I love a good romance book every once in a while (increasingly so actually). There was so much to enjoy in this book from the varied and interesting cI love a good romance book every once in a while (increasingly so actually). There was so much to enjoy in this book from the varied and interesting characters, the amusing dialogue and banter between the two love interests and, of course, the steamy scenes.
Most romance books follow a similar plot structure and I often prefer ones which don't drag out the inevitable "misunderstanding" or "fall-out" that occurs about two thirds of the way through. Luckily for me this one resolved things quickly, so I liked the pacing and it kept my interest throughout.
Having said that, I do think it was a bit longer than it needed to be and felt like it had run out of steam (in every sense of the word) by the end. I am pleased to see this is part of a series though and am keen to pick up the second book. ...more
5 books into this series and I have loved all of them so far. The novels are based on such a fascinating period of history where there is never a dull5 books into this series and I have loved all of them so far. The novels are based on such a fascinating period of history where there is never a dull moment and every character's political position is precarious.
I know the books weave fact and fiction together but they always come across as well-researched and do a good job of showing both sides to a story. The focus is on the women, caught up in or instrumental in the ongoing war. This book follows Elizabeth of York who marries King Henry VII and finds herself torn between opposing sides.
I found Elizabeth endearing and her powerlessness was infuriating to see but there is a strength and perseverance that comes through as she grows in experience and wisdom. As in the previous books, Gregory is brilliant at character development where we follow the protagonist throughout most of their lives and see their maturity and growth as the plot unravels.
The British sense of humour is one of my favourite things about being British. Its uniqueness, awkwardness and dryness is captured perfectly in this bThe British sense of humour is one of my favourite things about being British. Its uniqueness, awkwardness and dryness is captured perfectly in this book which is packed full of examples.
The book frequently made me laugh out loud with recognition at its clever observations. Some missed the mark but overall I really enjoyed this as a light and funny read. A perfect pick-me-up.
Even though this is volume 3, it is the first book from this collection I have read, and it seems that volumes 1 and 2 are deemed even better, so I will look forward to reading those too. ...more
According to the author's note at the back of the book, it appears that Wendy Holden wanted to tell a more sympathetic story about Marion Crawford. MaAccording to the author's note at the back of the book, it appears that Wendy Holden wanted to tell a more sympathetic story about Marion Crawford. Marion was a governess to the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret for many years but was eventually ostracised after publishing a book about her time working for the royal family.
I can't help but think that the author failed if that truly was her intention as Marion doesn't come across well in this book at all. She is depicted as entitled and judgemental with an overinflated sense of her own importance. Initially Marion states she wants to work with underprivileged children and communities but this quickly goes out the window when she gets the chance to work for the royal family. Marion acts with disdain towards the powerful and wealthy, while also reaping all the benefits of her association with them.
I admit I have not researched the real Marion so don't know much about her role and responsibilities as a governess, however I found it strange that, in the book, Marion was at the front and centre of so many big moments in history e.g. being the first to tell the Princesses life-changing news and being the first to hear the news herself. It seems unlikely. The story is also told with far too much hindsight knowledge e.g. when Elizabeth first meets Philip, Marion predicts everything that will follow.
Despite my many issues with this book, there was still plenty to enjoy. It was an interesting read and the side characters, especially members of the royal family, were entertaining. I liked the style of writing and it had a well paced plot so kept me engaged throughout. ...more
When will I learn to not read stream-of-consciousness style books? I never enjoy them. However, as this book is such a classic I wanted to give it a tWhen will I learn to not read stream-of-consciousness style books? I never enjoy them. However, as this book is such a classic I wanted to give it a try. And I didn't enjoy it.
Given that this style of writing is not for me, unfortunately I couldn't appreciate the elements that make this a much-loved classic. For me, the plot was all over the place and never came together in any kind of satisfying way, the characters weren't engaging and I struggled to see the point of the story. I am giving two stars for some of the descriptive passages which were beautifully written but, other than that, this didn't leave any lasting impression on me. ...more
Doomed Love is the first book in the Penguin Great Loves Collection. It is an extract from Virgil's The Aeneid, which I read years ago at university, Doomed Love is the first book in the Penguin Great Loves Collection. It is an extract from Virgil's The Aeneid, which I read years ago at university, and aims to focus on the love between Aeneas and Dido.
This is a difficult book to review, and I have avoided giving it a star rating, because The Aeneid is a brilliant classic that I would rate very highly. However, as an extract, Doomed Love didn't work for me. In just 130 pages it attempts to give context to Aeneas and Dido's connection so anyone unfamiliar with the original text can follow the story. However, in trying to condense such an epic story into 130 pages, it feels disjointed and more like a vague plot summary. It also means that the actual focus of the book is only given a few short pages so kind of defeats the point.
On the plus side, the story has inspired me to return to The Iliad and The Odyssey at some point, both of which I have only read parts of.
**spoiler alert** Oh! I really wanted to like this one after hearing all the hype and praise for it. The 2 stars are for the representation of women w**spoiler alert** Oh! I really wanted to like this one after hearing all the hype and praise for it. The 2 stars are for the representation of women working in STEM which was lovely to see, even if the protagonist Olive was very naïve and childish for someone so intelligent.
Unfortunately I found the character of Adam dull and didn't feel any chemistry between him and Olive at all. It just felt awkward, forced and unlikely that these two people would be into each other. The final straw was the sex scene (which took 260 pages of no real plot to get to) and was one of the worst I have ever read. Here are three examples that made me cringe but the list could go on and on: 1) Adam saying "'You're edible, Olive'" 2) "He could fit her entire breast in his mouth" - I don't even know what to do with this visual but it's one of many that make it clear Adam is some sort of giant. 3) "He licked her nipple, a silent thank-you" - ...more
This was such a let down, especially knowing how great Maggie O'Farrell's writing can be. I know it is one of her earlier books, and you can certainlyThis was such a let down, especially knowing how great Maggie O'Farrell's writing can be. I know it is one of her earlier books, and you can certainly see her distinctive style of writing, but the plot was all over the place.
There were side characters, e.g. Marcus' roommate Aiden, who were underdeveloped and served as a plot device more than a character. There were plot threads that went nowhere, e.g. Lily's visions of the woman who lived in the apartment before her. Character motivations that made no sense, e.g. why was Lily so obsessed with this woman? Why did she move in with Marcus days after meeting him despite numerous red flags? And finally an ending that is either incredibly far-fetched or has a deeper meaning that was lost on me.
I felt like O'Farrell had a brilliant idea for a plot but was let down by poor editing and struggled to extract the story onto the page. I want to continue reading O'Farrell's back catalogue of books and hope that this one is just a weak link rather than an indication of how her earlier writing needed improvement over the years. ...more
DNF. This was too YA for me unfortunately in that I found the writing and the plot far too simplistic and lacking in depth. I understand I am not the DNF. This was too YA for me unfortunately in that I found the writing and the plot far too simplistic and lacking in depth. I understand I am not the target audience for this book so I am putting it down to just not being one for me. ...more
This is a strong sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and I found it just as gripping and entertaining as the first book. I love the multi-media foThis is a strong sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and I found it just as gripping and entertaining as the first book. I love the multi-media format with interview transcripts, case notes and instant messaging exchanges that take you on the investigative journey with Pip.
The only thing that bothered me a bit, perhaps even more so than in the first book, is my struggle to believe that so many characters in the story would open up about their personal lives and secrets to a school girl and agree to be recorded for an interview on her podcast. I know this willingness is crucial for the plot but it seems very far-fetched.
As with the first book this is a well plotted mystery though that resolves in a satisfactory way in the end. I am looking forward to reading the third book in the trilogy. ...more
As this is a memoir it doesn't feel appropriate to give it a star rating. This is a very frank and open account of Matthew Perry's battles with addictAs this is a memoir it doesn't feel appropriate to give it a star rating. This is a very frank and open account of Matthew Perry's battles with addiction that have plagued the majority of his life. It is quite often a bleak read so I had to put it down a few times for a mental breather but I have to appreciate Perry's bravery in telling his difficult story.
The book puts addiction at the centre so, while I hoped for more lighter moments and details about his work projects for example, these are very much sidelined. It is sad to think this may be a reflection of how addiction can take over everything in life but the hopeful part of me would like to think it is just the focus of the book and the story Perry wanted to tell.
There are some attitudes, particularly towards the women in his life, that didn't sit all that well, and a tone that often didn't land quite right. Despite this, I found the book interesting and immersive and it will forever change how I view Perry on a re-watch of Friends or one of his other projects, knowing now what he was going through behind the scenes....more
I flew through this book and enjoyed every second of it. It has a really well paced plot so there is never a dull moment of drawn out drama. The charaI flew through this book and enjoyed every second of it. It has a really well paced plot so there is never a dull moment of drawn out drama. The characters of both Alex and Henry are brilliantly crafted so their personalities shine off the page. Their enemies to lovers story was well handled and believable so I couldn't help but root for them every step of the way.
McQuiston portrays a detailed political context that adds a lot of meaning and frames the lives of Alex and Henry. This was necessary to emphasise the risks and potential consequences of their relationship. I also thought it balanced the cuter, fluffier moments in the story well so it didn't become too sickly sweet. There were some great spicy scenes in this book though I think it could have gone further. There were a few too many "fade to black" scenes for my liking.
Overall though I loved my time with these characters and can see myself reading this book again in the future. ...more
Another brilliant instalment in the Plantagenet and Tudor series. This is the 4th book when read in timeline order and follows Anne, the youngest daugAnother brilliant instalment in the Plantagenet and Tudor series. This is the 4th book when read in timeline order and follows Anne, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Warwick who was know as "the Kingmaker" for his ability to put men on the throne using manipulation, influence and power. He also harbors a desire to make one of his own daughter's Queen.
Anne later became the wife of Richard III and this novel covers the majority of her life from a young child through to becoming Queen. I found Anne to initially be an endearing character who suffers the consequences of being a pawn in her father's political games. Gregory does a great job of bringing these women to life and, while they are of course fictional versions of the real people, they are believable and very well developed. In each of the books so far, Gregory portrays the transformation from innocence to playing the power game in each of her female characters brilliantly, and there is certainly a common theme of the ruthless battle for the throne getting to everyone in the end.
The curse of the hyped book strikes again. After hearing so many positive and raving reviews of this book I picked it up with excitement and perhaps oThe curse of the hyped book strikes again. After hearing so many positive and raving reviews of this book I picked it up with excitement and perhaps overly high expectations. I am not entirely sure what I expected from the story but this wasn't it. The story started strong and I enjoyed Count Alexander Rostov's witty dialogue, however by 100 pages in I didn't think his character had any depth. I found the plot meandering and uninteresting too so I think this just isn't a book for me unfortunately. ...more
This is great story about the dangers of sharing your life online and an interesting exploration of Insta-life versus real life. I am not a big fan ofThis is great story about the dangers of sharing your life online and an interesting exploration of Insta-life versus real life. I am not a big fan of thrillers but I think that's why I liked this book so much as it is more drama/mystery-focused with thriller elements. This worked for me but I can see how fans of thrillers may find it disappointing.
I found the protagonist Emmy completely insufferable and the alternating perspectives of Emmy and her husband Dan was used to great effect when showing their differing versions of events, memories and perspectives. It didn't quite fall into the unreliable narrator trope which was a relief but instead depicted the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions.
The "enemy" in the story was revealed slowly and with much intrigue though I admit I was left somewhat underwhelmed by their reasons and expected more from that. When the plot became more consistent with a thriller I didn't like it so much as it felt quite unrealistically jarring with the more nuanced parts of the plot that built up to that. Those who have read the book will know what I am referring to but I am avoiding spoilers for those who haven't.
I thought the ending was very good though. It made me question a lot of things (in a good way) and left a strong message. ...more
I made it through two thirds of this book before deciding that was enough for me. I picked it up for the nostalgia of reading some Josie Lloyd books iI made it through two thirds of this book before deciding that was enough for me. I picked it up for the nostalgia of reading some Josie Lloyd books in my teenage years but unfortunately I was left disappointed by this one.
I like the structure of a love story told from both character's perspectives and the opportunity it provides for understanding how miscommunication can so easily occur in the early days of a new relationship. However, I didn't find Jack or Amy particularly interesting or likeable so it was difficult to root for them and their connection. Jack's thoughts frequently crossed the line into sexism and misogyny which reflected how badly this book has aged and was one of the main factors in my decision to stop reading it, as it just felt uncomfortable. ...more
DNF 100 pages in. This book with such a beautiful cover has been sat on my shelves since it was published so I was excited to finally pick it up. UnfoDNF 100 pages in. This book with such a beautiful cover has been sat on my shelves since it was published so I was excited to finally pick it up. Unfortunately though it was not the kind of story I was hoping for and the writing wasn't great in my opinion.
The book felt quite YA in its style and didn't have the depth, darkness and grittiness that I was expecting from the blurb. In fact it was really lacking in atmosphere which made the story feel quite flat. The world-building was confusing and it was unclear whether the author was aiming for magical realism or fantasy. Certain magical aspects were unexpected and unusual to characters in the book whereas others were accepted as the norm, so I couldn't get a sense of what kind of world the story was set in.
After boredom set in at 50 pages I persevered for another 50, hoping things would pick up, but sadly not and I couldn't face another 300 pages of the same. ...more
As expected this was a very hard-hitting and moving book. Mackintosh handles a difficult and heavy subject with care and her own experience and researAs expected this was a very hard-hitting and moving book. Mackintosh handles a difficult and heavy subject with care and her own experience and research really shows in the writing.
The fundamental message of the book is that, when faced with an impossible decision, there are no right or wrong answers. The book explores two different outcomes influenced by the decision made by the courts to prolong or end young Dylan's life. I liked this approach and it did a good job of getting the message across and meant you weren't left wondering "what if".
I liked the alternating perspectives of parents Pip and Max whose responses and views couldn't have been more different, yet came from the same place of heartbreak and grief. Mackintosh breathed life into these characters and wasn't afraid to make both of them unlikeable at times.
The only issue I had with the book was that the alternating perspectives combined with the two timelines and alternating realities became confusing for me at times and I lost track of what was happening in each reality at points. Overall I would highly recommend this book but with a warning that the subject matter is very upsetting. ...more
I was a bit nervous reaching this book in the ACOTAR series as it didn't have the glowing reviews of the previous books and I didn't want to be disappI was a bit nervous reaching this book in the ACOTAR series as it didn't have the glowing reviews of the previous books and I didn't want to be disappointed. I am happy to say that I wasn't, though I can understand why some readers feel it doesn't live up to the first three books in the series.
This installment offers a much needed moment of respite and calm for the central characters. After the dramatic events of A Court of Wings and Ruin, there was some much needed rebuilding of relationships and time to reflect before heading into the fifth book. That's what this book offers and I was grateful for the lightness and reprieve provided. I adore these characters and always enjoy seeing what they are up to and the moments of quiet between the frequent storms.
So, while this does not offer the drama and high stakes of the previous books, it is a great addition to the series for character and relationship development that sets the scene up nicely for book five. ...more
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