Our Tomato readers have three recommendations, perfect for holiday downtime reading. Mary Jane is a delightful 1970s coming of age story. Fans of Cher will not be disappointed for Part One of her Memoir. And first time author Amy Love, shares her difficult upbringing and  navigating personal struggles, cultural differences and the desire for self-worth.

A Delightful 1970s Coming of Age Story

In her book Mary Jane, author Jessica Anya Blau delivers a delightful coming of age story narrated by the protagonist Mary Jane, a rather shy fourteen-year old living with her parents in a nice neighborhood of suburban Baltimore in 1975.

An only child, Mary Jane hangs with her mother, cooking and gardening with her, attending her in house-keeping chores. She sings in the church choir and enjoys the family subscription to Broadway Show Tunes of the Month record club. Her father is a strait-laced lawyer, a remote character, more interested in reading his paper at the dinner table than engaging with his wife and daughter.

Mary Jane’s awakening occurs one summer when she lands a summer job as a nanny for the daughter of a local doctor. From the outside it looks to be a respectable job in a respectable house. Inside, however, we begin to sense a shift. Five-year-old Izzy eats her meals naked, her mother, Mrs. Cone, doesn’t wear a bra, and her father, Dr. Cone, is a psychiatrist. Dr. Cone has cleared his summer for one important job – intensive addiction therapy for a famous rock star. A week after Mary Jane starts, the rock star and his movie star wife move in.

The house may look respectable on the outside, but inside it’s a literal and figurative mess -clutter on every surface, protest bumper stickers on the doors, cereal and takeout for dinner. The lack of structure and stability poses a call to action for Mary Jane’s innate sense of order. Over the course of the summer, she creates fun house-keeping projects with Izzy, introducing her new household to clean ironed clothes and family dinners based on her mother’s recipes.

As she gradually re-organizes the house, Mary Jane also wakes up to the culture, freedoms, and experimentation/rebellion of the 60s and 70s. Jimmy, the rock star, and Sheba, his movie star wife, are colorful, compelling characters who influence Mary Jane by engaging with her. Her sheltered, restrictive childhood gives way to the lure of drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll (which the book freely explores). Caught between the lifestyle she’s always known and the future she’s only just realized is possible, Mary Jane will arrive at September with a new sense of self and the kind of caring person she’s becoming, “…giving love, feeling love, and showing love…” GET THE BOOK.

~Joan Pagano, Founder CEO Joan Pagano Fitness, NYC

A Beautiful Inspiring Memoir

Amy Love’s, Grow In The Dark is a personal and very inspiring memoir.  Her story is about growing up through some difficult challenges.  Amy shares her experiences of navigating personal struggles, cultural differences and the desire for self-worth.

This story begins with Amy’s life in Taiwan, where she worked in a traditional market from a very young age.  This was her family’s business.  She faced hardships, including language barriers within her own family and her parents constant desire for a male offspring.  These early experiences set the stage for a life filled with many twists and turns, including a seventeen-year international marriage.  She found it difficult to adjust to the culture differences as well as the language.

A compelling aspect of the book is Amy’s resilience and strength.  Despite facing many obstacles in her life, she finds an inner strength and divine wisdom that guide her through each challenge.  Her journey is not just about overcoming adversity but also about embracing both the light and darkness in her life.  Amy’s story is a true testament to the power of self-discovery and resilience.  Her story really does offer so much hope and inspiration to those who may feel trapped in their own struggles.  So often  while reading this story I asked myself how much can one person endure and still keep going in life.

Amy has overcome so much in her life to become a wonderful person and a bright light in this world.  She is the mother of five boys, her most proud accomplishment she says.  A beautifully written memoir by Amy Love, a must read in my opinion.  I highly recommend this five-star book. GET THE BOOK.

~Francene Katzman, advocate for parents with children with addiction problems

A Raw and Intimate Look into the Life of a True Legend

Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher is a captivating and candid exploration of the life of one of the most iconic figures in entertainment. The memoir covers Cher’s journey from her tumultuous childhood to her rise to superstardom.

Cher’s storytelling is as bold and unfiltered as her personality. She delves into her early life, marked by constant movement and instability due to her mother’s relentless pursuit of fame. Despite these challenges, Cher’s resilience shines through, and she speaks positively about her mother, acknowledging the difficulties while maintaining a sense of understanding.

One of the most compelling parts of the memoir is Cher’s relationship with Sonny Bono. She recounts their rocky yet transformative partnership, detailing both the highs and lows of their career together. Cher’s honesty about the control and manipulation she experienced is both heartbreaking and empowering.

The memoir also touches on Cher’s personal life, including her marriages to Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman, and her experiences as a mother. Her witty and conversational writing style makes the reader feel as though they are sitting down for a chat with Cher herself. GET THE DETAILS.

Part Two will be release in the fall of 2025.

~Cheryl Benton, The Head Tomato