Sylvia Day - So Close (Blacklist #1)

Sylvia Day - So Close (Blacklist #1) 

3⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 374 

Format: Paperback Proof 

Publisher:  Penguin Michael Joseph 

Date Published: 28th March 2023

Huge thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a proof copy.

Book Blurb: 

You can’t believe all of them, but can you trust any of them?

Widower Kane Black is still ruinously married to his late wife, Lily. Grief has hollowed him… until he sees a woman with his wife’s inimitable beauty on the streets of Manhattan. He whisks her up to his towering penthouse, protectively under guard, nestling her in dark opulence where Lily’s memory is a possessive beguiling force.

Aliyah, Kane’s mother, deals in science. There are too many questions, too few answers, and too much at stake. “Lily” has dangerous control over Kane and there can be only one queen on the throne.

Amy, Kane’s sister-in-law, has been bloodied by deceit and betrayal, and she’s devolving into murderous rage. She’s paid too high a price and now intends to claim what she’s owed.

Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife. Kane is happier than he’s ever been, and he’ll do anything to stay that way.

Propulsive and sly, So Close is a lushly gothic novel of domestic suspense with the emotional intensity, scorching sensuality, and complex exploration of female trauma that are the hallmarks of multimillion-copy international bestseller Sylvia Day.

My Review: 

What did I just read? This book was so weird, yet captivating and intriguing, yet I am still confused as to what is going on in this book. It is very well written, as it managed to draw me in from the very first page and didn’t let me go until the very last. However, I am not sure I know what is going on with the characters or where the plot is going. The is so much going on, yet not much is revealed, and so many unanswered questions are left open.

Kane Black is a widower. His wife Lily disappeared 5 years ago, however, one day he sees someone just like her on a street in Manhattan. He takes her in and learns that his wife might still be alive. Kane’s mother enjoys seeing Kane unhappy as she never liked his wife, Kane's sister-in-law, however, wants to be with him. What follows is the story of three women fighting for Kane, Kane's love, wealth and attention…

I liked and disliked that during the whole book, we have POV of the most important females in Kane's life, his mother, his sister-in-law and his lover. However, we don’t get his POV, so what we learn about him is from others, yet we don’t know who he is exactly and that itself is very intriguing but at the same time frustrating as I want to know why he is so important.

I did like the drama and mystery in this book, all the secrets and backstabbing that is happening between the three females in Kane's life. However, the plotline is so confusing as so much is happening and there was a huge revelation near the end of the book which made me even more confused and made me question everything that I have read so far in this book. The revelation at the end of the book wasn’t realistic for a contemporary romance book, although quite shocking, Also, part of this book reminded me of 50 Shades but with much better writing, and with characters that are so morally grey and unlikable.

Overall: Very weird and confusing book, that left me with more unanswered questions at the end than I had at the beginning. It is very well written and has a mystery and suspense element that draws you in and doesn’t want to let you go, yet something is missing. I wanted more and I know that the premise of this book could have delivered much more. I do want to read the sequel, just so some of the questions (hopefully) get answered, however, I don’t have much high expectations for it. 

About the Author: 

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Globe and Mail, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels, including ten New York Times bestsellers and thirteen USA Today bestsellers. She is a number one bestselling author in twenty-nine countries, with translations in forty-one languages and over twenty million copies of her books in print. 

www.sylviaday.com

David Jarvis - The Tip of The Iceberg

David Jarvis - The Tip of The Iceberg 

4⭐

Genre: Thriller, Espionage, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction 

Pages: 313

Format: Paperback 

Publisher:  Troubador/Matador

Date Published: 28th October 2022

Huge thank you to the Author, David Jarvis, for sending me a copy of The Tip of the Iceberg in exchange for an honest review.  

Book Blurb: 

Charles Yelland was leading the perfect life until a faked photograph appeared in a newspaper on the morning of his oil company’s AGM showing an exploration rig in Antarctica. After this he didn’t think that his world could get any worse … he was seriously wrong.

Within hours Presidents and Prime Ministers were telephoning each other to find out whether oil had actually been discovered and whether the 60 year old Antarctic Treaty with its suspension of territorial claims was now dead.

What would countries and companies do to gain access to an area one and a half times the size of the USA with 11% of the Earth’s land mass and minerals?
The Tip of the Iceberg is a thought-provoking and gripping story of kidnap and intrigue.

My Review: 

Yet another amazing thriller/mystery from David Jarvis. The tip of the Iceberg has it all, suspense, mystery, humour, witty conversations and it also discusses important societal issues and geopolitics (and as a geographer I love geopolitics). What’s not to like? Oh, and don’t forget the writing that just captures you from the beginning. Such an interesting, captivating, funny and compelling book.

One picture in a newspaper and everyone is panicking…Has oil been discovered in Antarctica, and if it was, who does that oil belong to? Politicians from the UK, the USA, Norway and other Antarctic Treaty countries are all lining up to be the first ones to get the oil. That said, there is an issue of how to address it during the Climate Conference where conditions of the Antarctic Treaty will also be discussed. At the same time, the biggest oil company in the UK owner’s daughter is kidnapped, and a spy turned detective Mike Kingdom is called in to help find the missing girl.

Although this book has a lot, the way the author portrays everything and develops the plot, all of those scattered pieces just come together perfectly. Also, I loved Mike’s character as she is one strong female protagonist. I adored the ins and outs of geopolitics and, the Antarctic Treaty, especially the way the author presents quite complicated issues and politics in a simple, entertaining, interesting and funny way. Place descriptions were brilliant too, especially when I knew most of them quite well and whilst reading, I imagined myself there with the characters.

What I love the most about this book is that is it a ‘What If?’ story, and although it is fiction, part of me did start to wonder What If the Antarctic Treaty didn’t exist or what if we changed it? So definitely this book gave me a lot of food for thought, whilst being entertaining and captivating too.

Overall: Love the writing, love the characters, love the topic…Can’t recommend it enough and can’t wait to see what Mike Kingdom is up to in the next book, This Is Not A Pipe. 

About the Author:

After going to Art College in the 1970s David Jarvis set up an international planning practice which he ran for 40 years. His canvases just got bigger and bigger. He has now retired to Wiltshire. The Collation Unit is his debut novel. 

https://www.whisperingstories.com/the-writing-life-of-david-jarvis/

B.K. Borison - In the Weeds (Lovelight #2)

 

B.K. Borison - In the Weeds (Lovelight #2)

5⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Reading 

Pages: 334

Format: Paperback

Publisher: PanMacmillan

Date Published: 6th August 2023

Book Blurb: 

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget.

Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.

Also, her eyes. And her legs.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is … confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on.

But Evelyn St. James has a problem.

Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Nothing at all.

In The Weeds is a sweet and steamy second-chance romance about finding your happiness. It features a grumpy farmer, a no-nonsense social media influencer, a small town of busybodies, and four very cute kittens. In The Weeds is a standalone romance and is part of the Lovelight series.

My Review: 

Ok, so Lovelight Farms was such a cute romance, but In the Weeds was amazing! One of my favourite romances this year, without a doubt. The writing was brilliant, the characters were adorable, and the romance and angst were so good. Honestly, The Lovelight Farms series is slowly but surely becoming my favourite romance series and I still have two books to go. I’m not usually a fan of small-town romances but In The Weeds has such an amazing atmosphere and it feels like you can read this book during any season, but definitely during cosy Autumn.

The book follows Beckett, whose broody and grumpy demeanour is softened after he awkwardly runs into Evie, who was his one-night stand and who he can’t seem to get out of his mind. Evie comes to the town where Lovelight Farm is to escape her anxieties and take time off from her busy life as a social media influencer. However, the break she can’t seem to get is Beckett, whom she might have a soft spot for…

Both Beckett and Evie are so cute, with so much chemistry and angst. Beckett is so grumpy and Evie is definitely a ray of sunshine but they work so well together. Their romance and getting to know each other is just perfection. The book is also written in dual POV, which adds substance to the story. I also love how we get to see all the characters featured in the first book and learn more about the town dynamics and different families. I honestly feel so invested in this series. My only complaint about this book is that it wasn’t longer and that I finished it so quickly as it was so addictive.

Overall: Love it love it love it! One of my favourite romance books this year. Amazing set of characters, an adorable setting, amazing romance and brilliantly addictive writing. Honestly, if you want cute, cosy and adorable grumpy x sunshine romance to read, In the Weeds is it! Now onto Mixed Signals! 

About the Author:

B.K. Borison lives in Baltimore with her sweet husband, vivacious toddler, and giant dog. She started writing in the margins of books when she was in middle school and hasn’t stopped.

https://www.instagram.com/authorbkborison/

Jen Ferguson - Those Pink Mountain Nights

 

Jen Ferguson - Those Pink Mountain Nights 

4⭐

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, LGBTQIA+ 

Pages: 352

Format:  Paperback Proof 

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers / Heartdrum

Published On: 12th October 2023 (UK)

Big thank you to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC copy to read and review. 

Book Blurb: 

In her remarkable second novel following her acclaimed debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, which won the Governor General’s Award and received six starred reviews, Jen Ferguson writes about the hurt of a life stuck in past tense, the hum of connections that cannot be severed, and one week in a small snowy town that changes everything.

Over-achievement isn’t a bad word—for Berlin, it’s the goal. She’s securing excellent grades, planning her future, and working a part-time job at Pink Mountain Pizza, a legendary local business. Who says she needs a best friend by her side?

Dropping out of high school wasn’t smart—but it was necessary for Cameron. Since his cousin Kiki’s disappearance, it’s hard enough to find the funny side of life, especially when the whole town has forgotten Kiki. To them, she’s just another missing Native girl.

People at school label Jessie a tease, a rich girl—and honestly, she’s both. But Jessie knows she contains multitudes. Maybe her new job crafting pizzas will give her the high-energy outlet she desperately wants.

When the weekend at Pink Mountain Pizza takes unexpected turns, all three teens will have to acknowledge the various ways they’ve been hurt—and how much they need each other to hold it all together.

My Review:

I adored The Summer of Bitter and Sweet and it still is one of my favourite YA books to date. However, there was something about Those Pink Mountain Nights that I didn’t gel with. It might have been that I read it in the wrong mindset or at the wrong time, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters in this book as I did with those in TSOBAS. That said, I still think Ferguson is an amazing storyteller and writer, who wrote another moving book that covers so many important topics and issues that Native and Indigenous people in Canada face daily. Topics such as social injustice, grief, systematic racism, community, and belonging are explored beautifully and in-depth, and even though I didn’t connect with the characters in this book, I still think the story is very powerful.

The book follows Berlin, who is a hard worker and overachiever and who cares deeply about her friends and family. We also meet Cam, who is a high school dropout and who has a sweet spot for Berlin even though Berlin hates him. We get introduced to Jessie, who is a rich girl at school, but in real life, she feels misunderstood by her rich parents who just don’t get what they want. The unlikely trio all work in Pink Mountain pizzeria, a legendary local business…One weekend when the Pink Mountain Pizza is threatened by a chain pizza company, Berlin, Cam and Jessie realise that they might not be different from one another and that their friendship might help Pink Mountain and the whole community.

As I mentioned before, I didn’t connect with the characters, yet they were so well developed, each with their own set of issues, thoughts and personalities, which together make the trio very powerful allies. The book has multiple POVs from all of the main characters, and each POV have a very strong personality related to the person the chapter is about. The writing of this book is superb and the issues discussed with such a strong voice.

Overall: I enjoyed reading this book, and although I don’t love it as much as I did The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, I still think it is brilliantly written, with a set of strong and well-developed characters, as well as brilliant discussion on issues that Native and Indigenous communities in Canada face, especially issues of systematic racism, abuse, belonging, etc. Can’t wait to see what Jen Ferguson will write next!

About an Author:

Jen Ferguson - Métis (on her father's side) and Canadian settler (on her mother's side), an activist, a feminist, an auntie, and an accomplice armed with a PhD. She believes writing, teaching and beading are political acts. The Summer of Bitter and Sweet is her debut novel. 

https://www.jenfergusonwrites.com/about

Katie Bishop - The Girls of Summer

 

Katie Bishop - The Girls of Summer

4⭐

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback Proof

Publisher: Bantam 

Published On: 25th May 2023

Huge thank you to Transworld Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review. 

Book Blurb: 

THE debut of 2023. A compulsive and timely exploration of the complicated nature of memory and trauma, power and consent, victimhood and shame.

'That place has been my whole life. Everything I thought I knew about myself was constructed in those few months I spent within touching distance of the sea. Everything I am is because Alistair loved me.'

Rachel has been in love with Alistair since she was seventeen. Even though she hasn't seen him for sixteen years and she's now married to someone else. Even though she was a teenager when they met. Even though he is twenty years older than her. She's found it impossible to forget their summer together on a remote, sun-trapped Greek island. Until now.

When Rachel unexpectedly reconnects with a girl that she knew back then, she is forced to re-examine her memories of that golden summer and confront the truth about her relationship with Alistair and about her time working for an enigmatic and wealthy man on the island. And when Alistair returns, the pull of the past could prove impossible to resist...

My Review:

So, with this book I have a bit of a love-hate relationship, which eventually turned into love. I started reading this book before its release (thank you publishers for an ARC), however, I couldn’t get into it at all (maybe it wasn’t the right book for my mood at that time, as I am a very much mood reader), so I put it down and decided to come back to it later. I am so glad I did that, as I picked it up a month later, I devoured it…It was so captivating, raw, sad and at the same time uncomfortable and compelling. The writing echoes all of that and the experiences of our main protagonist, her thoughts and trauma are brilliantly communicated.

The story follows Rachel, who with her friend 15 years ago, when she was 17, straight out of school, went on holiday to a Greek island. Her summer holiday soon turned into a love affair with a man named Alistair, who was 20 years her senior. Rachel fell in love with Alistair and even now she can’t forget him. However, as she slowly starts to relive the events of that summer, she realises all the dark secrets of the relationship with Alistair, as well as what happened on the island all those years ago might have been a lie.

This book had a dual timeline, with the first following Rachel when she was just seventeen and the second timeline follows her now, 15 years later. I loved how both timelines had a unique voice, you can tell how Rachel matured over the years, yet see how much she still loves Alistair. Also, I adored how she develops through the book in the current timeline, from someone who was head over heels for Alistair to someone who realises all the trauma and darkness that that summer in Greece entailed. She is quite an unlikable character, but I thought that was the point of her, as you can see her unwillingness to believe and accept that Alistair is anything, but someone who loves her and that the way she portrays him was just her imagining how she wants him to be, rather than who he is. I think her character was suppose to anger the reader but at the same time make reader understand how complicated the nature of grooming and sexual abuse is, especially for the person who experienced it.

This book kept me super intrigued; I just couldn’t put it back once I got into it. Although I probably wouldn’t call this book a thriller or mystery, it was very much women’s fiction/contemporary. It dealt with a lot of important topics, such as sexual abuse, grooming, extortion, the #MeToo movement, etc, so would check the trigger warning before reading as there are parts of this book that were quite dark.

Overall: Very interesting, captivating and well-written story and although I had a love-hate relationship with it at the beginning, I am so glad I read it.  

About an Author:

Katie Bishop is a writer and journalist based in Birmingham, UK. She has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, The Independent, and other publications. The Girls of Summer is her first novel.

https://www.katiebishopwrites.com/

Ava Wilder- Will They or Won't They

Ava Wilder- Will They or Won't They 

4 ⭐

Genre:  Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Fake Dating 

Pages: 384

Format: Kindle/ Netgalley 

Publisher: Headline Eternal 

Date Published: 27th June 2023

Book Blurb: 

On screen, they're in love. Off screen, they can't stand each other. Two co-stars with a complex history reunite to film the final season of a beloved paranormal drama in this tension-filled will they won't they romance from the author of How to Fake It in Hollywood.

Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are madly in love— at least, their characters are. As the stars of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible, they spent years pining for each other on-screen… until Lilah ditched the show at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a film star. With no such luck, she’s back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season, in which their characters will get together at last.

But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left: Shane. Ever since their secret behind-the-scenes fling imploded at the end of the first season, the two of them have despised each other.

Now back on set together for the first time in years, with the world’s eyes on them and their post-show careers on the line, they’ll have to grit their teeth and play nice. But under pressure to give Intangible’s fans the happy ending they’ve been waiting for, Lilah and Shane are forced to get closer than ever. And if they’re not careful, they just might get blindsided by one final twist: a real-life happy ending of their own.

My Review: 

I loved How To Fake It In Hollywood so much, so when I saw that Ava Wilder was releasing another book, I just knew I needed to read it. I really really enjoyed this book, although it was quite hard to get into it, at first, in comparison to HTFIIH. I think the first half of the book I did struggle to get invested in the characters, but the second half was really good and redeemed the rest of the book for me. Also, this book had great mental health rep and was quite easy to read with short chapters. Ava Wilder’s writing is also very good so makes reading this book so easy and interesting.

The story follows Lilah and Shane, who met at the audition of a paranormal TV show. From the very beginning, they clicked, and their chemistry was amazing. Fast forward 5+ years and they hate each other offscreen, yet onscreen everyone thinks that they are together based on their chemistry. Now Lilah is back on the hit TV show for one more season and must face her biggest enemy, Shane…

I usually love enemies-to-lovers, but it was hard to connect with Lilah and Shane until about halfway through the story. In the beginning, I found both of them insufferable and moany about everything. Also, the reason why they hate each other was quite silly, at least in my opinion but the way they address and resolve their issues was quite entertaining to read. I think both Shane and Lilah read more like young adults and not someone in their early to mid-thirties. They both did lack maturity but also, I felt that they grew up a lot during the book too. So, in the end I did end up growing to love them.

What I really liked about this book was the writing and the premise of the book. It was quite different from the usual Hollywood romances, which was a breath of fresh air to read.

Overall: It is a very solid enemies-to-lovers romance, with quite insufferable characters that I grew to love. Great writing and premise. If you love Hollywood romances and enemies-to-lovers trope, then this book is definitely for you. For me, Ava Wilder is definitely becoming one of the autobuy authors, so I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

 This review was first published on Netgalley: 

https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/290459/review/959200 

About the Author: 

Ava Wilder is a professional video editor with a degree in media studies and cultural criticism. She currently lives in Oklahoma City with her fiancé and their toothless cat.

https://www.ava-wilder.com/

Alicia Thompson - With Love, From Cold World

Alicia Thompson - With Love, From Cold World 

5⭐

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Queer 

Pages: 400

Format: Paperback Proof  

Publisher: Penguin Random House 

Date Published: 3rd August 2023

Huge thank you to Penguin Random House  for sending me this book to read and review.

 

Book Blurb: 

She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn't on it--yet somehow he's become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that's always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Sure, it's ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it's a fun place to work, even if "fun" isn't exactly Lauren's middle name.

Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World--whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren. When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something (anything, really) to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day. If Asa thought Lauren didn't know how to enjoy herself, he's surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn't serious about anything, she's surprised by how seriously he seems to take her.

As Lauren and Asa work to save their beloved wintery spot, they realize the real attraction might be the heat generating between them.

My Review: 

With both, enemies to lovers &reverse sunshine and the grump, this rom-com is so cute and adorable. It is a perfect winter rom com, that a reader can enjoy during a hot summer. I also adored how Thompson sensitively approached very heavy topics such as foster care, sexuality, and anxiety. I loved the slow growth of friendship between the two main characters, and then their relationship and chemistry. This book honestly captured me from page one and didn’t let me go until the acknowledgements.

The story follows Lauren, who is socially anxious, a workaholic and loves being organised. She is also romantic and shy and has a very boring job at the Cold World winter wonderland in the middle of Florida. She doesn’t have many friends and likes to keep herself out of the limelight. Her coworker Asa, however, is the complete opposite of Lauren. He's brave, outgoing, friendly and is the soul of the Cold World. Asa thinks Lauren is an uptight ice queen, and Lauren thinks Asa is always making fun of her, because he hates her. One day, out of the blue, their boss asks them to team up to come up with ideas on how to save Cold World from bankruptcy. Thus, these two, worlds apart have to now put their differences aside and work together for the Cold World, a place they both call home.

I loved the dual POV in this book as it showed perfectly how both characters grew so much throughout the book, and how their relationships developed. I loved both of the main characters, they were so cute and adorable, both flawed but also so relatable. I also adored that one of the main characters is bi, as this kind of representation is needed more in rom-coms. The chemistry between the two main characters, their banter and getting on each other's nerves and in each other's way was so believable and entertaining. Also, the scene setting and the fact that the book was set in such a cute romantic location were just adorable.

Overall: Super cute and adorable rom-com. So much more than just romance was covered in this book (I won't talk about that much because of spoilers), such as foster care, sexuality, anxiety, etc. It was also such a quick read and although the book is set in a winter wonderland, it was also a perfect read during the summer heat. Love this book so much and can't wait to see what Alicia Thompson will write next! Also, I couldn’t stop singing Paramore’s Hello Cold World whilst reading this book, so that like another star…

About the Author:

Alicia Thompson is a writer, reader, and Paramore superfan. As a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 Hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/about

Sarra Manning - London, With Love

Sarra Manning - London, With Love  

3 ⭐

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary 

Pages: 432

Format: Netgalley / Ebook

Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton 

Date Published: 5th May 2022

 

Book Blurb: 

London. Nine million people. Two hundred and seventy tube stations. Every day, thousands of chance encounters, first dates, goodbyes and happy ever afters.

And for twenty years it's been where one man and one woman can never get their timing right.

Jennifer and Nick meet as teenagers and over the next two decades, they fall in and out of love with each other. Sometimes they start kissing. Sometimes they're just friends. Sometimes they stop speaking, but they always find their way back to each other.

But after all this time, are they destined to be together or have they finally reached the end of the line?

My Review: 

I thought this book is going to be similar to Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern, which is one of my favourite books ever, so I had high hopes for London, With Love. However, apart from beautiful writing this book was too long, and I didn’t really believe the love and chemistry between the two main characters. Also, the miscommunication trope in this book just made me so angry. Both of the main characters were just so childish and too stubborn to admit their feelings. Also, some of the events in this book were quite triggering and happened without any warning…yet felt that including those events wasn’t necessary to make this book good.

The story follows Jen and Nick, who became best friends in college when both were 16 and see them fall in and out of each other’s lives over the course of the next 35 years. The book also uses the London tube as a backdrop to all the important events and meetings that happen in both Nick’s and Jen’s life.

I didn’t like Jen’s character that much. For me, it felt like she didn’t grow up and her character development was non-existent until the last 10% of the book. Also, for someone with two degrees and being quite well educated she lacked common sense and was very naïve, which was just very unbelievable. Nick, for me, was quite a mystery, as we get to know him only from Jen’s POV. I didn’t feel much romance and feelings between the two of them in this book, it felt more like a childhood crush for me.

What I liked in this book is the beautiful writing and scene setting, as well as the beautiful descriptions of London. The author perfectly explores how London changed from 1986 to 2021.

Overall: I had such high hopes for this book but was quite disappointed with a very mediocre romance that didn’t feel that realistic. I couldn’t connect with the main characters or believe their feelings towards each other. The book itself also felt a bit too long, and the inclusion of three major events without a trigger warning nearly made me DNF this book. Writing and exploration of London was beautiful though. 

This review was first published on Netgalley: 

https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/247768/review/959200

About the Author:

Sarra Manning is a teen queen extraordinaire. She spent five years working on the now sadly defunct J17, first as a writer and then as Entertainment Editor. She then joined the launch team of teen fashion bible Ellegirl, which she later went on to edit and has consulted on a wide range of youth titles including Bliss, The Face and More.

Sarra is now editor of What To Wear magazine. She's also been a regular contributor to ELLE, The Guardian, ES Magazine, Seventeen, Details and Heat and wrote the Shop Bitch column for Time Out. Sarra lives in North London with her dog Miss Betsy.

http://www.sarramanning.co.uk/

Nicola Yoon- Everything, Everything

Nicola Yoon- Everything, Everything 

3⭐

Genre:  YA, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction 

Pages: 312

Format: Paperback 

Publisher:  Penguin Random House UK 

Date Published: 1st September 2015

 

Book Blurb: 

My disease is as rare as it is famous. It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that he is funny and fierce. I learn that his eyes are Atlantic Ocean-blue and that his vice is stealing silverware. I learn that when I talk to him, my whole world opens up, and I feel myself starting to change—starting to want things. To want out of my bubble. To want everything, everything the world has to offer.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

My Review: 

I think Gabby in her John Green circa 2015 era would have adored this book. However, reading it now was a tad underwhelming. I really liked the illustrations in this book and the fact that some parts of it were mixed media, that really saved the story for me. It’s not that it is a bad book, but it is a very young adult book. That said it read easily and was a super quick read/palette cleanser.

The book follows Maddie who has this extraordinary and rare disease, where she is allergic to fresh air and the outside world. Thus, she has to live inside, in a very hygienic environment, without ever being able to visit the outside world. That is until Maddie turns 18 and meets her next-door neighbour through the window. She is eager to get to know him and although they are emailing each other constantly, she wants to meet him face to face. Whilst her mother is categorically against it, Maddie is listening to her heart and risks her health to see Olly face to face.

Don’t get me wrong the main heroine and her love interest were so good together and I was able to enjoy reading about first love and feelings, but what really annoyed me was that no one questioned how crazy Maddie’s mum was. Also, both main characters read much younger than 18, I felt like tops they were 15-16. I really didn’t like the family dynamic in this one either and the ending just made me so angry at both Maddie and her mum. I was so angry at them throughout the book too, as they both were irresponsible, whilst constantly miscommunicating. All the issues and Maddy’s problems would have been solved if both of them were just honest with each other.

Overall: Young me would have loved this book, current me thinks it’s a very average and easy-to-read YA rom-com. There are so much better ones that in my opinion give the same message, but are executed in much better ways.  I do recommend it if you want that nostalgic feeling of early and mid-2010 YA books as it will give you that, yet not much more. 

About the Author:

Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star. She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Both her novels have been made into major motion pictures. Nicola grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, novelist David Yoon, and their family.

http://www.NicolaYoon.com

Cho Nam-joo - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

Cho Nam-joo - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 

4 ⭐

Genre:  Fiction, Translated Fiction, East Asian Fiction, Asian Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Feminism 

Original Title: 82년생 김지영 [82nyeonsaeng Gimjiyeong]

Original Language: South Korean 

Translated by: Jamie Chang 

Pages: 168

Format: Kindle 

Publisher: Scribner UK 

Date Published: 20th February 2020

Book Blurb: 

Kim Jiyoung is a girl born to a mother whose in-laws wanted a boy.

Kim Jiyoung is a sister made to share a room while her brother gets one of his own.

Kim Jiyoung is a female preyed upon by male teachers at school. Kim Jiyoung is a daughter whose father blames her when she is harassed late at night.

Kim Jiyoung is a good student who doesn’t get put forward for internships. Kim Jiyoung is a model employee but gets overlooked for promotion. Kim Jiyoung is a wife who gives up her career and independence for a life of domesticity.

Kim Jiyoung has started acting strangely.

Kim Jiyoung is depressed.

Kim Jiyoung is mad.

Kim Jiyoung is her own woman.

Kim Jiyoung is every woman.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is the South Korean sensation that has got the whole world talking. The life story of one young woman born at the end of the twentieth century raises questions about endemic misogyny and institutional oppression that are relevant to us all.

Riveting, original and uncompromising, this is the most important book to have emerged from South Korea since Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.

My Review: 

A very unusual book that made me wonder whether I liked it or not. Yet, it explores topics that are so important and not talked much about in different media channels. It sits in between that blurry line of facts and fiction. Again, although not a big book, it packs so much. The writing and flow are also very quick-paced. For me, it wasn’t a light-hearted read, especially because it covers what is like to be a female in modern society and that modern society still lives partly in the past and is restricted by ingrained culture and traditions.

The story follows the life of Kim Jiyoung, from her childhood to the present day when, whilst being a mother one day she just loses her own true self, due to pressures that are prescribed to her by South Korean societal norms. For her family, especially her husband, Kim’s breakdown seemed very bizarre, but as we see her life from the very beginning, realisation comes as to why it happened. Kim faced prejudice, abuse, sexism, misogyny, and patriarchy at all points in her life until one day it was too much for her to take.

This book also portrays women who came before Kim, like her mother and her grandmother and doesn’t shy to show how men are oblivious when it comes to gender inequality or misogyny or sexism. Additionally, mental health and people’s oblivious attitude to issues like postpartum depression, and pregnancy blues are also discussed. This book unpacks this and so much more in such a short story.

Overall: It is a very unusual yet very important book that I think everyone should read, as it shines a light on gender inequalities that are ingrained in cultures and traditions.

 

About the Author:

Cho Nam-joo is a former television scriptwriter. In the writing of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 she drew partly on her own experience as a woman who quit her job to stay at home after giving birth to a child.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is her third novel. It has had a profound impact on gender inequality and discrimination in Korean society, and has been translated into 18 languages.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18720847.Cho_Nam_joo

Sayaka Murata - Life Ceremony

Sayaka Murata - Life Ceremony 

4 ⭐

Genre:  Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Translated Fiction, East Asian Literature, Short Stories, Horror, Mystery 

Translated by: Ginny Tapley Takemori 

Original Title: 生命式 [Seimeishiki]  

Original Language: Japanese 

Pages: 266

Format: Kindle (Digital) 

Publisher: Granta Books 

Date Published: 1st October 2019

 

Book Blurb: 

From the author of international bestseller Convenience Store Woman comes a collection of short fiction: weird, out of this world and like nothing you’ve read before.

An engaged couple falls out over the husband’s dislike of clothes and objects made from human materials; a young girl finds herself deeply enamoured with the curtain in her childhood bedroom; people honour their dead by eating them and then procreating. Published in English for the first time, this exclusive edition also includes the story that first brought Sayaka Murata international acclaim: ‘A Clean Marriage’, which tells the story of a happily asexual couple who must submit to some radical medical procedures if they are to conceive a longed-for child.

Mixing taboo-breaking body horror with feminist revenge fables, old ladies who love each other and young women finding empathy and transformation in unlikely places, Life Ceremony is a wild ride to the outer edges of one of the most original minds in contemporary fiction.

My Review: 

OMG! This book was something else! In both, good and very grossly disturbing ways. The good is that this book is different to anything else I have ever read before. The grossly disturbing is that each story makes you feel like you are in a horror version of the Black Mirror episode. However, the writing is amazing, just as amazing as it was in Convenience Store Woman. I enjoyed the different parts of all twelve stories and learned so much, as each of them had a different hidden message in it.

Throughout 12 stories Murata explores our societal norms and traditions in a very creative way. Most of the stories ask ‘’what if..?’’ and makes you question whether the norms and traditions we have now wouldn’t be weird for others that come before us or will come after us. I felt that each story makes the reader question what societal norms are and who creates them. It also makes people question what is considered normal and what is not.

Overall: I really recommend this book, but be aware that is not a light-hearted read. There are so many gruesome, disgusting, and weird parts in every story, yet you also take something important and informative from each of the stories too. If you like horror and if you like Black Mirror, then you will definitely enjoy Life Ceremony! 

About the Author:

Sayaka Murata (in Japanese, 村田 沙耶香) is one of the most exciting up-and-coming writers in Japan today. She herself still works part time in a convenience store, which gave her the inspiration to write Convenience Store Woman (Konbini Ningen). She debuted in 2003 with Junyu (Breastfeeding), which won the Gunzo Prize for new writers. In 2009 she won the Noma Prize for New Writers with Gin iro no uta (Silver Song), and in 2013 the Mishima Yukio Prize for Shiro-oro no machi no, sono hone no taion no (Of Bones, of Body Heat, of Whitening City). Convenience Store Woman won the 2016 Akutagawa Award. Murata has two short stories published in English (both translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori): "Lover on the Breeze" (Ruptured Fiction(s) of the Earthquake, Waseda Bungaku, 2011) and "A Clean Marriage" (Granta 127: Japan, 2014). 

https://twitter.com/sayakamurata