This book really was something else. A very intriguing concept - death/trial by social media and a very batshit crazy narrator. I truly don’t know eveThis book really was something else. A very intriguing concept - death/trial by social media and a very batshit crazy narrator. I truly don’t know even know what I actually thought about Charlotte because, I’m going to level with you, she seemed unhinged. Understandable because of what she’s gone through but yano, girl’s gone wild!!
What I loved about The Hive was just how quickly the novel skips along. I love a novel that’s fast paced and furious and The Hive is that. We open with Charlotte holding Linc Jackson hostage and Heidi Dolak dead or dying on the floor and Charlotte puts it to social media that they can vote for Linc to live or die. Then we spool back to a year earlier and we see exactly how Charlotte got to where she got to.
The speed within which Charlotte and Linc get together is insaneeeee, and it almost came across as if it was all a fever dream and I genuinely wasn’t sure if we were gonna get an ending where it had all been a hallucination - however it actually makes more sense once you finish the book as to how it all came together and what set the events in motion. At first, like I said, it all seemed unreal - but in a can’t-keep-my-eyes-off it way.
Charlotte was a wild character. She’s not likeable by any means, but she’s a strong woman and I appreciated her candour and brevity. And I loved her friends, Zee, Poppy and Trix. They’re like all completely mental, but they would do anything for each other and I appreciated that hugely. Like no matter what, they had each other’s back and it’s nice to see that as usually in novels it’s toxic friendships that take centre stage.
This was an absolutely fantastic, cracking read. It’s hard to believe this is Scarlett Brade’s debut, it’s so self-assured and brilliant. I devoured it, it was toxic in all the right places and I just have masses of respect for Charlotte. I was cheering her on, I won’t lie!
I’ve just finished Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde and it was such a heartwarming and beautiful read, one that had me in tears within 50 pagI’ve just finished Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde and it was such a heartwarming and beautiful read, one that had me in tears within 50 pages.
‘It’s always worth it to love someone. Even at the risk of losing them’ is quoted on the back of the book and it sums this book up perfectly. Stewie has suffered more loss in his young, eleven-year-old life than most people ever will and when he finds himself with leftover eggs, he ventures to the next house in the street where he sells his eggs and he meets Marilyn. The two soon form a relationship that could crack at any time as Marilyn has secrets she doesn’t want anyone to find out.
Dreaming of Flight was such a gorgeous, beautiful read. Catherine’s novels are always so full of heart and warmth and I absolutely adored Stewie - and Marilyn, actually, she was spiky but she had a good heart too, deep down. I flew through this book in such quick time, as I was so absorbed with Stewie’s story and I just loved how he saw the world, he clearly felt everything deeply but he also had more wisdom in his little finger than I do in my whole body.
I adored this book, these characters and I was very sad when I finished this book - I’m just going to have to read another of Catherine’s books soon because they are truly wonderful reads....more
A new Taylor Jenkins Reid book is always a good thing to receive - I’ve been a fan of her novels long before her breakout novel Evelyn Hugo, and she jA new Taylor Jenkins Reid book is always a good thing to receive - I’ve been a fan of her novels long before her breakout novel Evelyn Hugo, and she just never disappoints me and this is easily the best of hers I’ve read - so far ...more
I’ve long been a fan of Gillian McAllister - long before she became a writer in fact when she had her blog BillyGean. I loved the idea of Wrong Place,I’ve long been a fan of Gillian McAllister - long before she became a writer in fact when she had her blog BillyGean. I loved the idea of Wrong Place, Wrong Time and it didn’t disappoint.
The only thing I’d say first off is that Gillian writes excellent novels - her ideas are always fantastic and unique, though, imo, I don’t always gel with her characters. This one especially was tough because Jen is pretty much the focal point and everything is seen through her eyes. I liked Jen well enough, this novel just didn’t have the emotional depth of the last novel I read (review below). Of course that’s a personal opinion and others may not think that.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time is a novel told backwards. Which probably sounds confusing but it actually works so incredibly well. What happens is Jen is staying up the night before Halloween Eve waiting for her son, she’s watching out the window when her son, Todd, appears in the street. However all isn’t as it seems as another man appears and Todd stabs and kills this man. All Jen can see is a bleak future for Todd, jail and crime his future now.
When Jen wakes the next morning, it isn’t the next morning. It’s the day prior. The day of. And Jen keeps waking up each day further back in the past than she was previously - be it a day prior or months and even years prior. Jen isn’t sure why she keeps waking up in the past, but it soon becomes clear that if she’s going to stop Todd becoming a murderer she’s going to have to re-live life backwards until she figures out what it is that could change the moment.
This was a bloody brilliant plot - it was very clever and the tiny details Gillian McAllister must have dug through to make sure everything was correct and timely for the time was fantastic. I liked as well that Jen didn’t just have the chance to try to save Todd. Her dad passed away and that added another strand - could she save him? Then we had an additional narrative for someone called Ryan. It was just a very, very clever plot and McAllister pulled it off with aplomb.
I’d definitely recommend this one, I enjoyed it and it was a very quick read for me!...more
Sit down, folks I’ve got another book recommendation for you: The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley.
I’ve loved Lucinda’s novels for so long - bSit down, folks I’ve got another book recommendation for you: The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley.
I’ve loved Lucinda’s novels for so long - back before The Seven Sisters series, mostly because she has the most natural storytelling ability I’ve ever read. Her novels are upwards of 500 pages usually and yet they never, ever feel too long; they never drag and they’re always a speedy read.
The Murders at Fleat House is a novel Lucinda wrote in 2006 and because Lucinda passed away in 2021 there’s been barely a word changed since the original draft and I can very much see it becoming another of Lucinda’s ‘series’ had life gone differently. I’m actually sad to now have more Jazz Hunter in my life.
The novel is set around a boarding school particularly the Fleat House dorms and it begins with the death of Charlie Cavendish but that’s only the beginning. The novel takes us back thirty-forty years and everything that’s come to a head in the present has roots firmly in the past. It was a very messy story to unwind but as is Lucinda’s way, it was done in the most intriguing way possible and I was rapt to the novel from the first chapter.
I really, really enjoyed this book. Lucinda’s story telling ability is unparalleled and it turns out, she could turn her hand to anything - even crime fiction. The characters were all fantastic and it just makes me super sad we won’t get a second, third, fourth novel featuring Jazz and Miles. Or any more of Lucinda’s novels.
If you like a good mystery with lots of twists and turns and a story that unravels itself slowly but surely then this is the book for you....more
With all of the hype around Mo Hayder’s books I expected more from Birdman. Instead, I barely liked Jack Caffrey (he’s a bit of an arse and quite up hWith all of the hype around Mo Hayder’s books I expected more from Birdman. Instead, I barely liked Jack Caffrey (he’s a bit of an arse and quite up himself if you ask me), the whole cliched racist copper just made me roll my eyes and there were a few ethic issues throughout the novel.
The writing was good, but the characterisation and the plot was just a bit dull and by the book. I ended up skimming the last half of the novel and I’m not sure I’ll even read any more of Hayder’s books. ...more
I absolutely loved this book. Such a clever concept and so very well executed. I love a love story that isn’t a conventional love story and this very I absolutely loved this book. Such a clever concept and so very well executed. I love a love story that isn’t a conventional love story and this very much fit the bill.
I adored Bee and Nick and Rosie and Leila. Every time I got the chance to read this book I just gobbled it up. It read so very well and Sarah Lotz is an absolutely fantastic writer.
This book truly made me smile, thank you Sarah Lotz for this wonderful, heartwarming read. ...more
This book was so good - easily a 4.5/5. Ironically I started suffering a bit of insomnia whilst reading this book though I promise it was entirely unrThis book was so good - easily a 4.5/5. Ironically I started suffering a bit of insomnia whilst reading this book though I promise it was entirely unrelated.
This was such a claustrophobic, gas-lighting read. I truly had no idea if Emma was going mad and I kind of liked Nina’s (or Caroline’s, I forget who said it) thing of you can be going mad and also someone can be against you. It made a lot of sense.
Emma doesn’t half go through the wringer in this book - and I loved that it spans just a few weeks in time as Emma tries to figure out if everything that is happening to her is a repeat of what happened to her mother or whether it’s something someone is doing to her. I truly had no idea. I had a feeling someone was adding to Emma’s madness but I had no idea at all who it may have been and kind of suspected everyone at one point - was it Phoebe? Robert? Caroline? Or was it just Emma herself slowly descending into madness.
I flew through the novel whenever I had the chance for a bit of reading and I really, really enjoyed it. It got me anxious in all of the right ways and reminded me of just how good a writer Pinborough is. ...more
I really enjoyed this novel - The Burning Men was one of my favourite books last year (or the year before I forget and time goes by so quickly) and itI really enjoyed this novel - The Burning Men was one of my favourite books last year (or the year before I forget and time goes by so quickly) and it’s taken me a while to get to The Killing Choice but it was such a good read.
The synopsis of The Killing Choice was so intriguing - a man and his daughter are walking through the park when someone comes up and says the man has to choose - he can walk away and trust the killer won’t kill his daughter or he can stay and they both die. It was such an awful choice to have to make but such an intriguing way for a novel to be written.
It was so good to have Finn, Paulsen, Ojo and co back again and this was such a good twisty, turny book. Definitely recommend, with a brilliant ending I didn’t even see coming. I can’t wait for the next one! ...more
The premise was the best thing about this book. It all became a bit too farcical towards the end for my liking and what had started as an interesting The premise was the best thing about this book. It all became a bit too farcical towards the end for my liking and what had started as an interesting read/premise kind of petered into nothing.
Disappointing really but on to the next book. ...more
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