"The Secret of Isobel Key" (a Scottish Lexi review)

Our Awesome Readers,

Hello again!

Ever had one of those novels that takes you into them, those ones that you absorb yourself into? This was one of them for me. It was the perfect combination of the past, the present, and some spooky coincidences. It's The Secret of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel.

Summary: "Lou is in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Fresh out of college, she’s unemployed and unsure of herself. But when she gets the chance to escape to Scotland with her best friend, it could be the answer to her quest for self-discovery. The trip is not at all what she expected, especially when her tour guide turns out to be the dreamy historian Brian, and together they embark on a hunt for information about Isobel Key, a woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century.

They set out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but Lou isn’t prepared for the knowledge that awaits her. She must face her own demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.
Flashing between seventeenth century Scotland and a contemporary romance, THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY is a mystery that will please readers of all ages." (All thanks to Goodreads for this summary!)

So Lou was easy to relate to. See, she was in a quarter-life crisis after graduating college, which is a big, normal phenomenon these days. When you're confused on what to do next in your life, when you know you have a purpose and that something big is about to happen, but you just don't know what either is. This is what Lou experiences when she quits what was supposed to be a temporary job that turned into a full-time one (we've all been there, huh, twenty-somethings?). Then she's surprised with a trip to Scotland, which she tries to embrace fully. While being immersed into the mysteries and past injustices of Scotland, it doesn't hurt that there's a hott Scottish guy that walks into the picture.

I was hooked immediately. This novel was soooooo good, and made me want to travel to Scotland myself, ASAP. (Okay, some actors I love are Scottish, so this book just amped up my need. I love those accents!) Anyways, this novel seriously had me reading it as much as I could, which hadn't happened in this manner in a long time! It's such a marvelous book!

In Conclusion: READ THIS NOVEL. This is especially if you're in your teens, twenties, or even early thirties!

Suggestions: If you have some wanderlust, but are not sure how to get to it, or just questioning yourself, go for this book. If you want to learn something, read this novel. If you want an AMAZING and developed story with characters who are more than worth it, read this novel. In other words, read this whenever you want, wherever you can. Stormy days are always great though!

Rating:

5/5 Scottish Pounds

Till next time!


XOXO,
Lexi

"Brooklyn Girls" (an urban review by Lexi)

Readers,

Any of you in your 20s? Confused on what path to take, or wondering if life is ever going to go right? How about a job? Does it suck, or do you feel like you'll never find one? Well, this book is for us Quarter Life Crisis chicas!

It's Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess!

Summary (thanks, Goodreads!): "Fantastically funny, fresh and utterly relatable, Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess is the first novel in her brand new series about five twenty-something friends—Pia, Angie, Julia, Coco and Madeleine—sharing a brownstone in hip, downtown Brooklyn, and discovering the ups and downs and ins and outs of  their “semi-adult” lives. The first story belongs to sophisticated, spoiled, and stylish Pia, who finds herself completely unemployed, unemployable, and broke. So what is a recent grad with an art history degree and an unfortunate history of Facebook topless photos to do? Start a food truck business of course! Pia takes on the surprisingly cutthroat Brooklyn world of hybrid lettuce growers, artisanal yogurt makers and homemade butter producers to start SkinnyWheels—all while dealing with hipster bees, one-night-stands, heartbreak, parental fury, wild parties, revenge, jail, loan sharks, playboys, karaoke, true love, and one adorable pink food truck. And that's without counting her roommates' problems, too. Gemma Burgess has captured the confusion, hilarity and excitement of the post-graduate years against a backdrop of the pressures and chaos of New York City life, with heartfelt empathy, fast humor and sharp honesty.

A charming debut series about five twenty-something girls and the humor, heartbreak, and drama that bring them together."

This book makes you feel like everything you're feeling and doing in your 20s is okay and normal, no matter where you are in life at this point. If you're feeling lost, have a bad relationship with your parents, can't find a job, looking for a place to call "home," or feel like you suck or are failing at life? Well, this novel is just perfect for all of us chicas.

Not only are the characters well-formed, as is each of their lives and stories, but the plot is relatable and feels true. This whole story resonated with me, and I'm so glad I went with it! It made me feel like I'm not the only one having troubles in my 20s, nor am the only grad trying to find my true calling and path. This book was like free therapy. I loooooove it!

In Conclusion: I believe every 20-something year old.


Rating:

a definite 5/5 food trucks