Tag: fiction reviews

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Fiction Romance

Table For One, Emma Gannon

Willow is a thirty-something-year-old woman who has everything worked out (well at least to society’s standards). She has the partner, the career and the house. However, when her boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her, Willow lands on a trajectory with no clear direction. What makes it harder is all her friends’ lives appear to be moving forward, while Willow finds herself moving in the opposite direction.

We follow Willow as she navigates her heartbreak- and, more importantly, rekindles a very important relationship – the one with herself.

Table For One is the perfect book for anyone in their thirties who is feeling like they should have it all figured out but don’t. It’s a heartfelt and relatable reminder that it’s okay to hit pause, to slow down, and to get back to the things you enjoy. Emma Gannon writes with warmth, but also humour making even the heavier moments feel light and comforting.

Themes explored in the book include the impact of social media, and the fact that sometimes people are hiding behind a curated narrative, the power and complexities of female friendships, relationships, and the pressures placed particularly on millennial women to follow a timeline.

From a personal perspective I did struggle a little to connect with some of the anti-relationship sentiments (maybe that’s because I’m a married millennial lol). However, the overall message- that self-love and remaining true to your identities and values, as well as the fact you don’t need to have it all figured out or stick to an imaginary timeline – really resonated.

Categories
Fiction

We All Live Here, JoJo Moyes

Welcome to the Kennedy household. Lila’s last bestseller was about keeping your marriage alive – ironic, considering her ex-husband was having an affair with another school mum. Meanwhile, following the death of her mother, her stepdad Bill has moved in and is driving her nuts. Her eldest daughter is struggling at school, her dog’s incessant barking is upsetting the neighbours, and if that’s not enough, her estranged father Gene has turned up on her doorstep.

Wherever Gene goes, domestic discord follows, but does his presence lead to unexpected changes? If so, how?

JoJo Moyes’ books aren’t typically my go-to genre, but like many of her other novels, I always find them uplifting. They are feel-good but not cheesy and often highlight life’s imperfections in a relatable way. We All Live Here is no exception; it’s a domestic drama about a household who could not be further from your cereal packet family – but also about all the beautiful imperfections which come with it.

This is a very character driven novel, where each individual is memorable, distinctive, and dealing with their own set of problems. It is interesting to see how each of their journeys develop.

Themes in the book include family, divorce, grief, heartbreak, forgiveness, and redemption. Despite the fictional book and the humour which runs through the narrative, these themes are all explored in a way that feels authentic.  

Overall a fun read. Relatable, feel-good and humorous, it captures the messy, beautiful complexity of family life.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

A Good Place To Hide A Body, Laura Marshall

For many women of Penny’s age, helping elderly parents is a natural part of life. But for Penny, things have taken a more serious turn.

One night, Penny receives a frantic call from her parents. No, they haven’t had a fall – they’ve killed someone, and his body is in the garden right next to the rose bushes!

Laura Marshall is an authors whose books I pick up without a second thought. They are always fast-paced, gripping, and consistently shocking. So, when I had the opportunity to read A Good Place to Hide A Body, I was thrilled to dive in.

First things first: you should never judge a book by its cover, but I have to admit I was drawn to the vibrant cover of this one (that green will look beautiful on the bookshelf!) The caption ‘Everyone is Capable of Murder. They just need to meet the right person’, promised a suspenseful journey and the book certainly delivered.  

The prologue introduces the main event, making it engaging from the very first page. Laura Marshall’s use of short chapters adds to the bris pace. One writing technique I’ve noticed across her works is how she portrays ordinary characters. By this I mean, we often expect perpetrators to stand out, but her characters could easily be you, or me, which adds an extra layer of suspense. I felt warm towards the main character in the book.

I really enjoyed the characterisation in the book. The characters were all quite stereotypical, but this added some humour to the story, and I felt warm towards the main character Penny. She faces so many relatable problems, such as caring for ageing parents, parenting teenagers, dealing with grief, juggling a full time job, divorce and co-parenting. I emphasised with her struggles and could truly feel the pressure she was under.

To summarise, Laura Marshall has crafted yet another page-turner with A Good Place To Hide A Body. It’s a compelling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat, if you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers, this book is a must read. Five Stars.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC. A Good Place To Hide A Body is out on the 4th July 2024.

Categories
Fiction

Scripted, Fearne Cotton

Jade is stuck in the middle of her chaotic family and taken for granted by her self-obsessed boyfriend, Adam. Amidst all the unruliness, she has forgotten how to speak for herself. One day, while out for a run, a mysterious, untitled script appears, predicting an infuriating row with Adam. Later, the scene becomes reality, with Adam getting his way. As more scripts appear, Jade realises everyone but her seems to call the shots.

Can Jade make a new future for herself—one with boundaries and self-respect—or is she doomed to a destiny of people-pleasing and being walked over?

I am a huge fan of Fearne Cotton, so receiving an ARC of her first piece of fiction was incredibly special. The imaginative concept is very original, and I find Fearne’s writing style engaging. The character development in the book was flawless. I enjoyed the family dynamics and found them utterly relatable. If you have never been a people pleaser, I can understand why the main character may be viewed as infuriating. However, if you have a tendency to put others’ needs before your own and struggle to say ‘no,’ then you will undoubtedly relate to Jade.

While a fictitious book, pearls of wisdom are exquisitely woven throughout, allowing us all to take something from it. The themes in the book really dig deep; it not only highlights the horrific tendencies of people-pleasing but also shows how life can pass us by if we continue with habits we’ve fallen into with those around us. The complexities of family and the problems that come with them are deeply explored. The importance of having people to talk to or safe places to escape from the daily grind shines through, and there is a stark reminder that even those who appear to have it perfect on the outside don’t have it all worked out. Most significantly, it reminds us that we have the power of choice and can forge our own path.

Overall, beautifully written, empowering, and relatable. Five stars. The Script is out tomorrow (6th June 2024).

Thank you to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Biography Non Fiction Self help

Now is Not the Time for Flowers, Stacey Heale

When Stacey’s husband, Greg, is diagnosed with incurable cancer, Stacey’s life as she knew it comes to a halt. Confronted with this devastating reality, Stacey explores the profound differences between our expectations and reality in this part self-help, part memoir book.

Stacey takes readers on a journey through the complexities of grief in modern life, revealing the messy and unexpected realities of love, desire, motherhood, death, grief, identity, personal growth, and the challenges and questions that arise from our nuanced lives.

‘Now is Not the Time for Flowers’ is a truly honest reflection of grief and all its complexities. I found Stacey’s writing refreshing; her honesty resonated, and she articulates so well what many of us fail to put into words. Her words are comforting, and her perspectives on life are encouraging – I don’t think I have highlighted so many things in one book before.

I loved how the book had short chapters and jumped between topics. Many books on grief reflect on a few topics in great detail, but in doing so, they leave out so much and become repetitive. Grief is messy; it impacts many parts of our lives and can leave our minds jumping ferociously between different thoughts and emotions, and I felt this reflected in this book. No stone is left unturned, and Stacey doesn’t shy away from any thought, making it more authentic and relatable than most books on grief.

Other themes which come to light in the book, and which I found incredibly enlightening, include the power of social media networks, the relationship between grief and capitalism, the experiences of women and how we find ourselves playing roles throughout our lives, and the concept of a teenage bedroom as a site for identity construction.

This book is not only for those who have dealt with grief or know someone who is terminally ill but for everyone, as it serves as a poignant reminder of why we should find joy in every day. Thank you, Stacey, for sharing your and Greg’s story.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Laying Out The Bones, Kate Webb

Following flash floods, something sinister is brought to the ground’s surface; a human skeleton. Forensic tests soon reveal that the body belongs to Lee Geary, a man who went missing nine years earlier and the case is passed to DI Lockyer to solve.

As Lockyer digs into Geary’s past he unveils the fact that Geary was questioned during the same year he went missing in relation to another crime- the murder of Holly Gilbert.

Alongside DC Gemma Broad, Lockyer delves deeper and discovers a web of mysteries which he is left to untangle.

At last! The long awaited sequel to Stay Buried has arrived. Laying Out The Bones is the next in the DI Lockyer series. With such a high standard to follow I was relieved the second book in the series did disappoint!

Laying Out The Bones is another fast paced, multifaceted mystery about unsolved murders and buried secrets. The story spans over a long timeframe, and involves many characters with intertwining stories- the fact Kate Webb pulls this off is truly a testament to her writing skill. Very much like the first book – every character is well thought out, and despite there being so many you really gather an insight into each of their histories, struggles and motivations.

Similarly to its prequel the series continues to highlight themes surrounding inequalities, grief and injustice. I thought these were presented well and added substance to the story, evoking emotion beyond your typical crime mystery/thriller.

Overall, Laying Out The Bones is masterfully crafted, from compelling characters to intricate plot twists and with the book ending on a cliffhanger, I am very hopeful this is not the last of DI Lockyer. 5 stars.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

A Death at the Party, Amy Stuart

Nadine Walsh is hosting a party for her mother’s 60th birthday. As she prepares to welcome her guests, she appears distracted. Her husband is of little help, her teenage children are going through their own problems, and she has secrets of her own which threaten to destroy her perfect party.

By the end of the night, Nadine will be standing over a dead body in the basement, but how did it come to this and how far will Nadine go to keep her secrets buried?

A Death at the Party is a slow burning domestic thriller. Forget ‘whodunnit’. This is a ‘whydunnit’ and ‘whoisdun’, as the mystery surrounds which of the party attendees has met their demise, and why.

Some novels lose readers because they get off to a slow start. This is the complete opposite; Amy Stuart was not messing here as she starts with the ending.  Just reading those first few introductory pages had me gripped as I needed to know how we got there.  

Despite some flashbacks to past events which help us to understand the history of some of the characters, much of the book purely spans over the timeframe of just one day. Split into three parts; morning, afternoon and evening, with an undeniable amount of tension building throughout. Having a book written over such a short time span, and still managing to build the level of suspense which A Death at the Party does is a testament to the author.

I enjoyed the characters, particularly the main protagonist Nadine. She wasn’t overly likeable, but she was very real.  She came across as a good wife, mother, and daughter and yet she also made mistakes. Her suspicious nature added to the mystery for me, and many of her actions were unsurprising given what she had gone through as a child. In addition to Nadine, all the other characters were well thought out, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and many of whom have their own secrets.

Themes in the book include loyalty, grief, and family secrets. There was also a clear gender divide in the book, there was a lot of focus on the complexities of the lives of women, with many of the males coming across as mistrustful and having inappropriate intentions, representing some of the inequalities we see in society.  Overall, the focus on family bonds was powerful, reminding us just how complex families can be and the lengths which people may go to protect their loved ones.

Overall a thoroughly engaging domestic thriller with compelling characters and a gripping plot.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Lost Daughter, Jane Adams

Three years ago Ashley Summers watched the love of her life drop dead in a supermarket. She has no idea how to ever move on from this but then she meets Tim Bennett, who is kind and caring.

It all appears perfect, until one day Ashley is gone. The family turn to ex-detective Ray Flowers who quickly can confirm that Tim Bennett is not who he says he is – after all Tim Bennett is a good friend of his.

So who is Ashley’s boyfriend?

The Lost Daughter is book five in the Ray Flowers series. I personally have not read the first four, and whilst this didn’t hinder my experience, I think reading the others may have been beneficial in terms of understanding some of the characters a bit more.

The premise of the book starts with a missing woman but quickly develops to so much more than that! I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the book, there is a lot of action and many characters which meant the book had many layers too and kept it exciting. The only disappointing bit was the end felt a bit of anti-climax -having had so much action I expected something slightly more jaw-dropping.

Overall a fast paced, action thriller, four stars.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Stay, Jane Bailey

Spending the summer travelling seemed like the perfect idea after flunking her exams, but when those closest to Caitlin betray her, she finds herself hitchhiking home alone, heartbroken and penniless.

A smiling family pull up on the roadside and offer her to stay with them for the night. One night soon turns into two and with the country being put into lockdown, it is impossible to turn down their offer to tutor their children, especially when they are so nice. It all seems perfect.

But then a member of the household warns Caitlin to leave, and then her phone suddenly goes missing, is this family perfect after all, but by the time she realises not all may be as it seems, it may be too difficult to leave.

Stay is a suspenseful psychological thriller which will have you turning the pages right until you reach the very end. The book is set around the Covid-19 lockdown which worked very well as it foreshadowed what it means to be trapped and added an extra layer of claustrophobia to the story.

The characters are depicted in believable way; Mimi and Marcus are manipulatively evil, Caitlin’s mother was motherly and warm and had put aside so much for her family and that is just touching the tip of the iceberg- Jane Bailey maintains this level of realistic characterisation through and through. Like many other readers was I screaming at Caitlin to not be so stupid? Absolutely yes! However, she was a naive nineteen year old in trouble so the storyline is absolutely plausible.

Overall a very startling read, I was totally engrossed.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

A Game of Lies, Clare Mackintosh

In the Welsh mountains, new reality series ‘Exposure’ is being filmed- but the seven reality show contestants have no idea what they truly signed up for. Once locked in the camp they discover they are competing to keep their secrets from being exposed live on air.

When one of the contestants escapes from the camp Detective Ffion Moran is called in but the stakes are raised when a murder- leaving the detective to uncover who’s secret was worth killing for?

A Game of Lies is the second book in the Ffion Morgan series. This time the plot surrounds a reality TV show which is very similar to I’m A Celebrity with the added twist of dark truths being exposed as people are eliminated. A Game of Lies could be read as a standalone book however I would suggest reading The Last Party if you want to fully understand the characters and their back stories- especially as Clare is a very thorough and detailed author.

In terms of characters, it was great to see how some of the characters and the relationships between them developed from the first novel- Ffion Morgan remains a strong protagonist! Equally it was interesting to meet some new faces – I was particularly interested in George, a new character who I believe we will be seeing and learning a lot more about in the next instalment.

As with all Clare Mackintosh books the detail is superb; the characters are multifaceted which makes them all the more interesting, the way Clare describes the scenes instantly bring the tight-knit community to life – despite me not knowing Wales very well, and despite being a work of fiction it brings to light some very real issues including the manipulation of the media, impacts of reality TV, misogyny, power and betrayal.

Whilst, A Game of Lies is a thriller, full of mystery and twists and turns, it also has an element of romance whilst Ffion’s attitude and Dave the Dog will have you laughing which make it a real all-rounder. All in all, 5 stars, already awaiting the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Game of lies will be published on the 20th July.