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ClareR (5906 KP) rated Em & Me in Books

Mar 24, 2023  
Em & Me
Em & Me
Beth Morrey | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Em & Me by Beth Morrey was another lucky choice on The Pigeonhole! I loved this story about a young, single mum, Delphine, who cares for both her daughter and her father.

Since the death of her mother when she was a young teenager, Delphine has had to care for her father who has been in the depths of grief and depression. Delphine is in survival mode, working two jobs and struggling to make ends meet.

And then the doors begin to open for her. She rediscovers her voice - both spoken and singing. Delphine realises that she wants more, but she has a secret that she’s trying to keep from everyone - including herself.

This is a story of second chances, self-belief, family and friends (both equally as important to Delphine). A thoroughly feel good novel - and we all need one of those from time to time, don’t we!

Many thanks to Beth Morrey for reading along with us and commenting along on the Pigeonhole.
  
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1)
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1)
Kwame Mbalia | 2019 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
the characters (2 more)
the story
Good read for anyone
This is a great middle grade book. The story is compelling and deep. Tristan is a boy who is struggling with growing up, figuring out how to deal with losing his best friend, and feeling like a disappointment to his parents and grandparents. It's a rollercoaster of feelings and a great story.
If you don't know anything or much about African American or African folktales or mythology, it's ok. I really know only two (John Henry the reason why I bought the book.) and have only a passing knowledge of some of the characters and others I didn't know at all. And that didn't distract from the story. I will be looking the stories up because I want to know more about them. That kind of curiosity is something that I feel makes a great book.
I look forward to reading the next story.
  
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ClareR (5906 KP) rated Beach Rivals in Books

Aug 23, 2023  
Beach Rivals
Beach Rivals
Georgie Tilney | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh how I loved this book! I read it on The Pigeonhole with my fellow Pigeons, and I think we all agreed that it was lovely. Oh, and we pretty much all agreed that we’d love to go on holiday to Thailand (Or anywhere!) to run a bookshop for three months!

Clare and Jack run the shop together never having met before, and share the tiny flat that comes with the shop. It’s a bit of a “will they, won’t they” for a little while, but you just know that it’s going to happen 🥰

Anyway, they turn a failing bookshop into one that is more of a success, and I can’t say as I’ve ever been more envious of made up characters!

This is such a feel-good read, perfect for the summer - or any time that you need a pick me up, really! It’s just fabulous!

Thank you Pigeonhole and Georgie for reading along!
  
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
2021 | Action, Adventure
This movie really amazed and surprised me at how much I love this movie. It does a great job at balancing the humor and the seriousness throughout the film. Definitely fan service, but it’s used in a way where it’s in service of the plot and helps drive it forward.

It also made me like Tom Holland’s Peter/SM a whole lot more compared to the other two solo films he did. Peter has to actually face the consequences of his actions. This is easily Tom’s best performance as Peter Parker by far. And the villains were great (specifically Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and Electro). I thought they did a good job at balancing the screen time for them and it didn’t feel like a cluster of a mess with too many characters. As a big Spider-Man fan, this really feels like a love letter to the character and it’s everything that I would want from a Spider-Man movie.
  
Vampires and Villains (Magical Mystery Book Club #2)
Vampires and Villains (Magical Mystery Book Club #2)
Elizabeth Pantley | 2022 | Mystery, Paranormal
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


The book club has decided it's time for their second adventure. They have the addition of a new member to get to know as well. When and where will the snapdragon inns magical mystery book club take them this time?

This is the second book of the magical mystery book club series and yet again it's another series by Elizabeth that I absolutely am obsessed with. She has a way of involving you in the story so that you feel you are there and solve the mystery with them. She is so talented I think its great that she makes a reference to the destiny falls series (the book that Paige is reading) it's a real personal touch and I found myself grinning as I read that bit.


Elizabeth has produced another gripping series and yet again I cannot wait for the next instalment. Thank you, Elizabeth.


** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
  
Death of a Bookseller
Death of a Bookseller
Alice Slater | 2023 | Contemporary, Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
🐌🐌🐌

I loved this book about two booksellers: Brogan (or Roach to her work colleagues) who has a fascination with all things true crime, and Laura, the object of Roach’s obsession.

To say Roach is obsessed with Laura would actually be an understatement, and she becomes increasingly creepy as the book goes on. To be fair, neither Roach or Laura are particularly likeable characters, but Roach and her rather questionable personal hygiene practices may just clinch it for me. Although she does have a pet giant land snail, so that may be her one redeeming feature 🐌

This is a really unsettling book, and I couldn’t find anything to like about either character (err, the snail was nice!) - even though I did try to feel sorry for Laura. She goes through a lot, and her background is traumatic.

I can see this being very popular and for good reason - it’s a great read!

🐌🐌🐌
  
True North (Yule Lads #1)
True North (Yule Lads #1)
TA Moore | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TRUE NORTH is the first book in the Yule Lads, and this is not a Hallmark story!

It is intricate and intriguing, but I always felt as though I wasn't getting the full picture. It is fast-paced and non-stop, including the relationship between Dylan and Somerset. This is definitely something I want more of, as I just didn't feel as though I had enough.

If the aim was to keep the reader in the dark, along with Dylan, so you learn at the same time as him, then it worked. I kept reading in the hope I would understand more of what was going on.

This was an absorbing story that I look forward to reading more of.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 9, 2023