The Ramaz Book Review Issue 2

Dear Ramaz Readers (and non-readers), We are very pleased to present the second issue of the Ramaz Book Review! In this issue, we have covered a diverse range of books, spanning from murder mystery to romance to historical fiction- something for everyone to appreciate!

We hope that this compilation of reviews, polls, and interviews will inspire you to expand on your reading and hopefully pick up a new book.

Thank you to everybody who contributed to this publication, and we hope you enjoy it!

Happy reading!

Ashley Behm and Thea Katz

Editors-in-chief Thea Katz ‘25 Ashley Behm ‘24

Contributing Writers Lindsay Chubak ‘25 Hannah Katz ‘27 Sara Kleinhaus ‘27 Serena Olshin '25 Keren Teichner ‘25

Special thanks to Ms. Chechik Ms. Litwack Rabbi Dov Pianko

2

WHAT'S RAMAZ READING? We polled your classmates on some of your burning questions- which school-assigned books do people actually like? Is anyone using Goodreads? How many books do people read per year? Find the answers to these (and more) right here!

Would you read any books that you've had to read for school for pleasure? If so, which one(s)?

The Great Gatsby

The Catcher in the Rye

The Chosen The Outsiders

Jane Eyre

Purple Hibiscus

The Vanishing Half The Westing Game

Antigone To Kill a Mockingbird

Lord of the Flies If you could only read two books for the rest of your life, which would they be?

LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng -

Ashley Behm ‘24

KEEPING 13 by Chloe Walsh, THE CONTRACT by Melanie Moreland -

Anonymous

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky -

Thea Katz ‘25

3

LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott, WONDER by R.J Palacio -

Hannah Katz ‘27

THE HOUSEMAID by Freida McFadden, THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware -

Bianca

THE TORAH by Hashem, THE TALMUD by Assorted Rabbis -

Anonymous

THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald, WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead -

Gabi Flatto-Katz ‘27

Do you have an active Goodreads account?

4

If so, how many books were your goal for the 2023 Reading Challenge?

Do you feel that you wish you could read more, but the amount you read is significantly impacted by schoolwork/lack of time?

5

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE by Jeneva Rose Review by Lindsay Chubak ‘25 Three things are needed to make a good murder mystery: an interesting plot, enjoyable characters, and an ending that will leave you shocked. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose certainly delivers on the first two but was a little lacking on the third.

The Perfect Marriage is the story of successful defense attorney Sarah Morgan as she defends her husband, Adam, who is accused of murdering his mistress. Sarah’s life is going exactly to plan, she has made partner at her firm and she is happily married, but Adam’s is falling apart. His writing career never took off the way he planned, and with Sarah working more than ever, he is tired of his marriage.

So, in the woods, at the house Sarah bought him to write in, he has an affair with a woman named Kelly Summers. The affair continues for months until one day Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder, as she was found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home. Even though her husband was cheating on her, and she has no idea whether he did it or not, Sarah agrees to defend Adam in the trial. But was Adam guilty? And if not, who killed Kelly?

I found this book to be extremely enjoyable and a one-day-read, finding myself unable to put it down once I got past the fifty-page mark. The idea behind this book was both original and well done. Not only was there the spin of Sarah having to defend Adam, not just figure out who killed Kelly, but also getting to read the other side of the story from Adam's perspective. We get to see a second investigation into Kelly's murder, while most mystery novels only have one, and we get to hear about his experiences behind bars.

Distinct features of the book such as these set it apart from other murder mysteries that don’t have these elements. Additionally, all the characters were very fleshed-out and well-written. Even the most despicable characters in the book were written in a way that even if you hated them, they were interesting and important to the plot, which is a sign of a good author. If Jeneva Rose releases any future novels, I would definitely read them.

However, without any spoilers, I found the ending of the book to be slightly predictable. When I get to the big reveal of any mystery novel, I’m hoping for a gasp moment followed by a how did I notice this clue before? This book didn’t bring about any of those feelings. While it certainly didn’t lack suspense, when I read who did it, I was not shocked but rather vindicated that I had been guessing right all along. It was an interesting twist, but one that if you read closely enough you can see coming. Despite that, this was a great, well-written book that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a classic murder mystery novel with a twist.

6

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review by Hannah Katz ‘27 Hollywood stars often seem untouchable in pictures, as if they were simply created to entertain and amuse, whose glamour gives the impression that they were born to be on the silver screen, that stardom came easy to them. We rarely think to acknowledge the sacrifices and hardships movie stars might have faced to get to the point of success they have reached. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid proves that being in the right place at the right time, connecting with the right people, and luck is the key to making it in the film industry.

The story of the protagonist, Evelyn Hugo, is partially told through the biography written about her life. Evelyn starts from the very bottom and climbs her way up the daunting ladder to become a movie star like no other. Monique Grant, a downtrodden reporter, is hired by Evelyn in her old age to write a biography that tells the truthful story of her life, her road to success, and her seven husbands that helped her get to where she was. Monique and Evelyn do a deep-dive into the mysterious life of Evelyn Hugo, and ultimately answer the questions: Were all the sacrifices she made really worth it? Did she love each of her seven husbands? Who was the true love of her life? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is geared towards young adult and adult audiences because of its themes of hard work, sacrifices, relationships, failures, and success.

Before I began reading this book, I was initially intrigued by its compelling title and mysterious cover design. As I got into the story, I was hooked. Jenkins Reid is such a skilled storyteller, because she writes in a way that is engaging and always keeps the reader fascinated. I really like how the book’s format switches between the monotonous, typical life of Monique the reporter, her experience working with Evelyn, and the dazzling, edgy, romantic and devastating life of Evelyn Hugo. The two storylines reflect each other throughout the entire book and connect in the end in a way that is shocking, exciting, and unexpected. In short, this book is a must read for those who want a compelling story that features strong female characters and a detailed in-depth plot that questions the truth behind movie stars.

MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review by Thea Katz ‘25 Every year, America waits for the celebrity event of the summer: Nina Riva’s annual party. But something about this year’s event seems different. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid chronicles one day in the lives of the four famous Riva siblings: Nina, a supermodel, Jay, a champion 7

surfer, Hud, a photographer, and their youngest sister, Kit, beginning with preparations for their annual summer party and ending with Nina’s mansion burned to the ground.

Throughout the day, secrets concerning their love lives, careers, and their world-famous yet absent father, singer Mick Riva, will rise to the surface.

Having been a fan of some of Reid’s other novels such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, and Carrie Soto is Back, I had high hopes for Malibu Rising, and it certainly did not disappoint. It managed to retain the feeling of a classic family novel while still feeling completely fresh. One aspect of this book that kept it unique was its characters. This book has an extremely large cast of characters, spanning from the main characters to their love interests and friends, to guests of the party. It would have been very easy for these characters to meld together, or be generic, or not fleshed-out.

However, each character was dynamic and different from the others.

Something else I enjoyed about this novel was its usage of time. The book goes back and forth- half of it takes place in the 1950s, telling the story of the Riva siblings’ mother, June, and her tragic relationship with Mick Riva. The rest takes place in the 1980s, giving a detailed account of the day of the party from start to end. The usage of two plotlines and settings kept either from getting stale. Additionally, I liked how the more modern plot followed only one day, in lots of detail. I have never read a book that was structured that way, and by focusing on a small time frame, the reader can learn so much about the characters and plot without getting too overwhelmed.

One aspect I would critique is the event of the fire at the end of the book. It does not feel super relevant to the story- it is almost as if Reid just wanted to end everything with a big plot twist. The novel does begin by discussing fire, so it does bring everything full circle, but I don't understand the objective of throwing in a big fire on the last page. Of course there are things that the fire symbolizes, such as destruction leading to renewal, or “rising”, as the title suggests. However, I would have appreciated it more if it was not so rushed in the end.

Despite any critiques, I would recommend this book. It has an intriguing, suspenseful quality that will keep you from putting it down. It’s easy to get through and not too heavy. If you are looking for a novel like this, then read Malibu Rising!

THE RIGHT MOVE by Liz Tomforde Review by Serena Olshin ‘25 How awkward would it be if you had to move in with your best friend’s brother, whom you’ve only met twice?

How much more awkward would it be if those two times you met, you embarrassed yourself completely? Well, I’m sure it would be awkward for you, and it’s definitely awkward for Indy Ivers. But with nowhere else to go, after being cheated on by her boyfriend of eight years, Indy’s only option is to move into Ryan Shay’s apartment. Ryan Shay, NBA superstar, and Indy’s best friend, Stevie's brother,

8

is not too happy about this arrangement either. As the newly appointed captain of the Chicago Devils, he needs to stay focused, and Indy is a distraction. But when they come up with an arrangement that benefits them both, to fake date, things start to get messy. As the two get to know each other, they realize they have a lot more in common than they thought, and Ryan has to come to terms with the fact that Indy is someone he could see himself falling for.

There are many things I enjoyed about this book, like how much Ryan cares for Indy.

He really embodies the term “if he wanted to, he would”. He pays attention to what Indy likes, pays attention to what makes her happy, and he does those things that make her happy. I loved reading about Ryan’s character development and seeing Indy pushing him out of his comfort zone. I think that Indy’s and Ryan’s personalities went well together.

However, there are also many things that I don’t love. I obviously don't have high expectations about great writing or interesting characters because I realized I was reading a romance novel. But even with my low expectations about them, my criteria for a great romance read is just that I stay entertained, and that I want to keep reading. And, unfortunately, there were a few times when reading that I wanted to put the book down, or I was bored.

For the first, around, two-thirds of the book, I was entertained, and although there are a few minor aspects that bother me, I can’t expect perfection. However, there’s nothing I hate more than a third-act break-up and guess what happened at about the 70% mark?

Things were going so well for the couples that I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it still annoys me that it happens. I will never understand why authors choose to include a third-act breakup. If Indy and Ryan weren’t ready to be together yet in a stable way, then why make them get together prematurely? The best romances are the ones where the characters slowly develop their chemistry and relationship, and only get together at the end when it is the right time for them. It was especially disappointing to have Indy and Ryan break up in this book because they were on a great trajectory, and moving at a pretty good pace in the beginning, so I expected it to stay that way. Overall, I’d recommend this book, anyway. It’s a light-hearted easy read, and, if you’re not too picky like me, It’s a great book to rewind and relax with on a Shabbos afternoon.

HEART BONES by Colleen Hoover Review by Keren Teichner ‘25 Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover tells the story of Beyah Grim.

Beyah has lived her whole life under her drug-addicted mother, where she had to fight to survive. Beyah’s mother dies from an overdose, and she is forced to move in to live with her absent father in Texas for the two summer months before she attends college. When she arrives, she is taken aback by her father’s new lifestyle. He has a new house, car, wife, and stepdaughter. Beyah, angry at this turn of events? life she was given, wants nothing more than to sleep through the entire summer. However, Beyah’s step-sister, Sara, has other plans. She is determined to make sure Beyah has a great summer and bonds with 9

her stepsister. In doing so, she introduces her to her boyfriend, Marcos, and his friend, Samson. Beyah and Samson instantly connect and their relationship deepens, but. Just as their relationship hits its peak, it all comes crashing down, and Beyah must learn It turns out that people are not always who they present themselves to be.

My favorite thing about this book is its creative title, Heart Bones. The symbolic idea of a heart bone is that if your love for someone is so great you can develop a heart bone. If something were to happen to the love between you, then it would hurt as much as breaking a bone. I thought that this was a very well-thought-out, creative idea.

Another thing that I enjoyed about the book is how both Beyah and Samson are secretive, but slowly open up to each other. As they open up to each other, the reader also slowly learns more about their pasts. This creates a deeper connection between not only Beyah and Samson but also between them and the reader. The release of secrets is so gradual that it is impossible to put the book down, out of excitement to see Beyah’s and Samson’s bond further deepen, and to learn more about the two characters.

One thing that I did not enjoy about the book was that Beyah’s whole personality changed very quickly. She evolved quickly from an angry recluse to being happy and open in just a few short weeks. This gave the book an artificial quality- no one could recover so quickly from years of abuse and neglect. This personality transformation would have needed years of therapy and self-reflection to obtain. This book did not successfully capture how difficult it can be to overcome trauma, which could be harmful to many readers.

Overall, I would give this book four stars. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and had me on the edge of my seat. Beyah and Samson’s connection felt genuine and I was rooting for them the entire book. I also really appreciated that despite all the obstacles Beyah had to overcome throughout the book, the book ends happily, leaving me with a sense of satisfaction.

READING AND RANTING… An Interview with Ms. Chechik Interviewed by Ashley Behm ‘24 and Thea Katz ‘25 RBR: What is your favorite book (if you have one)?

AC: At the moment, I do not have a favorite book. I actually, can’t recall ever having only one favorite book. I tend to have favorite books of specific genres. Let me tell you a story to explain: When I was in college I was into embroidery. I bought a cross stitch pillow case to embroider the word “love” in eight languages on one side. I decided, okay, but there's another side of the pillow, so I also embroidered my name in a number of languages. And then I said, “okay, I'll put in my favorite books, but

10

which ones to choose?” So I decided they should all be books that have actors in them. So I had like six books, of which the only one I remember was named “smokescreen.” It's a murder mystery by Dick Francis. (Honorable mentions-books

by Mary Renault, Jane Eyre, regency romances by Georgette Heyer, Terry Pratchet Discworld series).

RBR: Do you think that listening to an audio book is the same as reading?

AC: No, it's completely different. You don't get the same experience. It's not better.

It's not worse. But it's totally different. There are some books which are a pleasure to listen to. And then there are some books that when you get to the middle you realize you need to start reading a physical copy. On the other hand, there are some books I could not read and I listened to them and they were so good. So yeah, it's a viable alternative.

RBR: Do you have a favorite author?

AC: I guess, again, what genre are we talking about? I prefer more sci-fi and stuff and fantasy. There's Terry Pratchett, Mercedes Lackey, there's an Israeli sci-fi author Lavie Tihar, who's unbelievable. He wrote a book called Central Station and if you know anything about Israel, you know exactly where that is.

RBR: Why don’t you like Jane Austen?

AC: It's not that I don't like Jane Austen- I have a slipcased copy of Pride and Prejudices that I reread every few years- I just think she's overrated. It's just that I don't find anything new when I go back to her.

RBR: But do you think that's just because we now have so much more of that [romance] genre?

AC: No, because I just don't find anything new. I also dislike Charles Dickens. To me, he's one of the worst authors ever. And I know I'm in a definite minority there and I'm allowed to be in my definite minority. Not everything is for everybody. And if you 11

know that, you know that you can recommend a book that you think is fabulous and somebody else will read it and go, “oh my god”.

RBR: What are your thoughts on people who read ebooks on their phone? Do you think that’s a real book? There is a lot of debate on that.

AC: A lot of people get into this whole gestalt1 that you read with the book in a chair and cat on your lap. You know what, I like doing that, including the cat on my lap because I have cats. But also, you, (cross out the first you,) you read on the train, it's much easier to just pop out your phone and read than it is to have this heavy book that you're carrying with you. I think eBooks are a really good thing if you don't feel like carrying a book with you. What's the difference? With audiobooks, I can do embroidery. You can still do your embroidery, you know you can't do that with a physical book.

RBR: If you were going to write a book tomorrow, what would it be about?

AC: Look, every reader thinks they can write. So I was gonna write a book about spies. The other one was about actors, actually. And actually, another one was about mixing them together. Spies and actors. Let me finish by giving you the best quote I ever heard about writing a book: "I have everything I need. A ream of paper and the delusion that I'm talented." Still looking for the ream of paper.

1

Gestalt-he word Gestalt is used in modern German to mean the way a thing has been “placed,” or “put together.”

12