Published by Rising Action Publishing Co. on September 1, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Goodreads
Socially awkward, anxiety-riddled Beverly Bonnefinche only loves three things in life: her parents, books, and a homeless man named Bill. Without them, the only way Beverly manages to get by each day is with the help of a peculiar coping mechanism that allows her to dissolve her feelings.
Yet everything changes for Beverly when she meets Henry, a persistent, friendly man who sees something in Beverly most people have missed. As their relationship develops, despite her best intentions, Beverly soon finds herself stepping outside of her carefully controlled life and forging new friendships.
It’s only when a series of twists and turns threatens to unravel her new life, and her mind, that Beverly must determine if she’s got it in her to stop trudging through life—and finally start living it.
Uplifting and emotional, Beverly Bonnefinche is Dead is an unforgettable story of love, loss, friendship, and what it means to ultimately find the courage to be who you are.
I must admit, I was tricked by the cover. This was a weighty and sorta sad story. I do advise checking out the author's content warnings if you are sensitive to certain types of issues.
This story follows Beverly at a time of change in her life. I was so happy for Beverly when she started spreading her wings, taking chances, and making meaningful connections. But, Beverly didn't have a plan for her mental health care, and it was to her detriment. Having done in and out patient care for many years, I related to so much of Beverly's story. Her emotions and a lot of her thinking patterns were very familiar to me. I commend Seeley for the sensitive exploration of Beverly's mental health issues. It felt so real to me.
What surprised me was how drawn to this story I was. This was a sad story. It had bright spots, but it was still sad. I can understand many readers finding it difficult to like Beverly. But, I understood her, and therefore, found myself very invested in seeing her succeed and live a wonderful life. I cared for her, I raged for her, I cried for her.
This was such an emotional journey. When the title states that Beverly Bonnefinche Is Dead, it's a nod to Beverly's personal journey. She struggled with her mental health since her childhood and thought that she could not have things like love and friendship due to her "broken brain", but here she had a chance. I experienced Beverly's highs and lows, but I also saw her rise from the wreckage as a stronger and wiser person, and I was left hopeful for this new Beverly.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Published by Kensington Publishing on May 25, 2021
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Goodreads
In Colleen French's heartfelt summer read, a Delaware oceanside cottage is the perfect setting for a season of surprising lessons about how much there is to gain--when you finally let go...
In the last two years, English professor Ellen Tolliver has weathered heartache with grace--including an unwelcome divorce and losing her parents. In her more honest moments, Ellen might admit that she's sick of loss. She longs to stretch and grow, to truly fill her days. Maybe this year, she'll have something to recount in her Christmas letter other than her son's travel adventures. Maybe she'll be too busy to even write a Christmas letter.
On impulse, Ellen invites her ailing best friend, Lara, to spend the summer with her at the Delaware beach house she inherited from her parents. Lara can relax on the big front porch after chemo while Ellen readies the house for sale. But Lara has plans too--she'd like to help Ellen discover who she is, or better yet, who she can still become.
At Lara's urging, Ellen joins a local writer's group, tries online dating, and mingles with the new friends Lara brings home from her support group. She forgoes white wine (won't stain if you spill it!) for red and eats French fries for breakfast. She even flirts with the local bookstore owner, a handsome, sun-kissed, younger man. And as she embraces the freedom that comes with breaking her own rules, she wonders if it's not just her past that lies in this beloved quirky town, but her future too..
Ellen was a woman who let fear rule her life. With wounds due to her divorce and an emotionally abusive father, she often planned to the extreme and did not take risks. She was supposed to spend the summer in Delaware prepping her family's beach house to be sold, but when her lifelong best friends's cancer comes back, Ellen invites Lara to come do her treatments at the beach where Ellen can care for her.
Lara befriends other people in treatment who form a support group of sorts and meet on Ellen's porch. By knowing these people, many of whom were dying, Ellen learned to live.
This was a book about people with cancer, most were terminal. It was quite sad at times, but there were so many life lessons to be learned from those who were nearing the end. I appreciated Ellen's journey. The Ellen from the beginning of the book was NOT the Ellen at the end. She learned to live in the moment more often, to take risks, to not put off today what you can do tomorrow, to appreciate the gift of today. The story was filled with wonderful characters, and I loved meeting them even if I had to shed tears for them.
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I am not sure I am ready for The Summer I found Myself. I need something lighter at the momen.t.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that
DeleteThe cover on that first book would have fooled me as well. It screams rom com or chick lit to me. It does sound like a wonderful read though.
ReplyDeleteEven the synopsis had me thinking it was lighter than it was. The author did provide warnings though, and I agree that it was ultimately uplifting
DeleteI hate when a cover tricks me! I would have thought that book would have been cute and upbeat, not heavy.
ReplyDeleteRight? At least the author had content warnings at the beginning, so I was prepared before I began reading
DeleteThe Summer I Found Myself definitely sounds like a tear-jerker, but I love when characters can grow and change and really come out their shell.
ReplyDeleteIt was at times, but the author worked hard to balance out the emotions
DeleteI really don't like when they give heavy books those sort of covers. Nonetheless, the book has been on my radar. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI have always been frustrated by covers that feel too "fun" for a heavy book. It was good though
DeleteThe Summer I Found Myself sounds a bit heavy for me, but I do like the sound of Ellen's journey over the course of the story. It sounds like she really opened up and learned to take risks.
ReplyDeleteIt was and it wasn't. It was honest, but it highlighted the good stuff - the support system these people built with each other, and Ellen's story was especially uplifting
DeleteI just read a Colleen French book and really liked her writing. I want to read more and this sounds like a good one, but maybe in the fall. I like more uplifting stories in the summer. When you can identify with a character or event, it always makes a book so much more personal. Both great reviews, Sam.
ReplyDeleteOverall, it's a comeback story for the main character, but does involve ill people.
DeleteBoth of these books sound like really emotional reads.
ReplyDeleteThey were, but both had good endings - happy/hopeful
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