Nikki, Diane and Orla have been friends since they played sisters in a production of Fiddler on the Roof.  As time passed, the friends moved away but always stayed connected.  Nikki marries a real estate tycoon after a successful run of a show and then becomes a mother.  Diane experiences ups and downs in her screenwriting career, and Orla settles into a job at a travel agency.  After surviving the AIDS epidemic that took many of their theatre friends, an economic crash, the attacks on the World Trade Center, COVID-19, and devastating California wildfires, Nikki and Diane learn that Orla is missing.  They set off to Manhattan to find their friend. 

Manhattan Triptych is a story about life, friendship and overcoming loss. Nikki, Diane and Orla are all very realistic characters with imperfections and flaws; they all seem like friends I might know.  The writing shows the messy realities of life and how the three friends navigate different challenges whether by meeting them head-on, pretending they don't exist, or escaping to a new reality.  The timeline hops back and forth through time slowly revealing secrets, motivations and what happened to Orla. Nikki, Diane and Orla's stories strongly display the power of friendship across time, distance, and trauma. 

This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Halloween on Jute Island is always a big deal, residents start dressing up and decorating as soon as October hits. Seth must face this October without his best friend, Colin, who recently passed away.  As Seth helps Colin's uncle around the churchyards, he encounters a young woman he's never seen before.  Peggy is unique and seems to appear out of nowhere, but she understands Seth's grief and shares his love of music.  As Seth and Peggy continue to meet and create music, Seth pairs Peggy's story with the old island mystery of the missing girl, Margaret McCulloch, and begins to uncover the truth.  As Seth and Peggy spend more time together, Seth begins to recover from his grief. He finds companionship with a new intern, William, at his mother's marine refuge as well as receiving a precious reward for unravelling the mystery of Margaret McColloch. 

October's Ocean is a young adult, paranormal novel that explores themes of friendship, grief, and the enduring power of music. The writing drew me in from the beginning with sensory details and vivid descriptions that made me feel as if I were on Jute Island.  The mystery of Margaret's disappearance and her missing family jewels was introduced early on, keeping me intrigued.  Seth's character was well-developed, and his journey through grief was beautifully described. At first, Seth is overcome with his grief saying "I've never had to do anything without him. And now I have to do everything...Even breathing seems impossible.  Everything feels like a mountain." Margaret is dealing with grief herself, though has had much more time to process, and provides valuable insights to Seth at the right time. I enjoyed seeing Seth bond with Margaret and William, effectively showing that love can have many different forms.  Overall, October's Ocean is an emotional and heartfelt story incorporating mystery, hope and love.  

This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review.