The Other Brother

by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Veteran women's fiction writer Lauren Baratz-Logsted presents the moving story of a family disrupted by fame, perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer.

Ever wonder what it must be like to be the younger sibling of someone so popular, princes and presidents are excited to meet him? Mona knows. Or thinks she does. Mona is married to Jack, younger brother to Denny Springer, lead singer for The Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band in the World. Jack happens to sing too, of course, not that anyone in the world notices very much. After Denny attends the family Easter dinner in London for the first time in decades, Mona invites Denny to join her and her family for the summer at a rental house in coastal Connecticut. She tells Denny it'll be a chance for him to finally bond with Jack, from whom Denny has been estranged for twenty years. Denny initially laughs at the idea…but then shows up on their doorstep.

As the summer progresses, though, questions Did Denny really have a change of heart and a sudden commitment to family? Or is he hiding something? More importantly, why did Mona invite him in the first place? Most importantly of all, how well do we ever really know anybody?

"Lauren Baratz-Logsted writes genuine characters, killer comedic timing and romantic blunders that are truly something special." ― RT Book Reviews

Genres: Fiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Lauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her father owned a drugstore at which her mother was the pharmacist. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!).

Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.

Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent spacebookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.

In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.

Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.

In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.

Lauren’s favorite color is green.

Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.

Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Brother by Lauren Baratz-Logsted is an entertaining, light-hearted contemporary novel.

Mona and Jack Springer are happily married with two young sons. During a family dinner, Mona impetuously invites her brother-in-law Denny to join them on their summer vacation. The lead singer in a wildly popular rock band, Denny has spent little time with their family over the years. Never imagining he would take her up on her invitation, Mona is stunned when he shows up with his bodyguards and driver. Needless to say, Mona is somewhat annoyed by her brother-in-law's presence but she remains hopeful Jack and Denny will bond over their shared love of music. Does Mona's plan have any chance of succeeding?

When she first met Jack, Mona had no idea his brother was THE famous lead singer of her favorite band. Since she downplayed her interest in the band, they never really discussed the band so she is flummoxed to discover on her wedding day that Denny is her soon to be brother-in-law. Although she surreptitiously follows his career over the years, Denny rarely joined them for family gatherings. No one is more surprised than she is when he shows up at the beach house, and despite her irritation over the extra work, Mona holds out hope Jack and Denny's relationship will improve by summer's end.

The Other Brother is a fun-filled romp that is fast-paced and engaging.  The storyline is imaginative and well-executed. The banter is witty and Mona's inner dialogue is rather humorous. Lauren Baratz-Logsted brings the novel to conclusion with a plot twist that is a bit of a letdown since it was fairly well telegraphed over the course of the story.  All in all, an amusing read with likable characters that fans of contemporary women's fiction will enjoy.

[Kourtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s my weekend alone to rest and relax, and book 1 is done!

Unfortunately, this book was not the best way to start my trip. There just wasn’t much to the story. A reveal happened around 95%, but most people won’t make it that far.

Mona marries Jack, who it turns out is the brother to mega superstar rockstar Denny Springer. And she complains that he doesn’t hang out with his brother. Or her kids.

Mona and Jack go to Connecticut for the summer and Denny shows up. And Mona complains the whole time. Then a “surprise twist” happens, but the book was so boring I didn’t care.

This author was a Red Dress Ink author, and as I was obsessed with that Publishing line, I read them. And I was never a fan. I went into this hoping the writing would have grown. I was disappointed.

Thank you to the publisher for early access via digital download on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Shonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kind of amazed by how much I enjoyed this book! I have always been intrigued by how it must feel to be a sibling of a famous person. And this book explores that theme but it takes a slightly different spin by explaining it from Mona's perspective (the wife of the non-famous brother, Jack). At first, I didn't want a secondhand account of the brother's relationship. However, you discover that Mona has an alternative motive for getting the brother's, Denny & Jack together (the ending was an unexpected twist).

This being my first-time reading a novel by Lauren Baratz-Logsted. She did a wonderful job of exploring the topic. I love a quote from the book. "If Denny's greatest fear was being less, perhaps my husband's greatest fear was not being enough." In my opinion, this statement summed up the dynamics between the brother's. I rated this book a 4.5/5 stars. This is book is really worth the read!!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Diversion Books, and Lauren Baratz-logsted for providing me an ARC of this book.

[Laura Skladzinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mona's husband, Jack, is the younger brother of Denny Springer - the lead singer in The Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band In The World (which I think is supposed to be a modern day Beatles). As Jack and Denny are not at all close, Mona invites Denny to join her family for a summer in Connecticut... but she's shocked when Denny actually shows up to her impulsive invitation. While the book was reasonably enjoyable, I felt like it lacked a point. 2/3 of the way in, I felt like the story was still being set up, and I didn't understand what the central plot point was or what conflict needed to be resolved. There was a big reveal at the end that made me feel like Mona had deceived the reader the whole time, particularly since the book was written in the first person, and I ended the book feeling like it had all been a bit selfish and pointless. Interesting concept, but there wasn't enough meat to it to really grab me.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is about a woman named Mona who is married to the brother of a fictional famous rock star. The two brothers never see each other but the rock star brother ends up spending much of a summer with Mona, her husband, and their two small kids. This is the kind of book that is easy enough to read but undoubtedly I will have forgotten completely a few months from now. It also was written, not entirely successfully, from the point of view of a British character even though the author is American, and was a bit uneven in tone as well. If you're looking for a light fluffy read you could do worse, but frankly you could also do better. 2.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny Houle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a bad habit of seeing an author's name, remembering that I liked one book they wrote a long time ago, picking up the next book that I see with their name on it and saying "I'll read this some day" and then forgetting all about it for several years. That was entirely the case with THE OTHER BROTHER. Then, when I finally picked it up four years after the fact, I couldn't put it down and read the book in a matter of hours. I love the way Baratz-Logsted explores the multi-layer of characters and their personalities without exploiting any one particular flaw or asset to an extreme. It would have been very easy to overdo the flaws of the many male characters, and she managed to not do that.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would it be like to be the younger sibling of one of the most famous people in the world (in this book, a thinly-veiled Mick Jagger)? This book does a decent job of showing glimpses of what that must be like, not just for the sibling, but for the sibling's spouse and kids too. Interesting idea aside, the book could've been better - it read like the wife was writing a blog, so we learned a lot about her opinions but not enough about everyone else. Many of the characters were a bit too caricature-like (the SUUUUPER selfish rock star, the boorish American neighbor constantly pushing Budweiser on everyone, the dopey bodyguards, the precocious but oh-so-cute kids, etc.). I get that the author was going for some comedic moments, but it could've been done better.

[Katie O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun premise. Light voice, good pacing. Slightly uneven layering of the deeper themes on relationships, but the main points ended up being made quite nicely for character arcs and readerly satisfaction. The big 'surprise' wasn't that surprising, but that didn't matter.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light read. I was bothered by Mona’s self centered behavior how she blew everything out of proportion but in the end it made sense

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but it didn't really go anywhere for me. It kind of went on and on without much of a direction or point.

[Mirna Skuhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know that my review might not represent me in a good light for this publisher but I am really just going to be only honest. Also, this is my first review here on NetGalley if it's of any importance to this publisher.

The plot revolves around Mona, the main character, her husband Jake, their two children and Jake's estranged brother Danny who is also a Rock N' Roll star for over 20 years. Mona is the narrator and she tells us all about the cold relations between Jake and Danny, as well as her history with these men from the moment she entered the family.

Mona and her family went to a long summer vacation where she invited Danny but she never thought that he would actually show. But guess what - he did! That's where everything gets started and where I hoped the things would get interesting.

But none of interesting, gripping or worth recommending happened. And I am so sad because of that! :(

The narrative writing was actually pretty good and that's about the only thing I liked in this book. I actually liked Mona's voice and the way she introduces everyone and everything in the book.

But there were other things that were really not good at all.
The writing of the things happening didn't have anything interesting in it, there was nothing that would 'call' you to turn another page, everything felt so boring like you were watching yourself on a vacation - meeting new people and doing stuff you usually don't do.
None of the characters were described in depth, no connection between characters were described meticulously, it felt like everyone and no one is the main character.

But the thing that bothered me the most is the revelation of the 'big secret', big page turner looked like I was telling my friend over coffee about some acquaintance and what happened to him or her. I didn't feel anything that Mona feels when she revealed it, it felt that she was numb and not at all interested in that very important moment of her life.

I think that the author had great ideas and a good story, but the lack of describing what people actually feel made it just 2 stars review.

I said in the questions that I would give this to my students to read it because I would like to see them rewriting some paragraphs or chapters and introducing the plot in a more heart-full way.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author, I have read several of her other books. The Other Brother was missing something for me. Mona lacked a sympathic quailty that would make her relatable. I felt at times she didn't realize that it's hard to hold together a family even without the extra drama. I think that the story is solid and the writing is good. It really was the character's and their "secrets" that just didn't work for me.

[Nancy Graben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cute novel--a bit unrealistic, but a good beach read.

[Jami]

I used to love everything this author wrote but now? Ehhhhh. I liked the premise & could see where it could be a great tale but it was just dragging along & had to put it aside. Might try again at a later date but thanks to netgalley for the opportunity.