The Moment of Everything by Shelly King

* * * * * 

In the tradition of The Cookbook Collector comes a funny, romantic novel about a young woman finding her calling while saving a used bookstore.

Maggie Duprès, recently "involuntarily separated from payroll" at a Silicon Valley start-up, is whiling away her days in The Dragonfly's Used Books, a Mountain View institution, waiting for the Next Big Thing to come along.

When the opportunity arises for her to network at a Bay Area book club, she jumps at the chance -- even if it means having to read Lady Chatterley's Lover, a book she hasn't encountered since college, in an evening. But the edition she finds at the bookstore is no Penguin Classics Chatterley -- it's an ancient hardcover with notes in the margins between two besotted lovers of long ago. What Maggie finds in her search for the lovers and their fate, and what she learns about herself in the process, will surprise and move readers.

Witty and sharp-eyed in its treatment of tech world excesses, but with real warmth at its core, The Moment of Everything is a wonderful read.

Review:

Sometimes stories just kind of sneak up on you.  I knew I would probably enjoy this book.  But I was not prepared for how much I was going to love it. 

Our story begins with Maggie and her landlord, Hugo, sitting in the only two chairs in Hugo’s used bookstore, The Dragonfly.  Here were learn that Maggie is unemployed and instead of spending hours on hours searching for a new job, she is spending hours on hours reading romance novels, hanging with Hugo and barely tolerating his employee, Jason (who is none too amused that Maggie is hogging that other chair). 

Maggie’s best friend, Dizzy, is only interested in the next big thing.  He’s happy going from position to position and company to company.  And he’s more than happy to have Maggie along for the ride.  After all, they’ve been conquering Silicon Valley together since they left college.  So when he hears that a number of execs at his current company (the one that he and Maggie started up) have a book club and have room for a couple new members, he convinces Maggie to join.  This will be the perfect networking opportunity since Maggie’s college degree is in literature and she can wow them with her knowledge.  Well, she does wow them.  Just not necessarily with her degree.  Because the copy of Lady Chatterly’s Lover that Hugo found for her in the bookshop is filled with notes from two lovers.  And those notes are what help her engage the book group and then spur Maggie’s unconventional project meant to impress and convince them to give her job back.

Using the intensely romantic notes written by Henry and Catherine in that old beat up copy of Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Maggie embarks on a campaign to make The Dragonfly a successful money making venture.  As much as Hugo hates The Man, he allows Maggie to use his store to further her career opportunities.   You can tell he sees possibility in Maggie’s quest.  Not the possibility of making money but the possibility of Maggie finding something she really loves. 

Maggie grew up in a home where she felt unloved and emotionally neglected.  It didn’t help that every moment of her mother’s day was planned in advance to make Maggie’s father (her greatest love) happy.  Needless to say, Maggie has a dysfunctional and complicated view of love.  Her experience is that it is controlling and that it asks too much of people.  But through the friends she makes while promoting The Dragonfly she learns that “for a love big enough, the sacrifices aren’t sacrifices,” and the complications can be worth it.

I loved so much about this story.  The irreverent humor towards technology and corporations that only someone with experience could write and understand.  Hugo’s many relationships.  Rajith and Maggie’s romance that was not the focus of the story but was still absolutely essential in the telling of it.  The beautiful and affirming words whispered in Maggie’s ear by someone close to her.  I won’t tell you who or what because spoilers…but I will say that the words and the situation made me cry a decent amount of tears. 

The Moment of Everything left me with a feeling of rightness.  I kept thinking, “This.  This is what I want my life to be.”  Okay, maybe not EXACTLY like in the book.  I mean, I’m not willing to trade in my Executive Officer for a Rajith (not because Rajith doesn’t have a certain appeal because, trust me, he most certainly does).  But what I loved was Maggie’s inadvertent search for love and fulfillment and how and where she finds those things. 

This book also left me with a fun to do list:

• Read Lady Chatterley’s Lover
• Buy a vintage bike
• Find more used book stores
• Eat some ramen for the sake of nostalgia
• Spend hours visiting thrift shops and used books store so I can scour the pages of ancient books for secret messages from secret lovers
• Buy and run a used bookstore

Now to just find the time….

If you are look for a beautiful and fulfilling story about a woman searching for love in all aspects of her life then I highly recommend you pick up The Moment of Everything by Shelly King.

Nat

The Boy I Love by Nina de Gramont

* * * 1/2

When the boy you love asks you to keep his greatest secret, do you? A thought-provoking, achingly complex novel about prejudice and the many meanings of love from Nina de Gramont, author of Meet Me at the River, which Kirkus Reviews called a “must-read.”

Sixteen-year-old Wren has been content to stay in her best friend Allie’s shadow. It doesn’t bother her that Ally gets the cutest guys, the cutest clothes, and even a modeling gig—Wren is happy hanging with the horses on her family’s farm and avoiding the jealousy of other girls. But when Tim, the most intriguing guy in school, starts hanging out with Ally and Wren, jealousy is unavoidable, but not the kind Wren expects. Because even though Ally is way into him and Wren hasn’t flirted, not one little bit, it becomes increasingly clear that Tim prefers Wren’s company above anyone else’s.

Tim’s unexpected devotion comes at the exact time Wren’s home life is about to be turned upside down. But at least there is Tim...always a gentleman and ever dependable. But as his own seemingly perfect world comes spiraling down around him and he tells Wren his biggest secret, Wren must decide what she’ll really do for love

Review:

Wren and Ally will do anything to spend the school year together.  So when Ally’s family moves away from Cutty River, Wren’s parents allow her to switch schools so that she can attend Williamsport High School with Ally.   Ally, with her sights set on the cheerleading team and a new boyfriend, is determined to be one of the popular kids.   Wren, other than being determined to be involved in theater, took a much more laid back approach to her new high school.  

The outcome in this scenario is pretty predictable.  Ally does not make the cheerleading team.  And not only does she not get the boyfriend, the boy she likes seems much more interested in Wren.  What isn’t predictable is Wren and Tim’s relationship.  Yes Wren is attracted to Tim.  And yes, she might be willing to have a relationship even though her best friend has a crush on him.  But Tim unexpectedly confesses a secret to Wren and in her effort to help Tim and keep his secret, she and Tim become inseparable.   Ally doesn’t believe they are not dating and drops Wren like a hot potato.  And because Wren has promised not to tell anyone Tim’s secret, she is unable to explain to Ally why she and Tim have become so close. 

On top of the devastation of losing a best friend and gaining a new one that is emotionally struggling, Wren is having issues at home.  Her parents have lost funding for their horse rescue which means they will likely need to sell the farm that has been in her father’s family for generations.  That means giving up not only the home she loves but also the horses.  One of which Wren is particularly close to.

In the end, Wren has to learn to handle the difficulties life keeps dumping on her while still staying true to herself, her friends and her family. 

My only complaint is that I found the title of this book misleading.  I did not feel the primary focus of the novel was Wren’s relationship with Tim.  Yes that was one of the things Wren is struggling with in this book.  But it’s not her only struggle.  The struggle with her parents and losing their home is just as prominent in this story as her relationship with her friends.  This is a story about a girl experiencing many struggles.  Some completely normal for a sixteen year old high school student.  Some not.   

As is usually the case with books I enjoy, what I loved most were the characters.  They weren’t always particularly likable but they were such honest portrayals of human imperfection that it was hard to not love them anyway.  Wren is only sixteen and the author portrays her voice perfectly.  That blend of young teen on the verge of becoming an adult is both pretentious and awkward.  But in the most engaging way.  And even though the story is told in the first person, Wren’s voice is powerful and eloquent enough to allow the reader to know the secondary characters.  The secondary characters I found to be the strongest were Ally, Tim and Wren’s mom.  Which make sense as those were the people that were closest to Wren. 

 If you are looking for a lot of romance this may not be for you.  BUT …f you are looking for a thoughtful YA novel about friendship, family and love then I definitely recommend The Boy I Love.   

Nat

Once In A Lifetime by Jill Shalvis

****
From Forever/Grand Central Publishing:

Sometimes Wrong Is Oh-So-Right

After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniel tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East.  Now he's back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T.  Family and friends insist she's not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends.  But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben - even though he has absolutely no idea what she's done...

Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?

I really enjoyed Once in a Lifetime.  I didn't find the romance as steamy as a typical Jill Shalvis book, but I loved the premise here.  Seeking forgiveness and redemption for your past mistakes - it makes for some heartwarming and hilarious scenarios.  While Aubrey is trying to make up for her mean girl past, she's learning that karma is a bitch.  Some of the wrongs Aubrey tries to right are a touch nonsensical - replanting a watermelon patch or returning a library book, but others, like attempting to fix her relationship with her sister and her confession to Ben, may break your heart.

Ben, on the other hand, is learning how to deal with being home (instead of some third-world or disaster ridden country) and to connect with people again.  I love the relationship between Ben, Luke and Jack - how they share feelings with sarcasm and call each other on their shit.  And when Ben and Aubrey spend some quality time seeking redemption and fixing up Aubrey's bookstore, love is inevitable.  

The cameo appearances and updates on some of our favorite Lucky Harbor characters are fantastic.  Who doesn't love Lucille?  Seriously, that old lady is as calculating and manipulative as they come, and I love it!  So, if you are looking for a trip back to the magical world of Lucky Harbor, pick up Once in a Lifetime and enjoy.

~Shel