I was so eager to read The Exiles to learn more about this time period in Australian history and to be lead on this journey by such a talented author.  The Exiles met all my high hopes and expectations.

Evangeline has recently lost her father and must make her way in the world by taking a job as a governess in London.  Having been sheltered for many years by her father, her naivety is soon taken advantage of and a now pregnant Evangeline is sent to Newgate Prison and eventually exiled to the Van Diemen's Land, a penal colony in Australia.  While traveling overseas on the repurposed slave ship Medea, Evangeline meets young Hazel, who is very shrewd and street smart.  The two develop an unlikely bond and it is one that will change their lives forever.  

We also have the opportunity to meet Mathinna, an Aboriginal orphan who is taken in by the Governor of Van Diemen's Land and his wife so that she might, essentially, become more like the rest of "polite society".  Her perspective is so important to the novel and brings a unique quality to the narrative.  

I very much enjoyed this novel for so many reasons. I felt it was fresh and unique.  I was aware of some of the Australian history, but this novel caused me to examine what I knew in a new way and also introduced me to many things I was not aware of regarding that time period.  I would definitely recommend this novel to historical fiction fans and I also believe it would make a wonderful book club selection.  

I received this book courtesy of Custom House through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  

I started reading this book, I immediately began talking to my co-workers and family about it from literally page 1.  It got me right then and there.  I simply  love Fredrik Backman's writing and the amazingly unique yet realistic characters he creates.  He finds a way to say things that are so insightful and at the same time, completely relatable.  

As the author said, this story is about many things.  And it really is.  For me, it was about the human experience and how important our relationships with each other can be.  I don't want to give away any special moments from this story, so I will just say you need to read this book.  I was over half way through the book when a certain plot twist happens that I in no way saw coming and I had to go back to the first chapter to see how I missed it.  I loved that!

Anxious People touches on so many important topics: suicide, guilt, grief, belonging, family, desperation, love, and a world of others.  I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did.  It was a glowing five star read for me and a novel that I see myself reading again just to experience it once more.  

I received this book courtesy of Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Several years ago, I read the Divergent series with my teenage son and found myself really drawn into the series.  I'm not typically a reader of sci-fi or futuristic novels, but Chosen Ones caught my attention from the very first chapter.  I'm not sure how the author manages to create these characters that I come to care about so quickly.  They are flawed and maybe not even people you would want to spend time with in real life, but I find myself rapidly turning pages to see what their future holds.  

The Chosen Ones is about five heroes that saved the world from the Dark One ten years ago when they were mere teenagers. Their whole lives have been defined by that journey and now we meet them 10 years later as they are still trying to figure out who they are.  The Chosen Ones - Sloan, Matt, Ines, Albie and Esther - have gathered again to celebrate the anniversary of the Dark One's defeat, when tragedy befalls one of their own.  This is the catalyst for an event that changes their lives forever.  The descriptions of the scenes and settings in this book are so well written that I could easily envision a movie adaptation.  I also really liked how the letters and memos were included. I felt that added another layer to the story.  I hope that the author revisits these characters and develops the series further because I wasn't quite ready to let them go.  

I received this book courtesy of John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.