Thursday Book Reviews

A few titles I read in the last two weeks...

I'll be the first to admit that I'm critical when it comes to books. If there is one mistake, I don't like it. If it seems predictable or too similar to other books, I don't like it. I absolutely love the Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand. Not only does it take place in Nantucket but the plot engaging and the characters strong. I could not put this book down.

The book starts with the death of Greg and Tess, a couple trying to recover from some marital problems. After leaving their twins with friends, the couple sets out on a sail for Martha's Vineyard, drowning on the trip. The rest of the book details the summer following their deaths and how the three other couples that Greg and Tess are friends with deal with the loss. There are so many surprises along the way that I don't want to write anymore to give it away.

This is a perfect summer read by the pool. I'd recommend it to fans of Ann Brashares, J. Courtney Sullivan or even Jenny Han. It would be great for those who love books about friends and summer, as I do. Enjoy this one and treasure your friends and the time you spend with them.

The Pregnancy Project is an interesting memoir by college student Gaby Rodriguez about her experience conducting a senior project about faking a teen pregnancy. Rodriguez is the daughter of a teen mom and the sibling of seven brothers and sisters who were also teen parents. Her entire life she heard people saying that she would have the same future as the rest of her family and Rodriguez did not want to become just another teen pregnancy statistic. So, she decided to fake a pregnancy for her senior project and see how others would respond to her being pregnant, despite being a good student and well-rounded individual. What starts as a well-thought out senior project that only Rodriguez's boyfriend, best friend and mother know about to a lesson in life and an international media sensation. This book starts a little slow but overall its an wonderful recollection to be the stereotype. I think adults would enjoy it but it would be most meaningful for teens to read.