tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80944398468868445382024-03-10T10:19:50.602+00:00rare opalone of a kindBreigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.comBlogger674125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-52148101827946730032022-09-13T08:00:00.001+01:002022-09-13T08:00:00.202+01:00Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0I10fzk9qmQKyPvL492a9cDmFqhicBGpRLKmm-riW4Hv9Bw4VbHuOIXBuhWG6jsF7B2nvaZIMdqORXK-pMBWTtlrMmhdrj-l8RhYRPskzqCjc7wBQSkdtAWAQSBBRlf9RjNOPChTe-YdVJoUi24TbFVcYjfsgpql8XcRLnHGNu0mXLrfWLtQRHqdEQ/s500/lessons%20in%20chemistry%20bonnie%20garmus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0I10fzk9qmQKyPvL492a9cDmFqhicBGpRLKmm-riW4Hv9Bw4VbHuOIXBuhWG6jsF7B2nvaZIMdqORXK-pMBWTtlrMmhdrj-l8RhYRPskzqCjc7wBQSkdtAWAQSBBRlf9RjNOPChTe-YdVJoUi24TbFVcYjfsgpql8XcRLnHGNu0mXLrfWLtQRHqdEQ/s320/lessons%20in%20chemistry%20bonnie%20garmus.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Fictionally famous Elizabeth Zott is the
host of Supper at Six, a tv cookery show with a twist. See, Elizabeth isn’t a
trained chef, she’s a scientist and approaches cooking from a scientific
mindset. We learn why she’s gone from working in a lab to being one of the most
recognisable women in America and the obstacles in the way for her and other
women in the early 1960s<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">
If you’ve been on Bookstagram at all since the beginning of 2022, you are bound
to have seen Lessons in Chemistry from *at least* one bookstagrammer </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">😅</span><span lang="EN-IE"> there was a lot
of hype for this book and it’s easy to see why. The story flows nicely, the
focus on feminism is cut through with humour. Every now and again we see
glimpses of the story through the eyes of Six-Thirty, Elizabeth’s amazing dog<br />
<br />
I had a lot of fun reading this! Did I think it was flawless? No, I think there
was just a bit too much hype for this and it didn’t live up to it being an
absolute fave but it was a solid read. If you like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely
Fine then you may enjoy this book too. It has a similar sense of dry humour. Or
if you like books about fictionally famous people like The Seven Husbands of
Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this is fun to
immerse yourself into the world of someone ‘famous’</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-40196242385673404632022-09-08T08:00:00.002+01:002022-09-08T08:00:00.216+01:00Ruth & Pen by Emilie Pine Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBxGF7SqksPIT8FQ_Ti4N2CE7jYZb8er2VE_7pHwk0vsyLaxjihK6XzzLO6T6PCi_JpHU6vu5ntEIsxwuJXz1NPr_p89_XkfqwW4JmlkDLEX_i9XGsrxvIqifBvFM5TMnPmzjon1Y2T7M97a5qhplkA4Bk4azUVGZTaXXTHvwYv7sNaGc6hyrHEiCLw/s2624/ruth%20and%20pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="1631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBxGF7SqksPIT8FQ_Ti4N2CE7jYZb8er2VE_7pHwk0vsyLaxjihK6XzzLO6T6PCi_JpHU6vu5ntEIsxwuJXz1NPr_p89_XkfqwW4JmlkDLEX_i9XGsrxvIqifBvFM5TMnPmzjon1Y2T7M97a5qhplkA4Bk4azUVGZTaXXTHvwYv7sNaGc6hyrHEiCLw/s320/ruth%20and%20pen.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Ruth is a 40 something year old on the
brink of her marriage collapsing. Pen is 16, on the verge of leaping into the
dating world, she wants to ask her friend Alice to go on a date. Set during the
duration of one day in Dublin in October, the paths of these strangers cross as
they struggle with the decisions facing them throughout the day<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">
I loved Emilie Pine’s memoir Notes to Self, a collection of personal essays. So
I was really looking forward to this debut novel and it did not disappoint. She
captures the characters perfectly. For Pen, the awkwardness of being a
teenager, navigating your first big crush, pushing boundaries, being grown up.
As well as her life before and after being diagnosed with autism. For Ruth, the
sheer exhaustion of being in a relationship that looks destined to fall apart,
after repeated failed attempts to IVF. Most of the POVs are from Ruth or Pen,
but we also get them from other characters such as Ruth’s husband Aidan and
Alice, Pen’s crush, which I really enjoyed. It rounded out the story, so it
wasn’t all one sided<br />
<br />
Notes to Self tackles infertility & pregnancy loss and this is reflected in
Ruth’s story. Pine’s own experience adds authenticity, Ruth’s experiences are
so raw, her husband’s desperation so painful, it really punches you in the gut. I loved Pen’s relationship with her mother, how her mother really tries to
understand Pen, support her while clearly not wanting her to get hurt<br />
<br />
One of my favourite reads of the year so far, I can’t wait to see what Emilie
Pine does next!<br />
<br />
CW: pregnancy loss, IVF</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-50080786799085789822022-09-05T08:00:00.001+01:002022-09-05T08:00:00.195+01:00The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK6sokliUT_JJ-8HhugPafnURccE_zxGy2sOKinbACg8VjhOYjy2AvYgbfH9eyMv5xmzABpn-s_obCw2fw2Erpjb416K-xEUnXo_AxhSq6BsGR-NHSlF6YFfwAYUdNnzaR_HUxtNvvwufMgQrPAGIoKk8WHX4VrL-ZiaOvXrM9I6xErxVZOlCfhVDKg/s500/The%20queen%20of%20dirt%20island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK6sokliUT_JJ-8HhugPafnURccE_zxGy2sOKinbACg8VjhOYjy2AvYgbfH9eyMv5xmzABpn-s_obCw2fw2Erpjb416K-xEUnXo_AxhSq6BsGR-NHSlF6YFfwAYUdNnzaR_HUxtNvvwufMgQrPAGIoKk8WHX4VrL-ZiaOvXrM9I6xErxVZOlCfhVDKg/s320/The%20queen%20of%20dirt%20island.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>The baby girl, born 2 weeks early, hasn't
even been named when her father tragically dies 3 days after her birth. The
novel is about the lives and relationships of the Aylward women left behind
from this death: his mother Mary, his widow Eileen and his daughter Saoirse.
These 3 generations of women live a slightly unconventional life filled with
laughter, arguments, disappointments, tragedy, joy, loyalties and betrayals<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">I was hesitant to pick this up, purely
because the other Donal Ryan books have left me in a blubbering mess on
completion and I wasn't sure I wanted that emotional ruin right now! The end of
the first chapter left me open mouthed in shock, but while the rest of the book
had me tearing up, it's definitely on the lighter side. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">The story isn't plot driven nor is it
overly character driven. At least, not from the point of view of seeing the
characters deepest hidden thoughts and feelings. Instead, it's driven by the
characters and their relationships. It's like looking in the window at this
family and being enthralled by what you see. Donal nails the characterisation
of these rural folk: turns of phrase, the typical family fall outs, their hopes
and disappointments for each other, the types of characters that are friends
and neighbours. This, along with Donal's lyrical prose, made me love the story
and these women. It feels almost timeless, I wasn't sure when this was set
until 15% through the book and even when you do find out, it remains this way
bar the mention of certain items or events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">The chapters are short and it spans about
40 odd years, things never go super in depth. Because it's so wide spanning, it
could feel like it's rambling but everything pulls together near the end. This
style won't be for everyone but I enjoyed these vignettes. It was enough for me
to fall in love with the Aylward women and those lucky enough to orbit their
odd coven</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-49744897500336177482022-08-29T10:12:00.000+01:002022-08-29T10:12:15.402+01:00Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg3z1XqN-5OaePv03M_aDIEZtCS-9BE3p2kEwq76DcY92V7WkcjGSxbdqzGrpA755nwuh_TNe2p2JIjv4TgOgzyoMG_ufgRzM1myEmh09rcEhT5b1ukYDmI9Y5EpOYr2iY927KYRIaJwwVCYxoh_3K9ST3NQgs7ekI6FuP2n1RQcwdnE6xejwHbzYpg/s500/carrie%20soto%20is%20back%20uk%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg3z1XqN-5OaePv03M_aDIEZtCS-9BE3p2kEwq76DcY92V7WkcjGSxbdqzGrpA755nwuh_TNe2p2JIjv4TgOgzyoMG_ufgRzM1myEmh09rcEhT5b1ukYDmI9Y5EpOYr2iY927KYRIaJwwVCYxoh_3K9ST3NQgs7ekI6FuP2n1RQcwdnE6xejwHbzYpg/s320/carrie%20soto%20is%20back%20uk%20cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Carrie Soto, aka The Battle-Axe, was the
best female tennis player of all time when she retired in the late 80s. But 6
years later, during the 1994 US Open, she watches Nicki Chan equal her 20 Grand
Slam titles record. Carrie refuses to give up her legacy without a fight and
decides to come out of retirement at 37 to reclaim her record. There's many
hurdles to overcome: old injuries, being coached again by her father Javier
(who she ditched at the height of career) and training with Bowe Huntley, who
previously ghosted her romantically. Can Carrie beat the odds and succeed?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">This is book 4 from Taylor Jenkins Reid set
in the same universe of fictionally famous people. Book one was The Seven
Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, then Daisy Jones and The Six and finally last year's
Malibu Rising. It's in this book we're briefly introduced to Carrie Soto.
Carrie is a formidable character, cold and ruthless as an athlete and the reason why she earned her title 'The
Battle-Axe'. Her only friends are her father and her agent Gwen. But even
though she's not very likeable, I did feel for Carrie and root for her. She
shows moments of vulnerability and a portion of this book deals with that it's
like to be a female athlete. The boxes you get put into, the sexism and
condescension you deal with. Carrie has put a wall around herself to protect
these vulnerabilities, which in turn makes her look like an icy bitch. It's the
price she pays for her success.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">There's a lot of tennis in this book. Don't
worry if you know nothing, it is explained at the beginning through Carrie's
coaching as a child. As someone who likes tennis, I enjoyed this part of the
book as I can sense the atmosphere and excitement of the court. But the book is
mainly about Carrie's relationships: with her father, with Bowe Huntley, with
her rivals. One thing TJR does so well in these books is making you believe
these people are famous and wanting to look them up and Carrie Soto is Back was
no exception!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Taylor Jenkins Reid has served another
smashing read, perfect to round out the summer. If you've loved other TJR books
then you'll enjoy this one too</span></p><p></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-74765448254039549192022-08-18T08:00:00.001+01:002022-08-18T08:00:00.200+01:00Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSnIZR4gW8jGjJ1dqvPkvenn1MNuYx-q8gzJgpUIMgf-E5ZCCb1tkn2VmHhyEDmCWjyf6MJCMe33Qrj6fIhDOMpMAaRn_ZXm86pE70Ygak6eWCkKNZplqBKWj2MXiB9RJEiFP72CPmEks/s559/yours+cheerfully.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSnIZR4gW8jGjJ1dqvPkvenn1MNuYx-q8gzJgpUIMgf-E5ZCCb1tkn2VmHhyEDmCWjyf6MJCMe33Qrj6fIhDOMpMAaRn_ZXm86pE70Ygak6eWCkKNZplqBKWj2MXiB9RJEiFP72CPmEks/s320/yours+cheerfully.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce is a follow up novel to Dear Mrs Bird and picks up back in World War
II London with Emmy Lake, who works for Woman's Friend magazine. The Ministry
of Information has tasked the women's magazines of Britain to promote women
workers for the war effort, something Emmy is thrilled to take part of and
promote. However when Emmy and her friend Bunty are on a train one day, they
start chatting to a young single mother and they discover that the reality of
women working is a lot harder than Emmy expected. This leaves her torn as she
feels it is her duty to encourage women to work but she feels guilty that she
can't be one hundred percent honest about the realities. Can Emmy find the
balance between being patriotic and also being a supportive friend?<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">I enjoyed this book just like I did the
first book. They are a tonic, full of pep and jolliness, even when there are
some harder storylines being tackled. This was an easy going read, though at
times it did feel a bit slow and dragged more than the first book. We don't see
any of Emmy's work at the fire station in this book, it mainly concentrates on
her role in Woman's Friend, as well as her friendships and her relationship
with her boyfriend Charles. I liked the setting and seeing a more female
focused view of World War II and the realities that these women faced at home
and in the workplace. A charming, if not almost overly sweet at times, story.</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-15187471133421449102022-06-21T08:00:00.001+01:002022-06-21T08:00:00.200+01:00Welcome to Your Life by Bethany Rutter Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX0a6BLqpBErcOyRzjdNpFP5gZuXy0it7Z7kFAwqbp7xApWEtT4uT9xIp0eoirP5fCLRd-J4W-DUeyg5DYYRWu-Voqtk-ZHps5S5hABsWmjjTAm8XKOQva6gFcqsangk-c0go8oHmcTdWGy9lGj-Y79udddh3WzeRSPsiJnOh-tXqladG9O-cy5LJ1A/s2294/welcome%20to%20your%20life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Welcome to Your Life by Bethany Rutter, which features a cartoon brunette woman sitting on a wall with her back to viewer, her arms in the air. The title is in orange above her and below her the author's name is in white with a blue background. There are confetti pieces falling from the sky" border="0" data-original-height="2294" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqX0a6BLqpBErcOyRzjdNpFP5gZuXy0it7Z7kFAwqbp7xApWEtT4uT9xIp0eoirP5fCLRd-J4W-DUeyg5DYYRWu-Voqtk-ZHps5S5hABsWmjjTAm8XKOQva6gFcqsangk-c0go8oHmcTdWGy9lGj-Y79udddh3WzeRSPsiJnOh-tXqladG9O-cy5LJ1A/w209-h320/welcome%20to%20your%20life.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>Serena Mills is on the way to her wedding
when she suddenly realises she can't go through with it and asks the taxi
driver to drop her at the Harvester. It's there, eating a large ice cream
sundae and drinking a glass of wine, that she meets her fiance and tells him
it's over. Serena has not been single since meeting her ex in university, so as
she moves to London to live with her friend Lola, she must navigate this big
city and the dating scene. She sets herself a challenge, one date a week for a
year. Can she find love or has she just made the biggest mistake of her life?<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">As much as the romance does play a big part
of this book, it is also a coming of age story, Serena is almost 30 yet hasn't
found her groove in life. Part of this is to do with her weight, which is a big
part of the story, fatphobia and how it can impact your life. As someone who is
plus sized, it is refreshing to have a character who I can relate to but I did
feel at times it was relied on a bit too much. It could also be triggering for
some people but I do think the fact it is written from an own voices experience
does help add authenticity to that element of the story and we do see Serena
work through some of her own internal biases and make progress. We also see
Serena grow in her friendships as well, especially with her workmate Nicole
(even if she does say 'my dude' too many times!)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Romance wise, there is an overall romance
plot which was a bit frustrating at times but I feel like the story had to play
out that way to allow Serena herself to grow and find confidence and
independence. The romance wasn't why I wanted to read the book, it was more to
see Serena grow and change.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">There are a few elements which could be
removed and I think the story wouldn't suffer. </span>Overall it was a fun read. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed
the narrator, I felt like she got the tone spot on for the story. I would be
interested in a sequel to this, as I enjoyed the characters in the book, maybe
focusing on one of the friends as the main character instead could be fun</p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-23881618450247546042022-05-31T14:12:00.001+01:002022-05-31T14:12:00.214+01:00Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_Z7E-FSDqOZdo6oMZeiKOgd2_lEX883sdFk2KEmY1yoFciW77D9aYW4x2c-B1vL_hu0A_8bdGlSGq3vtwuRSxhCib5GD9Bkzq4fmDue8bBJndp7QMq1gL24PqqXMqJH_0jt39q2cLbCI/s2048/transcendent+Kingdom+yaa+gyasi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_Z7E-FSDqOZdo6oMZeiKOgd2_lEX883sdFk2KEmY1yoFciW77D9aYW4x2c-B1vL_hu0A_8bdGlSGq3vtwuRSxhCib5GD9Bkzq4fmDue8bBJndp7QMq1gL24PqqXMqJH_0jt39q2cLbCI/s320/transcendent+Kingdom+yaa+gyasi.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Gifty is a talented and smart scientist,
who studies addiction in mice in California to help fuel her understanding of
the opoid addiction that has hit America (and her family) hard. One day she
gets a call from the church pastor back in Alabama to say her mother is sick
again with her mental health, which happened once before after Gifty's brother
died from his addiction. Gifty brings her mother to live with her and as she
struggles to help her mother get better, we learn through flashbacks what
brought Gifty's parents from Ghana to Alabama and how their family of 4 turned
into a family of 2.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">The book touches upon many different
topics, such as immigrants in America, race, addiction and religion. The
observations were really well done but sometimes it wasn't really explored
deeply. I thought most of the characters were well done, I could imagine them
all and could clearly see Gifty's childhood. And I did feel for her family and
their circumstances. However I felt like in the present, we don't get to see a
lot of Gifty herself, despite being the narrator. She felt closed off, quite
possibly by design given the story and her upbringing. But it felt hard to warm
to her or even know her. The book felt quite clinical at times, which again,
given the way Gifty is and also her work, does make sense. The plot jumps
around a bit, the present timeline is only a week or two, whereas the past goes
from before Gifty's birth to when she first goes away to college. And the
flashbacks are not chronological, which I wasn't a fan of. The books talks
heavily about religion and science, especially the intersection of these and I
did not relate to either topic. Overall I don't think this was the book for me,
I didn't look forward to picking it up and reading, which is usually a bad sign
for me. A lot of care went into this novel though and it is well crafted. So I
can see why people have really liked this book. I think it might resonate more
with someone who has ties to spirituality and faith</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-21895477772560800632022-05-27T13:31:00.000+01:002022-05-27T13:31:00.671+01:00Book Lovers by Emily Henry Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhDusqhQaCSnIWqIqzv0hJumu7QckHns7L1iZxxJJTwECrTSClzD_wMafyxeXBwWLbwqyctEWwUg5wnibwpX3fftxBLLuvv2C_EmAuT1cxKWxD2X-hlHQB7eP6STnC2ChXV8wx5pAPEqeyP9byvmcCM-EyTFu8ANXQ3HMIpgbH0_ZTxHp50TMKqmVaQ/s2339/Book%20Lovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book Lovers by Emily Henry UK Book cover" border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhDusqhQaCSnIWqIqzv0hJumu7QckHns7L1iZxxJJTwECrTSClzD_wMafyxeXBwWLbwqyctEWwUg5wnibwpX3fftxBLLuvv2C_EmAuT1cxKWxD2X-hlHQB7eP6STnC2ChXV8wx5pAPEqeyP9byvmcCM-EyTFu8ANXQ3HMIpgbH0_ZTxHp50TMKqmVaQ/w208-h320/Book%20Lovers.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Nora is a literary agent, who prides
herself on being top of her game and getting the best for her clients, including
her favourite Dusty. Previously she met editor Charlie and the two of them did
not get on, with Charlie slating one of Dusty's books. It didn't help that Nora
had just been dumped and arrived late at the meeting. Now a few years later,
Nora's sister Libby has persuaded her to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina
for month as it is one of her favourite literary settings. Nora's not sure she
can last a month outside her beloved New York City but she would do anything
for Libby. She then keeps bumping into Charlie. Can she survive the month in
this small town with her enemy or will she be running back to the city the
first chance she gets?<p></p><p>I really enjoyed this book! I love that
from the get go, Nora talks about romance tropes and how they always play out,
it was smart and meta and worked for the profession she's in. Nora talks about
how in a typical romance, she's the hard working, cold blooded lover that ends
up alone by the end of the book or film, as the male lead goes to a small town
to shut down the local failing Christmas tree farm/bakery/pumpkin patch but
falls in love with the daughter who's the complete opposite to Nora: friendly,
warm and kind. Libby has a list of these small town cliches for herself and
Nora to complete while in Sunshine Falls (Wear flannel! Ride a horse! Skinny
dip! Go on dates with locals!) which adds to the fun of the book.</p><p>Romance wise, it's an enemies to lovers
story, complete with some small town cliches. I enjoyed the chemistry between
Nora and Charlie and seeing their relationship unfold. I found this book much
more satisfying than Emily Henry's previous book People We Meet on Vacation.
That I found slow moving whereas the pace in this one moves along nicely,
completely with some obstacles thrown in to thwart the path of true love!</p><p>Tropes wise, this hits on many of them,
good and bad. There is some miscommunication, which is my least favourite trope
but it wasn't the worst I've encountered and happens more between Nora and
Libby. These sisters are close but have drifted apart recently, which is part
of the reason why Nora agrees to the trip. The book touches on issues such as
grief, self-sacrifice and the impact this can have on your life and
relationships with others</p><p>I loved reading this, it was so comforting
and I couldn't wait to go back and finish it, despite not wanting it to finish
either. A perfect read holiday romance for summer 2022!</p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-36245006120975817472022-05-25T08:00:00.001+01:002022-05-27T13:33:09.165+01:00The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren Book Review<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi779F2YINq014sfA5mUiXSK70EVcGfEwhcaS3jE6ZiLRhaGDDgGDk8LBQeUVZQGzFpjCQRudsxKyTAaan4XiGu9yTjIyNrC5U0UusS7Oex296VUovOvKsdohr2hldKyDpC87zp6HNH9MBJ/s2048/the+soulmate+equation.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi779F2YINq014sfA5mUiXSK70EVcGfEwhcaS3jE6ZiLRhaGDDgGDk8LBQeUVZQGzFpjCQRudsxKyTAaan4XiGu9yTjIyNrC5U0UusS7Oex296VUovOvKsdohr2hldKyDpC87zp6HNH9MBJ/s320/the+soulmate+equation.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Jess is a single mother, who does her job
as a statistician at local coffee shop Twiggs, alongside her author friend
Fizzy. Every day at the same time, a handsome but rude man comes into the
coffee shop, who the friends have nicknamed Americano due to his order. When
they hear that he is setting up a dating site based on compatibility of DNA,
the pair stop him one day to quiz him about it, which results in him inviting
them along to his workplace. Fizzy, being a romance author, is excited about
this but Jess is more skeptical. After having a particularly bad day and
feeling lonely, Jess decides to do the at home testing kit and send it off.
She's shocked when she gets a result (after setting her compatibility really
high) and is called into the company to discuss this result. Turns out she's
matched with one of the founders of the company, Mr Americano (real name
River) himself! The company is thrilled, wanting the pair to get to know each
other, but Jess is unsure. How is this man, who she finds rude and stand
offish, her genetic soulmate? Regardless, she and River decide to give it a
shot and tentatively get to know each other. <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">The book is a fascinating concept, the idea
what your genes are part of the reason why you get on so well with people. This
books has elements of enemies to lovers as well as fake dating trope. I loved
all of Jess's friends and family: her 7 year old daughter Juno, her friend
Fizzy, her grandparents who helped raise her due to her absent mother. I didn't
know Jess was a single mother when I started the book, so I was a bit
apprehensive about whether I would enjoy that part of the storyline but I did
like it, it added another dimension to the story.As with most romance stories,
towards the end there is an element that threatens the stability of the
relationship and I was so pleased that it wasn't too forced or drawn out. find too often that romance books depend on miscommunication as part of the
tension and it can be really frustrating. Whereas in this book it wasn't too
laboured. I thought the book was charming and cute, I liked Jess and
River together and once I got into the book I flew through it in less than 24
hours!</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-79292717859644299142022-05-23T08:00:00.001+01:002022-05-27T13:32:14.816+01:00Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMHwOxjRLEVEHjA1vnElm9HvdWTlA9GwwUhT7OD_AsPojhz8IPoWA8y65g9eAKGZz6TkSTH11SyGHhodhSy1dIH5K5MKBUwgdgv3azutWNeUiAtL3vqkPJpWFbFR_SxVwO45j2Hb-hGaQksOXcxK54Bz6yzj_M4YJfMRE_rkGyNLb49etzZZmnO545w/s564/sea%20of%20tranquility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel UK Book Cover" border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMHwOxjRLEVEHjA1vnElm9HvdWTlA9GwwUhT7OD_AsPojhz8IPoWA8y65g9eAKGZz6TkSTH11SyGHhodhSy1dIH5K5MKBUwgdgv3azutWNeUiAtL3vqkPJpWFbFR_SxVwO45j2Hb-hGaQksOXcxK54Bz6yzj_M4YJfMRE_rkGyNLb49etzZZmnO545w/w199-h320/sea%20of%20tranquility.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>My mind is blown after reading this!<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sea of Tranquility spans centuries,
starting in Canada in 1912 with British exile Edwin, 2020 with Mirella wanting
to connect with her old friend Vincent, 2203 where author Olive is doing a book
tour on Earth on the brink of a deadly pandemic and 2401 on the moon colonies.
These timelines have certain strange things in common: violins, a forest, an
airship station. As the book develops, we discover how these events are
possibly linked, unravelling and reconnecting the strands</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If this is the first Emily St. John Mandel
book you are considering picking up, I would hold off! Read <i><a href="http://rare-opal.blogspot.com/2014/12/station-eleven-by-emily-st-john-mandel.html">Station Eleven</a></i>
first and then <i>The Glass Hotel</i>. You could in theory read Sea of Tranquility on
it's own, but I really think the links between the first two books and Sea of Tranquility really add to the reading experience of Sea of Tranquility. Mandel often has characters and
events crop up in her other books, sometimes as massive parts of the book,
sometimes in reference. And part of the reason I enjoyed this one so much was
because of that. But it's not the only reason!</p><p class="MsoNormal">The prose is exquisite, the way ESJM writes
is stunning. In the opening chapters, Edwin has travelled from England to
Canada and winds up in Victoria, where there is a big ex-pat community <i>'The
trouble with Victoria, in Edwin's eyes, is that it's too much like England
without actually being England. It's a far-distant simulation of England, a
watercolour superimposed unconvincingly on the landscape'.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Olive's chapters
were particularly resonating, with ESJM stating that it was auto-fiction: a
dystopian sci-fi author, who wrote a best selling book about a pandemic finds
themselves on the brink of a pandemic in real life. Reading those chapters
struck a fear in me, a return to March 2020 which at times seems so much longer
than 2 years ago. I have no doubt that some of those paragraphs will haunt me
the way certain parts of<i><a href="http://rare-opal.blogspot.com/2014/12/station-eleven-by-emily-st-john-mandel.html"> Station Eleven </a></i>(which I read in 2015) still haunts me
to this day.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It's not just the prose I loved, but also
the plot. The book is definitely sci-fi (if the colonies on the Moon didn't
give that away!), but it's pretty accessible if you shy away from hard sci-fi.
Some parts will melt your brain a bit, even writing this review I'm thinking of
points and being blown away by it all again! By the end of the book, I was
literally gasping out loud as things tied together. A thought provoking,
beautifully written novel, I cannot wait to see what Emily St. John Mandel will
do next!</p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-47209167863940942602021-10-01T07:00:00.001+01:002021-10-01T07:00:00.293+01:00Crying in H Mart by Michell Zauner Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw31ExbOrN9JqyfcbIi-PKsR5NpzO8XIQv6lRrELjkVzPNABMgXQ7rypNzuDmlhyxQ_RZon1r2WxzXV915zkAfnNR1MpiercS0fKx7iEE3fdVC3VwK64uX2v5w0TLk444EkDWiHVBoMlz4/s500/crying+in+h+mart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw31ExbOrN9JqyfcbIi-PKsR5NpzO8XIQv6lRrELjkVzPNABMgXQ7rypNzuDmlhyxQ_RZon1r2WxzXV915zkAfnNR1MpiercS0fKx7iEE3fdVC3VwK64uX2v5w0TLk444EkDWiHVBoMlz4/s320/crying+in+h+mart.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Crying in H Mart has received a lot of
attention and hype online and there's a good reason for this. In
Michelle Zauner's memoir, she tells us what it was like growing up as the only
Asian American in her school, her often strained relationship with her mother
(which was more relaxed the summers they spent in Seoul at Michelle's
grandmother's house) and life since her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer when Michelle was 25 years old.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE"><o:p> </o:p></span>Zauner is unflinching at times when
discussing her mother's illness and the devastating effects on her family, the
book is so raw and brutally honest. It shows the difficulties of being a carer
for someone who is sick and the states you nurse them through. There is also
tenderness and love, as well as humour to lift the mood at times. The title of
the book stems from the H Mart shops in America, a brand of Korean
supermarkets. Zauner speaks a lot about Korean food, the role it played in her
life growing up and as an adult, to her mother's relationship to it during her
illness, as well as how Zauner has used it after her mother died as a way to
help process her grief, stay connected to that side of her culture and find
comfort. A tough read at times but an interesting one</p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-64650717054023741182021-09-28T07:00:00.001+01:002021-09-28T07:00:00.191+01:00You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry Book Review<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eHPlaNsoR2dCDzqqKPJC-lDryn37QWMoyKGzfXKlEAxSgd6cqSMRwMugD1aoZPOFTGSRXVpOeTr9lnEBVVTyNm78QvN5uLbfx8itDU4_U0N93ZpR0FBMuf-_RMKFi9paRj0j8p7ZyraX/s2048/you+and+me+on+vacation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry book cover, which features bright vector art of a woman on a unicorn float in a pool with a man sitting on the side of the pool with his feet in the water. The background has mountains and palm trees" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eHPlaNsoR2dCDzqqKPJC-lDryn37QWMoyKGzfXKlEAxSgd6cqSMRwMugD1aoZPOFTGSRXVpOeTr9lnEBVVTyNm78QvN5uLbfx8itDU4_U0N93ZpR0FBMuf-_RMKFi9paRj0j8p7ZyraX/w203-h320/you+and+me+on+vacation.jpg" title="You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry" width="203" /></a></div>Poppy and Alex have been best friends ever
since college. Despite being polar opposites of each other (Poppy is free
spirited, loves adventure and travels for a living. Alex is more stable, has a
job as a teacher and knows he wants to settle down in life), the two really get
each other and are probably the most relaxed and honest versions of themselves
when they are together. Every year they've gone on some epic summer trip,
except they haven't spoken in 2 years after falling out. When Poppy gets a
chance to plan another trip for them to Palm Springs, she's hoping it's just
what they need to heal their friendship. Or maybe she should just start being
honest that her feelings for Alex are more than just friendship?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">This is a cute opposites attract,
friends-to-lovers story. I liked seeing their friendship evolves over time and
adapt to their new lives and new partners. We get the present storyline of them
in Palm Springs where the first days are a holiday and the last few days are
dedicated to the wedding of Alex's brother. We also get flashbacks from when
they met and each holiday they had over the years. The flashbacks are what make
this a fun summer read, as you get to explore these new locations with the
Poppy and Alex and as there's not a lot of travelling being done at the moment, it's
pure escapism. Vancouver Island, New Orleans, Nashville, Italy, San Francisco
to name a few of the locations. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">I was rooting for Poppy and Alex throughout
the novel, it's hard not to. But I did find the book to be a bit slow moving at
times. Part of the reason for this is the number of flashbacks. They met 11
years ago and we see a snippet from nearly all of those summers. While it's
interesting to see their friendship and see how their feelings over the years
change, to actually reach the point of them acting on this happens after we're
at 2/3s off the way through the book. Which is a bit late for me, as there's
not a lot of time to see them enjoy this realisation. I think if you don't mind
a longer build up, you may enjoy this book more than I did. Overall I did like
the book, it was a fun summer read, it's perfect to read lying in the sun!</span></div>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-73781908552570531992021-09-24T07:00:00.001+01:002021-09-27T18:52:12.227+01:00The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman Book Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHyYJsDeOb1k5asK3ws2mu2kq85bgkIOvTmmVQM1D2zv3JUULV4okZyMYN0T3ASvjL9Lxvy6YsN2jK256aDnTygHeiCrvFDwHSsJvvSWYmmgnNfzhG0paH2YNNo6_TotEvKnxLfPx2nQb/s499/the+man+who+died+twice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHyYJsDeOb1k5asK3ws2mu2kq85bgkIOvTmmVQM1D2zv3JUULV4okZyMYN0T3ASvjL9Lxvy6YsN2jK256aDnTygHeiCrvFDwHSsJvvSWYmmgnNfzhG0paH2YNNo6_TotEvKnxLfPx2nQb/s320/the+man+who+died+twice.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>The follow up to the hugely successful The
Thursday Murder Club, we return to Cooper's Close and the 4 main characters
again: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. When Elizabeth receives a letter from
a dead man, inviting her to meet him, she's intrigued by this mystery and goes
to visit him. What follows is a tale of stolen diamonds, the mafia and death
threats. This man asks Elizabeth to help him and due to their long and
complicated history, she agrees. However, as dead bodies start to pile up, are
the 4 in over their head?<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">I enjoyed coming back to 4 friends, they're
very different but you can tell they all really care for each other despite
these differences, something that is really shown in a subplot with Ibrahim.
The story is a bit outlandish but I don't mind this, you can suspend
believability and just go along for the ride. Especially because Elizabeth is a
such a fun, interesting character (anyone else see Helen Mirren playing her in
a screen adaptation?!). There's a few twists and turns in the story to keep
things interesting. I do think it's a bit crowded at times character wise, with
the 4 main characters and then giving us personal stories for Donna and Chris
(two local police officers who are friends with the Thursday Murder Club). I
find these storylines with Donna and Chris (Donna a lonely almost 30 year old
female police officer and Chris, midlife overweight, unmotivated police
officer) a bit cliched as well. I'm also not a huge fan of the chapters that
are written like Joyce's diary, they change the flow of things. If you were a
fan of the first book, then I think you'll like this one as well. A cosy
mystery, like a modern day Agatha Christie</span></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-35035340070817594912021-07-13T10:00:00.000+01:002021-07-13T10:00:00.248+01:00The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwyhGXO-d15rICVmGwXFQiycAgL7rNM11KWAXDiH6mTZ8XDlXyC7Am7qvUNwjyYYsrBY-QbcR-7dzLVS-GV16cJVxGfnC3Rr5wibkxZI9ex2_QwvzWEF7UXw72aof-RZVxFy_6CFJ-DQC/s500/The+Road+Trip.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover for The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwyhGXO-d15rICVmGwXFQiycAgL7rNM11KWAXDiH6mTZ8XDlXyC7Am7qvUNwjyYYsrBY-QbcR-7dzLVS-GV16cJVxGfnC3Rr5wibkxZI9ex2_QwvzWEF7UXw72aof-RZVxFy_6CFJ-DQC/w205-h320/The+Road+Trip.jpg" title="The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary" width="205" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Addie and her sister Deb have just set off
early in the morning, for the long trek to the Scottish countryside for their
friend Cherry's wedding. They expect it'll be a fun road trip, (even if they
are giving a lift to stranger Rodney who is also going to the wedding) with
plenty of time to get to the day before the wedding BBQ. However the plans
changes when early into the trip, there is a fender bender with another car.
Unfortunately, the two people in the other car are Addie's ex Dylan and his
obnoxious best friend Marcus! Both of who she hasn't seen since her relationship
ended and who are also going to the wedding. With Marcus and Dylan's car now
out of action, they squeeze into Deb's Mini Cooper so they can all reach the
wedding on time. But this road trip turns out to be anything but easy!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">The plot has two parts: the current
timeline of the gang trying to make it to Scotland on time as well as the
flashback timeline which starts at Addie and Dylan meeting and works it way up
to their breakup. Addie and Deb were working as housekeepers in Cherry's
family's French villa, which was being rented out to wealthy families. Dylan
ends up staying there and this is where he and Addie start their relationship.
This setting, as well as the road trip plotline, makes for a fun summer book.
Living in the French countryside and being on a road trip are two very summery
things in my mind, so I really enjoyed reading this book, outside in the sun. I
liked the road trip element a lot, there's lots of things that go wrong, I also
like the tension of two exes being forced to share this small space and reflect
on their relationship. Rodney, being a bit of an odd character and also a
stranger to the others, adds an element of comedy and bizarreness. I found the
flashback plot a lot slower at times, it's obviously needed to show why the
couple broke up but it slowed down the road trip plot, which I felt more
invested in. Overall I liked the characters though Marcus confused me a bit at
times, how nasty he is to Addie felt almost unwarranted. I felt like compared
to The Flatshare and The Switch, this book didn't have as much charm and feel
good energy. I do think that if you liked Beth O'Leary's other books, then
you'll enjoy this one as well though, the road trip portion is super fun</span></p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this ebook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to post a review on here and all thoughts are my own</span><p></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-10820109078287948372021-07-12T14:23:00.000+01:002021-07-12T14:23:33.221+01:00About Us by Sinéad Moriarty Book Review<h1 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutc3tAvqOsUPbp-kJQ5X7u7JqKoKe_2nE6wU3vtHNEEY1_nRrndYxVZTo4cntchgshe5yFn-wavMjHrZDUWDw0xkeh8bY5asS6zhxYOkYvYO-s8HNTs1uw-PKJAMix6N5zoQiO3sk1zUY/s1440/AD5BFB2F-5795-4B42-9380-0A0F03797F80.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 32px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Copy of About Us by Sinead Moriarty is standing upright on a wooden table on the left side of the photo with some yellow and pink flowers in an old glass milk bottle on the right" border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutc3tAvqOsUPbp-kJQ5X7u7JqKoKe_2nE6wU3vtHNEEY1_nRrndYxVZTo4cntchgshe5yFn-wavMjHrZDUWDw0xkeh8bY5asS6zhxYOkYvYO-s8HNTs1uw-PKJAMix6N5zoQiO3sk1zUY/w320-h320/AD5BFB2F-5795-4B42-9380-0A0F03797F80.jpeg" title="About Us by Sinead Moriarty" width="320" /></a></h1><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">'Three Couples. Three Love stories. One
Couch'</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">Today is my day for the About Us by Sinéad
Moriarty bookstagram tour. I was very kindly sent a copy by Penguin Books
Ireland and decided to share my review on here as well as on <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8094439846886844538/1082010907828794837">Instagram</a>.</span></div><span lang="EN-IE">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
About Us follows 3 different couples:</span></div><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">•Ann and Ken are in their 60s and Ann is
feeling lost now that all her kids are grown up</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
•Alice is struggling as a stay at home mother to 4 kids while her husband Niall
is resentful that she no longer has the time or energy for him</span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
•Orla is a young teacher in her 20s who is falling hard for one of her pupil’s
dad but she is unsure if her past relationship fails means she is unable to be
intimate</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">They each end up on the couch of Maggie, a
sex and relationship therapist. Can each couple work through their problems and
discover what’s best for them as individuals too?</span></div><span lang="EN-IE">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
This book sucked me in, I devoured it in a day or two! I was completely wrapped
up in all the stories. Each couple is at a different stage in their lives, all
with different relatable sex and relationship problems. It felt balanced, every
character has flaws. Mostly told from the women’s point of view (it changed
every chapter), we sometimes see it from the men’s point of view too which
helped ensure it wasn’t all one sided</span></div><span lang="EN-IE">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
I liked how with one couple it was the woman who suggested the therapy but with
another couple it was the man, it gave a sense of balance and realism. The
progress the characters make in therapy isn’t linear, they hit bumps in the
road which is realistic to real life therapy. You can tell it was well
researched by the author</span></div><span lang="EN-IE">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
Throughout the story, one of the main feelings is hope. You’ll be rooting for
the characters to do what’s best for them and find their happiness! The lives
of all the characters also slightly overlap outside the therapist’s office
which is sometimes I love in novels. For example Orla lives with Ann’s daughter and while they don’t have many scenes together, the scenes they do have are
sweet</span></div><span lang="EN-IE">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE">
If you like stories about the complexities of relationships, this is the
perfect read to immerse yourself into this summer!</span></div><span lang="EN-IE">
<br />
Release date 15th July</span><p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This book was sent to me by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/penguinbooksireland/">Penguin Books Ireland </a>for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own</i></span></div></div>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-4556743923404079862021-07-08T09:00:00.001+01:002021-07-08T09:00:00.253+01:00The Authenticity Project by Claire Pooley Review<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH0PhnBMaZ6UaZ3WyPl1gWEdsuiGmVuiZIWCJSbYjTwEognWOvj6qEcWFMy0QhxSE0BXVNzC7GLCOybBO8OxJ-MiZUy6Z4ngNcJemqOWxShTB6OrUu4F3uXlf9Z7B5hubodxsgHkAsadN/s2048/The+Authenticity+Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH0PhnBMaZ6UaZ3WyPl1gWEdsuiGmVuiZIWCJSbYjTwEognWOvj6qEcWFMy0QhxSE0BXVNzC7GLCOybBO8OxJ-MiZUy6Z4ngNcJemqOWxShTB6OrUu4F3uXlf9Z7B5hubodxsgHkAsadN/s320/The+Authenticity+Project.jpg" /></a></div>Do you like books where people are
connected, sometimes without even knowing they are, and how they all impact
each other lives? Then this might be the book for you!<br />
<br />
Julian Jessop is an eccentric artist in his 70s who is lonely. He writes his
story in a green notebook, being open and honest about his life and leaves it
in his local cafe. The owner Monica finds the book and is so touched by his
story that she decides to reach out to help him. She’s so inspired that she too
writes in the notebook and leaves it on a stranger’s table. From there, the
book has 6 people who write in it, who all cross each other’s lives and
eventually meet in different ways.<br />
<br />
It’s a cute uplifting novel, a feel good summery read. I read it very quickly
as I was enjoying it so much. The characters are not perfect, they have their
flaws and we get to hear what they’re thinking as it rotates the POV for each
chapter. It is slightly cheesy and predictable at times but it’s still charming
and overall I enjoyed it<p></p><p><br /></p><br />Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-45984291805558639552021-07-06T09:30:00.001+01:002021-07-06T09:30:00.218+01:00Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr08cdu1JLiWplnmmh_JPVPRotraj7P7AAH8OnCogYCDYiOvNP4QMRWpdfh4iZrw-tl1nPfXc710zW8ZSfun5Nr9aU0TifhEDPwandVPTP4itBop8kVOhCp73yXvEAUCAigiid_FUU40c/s273/Yolk.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi" border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr08cdu1JLiWplnmmh_JPVPRotraj7P7AAH8OnCogYCDYiOvNP4QMRWpdfh4iZrw-tl1nPfXc710zW8ZSfun5Nr9aU0TifhEDPwandVPTP4itBop8kVOhCp73yXvEAUCAigiid_FUU40c/s16000/Yolk.png" title="Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi packs a punch. Jayne
is in college and barely keeping it together, stuck living with a freeloader
who isn’t her boyfriend, her only friends are those she parties with and she
has an eating disorder she’s in denial about. Despite all this, she’s happy
she’s in New York City, at least it’s not Texas. Her successful sister June is
also in the city, but the two sisters have been estranged and haven’t spoken in
years. Suddenly June contacts Jayne to tell her that she’s sick with uterine cancer.
Their lives are slammed back together with this news, which isn’t always easy
sailing. But will the sisters be able to help each other through their
illnesses?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Jayne is a hot mess, for a number of
different reasons, yet I still found her compelling. Sometimes when characters
are written like this, as unpredictable and unreliable, it can be over the top.
But it felt authentic with Jayne, as more of the story goes on, you can
understand how someone would spiral like this. The book is so raw at times, painfully
so. The portrayal of an eating disorder is brutally honest and could be
potentially triggering to some people</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Family is at the centre of this book, the
ways they support and hurt you, sometimes at the same time. Jayne and June have
a tumultuous relationship, which at the core has a lot of love. I enjoyed
seeing the sisters reconnect and seeing Jayne rebuild other relationships
(including the one with herself). This is being marketed as a YA book but I
would say it’s more New Adult. Jayne is in college, I would say she’s 19-20. I
think teens could read it, but this book covers a lot topics like racism,
eating disorders, sexual assault, cancer with raw honesty and anguish</span></p><br /><p></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-77043239527071745312021-07-01T10:00:00.001+01:002021-07-01T10:00:00.214+01:00The Killing Kind by Jane Casey Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ukEZOOhJqMDP31SYCcioKiDA5Fp6-ZNo1n8Lyi1IS5KpFYydFt2mHYgg5njcm2LsbwoV4tlDV9eCsNE5Ufih5U7RzFBDL1F9gB9z1aqIrw9E61WCSgvNP1BeR1Qj6bJbjx3kIb1jc5-A/s346/the+killing+kind.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Killing Kind by Jane Casey" border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ukEZOOhJqMDP31SYCcioKiDA5Fp6-ZNo1n8Lyi1IS5KpFYydFt2mHYgg5njcm2LsbwoV4tlDV9eCsNE5Ufih5U7RzFBDL1F9gB9z1aqIrw9E61WCSgvNP1BeR1Qj6bJbjx3kIb1jc5-A/w208-h320/the+killing+kind.jpg" title="The Killing Kind by Jane Casey" width="208" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">Ingrid is a barrister in London, who's life
has turned upside down after defending John Webster in a stalking case. Since
he was acquitted, he has turned his attention on her, making her life hell.
When her restraining order runs out, Ingrid thinks John is back, especially
when a fellow barrister ends up under a lorry. Everyone thinks it was an
accident but Ingrid is convinced the victim was pushed. And that she was the
intended target.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">This book had me gripped from the
beginning! It really hooked my attention and reeled me in. The story was
intriguing, finding out the backstory of Ingrid defending John Webster and the
immediate aftermath of the trial. As the current storyline unwinds, the sense
of fear and paranoia Ingrid feels is so palpable. You have no idea who to trust
or how much is Ingrid's imagination running wild. Especially when Ingrid
interacts with John Webster. There's plenty of twists and turns to keep you
interested as everything ramps up. One storyline seems a bit rushed at the end,
but it didn't take away from the overall storyline. Fans of Casey's Maeve Kerrigan
series will enjoy this stand alone novel. It's a multilayered, well paced
thriller that I read in under 24 hours as I didn't want to put it down!</span></p><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this ebook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to post a review on here and all thoughts are my own</span><p></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-49926370185103225112021-06-29T09:00:00.004+01:002021-07-06T13:24:46.439+01:00Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2021<p> I've seen Aoife over at <a href="https://prettypurplepolkadots.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><i>Pretty Purple Polka Dots</i></a> regularly do a Top Ten Tuesday, which is run by <a href="https://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank"><i>That Artsy Reader Girl</i></a>, so I've decided to join in! Partially because I love a good list but also because today's list is Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2021 and I used to always do my most anticipated reads so I thought it would be a good way to ease back into posts like that.</p><p><b>Animal Vegetable Criminal by Mary Roach</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN14-Vwzhbn5U7Cc7ksNLPG-BHfIb-IymoBags6G0k_PUpyyaN5gk5dMXqdxJ7QvP0ucocnssET-n8BdxBcaivbTyGAIz7W6EIV5JFNrmFsGmefslm18jzu5gL7FaSjW723g4W4mOfZGQF/s500/Animal+Vegetable+Criminal.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Animal Vegetable Criminal by Mary Roach" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="312" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN14-Vwzhbn5U7Cc7ksNLPG-BHfIb-IymoBags6G0k_PUpyyaN5gk5dMXqdxJ7QvP0ucocnssET-n8BdxBcaivbTyGAIz7W6EIV5JFNrmFsGmefslm18jzu5gL7FaSjW723g4W4mOfZGQF/w125-h200/Animal+Vegetable+Criminal.jpg" title="Animal Vegetable Criminal by Mary Roach" width="125" /></a></div>This is probably my most anticipated read of the year! I love Mary Roach's books, she takes a specific topic (past ones include death, living in space and sex to name a few) and looks at them from a scientific point of view. They're always super interesting and I'm sure this one will be no different. This will explore the science of nature vs humans conflict, which mostly when there's problematic wildlife, humans are the blame. The book is being released in the US under the title<i> Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law</i> on 14th September by W.W. Norton and Company<div><br /></div><div>UK release 14th October by Oneworld Publications</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGpFzA3ZblqeL4eczYxhjzz-zutCZVZ7KOhCJ30vn-kjCx6vKs78CovnDPJ-u9NdpJGaS0eSb2CxYNwaCYTsHvGKYDcWWhAWjZ7tQf3QY3zk4ajFPru2aw9ejRC6Kq5dyA3tn83VTqsIM/s309/sister+sista.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite" border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGpFzA3ZblqeL4eczYxhjzz-zutCZVZ7KOhCJ30vn-kjCx6vKs78CovnDPJ-u9NdpJGaS0eSb2CxYNwaCYTsHvGKYDcWWhAWjZ7tQf3QY3zk4ajFPru2aw9ejRC6Kq5dyA3tn83VTqsIM/w129-h200/sister+sista.png" title="Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite" width="129" /></a></div><i>I Am Not Your Baby Mother</i> by Candice Brathwaite was one of my favourite releases last year. Part memoir, part manifesto, the book is Candice's account of being a Black mother in the UK, covering topics from her own childhood, as well as her pregnancy and the complexity of raising her children. <i>Sista Sister</i> is her new book of essays on a range of topics, all centring around what Candice wishes someone had spoken to her about when she was younger. I listened to <i>I Am Not Your Baby Mother</i> last year and loved Candice's narration so I've preordered this as an audiobook as well<div><br /></div><div>Release 8th July by Quercus</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLI-UbPxL36DstHpLApoFHmy0xjhLMuvn_U4vd1meZ50It6Nbelx9Efb54qKSUkRXrBDxFQqJwts1nTP8_OvSnMUFJkDotK_qnn_OeQpY1JEtgwKxtThZ6GEPPmqpFqHPoA47b7DPXxPq/s346/On+a+night+like+this.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk" border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="238" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLI-UbPxL36DstHpLApoFHmy0xjhLMuvn_U4vd1meZ50It6Nbelx9Efb54qKSUkRXrBDxFQqJwts1nTP8_OvSnMUFJkDotK_qnn_OeQpY1JEtgwKxtThZ6GEPPmqpFqHPoA47b7DPXxPq/w138-h200/On+a+night+like+this.jpg" title="On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk" width="138" /></a></div><i>On a Night Like This</i> is Lindsey Kelk's upcoming book and I am a BIG fan of Lindsey's work! It's a story of two people from wildly different worlds: Evan belongs to the glitzy world of the rich and Fran is the assistant to those in the rich, glitzy world. However Evan whisks Fran away to Crystal Ball event. Can one magical night change everything or will they go back to their own separate worlds after the night is over? It's being marketed as a feel-good Christmas rom-com which I love! And surely by now you must have that Kylie Minogue song stuck in your head since seeing the title?! <div><br /></div><div>Release 11th November HarperCollins</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tR8le5stVGRyOaQUskPw1UC136wAcZe7Mf9_xnN1Z8XxHmdXKUU6tWrlwkzwYsNgeQJX-H89JgCxhkwglk2wrIP-uwvPDSvWExvvWrkMw6ise76kE_GUXP7bi_VheCH0qgxe91nSipmM/s499/the+lights+of+sugarberry+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cover of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="326" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tR8le5stVGRyOaQUskPw1UC136wAcZe7Mf9_xnN1Z8XxHmdXKUU6tWrlwkzwYsNgeQJX-H89JgCxhkwglk2wrIP-uwvPDSvWExvvWrkMw6ise76kE_GUXP7bi_VheCH0qgxe91nSipmM/w131-h200/the+lights+of+sugarberry+cover.jpg" title="The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber" width="131" /></a></div>Heather Webber writes charming, magical realism stories set in the American South which are perfect autumnal reads. Two estranged sisters must come together to help run their mother's inn during Sugarberry's famous water lantern festival. I enjoyed <i>Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe </i>and <i>South of the Buttonwood Tree</i> by the same author and will be cosy read<div><br /></div><div>Release 30th August St. Martin's Press</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_jpUX2NLn_0rVC7EE1QduH8hhVl-fkibd7H5thhZ1q77JCJkpFuJyuWOzNVttaiDIT3ebT9X0FSzykmOvpT-cZtgAOTR6etiJrgRc5CJDtLWKWsCEfm0qhxeKV57GEp5VO9ejpDFNAcs/s500/the+book+of+magic+alice+hoffman.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_jpUX2NLn_0rVC7EE1QduH8hhVl-fkibd7H5thhZ1q77JCJkpFuJyuWOzNVttaiDIT3ebT9X0FSzykmOvpT-cZtgAOTR6etiJrgRc5CJDtLWKWsCEfm0qhxeKV57GEp5VO9ejpDFNAcs/w129-h200/the+book+of+magic+alice+hoffman.jpg" title="The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman" width="129" /></a></div><i>Practical Magic</i>, book one in the series, follows Gillian and Sally, Owens sisters who lives with a family curse. <i>The Rules of Magic</i> follows Franny and Jet, the aunts who we first meet in <i>Practical Magic</i>. <i>Magic Lessons</i> is about Maria Owens in the 1600, the origin of the family curse. This final book in the series follows events after Practical Magic, with three generations trying to break the family curse. I've loved reading this series so I was excited to see there is another book out, especially as we get to revisit the original characters from the first book. The book is out 5th October by Simon Schuster.<div><br /></div><div>UK Release 6th January by Scribner UK</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Precious Catastrophe by Deirdre Sullivan</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuU2abRzFlQIlkcDyYDJl2_2al8VfqcRiu5YSwEwVFzRLgu9Ar87gCySP8hpBWvViw1HxwsnT2ofg4T3aBqNgGUeX5-pYjpuJWvREsMJP8geYrrgT7OHNz5S-6KVfhuUUjRjZcy7kMl7o/s499/precious+catastrophe.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Precious Catastrophe by Deirdre Sullivan" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuU2abRzFlQIlkcDyYDJl2_2al8VfqcRiu5YSwEwVFzRLgu9Ar87gCySP8hpBWvViw1HxwsnT2ofg4T3aBqNgGUeX5-pYjpuJWvREsMJP8geYrrgT7OHNz5S-6KVfhuUUjRjZcy7kMl7o/w131-h200/precious+catastrophe.jpg" title="Precious Catastrophe by Deirdre Sullivan" width="131" /></a></div>This is the follow up to YA novel <i>Perfectly Preventable Deaths</i>, with twin sisters Madeline and Caitlin living in the weird and creepy Ballyfran. The first book was so atmospheric and eerie and I'm sure this one will be no different! I read the first one in autumn and look forward to reading it again at the same time of year. I love a witchy book for autumn, if the previous 2 books didn't make it clear! <div><br /></div><div>Release 30th September Hot Key Books</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35a0fExSCoVp2ScSnzdK60EDSbCM_tJ1n7UpeQytR7pt7oL854wEnzNa4Hyczo0uiKe-3AIgugdVXWpZ0DN7yblyw7GhdMmZf-XaXYdRQUxiAQUReQ0KmuE-kxYWbKcw0TPTQF7VJy8OO/s499/cook+as+you+are+ruby+tandoh.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Cook as You Are by Ruby Tandoh" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35a0fExSCoVp2ScSnzdK60EDSbCM_tJ1n7UpeQytR7pt7oL854wEnzNa4Hyczo0uiKe-3AIgugdVXWpZ0DN7yblyw7GhdMmZf-XaXYdRQUxiAQUReQ0KmuE-kxYWbKcw0TPTQF7VJy8OO/w131-h200/cook+as+you+are+ruby+tandoh.jpg" title="Cook as You Are by Ruby Tandoh" width="131" /></a></div>I'm a huge, huge fan of <i>Eat Up!</i> by Ruby Tandoh, which is packed full of essays and small thought pieces about food from different points of view; from the purely pleasurable to the political, food and body weight and stories from Ruby's life. Ruby has a no snobbishness allowed approach to food, which is so refreshing from someone who writes recipes. This cookbook is to appeal to people from all walks of life, to be accessible and inclusive.<div><br /></div><div>Release 7th October by Serpent's Tail</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1os5GqFPIBbg11TgGnAHvak9DiG7ECVGFDBOJXDJo-ZPSM-IZwkP_bpiy6B-MuXjJQt169KcIJcPX6_yjBf9DxyfbEcIzbhMgmb-bfqQK8neATjMJXgcGckuG354aDmxgbRqwM_H6nzU/s499/a+psalm+for+the+wild+built.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1os5GqFPIBbg11TgGnAHvak9DiG7ECVGFDBOJXDJo-ZPSM-IZwkP_bpiy6B-MuXjJQt169KcIJcPX6_yjBf9DxyfbEcIzbhMgmb-bfqQK8neATjMJXgcGckuG354aDmxgbRqwM_H6nzU/w126-h200/a+psalm+for+the+wild+built.jpg" title="A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers" width="126" /></a></div>A new series from Becky Chambers, who wrote the <i>Wayfarers</i> series, a gentle inclusive sci-fi series about life in outer space for various different alien species. This series is called the <i>Monk and Robot</i> series and that's all I pretty much need to know about it! I'm sure it'll be just as comforting and lovely to read as her other books.<div><br /></div><div>Release 23rd August St. Martin's Press</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Anyway the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-x_4JHoWHca0-Ew7DJ5o_1WZprkDFZa12W_xKQWKC_6ZLVc2rX09fVOORqpIqPH5XB7abdwFdJZCNu4PswzvtB5kDqHcQ9QumjanTjuUA5kI5H9sbrWOkVutxXmQ1P0c6IoFzK-P7SGe/s500/any+way+the+wind+blows.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-x_4JHoWHca0-Ew7DJ5o_1WZprkDFZa12W_xKQWKC_6ZLVc2rX09fVOORqpIqPH5XB7abdwFdJZCNu4PswzvtB5kDqHcQ9QumjanTjuUA5kI5H9sbrWOkVutxXmQ1P0c6IoFzK-P7SGe/w131-h200/any+way+the+wind+blows.jpg" title="Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell" width="131" /></a></div>The 3rd and final book in Rainbow Rowell's Simon Snow series. While I liked the other two books, I didn't love them but I am intrigued to see how the series end. Simon Snow is the series that features in <i>Fan Girl</i>, which is not so loosely based on Harry Potter. It's a fun, fantasy YA series and I'll probably pick it up if I'm looking for some fast paced fantasy.<div><br /></div><div>Release 6th July Macmillian Children's Books</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRbhkbiApdZ8suIk4bdRAIgrlqZUDAcpHNoavKn5pH1ciHdB95WfuKCOsULad7JmoDRvFnC2K5UkQzki3P-zFMvIn4tBuCCGm5S8DRNtKTp-jjqsimZyacnHNsLTHfbcwrwtUOCCytze_/s499/the+man+who+died+twice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="325" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRbhkbiApdZ8suIk4bdRAIgrlqZUDAcpHNoavKn5pH1ciHdB95WfuKCOsULad7JmoDRvFnC2K5UkQzki3P-zFMvIn4tBuCCGm5S8DRNtKTp-jjqsimZyacnHNsLTHfbcwrwtUOCCytze_/w130-h200/the+man+who+died+twice.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div>I had downloaded this image to include in the post originally but then afterwards noticed I forgot to add it. Oops! <i>The Man Who Died Twice</i> is the follow up to the wildly successful <i>The Thursday Murder Club</i>, a series about a group of friends in their 70s who live in a retirement village and like to solve crimes. I have no doubt this one will be as big as the first one. </div><div><br /></div><div>Release 16th September Penguin Books</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure in a few month's time there will be other books announced, usually some are announced for release in October for the Christmas market. The new Aisling book by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen is due out later this year too which I can't wait to read!</div><div><br /></div><div>What books are you looking forward over the next 6 months? Drop a line below or let me know over on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rareopalreads/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>! </div>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-50771398781605710462021-06-24T09:00:00.004+01:002021-06-24T09:00:00.252+01:00Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8gnDnRXO25RrknPStazT843KSZTL-PIJUsW7e_I8Fo-WVRRwHQB7-IXdMTDhSrlayq8IJCnuMTSf7rPDJrAClcNvT16POz_6AANskPcZL_afxG-SIuHM5vGMwCx9yLTHPFNy3CnlbKMP/s625/Malibu+Rising.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover for Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid" border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8gnDnRXO25RrknPStazT843KSZTL-PIJUsW7e_I8Fo-WVRRwHQB7-IXdMTDhSrlayq8IJCnuMTSf7rPDJrAClcNvT16POz_6AANskPcZL_afxG-SIuHM5vGMwCx9yLTHPFNy3CnlbKMP/w198-h320/Malibu+Rising.jpeg" title="Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid" width="198" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">For years the Riva siblings have hosted a
big summer blow out party in Malibu, which has only gotten bigger the more
their fame has risen. Nina (surfer and supermodel), Jay (championship surfer),
Hud (renowned photographer who's helped boost Jay's career) and Kit (the
youngest, still trying to find her place in the world) are the estranged
children of Mick Riva, legendary musician. This year's Riva party is going to
be the biggest one yet, everyone is vying to go but with secrets simmering
under the surface for each sibling, this party may blow up in more than one way</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">The story has two timelines: we have the
current timeline of 1983 which is set over 24 hours and is broken down into
chapters of one hour, as well as the past of how Mick met their mother June in
the 50s and what happened to their love over the decades that made Mick
estranged from the family. I love books that span a day, it's a fun concept and
Jenkins Reid does a good job of balancing the past to give us context of what's
happening in the future. I really felt for Nina, trying to hold everything
together for her family and putting the happiness of others first over her own.
The conflict between Jay and Hud adds some tension to the story and while I
feel like we didn't really get to know Kit too much, I could totally see a
follow up novel with her at the centre. The storyline with their mother June is
sad and poignant at times and I loved how we travelled through the different
decades, I could imagine the different looks and fashions even though there's
not a lot of description of these, I think Jenkins Reid does a good job at
creating books that you can see vividly in your mind, ones that would be good
as film adaptations and this is no different. The setting in Malibu, with the
descriptions of the beaches, cliff side houses and surfing was amazing, making
this a great summery read. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">While I did enjoy the book, there were elements I
didn't enjoy. Primarily at the party a lot of characters are introduced and
have their own little story arc (involving sex, drugs or vandalism as the party
got wilder). It got a bit difficult keeping track of these minor characters, I
get that Jenkins Reid was showing that even when bigger dramas are happening at
a party, everyone is having their own mini drama and she was showing how some
of the characters were connected to each other. As well as adding to the
debauchery at the party. However it really distracted from the main characters
and what was happening to them. We didn't need to know some of the background
tales for these characters, even if it was only a few lines. We just needed to
know chaos was happening. I think if you're a fan of Jenkin Reid's books you
will enjoy this but it doesn't top The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Daisy
Jones and the Six</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I received this ebook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to post a review on here and all thoughts are my own</span></div><p></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-19888717317838597962021-04-03T09:00:00.001+01:002021-04-03T09:00:00.557+01:00Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane Book Review<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyl3PAleGEiyku3YhS0bbyeznkcxqmNKU0Gex3JQMgYqKbsLLImG4hbofnLmA_rF3swbTJId5sCzntBXmpr-zGleetjBhpglYt5MQSotN5HPtrqWB8obCaPF8Gu9iIqdo9UBlxysemAAP/s2048/last+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cover of Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane. White background, top half has an illustration of a woman sitting on a pink couch in a sitting room. The bottom half says Last Night in purple text and Mhairi McFarlane in pink text" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyl3PAleGEiyku3YhS0bbyeznkcxqmNKU0Gex3JQMgYqKbsLLImG4hbofnLmA_rF3swbTJId5sCzntBXmpr-zGleetjBhpglYt5MQSotN5HPtrqWB8obCaPF8Gu9iIqdo9UBlxysemAAP/w258-h400/last+night.jpg" title="Last Night Mhairi McFarlane" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Eve, Susie, Ed and Justin have been friends
for roughly half their lives, ever since meeting in school as teenagers. Eve
has been in love with Ed for years, the one that never was after a kiss between
them at 18 failed to develop into anything further. Their friendships are one
of close bonds, fierce loyalty and in jokes galore, much to the chagrin to
outsiders, like Ed's long term girlfriend Hester. However a shocking event one
night changes all this and secrets start to spill. Eve discovers that she might
not know her friends as well as she thought she did.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-IE"><span style="font-size: medium;">I inhaled this book, I find Mhairi's book
are fantastic for getting me out of a reading slump. This is slightly different
to the other ones I've read. While there is a romantic storyline in this book,
it's not the main focus, so it falls outside a traditional romantic comedy in that
sense. I don't want to give too much of the plot away but it's really more
about friendship, the relationships you have with other people and how much you
really know about others in your life. There's some serious storyline elements but
Mhairi handles them in such a way that has great humour. And with great
descriptions, I'd love to see this one as a film as I think it could be very
funny and poignant at same time</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I received this e-book free from NetGalley
in exchange for an honest review. I’m not required to post a review on here and
all thoughts are my own</i></span></span></p><br /><p></p>Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-79534232574041691862020-08-14T14:25:00.001+01:002020-08-14T14:25:45.653+01:00The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUUKMoxh5GHno4LUsbk9fIvalqBdnRqe8K_wY2_ZzBbw69FhbwrYslN3MTgBDnbQgf5icfVH7nGDtPJ5M27h5SRdlbly5sqQIwbHwKn9Td71v4G8oXn8MMqvVpS2OTWqODL1FZUTbJH2Y/s625/the+midnight+library+matt+haig.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Mignight Library by Matt Haig book cover" border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUUKMoxh5GHno4LUsbk9fIvalqBdnRqe8K_wY2_ZzBbw69FhbwrYslN3MTgBDnbQgf5icfVH7nGDtPJ5M27h5SRdlbly5sqQIwbHwKn9Td71v4G8oXn8MMqvVpS2OTWqODL1FZUTbJH2Y/w229-h320/the+midnight+library+matt+haig.jpeg" title="The Midnight Library Matt Haig" width="229" /></a></div> Nora Seed has hit rock bottom. In the course of a day, her cat is found dead, she loses her job in a music shop, the private piano lessons she teaches are cancelled and her next door neighbour no longer needs her help. Her best friend doesn't reply to her messages, she's still getting over cancelling her wedding (not helped by her ex still trying to contact her) and her brother no longer talks to her or sees her. She has nothing left to live for, no one who will miss her when she's gone and feels like she'd be better off dead. She decides to take her life and wakes up in this mysterious library, between life and death and is faced with the regrets she has about all the different decisions she had in life. She gets a chance to explore these decisions and live the life had she taken a different decision. Will she find a life she prefers or will she decide that she still wants to die?<br /><br />The premise of this book is very interesting to me, I love the idea of how the slightest decision in life can drastically alter your life. Exploring all the different Noras and their lives was cool and it was fun to see the different versions Haig came up with. This element of the book kinda reminds me of Life After Life by Kate Atkinson but instead of the character reliving life from the beginning over and over, Nora gets to chose the different decisions at key parts of her life which is cool.<br /><br />Haig's own experiences with mental health really do help the story line and how Nora is feeling, it felt authentic and believable. It's not super heavy though, there are some serious topics but under Haig's guidance the overall tone is positive and hopeful. It's a fun, thought provoking if slightly predictable read. And I really got a kick out of the music shop Nora worked in being called String Theory, nerdy and punny from a music and multiverse point of view! If you want to see some spoilers as part of my review, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3209232585?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">you can check out my Goodreads review </a>where I have embedded in my review and hidden, marked as spoilers.Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-67777909009278144432020-07-31T13:52:00.003+01:002020-07-31T13:53:48.406+01:00In Case You Missed It by Lindsey Kelk Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMJS3m9JOrc1nr-Nua72DIGusw-S0zbu4NAx3dyYs5mBv8uPzMvctTXl1JXYEU6tNA5l-MNNht8Ii3AxfnFhEROkBdcz9lIVqp_KQzQZ1xRt-yQJ9TFqsrSIiyJ16SXOWjSqCbrvgjAG7/s1600/in+case+you+missed+it.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMJS3m9JOrc1nr-Nua72DIGusw-S0zbu4NAx3dyYs5mBv8uPzMvctTXl1JXYEU6tNA5l-MNNht8Ii3AxfnFhEROkBdcz9lIVqp_KQzQZ1xRt-yQJ9TFqsrSIiyJ16SXOWjSqCbrvgjAG7/s320/in+case+you+missed+it.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IE">After Ros touches back down in the UK after
3 years in US, she’s living in an exact replica of her bedroom in her parents’
shed, in need of a job and reconnecting with friends. She sends out a message
to all the contacts in her old mobile phone and receives one back from an ex.
Not just an ex but THE ex, the one that got away. As she revisits this romance
and readjusts to her friends all having new lives, Ros is about to discover if
her 20s really was all that or if things are about to get better.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed this book, Ros is flawed but likeable, you’ll laugh and cringe
at her while cheering her on. Kelk does a great job at portraying that awkward
stage in your early 30s where some of your friends are moving on and settling
down, while some are single, free and want to continue on their 20s carefree
lifestyle. There is romance but I think the heart of the story is the
friendships and the journey Ros goes through personally. That it’s very easy to
miss the past when you’ve got rose tinted glasses on! Another smash from
Lindsey. I read this in May during lockdown and it was exactly what I was
looking for then in a book. And I really want to go to a roller disco now!</span></p><br />Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-45589496888691482422020-07-13T15:53:00.000+01:002020-07-13T15:53:19.102+01:00The Confession by Jessie Burton Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKyvxHwYZGZcRO_7Dz2RMtPctnDvmW4Cv-lIoOoEfXz2ElBa0y5b09oKDlBQ-CR5GbW_na0SIB_Gjq1PD8Gw2AJUx8KB6pWEu7lScR-4bFWmVdRxx-FpULZ7NKmoUEN9JAsmRuKQQqpHx/s1600/The+confession+jessie+burton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKyvxHwYZGZcRO_7Dz2RMtPctnDvmW4Cv-lIoOoEfXz2ElBa0y5b09oKDlBQ-CR5GbW_na0SIB_Gjq1PD8Gw2AJUx8KB6pWEu7lScR-4bFWmVdRxx-FpULZ7NKmoUEN9JAsmRuKQQqpHx/s320/The+confession+jessie+burton.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Three women. Elise Morceau, her daughter
Rose Simmons and the link between them, author Constance Holden. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Elise and Connie meet in the 80s and
instantly form a deep relationship together. Rose has been raised by her
father, knowing nothing about her mother Elise who abandoned her as a
baby. Until one day in her mid 30s her father gives her some books by Constance
and tells Rose that she knew her mother and was the last person to see her. The
story is told in a duel narrative, we follow Elise and Connie in the 80s when
they move to LA as one of Connie's books in made into a movie, as well as
present day when Rose pretends to be Laura Brown and takes a job as Connie's
assistant in a bid find out more about her mother. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">I loved Burton's writing, as I said before
with <i><a href="http://rare-opal.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-muse-by-jessie-burton-book-review.html" target="_blank">The Muse</a></i> it just feels so effortless, the descriptions never feel forced
or contrived. Every word seems perfectly picked. I had no idea where this book
was going as I read it, which just made it even more exciting to read. The book
is so much about love, identity and longing, I loved seeing the parallels
between Elise's life and Rose's life, from jobs, to relationships, how
similarly they dealt with some issues and how different they were with other
ones. Everything weaved together lovely, though I'd expect nothing less from
Burton! Utterly compelling</span></div>
<br />Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8094439846886844538.post-54632667650727341582020-05-23T09:00:00.000+01:002020-05-23T09:00:05.342+01:00Confessions of a Book Seller by Shaun Bythell Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnubuosImEWCGKcbkcT6Ifr7yHs2psNq2kTQV7QSjhKQVhynek8evi-lIo2ROnJVCg6jpguZIJaA5vac0AvCsuyVDfuyZBS-P3kGW2A3y6AgJbxeiUBB6PF9Hvvw-NEYccCIFaYfSo83pV/s1600/Confessions+of+a+Bookseller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnubuosImEWCGKcbkcT6Ifr7yHs2psNq2kTQV7QSjhKQVhynek8evi-lIo2ROnJVCg6jpguZIJaA5vac0AvCsuyVDfuyZBS-P3kGW2A3y6AgJbxeiUBB6PF9Hvvw-NEYccCIFaYfSo83pV/s320/Confessions+of+a+Bookseller.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">Follow up to <i>The Diary of a Bookseller</i> by
Shaun Bythell, owner of The Bookshop in Wigstown, the largest second hand
bookshop in Scotland. We see first hand to the ups and downs of being a second
hand bookseller, with a special light on the affect a certain online retailer
has on small businesses. I love how blunt and wry Shaun is when it comes to
customers and their questions and requests. Having worked briefly in a bookshop
myself, you'd think I'd be well versed on some people's stupidity ('I'm looking
for a book, can't remember the name but it has a blue cover') but reading this
I couldn't believe the added cheekiness that comes with selling in a second
hand bookshop! Haggling on already fair prices, spending hours on in shop
without buying anything, swapping price tags on books. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The book is a diary that has an entry of
some sorts for every day of the year, including the number of customers and the
till taking at the end of the day. Not every day is a thrilling adventure, we
see the every day mundane and regular chores (buying and listing stock,
cleaning the shop, posting the book club books) as well glance behind the
scenes at the Wigstown Festival (I particularly liked the story of the picture
that Shaun bought years before at auction). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IE">The stars of the book however are the
people. We see the return of part time staff Nicky and Flo, with the new
addition of the Italian woman that agrees to come and work for bed and board,
nicknamed Granny as well as Shaun of course and Captain the cat. The book is
funny but I found it tinged with sadness at times, which just added to the
human element of the story and highlighting the fact there's people behind
small businesses. Like most people who read and enjoy this book, I hope to one
day visit the shop in person.</span></div>
<br />Breigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15273124468088477481noreply@blogger.com0