27/7/2018 0 Comments Review: Make or Break
My Review: The story opens with Jess promising to help her sister look after her two young children whilst Jess' mother and their grandmother looks for respite at a health retreat. Next, Jess is whisked away to South Africa for a friend's wedding. It's not quite the seven year itch for Jess and Pete (it's only six years for starters), but the cracks are there and it's telling in how realistic the dialogue is; awkward, barbed, and full of compromise.
When Jess spots her father, she phones him, and there is that awkward moment where he lies where he is. Jess' relationship woes intertwined with extensive family side-tangents keep you occupied and entertained. I was Team Jess the entire time (and I couldn't wait for Pete to fall from a great height. Spoiler: he was at no point in any danger, such a shame!). It feels that as Jess' story is coming to an end - there is still another third of the book to go. When Jess returns to London, her life is even more complicated. A lovely woven tale of love (new, old, and familial). A life affirming romantic comedy – it leaves you thinking life is too short to not swim, even if that happens to be with sharks, rather than dolphins. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Having been to South Africa I was envious that my own travels didn't make it to Cape Town – Catherine describes the it as a wonderful and beautiful destination. 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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18/7/2018 0 Comments Review: The Break
My Review: I have been Marian Keyes since the beginning. I had to look up when her first book Watermelon had been published (1995) to work out how long our relationship was – over 20 years. The women in her books were making the same mistakes and me and my peers, and now twenty years later, the characters are older and wiser, but then so am I.
I had The Break for a few months before starting. And this is one of my strange habits with books from authors I love. I don't want to binge the book, for it to be gone too quickly. I want to savour and enjoy every sentence. The Break is told in two timelines; the present day and starting from twenty years previously, until the timelines meet. The story of a marriage that has perhaps gone stale isn't new, but the actions to prevent settling for just that feels novel and fresh. As always there is more than meets the eye to any Marian Keyes' novel, and in this case there is an side plot involving the complexities of abortion in Ireland that really resonated with me, especially in light of the recent referendum to repeal the 8th amendment. The book made me cry, it made me angry, and it made me laugh. What more could I ask for? Next time I won't wait so long to read a new Marian Keyes' book! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 8/7/2018 0 Comments Review: Ivy and Abe
My Review: IVY AND ABE was my next book to read. I try to read books in order of publication date - as it happens the e-book was published in February and the publication date of 28 June 2018 is actually the date for the paperbook.
I remember seeing a quote declaring IVY AND ABE was "THE romance of the year”. But when the epigraph mentions Stephen Hawkins, and a quote from It’s a Wonderful life, and the first chapter opens in 2026 - woah, what is going on?! I went back to the book blurb - got it. Let’s begin... An amazing and heartfelt story of the lives and lives of Abe and Ivy. I was fully engaged from the get-go and as the first section ended I was holding back the tears. Not only was the story an emotional rollercoaster, it included a multitude of stories from travelling in the UK and around the world which sparked my own wanderlust. And with the different eras it offers both a historical and a contemporary story. With books like this, the substance of the story and the quality of the writing has to outweigh the novelty of the premise, which is why The Time Traveler's Wife holds the bar so high. I'm glad to report that this book does both and is an incredible read. A timely reminder of love in all its glory. And I have to agree - it is the romance of the year! 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.
My Review: This book is being raved about; it is THE book to read this year. When I received a copy I was thrilled and after just a few chapters it was easy to see why.
It did those first chapters to get into the Tori's story, mainly because it was too honest and raw, the uncomfortable neurosis of self-image on and off social media is detrimental and Tori's inner-thoughts showed the hate/hate association and obsession with getting 'likes' on Facebook et al. Had I been in a bad relationship when reading this book, I would have packed by bags, and not looked back. It's that powerful. It's an empowering and inspiring piece of literature and even though it's fiction and not a self-help book, I will buy a copy for any friend having a tough time in a relationship. 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. 24/5/2018 0 Comments Review: The Last Romeo
My Review:To quote a line from Chapter 5:
“You’re just what we’ve been waiting for…” Ain't that the truth! I love the Guyliner so my expectations for Justin Myers' debut novel were high. And I was not disappointed. This Boy meets Boy(s) story is heart-warming, funny, real, raw, embarrassing (at times), deep felt, and uplifting. I hope the book gets the audience it deserves. It’s a brilliant, universal take on modern romance and how to date on and off the internet. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PS - Although I feel ever so guilty for leaving my own best friend to deal with his relationship woes whilst I travel halfway around the world. Many thanks to Little Brown Book and NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of The Last Romeo in exchange for my honest review. |
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