The Dilemma by B.A. Paris

In The Dilemma by B.A. Paris, Livia is keeping a terrible secret from her husband Adam about their nineteen-year-old daughter Marnie. She wants to tell him, but the timing has never seemed right. Now it is the day of Livia's extravagant fortieth birthday party that has been in the works for the past two decades. Once it is over, then she really will tell him. Unfortunately, Adam has a secret of his own and keeping it to himself to prevent ruining Livia's big day just may kill him.

This book had plenty of suspense and it kept me turning the pages, but at some point near the end, it became too much for me. The author may have wanted to keep the reader hooked a little longer, but it nearly made me stop reading. Spit it out already! Once she did, it was emotional, but I've never liked the trope in which someone needs to tell someone else something important, but doesn't, causing all kinds of conflict and confusion. It annoys me. 

If you are better at sitting on the edge of your seat than I am, you'll probably really like this book. Families are messy and when children become adults, parents have to accept that their children may make decisions they wish they didn't. Those make for very interesting themes and for that I enjoyed reading this book.

 

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

'Tis the season for silly, light-hearted romance and Christina Lauren's In a Holidaze fits that bill just fine. Mae spends every Christmas with her mom, dad, brother, and her parents' college friends and their families in a cabin in Park City, Utah. It is her favorite place in the world, but this year something has gone terribly wrong. Mistakes are made and it could be the last Christmas they ever spend together when suddenly Mae is sent back to relive it over and over again. Stuck in a time loop that could allow her to figure out what she really wants in life, Mae tries to make everything perfect without losing her mind first.

This book was fun and quick to read. The writing isn't great, but once you've given yourself over to the story, it doesn't matter very much. I've seen a lot of five star reviews for this book and I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it is cute and great for this time of year. Add it to your stack of December reads and let yourself enjoy the magic of the season.

 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, Adeline has made a deal with an unknown shadow in the dark. In a small French town in 1714, Adeline is desperate to avoid a boring life tied to a man she doesn't love and never having a chance to see the rest of the world. To get out of it, she trades her soul for something different. Unfortunately, she doesn't choose her words carefully enough and ends up with a mixed blessing. She gets to leave, she has a long life with no obligations to anyone, but no one can ever remember her. The moment they look away she is forgotten and it turns out to be more of a curse than she ever could have thought.

This book was wonderful! It was fresh and lyrical and the best book I read all year. I loved Addie and her gutsy, high-spirited determination. I loved the characters she meets along her way, and I even loved that dark stranger who made the deal with her, though I hated him, too. We get glimpses of Addie's life through the centuries as well as how she approaches the modern world. It's historical fiction and science fiction and fantasy and romance and brilliant! Add this one to your list. I really think you'll like it!