Review: "What's Mine and Yours," by Naima Coster

 

What's Mine and Yours, by Naima Coster, is a multiperspective novel that takes you back and forth from the past to the present. On one side, you have the Ventura sisters and their dysfunctional parents, and on the other side you have Gee and his overbearing mother. This character-driven novel is a contemporary perspective of racial tension in a small town.  Mothers will go through all lengths to do what they think is best for their children, even when sometimes those decisions ostracize their own children. I enjoyed the storytelling and discovering how everyone is connected in unexpected ways. 

Review: "The Neighbor's Secret," by L. Alison Heller

 

The Neighbor's Secret, by L. Allison Heller. How well do you really know your neighbors? In this idyllic suburban neighborhood, the neighbors host monthly book clubs complete with themed drinks. Some neighbors have lived there for decades and have seen families, tragedies, and neighborhood drama come and go. Everyone has their own secret, and neighbors are connected in ways they have yet to discover.  The story is slow at first because there are a lot of characters to meet, each with their own backstories and conflict.  However, as the narrative moves along and the secrets unravel, the book is hard to put down.