Tag: Reading

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Vow, Debbie Howells

Amy is due to get married in two weeks but when her fiance Matt disappears she is left with no choice but to call the wedding off as the police investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Fiona also reports her missing partner, Matt, to the police. He was supposed to be moving in with her.

Amy refuses to believe that Matt has been living a double but police quickly prove this is the case and begin questioning both women. Where is Matt? And, who’s version of events do the police believe?

The Vow, is a beautifully written domestic thriller told from the perspectives of Amy, Fiona and Amy’s daughter Jess. The book, goes between the present day and the past, allowing us an insight into Amy’s childhood.

The characters and the story of this book are so well developed. For example, Amy is a herbalist and it was evident Debbie did her research as within the story we what different herbs and flowers mean etc. I thought this was really well done as it gave so much depth to Amy’s character and made her profession and passion come to life. Furthermore, it wasn’t just the main characters who were well portrayed- so often in books minor characters get name dropped and it is hard to imagine them – but even minor characters were brought to life throughout this book.

The Vow sucked me in right from the start and I found it immensely gripping. Unfortunately, the book was a little predictable as I guessed the ending about half way through, but never the less I was still hooked and keen to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.

Categories
Fiction Romance

An Accidental Life, Chelsea Cannon

Margaret Wilcox dreams of studying literature at college but with disapproving parents, who refuse to pay for a course which they believe has no purpose, Margaret’s aspirations for college are short-lived. When William Hill asks Margaret to marry him at the age of seventeen Margaret says yes as she doesn’t see an alternative life. William’s job allows her to stay at home, giving her time to read, and she remains a home maker and brings up their two children Michael and Emily.

Fast forward 15 years, and an opportunity arises for a screenwriting course. Margaret is desperate to sign up but the class is full. However, an opportunity arises which allows Margaret to sit the course, but it involves the need for her to live a double life. We all know lies don’t last forever and always have consequences- but what does this mean for Margaret?

At first I wasn’t sure what to make of this book! I loved it and hated it all at the same time! It was an easy, light read but also predictable and unrealistic. I found that the novel touched upon some great themes such as identity, being true to oneself and following our own passions in life, but I think the lack of depth let it down. There were areas where not enough attention was given to and the story seemed to skip out important bits, such as when Charles was born, what were William’s reactions at the time? And many other questions which I won’t state as I don’t want to give away spoilers.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of An Accidental Life in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction

Everyday Sexism, Laura Bates

‘Everyday Sexism’ was released back in 2012 and I am unsure why (and also annoyed) that I had not read it sooner.

Having experienced a number of sexist incidents and being sick of how sexism has become normalised Laura Bates started the ‘Everyday Sexism’ project which is what is she used to fuel this powerful read. From young girls being harassed in the street to discrimination at work, to the most serious cases of sexual assault and rape – this book covers it all!

What makes this book really stand out is the sheer amount of research which Bates has carried out. Each chapter starts with statistics and the experiences people shared with her in the form of a tweet, which really illustrates the extent of the issue our society faces. The book is very well written and is not to be misinterpreted as a hate campaign against men. In fact, Bates discusses how men also face sexism (boys being told not to play with dolls, men being told to man up, lack of paternity leave) and shares stories of how men have and can confront it. It is made very clear that attitudes within our society need to change and why feminism is still important in the 21st century. Whilst a catcall, or a rape joke may be said without the intent to cause offence and therefore appear trivial to some, this book delves into the detrimental impact this can have on people and wider society.

For some, the horrifying stats and experiences will come as no surprise. To others, they will be a real eye opener. However, one thing that is for sure is that no matter what gender you are or whether you call yourself a feminist or not this is a must read and everyone can take something from this book

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Pact, Amy Heydenrych

Freya has not had the easiest path to her success. Her mother gave her up when she was a baby, she was passed from family to family and she lived in her car because she couldn’t afford to rent when she first went to college. So, when Freya gets her dream job at high tech company Atypical, she is thrilled.

Freya discovers that Atypical headhunted her and she very quickly shows quite how skilled she is. She makes a great impression in her first few weeks, especially on her new colleague Jay.

Unfortunately, whilst all seems to be going well for Freya this is short lived as co-worker, and Jay’s ex, Nicole, begins to bully Freya. After weeks of being tormented, Freya snaps and Jay hatches a plan to get back at Nicole playing a prank. It was only supposed to be a joke, but no one is laughing when the next morning Nicole is found dead.

I really enjoyed this dark novel and Amy Heydenrych never left behind many clues as to what would happen next. Whilst exploring topics such as office bullying, sexual harassment and gender inequality, this compelling novel will have you guessing to the very end with twists and turns right to the very end. Told through the voices of Freya and a journalist Isla, the truth about what happened that night unfolds.

Categories
Fiction Historical Fiction Romance

The Surplus Girls, Polly Heron

Belinda Layton is a 20 year old girl who lost her fiancé during WWI.
At the start of the book we see Belinda working in a mill where she dodges the amorous advances of creepy Mr Butterfield. At home, Belinda is residing with her late fiancé’s family, who expect her to continue living in a period of mourning, whilst her feckless family expect her to pass all her hard earned wages on to them.

As Belinda is faced with having to fend for herself and realising she is a ‘surplus girl’ she tries to better herself through attending night business school. This leads to her landing a placement in a bookshop, escaping work at the mill and the potential of finding a new romance.

This book isn’t the normal genre I go for but I really enjoyed it. The story touched upon so many societal issues such as class differences and the expectations and place of women in society in the 1920’s. A warming tale which offers hope after what had been a difficult time.