My Review: There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a good book. The Six Loves of Billy Binns is a beautiful tale that pivots around the small decisions that prove to have momentous consequences.
It did take me a few chapters to get into the story, which starts in 1900 and journeys the life and loves of the 117-year life of Billy Binns. The story flits between Billy Binn's history and current day in a retirement home where he tries to remember his lost loves. An exceptional debut. Mr Lumsden beautifully weaves Billy Binn's journey with historical and poignant moments of the twentieth century. He brings Shepherd's Bush to life. So much so you can almost smell the fish market. It is heartbreaking, uplifting, and altogether inspiring. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.
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19/12/2018 0 Comments Review: Don't You Forget About Me
The first chapter is Georgina, aged 15, trying to comprehend Wuthering Heights and navigate her feelings for the quiet and unpopular Lucas McCarthy. Fast-forward to modern day and Georgina (and her life) could be described as a 'hot mess' - bad job, worse boyfriend, and then neither! It took me a few chapters to get into the story but once I was hooked, I was truly reeled in, and finished the rest of the book in a day. The story was heart-breaking, funny, sentimental and left me in tears.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review. 12/12/2018 0 Comments Review: Dear Evan Hansen
My Review: Even though Dear Evan Hansen is aimed at the young adult market, it deals with serious and heavy themes. Evan has an anxiety disorder. The first page talks about celebrity suicides, it gives a clear idea the direction of the story. It's an important time for such a novel, and to complement the popular musical. All people, young and old, could benefit from the storyline. And when a letter is misconstrued as a suicide letter, to Evan. Evan finds himself transported from a school nobody to a somebody, with not the expected consequences. It really encapsulated the trouble when trying to tell people what you think they want to hear as Evan balances the lies that help and the truth that hurts.
A very enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to seeing the musical when it comes to London. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review. 19/9/2018 0 Comments Review: Perfect Remains
My Review: The book is interspersed with chapters from the view of the killer, and the perspective from the law rushing against the clock to find him. Even though the reader is sometimes one step ahead having the killer's method in mind, there is twist after twist. Predictably, there is a new policeman in town but that's where any certainty ends. It's impossible not to fall for the beautiful and broken DI Callanach with his back-story woven into the story in small segments like a jigsaw puzzle.
The gore of the action is sometimes too gruesome. And there were a couple of times I gasped aloud and turns in the plot. When the finale presented itself, it could have gone a number of ways and I was not able to put the book down until I had finished it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 12/9/2018 0 Comments Review: All That Was Lost
My Review: The book starts brilliantly. The concept is great – as I tucked in to the first chapter I was delighted that the story lives up to the novel idea. It's a beautiful story that flicks between current day and Pat's teenage years in the sixties. As Pat's story becomes clear it's clear to see how she became the grand Patrice Leigh, and her role in supporting people who seek out a medium. Much my reading was spent thinking is she or isn't she (the real thing)?. Interwoven with Leo and Louise's lives respectively, the pain of grief and losing a loved one is heartfelt. When the loose ends came together at the end, I wanted to reread the book again straight away.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review. |
