Tag: Book Blog

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Every Family Has a Story, Julia Samuel

In Every Family Has a Story leading psychotherapist Julia Samuel shares the beautiful and insightful stories of eight families who she has personally worked with. Collectively these stories widen our eyes to the vast range of adversities families go through and show how these issues can make or break families.

Aside from the eight stories shared, Julia also draws upon academic research and shares her twelve touchstones for family rituals which provide us with tools to improve our relationships within our own families.

Despite the trauma and hardships which the families in this book courageously share with us all, this is also a book of hope.

As a huge fan of Julia and the incredible work she does, I was honoured to receive an ARC of Every Family Has a Story and have to say it truly did not disappoint my expectations.

I was absolutely captivated by the eight families in the book. Their stories were shared sensitively but really showed the complexities which families face, covering issues such as grief, suicide, addiction, and blended families to name a few.

So often (particularly when you are young) you think everyone has a perfect family. This book reinforces that no one does (or perhaps I am yet to meet someone who does), however what is important is how we work at our family relationships, how we hold time and space for others and the importance of forgiveness whilst also protecting our own individual best interests.

Overall. A strong 5 stars. This book opened my mind and taught me a lot. The only negative is I was gutted it had to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Every Family Has a Story will be published on 17th March 2022.

Categories
Fiction

Walking on Sunshine, Giovanna Fletcher

Trigger warning: Cancer, Death

Mike has lost his partner of seventeen years Pia, and alongside their own grief and supporting Mike, Pia’s best friends Vicky and Zaza have issues of their own- Vicky has lost sight of herself as she has caught in the day-to-day of being a wife and a mum and Zaza, who is newly engaged, fears commitment.

Before her death Pia prepared a list for the trio to help them deal with their grief, and ever the adventurer and optimist this list sends Mike, Vicky and Zaza on a trek to Peru. Whilst they find it bizarre they allow their faith in Pia to guide them but will they learn for themselves that anything is possible when you’re walking on sunshine?

Walking on Sunshine, whilst sad, is above all a story of hope. The story follows the three main characters as they deal with their grief following Pia’s death, as well as how they support each other in their life after loss.

I haven’t read any of Giovanna Fletcher’s work before, but I really did enjoy this. I thought the book was well structured with chapters being told from the different characters so that we could really delve into each of their perspectives. I also thought the characters were extremely believable and their feelings relatable to everyday life.

Themes in the book include friendship, grief, life after loss, identity, and family life. You could tell that these themes were well researched- Giovanna has done a lot of work for the charity CoppaFeel and talks a lot about the highs and lows of family life and this came across authentically. I thought the subject of grief was dealt with in an honest way- touching upon some of the feelings which people don’t talk about as much. An example of this is when one of the characters who talks about guilt – ‘‘any time I’m not consumed by dark and tragic grief I feel guilty’’. As someone who has experienced a difficult bereavement just over a year ago, I really emphasised with a lot of what was said and felt by the characters in the book.

Overall, Walking on Sunshine is fully worthy of five stars. Please do not be put off by this book because of some of the sadder themes in the book, be encouraged for above all it is a story of hope- and with that I will leave you with the following quote which left me with chills down my spine…

‘‘Years ago I found myself wondering, ‘Is this it?, but now I realise that no one moment is ever it. The world keeps turning, life keeps going, deaths occur, babies are born, hearts are broken and mended again. Life happens and there’s nothing you can do to stop it rolling once it starts. In your whole lifetime it only stops once, when you reach the end. Until then you have to be prepared for the lows and highs, the struggle and joy, the hurt and love- whatever you land on, you will keep moving. You will keep going. Because that is the difference between life and death.’’

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Categories
Fiction Historical Fiction

Christmas with the Surplus Girls, Polly Heron

It’s 1922 and Nancy Pike is rather settled at her job in the pie shop. However, her father encourages her to better herself and enrols her as a new pupil at the Hesketh’s school for ‘surplus girls’.

At first, Nancy struggles to find her feet the world of admin but lands two placements. One at St Anthony’s orphanage and another working for Mr Zachary Milner, who has a new start up business selling fire extinguishers. When Nancy makes a huge mistake, which comes at a huge financial cost to Mr Milner he has no choice but to let her go.

Nancy is determined to make things up to Mr. Milner but is also determined that the orphans have the best Christmas they have ever known! Will she succeed in spreading festive cheer?

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Surplus Girls by Polly Heron I was delighted to receive an ARC of Christmas with the Surplus Girls, which is book no.3 in the series. (Admittedly I haven’t read book no.2 but didn’t find this hindered me). It was lovely to see the return of some of the characters in the previous book and to delve deeper into their lives and what happened to them after the prequel.

Like the rest of the books in the series, Christmas with the Surplus Girls is very much themed on the life of women in the 1920s and the difficulties and prejudices they faced. This book had a particular focus on the stigma of pregnancy outside of marriage.

Overall, 5 stars. Polly Heron writes in a way which really takes you back to the era. Perfect for any historical fiction fans.

Christmas with the Surplus Girls will be published on the 1st January 2022. Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
crime fiction Fiction

Trick or Treat, Katerina Diamond

It’s the morning of Halloween when six year old Marcus Carlyle is taken from outside his house. The only witness is a teenage boy who is up to no good and torn between doing the right thing and wanting to keep his wrongdoings a secret.

Following an anonymous tip off, Detective Imogen Grey is called to the street, where the abduction took place. However, when she visits Marcus Carlyle’s parents they claim everything is fine. But where is Marcus? Is there more than meets the eye? And if so, how much more?

Trick or Treat is the seventh book in the Detective Imogen Grey series. I have read one or two books from the series, and whilst I would love to go back and read the ones I have missed, I have to say that I did not find that having not read them all put me at a hindrance when reading this novel.

The thing which made me most enjoy Trick or Treat is the fact that Katerina Diamond is a remarkable storyteller. The book is complex; there are lots of characters within the book and lots of different story threads. Whilst sometimes this can be messy, Katerina Diamond has a way of developing all these leads enough to intrigue you, and pulls them together to shock and surprise you.

This book is dark and traumatic. It is certainly not for the light-hearted but it is compelling, full of twists and perfect for crime mystery lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for giving me an ARC of Trick or Treat in exchange for an honest review. Trick or Treat will be published on 14th October 2021.

Categories
Children's Non Fiction

The Pronoun Book, Cassandra Jules Corrigan

The Pronoun book is a fantastic introduction of what pronouns for children. It is factual and free of opinions, yet told in a fun way with beautiful illustrations and with references to characters throughout. At the end of the book there is information for adults, which consists of a variety of ideas and resources for them to help support their children in learning and respecting pronouns particularly when they are different to their own.

Whilst this is intended as a children’s book, I would also like to add that it is perfect for adults ,who may be lacking in understanding and want something bitesize to improve their own knowledge of what pronouns are, why people may choose less common pronouns, and why it is important we use and respect whichever pronouns people choose to use. At the age of 25, I personally learnt about neo-pronouns, which my knowledge of was very minimal, reinforcing the fact that we can all take something from this book.

Overall, a great gift for children (and people of all ages). The only fault is I wish it was around when I was a child.

The Pronoun Book will be published on 21st October 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction

The Daughter’s Choice, S.D Robertson

It has always been just Rose and her Dad. Rose’s mum died shortly after she was born leaving her Dad to bring her up alone, so it is no surprise the two of them are extremely close.

It is the week before Rose’s wedding and her Dad treats her, and her best friend Cara, to a spa weekend.

However, when Cara is suddenly called away from the spa, Rose gets talking to a woman who is also at the spa alone. Their encounter leaves Rose questioning everything she has ever known.

The Daughter’s Choice is a journey to the truth. We all have heard the say ‘there are three versions of every story: mine, yours and the truth’. This is exactly how the book was structured, which I thought was very clever. We hear Rose’s story, we hear Cassie’s story, and then final section is ‘The Truth’. As well as truth telling, other themes touched upon in the book include families, single parenting, young parenthood, love, choices, forgiveness, and morality.

One thing I wish to praise S.D. Robertson on is how he really brought the characters to life for me. I wanted there to be a good person and a bad person, but ultimately all I could see was people who tried to do their best, by themselves and by everyone else. I felt that I could emphasie with each of them and felt their pain and the experiences they had to go through, and it really made me question and think about the moral dilemmas they had to face.

I would like to point out that I see a lot of reviews saying this book hasn’t got the shock factor or is ‘too predictable.’ Please remember this book is not a mystery thriller book, if you want that then this perhaps is not the book for you. If you want an emotional and thought-provoking family drama, then this is it, and that is exactly what the author achieves as he takes us on a this journey to uncover the truth.

Overall, an emotional and thought-provoking story, which reminds us of the lengths people go to protect their families, but also the pain which secrets can unravel.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Daughter’s Choice will be published on the 30th September 2021.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

A Little Bit of Faith, Katie Piper

A Little Bit of Faith has an affirmation for every day of the year with a paragraph after it which offers a small explanation including how you can implement the affirmation into your day/life.

In terms of the type of quotes, if you are not a fan of clichés or the ‘positive vibes only’ brigade then do not fear. The affirmations are much more thought-provoking than that and acknowledges our range of hardships and challenges and the fact that we as humans feel a whole range of emotions. One thing worth mentioning is that as the title suggests, Katie Piper does touch upon her Christian faith slightly in the book. However if you are not religious or belong to a different religion, then do not let this put you off. At no point does Katie force her beliefs onto you, and I truly believe that we can all take something from some of the values which are digested from some biblical quotes.

I have to say this book really did bring a smile to my face. After having a challenging year in terms of grief and battling with mental health, reading these affirmations and hearing Katie Piper’s perspective really felt like a gift from heaven. I’ve read it all in one go in this sitting but going forward I hope to make the book a part of my morning routine.

The only thing I would say is that if you are considering buying this book, and unsure whether to buy the e-book or the physical copy then I would suggest buying the physical copy. Whilst I’ve read the e-book I would love a physical copy which I could easily pick up and refer to and I can just imagine the actual book being a nice touch to any bed side table or book shelf.

All in all, this book isn’t just a book you read and are done with. This book is a lifestyle change. Five stars.

A Little Bit of Faith will be published on the 16th September. Thank you to NetGalley and SPCK Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Death on the Aisle, Kate Johnson


Death on the Aisle follows Molly Higgins as she prepares for her wedding to fiancé Conor. Except this isn’t any normal wedding. Conor is a celebrity and the pair take part in a celebrity wedding show, the benefits of which mean the show pay for EVERYTHING(!), but that means they have little say in how their special day goes.

Their assigned wedding planner is Kiranda Kell, who whilst very passionate about her job happens to be the most annoying person ever and there is no stopping to her imagination when it comes to wedding ideas! For Molly the day can’t come soon enough, as she continuously battles with whatever Kiranda’s newest flamboyant idea is,  however when Kiranda is found dead on the aisle as the title suggests, Molly takes it upon herself to solve the murder.

Death on the Aisle is a very well written and nicely paced mystery. I have to admit I nearly gave up at around 6% as I was struggling to keep up with the characters, however I am so glad I kept on as Kate Johnson developed the characters so well that I began to really immerse myself amongst them. I also thought the pace of the mystery unravelled nicely.

Admittedly, I was unaware the book was the third in a series so perhaps the characters would have made more sense had I of read the first two novels. However, aside from that, the book stands very nice alone and I don’t believe it is a necessity for you to read the first two to enjoy this one.

Overall, a very light hearted murder mystery. Four stars.

Categories
Fiction

Magpie, Elizabeth Day

Marisa has only known Jake a few months, but their relationship seems to be going well. Despite the concern of her good friend, Marisa gives up her rented flat, moves in with Jake and their relationship appears to accelerate quickly when the couple decide to have a baby together.

Everything appears pretty rosy for Marisa, that is until Jake suggests getting a lodger to help the couple financially and Kate comes to live with them. There is something not quite right about Kate. She seems far too obsessed with the couple, she asks way too many questions about the baby, and she just seems far too comfortable in their house. To Marisa something just doesn’t seem quite right, but why doesn’t Jake share her concerns?

Having read and enjoyed other books by Elizabeth Day I was very excited to read Magpie. If I am completely honest it took me a little while to get my teeth into this book but once I warmed to the characters, I began to fly through it, and the perseverance was worth it as I have never read a book with a plot quite like it. Without giving too much away, all I will say is the plot twist is incredibly clever.

Within the book many themes are touched upon including, but not limited to, mental health illnesses, expectations of women and family relationships. However, one overarching theme which I would like to touch upon is infertility. Elizabeth Day has always been very open about her own fertility journey and I thought the way infertility was touched upon through Magpie was done empathetically but it also came across as very real. I think this is a topic which is far more common than people realise yet can be difficult for authors to touch upon in a way which is detailed yet realistic. I would like to thank Elizabeth Day for bringing this topic to light in such a candid way.

I have seen in other reviews people have said that the end seems too tidy for such a complex life situation. I will comment on this and say I must agree to some extent. Is the ending realistic? Not really. Is it possible? Yes, you would have to be very lucky. However, this is a fiction story and who doesn’t like a happy ending?

All in all, 4.5 stars. Magpie is a very clever and compelling novel with a one-of-a-kind plot twist.

Thank you to Netgalley and 4th Estate for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Magpie will be published in the UK on the 2nd September 2021.

Categories
crime fiction Fiction Thriller

The Anniversary, Laura Marshall

On 15th June 1994 Travis Green walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed eleven of his neighbours. The final victim was four-year-old Cassie Colman’s father.

With the twenty-fifth anniversary approaching, the Hartstead shooting is brought back into the limelight and, like many, Cassie would rather forget the past. That is, until she discovers something which suggests that those murders did not happen quite like everyone said. However, unlike Cassie, not everyone is so keen for her to dig up the past.

The Anniversary is quite possibly the best crime fiction book I have read in a very, very long time. Having read one of Laura Marshall’s books before and remembering how much I enjoyed it, I was keen to read The Anniversary, and wow, it lived up to my expectations and more! I was thoroughly hooked the entire way through.

Some crime fiction books are predictable but this one was not in the slightest. The entire way through I was kept in suspense, and I truly did not expect any of the twists and turns.

Themes in the book included violence (including domestic violence), becoming a first time parent, single parenting, questioning morals and dementia. I thought the themes were handled sensitively and I actually really enjoyed how the author explored the idea of new parenting and how other parents make it look easy. Whilst I am not a parent myself, I enjoyed the whole façade vs. reality, and how the author dared to go down the route of a character who doesn’t make motherhood look like a breeze. I am sure a lot of parents will appreciate this.

I was sad to get to the end of this book and cannot wait for the next release by Laura Marshall.  All in all The Anniversary was a compelling read, full of twists and turns, and worthy of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Anniversary will published on the 5th August.