Tag: Book Blogger

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Non Fiction Self help

Belonging, Geoffrey L. Cohen

We live in hugely divisive times. Them vs. Us cultures are on the rise, there has been growth in hate crimes, and, despite being more connected than ever before (with thanks to technology), one in five Americans suffer from chronic loneliness, it is no wonder people feel more alienated than ever!

To show how we can bridge these divides and create connection, Standford University Professor, Geoffrey L. Cohen, applies his and other’s research to the myriad problems of communal existence and offers concrete solutions for improving daily life.

Many of us have heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which highlights the importance of a sense of belonging to humans. Despite living in what feels like fractured times, Cohen uses science to show how we can establish connection as well as the ripple effects this can have on our entire society.

Belonging is the most academic piece of literature I’ve read since finishing my Sociology degree four and a half years ago. Whilst it was different from my usual, crime fiction reads, it was incredibly insightful and informative, and even made me miss studying!

Filled with statistics, studies, and anecdotes this book looks at our sense of belonging within society and the impact that has in a vast number of areas including school, work, policing, politics, and health. It is evident the effect sense of belonging, or lack of it, has on society as the studies show the increased/decreased potential, well-being, and outcomes for individuals, depending on whether they feel alienated.

As well as showing us the impact of whether you feel like you belong, Geoffrey Cohen also offers us practical advice on how we can foster a sense of belonging; showing us that even just the smallest acts, such as a change in language, can validate people’s sense of belonging. Knowing that there is stuff we can all do, was inspiring leaving me thinking how I can incorporate some of these things in my own life. It also offered a lot of hope- suggesting that we don’t need to feel alone, there is another way.

Overall, a very insightful read, teachers and managers would really benefit from reading this, but really any one of us can take something from it and take responsibility for fostering a culture where we feel like we all belong. Five Stars.  

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Engagement, Nasheema Lennon

Victoria’s best friend Gwen is getting married, and whilst everyone seems to love the handsome and rich Michael something doesn’t sit quite right for Victoria. Not only does Michael remind her of someone she would rather forget but she is also sure he is hiding something.

As the countdown to the wedding is on, Victoria is determined to save her best friend from making a mistake, but first Victoria needs to discover what is Michael hiding?

The Engagement is Nasheema Lennon’s debut novel and what a fantastic debut it is. I was hooked and could not get through it fast enough. This was aided by the short chapters which meant I kept saying to myself ‘just one more’, as well as the fact that there was no unnecessary detail in the book- it was rapid and there was always something happening.

My only critique is there were a few leads which I would have loved to have known more about (for example, Victoria’s past) as well as characters who I felt were undeveloped and I was left questioning how they fitted into the story. However, this is just a minor critique and I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Overall, a solid four stars. This book is everything you want from a thriller- fast-paced, full of twists and turns and unpredictable.

The Engagement will be published on the 27th October. Many thanks to NetGalley & HarperNorth for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Children's Fiction Fiction

I’ve Never Met My Grandpa, Shannon Zigmund

I’ve Never Met My Grandpa follows a little girl, whose Grandpa died before she was born, as her family tell her all the things about him; that he was kind, that he liked the theatre and was brave to name just a few.

As she pieces together all the stories everyone tells her she realises that whilst she never met her Grandpa, having been told all the stories about him she does in fact feel like she knows him very well deep down.

 This book is a great starter to any conversations for young people around grief. It is written in an easy to understand way and accompanied with beautiful illustrations. The book also finishes with a few conversation starters for you to have with young children.

 I’ve Never Met My Grandpa will be published on the 18th October. With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

My Darling Daughter, JP Delaney

Susie Jukes receives a message out of the blue on social media. The message is from Anna, the girl she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago.

Susie is living a very different life now to what she was living in the past. She is happily married to her husband Gabe and when Anna describes her uncomfortable home life with her adoptive parents, Susie welcomes her into her life with open arms. 

All appears perfect but is Anna covering up secrets? And does Susie have some of her own?

I have read and enjoyed books by J.P Delaney before so I was very excited to start reading this one. Told from the perspectives of three main characters, Susie, Gabe and Sky, My Darling Daughter is a fast-paced psychological thriller which will leave you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are fully dimensional and very well developed. We see them as they are now, discover about their pasts and experience every emotion with them as this journey takes them as a family on an emotional rollercoaster. They all come across as very real and complex humans. None of them are black and white which makes them easy to emphasise with and ultimately champion them.

Each chapter is short which I loved as it contributed to the fast pace of the book and made it easy to read- it was an incredibly difficult book to put down as I kept telling myself ‘just one more chapter’. 

The main theme of the book is adoption. You can tell the author did a lot of research as he really shined a light on the complexities of adoption and fostering. It was interesting to hear the perspectives of different people who have experienced the system – not only Susie, Gabe and Anna but also Anna’s adopted parents, Gabe’s friend who fosters – and understand this topic from a range of views. The detail of adoption added to the authenticity of the book. Other themes in the book include socialisation and the importance of the role of family, the #metoo movement and forgiveness and second chances.

Overall, a strong 5 stars J.P Delaney does a fantastic job of conveying difficult and traumatising topics with the upmost respect and yet tells them an exhilarating way. Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving allowing me to read an ARC. My Darling Daughter will be published on the 15th September 2022.

Categories
Fiction

The Last Party, Clare Mackintosh

It’s New Year’s Eve and there is a party at ‘The Shore’ – the new luxurious holiday apartments which reside on the borders of England and Wales. A goldmine for Rhys Lloyd and business partner Jonty Charlton, but not so popular with the locals in the village. Despite disapproval from the locals that doesn’t stop the whole village attending the party to drink champagne with their new wealthy neighbours.

The next day Rhys Lloyd’s body is found floating in the lake and undoubtedly everyone at the party becomes a suspect, leaving DC Ffion Morgan a whole village of suspects.

I have always been a big fan of Clare Mackintosh’s books. In complete and total honesty, I found the start of The Last Party a little bit slow and found it difficult to keep up with the number of characters- however these thoughts quickly diminished, and the storyline and strong characters grew on me. As you go through the book each character is developed whole-heartedly as opposed to being thrown in for the sake of it. I felt this really brought the heart and soul of Cwm Coed to life. Ffion Morgan is an incredibly strong female protagonist, and I am pleased we will be seeing her again. I was fully invested in her as a person, as well as her relationship with the village and it’s people.

As with all of Clare’s novels the detail is immaculate making it feel incredibly realistic and something you can fully immerse yourself into. The book is written from different time frames which I felt really gave us a spherical view. The book is full of secrets and whilst I wasn’t surprised by the ending and had my suspicions quite early on, I fully enjoyed the twists and turns of the book. The author continuously pulls us in different directions, and I really enjoyed the rollercoaster of a ride as we uncover the different characters and their potential motives for killing Rhys Lloyd.  

Aside from murder other themes in the book include but are not limited to: class, statutory rape, sexual assault, patriarchy, toxic bosses, bullying, divorce and custody battles.

I am absolutely delighted that is just the first of a new series and also that the rights to a series have been brought.

Overall, The Last Party is simply the start of what is to be a gripping series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Last Party will be published on 4th August 2022.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Blood Sugar, Sascha Rothchild

When Ruby was five, she saw a boy from school drowning in the ocean. He had been making her older sister’s life hell and instead of calling for help, Ruby held his ankle down until he drowned. She waited for the guilt to kick in, but it never did.

And then she finds herself in a similar situation again. And again.

Fast forward twenty-five years and Ruby is on trial for the murder. She is shown four photos, each person deceased, and each one Ruby was in proximity of at the time of death. She is responsible for three deaths but not four… but it may be the crime she didn’t commit which will end her freedom.


Blood Sugar is an incredibly fast-paced and addictive read centred around the main protagonist Ruby. She is an animal lover, psychologist and very loyal to her family, friends, and patients and yet she has murdered three people. I have never found a murderer so likeable which shows just how well Sascha Rothchild developed her- whilst a very complex character she is completely endearing and a true reflection that life and people are not always black and white.

I found this book very different to others I read. I enjoyed the killer was female, I liked that she wasn’t who you would generally perceive as a murderer and found it interesting that the book was written from the killer’s perspective as opposed to a detective’s which is often the case in many novels of this genre.

Themes in the book include but are not limited to psychology, family, loyalty, friendships, diabetes, and death. Some of my favourite parts of the book included the references to psychology and the way we (as a society) are afraid to talk about death. 

Overall, an outstandingly fast paced dark thriller with well thought out and likeable characters. Five stars.
P.S they say never to judge a book by its cover, but just wow! Both cover and title drew me.

Categories
Health Mind & Body Non Fiction

Are You Really OK? Stacey Dooley

How often do you say ‘Yes’ or ‘I’m’ fine when you are asked if you are OK?  Are you really OK though? No, no we are not and statistics surrounding mental health problems vouch for that.

Every week, 1 in 10 young people in the UK experience symptoms of a common mental health problem and 1 in 5 have considered taking their own life at some point.

And whilst mental health amongst young people was a concern prior to the pandemic research has found that ‘globally there were estimated to be an extra 76 million cases of anxiety in 2020 than would have been expected if the pandemic hadn’t happened, and 53 million more cases of major depressive disorder’, showing just how vital the topic of mental health is now more than ever.   

In ‘Are You Really OK’ Stacey Dooley, best known for her extraordinary documentaries, opens the conversation around mental health, exploring different conditions such as depression, eating disorders, addiction, OCD, and psychosis. In addition to facts and statistics, each topic is demonstrated through the real experiences and stories of some of the incredible people Stacey met on the wards when filming her documentary in 2020 and 2021.

In addition, to individual conditions Stacey also explores the topic of mental health amongst different social groups such as the LGBT community and the impact of racism and poverty on mental health. This was truly eye-opening and helps us to gain an understanding of mental health through the eyes of different communities within society, as well as a reminder that we can all have an identical experience, but it can impact us all very differently.

The book gives a well-rounded picture of mental health within our society. At no point does Stacey claim to have lived experience or be an expert, which is what makes this book really stand out from others. Instead, she takes us on a journey with her to learn and gain insights on what is happening in the wider world. I feel like this approach makes the book a perfect read for anyone who wants to know more, no matter their knowledge or personal experience.

Overall, a very insightful overview of the topic of mental health. We should all take the time to read this book in hope for a better tomorrow for our young people.

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 Thriller

The Boyfriend, Michelle Frances

Amy is approaching her 30th birthday. Whilst she is a highly independent woman with a high-flying career and her own flat, the one thing she doesn’t have -which her mum in particular doesn’t let her forget – is a romantic relationship.

Amy is due to go away with her mum and best friends to her auntie’s chalet in Val D’lsere to celebrate her birthday when she suffers a serious fall. Whilst the doctor’s allow Amy to go ahead with her travel plans the impact of the fall means she cannot remember anything from the last six months, including meeting her current boyfriend Dr. Jack Stewart, who also joins them on the trip.

Everyone is smitten with Jack, but as Amy begins to get her memory back, is he really as perfect as he seems?

The Boyfriend is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a long time! I was hooked the whole way through. The storyline is well crafted, and I have not come across anything quite like it before. I have seen some people say it is a little too far-fetched but isn’t that the point of fiction?

Michelle Frances’s descriptions of the characters led me to really emphasise with them. There is a point where Amy has a different belief to all the other characters, and I could really feel myself feeling the anxiety and desperation she was facing in the situation and almost felt like I was there with her.

The story is left on a cliff-hanger which makes me really hope there is a sequel. I also think it would make a thrilling Netflix series.

Overall, The Boyfriend is chilling and suspenseful; a rollercoaster of a thriller. 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Boyfriend is out TODAY (3rd February 2022).