Ballantine Books Archives - Dear Mr. Hemingway, LLC

The Senator’s Wife

March 12, 2023 by Kelly Fredericks

March 12, 2023

Hello Reading Family!

It is damp and cold here in Maine with more snow on the way. What better way to dream of springtime than to put on your radar a May new release book to pre-order. Not only will you have blooming tulips to look forward to, but also a new book in your mailbox.

Liv Constantine’ latest book, The Senator’s Wife comes out May 23rd and its wildly entertaining. This writing duo knows how to get their domestic thriller ON! I loved the backstory of how Sloane and Whit came to be married. The relationship between them and their deceased spouses was rich in history and dirty buried secrets. The story is told through multiple point of views and I was constantly questioning the reliability of all the characters. I wish I could offer ALL my thoughts on the players in this twisted tale, but can’t without giving anything away. I will share that I enjoyed Sloane’s POV. The potency of her confusion and paranoia was made abundantly clear through Constantine’s fantastic writing. Her frustration of being trapped in her bedroom while her health rapidly deteriorated BLED from the pages in the best possible way. I was literally fiddling about in my reading chair. I adored the political backdrop and of course LOVED the extra “money to spare” being thrown around (Naughty Powerful Rich People…yes please). The craziness of ALL the mind games played MADE this story a wicked BLAST to read. On a side note, Sloane, Whit, and Athena gave me “Mrs. Parrish” vibes and it worked 100% for me.

The Senator’s Wife is a slow burn, snappy domestic thriller-perfect to read at the beach or poolside this summer! It kept me guessing every step the way.

Pre-order this book ASAP!
xoxo,
Kelly

Synopsis:

“After a tragic chain of events led to the deaths of their spouses two years ago, DC philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are finally starting to move on. The horrifying ordeal drew them together, and now they’re ready to settle down again–with each other.

As Sloane returns to the world of White House dinners and political small talk, this time with her new husband, she’s also preparing for an upcoming hip replacement–the latest reminder of the lupus she’s managed since her twenties. With their hectic schedules, they decide that hiring a home health aide will give Sloane the support and independence she needs postsurgery. And they find the perfect fit in Athena Karras.

Seemingly a godsend, Athena tends to Sloane and even helps her run her charitable foundation. But Sloane slowly begins to deteriorate–a complication, Athena explains, of Sloane’s lupus. As weeks go by, Sloane becomes sicker, and her uncertainty quickly turns to paranoia as she begins to suspect the worst. Why is Athena asking her so many probing questions about her foundation–as well as about her past? And could Sloane be imagining the sultry looks between Athena and her new husband?”

Click on the pic to pre-order this book!

*I received an advance reader of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are 100% my own. If I don’t like it…I don’t share it!

*Book links provided in today’s post are affiliate links. Dear Mr. Hemingway makes a tiny commission through books purchased in our storefront. Even better, 20% of purchases made through the Dear Mr. Hemingway storefront go towards an independent bookstore. Thank you so much for all of your support!

DAISY JONES & THE SIX

March 3, 2023 by Kelly Fredericks

March 3, 2023

Hello Sweet Book Friends!

HAPPY DAISY JONES & THE SIX DAY! Today is the day, so many of us have been waiting for. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s 2019 smash hit, Daisy Jones & The Six is officially out for all of us TO WATCH ON TV!!!!!!! That is right. We can watch the first three episodes right now on PRIME VIDEO, then patiently wait each Friday for the next one to drop.

If you haven’t read Daisy Jones & The Six, hop to it. This book is an absolute MASTERPIECE! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. The cast of narrators is phenomenal, and Jennifer Beals as Daisy Jones is the ultimate treat. The rock n’ roll scene of the 1970s saturates the pages of Reid’s book in the most excellent way possible. To say she captured this iconic era that dripped in music, drugs, and flower power with preciseness would be an understatement. Daisy Jones isn’t written in a traditional format. Instead, it is told in a series of interviews, making it totally unique. This oral account of the making and breaking of a legendary band allowed me to get inside the head of every single one of the characters and added depth to the already sizzling and emotionally charged relationship between Daisy Jones and Billy and Camila Dunne.

Daisy Jones & the Six is a brilliant work of fiction that 100% reads like a true story (with a similar ring), is wildly entertaining, full of passion, and should have front-row parking on your bookshelf!

Make this book happen!

Happy reading, listening, & watching!

xoxo,

Kelly

#DEARBASICBUDDYREADS JANUARY SELECTION

January 9, 2023 by Kelly Fredericks

*Pines* by Blake Crouch (Ballantine Books)

January 9, 2023

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is settled into the new year. Today I am sharing our January selection for the #DEARBASICBUDDYREADS online book club. We will be taking it back a decade and reading Pines by Blake Crouch, which is the first in a trilogy. I loved 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 and 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, so why not see what this author’s backlist beauty is all about!!!!⁣
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As always, we will be reading our selection at our own pace this January, followed by a private Instagram chat at the end of the month.⁣
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Check out the synopsis below and come visit me on Instagram @dearmrhemingway to join.
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Cheers to all the fabulous reading in 2023!⁣
xoxo,⁣
Kelly
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𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬⁣
“ One way in. No way out.⁣
Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a mission: locate two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase.⁣
As the days pass, Ethan’s investigation turns up more questions than answers: Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out?⁣
Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan farther from the world he knew, from the man he was, until he must face a horrifying fact–he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive.”

#boymom #boydad

January 8, 2021April 20, 2020 by Kelly Fredericks

Decoding Boys: New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons

By Cara Natterson, M.D.

(Ballantine Books)

April 20, 2020

Dear Mr. Hemingway,

As you may know, I am a mom to three boys, ages 10, 12, and 14. I grew up with all sisters, so having a group of boys living in my house is quite foreign to me. As I adapt to the newfound smells in my house, the pee on my toilet seats, and the overall surge of testosterone all around me, I am constantly trying to figure out how to raise these boys in a world much different than when I was their age. Dr. Cara Natterson’s latest book, Decoding Boys, has been an incredible resource. She is a pediatrician, speaker, consultant, New York Times best-selling author of several health and parenting books, and most of all….a boy mom. Dr. Natterson takes her readers on a journey into the world of boys. It turns out, there is actually a method to their madness. Let’s get to it.

To start off, Dr. Natterson’s book tackles puberty, brain development and the importance of communicating with our sons. It is the perfect read for parents with boys about to enter this wild world of change (8 years old and up) and for those in the throws of it as well. To begin, Dr. Natterson explains the physiology of puberty and the timeline of maturation. She discusses how brain development is not directly related to puberty and that even though our boys may look older, their brains are many steps behind (that actually makes sense to me as I say the same thing over and over again to my boys). On top of all the science behind a boy’s brain and development, Dr. Natterson debunks the notion of leaving a quiet boy alone. So many boys appear to be “men of few words”, especially when compared to girls. However, prompting and engaging in conversations with our boys is absolutely critical during this adolescent journey.

“Ultimately, I have come to believe that in order to parent our boys best, we must get over the notion that silence is golden. We wouldn’t – we don’t – tolerate our girls shutting their doors and shutting us out, because she needs to know. Well, it’s time to start raising our boys more like we raise our girls. If there’s one thing you will realize while reading this book, I hope it’s that he needs to know, too.”

Dr. Natterson does an excellent job of presenting the physical process of growing boys. She also makes it very clear that the consequences of parents not talking to their sons is growing more severe each day. She then jumps right into the nitty gritty of what is to come for so many of us parents. She goes into great detail about the importance of talking to boys about sex. She offers tips and strategies on how to get the conversations started in an organic way. Now if this makes you uncomfortable, then buckle up quickly. Dr. Natterson dives right into the pool of the 97 billion dollar online industry called PORN. Yes, you may actually sweat reading this section. It is hard to imagine our sweet boys anywhere near this stuff. But guess what, 97% of boys will see porn before they are twenty. The birds and the bees “talk” is no longer a one and done conversation anymore. It now involves ongoing dialogue about porn, “sexting”, consent, and so much more. They definitely did not warn us parents of this in the What to Expect While Expecting pregnancy books. Who would have thought that all of this was a part of having a cute little baby boy?

Brain development, puberty and sex is what we expected, right (ok…not the porn part though)? However, parenting boys in the 21st century is HARD! In addition to all of the above, we now have to be on top of our game when it comes to body image (not just a girl issue), addiction, gaming and gun violence. Is your heart rate up yet? Mine surely is! This is why I love this book. Dr. Natterson ties in all of these current issues with what is going on with our developing boys. Her facts and trends are coupled with strategies that will put your mind at ease. You can now exhale!!!

Through the years, I have read and thumbed through numerous books on raising boys. None of them came close to offering me insight into this unfamiliar gender than Decoding Boys. Dr. Natterson’s book is based on science, facts and experience. What sets this book apart is its contemporary information and relevant game plans for navigating these uncharted waters. Raising “masculine” boys that do not need to talk about things because it isn’t considered “manly” is a thing of the past. Raising boys who are encouraged to communicate their feelings and talk about uncomfortable issues is what is going to help keep them safe and guide them in future decision making. It is NEVER too early to start talking to your boys. I highly recommend that all parents of boys have this book on their bookshelves. Let the convos begin!

Happy talking!

Your Biggest Fan,

Kelly

P.S. “A boy’s story is the best that is ever told.”

— Charles Dickens

Click on the book pic below to purchase.

Decoding Boys: New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons

By Cara Natterson, M.D.

(Ballantine Books)

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