Category: Lifestyle

Broadway | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Playing at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery Available through Broadway Direct

What I Paid: $266.70

Official Website: https://sweeneytoddbroadway.com/

For the first time since 1980, Broadway audiences can experience Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award®–winning score as it was performed in the original production—with Jonathan Tunick’s classic 26-player orchestration on an epic scale. Tony Award–winning director Thomas Kail (Hamilton) helms the return of this musical thriller starring Tony and Grammy® nominee Josh Groban (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) as Sweeney Todd and Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford (Sunday in the Park With George, Kinky Boots) as Mrs. Lovett. Tony winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen) reunites with Kail as Music Supervisor, and Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) choreographs this new production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

REVIEW

I’m usually the type of person who enjoys seeing fun, upbeat, and glitzy Broadway shows, but when I found out Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford are starring in the new revival of Sweeney Todd, I knew it was an absolute must attend on my recent trip to New York City. I purchased a full price ticket directly through the show’s website a couple months in advance. Since I’m familiar with the show and didn’t feel the need to be that close to the bloody action, I picked a seat in the Center Orchestra, Row R. While the mezzanine does overhang just slightly, I did not feel like my view was obstructed at all, and highly recommend sitting here if you would like a slightly more affordable price.

If you’re new to Sweeney Todd, the show follows the title character as he returns to London after being sent away to prison on false charges by the evil Judge Turpin. He plots to get revenge against the judge, and re-opens his barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop. What follows is a dramatic and death-filled story about a man trying to seek justice whilst descending into madness.

As I expected, the show is amazingly performed. I can’t tell you how exciting and surreal it was to see this cast in person. Josh Groban’s voice is incredible, and he does a fantastic job at going from a quiet Sweeney to a downright scary one as the show progresses. Annaleigh Ashford is the perfect Mrs. Lovett. Her comedic timing is spot on, and she had the audience in the palm of her hand for the entire show. The rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Jordan Fisher sounds beautiful as Anthony, and while Gaten Matarazzo was out for the performance I attended, his understudy Nathan Salstone did a flawless job. The other stand-out performance for me is Ruthie Ann Miles as Beggar Woman. Every time she was onstage, my heart went out to her!

Moreover, the theatre itself is transformed to capture the eerie feel of the show. The use of fog when the show opens helps to evoke that unsettled feeling. Similarly, the lighting is very well done. The ensemble is often shrouded in shadow, and many of the scenes have a very dark feel to mimic the story’s themes. If it weren’t for the ambulance sirens going by the theatre (that’s NYC for you), it would be easy to imagine that I’d been transported to dreary London.

I do want to quickly mention the bloody scenes for those of you who may be nervous about attending a gory show. Without giving away too many spoilers, I’ll mention that the anticipation of the bloody moments is actually much worse than the moments themselves. The orchestra and actors work together to create so much tension, that I was actually a bit relieved when the first “shave” takes place and not much blood is seen. In fact, each death is pretty quick, and I feel like the show does a great job at not glorifying them. If you’re still a bit uneasy, do as I did and sit a bit farther back!

Overall, I am thrilled I had the privilege of attending this Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd. Not only was it an amazing opportunity to see so many incredible performers on one stage, but the entire experience was amplified by the audience. From the moment the lights went down until the final bow, I felt like I was part of a wonderful group of theatre-goers experiencing greatness together. Everyone applauded with gusto when appropriate, and was enraptured throughout the rest of the performance. If you are able to see this show, I highly recommend it!

STAGE DOOR

I attended a Saturday matinee performance of Sweeney Todd. While barricades were set up around the stage door, security was very quick to inform everyone that, “There is no Stage Door.” This was disappointing, since I’ve seen many others on social media get their Playbills signed by the entire cast, but I do understand the need to rest between matinee and evening performances. The only off-putting thing was that if you even stood 10-15 feet away from the stage door itself, security yelled at you to move. I tried standing about 15 feet away to order food, and some others were slightly closer trying to look up directions on their phone. I would cross the street or move father down the block to avoid getting scolded, even if you think you are out of the way! If you do want to get your Playbills signed, you may have better luck at evening performances.

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Broadway | The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise

Playing at Broadhurst Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery Available through Telecharge

What I Paid: $45.00 – Digital Lottery Win!

Official Website: https://abeautifulnoisethemusical.com/

The story of the legendary Neil Diamond comes to life on stage in an uplifting new musical featuring all his hit songs, including “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Cracklin’ Rosie.” From those exhilarating early days in New York to the sold-out spectacles that defined his career, A Beautiful Noise explores the life of a rock icon through the music that made him “a national treasure” (Los Angeles Times).

Directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), choreographed by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and written by four-time Academy Award nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Two Popes), A Beautiful Noise is a thrilling look at an artist’s search for himself and a celebration of the enduring power of his music.

REVIEW

I recently visited New York City for a long weekend with the goal to see as many Broadway shows as possible in just two and a half days. While I booked a few tickets in advance, I also wanted to enter some lotteries and go to a couple shows spontaneously. Luckily, I won the lottery for The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise on the first try! For $45.00, I sat in Orchestra Center, Row O. This was a great seat, and I had the perfect view of the stage.

This is a jukebox musical featuring Neil Diamond’s songs, while also telling his life story. The show begins with present day Neil visiting his therapist. At first, he is reluctant to talk about his life, but she finally gets him to open up by going through his songbook. The audience then gets to follow Neil from the start of his music career as a songwriter, through his international stardom, and ending with where is he today.

I think it is clever to have two actors play Neil Diamond – the “Now” Neil is played by Mark Jacoby and the “Then” Neil is Will Swenson. I was so excited to see Will in this show (I loved him in Priscilla Queen of the Desert!). He does a wonderful job at showing the juxtaposition of how great Neil feels on stage as a performer with how depressed he feels in his daily life.

Moreover, I learned so much about Neil Diamond in this show. While I was familiar with many of the songs, I truly knew nothing about his life. I was impressed that that show is very honest and does not hold back when it comes to Neil’s infidelity and mental health struggles. Because the show isn’t sugar-coated, it feels very genuine, and I appreciate that real-life Neil allows so much to be shared with the audience.

My favorite moments of the show are, of course, the big musical numbers where “Then” Neil (Will) is adorned in a sparkly outfit. There is an interesting experience where Will breaks the fourth wall, addresses the “Broadway” crowd, and even encourages a bit of audience participation, which is usually a huge no-no on Broadway. I found these moments so much fun, especially the curtain call!

I also have to shout out Robyn Hurder, who plays Neil’s second wife Marcia Murphy. Robyn is an incredible performer! Her solo numbers are amazing, and her vocals and dance abilities are top notch. She truly owns the stage when she’s on it, and I’m so glad I got to see her perform. Speaking of dancing, the ensemble in this show is wonderful as well. I loved watching all of the dance numbers throughout the show.

Overall, I am so glad I won the lottery and got to see A Beautiful Noise on Broadway. If you are a Neil Diamond fan, this show is an absolute must see. That being said, even if you are not familiar with Neil’s work, I still think this show can be enjoyed by anyone. It’s a great mix of entertaining, show-stopping performances with more emotional real-life moments. If you want to have a night out that is so good, so good, so good, look no further than A Beautiful Noise!

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door is directly to your right when you exit the theater. I saw a Friday evening performance, and very few audience members were waiting to get signed playbills. I think this is partly because the crowd at A Beautiful Noise is generally older in age, and it’s often the younger audience members who go to the Stage Door.

Security let us know right away that Will Swenson does not come out to sign Playbills. That was a bit disappointing, but I appreciated that we were told in advance.

Most of the cast rushed out the door quite quickly, but I was very thankful that Jess Leprotto (who I saw twice in Newsies and loved!), Linda Powell, and Robyn Hurder stopped to sign our Playbills. They were all very nice, and it was great to chat with them for a moment. All in all, I had a wonderful experience at A Beautiful Noise!

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Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Disney The Little Mermaid Falling in Love Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I recently took a little break from working on jigsaw puzzles to begin my adventures in diamond painting. When I found the Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Disney – The Little Mermaid Falling in Love puzzle at the thrift store, I knew it would be the perfect project for when I needed a diamond painting break. This beautiful puzzle is based on a Thomas Kinkade painting, and features our favorite characters from the Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid. Let me tell you why this jigsaw puzzle was so much fun to put together!

This post includes affiliate links and a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

This puzzle is one of many designs in the Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Disney collection. It has 750 pieces, and measures 24″ x 18″ when completed. It comes in a square box that is easy to stack and store. As mentioned, I found this at my local thrift store. It was brand new and just $2.99! The puzzle retails for $14.99 on the Ceaco website, or $12.99 on Amazon. Ceaco puzzles are Made in the USA. Unlike the Peggy’s Garden puzzle I reviewed recently, this one does not say it is made with recycled materials, so I must assume it’s not.

The first thing I noticed when working on this puzzle is that the individual pieces feel a lot sturdier than the previous Ceaco puzzle I completed. I also did not have a problem with the image peeling away from the cardboard. However, several of the pieces were not fully cut when I opened the box, and I had to separate them myself. These pieces also do not lock together, so it’s very challenging to move sections around while working because they just fall apart.

Despite the pieces falling apart easily, it was an absolute joy to put together this puzzle! I began with sorting the pieces, and was able to put together Flounder, Eric, and Ariel right from the start. I then moved onto the edge, and worked my way around the border with the castle, ship, and coral sections. The sky was my favorite section to complete! I felt like pieces were going in so easily as I reached for them!

The most challenging part of this puzzle is the blue water. That being said, the art has many hints in the water that help guide the puzzling along. For example, King Triton and his castle can be seen in the water, as well as different schools of fish. The water also has different shades of blue that I used to help me sort through the pieces. I ended up putting small sections of light blue together before adding them to the main puzzle.

I also love how this puzzle features so many different elements from The Little Mermaid. While Ariel and Eric are the main focus of the image, you can see that Ursula is spotted in the scene along with Sebastian’s crustacean band. I really enjoyed finding all of the different details in the image as I worked on the puzzle!

Just like the last Ceaco puzzle I completed, this one comes with a high quality print of the puzzle image. This allowed me to use both boxes for sorting. I definitely referred to the picture a lot while working on the blue water area in particular.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Beautiful artwork
  • Sturdy pieces
  • Quick and fun to complete
  • Included print out of image
  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Pieces do not lock together
  • False fits (happened twice)
  • Some pieces not fully cut through during manufacturing

Final Thoughts

I am so glad I found this puzzle at the thrift store! I completed it in one weekend, and had such fun doing so. Even though the water was a bit difficult, I never felt frustrated or stuck. Plus, there were a lot of unique elements in the artwork that I enjoyed discovering. I think this is a great puzzle for beginners and Disney fans alike! Ceaco is continuing to be a budget-friendly (even at retail price!) puzzle company.

Follow me on Instagram @PolishlandReads to see more of my puzzle adventures!

The Woobles Rainbow Billy the Unicorn Crochet Kit Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I’ve never purchased from an Instagram ad before, but after seeing The Woobles pop up in my feed for several months, I decided to take the plunge. The Woobles is a company that sells beginner friendly crochet kits specializing in amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small, stuffed animals. I’ve crocheted for nearly 20 years, but I’ve never mastered amigurmi. In fact, I find working on these small projects quite frustrating! That being said, when I saw the cute Rainbow Billy the Unicorn design, I knew I had to make it as a gift for my unicorn-loving niece. In this post I will share my experience with The Woobles, and whether or not I think it’s worth the price tag.

First, let’s talk about what comes in The Woobles crochet kits. I appreciate that the kits contain all of the tools you need to make your project:

  • Yarn
  • Stuffing
  • Crochet Hook
  • Eyes
  • Weaving Needle
  • Stitch Markers
  • PDF pattern and video tutorials

This kit is a beginner level, and recommended for ages 12+. It comes in a really cute and resealable holographic bag. I have a full unboxing video on Instagram if you want to see the materials up close.

The materials themselves were good quality. The yarn is advertised as “Easy Peasy yarn, custom-made for beginners.” I actually found that it separated quite easily, and was a bit too large for the crochet hook provided at 4mm. I also had a huge clump in my white yarn. It is common to see a small knot in yarn skeins due to the manufacturing process, but this knot was tricky to get around on such a small project. That being said, I actually really liked the crochet hook. The rubbery handle was very comfortable to hold compared to the metal hooks I typically use.

When it comes to the crochet process, I appreciate that we get both the PDF of the pattern and the step-by-step tutorial videos. Because I already know how to crochet, I used the pattern and would only use the videos when needed. The videos were very helpful, and I did refer to them quite a bit. However, it was surprising that in most of the videos the instructor was using a very different texture of yarn, and working on a separate project. It would be more helpful if the instructor was working on the same project in the kit.

The crocheting itself went relatively smoothly for me. What I do not like about amigurumi, however, are all the tiny parts that have to get sewn onto the project. For Rainbow Billy, the arms, ears, horn, mane, bangs, and cheeks are all separate parts that have to be sewn onto the main section (here, the head). I find it super frustrating to make these little bits and connect them together. The sewing aspect is challenging, and it never looks quite right for me (as seen in this top-down view of Billy’s head). My poor little Billy looks a little wonky!

I completed my Rainbow Billy in about 5 hours. The packaging states that this project will take 3-8 hours. I honestly think if you’ve never crocheted before, this will take you even longer as you try to learn all the stitches through the videos.

Additionally, I am surprised with how many supplies were left over when the project was completed. I have a good amount of yarn and stuffing, as seen in the above photo. While it’s great that The Woobles gives you sufficient materials, I think they could easily reduce what is provided so we do not end up with any waste. This would also save the company money.

Speaking of price, this kit costs $30.00. At first, I suffered a bit of sticker shock when I saw the website listing. However, I do think this is a fair price. If I were to buy all of the included materials from Joann Fabrics, it would cost me $25.00 before shipping. Of course, that price does not include the pattern and tutorial videos included with The Woobles. Thus, if you are looking to try crocheting without accumulating a lot of materials, this is a great way to do it.

Overall, I think The Woobles Rainbow Billy the Unicorn crochet kit is a fun crafting project. That being said, I do not plan on purchasing from this company again. I just don’t enjoy the amigurumi process, and prefer to work on other projects like scarves and blankets. However, if you would like to dip your toes into the crochet world, this is a great way to do that! The Woobles offers a variety of amigurumi kits on their website. I am very glad I gave this company a try, and my niece really loves her little stuffed unicorn made by her aunty!

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase scarves, blankets, and other items crocheted by me!

Ceaco Peggy’s Garden Fanciful Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

My jigsaw puzzle craze continues with another review of a puzzle I completed! I found the Ceaco Peggy’s Garden Fanciful puzzle at the thrift store for $3.00. I was excited to discover that it was still brand new when I got it home! I love flowers, and the bright colors on the box are such a cheery image. It may be snowing outside right now, but I can at least imagine a sunny, floral atmosphere with my puzzle!

This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ceaco makes a few different versions of Peggy’s Garden, with this one being the Fanciful edition. This is a 1000 piece puzzle that measures 26.6″ x 19″ when completed. It comes in a square box that is small and easy to store. Just as with the White Mountain puzzle I completed recently, this puzzle is Made in the USA in my native New England – this time in Massachusetts! I once again love that the brand uses recycled materials to make their puzzles. This puzzle typically retails for $12.99, but it’s currently on sale on Ceaco’s website for $4.99! It is also available on Amazon.

The pieces themselves are made of cardboard, and they measure on the smaller side. I did have issues with the image peeling a bit off of the backing whenever I would try a piece in the wrong spot. It’s almost like the pieces would get stuck together! The image is high quality, but it is a bit glossy, which reflected the sunlight when I worked on the puzzle during the day. I needed to get right over the pieces to avoid glare.

All of that being said, the pieces fit together really well, and it was obvious whenever I put a piece in the wrong spot. It can be tricky to move sections of the puzzle around, though, as the pieces do not lock together strongly. I carefully slid sections around, and only moved small groupings at a time.

In terms of difficulty, I found this puzzle to be quite the challenge! I began with the edge, and then moved onto the middle of the flowers that have the small dots at the center. I then built out the flowers from there, and kept working outwards. The leaves in various shades of green came last! Once I got the flowers done, the rest moved pretty quickly, and it was satisfying to see everything come together so nicely.

One thing I absolutely loved about this puzzle is the included poster of the puzzle image. This allowed me to use both sides of the box for sorting. I definitely used the image to help me lay out many of the pieces, specifically the colored circles in the background. I appreciate that the colors in the print match the puzzle exactly!

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Beautiful artwork with vibrant colors
  • High quality image
  • Included print out of image
  • Made in USA of recycled materials

Cons:

  • Pieces do not lock together well
  • Image peels off easily
  • Glare due to glossy finish
  • Puzzle dust

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed putting together the Ceaco Peggy’s Garden Fanciful puzzle. It was a nice challenge for me, and the issues I did have with the pieces did not detract from the puzzling experience too much. Instead, it just felt more like a “budget” puzzle, which makes sense since the original price is $12.99. I will definitely keep my eye out for more Ceaco puzzles!

Follow me on Instagram @PolishlandReads to see more of my puzzle adventures!

White Mountain Puzzles Tapestry Cat Jigsaw Puzzle Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

After YouTube recommended the channel Karen Puzzles to me, I’ve rediscovered how much I enjoy jigsaw puzzles. I’ve decided that 2023 is going to be the year that I allow myself to spend time doing cozy and crafty hobbies. I thought it would be fun to document the different puzzles and projects I complete here on the blog. That way, I can look back and see all of the fun creations I put together, all while sharing my thoughts on the products with you. Let’s jump right into the first jigsaw puzzle I completed this year from White Mountain Puzzles called Tapestry Cat!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I purchased the White Mountain Puzzles Tapestry Cat by Lewis T. Johnson on Poshmark, but it is available on the brand’s website and Amazon for $19.99. This is a 1000 piece puzzle that measures 24″ x 30″ when completed. I absolutely love that the puzzle is Made in the USA in my native New England! The box also reads that the puzzle is made with recycled materials, which is awesome as well.

The pieces are made of a nice, sturdy cardboard. I did have a few issues with false fits, or pieces fitting in places where they don’t belong. Thankfully, the colors on the puzzle are very clear and rich, so when I took a closer look I was able to see my mistakes and rectify them. I appreciated that the pieces lock together well, so I could easily move around sections as I worked on them.

I started the puzzle by working on the tapestry section on the outside border. I found this quite challenging! I think I struggled a bit because the pattern repeats itself multiple times. Once I got this section completed, though, the rest went more smoothly for me.

Once I finished the tapestry, I moved onto the cat. I put together the cat’s face and paws, but then quickly moved onto the flowers. The flowers were the most fun for me! I matched up the pieces by color and texture, and used the photo on the box to arrange them on the board. It was so satisfying when all my sections began locking together!

Lastly, I filled in the darker areas around the cat to complete the puzzle. This was a bit tricky, but at this point I didn’t have many pieces left, so it went together quite quickly. The end result is just stunning! I love the beautiful colors, and the cat is darling. I left the puzzle out for a few days because I loved looking at my feline friend. I definitely see myself doing this puzzle again, and perhaps framing it if I ever have a library room.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Sturdy cardboard
  • High quality image
  • Beautiful artwork
  • Large box size (great for sorting!)
  • Pieces lock together well
  • Made in USA of recycled materials

Cons:

  • False fits
  • A bit of puzzle dust (I kept blowing it away)
  • Image on the box is obstructed with writing (I would love a separate poster/print inside!)

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed putting together the Tapestry Cat from White Mountain Puzzles! The few cons that I encountered are nit-picky on my end. I will definitely keep my eye out for other designs from this brand. Plus, they have a store in Jackson, NH that I would love to visit one day!

Follow me on Instagram @PolishlandReads to see more of my puzzle adventures!

Book Postscript Tag 2022

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

As 2022 comes to a close, I want to share about some of the books I read this year. I saw Vicky over at Vicky’s Book Nook on YouTube post the Book Postscript Tag. This tag was created by Mementomori, and it is a fun way to reflect on your reading. This year was quite interesting for me book wise. I began by reading a lot of books that I had accumulated from NetGalley over the years. Unfortunately for me, most of them were pretty bad! I also switched jobs a few months ago, so instead of reading during my long commutes, I’m only reading about 20 pages a day during lunch. Despite my weird reading year, I’m still happy with what I accomplished, and would like to share some of my reads with you!

Book Postscript Tag 2022

I am using affiliate links from Bookshop.org in this post. While I try to buy all of my books locally and secondhand, whenever I do buy a new books I use this website because it donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores. With that being said, let’s jump into the questions!

1. The longest book you read this year and the book that took you the longest to finish.

The longest book I read this year is RINGER by Lauren Oliver at 528 pages. This is the second book in the Replica duology, which is a young adult sci-fi series. Lauren Oliver is one of my go-to authors, and this series was definitely thought-provoking and fast-paced. It follows two teenage girls, Gemma and Lyra, as they discover who they really are. If you have any interest in human cloning, I definitely think you would enjoy this series!

The book that took me the longest to read is NIGHT SHIFT by Stephen King. I started this book on November 19, 2021, and I didn’t finish it until June 30, 2022! This is one of King’s short story collections, and I guess you can tell I do not do well with short stories. Overall, these stories were quite good and very creepy. I just have a difficult time with short fiction, and kept putting this book down because it didn’t capture my attention. I was so glad when I finally finished it!

2. A book you read in 2022 that was outside of your comfort zone.

A book I read outside of my comfort zone this year is BEYOND BELIEF: MY SECRET LIFE INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY AND MY HARROWING ESCAPE by Jenna Miscavige Hill. This is the one and only book I listened to on audio this year. I know so many people love audiobooks, but I just can’t get into them. That being said, I did really enjoy this book, which is a memoir by a woman who grew up in the Church of Scientology. This book really opened my eyes about what goes on in this organization. I will never be watching another Tom Cruise movie!

3. How many books did you re-read in 2022?

4. Favorite re-read of 2022.

I am usually a big re-reader, but this year I only re-read one book, so by default it’s my favorite re-read of the year. That book is EASY by Tammara Webber. This is a new adult contemporary romance, which funnily enough it also not something I would normally read. That being said, I enjoy the characters, and I appreciate that there are important topics discussed in this book.

5. A book you read for the first time in 2022 that you look forward to re-reading in the future.

A surprise favorite for me this year is A SUDDEN LIGHT by Garth Stein. This novel follows a boy named Trevor as he spends the summer at the family estate where his father grew up. I absolutely loved how the house was one of the main characters. It is filled with secrets and ghosts. If you like multi-generational novels, I highly recommend this one. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.

6. Favorite single short story or novella that you read in 2022.

I mentioned earlier that I struggle with short fiction, but I did really enjoy some of the stories in NIGHT SHIFT by Stephen King. Some of my favorites in this collection are Jerusalem’s Lot, The Ledge, and Children of the Corn. One story that will haunt me forever is The Mangler. It’s the single scariest thing I’ve read by King thus far!

7. Mass Appeal: A book you liked and would recommend to a wide variety of readers.

This year I’ve really enjoyed the Dragon Masters series by Tracey West. This is a children’s book series that I started reading because my nephew is really into it. I love reading the same books as him! I have to say, I got really sucked into these magical fantasy books. They are really cute, and a great palette cleanser between longer adult books. I think this series can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!

8. Specialized Appeal: A book you liked but would be hesitant to recommend to just anyone.

My favorite read this year is NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS by Patricia Lockwood. This is an autofictional novel, meaning that it’s a fiction book based on the author’s life. While I think that everyone should read this book, I fully understand that many people will not get it or enjoy it. The story is written in two parts. The first focuses on the protagonist’s career in social media, while the second follows her life once a tragic event strikes her family. While devastating, this book is incredibly written and very important. Lockwood is by far one of my favorite authors, as I also love her memoir PRIESTDADDY.

9. Reflect on your year as a bookish content creator (goals met, good/bad memories, favorite videos you made, etc).

This year I hoped to revamp my Bookstagram page @PolishlandReads. Unfortunately, I did not keep up with it very much at all. I struggle to post bookish photos when the majority of the books I read are now ebooks. I hope that next year I can get back into the groove over there!

10. Tag some fellow bookish content creators.

I don’t have anyone specific to tag. If you’re interested in doing this tag, consider yourself tagged by me.

2022 Reading Reflections

While my reading this year went a bit differently than expected, I’m still very happy with what I accomplished. I ticked off many books from by TBR list, I caught up on a lot of NetGalley requests, and I discovered some new favorites. I hope that all of you also had a good reading year. Please share your thoughts on any of these questions in the comments!

All of Morgan Matson’s Books Ranked & Reviewed

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

During the pandemic, my reading took a huge nosedive. After struggling to get into a new reading routine, I decided to reread a favorite book of mine, Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson. I enjoyed my reread so much that I decided to continue with Matson’s books, and I ended up reading her entire bibliography back to back. This blog post will share mini reviews of all of Morgan Matson’s current books, as well as rank them from my least favorite to favorite. I’ll first begin with quick, non-spoiler summaries of each book, and then I’ll jump into the ranking!

All of Morgan Matson's Books Ranked & Reviewed

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Morgan Matson is a young adult, contemporary fiction author. She presently has six novels, with a seventh middle grade book slated for Spring of 2022. What’s unique about Maton’s books is that they are all connected to the fictional town of Stanwich, Connecticut. This allows Matson to drop Easter Eggs into her books, and update readers on characters from past books. Thus, while each of these novels is a stand alone, I highly recommend reading them in publication order.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

First up is Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, released in 2010. After Amy’s father dies in a car accident, Amy’s mother decides the family will move from California to Connecticut. In order to get her mom’s car across the country, family friend Roger is enlisted to drive Amy and the vehicle to the East Coast. While Amy and Roger are supposed to stick to her mom’s strict itinerary, the duo decides to take matters into their own hands. As the title suggests, they go on an epic detour across the United States. The book follows their adventures, and actually maps out a real-life road trip that Matson went on herself!

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Next up is Second Chance Summer, released in 2012. This book follows Taylor and her family as they spend a summer at their lake house after her dad receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. Taylor hasn’t been to the lake in five years, and the last time she was there things ended badly with both her ex-boyfriend and ex-best-friend. This story is about Taylor mending broken fences, all while trying to make the most of her limited time with her father.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

The Matson book that started it all for me is Since You’ve Been Gone, released in 2014. At the start of the summer, Emily goes looking for her best friend Sloane, only to find that Sloane has seemingly vanished. Emily soon gets a To Do list from Sloane in the mail, prompting Emily to spend her summer checking off tasks such as Dance Until Dawn, Kiss a Stranger, and even Steal Something. Emily hopes that by completing this checklist, she will find her way back to Sloane. The book chronicles Emily’s adventures throughout the summer as she makes new friends and steps outside of her comfort zone.

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything, released in 2016, is the last of Matson’s summer novels. Andie has plans to attend a summer internship, but when her Congressman father has a scandal in his office, her acceptance is revoked. Andie has to find a last-minute summer job, and the only thing available is a dog walker position. This book follows Andie’s summer with her group of friends, and the cute guy Clark she meets while walking his dog Bertie.

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Next up is Save the Date, released in 2018. Charlie is excited for her sister’s wedding, which will bring together all of her siblings for the last time in the family home before they move. While the wedding was carefully planned, things start going wrong when the Grant family finds out that the wedding planner was a scam artist. Charlie steps in to help save the wedding when one disaster after another attempts to destroy it.

Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

Last but not least is Matson’s 2021 release, Take Me Home Tonight. This book follows best friends Kat and Stevie, who sneak off to New York City. While the purpose of the trip is supposed to be Stevie’s birthday dinner, Kat has ulterior motives. The duo have an argument in the subway station that leads to them getting separated, and everything that could possibly go wrong absolutely does. The book follows their misadventures in the city as they attempt to find their way home with no cell phones and little money.

Ranking and Mini Reviews

Morgan Matson's Books Ranked

Now that I’ve shared a bit about each book, let’s jump into my thoughts. I will start with my least favorite, and end with my favorite.

6. Take Me Home Tonight | ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | Matson’s newest release is, unfortunately, my least favorite of her books. Although it’s quite entertaining, it is also a bit too ridiculous for me. You really need to suspend disbelief when reading this book. Moreover, I find Kat and Stevie to be quite unlikeable characters. They are both self-centered and lie a lot, so it’s difficult to root for them. That being said, I like how the story wrapped up, and both characters were developed well despite the story taking place in a short timespan. [BUY]

5. Save the Date | ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | Coming in fifth place is Save the Date. This book is just shy of a 4-star rating for me, mainly due to the bonus chapter at the end of the book that furthers negative vegan stereotypes. Otherwise, I really enjoy the large cast of characters in this story. It was really fun to read about a family with a lot of siblings. While this book is also a bit unrealistic for me, I like that Matson did something new with this book, and stepped outside her summer setting. [BUY]

4. The Unexpected Everything | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Next we have the books that all take place in the summer, and The Unexpected Everything is at the bottom of that bunch. This is the longest of Matson’s books at over 500 pages, and it does feel slightly too long. Similarly, the dialogue in this book is a bit uncomfortable. There are times where the conversations between characters will be broken up with paragraphs of text, and that can make the conversations difficult to follow and disjointed. Nonetheless, I loved following Andie’s friend group in this novel, and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with her dad grow. [BUY]

3. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | You know a road trip book is good when you read it and immediately want to take the same road trip as the characters! I love the travel element of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, and it’s fun that there are some mixed media elements thrown in, such as photographs and receipts, that make the story feel more real. The only reason I don’t give this book a full 5-star rating is due to the lack of depth in the characters. For instance, we know Amy is dealing with the grief of her father’s death, but it’s difficult to feel that in the writing. However, this may simply be because it is Maton’s debut. [BUY]

2. Since You’ve Been Gone | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 | Coming in at my second favorite is Since You’ve Been Gone. Honestly, the only reason this isn’t a 5-star read is because the phrase “I let out a breath” is repeated endlessly throughout the book. Otherwise, I absolutely love this story. Not only is the concept of the list fun, but I love Emily’s new friend group, and absolutely adore Frank. This book is the epitome of a fun, summer read! [BUY]

1. Second Chance Summer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Without further ado, my favorite Morgan Matson book is Second Chance Summer. While I expected this book to be sad, I did not plan to outright sob for the last 100 pages of the book like I did. This book deals with real issues, and while the story is absolutely heartbreaking, it’s also hopeful. I appreciated the careful balance Taylor must have with dealing with her own friendship issues, all while her dad is dealing with his illness. If you read just one book from Morgan Matson, I highly recommend Second Chance Summer. [BUY]

As you can see, Morgan Matson has become one of my favorite authors! Even my least favorite books from her are over a 3-star rating, and my critiques are typically nit-picky. I do hope that Matson will return to her summer settings soon, but I look forward to seeing what she releases next. I would also love to see Matson write more diversely, as the main characters in her current books are white, cishet young women who usually come from affluent families.

Have you read any of Morgan Maton’s books?

Share your favorite in the comments!

Book Review | The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

I received a free eBook copy of The Mall by Megan McCafferty for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links.

The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Published by W Wednesday Books

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Format: eARC

Pages: 320

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★

The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.

REVIEW

The Mall by Megan McCafferty is a young adult contemporary novel that takes place in the summer of 1991. I was excited to read this book because of it’s unique setting – a shopping mall! Our protagonist is Cassie Worthy. She has finally recovered from mono and is excited to spend her last summer before college working with her boyfriend at the mall. Unfortunately, when she shows up to work, “The Plan” that she and her boyfriend have carefully crafted quickly falls apart. Cassie must team up with her estranged best friend Drea Bellarosa in order to salvage her summer.

As someone who has spent summers working at the mall in college, I really enjoyed the mall culture aspect of this book. While my local mall did not have any secret underground parties, it’s true that the mall had its own unique community. McCafferty does a great job of demonstrating the fun relationships between the stores and their employees, and I could relate to the funny, and sometimes quite dramatic, interactions that Cassie has with the other characters in the book.

Moreover, I absolutely love it when a book includes a treasure hunt element. Drea explains to Cassie that, according to mall legend, there is a secret treasure hidden in the mall somewhere. This mystery kept me turning pages quickly, because I couldn’t wait for Cassie and Drea to find the next clue. I wish this treasure hunt played a bigger role in the story. Similarly I also enjoyed that Cassie is a vegetarian! It’s always great to read a book where vegetarianism is portrayed positively.

Unfortunately, I did feel like The Mall tried to do too much. This book touches on a lot of topics, but it does not have the time or pages to flush out each topic well. For instance, Cassie is portrayed as a feminist, but she backstabs Drea and makes a lot of derogatory comments towards the other female characters in the book. For instance, I really did not like how Cassie repeatedly calls her ex-boyfriend’s new flame ugly. Thus, I felt like some of the hot topics mentioned in this book were thrown in for brownie points.

Overall, I think The Mall is a quick and summery read that would make for a fun movie. If you also enjoy the nostalgic setting of a 1990s shopping mall, this might be a good pick for you. Plus, it’s fun to go back in time to when cell phones didn’t dictate teen communication! The Mall is available for pre-order now, and releases on July 28, 2020.

BUY THE BOOK

Wednesday Books | Amazon | Target

March Reading Wrap Up | Rereading My Mary-Kate and Ashley Collection

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

March started out as a great reading month for me, but as things changed rapidly in the world, my reading routine got off track as well. If you’ve followed my reading updates for a while, you’ll know that I usually read pretty heavy books. My favorite genre, for example, is dystopian, and I certainly don’t feel like reading a dystopian book right now when the current state of life feels much like one. Thus, I decided to start a fun and light-hearted project. Like many people my age, I grew up a huge Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen fan. I watched the movies and the television shows, I sang the songs, I had the dolls and merchandise, and, of course, I read the books. My Mary-Kate and Ashley book collection brings me so much joy that it always survived rounds of KonMari decluttering. I knew one day I would finally reread them, and now is the perfect time. Today I’ll be sharing with you my March reading wrap up, and the start of rereading my Mary-Kate and Ashley collection.

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I began the month really excited to finally begin reading the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I’ve wanted to read this series for years, and March was going to be the month for it! I picked up The Knife of Never Letting Go, and really enjoyed it. This is a science fiction and dystopian novel that follows a boy named Todd. He lives in a society where only men have survived, and they can hear each other’s thoughts. It took me about 50 pages to become accustomed to the writing style, but I soon got sucked into the story. This book is very adventurous, and quite violent for a young adult novel. I also read the majority of the second book in this trilogy, The Ask and the Answer, but I put it down when everything got serious. I look forward to finishing this trilogy at some point, but I’m not sure when that will be.

I then spent the rest of the month working through all of the books I own in The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley series. There are ten books in this series, but I own four of them: The Case of the Mystery Cruise, The Case of the U.S. Space Camp Mission, The Case of the U.S. Navy Adventure, and The Case of Thorn Mansion. I’ve written more thoughts on each of these books on Goodreads, but overall I think these mysteries are a little ridiculous, but a lot of fun. I am constantly amazed at how nine-year-old kids are allowed to wander around by themselves to solve crimes. I am also bewildered that the Trenchcoat Twins are able to get involved with governmental investigations!

Overall, March was not the reading month I hoped it would be, but I’m taking advantage of this time to reread childhood books that I’ve always wanted to revisit. Now that I’m working from home, I’ve found it very difficult to find reading time. I’ve become accustomed to reading only during my long commutes to and from work, and now my commute is nonexistent. With at least another month of work-from-home life ahead of me, I hope to make more time for reading. Next up on my agenda, The New Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley!

What are you currently reading?