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Boys Don’t Cry
Boys Don’t Cry
Fíona Scarlett | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Boys Don’t Cry is a beautifully written, funny, tragic debut novel. Honestly, I thought my heart would actually break whilst I was reading this. Fiona Scarlett manages to pack in all the feelings: happiness, anger, grief, humour and heartbreak.

Joe at 17, is the brother left to deal with the death of his 12 year old brother. His father manages to get himself in to trouble, and in to prison. His mother can’t cope. And Joe is struggling too. He is in an environment where it is all too easy for him to take the wrong path and end up like his father. Involved with the wrong people and in prison.

We see flashbacks to Finn as he is diagnosed with Leukaemia and how he copes with the treatment. He is such a happy, generous boy, who worries more about everyone else than about himself.

I don’t want to give much away, but Fiona Scarlett has created two boys who are wonderful human beings, despite the hand that has been dealt to them.
I adored this book. It still gives me a lump in my throat when I’m writing about it, never mind speaking to people about it - I’ll point them in this direction, I think.

It’s like the meme that says “This book has destroyed me and broken my heart. You MUST read it”
So yeah, just read it.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated Nun But the Brave in Books

Feb 18, 2022 (Updated Feb 18, 2022)  
Nun But the Brave
Nun But the Brave
Alice Loweecey | 2016 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Giulia Bravely Tackles a Missing Person Case
Giulia Driscoll has been hired by a young woman to find her missing twin sister. Joanne has been missing for a couple of months. The police are sure that she is dead, but her sister refuses to give up hope. Giulia starts by talking to Joanne’s friends and co-workers, and she find that Joanne had been acting differently the last few months before she vanished. The trail leads Giulia to several internet dating sites, but where will the trail end?

I’d forgotten just how funny this series was until I picked this book up. I loved the banter between Giulia and those in her life. Some of the humor was on the crude side, but it was still handled as delicately as possible. The plot was good. She made a couple of leaps of logic early on, but, I was willing to let that slide. The plot holds up well on, and everything is resolved with evidence Giulia finds along the way by the time we reach the climax. The characters are wonderful. They may make us laugh, but there is depth to them that makes us care about the outcome. If you are looking to laugh as you read, be sure to check out this book.
  
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Merissa (12926 KP) rated Until You in Books

Dec 2, 2023  
Until You
Until You
Felicity Snow | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
UNTIL YOU is a standalone story about Paul (mid-forties) and Charlie (19). Charlie is homeless and Paul meets him when he is being beaten up. Charlie is rescued and Paul pays what he owes, and thinks that's it. Only, he can't get Charlie out of his mind.

This is a sweet story with some steamy moments. The interactions between Charlie and Paul are both realistic and funny (when they're supposed to be.) The difference in their ages is shown in subtle ways, the same as how they acknowledge and deal with their other differences.

You don't know until the end what secret Paul is hiding, although you can guess. I loved how it was Paul's ex-wife who took the first step afterwards. It was such a good example of people learning from their mistakes and becoming better people for it. The relationship between Rachel and Charlie was fantastic to read, especially after her initial reaction.

Such a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed - and that epilogue was perfect! Definitely recommended by me.

** 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 2, 2023