Book Reviews,  Fashion

Gracie’s Song | Book Review + Outfit

Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.comGracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.comGracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com

Far too long ago, Michelle Schlicher contacted me to see if I would like to review her newest book, Gracie’s Song. Of course, I’m not one to say no to a free book, so here we are! I took a little too long for my liking to read and review this, since I’ve had the book for over a month, but we’ll blame teething babies for that.

As always, here is the synopsis via Goodreads:

“Everything can be undone.” That’s what someone tells Gracie Brannen, but she’s doubtful. After graduation, she walked away from everyone she knew with barely a word. Ten years later, she’s back. Even as familiar places and faces bring back old pain, Gracie finds hope in rebuilding old ties and forging new ones. Maybe everything can’t be undone, but perhaps everything can be overcome.

Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com   Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com

Gracie returns to her hometown for a funeral, after ten years of being away with nary a word to her family. While in town, she reforges friendship with her former best friend, considers rekindling romance with her highschool sweetheart, and navigates the grief of losing a parent all while struggling with her own inner demons and a big secret. This book is a simple one — and I don’t say that as a bad thing. It’s a quiet story of life and loss and love, and it feels familiar as you turn each page. While I was able to predict every turn pretty easily, I still enjoyed following the story and seeing how Gracie reacted in each situation.

Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com

I really love supporting new authors — being an aspiring author myself — so I wanted to give an incredibly glowing review; I wanted this book to be a bit more than it is. But I also want to be honest with my reviews always. Gracie’s Song wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read (nothing will ever live up to Jane Eyre, let’s be honest here) but so far this year it was the most heartwarming and sweet. I rooted for each character, I felt their emotions, and I came away from reading the story with the satisfaction a good quiet romance gives you. If you’re looking for a good, clean romance that is great for a quick rainy day read, this book is definitely for you.

Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.comGracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com

As for the outfit, I chose this amazing skirt that Hannah sent me for my birthday and added accessories around it. The brain in a jar brooch might be an odd choice, but I just got it and I had to wear it with this skirt.

These are the first photos I’ve ever taken of myself in a fairly public place, and I felt so, so awkward. There weren’t many people at the park when I first arrived, but by the time I left I had quite a few gawkers and one possible creeper. I smiled at anyone I caught staring, hoping they’d just move on, but one woman stared intently at me any moment I wasn’t looking directly at her for a full five or ten minutes. And as I left, a certain er… gentleman tried valiantly to put himself in my pathway, but this girl is really good at avoiding people when she wants to.

Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.comGracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com Gracie's Song | www.eccentricowl.com

Shirt, Target | brooch, CircaAD | Shoes, Modcloth | belt, from another dress | Skirt, gift from Hannah | Headscarf, thrifted

Someday perhaps I’ll get the hang of doing my poses fearlessly regardless of any observers, but for now… this is the best I could do. Unless I have my husband photographing me, I feel so awkward. So awkward.

Thank you Michelle for sending me your book! I enjoyed reading and reviewing it!

Happy Thursday!

ksig

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Got a book you want me to review? Whether it’s one you’ve written or one you highly recommend, let me know at: marabird(at)eccentricowl(dot)com.

6 Comments

  • JennyOH

    Such a pretty setting, but I hate that you had bunches of creepers! That is so strange to me…I mean, shouldn’t we all be used to the fact that sometimes people take pictures of themselves? Cameras have been around for a while now!

    • Eccentric Owl

      I think in my town it’s a really odd thing to see someone alone with a tripod taking multiple pictures in one place. 😀 I live in a town full of older people, so I doubt they see a lot of photo-takers. Although the person that stared the most was actually a young woman around 20 or so.

      Only the one dude was creepy, thankfully the rest of them just tried to sneakily watch.

  • SaraLily

    Perhaps I just never had any shame but you just have to convince yourself not to give a solid f**k when posing in public. I feel awkward too but people are just curious by nature and will stare without even realizing if something stands out or is out of the ordinary. Someone posing for a tripod in a park? Yep, out of the ordinary. They usually don’t mean anything by it – that’s what I tell myself when I feel awkward. I just ignore them and they tend to get bored quickly. I mean, hey, at the very least, know they now have a funny anecdote to share at the dinner table that night – “it was so funny, I walked by and this girl was pretending to laugh and was taking pictures with her hands out like a princess! I wonder WHAT she was doing!”

    http://www.inanutshellblog.com

    • Hannah Rupp

      Love your view on public photos, Sara! I have actually wondered if I’ve come up as conversation later for people who can’t stop staring at me. I might as well give them something good to talk about! LOL

  • Mona Shirdel

    Beautiful place, lovely outfit, and the book sounds interesting too. I want to read it. In my mind nothing will ever be better than the HP series, but doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy books anyway.
    The outfit really is very lovely. I adore the blue and yellow together (being a swede and all 😛 hehe)
    Much love,
    Mona
    curlsncakes.blogspot.com

  • Hannah Rupp

    I’m still impressed with how you always manage to match the covers of the books you read/review. You look positively perfect from head to toe!

    Besides the awkward stares, one of my more mortifying public photo moments happened a few years back in a park. It was mostly deserted so I stood on the pathway and, luckily my sister was nearby to witness it, but a man went running by and had to dodge me and my tripod. It probably was no big deal to him, since he’s a runner, but I felt awful that I completely blocked his path. I’m now always careful about where I stand so that never happens again! 🙂

    Hannah | The Outfit Repeater