Book Review ~ A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison

Grad school makes it difficult, sometimes, to find the time to do things you enjoy doing outside of science.  I particularly find it easier to fit in fun stuff that has a scheduled time (like a community ed class, or an event) than an activity that’s up to me to choose when to do.  So one thing that I have neglected doing much of since starting grad school is reading for fun.  All throughout my life, I’ve been the one with my nose buried in a book, whether in class, at a sporting event, or while traveling.  But it’s been hard to convince myself recently that after reading scientific papers all day, I want to spend my free time reading, too.

One thing that does get me to spend my free time reading, though, is when I’m asked to review an advance copy of an upcoming novel.  After not finishing an entire book since early summer of 2014, I recently got my hands on an ARC of A Small Indiscretion by debut author Jan Ellison, and it drew me in from chapter 1.  I’m excited to share my thoughts on this book with you today!  You will be able to read it for yourself when it hits shelves next Tuesday, January 20th.

It’s amazing how one seemingly inconsequential choice from your past can alter the course of your entire life.  It’s even more spectacular when each member of a family holds a secret like this.  A Small Indiscretion follows the aftermath of a wife’s hidden past, a husband’s secret knowledge of it, and an acquaintance who turns out to be more than just a visitor for the summer.

The web of lies is tangled, but a keen reader will be able to pick up on who knows what before it is explicitly revealed in the text.  While this book is not a mystery novel, it makes it fun for the reader to try and figure out the truths before the characters know them themselves.  On the science side of things, one of the big reveals comes via tissue typing for an organ transplant- a nice surprise, and I picked up on the answer to that mystery rather quickly!

If you are interested in winning a copy of A Small Indiscretion, fill out the form below.  I’ll pick a winner on Sunday!

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FTC Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book for review from Random House, via 20 Something Bloggers.  All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way by receipt of the book for free.  Prizes for the contest winner will be handled by Random  House.

LUCKY US {20SB Book Review and Giveaway!} (#LuckyUs)

Thanks to 20SB and Random House I received an advanced reader’s edition of Lucky Us, a new book by author Amy Bloom that will hit shelves on July 29th!  You can win a copy of Lucky Us:  find out how at the bottom of the post!

Lucky Us is about two half-sisters, Iris and Eva, who first meet after Iris’ mother passes away (don’t worry- this happens on the third page of the book- all the more interesting stuff happens afterwards!).  The book chronicles their adventures across the United States and abroad from the year they meet, 1939, until 1949.  During that time, they encounter a whole slew of people from different walks of life, and the same people continue to cross paths with Iris and Eva for many different reasons over that decade.  Some of the encounters are humorous, some are serious, and some are outright tragic, but all in all the combine to tell an emotional and believable coming-of-age story that is relatable today.

Historical fiction isn’t typically the genre I gravitate towards.  Not that I have anything against it- it’s just been years since I’ve read anything in the genre.  This is namely because I don’t like history, and I tend to have trouble identifying the key historical references in those stories, making them difficult to follow.  I am happy to say that while Lucky Us overtly references historical events from 1939-1949, this is an era that most people are familiar with, as it mostly encompasses WWII.  So while I did miss some of the more obscure historical references, it didn’t compromise my ability to understand the story.

I’ve never read anything by Amy Bloom before, but I absolutely will now be on the lookout for her other novels.  She has such a way with words that every sentence is important, every page gives you so much information and the story moves along beautifully.  It took me a few chapters to get a hang of reading her writing, as the story is told in both the traditional chapter format from Eva’s POV as well as letters written by other major characters, typically to Eva.  But once I understood how the story was formatted, I appreciated how comprehensive each character’s story arc was in a book that is only just over 200 pages.

If Lucky Us sounds like a book you’re interested in reading this summer, you can enter to win a copy courtesy of Random House!  (US only- sorry!)  There are 3 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment below about either the best adventure you’ve ever been on, or an adventure you would like to take.  (1 entry/person)
2. Tell me what book is on your summer reading list!  (1 entry/person)
3. Share this post on Twitter or Pinterest using the hashtag #LuckyUs and leave your post URL in a comment.  (1 entry/day = 8 entries/person)

The contest is open until June 30th, so get commenting/tweeting!

FTC Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of Lucky Us from 20SB/Random House in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.