This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, I earn from qualifying purchases.
March is typically one of my favorite months. Spring is that much closer, and it’s also my birthday month….and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a birthday person. A month filled with celebrations and all my favorite people; what more could I ask for?
This year, the celebrations and the time with family and friends were needed more than ever. I thought I was busy in October and November. March had me laughing at that version of myself. Spring came in like: “Hah! You thought the fall was busy? Hold my beer.”
At least I have a beer to sip on.
I scrounged for reading time and left the month with two reads: Olga Dies Dreaming and The Golden Couple. Though I only read two books, they were two fantastic books. Maybe it was March’s way of apologizing for the stress and bad weather.
Olga Dies Dreaming
Synopsis
Olga is killing the wedding planning business with a regular slot on a national talk show and only New York’s wealthiest clients on her roster. Though she makes a living celebrating love, she avoids relationships at all costs. Taught by the best, her estranged mother, she’d rather be on her own, or so she thinks. Though her mother is proud of Olga for never settling for a man, she’s displeased that Olga is a sellout. A Puerto Rican waiting hand and foot on the same wealthy people who continue to oppress her people. Prieto, unlike his little sister Olga, chose to be a congressman to fight for the rights and freedom of his people. He didn’t expect to get tangled in the messiness of politics, nor did he plan on his mother finding out about his secrets. Both Olga and Prieto’s lives are flipped upside down when their mother reappears in their life after a thirty year absence, armed with her opinions of what they’ve become.
Review
Olga is a strong female lead. Though her actions may sometimes be questionable, there’s no doubt she represents independence and confidence. Olga makes mistakes, struggles, makes the wrong decisions, and doubts herself at times. But she also picks herself back up, cleans up her messes, finds a solution, and sticks to her guns. If there’s any guarantee in life, it’s this: nothing will be perfect, and everything will be messy. It’s the response to all the mess that determines qualities like independence and confidence.
Olga’s strength is balanced by Prieto’s weakness. Though he flashes that congressman smile 24/7 on camera, fear dominates every move, every decision. Again, it’s the response to the hurdles of life that reveal a person’s qualities. Prieto’s character is as well-crafted as Olga’s. Their stories are different, but they blend together, each sibling balancing the other.
Alongside the storylines of Olga and Prieto is the story of Puerto Rico. Everything from history, the fight for freedom, and the devastating 2017 Hurricane Maria are touched on through dialogue and character background. The presentation is strategic, adding to the overall story and bringing a necessary dynamic.
Olga Dies Dreaming was a slower read for me, but I appreciated the pace. Between the characters, themes, and Puerto Rican history, there’s a lot of information to unpack. I wasn’t expecting so much history and political discussion, but I learned so much from it and ultimately loved Gonzalez’s decision to include it. This is a MUST read!
Rating
The Golden Couple
Synopsis
In just 10 sessions, Avery can change a life. This is exactly the guarantee Marissa Bishop is hoping for when she convinces her husband Matthew to go to marriage counseling. Though the methods may be unconventional, Marissa is willing to try anything to get her marriage back. Avery takes them on as clients because she’s intrigued. The Bishops may present as a perfect, wealthy couple, but she senses that not all is as it seems. As Avery gets more involved and the three characters’ lives become more entwined, lies and danger are heightened.
Rating
Domestic thrillers are commonplace these days. Most make avid thriller readers shrug their shoulders and just think: Meh, it’s been done before or sounds like 20 other books on my shelf. While The Golden Couple doesn’t necessarily bring a groundbreaking twist to the genre, it does provide a fresh take on the classic storyline everyone loves so much.
Everyone is sketchy. Describing Avery’s methods as “unconventional” is an understatement. Most normal people would fire her and then promptly start googling how to file a restraining order or a lawsuit. If there were one word to describe Matthew’s vibes: cheater. Marissa can’t stop lying, and it’s difficult to trust anyone who tells lies as easily as her. Worse, her assistant Polly gives both Marissa and the reader the creeps. No employee should know as much as Polly does about her boss. There are stalkers and exes who just WON’T let go, never expected or wanted but always showing up.
Because it’s hard to trust any of the characters, the reader is left guessing right up until the end of the novel. The suspense and suspicion also fuel the fast pace, making this a page turner.
Truthfully, I didn’t have high expectations coming into this one. I was in the mood for a quick read and this checked the box. After the first 5 pages I was hooked and completely surprised that I loved it so much. The only thing The Golden Couple could do to become a 5 star read is forge a new path in domestic thriller genre, but then it wouldn’t be the same experience. It’s not new, but it keeps the details that fans love while bringing a fresh take and all the suspense to the party.
Pick this one up if you’re here for the thrillers!
Rating:
SIGN UP FOR MY MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
CHECK OUT MY RECENT POSTS
- Visit Arizona: Explore, Hike, and Discover Scottsdale, Sedona and More!
- Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Anxiety as an Adult Woman: Mental Health Matters
- REVIEW: The Layover by Lacie Waldon
- March Mini Reviews: Olga Dies Dreaming and The Golden Couple
- February Mini Reviews: The Vanishing Half, Reckless Girls, A Slow Fire Burning
Kelliemarie Mash 