Beck Dorey-Stein

Great (Summer) Read. This is one of those books that is a great read at any time of the year, but by the end feels particularly like the great "end of summer" movies of old such as American Pie. Largely taking place over the course of one summer, with its titular event the week after Labor Day, this book follows three former high school friends as they rediscover themselves and each other now in their early 30s. Dorey-Stein does a remarkable job of showing inherently flawed - and thus, show more realistic - characters just trying to live their lives and rebuild old friendships in the wake of various personal tragedies and struggles, all with a smattering of laugh out loud hilarity and heart breaking poignancy. One of those books and stories with a great deal of catharsis and resetting, perfect for the "let's get back to work" period there at the end of summer - or any time one needs such a feeling. Very much recommended. show less

The candy colored cover drops a little hint about the tone of this memoir. The little tidbits about rubbing elbows with players of the Obama administration fill the book and give this privileged twenty-something tell-all some clout. The meat of the book, however, takes the reader on an amusement park ride of her relationships in her mid -twenties that can best be described as cringe-worthy. . . . But. . . . But. Like passing an accident on the side of the road, I just couldn't stop reading. show more Nor could I stop rooting for her (ok, and maybe yelling at the book for her to just drop that guy . . . and that guy). And, for this reason, I recommend this memoir as a juicy summer read.

I received an advanced copy of this memoir from the publisher via netgalley. Thanks!! show less

An interesting look into the White House from an insider who lacks any influence or power. A secretarial perspective, but that is what makes it a bit different. Almost more of a young adult courtship memoir, which just happens to include Barack Obama anecdotes. Full of youthful vigor, some really questionable romantic choices, politics and the sad transition from Obama to Trump. A romping good read as they say, fun and oddly frivolous considering the settings.

I’m just going to say it…I loved this book! It touched me on so many levels and I found it so relatable. Soccer…I’ve learned to love the game. The references of all that goes into the training and the sacrifices were spot on. The sister dynamics, along with the mother/daughter interactions are always somewhat hard to capture, but this storyline was so well done. It really highlights what it means to be a family. The illness reference hit very close to home for me. These characters show more were raw, life threw so much at them, but I loved their development and the ending was all that I hoped it would be. This book is to soccer what Carrie Soto is Back was to tennis. This book was emotionally charged and I can’t stop thinking about it. Have tissues handy. This will definitely be in my Top 10 for 2025.

I’ve never read this author before but she is now on my radar. I look forward to her next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for this ARC. This is my honest opinion. show less