Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Review

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

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 😅 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

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’

Ruth & Pen by Emilie Pine Review

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

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

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

One of my favourite reads of the year so far, I can’t wait to see what Emilie Pine does next!

CW: pregnancy loss, IVF

The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan Review

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

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.

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. 

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

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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?

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. 

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!

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

Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce Book Review

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?

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.

Welcome to Your Life by Bethany Rutter Book Review

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?

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!)

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. 

There are a few elements which could be removed and I think the story wouldn't suffer. 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

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi Book Review

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.

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

Book Lovers by Emily Henry Book Review

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?

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.

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!

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

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!

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren Book Review

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. 

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!

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Book Review

My mind is blown after reading this!

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

If this is the first Emily St. John Mandel book you are considering picking up, I would hold off! Read Station Eleven first and then The Glass Hotel. 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!

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 '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'.

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 Station Eleven (which I read in 2015) still haunts me to this day.

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!

Crying in H Mart by Michell Zauner Book Review

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.

 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

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry Book Review

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?

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.

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!

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman Book Review

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?

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

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary Review

 

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!

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

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

About Us by Sinéad Moriarty Book Review

'Three Couples. Three Love stories. One Couch'

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 Instagram.

About Us follows 3 different couples:

•Ann and Ken are in their 60s and Ann is feeling lost now that all her kids are grown up

•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

•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

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?

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

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

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

If you like stories about the complexities of relationships, this is the perfect read to immerse yourself into this summer!

Release date 15th July

This book was sent to me by Penguin Books Ireland for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The Authenticity Project by Claire Pooley Review

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!

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.

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

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi Review

 

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?

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

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

The Killing Kind by Jane Casey Review

 

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.

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!

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

Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2021

 I've seen Aoife over at Pretty Purple Polka Dots regularly do a Top Ten Tuesday, which is run by That Artsy Reader Girl, 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.

Animal Vegetable Criminal by Mary Roach

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 Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law on 14th September by W.W. Norton and Company

UK release 14th October by Oneworld Publications

Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite

I Am Not Your Baby Mother 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. Sista Sister 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 Am Not Your Baby Mother last year and loved Candice's narration so I've preordered this as an audiobook as well

Release 8th July by Quercus

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk

On a Night Like This 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?! 

Release 11th November HarperCollins

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber

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 Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe and South of the Buttonwood Tree by the same author and will be cosy read

Release 30th August St. Martin's Press

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Practical Magic, book one in the series, follows Gillian and Sally, Owens sisters who lives with a family curse. The Rules of Magic follows Franny and Jet, the aunts who we first meet in Practical Magic. Magic Lessons 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.

UK Release 6th January by Scribner UK

Precious Catastrophe by Deirdre Sullivan

This is the follow up to YA novel Perfectly Preventable Deaths, 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! 

Release 30th September Hot Key Books

Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh

I'm a huge, huge fan of Eat Up! 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.

Release 7th October by Serpent's Tail

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

A new series from Becky Chambers, who wrote the Wayfarers series, a gentle inclusive sci-fi series about life in outer space for various different alien species. This series is called the Monk and Robot 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.

Release 23rd August St. Martin's Press

Anyway the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

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 Fan Girl, 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.

Release 6th July Macmillian Children's Books

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

I had downloaded this image to include in the post originally but then afterwards noticed I forgot to add it. Oops! The Man Who Died Twice is the follow up to the wildly successful The Thursday Murder Club, 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. 

Release 16th September Penguin Books

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!

What books are you looking forward over the next 6 months? Drop a line below or let me know over on Instagram! 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid Review

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

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. 

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

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