Today I have a review of the upcoming August 7 release, The Bucket List, by Georgia Clark. Definitely do not judge a book by its cover with this one, friends! Those cute little cupcakes do not represent the full breadth and depth of this novel, as adorable as they are.
My Thoughts:
Lacey Whitman is only twenty-five when she discovers she inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation, a gene strongly predictive of breast cancer. Like anyone who discovers she has the gene, there are two choices: increased medical monitoring beginning asap, or having a preventive double mastectomy. Lacey is adamant she does not want to choose the latter, but the former is not much more appealing. She has led a sheltered life prior to moving to New York and feels she will lose her sexuality along with the mastectomy. Her friends come together to help her create a bucket list of things to experience prior to having a possible surgery. There are many laugh-out loud moments balanced along with the serious tone of the burdensome decisions Lacey faces.
Thus, Lacey begins a year of marking things off her very much sensual, sometimes racy bucket list. I will leave the rest to your imagination, or better yet, if you read the book, you can follow along on her adventure.
There is a twist to this. Lacey is learning to accept herself, including her body, and as she stares down the path of her future, she has to choose if she will be empowered, or if she will be a victim- both before and after the surgery.
The Bucket List is a smart, often times witty, escapade. At the heart of this book is female empowerment, especially when it comes to our bodies. We need more books like this. Sometimes we read about main characters who are insecure. While that is where Lacey starts, and it lets those of us who feel insecure also feel validated, we, too, need models of women working past that.
I appreciate that Georgia Clark wrote this story, her research into the possible mental and physical health changes associated with inheriting the BRCA1 gene, including interviewing women affected, and I applaud her choices in the coming of age of Lacey. The Bucket List has emotion and tenderness with some humor for levity in what can be an earth-shattering, fear-inducing place. While this is not every woman’s story who finds herself carrying the BRCA1 gene, and I don’t think it is meant to be, it is one woman’s journey towards self-acceptance, and a heartwarming one at that.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
From the author of the critically acclaimed “lively and engrossing parable for women of all generations” (Harper’s Bazaar) The Regulars comes a deeply funny and thoughtful tale of a young woman who, after discovering she has the breast cancer gene, embarks on an unforgettable bucket list adventure.
Twenty-five-old Lacey Whitman is blindsided when she’s diagnosed with the BCRA1 gene mutation: the “breast cancer” gene. Her high hereditary risk forces a decision: increased surveillance or the more radical step of a preventative double mastectomy. Lacey doesn’t want to lose her breasts. For one, she’s juggling two career paths; her work with the prestigious New York trend forecaster Hoffman House, and her role on the founding team of a sustainable fashion app with friend/mentor, Vivian Chang. Secondly, small-town Lacey’s not so in touch with her sexuality: she doesn’t want to sacrifice her breasts before she’s had the chance to give them their hey-day. To help her make her choice, she (and her friends) creates a “boob bucket list”: everything she wants do with and for her boobs before a possible surgery.
This kicks off a year of sensual exploration and sexual entertainment for the quick-witted Lacey Whitman. Ultimately, this is a story about Lacey’s relationship to her body and her future. Both are things she thought she could control through hard work and sacrifice. Both are things she will change by choosing to have a major surgery that could save her life, and will give her the future she really wants.
Featuring the pitch-perfect “compulsively delicious” (Redbook) prose of The Regulars, The Bucket List is perfect for fans of Amy Poeppel and Sophie Kinsella.
Have you read any books by Georgia Clark, or any great summer reads? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Sounds really good and very interesting! Terrific review Jennifer! 💜💕
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Thanks, Lindsay! I found it really poignant and heartfelt! 💗
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Pretty picture. Awesome review. I do not think I have read anything by this author. This will be my first. Have a readable week. ♥️📝📚
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Thanks, Virginia! I hope you enjoy this tender and smart book as much as I did. Happy reading to you, too! 💜 xo
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Wow! Awesome review Jen! So many good books coming out! Happy Monday!😊💖☕
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Thanks, Sus! I really loved this one- such a journey! Happy Monday to you, too, my friend! 💗
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Excellent review. This book sounds amazing. And, I think the cover is wonderful! 😊
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Thank you! I really loved this book- so much to think about and such a good example of a main character! The cover is adorable and definitely caught my eye! ❤️
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This looks so good! And much more emotional than that adorable cover!💕
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Yes, it really was great, Berit! I think it’s another you would enjoy, and a real “woman power” kind of read! ♥️
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Thank you for reviewing this book. I’ll have to read it as I have a friend who is going the second route and I want to be as supportive as I can be.
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Aw, you’re welcome, AJ, and I think that is such a wonderfully supportive and kind thing to do as a friend. I am sending good thoughts for both of you as she takes those next steps.
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Thank you:$
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I can’t wait to read this one! I know it will be good! Fantastic review 🙂 The cover definitely makes you think its a fluffy read when it’s so much more! Hope you’re having a good week so far! ❤
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Thanks, Stephanie! Yes, it truly is so much more, and the body image facets reminded me of your KH review yesterday. The author really “goes there” to bring home her message, and I respected that a lot. I am having a good week, but I want summer to slow down! I hope you are having a good week too! 💕
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You’re welcome! I got the feeling after reading your review that the body image facets were similar to the ones in KH new book, and that really made me want to read it! I think it takes a lot of guts to go there as well, but it’s an important topic. That’s good! Oh me too! It’s so hard to believe that classes start in less than 2 weeks, ugh! I would love to have 6 more weeks of summer (minus all the heat). Thanks, I am! 🙂
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Similar facets, but not quite the same because this one is more about adjustments/changes after that surgery- something that should not be so taboo to talk about – if one wants to talk about it. But at the root of it, it is the same- that our appearances don’t define our self worth regardless of what that appearance may be. You probably meant that already, but this book has its racy/edginess and also the author bravely addresses things that just aren’t talked about enough. I would love to have six more weeks, too! ♥️
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Right…the self worth aspect was what I thought would be similar. I think that topic shouldn’t be taboo either! My grandmother had a double mastectomy when I was a teenager and I remember no one telling me she not only had breast cancer nor that she’d had the surgery! Like it was an off topic conversation! I thought for years she’d died of lung cancer since she was a 5 pack a die smoker…it made sense to me! No one said a word until I was in my 30s and happened to say something about not having cancer in the family as a health risk. Anyway, I’m someone who will talk about any subject. It’s not off limits to me, so I appreciate authors being willing to bravely tackle these types of issues! I’m praying time slows down! I’m just not ready for the first day of school lol. ❤
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Yes, you totally get it. I am getting that way, too, about certain subjects. I think it’s important to talk about – but only if the person impacted is comfortable, of course. I could totally see what happened in your family happening in mine. My grandmother also had a mastectomy. We knew, but it was not talked about much, and everyone went on with life. That was a serious surgery! I was maybe 10 years old. I think it’s important for children to be protected from some things, yes, but it’s also important to get a realistic (and child appropriate) view of just what is going on. Slow down time for both of us! 💗
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Exactly, if they are comfortable about talking about it. Maybe part of not sharing things like that with us is more of a southern cultural thing than anything (from that generation). I know my grandparents and even my parents had and have very set ideas of what was appropriate to talk about and not talk about, and something like that most definitely would not have been. I was 16 when my grandmother had her surgery and was still clueless. If it had been my mom’s mom, I would have known more since she and I were very close and well, her sisters were the gossipy kind that would have spilled all anyway, lol. I definitely agree children need to know what is going on while still being protected. Children are resilient, and I think they adjust better when they know what to expect. Mine definitely do! Oh, I wish I could! ❤
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Sounds like a wonderful story, Jennifer. As always your review is ever so tempting.
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It was much more than I thought it would be, Marialyce, and I loved watching the MC’s transformation.
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I need to stop judging books by their covers Jen! I took one look, thought it wasn’t for me then read your review and I was ashamed of myself! 😓 Looks like a great read.
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Thanks, Beth! Yes, cover is pretty, but doesn’t grasp all that is in the novel. I wonder if the UK cover is different. You have great covers! I wanted to have a billboard at the top of my review- this is not a fluff book! 😂 It’s a wonderful, empowering story! ♥️
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Haha the cover is so deceiving but I kind of like a book like that, a complete surprise from what you see on the cover! 😁
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Great review! But don’t put that cover down, it’s actually cute in a very simple way.. I’d pick it up. Then again some days I think I pick up everything so don’t listen to me. LOL
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Thanks, Carrie! You do pick up a bunch! 😂 The cover is adorable, and it was enough to catch my eye when I was book surfing, so that is good enough for me. I am just worried people will pass it over thinking it’s chick lit, and it’s really much more than that. 😊
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