Review: Rainy Day Bookshop

 

Emma has had a hard life. She was driving during a car accident that killed her father. She was 15. Afterward she turned to drugs/alcohol to numb the pain. She left home as soon as she could and left town with her much older boyfriend. Everything changed when she became pregnant. She became sober, left her boyfriend, and started talking to her mom again. When her mom asks her for help, she agrees to come back home on a temporary basis to run the Rainy Day Bookshop. 

Rosie's thrilled that her daughter and granddaughter are home. She just hopes that she can mend fences with Emma. She hates walking on eggshells; always afraid she'll say the wrong thing. Can they find a way forward together?

My Thoughts: While this is a book centered on relationships and both Rosie and Emma have romance stories. This book isn't a romance. The main relationship is between mother and daughter. There are four points of view in this story, which allows readers to see people from different perspectives. The kids in this book were adorable: Olive, Finn, and Zara. They stole their scenes. Set aside an afternoon to read this one; you won't want to put it down until you've finished it. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your public library collection

Middle Grade Review: Dear Jackie

Jackie likes wearing comfortable clothes. She doesn't like pink clothes. She doesn't like frilly clothes. She's not interested in makeup. She isn't crushing over any boys - including her best friend who happens to be a guy. But all the other girls in middle school seem interested.

Everyone keeps bugging her to change. Jackie likes herself just the way she is. Why does no one else seem to?

Then she comes up with a brilliant idea. She'll write a secret admire letter that will let everyone know. And for a while it works - until it doesn't. 

My Thoughts: I loved this graphic novel. I felt so bad for Jackie and how everyone kept asking her to change. I wanted to give her a giant hug. I thought her solution was clever. There were some bad friendship moments in this book that were forgiven. Just like in middle school there are mean girls and jerky boys. I'm just now realizing there wasn't any technology in this book: phones or social media. I love how the book went through the calendar year. And the back matter about how to fold a note made me feel super old. A fantastic book about middle school and relationships. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school or public library