the copy.