Kindle: One Day With You, Shari Low

 

Oh my goodness, I had no idea what to expect from this book. I took a break from reading thrillers, so decided on this one in my Kindle Unlimited library. I didn't have a clue about the premise of the book.

The story follows a day with:

Tress who is married to Max and highly pregnant with their first child. 

Max's best friend since their first day of school is Noah, who is a paediatric doctor. He is married to Anya, who he and Max met on the first day of Varsity. So they have all been friends for many years.

Max and Anya now work at the same company. On this day that we meet them, they are off to a conference in London. Just as they've left, Tress' water breaks! Baby is early!

I am surprised how sad this book made me and how much it made me cry!

5/5

The Village, Caroline Mitchell

Such a fan of Caroline Mitchell! 

Audiobook: Elizabeth Knowelden

Ten years ago, the Harper family (mom, dad and Gracie) just disappeared, what happened to them? Were they murdered? Suicide pact? Moved (although their passports weren't taken with). Aliens?? The mystery was never solved.

We then meet Naomi, investigative journalist, married to Ed Ward, a movie producer and his daughter, Morgan. They have bought the house that the family had disappeared in.

Bit by bit the mystery gets solved.

Some of it made me think a bit of Hot Fuzz (fabulous movie with and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost). This is isn't a comedy at all, but the closely knit Village; vibes of everyone that is hiding a secret and does not let new people feel welcome.

When the mystery was pretty much solved and I thought the book was finished, I thought ah, I did enjoy it, but was surprised that it wasn't quite as twisty as the other Caroline Mitchell's I had read. But then I saw that I still had an hour left to listen, bonus!

And then the real puzzle pieces fell into place, and of course there were a few delicious twists!

4 1/2 / 5

What Lies Between Us, John Marrs

This has been the audiobook I have been listening to during errands and running.

The premise is a Nina, is keeping her mom, Maggie, locked up in an attic because of what she believes happened in her past that she can't forgive her for.

Some of it was a bit predictable, some twists were, what the actual!

Very good, a little bit long in places, but all in all, am still a John Marrs fan.

4/5

Kindle: Ask for Andrea, Noelle W. Ihli

Flip! This was bone chilling, heart stopping, suspenseful... (insert all the possible adjectives that are more descriptive than 'scary'). 

It is also, heartbreaking.

The premise of the story is about a serial killer, he hangs out on dating apps to find his victims and is the last guy anyone would think of hurting anyone. BUT, what makes the story really interesting, is that it is from th perspective of a serial killer's victims!

It gave me nightmares! It even made me cry! The afterlife and connecting with all those you have lost, is so beautifully written.

At the end there is also a bonus short story, tying up April's story.

It's a 5/5

Kindle: What you did, Claire McGowan

My TikTok review: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM64V5J88/

2/5

Audiobook: The One, John Marrs

 

Absolutely LOVED this book! So many twists and turns. What if there is an app that matches your DNA genetically to the one person that you are destined to? What happens if you get matched to a psychopath?? So many twists and turns. . 

5/5

Book: If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair, Anya Hindmarch

 

Good read, great insights and tips on managing your business, children and household.

Kindle: Buthcer and Blackbird, Brynne Weaver

Described as a 'dark, romantic comedy'. A book about serial killers killing serial killers. Initially I thought that all the gauging out of eye balls were a bit much, but then I decided to just chill and read something totally out of my comfort zone. Story line isn't too bad, chemistry between the two seriel killers are quite sweet and there's also a bit of a twist at the end. Not sure that I will read the next one in the trilogy soon. I think it is something that may make a good tv series and won't be surprised if it picked up. 

3/5

 

Book: Then She Was Gone, Lisa Jewell

This was the first Lisa Jewell book I read. I've seen a few of her books recommended on TikTok. 

Took this out at the library earlier this week. 

The premise of the story is that 15 year old Ellie, is a golden child. She does well at school, and wants to do well at her upcoming GCSE's. She is worried about maths, so asks her mom for a math tutor. Just before writing her exams, Ellie disappears. It's a very bizarre story. 

There are a number of things that irritated me about this book. 

One of the key things that irritated me is that apparently the mother had read Ellie journals many times, but never picked up that she didn't like her maths tutor. Also, the tutor was never questioned, which I am pretty sure is highly unlikely in a missing persons investigation. Surely everyone that was close to the child would be questioned? Also, the mom found stuff that she doesn't report. Those things really irritated me. 

I get that some of the chapters are written focussing on different time lines, but sometimes the 'now' was written in present tense and sometimes not. 

I did not like this book, the only thing that was good is that it didn't take me too long to read it, so not too much time was wasted reading it. 

2.5/5

Book: Sophie's Choice, William Styron

This book took me waaaay too long to read! When I read The Year of Magical Thinking, they referred to Sophie's Choice in there, and the husband had read the book a number of times. I had bought the book a while back for Bric a Brac, and then decided to read it instead of selling it. 

I never saw the movie, so had nothing to compare it to. 

The first part was so good. Loved it, very different to what I thought it would be. I thought it would be very dark, but instead it was about Stingo (the author's) journey of living in New York and meeting Sophie and Nathan. A wonderful sense of humour and written beautifully. 

But then, it got very tedious. I find it very boring when someone writes about dreams / drug trips and sex. There was also quite a lot of gender based violence. All which is necessary to formulate the all round complicated relationships. 

In between we also learn about Sophie's background and harrowing journey. 

It only starts to pick up again towards the end, she didn't have much time for the choice she had to make; all very heart breaking, an impossible choice.

Kindle: The Good Daughter, Karin Slaughter

This was riveting! Flip, it was very gruesome and horrific in places, but oh so good! Karin Slaughter has a magnificent talent of describing things. I mean just take for example this description of the Mom:

Gamma was an aggressively terrible cook. She resented recipes. She was openly hostile toward spices. Like a feral cat, she instinctively bristled against any domestication.

When she described someone stuttering in court: And you had Coin sputtering like a broken sprinkler. 

Just marvellous. The only thing is, that the gory parts are just as descriptive and very graphic, which could be upsetting for sensitive readers, and it's not like in a movie where you can just look away. 

The premise of the book is about is about Rusty, a defense lawyer whose household is struck by tragedy one evening, when one of his clients came looking for him, but instead found his wife and two daughters at home. 

I really like the dad, and the relationship between him and his wife, so beautifully depicted. 

Flip, it's hectic, but really well written. 

4/5