What if Emma isn’t the person she thought she was?
Her younger son has just been diagnosed with autism.
She’s accidentally quit her job.
The marriage she was dedicated to suddenly seems like a sham.
She’s pretty sure that she is going to have an affair with a hot new dad at the school.
The only thing that stays the same is everyone else. Emma realises it’s not them – it’s her. But if she’s not who she thought she was, can her old life fit in with the new Emma?
My Thoughts:
This is the story of Emma and her family, with her son has been recently diagnosed with Asperger’s, Emma sets out on a journey to take a long hard look at herself as mother, wife, daughter and friend. We see Emma at her best and at her worse, even though there is a serious side to this story there are also lots of funny moments and also some of what her son says is pretty funny. We learn about Asperger’s which I knew nothing about but now have respect and a little understanding for it. Family life under pressure and all the emotions are set in this wonderful read that I think everyone should read.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Amy has a normal life. That is, if you were to go by a definition of ‘no obvious indicators of peculiarity’, and you didn’t know her very well. She has good friends, a good job, a nice enough home. This normality, however, is precariously plastered on top of a different life. A life that is Amy’s real life. The only one her brain will let her lead. A fictional story that depicts the reality of mental illness behind a perception of normality.
My Thoughts:
This is such a powerful story that I just had to read. I haven’t read a book about mental health like this before. Amy is the main character and she has OCD, seeing how it affects her day to day was really hard but Lana has done a brilliant job surrounding mental health and has done it sensitively. It is a useful insight into OCD and how it affects that person and also people around them. I knew that they try and keep it hidden by certain people which shows in this book about how Amy is around her work colleagues at least some of them understand, it was nice to see her relationship with Ed. I felt as though I understand a little bit more about OCD and if I were to know anyone that has I could try and help them. Overall a very interesting and thought provoking read.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Lana who kindly sent me a copy of her book.
A drifter appears…this town will never be the same. Again…
Not much happens in the small West Texas town of Dinley, and radio DJ Sandy McAllister is fine with that. Following the tragic loss of her husband and son, she’s carved out a steady, solitary existence. No more deep friendships, no more love, no more loss.
But a loud boom on the outskirts of town followed by the sudden appearance of a drifter is about to upset Sandy’s carefully scripted life. His mysterious arrival on a warm summer evening coincides with the eruption of addictive and powerful feelings she cannot control or deny. And she’s not the only one.
The bond, the connection, with this stranger threatens to turn her life inside out and polarize her town.
And it’s not the first time this has happened in Dinley.
My Thoughts:
I love finding a new author whose book I really like and then finding out this author has written previous books makes me very happy. I will certainly be reading David’s other books. I don’t normally read books with sci fi in them but the sci-fi part was very small and did not put me of the book which for me was great. After reading one chapter I wanted to keep reading and I knew the housework would just have to wait another day. It pulled me in, the writing is descriptive and every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something else happened. It is a really good mystery story, one that I would recommend.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Ange has been invited to a reunion… Old and Ugly is the story of that reunion – and the story of Ange’s life. Hilarious and laughable, conceited and fearful, feisty and (some might say) a fool for the admiration of men, Ange must finally confront the truth about her fantastical life of glamour and good fortune to be freed from its secrets – and freed from the man who made her, then broke her. Irreverent and moving, disturbing and joyful, you’ve probably never read anything quite like it…
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this delightful read, I love receiving books that are slightly different to the norm and this certainly was, the binding is special and it has a lovely feel to it making it feel special, it is a hardback but it is smaller than a usual hardback which I would say fits better in your hand, the design on the cover is simple but when you have read the book take another look at it, a picture tells a thousand stories. What a pleasant surprise to read though, this story will certainly make you chuckle as it did with me, I love the added drawings through out the story it made it feel more personalised and some of them made me laugh. I fell in love with Ange she says it like it is, she use to be a beauty queen but over the years her weight has crept up on her, when being invited over to an old friends house for a reunion, her and her friend Elizabeth it was great to see their relationship and how each of them still says it like it is. They do not hold back on each other. At times I felt it was a little dark, I felt for Ange as I could see she is a little depressed. It is a very amusing book, would be nice to continue with Ange’s story in another book.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Behind The Press for sending me this copy.
So, it is my birthday and I am up at the crack of dawn, that is me never miss an opportunity to get some reading in before the day starts. I haven’t got much planned for today but I will sit and enjoy a book or two. There are some fantastic books out today including ones that I have read and reviewed for my lovely readers. Thanks by the way for reading my reviews, it makes my job more worthwhile. Books that are out today include The Storm By Amanda Jennings, The Weekend Away By Sarah Alderson, Kate and Clara’s Curious Cornish Craft Shop By Ali McNamara and Sisters By Michelle Frances. Check out my reviews for these fantastic books.
Another book that is out today is called Taken and it is by Lisa Stone, I hope I get it for my birthday as I am a big fan of Lisa’s who is also Cathy Glass. I love her books alot, will post pictures below of the books that I get today, hopefully I will get lots. We will see.
Anyways, enough of me waffling on, let the celebrations begin……..
If you loved The Holiday, get ready for your new obsession…
Orla and Kate have been best friends forever. Together they’ve faced it all – be it Orla’s struggles as a new mother or Kate’s messy divorce. And whatever else happens in their lives, they can always look forward to their annual weekend away.
This year, they’re off to Lisbon: the perfect flat, the perfect view, the perfect itinerary. And what better way to kick things off in style than with the perfect night out?
But when Orla wakes up the next morning, Kate is gone. Brushed off by the police and with only a fuzzy memory of the night’s events, Orla is her friend’s only hope. As she frantically retraces their steps, Orla makes a series of shattering discoveries that threaten everything she holds dear. Because while Lisbon holds the secret of what happened that night, the truth may lie closer to home…
My Thoughts:
I think this is going to be a big hit for the Summer. If you want a crime thriller that leads you up the garden path and then takes you off course like you would never believe, then this is the book for you. It had everything I like in a thriller plus a lot more than I could ever imagine. It is about two friends who go away for the weekend, they are complete opposites Kate likes to drink, Orla not so much but the morning after the night before, Orla finds herself alone and cannot find Kate anywhere, where is she? Orla sets out to find out what happened to her friend but discovers so much more than she could ever imagine. This book deserves a 10/10. It was absolutely brilliant.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.
Abby and Ellie were never close as children. Now in their thirties, they each harbour deep-rooted resentment for the other – Abby for her sister’s looks and her status as their mother’s favourite. Ellie meanwhile is envious of Abby’s perfect husband and picturesque home, a villa on the sun-soaked Italian island of Elba.
When Abby invites Ellie to stay, both sisters see the break as a chance to relax and put aside their differences. But with their mother Susanna there too, all the simmering tensions of the past quickly rise to the surface. And Ellie suspects that Abby and their mother are keeping a dangerous secret . . .
But after a shocking act, the sisters have only each other to rely on. Vulnerable and scared, trusting each other will be the biggest risk of all . . .
My Thoughts:
This is one of those books that keep you hooked until the end. I liked the plot line and the characters. Two sisters each with completely different lives decide to see each other again after not seeing each other for a while. Their mother comes too, will Ellie find out why she was so ill as a child or will there be a more shocking revelation to uncover? The storyline is cleverly written to keep you guessing, until quite near the end. The ending is dramatic but wraps the story up well.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it’s a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away.
But why does she let him? Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she’s told.
But the past is about to catch up with them.
My Thoughts:
You never know what goes on behind closed doors is what I was thinking reading this book. There is a lot more to this family than meets the eye, Hannah is in a toxic relationship with Nathan they also have a soon Alex who heard and sees everything that goes on in his parents marriage. The story flits back to the past when tragic circumstances happen. Is there a way forward or will Hannah be trapped forever and with a secret so big it could ruin all of their lives? I liked how Amanda has described her characters and how to the outside world Hannah and Nathan’s relationship is a perfect. This book is beautifully compelling.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
The story encompasses an existentialist’s perspective with the protagonist exploring various elements of existentialism including alienation, freedom, death, hope and despair. The protagonist, Murk Zilch, living an isolated life amongst the mountains undergoes a metamorphosis after the ‘tragic’ death of his little brother. Through the impactful events of the past and his understanding of life, he discovers the essence by deriving meaning in the nothingness of the world.
It acknowledges the absurdity that lay within the foundation of our existence and aims to form out its own subjective essence, thereby defining its individuality. It attempts to provide its readers with an optimistic perspective towards life by shedding materialism and their preconceptions of reality in order to elevate them from the mode of denial to accept the absurdity of our existence while forming their own essence. The quintessential aspect of the story is that in its entirety it provokes readers to contemplate along with the protagonist over the temporality of existence and the inevitability of death. The book is a perfect starting point for anyone who is interested in existentialism as it encourages the readers into a habit of questioning which is incidentally the point of inception of existentialism. It incorporates Socrates’ method of dialectics as a mode of self-interrogation through monologues, allowing readers to question the genesis of the subject itself.
Fewer amongst a few out there. A contrast to a simple and daily read. A companion for life. Thought-provoking. Attempts to elevating the readers from the grasp of despair towards a path of enlightenment. Provide a different and yet intriguing way of living.
My Thoughts:
I wasn’t too sure what to expect from this book, it is not necessarily a book I would of chosen myself but wanted to read something a bit different. For me there were lots of words I couldn’t pronounce let alone heard of before The author Aman is a very clever guy who is a final year graduate, and is planning to study psychology. I did have to keep looking up what some of the words meant but I felt as though I learnt a great deal from this book and it was once I definitely will read again. After his brother’s death Murk decides to go on a journey to understand what life is really like, alone in the mountains Mark contemplates what life is like and the meaning of life. The book asks lots of questions but it is a very knowledgeable and interesting story that makes you think. I will be interested to read Aman’s next book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
There is going to be a kindle Countdown deal from midnight 15 th August to 17th, whereby the price of the book will be 99p. So grab it whilst you can
At thirty-six years old, Caitlin Myer is ready to start a family with her husband. She has left behind the restrictive confines of her Mormon upbringing and early sexual trauma and believes she is now living her happily ever after . . . when her body betrays her. In a single week, she suffers the twin losses of a hysterectomy and the death of her mother, and she is jolted into a terrible awakening that forces her to reckon with her past—and future.
This is the story of one woman’s lifelong combat with a culture—her “escape” from religion at age twenty, only to find herself similarly entrapped in the gender conventions of the secular culture at large, conventions that teach girls and women to shape themselves to please men, to become good wives and mothers. The biblical characters Yael and Judith, wives who became assassins, become her totems as she evolves from wifely submission to warrior independence.
My Thoughts:
After being asked to read and review this book I wasn’t too sure what to expect. There is a lot of issues that are in this story involving religion, mental health illness, trauma, relationships and sex. Even though there is a lot packed into this book it is set out well, it is quite hard hitting what Caitlin has had to go through I felt every emotion reading this book, I felt as though she must get a break soon but the strength and bravery of her made her who she is today and allowed us as readers to experience what she had to go through. I felt as though I was on her journey with her. A very brave woman to write her memoir.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Echoes In An Empty Room 