Tag: Hadley Books

The Flight Girls

July 18, 2020

War, Love and girl power are the 3 themes that come to mind after reading “The Flight Girls” written by: Noelle Salazar. A powerful, inspiring story of girl’s roles in World War 2 both in the air and in each other’s lives. It is a novel full of emotion that will leave you as if you had been a part of the girls journey a long with them.

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The book is set in World War 2 and it follows Audrey Coltrane as she tries to overcome witnessing the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor. From getting shot out of the sky herself and loosing loves ones on that terrible day. Whiling trying to overcome the devastation of that day, she joins the Women Airforce Service Pilot program and makes fast friends with all the girls. Along her journey, she goes against all she believes in with love and falls for her mentor Lieutenant James Hart. However, when he goes missing in action, what will Audrey do? Will she be able to find James? Will she ever move forth with her dreams of owning her own airfield?

Between the friendships made, the horrific losses and beautiful dreams and aspirations, “The Flight Girls” keeps the reader captivated from beginning to end. Noelle Salazar has done a beautiful job writing a novel, where the reader is transformed into the story. I was able feel as though I was right alongside these women battling the same battles and suffering the same losses She writes a beautiful story the importance of girl power and friendships. If you want to want to read an inspirational story from this particular time in history, I will highly recommend “The Flight Girls.”!

If I Never Met You

July 9, 2020

Love, betrayal and relationships are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “If I Never Met You” by Mhairi McFarlane. A story of a pretend relationships created for selfish reasons to having blossom into some undeniable love for one another.

wp-1593917758887.jpgAfter a bombshell announcement that ends her 18 year-long relationship with her first and only real boyfriend, Laurie is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. When she finds herself trapped in the elevator with the office player. From that chance encounter that cook up a plan of a fake relationship with two selfish intents 1.) to make Laurie’s ex Dan (who also work at the same place) jealous and 2.) To help Jamie get a promotion at work.

However, it all comes tumbling down when people at work begin to catch on. Also what will happen when real emotions come into play?

Mhairi does a great job depicting a real sense of betrayal that Laurie felt towards Dan after the breakup. Also, adding the factor that both Laurie and Jamie got to lean on each other for support on family issues. Support that neither of them got from previous relationships. I believe that you really got to slowing see the changes in the main characters that was national and unintentional. The fact that Laurie did not always have to lean on a guy for support with her friend Emily was a nice touch as well.

 “If I Never Met You” is a love story with a somewhat predictable ending but with its own twist and turns that makes it, its own special love story for modern times.

The Friend

May 14, 2020

Loss, Grief, and Friendship are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “The Friend” Sigrid Nunez. A story of losing a best friend and developing an unexpected friendship in the aftermath.

Scout and the friend

This story follows a middle-aged women as she grieves the loss of her best friend. When she is unexpectedly given her best friends dog to look after. A friendship forms between her and the dog as she tries to comprehend what the dog needs to feel comfortable and what he thinks of his life without his owner. Even though she is not the most dog friendly person. She understands that by doing this, she is fulfilling one last wish of a friend.

This story was a big hard to follow in terms of who is talking and who they are talking too. I was expecting more of an emotional journey, but it fell flat for me.  However, it was a sweet story of how a dogs and human can grief together after experiencing an overwhelming loss.