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All About Evie
Set against the natural beauty of the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest, acclaimed author Cathy Lamb's latest novel tells the emotionally compelling story of one woman's life-changing discovery about her past . . .
As a child, Evie Lindsay was unnerved by her premonitions. As an adult, they have become a simple fact of life--sometimes disruptive but also inescapable, much like her quirky, loveable family. Evie's mother, Poppy, and her aunts, Camellia and Iris, are well known on San Orcanita island for their free-spirited ways and elaborately decorated hats. Their floral shop and Evie's bookstore draw streams of visitors all summer long. This season promises to be extra busy: Evie's sister, Jules, is getting married on the island.
As Jules plans her unconventional wedding, she arranges to do a DNA test with her mother, sister, and aunts, to see how much accepted lore about their heritage holds true. The results blow apart everything Evie has grown up believing about herself and her family. Spurred on by the revelations, Evie uncovers the real story of her past. But beyond her feelings of shock and betrayal, there are unexpected opportunities--to come to terms with a gift that has sometimes felt like a curse, to understand the secrets that surrounded her childhood, and to embrace the surprising new life that is waiting for her . . .
As a child, Evie Lindsay was unnerved by her premonitions. As an adult, they have become a simple fact of life--sometimes disruptive but also inescapable, much like her quirky, loveable family. Evie's mother, Poppy, and her aunts, Camellia and Iris, are well known on San Orcanita island for their free-spirited ways and elaborately decorated hats. Their floral shop and Evie's bookstore draw streams of visitors all summer long. This season promises to be extra busy: Evie's sister, Jules, is getting married on the island.
As Jules plans her unconventional wedding, she arranges to do a DNA test with her mother, sister, and aunts, to see how much accepted lore about their heritage holds true. The results blow apart everything Evie has grown up believing about herself and her family. Spurred on by the revelations, Evie uncovers the real story of her past. But beyond her feelings of shock and betrayal, there are unexpected opportunities--to come to terms with a gift that has sometimes felt like a curse, to understand the secrets that surrounded her childhood, and to embrace the surprising new life that is waiting for her . . .
480 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2019
296 people are currently reading
4347 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Lamb
24 books1,599 followersCathy Lamb was born in Newport Beach, California. As a child, she mastered the art of skateboarding, catching butterflies in bottles, and riding her bike with no hands. When she was 10, her parents moved her, two sisters, a brother, and two poorly behaved dogs to Oregon before she could fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a surfer bum.
She then embarked on her notable academic career where she earned good grades now and then, spent a great deal of time daydreaming, ran wild with a number of friends, and landed on the newspaper staff in high school. When she saw her byline above an article about people making out in the hallways of the high school, she knew she had found her true calling.
After two years of partying at the University of Oregon, she settled down for the next three years and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and became a fourth grade teacher. It was difficult for her to become proper and conservative but she threw out her red cowboy boots and persevered. She had no choice. She had to eat, and health insurance is expensive.
She met her husband on a blind date. A mutual friend who was an undercover vice cop busting drug dealers set them up. It was love at third sight.
Teaching children about the Oregon Trail and multiplication facts amused her until she became so gigantically pregnant with twins she looked like a small cow and could barely walk. With a three year old at home, she decided it was time to make a graceful exit and waddle on out. She left school one day and never went back. She likes to think her students missed her.
When Cathy was no longer smothered in diapers and pacifiers, she took a turn onto the hazardous road of freelance writing and wrote almost 200 articles on homes, home décor, people and fashion for a local newspaper. As she is not fashionable and can hardly stand to shop, it was an eye opener for her to find that some women actually do obsess about what to wear. She also learned it would probably be more relaxing to slam a hammer against one’s forehead than engage in a large and costly home remodeling project.
Cathy suffers from, “I Would Rather Play Than Work Disease” which prevents her from getting much work done unless she has a threatening deadline. She likes to hang with family and friends, walk, eat chocolate, camp, travel, and is slightly obsessive about the types of books she reads. She also likes to be left alone a lot so she can hear all the odd characters in her head talk to each other and then transfer that oddness to paper. The characters usually don’t start to talk until 10:00 at night, however, so she is often up ‘til 2:00 in the morning with them. That is her excuse for being cranky.
She adores her children and husband, except when he refuses to take his dirty shoes off and walks on the carpet. She will ski because her children insist, but she secretly doesn’t like it at all. Too cold and she falls all the time.
She is currently working on her next book and isn’t sleeping much.
She then embarked on her notable academic career where she earned good grades now and then, spent a great deal of time daydreaming, ran wild with a number of friends, and landed on the newspaper staff in high school. When she saw her byline above an article about people making out in the hallways of the high school, she knew she had found her true calling.
After two years of partying at the University of Oregon, she settled down for the next three years and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and became a fourth grade teacher. It was difficult for her to become proper and conservative but she threw out her red cowboy boots and persevered. She had no choice. She had to eat, and health insurance is expensive.
She met her husband on a blind date. A mutual friend who was an undercover vice cop busting drug dealers set them up. It was love at third sight.
Teaching children about the Oregon Trail and multiplication facts amused her until she became so gigantically pregnant with twins she looked like a small cow and could barely walk. With a three year old at home, she decided it was time to make a graceful exit and waddle on out. She left school one day and never went back. She likes to think her students missed her.
When Cathy was no longer smothered in diapers and pacifiers, she took a turn onto the hazardous road of freelance writing and wrote almost 200 articles on homes, home décor, people and fashion for a local newspaper. As she is not fashionable and can hardly stand to shop, it was an eye opener for her to find that some women actually do obsess about what to wear. She also learned it would probably be more relaxing to slam a hammer against one’s forehead than engage in a large and costly home remodeling project.
Cathy suffers from, “I Would Rather Play Than Work Disease” which prevents her from getting much work done unless she has a threatening deadline. She likes to hang with family and friends, walk, eat chocolate, camp, travel, and is slightly obsessive about the types of books she reads. She also likes to be left alone a lot so she can hear all the odd characters in her head talk to each other and then transfer that oddness to paper. The characters usually don’t start to talk until 10:00 at night, however, so she is often up ‘til 2:00 in the morning with them. That is her excuse for being cranky.
She adores her children and husband, except when he refuses to take his dirty shoes off and walks on the carpet. She will ski because her children insist, but she secretly doesn’t like it at all. Too cold and she falls all the time.
She is currently working on her next book and isn’t sleeping much.
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November 11, 2019
EXCERPT:The house is tucked back in the trees, in the middle of a field, a little ways out of town. The wildflowers and feverfew and irises would bloom soon, an old willow to one side, a gnarled oak tree in the front. Weeds had overtaken much of the yard.
It used to be charming, a bright yellow home with white trim and a green door. Now it wasn't. I had many memories that were stuck behind the dirty, ragged white picket fence and in the backyard, by the pond. There were memories at the end of a rope swing hanging from the willow tree, in the highest branches of the oak tree, and in a fort that had since fallen down behind the house.
Inside the house, too, were memories. In the kitchen with hand-painted yellow tiles. In a back bedroom painted a cheerful pink.
The pink bedroom didn't match with the blood in the kitchen.
I sniffled as my eyes filled with tears.
What had happened there was my fault and I have never forgotten it, never forgiven myself. I had been young, yes, but I had known better.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: As a child, Evie Lindsay was unnerved by her premonitions. As an adult, they have become a simple fact of life—sometimes disruptive but also inescapable, much like her quirky, loveable family. Evie’s mother, Poppy, and her aunts, Camellia and Iris, are well known on San Orcanita island for their free-spirited ways and elaborately decorated hats. Their floral shop and Evie’s bookstore draw streams of visitors all summer long. This season promises to be extra busy: Evie’s sister, Jules, is getting married on the island.
As Jules plans her unconventional wedding, she arranges to do a DNA test with her mother, sister, and aunts, to see how much accepted lore about their heritage holds true. The results blow apart everything Evie has grown up believing about herself and her family. Spurred on by the revelations, Evie uncovers the real story of her past. But beyond her feelings of shock and betrayal, there are unexpected opportunities—to come to terms with a gift that has sometimes felt like a curse, to understand the secrets that surrounded her childhood, and to embrace the surprising new life that is waiting for her . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Anything with Cathy Lamb's name on it is an immediate draw-card for me, whether she has written the book or is simply endorsing it. So you can understand my going into shock when, at 4%, I thought 'I don't like this book. I. Do. Not. Like. It.' I sulked and wondered why she had written such a stupid book. I blamed it on my current reading slump, or book hangover, whatever you want to call it, stomped about a bit, then gave myself a mental kick in the rear, picked up All About Evie and kept reading, because I did not believe Cathy Lamb would write a book I didn't love.
...and fell in love with Evie. I love her sense of humour, her sense of family, her stubbornness, her love of books, her love of animals, her love of food, her sass. I want her to be my sister, my BFF. I need an Evie in my life!
I laughed. I cried. I ranted - mostly at Evie because I didn't understand why she was doing what she was doing. I wondered if she was one of those people who enjoy torturing themselves... This book was FUN.
I loved her eccentric family. And now is probably a good time to share a few of my favourite quotes from All About Evie. Picking just a few was extremely hard, but I could not limit myself to just my normal one....
'we should have a day off each month where everyone is required to stay home and read and read and eat their favourite cake.'
'I so hate running. It makes me breathless. Now and then I see people running or jogging, and I think, 'My, that looks miserable.''
'"We all have to take time each day for meditation and tranquility." "Yes," Aunt iris said. "And beer. Or tequila."'
So why not the full five stars? Because Cathy didn't include the recipes for the cakes.....I want to eat the five layer chocolate ecstasy cake, and all the others that had me drooling as I read. Or are you planning, Cathy, to publish a separate cookbook with all the yummy recipes of the beautiful cakes and pies in this book. I hope so. And if you need a tester.....
4 five layer chocolate ecstasy stars
THE AUTHOR: Cathy Lamb was born in Newport Beach, California. As a child, she mastered the art of skateboarding, catching butterflies in bottles, and riding her bike with no hands. When she was 10, her parents moved her, two sisters, a brother, and two poorly behaved dogs to Oregon before she could fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a surfer bum.
She then embarked on her notable academic career where she earned good grades now and then, spent a great deal of time daydreaming, ran wild with a number of friends, and landed on the newspaper staff in high school. When she saw her byline above an article about people making out in the hallways of the high school, she knew she had found her true calling.
After two years of partying at the University of Oregon, she settled down for the next three years and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and became a fourth grade teacher. It was difficult for her to become proper and conservative but she threw out her red cowboy boots and persevered. She had no choice. She had to eat, and health insurance is expensive.
She met her husband on a blind date. A mutual friend who was an undercover vice cop busting drug dealers set them up. It was love at third sight.
Teaching children about the Oregon Trail and multiplication facts amused her until she became so gigantically pregnant with twins she looked like a small cow and could barely walk. With a three year old at home, she decided it was time to make a graceful exit and waddle on out. She left school one day and never went back. She likes to think her students missed her.
When Cathy was no longer smothered in diapers and pacifiers, she took a turn onto the hazardous road of freelance writing and wrote almost 200 articles on homes, home décor, people and fashion for a local newspaper. As she is not fashionable and can hardly stand to shop, it was an eye opener for her to find that some women actually do obsess about what to wear. She also learned it would probably be more relaxing to slam a hammer against one’s forehead than engage in a large and costly home remodeling project.
Cathy suffers from, “I Would Rather Play Than Work Disease” which prevents her from getting much work done unless she has a threatening deadline. She likes to hang with family and friends, walk, eat chocolate, camp, travel, and is slightly obsessive about the types of books she reads. She also likes to be left alone a lot so she can hear all the odd characters in her head talk to each other and then transfer that oddness to paper. The characters usually don’t start to talk until 10:00 at night, however, so she is often up ‘til 2:00 in the morning with them. That is her excuse for being cranky.
She adores her children and husband, except when he refuses to take his dirty shoes off and walks on the carpet. She will ski because her children insist, but she secretly doesn’t like it at all. Too cold and she falls all the time.
She is currently working on her next book and isn’t sleeping much.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of All About Evie by Cathy Lamb for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my profile on Goodreads.com or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It used to be charming, a bright yellow home with white trim and a green door. Now it wasn't. I had many memories that were stuck behind the dirty, ragged white picket fence and in the backyard, by the pond. There were memories at the end of a rope swing hanging from the willow tree, in the highest branches of the oak tree, and in a fort that had since fallen down behind the house.
Inside the house, too, were memories. In the kitchen with hand-painted yellow tiles. In a back bedroom painted a cheerful pink.
The pink bedroom didn't match with the blood in the kitchen.
I sniffled as my eyes filled with tears.
What had happened there was my fault and I have never forgotten it, never forgiven myself. I had been young, yes, but I had known better.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: As a child, Evie Lindsay was unnerved by her premonitions. As an adult, they have become a simple fact of life—sometimes disruptive but also inescapable, much like her quirky, loveable family. Evie’s mother, Poppy, and her aunts, Camellia and Iris, are well known on San Orcanita island for their free-spirited ways and elaborately decorated hats. Their floral shop and Evie’s bookstore draw streams of visitors all summer long. This season promises to be extra busy: Evie’s sister, Jules, is getting married on the island.
As Jules plans her unconventional wedding, she arranges to do a DNA test with her mother, sister, and aunts, to see how much accepted lore about their heritage holds true. The results blow apart everything Evie has grown up believing about herself and her family. Spurred on by the revelations, Evie uncovers the real story of her past. But beyond her feelings of shock and betrayal, there are unexpected opportunities—to come to terms with a gift that has sometimes felt like a curse, to understand the secrets that surrounded her childhood, and to embrace the surprising new life that is waiting for her . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Anything with Cathy Lamb's name on it is an immediate draw-card for me, whether she has written the book or is simply endorsing it. So you can understand my going into shock when, at 4%, I thought 'I don't like this book. I. Do. Not. Like. It.' I sulked and wondered why she had written such a stupid book. I blamed it on my current reading slump, or book hangover, whatever you want to call it, stomped about a bit, then gave myself a mental kick in the rear, picked up All About Evie and kept reading, because I did not believe Cathy Lamb would write a book I didn't love.
...and fell in love with Evie. I love her sense of humour, her sense of family, her stubbornness, her love of books, her love of animals, her love of food, her sass. I want her to be my sister, my BFF. I need an Evie in my life!
I laughed. I cried. I ranted - mostly at Evie because I didn't understand why she was doing what she was doing. I wondered if she was one of those people who enjoy torturing themselves... This book was FUN.
I loved her eccentric family. And now is probably a good time to share a few of my favourite quotes from All About Evie. Picking just a few was extremely hard, but I could not limit myself to just my normal one....
'we should have a day off each month where everyone is required to stay home and read and read and eat their favourite cake.'
'I so hate running. It makes me breathless. Now and then I see people running or jogging, and I think, 'My, that looks miserable.''
'"We all have to take time each day for meditation and tranquility." "Yes," Aunt iris said. "And beer. Or tequila."'
So why not the full five stars? Because Cathy didn't include the recipes for the cakes.....I want to eat the five layer chocolate ecstasy cake, and all the others that had me drooling as I read. Or are you planning, Cathy, to publish a separate cookbook with all the yummy recipes of the beautiful cakes and pies in this book. I hope so. And if you need a tester.....
4 five layer chocolate ecstasy stars
THE AUTHOR: Cathy Lamb was born in Newport Beach, California. As a child, she mastered the art of skateboarding, catching butterflies in bottles, and riding her bike with no hands. When she was 10, her parents moved her, two sisters, a brother, and two poorly behaved dogs to Oregon before she could fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a surfer bum.
She then embarked on her notable academic career where she earned good grades now and then, spent a great deal of time daydreaming, ran wild with a number of friends, and landed on the newspaper staff in high school. When she saw her byline above an article about people making out in the hallways of the high school, she knew she had found her true calling.
After two years of partying at the University of Oregon, she settled down for the next three years and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and became a fourth grade teacher. It was difficult for her to become proper and conservative but she threw out her red cowboy boots and persevered. She had no choice. She had to eat, and health insurance is expensive.
She met her husband on a blind date. A mutual friend who was an undercover vice cop busting drug dealers set them up. It was love at third sight.
Teaching children about the Oregon Trail and multiplication facts amused her until she became so gigantically pregnant with twins she looked like a small cow and could barely walk. With a three year old at home, she decided it was time to make a graceful exit and waddle on out. She left school one day and never went back. She likes to think her students missed her.
When Cathy was no longer smothered in diapers and pacifiers, she took a turn onto the hazardous road of freelance writing and wrote almost 200 articles on homes, home décor, people and fashion for a local newspaper. As she is not fashionable and can hardly stand to shop, it was an eye opener for her to find that some women actually do obsess about what to wear. She also learned it would probably be more relaxing to slam a hammer against one’s forehead than engage in a large and costly home remodeling project.
Cathy suffers from, “I Would Rather Play Than Work Disease” which prevents her from getting much work done unless she has a threatening deadline. She likes to hang with family and friends, walk, eat chocolate, camp, travel, and is slightly obsessive about the types of books she reads. She also likes to be left alone a lot so she can hear all the odd characters in her head talk to each other and then transfer that oddness to paper. The characters usually don’t start to talk until 10:00 at night, however, so she is often up ‘til 2:00 in the morning with them. That is her excuse for being cranky.
She adores her children and husband, except when he refuses to take his dirty shoes off and walks on the carpet. She will ski because her children insist, but she secretly doesn’t like it at all. Too cold and she falls all the time.
She is currently working on her next book and isn’t sleeping much.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of All About Evie by Cathy Lamb for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my profile on Goodreads.com or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 8, 2019
Aaaahhhhh!!! I'm not even sure I have adequate words to express how much I LOVED this book! It was suggested to me by our librarian and I had no idea what to expect. While reading it I still couldn't place my expectations on the spectrum because this book is so uniquely marvelous. Evie has premonitions and, yes, this book is about those. It is, however, so very much more! It is a love story. A story of perseverance and making our own way. It's a story of compassion for the living around us - nature, animals and people. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and then laughed some more. Is there anything better one can say about a book than that? It moved me. That is as high a recommendation as I can make. Let it move you as well!
September 20, 2019
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Quirky: definitely quirky. The story of Evie, who has the gift (or curse!) of premonitions, can be exciting, even downright sweet at times - Evie is such a lovable nut. Evie is outgoing and always ready to help - just about anyone, really! Evie loves her tasty treats, her family, friends, neighbours, and most of all, her menagerie of rescued animals. You can't help but love this over the top woman.
As the novel progresses, the point of view alternates from Evie to Betsey, another, older woman with "the sight". Marco, the hot island veterinarian - and a former war vet suffering from PTSD - is pining for Evie, but she has had a premonition involving herself and the good-looking animal doctor and refuses to endanger his life by giving in to their mutual attraction. Marco was just the sweetest, most patient man. Awwww!
I often felt like I was reading a fairy tale - the language and writing style were generally whimsical, even vague, and often hinted at secrets still to be revealed. The story-telling meanders then twists back on itself: I kept losing track of the main narrative (if there actually was one. Your guess would be as good as mine, here. ) I was often tempted to scatter a trail of crumbs so I could find my way back. But, happily, it all comes together in the end.
The good thing about Evie's premonitions is that she can usually act to prevent them from happening: if she gets there in time, that is! Suffice it to say that certain events unfold and Evie and Marco may still have a shot at their very own HEA. Good writing, good humour, but just too unstructured, directionless and rambling to make a memorable story. I rate this a 3.5 out of 5.
Quirky: definitely quirky. The story of Evie, who has the gift (or curse!) of premonitions, can be exciting, even downright sweet at times - Evie is such a lovable nut. Evie is outgoing and always ready to help - just about anyone, really! Evie loves her tasty treats, her family, friends, neighbours, and most of all, her menagerie of rescued animals. You can't help but love this over the top woman.
As the novel progresses, the point of view alternates from Evie to Betsey, another, older woman with "the sight". Marco, the hot island veterinarian - and a former war vet suffering from PTSD - is pining for Evie, but she has had a premonition involving herself and the good-looking animal doctor and refuses to endanger his life by giving in to their mutual attraction. Marco was just the sweetest, most patient man. Awwww!
I often felt like I was reading a fairy tale - the language and writing style were generally whimsical, even vague, and often hinted at secrets still to be revealed. The story-telling meanders then twists back on itself: I kept losing track of the main narrative (if there actually was one. Your guess would be as good as mine, here. ) I was often tempted to scatter a trail of crumbs so I could find my way back. But, happily, it all comes together in the end.
The good thing about Evie's premonitions is that she can usually act to prevent them from happening: if she gets there in time, that is! Suffice it to say that certain events unfold and Evie and Marco may still have a shot at their very own HEA. Good writing, good humour, but just too unstructured, directionless and rambling to make a memorable story. I rate this a 3.5 out of 5.
March 26, 2023
This was a pick for my one book club. I did not enjoy the writer's style - it was all telling the reader everything vs. showing.
November 5, 2019
Great characters and a unique plot make this enjoyable multi genre book an unmissable read.
A farmload of lovable animals, a hunky vet with a curse, a bookshop that doesn't like vampires ,a dope factory in the greenhouse and a heroine with a supernatural power.
A happy sort of book with a serious side that gives you the best defence in a murder trial ever.
“Sit down.” I pointed to the seats by the windows. “Sit. Open the book. Read it.” “I have to meet my mother soon.” “Text her. Tell her to come here when she’s done doing whatever. You have got to expand your closed mind and read about other people in this world who don’t bite necks and have long teeth”
I read almost everything. Almost all genres. I read before I sleep. I read when I wake up. I read when I take a break at the bookstore. I read on Sunday afternoons. I read on Friday nights. I listen to audio books. My life is filled with words. I understand people who are addicted to books. I have found that many people use books to escape life. To battle one problem, one challenge or another. Books keep the tears at bay. They also bring on the laughs, the wonder, the education.
A farmload of lovable animals, a hunky vet with a curse, a bookshop that doesn't like vampires ,a dope factory in the greenhouse and a heroine with a supernatural power.
A happy sort of book with a serious side that gives you the best defence in a murder trial ever.
“Sit down.” I pointed to the seats by the windows. “Sit. Open the book. Read it.” “I have to meet my mother soon.” “Text her. Tell her to come here when she’s done doing whatever. You have got to expand your closed mind and read about other people in this world who don’t bite necks and have long teeth”
I read almost everything. Almost all genres. I read before I sleep. I read when I wake up. I read when I take a break at the bookstore. I read on Sunday afternoons. I read on Friday nights. I listen to audio books. My life is filled with words. I understand people who are addicted to books. I have found that many people use books to escape life. To battle one problem, one challenge or another. Books keep the tears at bay. They also bring on the laughs, the wonder, the education.
January 23, 2020
Evie Lindsay has had premonitions since she was a young girl. She never knew when they would come on, sometimes having to react quickly to what she sees. She lives with her free spirited and eccentric mother and aunts on San Orcanita Island.
Evie owns a bookstore, and is quick to express herself about book recommendations. For Evie books are: "Books should be read as regularly as one brushes one's own teeth.... I read to laugh. I read for knowledge and information and history. I read to see someone else's perspective or their lives or their challenges and how they beat the heck out of those challenges."
Evie has always felt an unexplained hole in her life, never knowing it's source until a secret is revealed that turns her world upside down. But Evie is strong, as shown here: "I pulled myself together and went to work, because this is what we do when life falls apart: We buck up and we go to work and we take care of people and our responsibilities. Why? Because we must. And maybe that answer is, boringly, dully....perfect."
In the end love conquers all.
A quirky, fun story filled with loveable characters.
4.5 stars.
Evie owns a bookstore, and is quick to express herself about book recommendations. For Evie books are: "Books should be read as regularly as one brushes one's own teeth.... I read to laugh. I read for knowledge and information and history. I read to see someone else's perspective or their lives or their challenges and how they beat the heck out of those challenges."
Evie has always felt an unexplained hole in her life, never knowing it's source until a secret is revealed that turns her world upside down. But Evie is strong, as shown here: "I pulled myself together and went to work, because this is what we do when life falls apart: We buck up and we go to work and we take care of people and our responsibilities. Why? Because we must. And maybe that answer is, boringly, dully....perfect."
In the end love conquers all.
A quirky, fun story filled with loveable characters.
4.5 stars.
August 2, 2021
I honestly don't know what to say. This one rackets up the magical realism a bit (with the main character having premonitions) but honestly this was not a good book. It drags. Badly. We get the quirky characters who don't feel like real life people at all. We have the main character who is short and overweight and also is in love with a man that doesn't feel real at all, we just hear about how awesome this person is. It's so reminiscent of her other books except for "My Very Best Friend." I really wish that Lamb would change things up a bit. I also have to say that as a reader, I loathed Evie. I wish a bookstore owner would berate me for only reading one genre. She looked down her nose at other people for someone who supposedly loved books.
"All About Evie" follows Evie who has premonitions. She lives on an island with her mother and her two sisters and keeps most people, except for them and her sister at a distance. Things come to a head though when Evie and her sister do a DNA test.
I don't know what to say, there's too much going on in this book. I don't think that Lamb knows how to incorporate magical realism into her books that makes the things feel real. Evie keeps going on about not having children cause she doesn't want to curse them with what she has and man oh man she was exhausting.
All of the other characters are one dimensional. I think I was supposed to think Evie's sister was funny, but she wasn't. She only seems to think of and love her fiancé due to his prowess in bed. There's nothing else there and I was tired of reading about it like it was supposed to be some funny thing.
The temporary chief was doing some stuff that I have a hard time believing he could have gotten away with doing to white women. Sorry, it just didn't read as real at all to me after the first couple of complaints got sent up about the guy.
The love interest, meh.
The ending was not heart warming I just sighed and happily put this away.
"All About Evie" follows Evie who has premonitions. She lives on an island with her mother and her two sisters and keeps most people, except for them and her sister at a distance. Things come to a head though when Evie and her sister do a DNA test.
I don't know what to say, there's too much going on in this book. I don't think that Lamb knows how to incorporate magical realism into her books that makes the things feel real. Evie keeps going on about not having children cause she doesn't want to curse them with what she has and man oh man she was exhausting.
All of the other characters are one dimensional. I think I was supposed to think Evie's sister was funny, but she wasn't. She only seems to think of and love her fiancé due to his prowess in bed. There's nothing else there and I was tired of reading about it like it was supposed to be some funny thing.
The temporary chief was doing some stuff that I have a hard time believing he could have gotten away with doing to white women. Sorry, it just didn't read as real at all to me after the first couple of complaints got sent up about the guy.
The love interest, meh.
The ending was not heart warming I just sighed and happily put this away.
October 29, 2019
I loved All About Evie by Cathy Lamb so very very much. I laughed, I cried, I was moved beyond measure. Evie is such a fantastic character! Haunted by premonitions, adored by her family, surrounded by her beloved animals, she is a bad ass woman who loves fiercely and protectively—and she loves cake and pie! I want to visit her bookstore so badly, have her feed me cake and pour me tea as she sells me books!! Besides Evie and her animals, the rest of the characters are quirky, adorable, and wonderful. Except for the bad guys—men who rule with fists and power and ego who bring an edge to this story which deals with abuse and misogyny and injustice. I’ve learned with Cathy’s books to expect the unexpected; I know that there will be hilarity and poignancy, that there will be achingly tender moments interspersed with moments of woe and even anger. All About Evie is all of those things, written in Cathy Lamb’s unique style and voice.
November 26, 2019
This is the only Cathy Lamb book I’ve read. I do not like her writing style. Too many short, choppy sentences. The same problem with four characters in the book. Abusive men taking advantage of women. Wife beaters, daughter beaters, women haters. All four women went through the same thing, over 30 years apart? Not entertaining. This storyline did not hold my interest. And the sister only talked about sex.
That’s the way the whole book reads, and it is off-putting. Good authors mix up short and long sentences, have different plot lines for different characters, and have character development through the course of the book. None of those elements was in this book, so I am giving it only two stars, my lowest rating so far by me on Goodreads. I can safely say that I won’t be reading another book by this author in the future. I require more from the books that I read, even when I’m reading for pleasure and not to gain knowledge.
That’s the way the whole book reads, and it is off-putting. Good authors mix up short and long sentences, have different plot lines for different characters, and have character development through the course of the book. None of those elements was in this book, so I am giving it only two stars, my lowest rating so far by me on Goodreads. I can safely say that I won’t be reading another book by this author in the future. I require more from the books that I read, even when I’m reading for pleasure and not to gain knowledge.
September 24, 2019
What a fun quirky book! I loved all the characters and all her animals! Loved the fact that everyone knew about her premonitions and believed her. I thought this was a really good story! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy. Definitely recommend
November 13, 2019
Evie Lindsay has to live with her premonitions all her life, and can see the future of what could happen both good and the bad. Now an adult, they have become a part of her daily life. As a young girl, her parents suddenly move Evie and her sister Jules to San Orcanita Island where it was quieter, to hopefully abate and control her premonitions. Evie does act on her premonitions and have saved many people from disastrous accidents and death. There is one premonition she keeps having since she was a child and have been haunting her.
Evie seems happy living by herself with all her animals - and there are plenty, and running her busy bookstore serving tourists and her community fancy coffees, teas and amazing pastries. She reads books as an escape, and when she is reading, she is not having any premonitions.
Her sister Jules is planning a wedding and decides to do a DNA test to find out more about their heritage and this starts revelations about Evie’s past.
I loved how Cathy Lamb in this beautiful story was able to weave a story of a haunting past to the present day, about Evie’s life and drawing a beautiful parallel story. The characters in the story added to how Evie’s life is made whole by all the people that love and surround her. Throughout this story, I really wanted to be a part of Evie’s life and wonderful community. What an enjoyable read and one that was also deep and brilliantly written only Cathy Lamb does.
Evie seems happy living by herself with all her animals - and there are plenty, and running her busy bookstore serving tourists and her community fancy coffees, teas and amazing pastries. She reads books as an escape, and when she is reading, she is not having any premonitions.
Her sister Jules is planning a wedding and decides to do a DNA test to find out more about their heritage and this starts revelations about Evie’s past.
I loved how Cathy Lamb in this beautiful story was able to weave a story of a haunting past to the present day, about Evie’s life and drawing a beautiful parallel story. The characters in the story added to how Evie’s life is made whole by all the people that love and surround her. Throughout this story, I really wanted to be a part of Evie’s life and wonderful community. What an enjoyable read and one that was also deep and brilliantly written only Cathy Lamb does.
June 11, 2021
Very good story; although quite lengthy. The characters were interesting. A beautiful setting in the San Juan Islands. Lots of humor to relieve the tension. Lots of precious, entertaining animals. Happy ending!
October 22, 2019
Well, I really wanted to like this book... but I really didn't. Honestly, I wish that I had bailed on it. But, I kept giving it more chances because it's such a book made for book lovers - and tea lovers, too. First of all, I mistook the author's name for a different one altogether (I thought that I read something by this Cathy, but this is my first experience). Right there, I should've stopped rather than continue to somewhat spoil my vacation by reading this book that I started to actively hate.
The rambling style quickly becomes repetitive and frankly boring. And while the first time Evie justifies cakes, pies, cookies and other sweets into "health" food, it's mildly amusing, but by the fiftieth time and the book isn't even halfway over, it becomes just grating. Plus, the book is all telling - very little is shown. I did like Betsy's sections a bit better, but this life of a 37-year-old quirky book/tea/cake shop owner on an island off Washington's coast quickly became anything other than fun to read. There are a lot of nods to feminism, but the female bonding itself is actually pretty nil. I never connected with any of the characters (and really just wanted to shake most of them). I really wish that I had just set this one aside rather than continuing on to the end. I just couldn't believe that a book that has so many animals, books and tea (all of my favorite things!) could be such a miss for me!
The rambling style quickly becomes repetitive and frankly boring. And while the first time Evie justifies cakes, pies, cookies and other sweets into "health" food, it's mildly amusing, but by the fiftieth time and the book isn't even halfway over, it becomes just grating. Plus, the book is all telling - very little is shown. I did like Betsy's sections a bit better, but this life of a 37-year-old quirky book/tea/cake shop owner on an island off Washington's coast quickly became anything other than fun to read. There are a lot of nods to feminism, but the female bonding itself is actually pretty nil. I never connected with any of the characters (and really just wanted to shake most of them). I really wish that I had just set this one aside rather than continuing on to the end. I just couldn't believe that a book that has so many animals, books and tea (all of my favorite things!) could be such a miss for me!
November 2, 2019
4.5 stars
I have only read one of Cathy Lamb’s novels but as soon as I finished, I knew this was an author that I wanted to read more of!
Not only is she a local author for me (she’s from Oregon!) but she’s innovative with a strong voice and writing skills. Reading one of her books was a delight and when I saw this one was coming up, I was looking forward to it for months!
Besides the author’s name and appeal to me, I was instantly attracted to the story as well—mostly because it’s set on the San Juan Islands. If you have never been to the San Juan Islands, then you are missing out—they are so enchanting and beautiful so when I saw this book was set there—to a place I have visited quite a bit before—I couldn’t pass up the chance to read it!
This book was a little quirky but so fun to read. Evie has premonitions and while this book isn’t necessarily ‘paranormal’ or ‘magical realism’, there is a hint of magic in the title character. I loved all of her animals and wacky relatives. It made Evie so real, like she was someone I could have met at a coffee shop and been friends with and we could share weird stories about our pets and family. She was well developed and unique.
The setting of this book doesn’t disappoint either. As I mentioned the San Juan Islands are so so so beautiful and I think Lamb captured their mystique and beauty in this book. I have sailed through these islands before and reading her descriptions of them was like being there all over again. Well done!
There was a lot of range in this book—some humor and some heartache but it’s seamless and even though I felt a range of emotions, I felt as though the story was balanced and didn’t swing too far one way or the other. It was well written, interesting, and unique. I have only read one of Lamb’s other books but I felt that this one was truly a star all by itself. It was much different than the other book I have read by her but no less exciting and memorable.
The only thing that I felt a little disappointed with was the DNA. It was highlighted in the summary quite a bit but then when it was revealed, it seemed like a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of the story. But other than that, I felt as though this was a fun, worthwhile read that you don’t want to miss. It’s quirky and different, don’t miss this one!
See my full review here
I have only read one of Cathy Lamb’s novels but as soon as I finished, I knew this was an author that I wanted to read more of!
Not only is she a local author for me (she’s from Oregon!) but she’s innovative with a strong voice and writing skills. Reading one of her books was a delight and when I saw this one was coming up, I was looking forward to it for months!
Besides the author’s name and appeal to me, I was instantly attracted to the story as well—mostly because it’s set on the San Juan Islands. If you have never been to the San Juan Islands, then you are missing out—they are so enchanting and beautiful so when I saw this book was set there—to a place I have visited quite a bit before—I couldn’t pass up the chance to read it!
This book was a little quirky but so fun to read. Evie has premonitions and while this book isn’t necessarily ‘paranormal’ or ‘magical realism’, there is a hint of magic in the title character. I loved all of her animals and wacky relatives. It made Evie so real, like she was someone I could have met at a coffee shop and been friends with and we could share weird stories about our pets and family. She was well developed and unique.
The setting of this book doesn’t disappoint either. As I mentioned the San Juan Islands are so so so beautiful and I think Lamb captured their mystique and beauty in this book. I have sailed through these islands before and reading her descriptions of them was like being there all over again. Well done!
There was a lot of range in this book—some humor and some heartache but it’s seamless and even though I felt a range of emotions, I felt as though the story was balanced and didn’t swing too far one way or the other. It was well written, interesting, and unique. I have only read one of Lamb’s other books but I felt that this one was truly a star all by itself. It was much different than the other book I have read by her but no less exciting and memorable.
The only thing that I felt a little disappointed with was the DNA. It was highlighted in the summary quite a bit but then when it was revealed, it seemed like a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of the story. But other than that, I felt as though this was a fun, worthwhile read that you don’t want to miss. It’s quirky and different, don’t miss this one!
See my full review here
September 16, 2019
OMG another bestseller from Cathy Lamb!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to go live on the island with Evie and all her cool, crazy, funny family!!!!!!! With her signature style Cathy has written another fun loving awesome book about very relatable characters. Evie is a young woman who has had premonitions her whole life and has an awesome bookstore that sells fun quirky stuff and her great love books. She has a mother with three 3 fun loving sisters and her sister Jules. Before her Sisters wedding Jules and Evie do a DNA test and the results change Evies life forever. Thank you to Cathy Lamb and Kensington Books for my honest review in exchange for the gift of this amazing novel
Want to read
October 25, 2019This was...... An interesting book.
Evie has premonitions. Her Mom and aunts are so far out there eccentric. I mean, who gets naked with their siblings for activities? Jules is getting married and the only redeeming quality she can mention about her fiancee is that's he's good in bed. I mean come on.... You need more than that to base a marriage off of. Marco is a hot vetranarian that Evie won't be with though they love each other because of a premonition Evie has and it bugged me until they finally got it figured out at the end. I actually skipped most of the middle and that's probably the most important part of the book but I just wanted this weirdness I was reading to be over .
Evie has premonitions. Her Mom and aunts are so far out there eccentric. I mean, who gets naked with their siblings for activities? Jules is getting married and the only redeeming quality she can mention about her fiancee is that's he's good in bed. I mean come on.... You need more than that to base a marriage off of. Marco is a hot vetranarian that Evie won't be with though they love each other because of a premonition Evie has and it bugged me until they finally got it figured out at the end. I actually skipped most of the middle and that's probably the most important part of the book but I just wanted this weirdness I was reading to be over .
October 14, 2019
I’m ready to pack my bags and move into Evie’s small town and visit her bookstore and eat her delicious deserts and see her amazing animals! Evie is the owner of an independent bookstore on the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest. She has suffered from premonitions her entire life, she tries to change the outcome if it involves anyone getting hurt. Her mother and three aunts are hilarious they make hats and paintings and grow flowers and they are everything to her, she’s extremely close with her sister Jules whose about to get married. When Evie takes a DNA test with her sister to learn more about their ancestors her life changes forever. The other side of the book involves a woman named Betsy who delivers her baby in prison and whose also suffers with premonitions. This book is Evies Journey as she learns to handle her past and her future, and realize she’s not alone her family and friends are their for her, and it’s ok for her to find happiness while she comes to terms with her past and possibly find love. You will not want to put this book down. I fell
In love with Evies character and her family and friends in her small town. I can relate to her love of books and her animals. This was a perfect weekend read while the weather has cooled down curled up
on my couch. I had to remind myself the characters aren’t real because they are so relatable and quirky! I give this five stars!
In love with Evies character and her family and friends in her small town. I can relate to her love of books and her animals. This was a perfect weekend read while the weather has cooled down curled up
on my couch. I had to remind myself the characters aren’t real because they are so relatable and quirky! I give this five stars!
October 25, 2022
It was interesting and quick read.
I really liked Evie, she was interesting, funny and had some kind of spunk.
But wow, i did not know what to expect; but it was good.
I got this eARC from Netgalley
I really liked Evie, she was interesting, funny and had some kind of spunk.
But wow, i did not know what to expect; but it was good.
I got this eARC from Netgalley
October 10, 2019
Hands down one of the BEST books I’ve read this year. Cathy Lamb is truly a terrific author. I fell in love with so many aspects of this book: quirky interesting characters, beautiful setting, the main character, Evie’s love if books and animals, and of course the story itself. It is full of family love, heartache, pain & sorrow and magic thrown in.I also liked that it is a generational story, switching back and forth between the timelines. I even cried on the train finishing up the last few chapters. Please read this book!! Thanks Cathy Lamb for an advanced copy of this truly wonderful novel.
October 3, 2019
ALL ABOUT EVIE, is gloriously eccentric and full of heart. Read my full review here: https://barbaraclaypolewhite.com/2019...
October 26, 2019
I stopped at 20%. I tried. Really. But after seven chapters of ramblings about other people's biography without progress on the plot, I've had enough. See the blurb? It says there that the biggest revelation in this book is a DNA test that Evie's sister, Jules, will have. Well. 20% in, and still nothing. Jules hasn't even gotten married.
So there isn't really anything much I can do about giving my own summary of this story. Yes, Evie can see the future. They can be the good ones, and the bad. It's the bad ones that leave terrible imprints on Evie's life. She tries her best to prevent these events, but she cannot always succeed. Her mental health takes a turn for the worse, and that's when she has her first dog (and then her alpacas, and her horses — all of whom, Evie did not hesitate to let us know, are rescue animals). It's great that the author touches on these mental issues that anyone with this power could possibly have. That's real nice character development there, including how she got over it. The book could have stopped there. Why keep dwelling on the past when what readers like me yearn to know are the events happening in the present? Instead, it chose to go down the route of a lot of flashbacks / diverting our attention to other characters in the book. It's repetitive, and these random biographies of characters jumps. Just read chapter 7, and you'll learn all about Evie's grandmother, her mother and her aunts. The transitions are also very confusing. At one point in time Evie will talk about one thing, and before completing it, the scene jumps to another.
Honestly, it's like a bunch of rambles that I have no interest in. I wanted a contemporary with a little twist, but I'm left highly disappointed and bored. I also felt that the writing style was a little awkward. Maybe it's because it's an ARC, and that a lot of editing has to be done, maybe it's not. Whatever it is, I still think it deserves a 1-star rating.
This review is written based on the ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
by A Floret's Breath
So there isn't really anything much I can do about giving my own summary of this story. Yes, Evie can see the future. They can be the good ones, and the bad. It's the bad ones that leave terrible imprints on Evie's life. She tries her best to prevent these events, but she cannot always succeed. Her mental health takes a turn for the worse, and that's when she has her first dog (and then her alpacas, and her horses — all of whom, Evie did not hesitate to let us know, are rescue animals). It's great that the author touches on these mental issues that anyone with this power could possibly have. That's real nice character development there, including how she got over it. The book could have stopped there. Why keep dwelling on the past when what readers like me yearn to know are the events happening in the present? Instead, it chose to go down the route of a lot of flashbacks / diverting our attention to other characters in the book. It's repetitive, and these random biographies of characters jumps. Just read chapter 7, and you'll learn all about Evie's grandmother, her mother and her aunts. The transitions are also very confusing. At one point in time Evie will talk about one thing, and before completing it, the scene jumps to another.
Honestly, it's like a bunch of rambles that I have no interest in. I wanted a contemporary with a little twist, but I'm left highly disappointed and bored. I also felt that the writing style was a little awkward. Maybe it's because it's an ARC, and that a lot of editing has to be done, maybe it's not. Whatever it is, I still think it deserves a 1-star rating.
This review is written based on the ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
by A Floret's Breath
November 7, 2019
“All About Evie” is a captivating, endearing, heartwarming, romantic and at times suspenseful novel. It is worthy of awards in my opinion!!
Cathy Lamb takes us to to San Orcanita Island where Evie is surrounded by books. Since she was a little girl she's been using books to escape her premonitions. This is what I found to be an endearing part of the story!
Evie owns a bookstore called Evie's Books, Cakes and Tea. I loved her passion for reading and enthusiasm for introducing new literature to her patrons. I often laughed when she got a "teeny bit uptight" with her close-minded customers. I savored all of Evie's cakes, coffees and treats while I was reading. Oftentimes, throughout the novel Lamb adds humor in such an amusing way.
All the details, charm and colors bring you right on the Island, in the Bookstore and in Evie's home at Rose Bloom Cottage. Evie also has lots hysterical and mischievous animals that she's rescued which include a beloved three legged dog, cats, alpacas, goats and sheep.
I fell in love with Evie's seventy something, eccentric, artistic mother Poppy and two aunt's with their fancy feathered collection of hats. These women cared about everyone in their town. I would want to be their friend. Her sister Jules had me laughing out loud while she planned her upcoming wedding.
Their family bond and loyalty is portrayed from the very beginning of the novel and there's no doubt Evie was a loved child, even though she suffered from anxiety, depression and a crippling fear of the future because of her dreams and premonitions. When a DNA test that Jules and Evie take reveal the truth, and drama ensues, will their family survive? I loved the suspense! This is one book I will not forget! I highly recommend it to everyone!!
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Cathy Lamb takes us to to San Orcanita Island where Evie is surrounded by books. Since she was a little girl she's been using books to escape her premonitions. This is what I found to be an endearing part of the story!
Evie owns a bookstore called Evie's Books, Cakes and Tea. I loved her passion for reading and enthusiasm for introducing new literature to her patrons. I often laughed when she got a "teeny bit uptight" with her close-minded customers. I savored all of Evie's cakes, coffees and treats while I was reading. Oftentimes, throughout the novel Lamb adds humor in such an amusing way.
All the details, charm and colors bring you right on the Island, in the Bookstore and in Evie's home at Rose Bloom Cottage. Evie also has lots hysterical and mischievous animals that she's rescued which include a beloved three legged dog, cats, alpacas, goats and sheep.
I fell in love with Evie's seventy something, eccentric, artistic mother Poppy and two aunt's with their fancy feathered collection of hats. These women cared about everyone in their town. I would want to be their friend. Her sister Jules had me laughing out loud while she planned her upcoming wedding.
Their family bond and loyalty is portrayed from the very beginning of the novel and there's no doubt Evie was a loved child, even though she suffered from anxiety, depression and a crippling fear of the future because of her dreams and premonitions. When a DNA test that Jules and Evie take reveal the truth, and drama ensues, will their family survive? I loved the suspense! This is one book I will not forget! I highly recommend it to everyone!!
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 20, 2019
“It’s not everyday that you find out your parents are not your parents, and there is a whole family out there who says your belong to them .”
This is what happens when Evie takes a DNA test. Evie has premonitions, she’s always felt different , now she knows why.
The two sides of this story are weaved together as only Cathy Lamb can do. With her amazing writing, her awesome characters, and a place where everyone wants to live.
I loved this book! From the first page to the last page I laughed and cried !
Thank you to Cathy Lamb, Netgalley and Kensington publishers for the opportunity to read another great Cathy Lamb book.
This is my honest review
This is what happens when Evie takes a DNA test. Evie has premonitions, she’s always felt different , now she knows why.
The two sides of this story are weaved together as only Cathy Lamb can do. With her amazing writing, her awesome characters, and a place where everyone wants to live.
I loved this book! From the first page to the last page I laughed and cried !
Thank you to Cathy Lamb, Netgalley and Kensington publishers for the opportunity to read another great Cathy Lamb book.
This is my honest review
July 22, 2021
Cathy Lamb's newest is a gem! Full of flowers, animals, and books, this novel ticked off so many boxes for me. It's a standalone, but readers of some of Cathy's other books will recognize some familiar names and places. I was so happy to be able to review this one early - and I've preordered it as well! Thank you Cathy Lamb & Netgalley for this arc.
June 15, 2020
I won this awesome, signed copy from Cathy Lamb from Readers Coffeehouse on Facebook and oh my gosh, I loved it and could not put it down! So many emotions! Many laugh out moments!!!! Highly recommend! Love love love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Many thanks to Cathy Lamb for picking my name to win this book!!!! I’ll keep it forever!!!!
May 11, 2021
This book was gifted to me by my best friend in a care package since most of my books have water damage from a tree collapsing on our house. Cathy Lamb was one of our favorite authors in high school and her writing is just as creatively quirky as I remember, but I’m sad to say we may have outgrown her books. While there were fun, creative elements, the plot was very predictable and a bit bland. One big thing it lacks is subtlety, and while Lamb’s heroines in high school hit me as progressive they now read more antiquated and pre-fourth wave feminism, that were even problematic at times. While I never really engaged with this book on an intellectual or emotional level it did keep me entertained to a degree and I enjoyed the creativity of its characters. If plain vanilla ice cream, that occasionally gave you a brain freeze, were a book.
**** extemporaneous thoughts while reading, spoilers below****
A Drag Racing Party where you have to dress in drag and drive a homemade go-cart.
I ADORE how bookish our MC Evie is “I read to laugh. I read for knowledge and information and history. I read to see someone else’s perspective or their lives or their challenges and how they beat the heck out of those challenges.” Pg. 37 but I also don’t like how she seems to be elitist about people only reading one specific genre. While I do agree that it’s good to go outside of your comfort zone and think differently, looking down on a character for just reading romance minimizes all that romance contains as a genre. Sounds like someone needs to read Beach Read!
“You’ll live, buddy. Go guzzle a beer and watch football or another mind-numbing sport like other men do, and you’ll be all better by halftime.” Pg. 43 HATE THIS. So all men are mindless if they’re interested in sports? Are all men interested in the same things? Don’t love that at all.
Don’t love the excerpt where she says she’d like to peer in Marco’s windows and see him in his “natural nude state” if the genders were reversed in this situation the general populace would not find it as charming as it’s intended to be, and that’s a frequent theme that’s shown throughout this whole book in its lack of true gender equality, stagnated old gender roles, and false feminism. (“Men are dense, just like cheese”, )* We can see this further portrayed in the repeated idea that women are who steal married men away. Let’s blame the man here too, people. The other woman should not be your main focus, and we should not disparage this woman for caring about her looks. I feel like this story and it’s characters try for feminism A LOT, which I appreciate, but land somewhere far short. But I genuinely appreciate the attempt and can empathize that for older authors this could be a hard journey to complete to come up to our new modern standard. Hopefully Lamb will get there as I really do enjoy a lot of her writing.
When the question of pot smoking came up and Evie’s mother answered “Oh, my, no, I’m a lady.” As if it’s unladylike to smoke pot? On the same page that they talked about being feminists. Ugh. Guys.
Oooof to referring to Native Americans as Indians (pg. 123) and American Indians (pg. 209) Big. Big oof. Could no editor have caught that? In a lot of respects, I cannot believe this book was written in 2019.
Although, I do like the talk pushing for medical marijuana as an alternative to narcotics!**
Just when I think wow this is nice they’re depicting the dad crying, way to stick it to toxic masculinity it’s followed up with “What could be so bad that our dad would cry? He never cried. He was in the military!” This would have been such a great instance to reaffirm that being emotional does not negate strength but instead they did the opposite.
I did appreciate the fact that Betsys care changed when it was a male vs female doctor in regards to her mastitis. This is a pervasive problem in medicine where women are more likely to die than men because they are less likely to be listened to.
Really appreciated Lamb’s highlighting that police do not take illegals or crimes against them as seriously, especially in some areas.
I actually LOVED Evie’s perspective on Adam and Eve. “But then, the Bible was written by men, and men are known to blame women and want to control them at the same time” pg. 199.
Loved the anti-patriarchal view of the elderly cane-ridden man reading “torrid bodice-ripper books” this push of men can like romance and romance writing too is a great message even though Lamb felt the need to defend it and use it at times as a punch line.
I appreciated Lamb’s pointing out the inconsistencies and prejudices in our justice system. Highlighting the fact that a majority of prisoners were poor, poorly represented, mentally ill, or minorities sentenced for something “a wealthy white woman would not go to jail for.”
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY EVIES MOM WOULDNT JUST TELL EVIE SHE WAS ADOPTED? Especially once Betsy and Johnny were exonerated and with all Evie would have been suffering thinking she was alone in her premonitions.
And once again I don’t understand the thought process of these characters — Evie can’t be with Marco because he’ll die on a boat with her and he loves his boat. Well, Evie, we’ve since learned that he believes in your premonitions, so why don’t we tell him your premonition. Or I’m sure you can be with him and just not be with him on his boat? That seems like such a small aspect. “Now one could say that we could make a rule that we will never sail together, but it’s not good enough. It’s one mistakes it’s letting down our guard one time, and he dies” pg. 326. But it’s one mistake on his boat Evie?? What’s the point in any of the small actions she does to set everyone else off their death/chaos course if she can’t apply the same simple logic to this situation? Seemed like quite a stretch just for plot. Maybe if being on his boat is one of the few things that helped him through his PTSD? But it’s not and even then I’m confident my man could find a new hobby or coping mechanism. I also realize that Evie also doesn’t believe she can be in a relationship with Marco because she is too flawed but that’s not what she references 97 times in the book, what she references is her fear for the danger being with Marco would cause for his safety. But I do appreciate the angst of “I started falling in love with you that first day I met you in my bookstore. It was instant. It was a miracle. But I also knew we couldn’t be together” (pg. 335).
“She was her mother, after all. Mother would die for her child in an instant. Now was her instant” (pg. 351). Okay, that had me tearing up.
I appreciate the commentary on racial injustices causing Eve’s grandmother to lie about her race, but I think that deserved more than a paragraph. I also appreciated that our MC made the choice to be childless and express her maternal bond through her love for animals and that being normalized.
**** extemporaneous thoughts while reading, spoilers below****
A Drag Racing Party where you have to dress in drag and drive a homemade go-cart.
I ADORE how bookish our MC Evie is “I read to laugh. I read for knowledge and information and history. I read to see someone else’s perspective or their lives or their challenges and how they beat the heck out of those challenges.” Pg. 37 but I also don’t like how she seems to be elitist about people only reading one specific genre. While I do agree that it’s good to go outside of your comfort zone and think differently, looking down on a character for just reading romance minimizes all that romance contains as a genre. Sounds like someone needs to read Beach Read!
“You’ll live, buddy. Go guzzle a beer and watch football or another mind-numbing sport like other men do, and you’ll be all better by halftime.” Pg. 43 HATE THIS. So all men are mindless if they’re interested in sports? Are all men interested in the same things? Don’t love that at all.
Don’t love the excerpt where she says she’d like to peer in Marco’s windows and see him in his “natural nude state” if the genders were reversed in this situation the general populace would not find it as charming as it’s intended to be, and that’s a frequent theme that’s shown throughout this whole book in its lack of true gender equality, stagnated old gender roles, and false feminism. (“Men are dense, just like cheese”, )* We can see this further portrayed in the repeated idea that women are who steal married men away. Let’s blame the man here too, people. The other woman should not be your main focus, and we should not disparage this woman for caring about her looks. I feel like this story and it’s characters try for feminism A LOT, which I appreciate, but land somewhere far short. But I genuinely appreciate the attempt and can empathize that for older authors this could be a hard journey to complete to come up to our new modern standard. Hopefully Lamb will get there as I really do enjoy a lot of her writing.
When the question of pot smoking came up and Evie’s mother answered “Oh, my, no, I’m a lady.” As if it’s unladylike to smoke pot? On the same page that they talked about being feminists. Ugh. Guys.
Oooof to referring to Native Americans as Indians (pg. 123) and American Indians (pg. 209) Big. Big oof. Could no editor have caught that? In a lot of respects, I cannot believe this book was written in 2019.
Although, I do like the talk pushing for medical marijuana as an alternative to narcotics!**
Just when I think wow this is nice they’re depicting the dad crying, way to stick it to toxic masculinity it’s followed up with “What could be so bad that our dad would cry? He never cried. He was in the military!” This would have been such a great instance to reaffirm that being emotional does not negate strength but instead they did the opposite.
I did appreciate the fact that Betsys care changed when it was a male vs female doctor in regards to her mastitis. This is a pervasive problem in medicine where women are more likely to die than men because they are less likely to be listened to.
Really appreciated Lamb’s highlighting that police do not take illegals or crimes against them as seriously, especially in some areas.
I actually LOVED Evie’s perspective on Adam and Eve. “But then, the Bible was written by men, and men are known to blame women and want to control them at the same time” pg. 199.
Loved the anti-patriarchal view of the elderly cane-ridden man reading “torrid bodice-ripper books” this push of men can like romance and romance writing too is a great message even though Lamb felt the need to defend it and use it at times as a punch line.
I appreciated Lamb’s pointing out the inconsistencies and prejudices in our justice system. Highlighting the fact that a majority of prisoners were poor, poorly represented, mentally ill, or minorities sentenced for something “a wealthy white woman would not go to jail for.”
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY EVIES MOM WOULDNT JUST TELL EVIE SHE WAS ADOPTED? Especially once Betsy and Johnny were exonerated and with all Evie would have been suffering thinking she was alone in her premonitions.
And once again I don’t understand the thought process of these characters — Evie can’t be with Marco because he’ll die on a boat with her and he loves his boat. Well, Evie, we’ve since learned that he believes in your premonitions, so why don’t we tell him your premonition. Or I’m sure you can be with him and just not be with him on his boat? That seems like such a small aspect. “Now one could say that we could make a rule that we will never sail together, but it’s not good enough. It’s one mistakes it’s letting down our guard one time, and he dies” pg. 326. But it’s one mistake on his boat Evie?? What’s the point in any of the small actions she does to set everyone else off their death/chaos course if she can’t apply the same simple logic to this situation? Seemed like quite a stretch just for plot. Maybe if being on his boat is one of the few things that helped him through his PTSD? But it’s not and even then I’m confident my man could find a new hobby or coping mechanism. I also realize that Evie also doesn’t believe she can be in a relationship with Marco because she is too flawed but that’s not what she references 97 times in the book, what she references is her fear for the danger being with Marco would cause for his safety. But I do appreciate the angst of “I started falling in love with you that first day I met you in my bookstore. It was instant. It was a miracle. But I also knew we couldn’t be together” (pg. 335).
“She was her mother, after all. Mother would die for her child in an instant. Now was her instant” (pg. 351). Okay, that had me tearing up.
I appreciate the commentary on racial injustices causing Eve’s grandmother to lie about her race, but I think that deserved more than a paragraph. I also appreciated that our MC made the choice to be childless and express her maternal bond through her love for animals and that being normalized.
November 17, 2019
A beautiful story which had me complete enticed with the richness of the writing and the way the author Cathy Lamb told the story of Evie who had the gift of premonitions.
The characters added to the story making it complexed. There was a different texture to it. I love books which have a bit of extra sensory involved in it. This book brought out a mystical flavor to the story.
A DNA test to check out the lore about their heritage brought out certain secrets. Evie was then compelled to go in search of the truths. Emotions were weaved beautifully in the tale, making me choked up at times. It is to Evie that I connected to, so I could feel her keenly.
The book had it all, emotions and romance, relationships and friendships, family and community all bound together with love. A beautiful read.
The characters added to the story making it complexed. There was a different texture to it. I love books which have a bit of extra sensory involved in it. This book brought out a mystical flavor to the story.
A DNA test to check out the lore about their heritage brought out certain secrets. Evie was then compelled to go in search of the truths. Emotions were weaved beautifully in the tale, making me choked up at times. It is to Evie that I connected to, so I could feel her keenly.
The book had it all, emotions and romance, relationships and friendships, family and community all bound together with love. A beautiful read.
May 31, 2020
3 1/2 rosie stars! I really loved the first 100 pages of this book. : The quirkiness, the premonitions, the colors and descriptions of the houses, the love and caring for their family and neighbors, the beautiful flowers, and the love of books and animals. And then it started to sound SO repetitive, and Evie sounded like a sixteen year old girl, not a 30 something woman. Still I enjoyed reading this book, and will try other books by this author.
January 17, 2021
Great for: Escapism to a nice place with a bit of a romance...
A sweet and heart-warming story of a woman who has premonitions and the responsibilities that come with it. Set in a close knit community, with a lovely, eccentric family.
You could really envisage this place she lives in, protected away from the harsh realities of life, where people have her back and she has theirs. It was a well put together plot and her sister cracked me up.
The only thing that annoyed me was the obsession with food and pretending it was healthy... and the fact that Evie was supposed to be in her late 30's, but she had the emotional intelligence of a teenager.
A sweet and heart-warming story of a woman who has premonitions and the responsibilities that come with it. Set in a close knit community, with a lovely, eccentric family.
You could really envisage this place she lives in, protected away from the harsh realities of life, where people have her back and she has theirs. It was a well put together plot and her sister cracked me up.
The only thing that annoyed me was the obsession with food and pretending it was healthy... and the fact that Evie was supposed to be in her late 30's, but she had the emotional intelligence of a teenager.
October 29, 2019
Cathy Lamb has been a favorite of mine for years and this tradition simply continues on with All About Evie. You have your quirky, local girl who keeps to herself for the most part and loves her books. She adores her animals and may be in love with the local vet. She’s learned over the years to not get too close to anyone, though, except for her mom and aunties. It’s hard when you have seen premonitions your entire life. Sometimes you have to choose and that’s hard. So you just keep your distance.
Evie is the only one in her family to see these premonitions and it can take a toll. She’s learned how to deal with it in her own way and has made a place for herself in the Pacific NW. She owns a bookshop and is adorably brusque with customers when she feels it’s justified. She adores cake and pie and loathes a good workout. I feel a kindred spirit here.
She is likable, endearing, and you want what’s best for her. You root for her as she figures this all out, planning her sister’s wedding in the middle of it all. Your heart will be warmed, you’ll be put on edge just a wee bit, and her family can be charmingly irritating and stubborn. They are all the best kind of women.
All About Evie is the perfect fall read. So, grab some tea and a slice of cake. Maybe even the whole cake. You need the sustenance if you’re going to read this all in one sitting. Evie would approve.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Evie is the only one in her family to see these premonitions and it can take a toll. She’s learned how to deal with it in her own way and has made a place for herself in the Pacific NW. She owns a bookshop and is adorably brusque with customers when she feels it’s justified. She adores cake and pie and loathes a good workout. I feel a kindred spirit here.
She is likable, endearing, and you want what’s best for her. You root for her as she figures this all out, planning her sister’s wedding in the middle of it all. Your heart will be warmed, you’ll be put on edge just a wee bit, and her family can be charmingly irritating and stubborn. They are all the best kind of women.
All About Evie is the perfect fall read. So, grab some tea and a slice of cake. Maybe even the whole cake. You need the sustenance if you’re going to read this all in one sitting. Evie would approve.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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