If you’ve noticed that I’ve been trying to theme my ARC Reviews this year then, first of all, thank you so much for paying attention to me, and secondly, the actual theme of this one is books outside my comfort zone that I wanted to read anyway. But that feels unfair because at the end of the day, These Summer Storms can easily be miscategorized as a romance and I’m okay with that. Anyway, the three books we’re talking about today are Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley, which is a YA mystery/thriller/suspense situation. Listen, I do not read enough of any of those genres to know which category this one is supposed to go in. Just being honest. But it did have me super on edge so there’s that. These Heathens by Mia McKenzie is a historical fiction book about a Black teenager who gets pregnant and doesn’t want to be, which is a topic I’m very interested in, but historical fiction is a genre that I’m so slow to pick up even though I generally enjoy it. Then finally, we have These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean’s first foray into contemporary fiction, a direction that I enjoyed and still selfishly hope she’s gotten out of her system because she’s one of the few historical romance authors I still pick up and read immediately. Anyway, I had each of these books as an ARC, though I’m not sure if I read any of them in e-ARC form… Oh well. Let’s review them, shall we?
Sisters in the Wind
by Angeline Boulley
If you’ve read each of Boulley’s books, then you should know that chronologically, this book comes in between Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed. If you’ve not read past Firekeeper’s Daughter, I would recommend picking this one up before Warrior Girl Unearthed if you were similarly obsessed with Jamie and Daunis (but I should note, this is NOT a romance. For a lot of reasons.). Also, no, I do not care that the other two books are specifically marked as being a part of a series and this one is outside of it. I am telling you, they are all three connected. Thank you so much.
Anyway, Sisters in the Wind is dealing with ICWA, the Indian Child Welfare Act, which is more or less a piece of legislation that is designed to make sure that Native children are able to keep their heritage and Native placements are prioritized over non-Native placements to make sure that happens. In Sisters in the Wind though, Lucy is raised as a White girl and aside from comments made by others, she thought she was white, up until her father died and her step-mom said something quite insensitive to her about her birth mother. Anyway, long story short, what we know at the beginning of the book about Lucy is that she’s sort of living on the run. Everything for Lucy has to be temporary, but it’s not clear why. That’s part of the mystery that we’re uncovering. Something happens and who would appear but Jamie and Daunis from Firekeeper’s Daughter. Did I scream? Yes.
I loved this book, cried over this book, and want Angeline Boulley to keep writing forever. I am not a mystery reader, really, and anything even remotely scary does in fact, scare me. But my obsession with Boulley’s writing is going strong. I was listening to this book, but got tired of not being able to listen as fast as my eyes can read so I would switch back and forth to devour this book. And truly, if you haven’t read it, what better time than now? (It’s Native American Heritage Month!)
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
Essentially, These Heathens follows the life of Doris Steele for about the span of a long weekend when she’s pregnant and doesn’t want to be. Set in the early 1960s, Doris goes to her favorite teacher and seeks help for her situation, which takes her to Atlanta. I feel like the book wanted to be wider in scope than just dealing with the abortion, but didn’t seem to know how to commit to telling a bigger story. And when I say how to, I mean, it felt like the author had so much more in her head about Doris’s life, but she was trying to keep it tight, but then information kept slipping out that opened it up. I’m not sure I’m explaining myself well, but essentially, while the book was good, it was ultimately not entirely satisfying for me.
These Summer Storms
by Sarah MacLean
It’s been months since I read These Summer Storms and I remain conflicted about what I actually think of it. On the one hand, it was fantastic, but on the other hand, I remained fairly detached as I read it and I’m not used to that from Sarah MacLean. These Summer Storms is a contemporary, family drama, which in all fairness is not something I tend to pick up. (Love to watch on screen though, so you know, movie maker people, feel free to make this one because you will have my eyeballs.)
But essentially, this book follows Alice and her siblings as they return home after the death of their father. Each of them has a bit of a complicated relationship with both their deceased father and one another (and their mom). And when the terms of the will are read by the very cute lawyer who sort of already betrayed Alice’s trust, the terms are wild. For Alice, she cannot leave throughout the weekend. And so we follow Alice and co throughout the weekend figuring out what caused the breakdown of her familial relationships and watching things develop then go multiple steps backward with all of the other people on the island.
Ultimately, the book is very entertaining and has stayed on my shelves through my move so you know I must be quite fond of it. I think though it needs a reread for me to confirm to myself my thoughts for certain.
Closing Thoughts
Definitely a situation where I had one incredible stand out, but all three books are ones that I’m really glad to have read. Have you picked up any of these? Let me know!
xx
firewhiskeyreader 