Tag: book reviews

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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.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

The Book of Hope, Jonny Benjamin & Britt Pflüger

TW: Some people may find some of the themes discussed in this book upsetting.

The Book of Hope shares the stories of 101 individuals, including the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes, Joe Tracini and Martin Seager. All the stories have one thing in common: hope.

The contributors to this book vary from athletes, to psychologists, to actors and musicians. Some are very famous, others not so much, but the value of each story is limitless.

The Book of Hope is broken down into the following chapters Always Hope, Acceptance, Peace, Tool Kit, Compassion, Courage, The Right Words, Inspiration, Resilience, Kindness and Connection. This is really helpful as if you need something specific you can easily jump in and out.

Within each chapter you will find a number of stories. Some of the themes which appear in the contributor’s stories include, but are not limited to, mental health illnesses, loss, homophobia, racism, suicide, violence and sexual assault. Each individual tells us of the dark places they have been to. The stories are very raw (hence the trigger warning) however they also tell us how through these adversities they found hope, which in turn can provide hope for those struggling.

There are three important things I took away from this book. 1. You really are not alone. By just reading this book you will realise that there are at least 101 other people who have been to the dark side of life. 2. Even famous people struggle. In a world infatuated by the mass media and Instagram, not everyone’s lives are as they seem. 3. Nothing lasts forever and hope is the most important thing. I wish I had this book as a teen and even more so wish I was able to gift this book to my sister before she gave in to her demons.

Overall, this is just another example of how Jonny Benjamin continues to break the stigma around mental health, and I would like to thank all the contributors, including Jonny and Britt themselves, for being open and honest, and for trying to do just that. We all need a little hope from time to time, so I would recommend all to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan who kindly gave me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction Historical Fiction

A Ration Book Daughter, Jean Fullerton

A Ration Book Daughter is the fifth book in The Ration Book series and is focused around Cathy Brogan and her son Peter. If you have read the previous books, then you will know Cathy is stuck in an unhappy marriage and is living with her horrible mother-in-law, who treats her terribly.

When Cathy’s husband Stanley is declared missing in action, it comes as no surprise that Cathy begins counting down the days until she can be declared a widow and be free of her violent husband. Cathy dreams of a big family, like the one she herself grew up in, and has given up on this dream, but then she meets Sergeant McIntosh and finds herself falling for him. Can she find the love she deserves? Certainly not if her mother-in-law has anything to do with it!

Having previously read A Ration Book Wedding I was very excited to read A Ration Book Daughter and was certainly not disappointed. I was already invested in the characters, and was excited to continue my journey with them. I love Jean Fullerton’s style, her writing really allows you to immerse yourself in the story, and she has really made me grow on historical fiction as a genre.

The themes in the book really made me think about how society has changed (and perhaps not changed enough) since WWII. For example the position of women in society. Today if a woman was stuck in Cathy’s situation you would hope she could up and leave. However, for Cathy and other women at that time, they relied on their husbands wages to live on, and there was more stigma attached to a woman who left an unhappy marriage than there was to a man who treated them so horrifically. Other themes touched on in the book include war, racism, abuse, relationships and love.

Overall, whilst The Ration Book series doesn’t hide us from the brutalities of the war, and is great to learn more about family life during WWII in a fictitious way, this was a very cosy and heartwarming read. If you haven’t read all the previous books then this isn’t necessarily an issue, although I am keen to go back and read the ones I have previously missed.

Thank you to Readers First, who gave me a copy of this book pre publication in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction

The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person, Frederick Joseph

In the The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person Frederick Joseph draws upon his personal experiences of growing up as a black child in America. He talks about the stereotypes and hurtful comments people said to him because of the colour of his skin, and reflects on them, explaining why these comments were wrong and discusses how he would react to these differently as a grown up.

Joseph writes from the perspective of a friend. He deals with a very serious issue, in a concise way, with bits of added humour. The book is made up of chapters, each covering a core concept, of which Joseph includes his personal anecdotes, as well as interviews with important voices. At the back, you will find a glossary of all key words and concepts discussed through the book, as well as a list of people/books/movies and songs for you to check out to expand your mind further.

I found this book a real eye-opener. Whilst I could see racism evident in society before reading this book, I did like to think that I did all I could to treat people of colour with equality. However, this book has made me realise that there is more I can do. Whilst, I will never know what it is like to be black and to face the injustices that Joseph has faced in his life, by giving me the gift of this book, I would like to hope that this has given me the confidence to call out injustices in the future.

Overall, this book is a must read for teens and adults, and even if you think you don’t need to read it, trust me when I say it is the gift you never knew you needed.

Categories
Fiction

Everything is Beautiful, Eleanor Ray

11 years ago Amy Ashton’s best friend and boyfriend disappeared without a trace. They must have run away together is the obvious conclusion. At first Amy is not convinced, but with it being 11 years later and still no answers, there is little else left for Amy to believe.

Over the years Amy begins to collect things. It started with things related to the case and things which reminded her of her past and better times. However, now her house is full of lots of things; things which people would consider junk, but which Amy finds meaning in and uses to fill the gaps her losses have left her with.

It isn’t until a new family move in next door that an incident occurs in Amy’s garden which leads her to discovering a clue. Is it enough to lead Amy to finally uncover the truth about the past?


Everything is Beautiful is a fantastically written novel. Structured with chapters which switch between the past and the present- this was particularly helpful to understand who the main protagonist Amy was and how she got to where she is now. As the past helps us to understand what she once had and why she is drawn to certain things.

I felt very drawn to Amy and thought that her character was well thought out. At the beginning she comes across as someone who is a bit of a recluse and very lonely, perfectly happy in her own company with her many belongings. However, as the book moves on you begin to realise that is not the true Amy.  It is difficult for Amy to move on when she is holding on to the past and has not ever had closure. At first it is almost unimaginable to think Amy can change and live the life she deserves, however, this is where Eleanor Ray gets it so wonderfully perfect, as with all situations in life, not everything is black and white or is it always linear. As we move through the book, we see that Amy still has so much to give and experience.

Themes in this book include but are not limited to love, loss, hope, healing and hoarding. I particularly loved that Eleanor Ray delved into the topic of hoarding. I think sometimes those who hoard can be really judged. Those who do not understand may see it as a choice or as simply lazy and therefore it can be seen as a taboo. However, as we see in the novel, hoarding is normally a sign of a deeper problem, which for Amy was her past and all the sadness she had experienced. I thought Eleanor Ray got this message across in a very sensitive way and I would hope it would have brought a greater understanding to many readers.

Overall, this is a story of hope. It truly felt like a hug in a book and without a doubt it deserves 5 stars.