The Stand-In

The Stand-In by Lily Chu | 403 pages | 2021

Gracie Reed is doing just fine. Sure, she was fired by her overly “friendly” boss, and yes, she still hasn’t gotten her mother into the nursing home of their dreams, but she’s healthy, she’s (somewhat) happy, and she’s (mostly) holding it all together.

But when a mysterious SUV pulls up beside her, revealing Chinese cinema's golden couple Wei Fangli and Sam Yao, Gracie’s world is turned on its head. The famous actress has a proposition: Due to their uncanny resemblance, Fangli wants Gracie to be her stand-in. The catch? Gracie will have to be escorted by Sam, the most attractive—and infuriating—man Gracie’s ever met.

If it means getting the money she needs for her mother, Gracie’s in. Soon Gracie moves into a world of luxury she never knew existed. But resisting Sam, and playing the role of an elegant movie star, proves more difficult than she ever imagined—especially when she learns the real reason Fangli so desperately needs her help. In the end, all the lists in the world won’t be able to help Gracie keep up this elaborate ruse without losing herself... and her heart.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

This was a fun story! Gracie and Sam had a great enemies to lovers arc, and the secret doppelganger plot added a unique excitement to the story. The book also touches on some difficult topics like mental health, racism, and workplace harassment (and handles them all very well). Gracie had some growing pains that were difficult to read through, but it came to a resolution pretty quickly. I laughed and I cried! Great book club pick.

This Book is Cheaper Than Therapy

 

This Book is Cheaper Than Therapy by Liz Kelly, LICSW  242 pages

Tired of feeling like shit but can’t afford therapy?

Finding a good therapist is hard. Finding a good therapist you vibe with―and who won’t break the bank―is even harder. In This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy, seasoned therapist Liz Kelly brings the therapy office to you. So even if money is tight, your insurance doesn’t cover therapy, you can’t find quality practitioners in your area, or you’ve been stuck on a therapist’s waitlist for months, you can still feel better now.

With her cheeky humor, undeniable wit, and perfectly timed f-bombs, Liz has a talent for explaining complex mental health concepts in a way you can understand and can put into practice immediately. And don’t worry―at no point in this book will you ever hear the phrase “healing journey,” “your truth,” or any other over-used therapy platitudes.

She didn't get deep into anything, but it was a good overall read. You can tell a future therapist to skip the preliminaries and jump to the 'third appointment' stuff.

Final Girls by Riley Sager

 

Final Girls by Riley Sager   352 pages

Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.
 
Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.
 
That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

I am a Rile Sager fan. This book had the twists and turns like his others. Just when you think you know what's going on, you find that you don't. However, in my personal opinion, the twist at the end was borderline ridiculous and it caused me to just skim through the end chapters.  

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, 277 pages

​I didn't read this book for salacious details; I read it to hear about Britney's struggles in her own words.  This is a powerful read. It begins innocuously enough, but before long, the story takes on unbearable weight. Britney's candor, coupled with her rawness and humor, paint an indelible picture. 

 

The Shadows of Rutherford House by CE Rose

The Shadows of Rutherford House by CE Rose, 349 p.

"Christie is still coming to terms with the sudden and unexplained disappearance of her mother, over twenty years ago, leaving her unable to move on. Through her work as a psychiatric nurse, she becomes drawn to a troubled patient, Lillian, similarly haunted by the loss of her own mother. 

As she tries to help Lillian leave the hospital and return to her stately childhood home, Christie finds herself fascinated by the mysterious Rutherford-Percy clan. Why is Lillian so terrified of Rutherford House? Why is she so reluctant to embrace her aristocratic legacy? 

The more Christie learns about the family and their dark, ancestral past, the deeper the secrets seem to run - until she finds a clue that could help uncover what happened to her own mother. Desperate for answers, Christie puts her job, her family and even her very life on the line. But how much of the truth does she really want to know?"--Goodreads blurb

This was an engrossing mystery thriller told from several different perspectives. The writing and plot were well thought-out, and I was unable to put it down. I think it's a credit to writers when they can make a reader feel like they have it figured out, and while they do get some of it right, there are twists and turns that surprise you anyway. Following Christie trying to come to terms, no matter how many years it's been since she "lost" her mother was heart-wrenching. Other characters were misunderstood and others yet were the kind that you love to hate. Mental health struggles were discussed, love was found and lost, and heartbreak was had. Oh, and murder...don't forget the murder!

 

You Always Come Back by Emily Smith

You Always Come Back by Emily Smith - 320 pages    ⭐⭐⭐⭐✩

 

Nine years ago, July Weaver’s little sister was one of the first victims of the Pacific Lake Killer, a serial killer in Georgia. When other girls began to disappear and were found dead, it was July’s testimony that put her own father into prison for the crimes. After the sentencing, she fled to Nashville to focus on her music career and to try to forget the horrible past. But when her brother tries to kill himself, July is forced to come back home and reunite with her four remaining siblings.

What she isn’t expecting is to uncover new evidence that makes her question everything that happened to her sister nine years ago. Is it possible that July blamed the wrong person? Is it possible that the Pacific Lake Killer is still out there? As the linchpin to the case against her father—and the reason the Pacific Lake Killer case is closed—July knows it isn’t long before the killer will set their eyes back on her.

If they’re really still out there.

The author does a good job of depicting the disfunction of this family, and their dynamic.  Although one could guess the killer around halfway in, it was still a good  read.  

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

 I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy-CD Audio (5 discs, 6 hrs. 50 min.)-304 pages in print

I was looking for a shorter listen for my road trip this past weekend and I happened upon this. It stood out on the shelf, so I checked it out. I'm glad I did. I watched a few episodes of iCarly as a kid/teen, but not many. McCurdy's childhood sounds anything but mundane. Her mother had breast cancer when Jennette was two and she used it as leverage to get what she wanted. Her mom was extremely manipulative and volatile. She would kick her husband, Jennette's and her siblings' dad (although it would be revealed later he was not their biological dad), out often for a variety of questionable reasons. Jennette's mom would shower her well into her teens and sometimes even with one of her brothers together. Her mom would also go into the bathroom with her and wipe her butt until she was a tween. Her mom pushed her to get into acting even though she really didn't want to. Jennette thought her mom was perfect and wanted what was best for her, even though she didn't always like it. Jennette's mom taught her Anorexia when she was 11, which was right before she started on iCarly. Jennette thought she was failing if she didn't eat very little and keep her weight down. She wanted to keep looking like a kid. Her mom died of cancer (it came back) when she was around 26. Somewhere in all that time, she began to struggle with Bulimia and alcoholism to drown out her emotions. Through various relationships and other life events Jennette began to realize she had a problem with Bulimia and sought therapy. Her first experience with therapy ended poorly. Her second attempt went much better. It seems that she has gotten past her struggle with Bulimia, although I'm sure it's like any mental health struggle in that it's hard to truly get past it and it's a daily struggle to stay "sober." Jennette McCurdy's voice (she's the narrator) lends gravitas and richness to the listen and I thought this was a really good listen/read. I can see why the book is titled I'm Glad My Mom Died. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

 

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams, 373 p.

"Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.

Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home.

When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list… hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again. "--Goodreads blurb

Wow. This book came highly recommended, and I am so glad I read it. This is one I will recommend to anyone, though please check trigger warnings beforehand. The characters and emotional storyline sit in your heart and won't leave for quite a while! 

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin

 

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin, 256 p.

"Gilda, a twenty-something lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself being greeted by Father Jeff, who assumes she’s there for a job interview. Too embarrassed to correct him, Gilda is abruptly hired to replace the recently deceased receptionist, Grace.

In between trying to memorize the lines to Catholic mass, hiding the fact that she has a new girlfriend, and erecting a dirty dish tower in her crumbling apartment, Gilda strikes up an email correspondence with Grace’s old friend. She can’t bear to ignore the kindly old woman, who has been trying to reach her friend through the church inbox, but she also can’t bring herself to break the bad news. Desperate, she begins impersonating Grace via email. But when the police discover suspicious circumstances surrounding Grace’s death, Gilda may have to finally reveal the truth of her mortifying existence."--Goodreads blurb

 I adored this book. A mishap has put Gilda in the oddest situation, but it turns her world upside down. Going through Gilda's emotions with her was hard at times, exasperating at others. Mental health takes center stage in this story, and while it's not explicitly said, Gilda is obviously on the autism spectrum somewhere and we get to see her navigate life with that. Highly recommend. 

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

 

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki, 548 p.

"After the tragic death of his beloved musician father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house--a sneaker, a broken Christmas ornament, a piece of wilted lettuce. Although Benny doesn't understand what these things are saying, he can sense their emotional tone; some are pleasant, a gentle hum or coo, but others are snide, angry and full of pain. When his mother, Annabelle, develops a hoarding problem, the voices grow more clamorous.

At first, Benny tries to ignore them, but soon the voices follow him outside the house, onto the street and at school, driving him at last to seek refuge in the silence of a large public library, where objects are well-behaved and know to speak in whispers. There, Benny discovers a strange new world, where "things happen." He falls in love with a mesmerizing street artist with a smug pet ferret, who uses the library as her performance space. He meets a homeless philosopher-poet, who encourages him to ask important questions and find his own voice amongst the many.

And he meets his very own Book--a talking thing--who narrates Benny's life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter.

With its blend of sympathetic characters, riveting plot, and vibrant engagement with everything from jazz, to climate change, to our attachment to material possessions, The Book of Form and Emptiness is classic Ruth Ozeki--bold, wise, poignant, playful, humane and heartbreaking."--Goodreads blurb 

This was a strange book, but not in a bad way. Some of the characters were so unlikeable, while also being so loveable (Benny's Mom?!), and other characters were so poignant and heartbreaking. The depths of mental health are often not written about in fiction, and this was very well-done. 

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang -- 339 pages 

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this new New York Times bestselling romance by Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because Quan accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby, 400 p.

CW: Bullying, severe depression, mention of sexual assault

"Gadsby's unique stand-up special Nanette was a viral success that left audiences captivated by her blistering honesty and her ability to create both tension and laughter in a single moment. But while her worldwide fame might have looked like an overnight sensation, her path from open mic to the global stage was hard-fought and anything but linear.

Ten Steps to Nanette traces Gadsby's growth as a queer person from Tasmania-where homosexuality was illegal until 1997-to her ever-evolving relationship with comedy, to her struggle with late-in-life diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and finally to the backbone of Nanette - the renouncement of self-deprecation, the rejection of misogyny, and the moral significance of truth-telling. Equal parts harrowing and hilarious, Ten Steps to Nanette continues Gadsby's tradition of confounding expectations and norms, properly introducing us to one of the most explosive, formative voices of our time."--Goodreads blurb

As with most American that have come to find Gadsby, she was a complete unknown to me until her Netflix "standup" special on Netflix a few years ago. But her special, and this book, have stayed with me, with her nuggets of her truth coming up in my mind often. What a fantastic writer Gadsby is, both of standup and of her story. Her innate intelligence and thoughtfulness shine bright in her words. The life she has led has brought her to where she is, but what a difficult one. But she talks about the light in the world, too.  

 

Take a Chance on Me by Kathryn R. Biel

Take a Chance on Me (A Center Stage Love Story #1) by Kathryn R. Biel, 404 p.

CW: Sexual assault, mental health

"Moving to Hicklam is the last thing Gloria Benedetti wants to do, but it's her final hope at having a normal life. After spending almost a decade as a near recluse and virtually paralyzed by crippling panic attacks, an alternative therapy might be her only shot at regaining her life after trauma. Trauma that forced her to give up everything, including a promising career on the stage.

Staying in Hicklam is the last thing Grayson Keene planned on doing, but The Edison Theater has been in his family for generations, and he can't let it sink on his watch. Unfortunately, things with The Edison have gone from bad to worse, and Grayson needs all the help he can get to save the old girl. He needs one successful season to make things work, and then maybe, just maybe, he can get his life—and his Broadway career—back. As Gloria's on the verge of the health and healing she's been working toward, the one thing that will save The Edison may just break her once and for all. If she protects herself, it'll cost Grayson everything. This may be the one chance that's too big to take."--Goodreads blurb

What a hidden gem this was. I've never heard anything about these book or Biel, and this was a well-written, fun yet serious contemporary romance. I think there could have been some more development in Grayson's character especially, but in general I could have used a bit more backstory. I'll probably put this series on my to-read someday list. 

 

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green -- 293 pages

A deeply moving and mind-expanding collection of personal essays in the first ever work of non-fiction from #1 internationally bestselling author John Green

The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet - from the QWERTY keyboard and Halley's Comet to Penguins of Madagascar - on a five-star scale.

Complex and rich with detail, the Anthropocene's reviews have been praised as 'observations that double as exercises in memoiristic empathy', with over 10 million lifetime downloads. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection about the shared human experience; it includes beloved essays along with six all-new pieces exclusive to the book.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

 Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig -- 256 pages

Matt Haig’s accessible and life-affirming memoir of his struggle with depression, and how his triumph over the illness taught him to live.

Like nearly one in five people, Matt Haig suffers from depression. Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt’s inspiring account of how, minute by minute and day by day, he overcame the disease with the help of reading, writing, and the love of his parents and his girlfriend (and now-wife), Andrea. And eventually, he learned to appreciate life all the more for it.

Everyone’s lives are touched by mental illness: if we do not suffer from it ourselves, then we have a friend or loved one who does. Matt’s frankness about his experiences is both inspiring to those who feel daunted by depression and illuminating to those who are mystified by it. Above all, his humor and encouragement never let us lose sight of hope. Speaking as his present self to his former self in the depths of depression, Matt is adamant that the oldest cliché is the truest—there is light at the end of the tunnel. He teaches us to celebrate the small joys and moments of peace that life brings, and reminds us that there are always reasons to stay alive.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb -432 pages

From Amazon:  With startling wisdom and humor, Gottlieb invites us into her world as both clinician and patient, examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves and others as we teeter on the tightrope between love and desire, meaning and mortality, guilt and redemption, terror and courage, hope and change.


I enjoyed this book -- especially her time with John, a patient whose barrier Gottlieb slowly chips away.  I would also love to know who he is and which show he produces.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman - 352 pages

This is a debut novel for Gail Honeyman and it has caught the attention of many critics and the general public.  I was intrigued by the main character, who by the description, has no real contact with anyone after she leaves work.  Even then, the interactions are short and have no depth.  As the story unfolds, I appreciated seeing how the character grew and developed through the help of others. I also appreciated that the author explained and delved into how the character came to be in that sort of situation in the first place.  While I enjoyed this book and the overall story, it does involve mental illness and could raise some issues for some.  I would recommend this book to others, but not before sharing this point.

Define Crazy by Donna Snyder, RN, BSN

Define Crazy by Donna Snyder, RN, BSN, 138 pages

Define Crazy was a very interesting book by a local author and mental health professional about the field of psychiatry and mental health patients.  Donna writes about real stories that actually happened to her and her patients.  Of course, she changes the names for privacy reasons.  She has experienced a lot in her 20 years on a locked psych ward especially when she worked at the state hospital.  I found this book very relevant especially in today's society.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Turtles all the Way Down by John Green-286 pages

I have read all of John Green's previous novels, so I wanted to read this one. I like this one, but not as much as many of his previous novels. I feel that the characters/protagonists are not developed as deeply as his previous works and I was not as much into the story. This work was easier to put down than many of his previous works, also. That being said, it is not bad. It simply is not as good as his previous works, in my opinion.

Buffering : Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded by Hannah Hart

Buffering : Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded by Hannah Hart, 272 pages

Hannah Hart, YouTuber famous for both her YouTube show "My Drunk Kitchen" and her community action, has written a heartfelt and beautiful memoir. Hannah is very open about her struggle with her own mental health, but has only hinted at the instability that she grew up with. This tale of Hannah's life delves into her mother's downward spiral with mental health, and how Hannah kept the pieces of her life together.

Hannah writes in a very conversational tone, and as a fan of many years, I enjoyed this immensely, and had been looking forward to reading it for months. It was a very quick read (I read it in one day) and left me with a lot of thoughts and outlooks for both my life and others'.