Relaxing Reads

Hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya chat with the bestselling author of Breathless, Amy McCulloch about her latest book "Midnight”. In the previous Relaxing Reads episode they discussed the book "Midnight".

It's another pulse-pounding thriller: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica to camp beneath the midnight sun becomes a desperate battle for survival against a killer determined to follow their prey to the very ends of the earth. 
With 24 hours of daylight, there is nowhere to hide.

Olivia has always dreamt of spending a "white night" on the frigid continent, but never thought she'd have the chance….until her high-powered art-dealer boyfriend, Aaron decides to stage an exhibition on a luxury expedition.

It's like a real life murder-mystery weekend Olivia didn’t sign up for. 

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In our latest read, hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya discuss a book from the bestselling author of Breathless, Amy McCulloch "Midnight”. It's another pulse-pounding thriller: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica to camp beneath the midnight sun becomes a desperate battle for survival against a killer determined to follow their prey to the very ends of the earth. 
With 24 hours of daylight, there is nowhere to hide.

Olivia has always dreamt of spending a "white night" on the frigid continent, but never thought she'd have the chance….until her high-powered art-dealer boyfriend, Aaron decides to stage an exhibition on a luxury expedition.

It's like a real life murder-mystery weekend Olivia didn’t sign up for. 

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Our latest read, The Mythmakers is Keziah Weir’s debut novel about a young journalist named Sal who discovers a short story by an older author she met years ago. The story she believes is about her and that moment she met the man, Martin.

Her life is in shambles, with a relationship falling apart and a career that’s taking a nosedive…so why not leave it all behind in search of that manuscript.

This leads to an entanglement with the author’s widow, daughter and former best friend.

It’s a story about the memory, perspective through different time lines, love, discovery within one’s self and the twists and turns that life presents! Plus a Q & A with the author!

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In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss “Three Holidays and a Wedding” a team effort from authors, Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley.

As strangers and seatmates Maryam and Anna fly to Toronto over the holidays — Maryam to her sister's impromptu wedding, and Anna to meet her boyfriend's wealthy family for the first time—neither expect that severe turbulence will scare them into confessing their deepest hopes and fears to one another. 

They end up being forced to delay those holiday plans thanks to a Snowmageddon scenario… and land at a quirky inn on the outskirts of Snow Falls — a picture-perfect town where a holiday romance. But as Maryam and Anna start to feel the magic of Snow Falls — and find love better than their deepest hopes — they just might realize there's no place they'd rather be for the holidays!!!

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Hosts Josie, Ryan and (Britney Super-Fan) Simone discuss the book that has everyone talking, Britney Spears 'The Woman in Me'.

Our three hosts go beyond the Justin Timberlake headlines and discuss Britney's often sad, but amazing journey and surviving it all, in her own words.

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

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In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb discuss Pebble & Dove from Amy Jones.

A once-famous but now-abandoned aquarium-in-a-ship in Florida is the backdrop for a novel of family secrets and dysfunction, and the ways in which it can sometimes take an animal to remind us how to be human.

This is the story of a family falling apart, only to be brought back together again by an unlikely champion—a 1,000-pound manatee named Pebble. 

Lauren’s life is a mess, with a teenage daughter, Dove, who barely speaks to her. …there are quite a few secrets, it’s a little dark, but very moving, as they try to figure out how to choose between what’s worth saving and what needs to be let go. This one will pull at your heartstrings. Plus a Q & A with the author. 

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Guest hosts, The B-Team!, Josie and Ryan are back! In this episode they discuss Viola Davis's powerful memoir 'Finding Me' and learning about the incredible struggle and success of Viola's life.

"In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.

This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me."

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In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb chat about A History of Burning by Janika Oza. This epic debut novel is about how one act of rebellion can influence a family for generations.

Beginning in 1898 with a young boy, Pirbhai, being tricked into traveling from India to Africa to help build the East African Railway, this sweeping saga traces the story of four generations told in snapshots through the years.

It explores the impacts of colonialism, resistance, exile and the power of family.

The book shines a light on some dark parts of history, but also offers love through the resilience of the human spirit. Plus we chat with the author. 

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In our latest read, hosts Simone, Tanya and Deb chat about Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, A lonely shopkeeper takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

When one thinks of the ideal amateur detective, none of Vera Wong's qualities — like tampering with evidence and romantically setting up two of her suspects together — would come to mind.

But when the tea shop owner, who watches an unhealthy amount of “CSI,” suddenly finds a dead body in her shop, she believes she’s the only one who can solve the case.

Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth in this comedic mystery. Plus we chat with the author.

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In our latest read, hosts Deb, Simone and Tanya discuss  “The Whispers” from Ashley Audrain which takes us to a well-to-do neighbor­hood where couples and their kids gather for a barbecue as the summer winds down.

Everything is fabulous until Whitney, the picture-perfect hostess, explodes in fury because her son disobeys her.
Everyone at the party hears her exquisite veneer crack—loud and clear.
Before long, that same young boy falls from his bedside window in the middle of the night. And then his mother can only sit by her son's hospital bed, where his life hangs in the balance.
Over the course of a tense three days, the women on the street grapple with what led to that terrible night.

There are secrets, deceptions and lies within this group of women on Harlow Street. Plus a Q & A with the author!

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In Our latest read, Hosts Deb, Simone and Tanya discuss Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat, by Sonya Lalli.  This is about romance on the high seas!
Jasmine is newly single as she boards a cruise ship for seniors with her parents, as she tags along on their vacation. (unknowingly)
What seemed to be the perfect relationship with Brian hit the rocks, meaning she has to face her parents and their friends, who’ve always been a little judgy.
Despite a successful career and love life (for a moment) Jasmine has a bad reputation after a long history of striving for perfection in the eyes of these people, only to fall short.
The only person her age on the boat just happens to be her longtime nemesis since childhood, Jake Dhillon.
She has always thought of him as the arrogant perfect, Indian son and Jake has always thought Jasmine was too wild for him.
So, how will time alone in closed quarters work out for them, as they travel to Alaska – and might they find a relationship worth fighting for?
It’s fun, there are evolving relationships, family, culture and warmth among the chaos! Plus a Q & A with the author.

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Our latest read, guest hosts Josie and Ryan discuss, The Creative Act: A Way of Being from Rick Rubin.

Rick Rubin is a nine-time GRAMMY-winning producer, named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time and the most successful producer in any genre by Rolling Stone. He has collaborated with artists from Tom Petty to Adele, Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys to Slayer, Kanye West to the Strokes, and System of a Down to Jay-Z.

“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” — Rick Rubin

The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distills the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime’s work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments—and lifetimes—of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.

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In our latest read, hosts Deb, Tanya and Simone discuss, Your Driver Is Waiting from Priya Guns.  Damani is pretty tired….

Sher father has died, she cares for her mum, drives a ride share to pay the bills for both of them as she lives paycheck to paycheck living in their basement and is angry at a world that seemed to promise her more. …until she meets Jolene and then life opens up.

Jolene seems like the perfect girlfriend …until she’s not!! This sets off an explosive chain of events.

There’s comedy, there’s politics, love and privilege …all a little messy!!

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In our latest read, hosts Deb, Tanya and Simone discuss SAM by Allegra Goodman. A coming-of-age story about a girl from the ages of 7 to about 19.

Sam adores her father, though he isn’t around much. She lives with her mother, Courtney, who struggles to make ends meet, and her half-brother, Noah.

Sam doesn’t fit in at school, and doesn’t care about jeans or rules. She just loves to climb--trees, fences, walls, the side of a building. Climbing, is where she belongs: she can turn off her brain, pain has a purpose, and it’s okay if you want to win.

Into her teens, she grapples with self-doubt and insecurity. And then the girl becomes a woman.

There’s a struggle between what brings her joy and what she thinks she should do, through heartbreak, friendships, identity and hope. Plus a Q & A with the author herself. 

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This month hosts, Deb, Tanya and Simone discus the debut novel for Amita Parikh “The Circus Train”. This novel takes us through the World of Wonders, Europe’s most magnificent travelling circus, where every moment is full of magic, and nothing is as it seems—especially for those who put on the show

Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the circus, even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Theo. Brilliant and curious, Lena yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, despite her father’s overprotectiveness and the limitations of her wheelchair.

Lena’s unconventional life in war-torn Europe, takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past ... plus a Q & A with the author.

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This month hosts Deb, Simone and Tanya discuss “Exes and O’s” about a romance novel–obsessed social media influencer, Tara Chen who revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this rom-com from author, Amy Lea.

Romance-novel connoisseur Tara has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men--all of whom dumped her because of her "stage-five clinger" tendencies. Nevertheless, she’s determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic “meet-cutes” are dead thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.

Enter - firefighter Trevor Metcalfe who is the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn't his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara's journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.

Plus a Q & A with Amy Lea. 

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This month hosts Deb, Simone and Tanya discuss Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart: A Memoir.

For most of Jen Sookfong Lee's life, pop culture was an escape from family tragedy and a means of fitting in with the larger culture around her. Anne of Green Gables promised her that, despite losing her father at the age of twelve, one day she might still have the loving family of her dreams. Princess Diana was proof that maybe there was more to being a good girl after all. And yet as Jen grew up, she began to recognize the ways in which pop culture was not made for someone like her—the child of Chinese immigrant parents who looked for safety in the invisibility afforded by embracing model minority myths.

Jen is a master at weaving together key moments in pop culture with stories of her own failings, longings, and struggles as she carves her own path as an Asian woman, single mom, and writer.

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Hosts Deb, Simone and Tanya discuss our latest read (December 2022) - The Sea Between Two Shores.  A powerful novel that follows two families brought together to reckon with what it means to make amends—for historic wrongs and the wrongs we commit against the ones we love.

One family comes from a small island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, who are mourning the death of their son in the aftermath of a devastating cyclone, while worrying over the looming departure of another.

The other family is from Toronto, who are also locked in mourning after the accidental drowning of their youngest son.

The two come together sharing in the healing process, both from their own losses and those from their ancestors and how they might be able to move forward to create a better future for that younger generation.  Plus a Q & A with the author Tanis Rideout.

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Our latest read is a holiday romance, “All I Want For Christmas” by Maggie Knox.

When Sadie and Max are selected as contestants on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, each thinks they've finally gotten their big Nashville break. But then they're paired up for duet week and stun the world with their romantic onstage chemistry. Fans go wild for #Saxie and the network demands they remain a duo on and offstage, or exit the competition. Faking a relationship until their final performance in the Starmaker holiday special shouldn't be too hard, except for one small problem--Sadie and Max can't stand each other.

But with their dreams just within reach, they agree to the ruse. Will their fake relationship be exposed before they can win? Or will an unexpected trip to Banff spark real feelings by the Christmas finale?

Plus we speak with authors Karma Brown & Marissa Stapley who make up the duo Maggie Knox!

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This month hosts Simone, Deb and Tanya Discuss “Run Rose Run” from America’s most beloved superstar Dolly Parton and its greatest storyteller - James Patterson. 

A young singer/songwriter on the rise and on the run, who’s determined to do whatever it takes to survive. 
Nashville is where AnnieLee Keyes has come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her. 
There’s music, mystery, love and a little danger, of course. 

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This month hosts, Simone, Deb and Tanya discuss "Counterfeit" by Kirstin Chen.

Ava Wong a strait-laced Chinese American lawyer and her former enigmatic college roommate Winnie reconnect after 20 years and become entangled in a scheme that involves importing counterfeit luxury handbags.  

When trouble arises, Winnie disappears, leaving Ava to deal with the consequences.  

It’s a con artist story, a pop-feminist caper taking us through the world of dreamy handbags.....fun right? Except nothing in this novel is what it seems. 

This book gives great insight into identity and self discovery, and the ever-elusive American dream. Plus we have a Q & A with Kirstin herself.

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Our latest read A Bit Much by Sarah Jackson takes us through the complicated journey that is a female relationship with young women who are fully determined, yet overwhelmed, full of love but sometimes not knowing how to love and trying to determine how to truly socialize.

Alice is twenty-four and falling apart. She's lost her job, her appetite, her ability to sleep. And now she's worried she's going to lose Mia, her closest friend, who's being treated for a serious illness. 

Still focused on Mia, while trying to convince others she's a stable, happy person, Alice meets her neighbour James--someone she used to try to avoid.

This book is an intimate look at female friendships, new relationships, and the disorienting times in which we live.

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Where The Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens gives us mystery, romance, loneliness and beauty.

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village on the North Carolina coast.

Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.

But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life's lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved.

Drawn to two young men who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world—until the unthinkable happens.

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Our latest read by Amy McCulloch is a high-altitude thriller that will truly take your breath away, it's called Breathless.

Cecily Wong is in over her head. She’s come to Manaslu, the 8th-highest peak in the world, to interview world famous mountaineer, Charles McVeigh on the last leg of a record-breaking series of summits.

She’s given up everything for this story–her boyfriend, her life savings, the peace she’s made with her climbing failures in the past–but it’s a career-making opportunity that could finally put her life back on track.

When one climber dies in what everyone else assumes is a freak accident, she fears their expedition is in danger. And by the time a second climber dies, it’s too late to turn back. 

She's stranded on a mountain in a remote region, and has quite the battle for survival against a killer who is picking them off one by one!

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This month's book, our latest read is a debut rom-com novel by Sonya Singh, where we are taken on a journey of letting go, self-discovery, a woman's journey of connecting to her South-Asian roots, culture, food, family, feast and fun in "Sari Not Sari"!!

Manny Dogra is the beautiful young CEO of Breakup, a highly successful company that helps people manage their relationship breakups. As preoccupied as she is with her business, she's also planning her wedding to handsome architect Adam Jamieson while dealing with the loss of her beloved parents.

Manny has never understood why her parents who were both born in India, always wanted her to become an "All-American" girl. But that's what she did and all she knows.. She knows next to nothing about her South Asian heritage, and that's never been a problem — until her parents are no longer around, and a Photoshopped image of her that makes her skin look white appears on a major magazine cover. Now the woman who built an empire encouraging others to be true to themselves is having an identity crisis.

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This month's book is a thrilling rollercoaster ride about a heist gone terribly wrong, with a plucky protagonist who will win readers’ hearts - “Lucky" by Canadian author Marissa Stapley.

Lucky Armstrong is a tough, talented grifter who has just pulled off a million-dollar heist with her boyfriend, Cary. She’s ready to start a brand-new life, with a new identity --- when things go sideways. Lucky finds herself alone for the first time, navigating the world without the help of either her father or her boyfriend, the two figures from whom she’s learned the art of the scam.

When she discovers that a lottery ticket she bought on a whim is worth millions, her elation is tempered by one big problem: cashing in the winning ticket means she’ll be arrested for her crimes. She’ll go to prison, with no chance to redeem her fortune.

As Lucky tries to avoid capture and make a future for herself, she must confront her past by reconciling with her father; finding her mother, who abandoned her when she was just a baby; and coming to terms with the man she thought she loved --- whose dark past is catching up with her, too.

This is a novel about truth, personal redemption and the complexity of being good. It introduces a singularly gifted, multilayered character who must learn what it means to be independent and honest...before her luck runs out.

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Since her Gran died a few months ago, 20 something Molly Gray has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for her job as a hotel maid. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.
But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had- unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black.
A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

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This month on our Relaxing Reads podcast hosts Ann, Deb and Simone discuss The Most Precious Substance On Earth by Shashi Bhat. A humorous coming-of-age novel and a sharp-edged look at how silence can shape a life.
Nina, a bright, hilarious, and sensitive 14-year-old, doesn’t say anything when her best friend begins to pull away, or when her crush on her English teacher intensifies. She doesn’t say anything when her mother tries to match her up with local Halifax Indian boys unfamiliar with her Saved by the Bell references, or when her worried father starts reciting Hindu prayers outside her bedroom door.
And she won’t speak of the incident in high school that changes the course of her life.
On her tumultuous path from nineties high school student to present-day high school teacher, Nina will learn difficult truths about existing as a woman in the world.

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This month on our Relaxing Reads podcast hosts Ann, Deb and Simone discuss Dial A for Aunties by author Jesse Q. Sutanto - a super funny and quirky novel that is part thriller, part rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture.  When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it's accidentally shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy her Ma, and aunties are working, at an island resort on the California coastline. But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy's great college love—and biggest heartbreak—makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Such a great read. Plus we chat with Author Jesse Q. Sutanto about how she came up with this concept, her favourite moment in the book and about this novel becoming a Netflix film.

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The Relaxing Reads podcast hosted by Ann, Deb and Simone. This month they read The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox. A feel-good, holiday-themed romantic comedy about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas

It’s like Gilmore Girls meets the Parent Trap meets Cake Wars. We really enjoyed this one and were able to have

Book authors Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley join us for a Q & A.

Book Synopsis

When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell--both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie's identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family's bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won't get the memo that they're over.

With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven't done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician's assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins' identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track.

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Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives will change forever. Wow what a party – this book had a lot of family drama and a party we wish we could have attended.  We laughed a lot during our chat – this book was good!

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Hosts Deb, Ann & Simone discuss Lauren Weisberger's "Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty".

From the bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and When Life Gives You Lululemons comes a highly entertaining, sharply observed novel about sisters, their perfect lives . . . and their perfect lies.

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Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.

Poppy and Alex have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

This is such a great summer beach read. We read it in record speed.  Listen to our thoughts on this steamy novel!

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What if you could see yourself as others see you? Astra is a beguiling debut novel that reveals the different faces of one woman, as seen through the eyes of ten people over a lifetime.  This was a nice easy read. We enjoyed how the chapters were laid out and how it was told over time.  Astra also joins us to answer our questions.

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A novel of orphans and widows, terror and hope, and the relationships that hold us together when things fall apart. This took us a little time to get into, but it did not disappoint especially the plot twist in the end.  This book also looks at a part of a very interesting piece of history in Canada when it comes to home children ad paupers’ auctions. Beth also joins us to chat!

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A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family–and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for–and everything she feared.  This was a page turner. We had a ton of questions – especially about the ending for Ashley who joins us during our chat.

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Cathrin Bradbury's life imploded in the space of a few months. Her beloved parents died, her marriage limped to an end after twenty-five years, her heavily mortgaged house turned against her, and a promising new romance ended in crushing disappointment.

But somewhere in that year, a new path, three or four, began to open up. It’s a lot to go through, but there is always a Bright Side and Cathrin joins Simone, Deb and Ann to share how she found it, during an intimate Q & A.

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In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse Thistle—once a high school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar—chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is. Simone read this book in two days! It’s just such an eye-opener and inspirational story. Highly recommend!

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