9.07.2022

finished reading

I love books about books--and this one was charming.  I wouldn't say it covered any new ground but it kept me reading and the plot twist surprised me, I mean, I thought about it but talked myself out of it, so it was a nice surprise to get the details.  I liked the character Liv, as an invisible middle-aged woman who's living a humble life.  I could definitely relate to the routine-ness.  I thought Liv's husband, Jake, was kind of overbearing and a bit of a tool, but maybe that's just me.  Actually, all of the men seemed to want to claim prominence in Liv's life, from her sons' neediness to the publishers.

I enjoyed the references to books that Liv was listening to or reading.  They are among my favorites.

From the publisher:
Have you ever wished you were someone else?

Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, mega-bestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.

But when Essie dies suddenly, a devastated Liv is astonished to learn of her last wish: for Liv to complete Essie's final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie's shoes, and as Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women--one that will change Liv's own story forever...

Books mentioned:
  • Garden Spells (Waverly Family #1) by Sarah Addison Allen
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  • Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
  • Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
  • The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
  • Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
  • Heartburn by Nora Ephron

1 comment:

The Gal Herself said...

I'm intrigued.