Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 245 pages, 2007 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: The cover; the topic reminded me of The Rhythm of the Road by Albyn Leah Hall, an early favourite of 2007. Synopsis: 13-year-old Luli can’t take her bleak home life any longer and bolts, gunning for Las Vegas and the unusual dream of […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 327 pages, 2008 Rating: 9/10 Reason for Reading: While I never personally experienced having an over-the-top soccer mom, I witnessed a few through teammates when I was in grade school so this seemed like it could be a funny read. Synopsis: Annie Fleming is out of a job – but not […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover, 260 pages, 2008 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: I had my eye on Kidd’s debut novel since it first came out but it was a case of ‘too many books, too little time,’ so I was glad when this second novel fell into my hands. Synopsis: When Happy finishes college in […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover, 275 pages, 2007 Rating: 7/10 Reason for Reading: I liked the idea, but not the execution, of Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada, so I was hoping Clark would have better luck with the boss-from-hell story. Synopsis: After years of ups and downs, Claire Truman has nailed it: she has the […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover, 258 pages, 2006 Rating: 9/10 Reason for Reading: Teleky was a creative writing professor (though, not mine) when I was at York University, which lead me to one of his previous novels, Pack Up the Moon. Synopsis: Irene Dunne is a recent widow, still adjusting to her loss when more terrible […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover, 309 pages, 2007 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: I’d been reading The Grand Ole Opry so the country music parallel seemed apt. Synopsis: Jo doesn’t have an average life for a teenage girl, but it’s one she loves – on the road in England with her trucker father, listening to country […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 339 pages, 2006 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: All these years of reading chick-lit and I’d never read an author from Toronto, my hometown – it practically seemed mandatory. Synopsis: Meredith Moore excels as a ‘continuity girl’ – the girl on film sets that makes sure each take fits in perfectly […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 340 pages, 2006 Rating: 9/10 Reason for Reading: It’s that weakness for chick-lit. Synopsis: Thirty-three-year-old Iris Hedge has left California for a dream job in New York City, only to lose it to ‘restructuring’ before she’s even settled in. Now she’s broke and stranded in a city where she barely knows […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover, 387 pages, 2006 Rating: 8/10 Reason for Reading: I liked White Oleander. Synopsis: Josie Tyrell is a troubled teenager with no real direction other than which way the LA music scene blows, but she thought she had a chance at real love and a real life with Michael, an artist who […]