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ClareR (5764 KP) rated Ghosts in Books

Feb 21, 2021  
Ghosts
Ghosts
Dolly Alderton | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ghosts was a great listen. I liked the character of Nina - she seems to be a great friend and a good daughter who wants to help both friends and family when she can. This doesn’t always seem to be reciprocated though. Nina is a successful food writer and owns her own home; the only thing missing in her life is someone to share it with. After the break up with her boyfriend, Joe, who she stays best friends with, Nina decides to try a dating app called Linx. She meets Max through the app, who is a handsome, enigmatic accountant. He announces on their first date that they will get married - and that’s where alarm bells started ringing for me, like the old cynic that I am.

Nina’s parents are lovely people, and her dads worsening dementia is heartbreaking. Her Mum is a bit of comic relief at times, changing her first name and joining clubs - but the reasoning behind her actions are understandable. She’s a lot younger than Ninas dad, and watching him forget more and more must be frightening and upsetting for her.

This book had me experiencing ALL the emotions - it’s funny, sad, worrying and infuriating. I laughed aloud whilst listening, had a bit of a cry, and shouted at Nina at one point (it was a Max thing and I was wearing headphones 🤷🏼‍♀️). The narrator was the exact right choice and it helped that the writing was really engaging too. It’s a really good book - and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
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Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
Ashley Herring Blake | 2018 | Children, Contemporary, LGBTQ+
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ivy Aberdeen is struggling with feeling invisible in her family—her mom is busy with Ivy’s new twin brothers. Things get worse when a tornado destroys their home, displacing the family. In the aftermath, Ivy—an artist—loses a notebook filled her most precious drawings. When they start showing up in her locker with notes attached, Ivy realizes the note-leaver may be on to what Ivy can barely voice herself: she has crushes and dreams about girls. Can Ivy make herself seen and follow her heart?


"How was Ivy supposed to know how to handle all these feelings... all these feelings at all, if everything she saw and read about and heard was all boy-girl, girl-boy?"


I genuinely don’t know what we did to deserve Ashley Herring Blake, but we are lucky. She’s become one of my favorite authors. This unique middle grade novel (Ivy is 12) is yet another beautifully written book from Blake that tells a story so many kids need to hear.

And Ivy. Oh Ivy. I loved this kid. She goes through so much, and we see her present tough, real feelings. She’s artistic, resilient, and witty. And, oh yeah, she likes girls. It’s just the best sort of representation in the world, you know? I wish this was on the shelves and being read in every middle school.

This book is lovely, real, and tells an invaluable story. It’s so funny and sweet, and I honestly would recommend it for everyone.
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ClareR (5764 KP) rated Snowflake in Books

Sep 11, 2021  
Snowflake
Snowflake
Louise Nealon | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Travel
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A really enjoyable coming of age story, Snowflake by Louise Nealon is about Debbie White, and how she navigates life away from her home. When Debbie gets a place at Trinity College, Dublin, it’s decided that she’ll commute every day by train from her farm in the country. This sets her apart from the beginning: most people seem to stay in Dublin. But Debbie struggles with how to behave around other students, and if not for Xanthe, who takes Debbie under her wing, I don’t think she would have made any friends at all.

Debbie’s home life is unconventional. Her mother is obsessed with dreams, and believes that she knows what people’s dreams are - that she can see right into them. She has periods of extreme moods, and Debbie has to look after her during these episodes.

And then there’s Debbie’s Uncle Billy. He runs the farm and lives in a caravan. I rather liked his no-nonsense approach to life, but he’s just as vulnerable as his sister and niece.

It isn’t all doom and gloom though. Debbie is funny, quirky and a highly likeable person - the book had moments that really made me laugh. It was these moments of light and dark that really made the book work for me. Louise Nealon is going to be a name to watch for in the future. I loved this. You should all go and read this now!

Many thanks to Manila Press for the copy provided to me through NetGalley.
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Merissa (12206 KP) rated Bring Me A Dream (Reveler #5) in Books

May 8, 2021 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Bring Me A Dream (Reveler #5)
Bring Me A Dream (Reveler #5)
Erin Kellison | 2014 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.

The tagline on this book is "The madman and the nightmare..." and I really can't say better than that. Erin Kellison has managed to make an unlikeable villain into a funny, psycho hero! Vincent knows he is going insane and is enough to admit it. His perfect partner is a nightmare, none other than Didier Lambert's daughter, Mirren.

The story arc that is through all of the books continues in this installment. Didier Lambert is still the evil of the piece but who is the new player that we are hearing about, The Sandman. We learn more about him as we go through with Vince and Mirren. She has grown up hearing about him and believes in him. Vince thinks he is made up and is just the 'boogeyman'. As they journey into the Reve they will found out one way or another. They have allies and friends along the way but will they be able to keep them?

This novella is action-packed, well paced and full of suspense all the way through. This is part of a series so it must be read in order for any of it to make sense but I can highly recommend the whole thing! Once you start, you will want to carry on. Each of the characters we have met before make an appearance, as well as new ones to keep you on your toes. Highly enjoyable and the pages whizz by.


December 22, 2014