Beth Raymer

Fireworks Every Night is narrated by C.C., and we first meet her on the day of her engagement party, hosted by her wealthy future in-laws in Connecticut. She is stunned to find out they have invited her mother, whom she hasn't seen or spoken to in years. And then her mother doesn't show up. It's just the latest in a long series of disappointments and betrayals C.C. has suffered.

Most of the novel is about C.C.'s teenage years in Florida, and her relationship to her highly dysfunctional family. It's a coming of age story about a young woman living on the edge of instability with a volatile father and a weak mother and a troubled sister. There are several chapters about C.C. as an adult, illustrating the effect her upbringing had on her - mistrust, self-reliance, a need to belong somewhere, anywhere.

I really liked C.C. as a character, even as I wished she had more agency and would open her eyes to the reality of her family. Throughout, we see her try to maintain connection, however tenuous, with her father and sister and even her mother. The weakest part of the book were the chapters in which C.C. is an adult - there isn't enough there for the reader to fully understand the choices she makes, and I found the ending somewhat unsatisfying.

That said, this is a strong debut novel, and I will look forward to more from Raymer.

3.75 stars… (meer)

I couldn't tell if this was non-fiction or not and after reading it, I still had my doubts but this is non-fiction. The characters in this book all had big personalities and the author seemed totally genuine and honest in regards to how she was feeling about something or her inner dialogue. I'm a huge fan of sports betting and that's what got my attention of the book. It's a fun hobby but it's so easy to see how people can/do destroy their entire life because of gambling. But I really enjoyed reading about her fast-pace, chaotic lifestyle and she'll make you feel that rush and excitement just by reading her account of it. I can't see any reason to knock this book for really anything so I give it 5 stars, but since it was about sports betting, it probably began as 4.5 before I even started it.… (meer)

I couldn't tell if this was non-fiction or not and after reading it, I still had my doubts but this is non-fiction. The characters in this book all had big personalities and the author seemed totally genuine and honest in regards to how she was feeling about something or her inner dialogue. I'm a huge fan of sports betting and that's what got my attention of the book. It's a fun hobby but it's so easy to see how people can/do destroy their entire life because of gambling. But I really enjoyed reading about her fast-pace, chaotic lifestyle and she'll make you feel that rush and excitement just by reading her account of it. I can't see any reason to knock this book for really anything so I give it 5 stars, but since it was about sports betting, it probably began as 4.5 before I even started it.… (meer)