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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Keeping Her (Losing It, #1.5) in Books
Sep 6, 2019
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved both Losing It and Faking it so I was so happy when the publishers accepted my request to read this too :D
This one alternates between Garrick and Bliss POV with each chapter and we see how they feel about going to London and meeting his family and friends. Garrick is worried how is mum will treat her and Bliss is worried they wont like her. Bliss being Bliss worries far too much but in that humorous way she has that leaves you smiling if not laughing out loud and Garrick is just his charming self trying to make things as easy as possible for her.
One scene I liked was where they go to meet his parents and Bliss, being her clumsy self, knocks over his mothers favourite vase and it smashes into pieces and she just stands there like a rabbit caught in headlights while going through this funny mental conversation with herself.
It isnt a full length novel but plugs the gaps of what happened between Losing It and Faking It with Garrick and Bliss. It was short and sweet and if you are a fan of the series then you have to read this. (Just make sure you do it in order or you may get a little confused :D )
I loved both Losing It and Faking it so I was so happy when the publishers accepted my request to read this too :D
This one alternates between Garrick and Bliss POV with each chapter and we see how they feel about going to London and meeting his family and friends. Garrick is worried how is mum will treat her and Bliss is worried they wont like her. Bliss being Bliss worries far too much but in that humorous way she has that leaves you smiling if not laughing out loud and Garrick is just his charming self trying to make things as easy as possible for her.
One scene I liked was where they go to meet his parents and Bliss, being her clumsy self, knocks over his mothers favourite vase and it smashes into pieces and she just stands there like a rabbit caught in headlights while going through this funny mental conversation with herself.
It isnt a full length novel but plugs the gaps of what happened between Losing It and Faking It with Garrick and Bliss. It was short and sweet and if you are a fan of the series then you have to read this. (Just make sure you do it in order or you may get a little confused :D )
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ClareR (5916 KP) rated The Queens of Innis Lear in Books
Nov 21, 2021
The Queens of Innis Lear is a retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear, which I haven’t read, so I can’t even begin to compare this frankly wonderful book to the original.
I’m not even going to write a synopsis, however short, because this is a 500+ page book, and it would be impossible. What I WILL say, is that this book really did deliver on the strong female character front. That alone would make this a book I’d want to read. The descriptions of the anthropomorphised island (that’s my big word for the day), the magic, the trees, was entrancing. Where is this place? I need to go there! It’s OK, I know it’s fictitious, but, y’know…
There are so many twists and turns, double crosses, misunderstandings - there’s never a dull moment on this island. Handsome men and Kings who are passed over because the women, the potential Queens, know that to have their own autonomy they must remain single.
Ok, this book could have been shorter, but I really believe that this would have affected the world building - and what a world Innis Lear and the countries near and far from it’s borders are!
If you like fantasy with Kings, Queens, magic and strife, then this may well be the book for you. I adored it.
I’m not even going to write a synopsis, however short, because this is a 500+ page book, and it would be impossible. What I WILL say, is that this book really did deliver on the strong female character front. That alone would make this a book I’d want to read. The descriptions of the anthropomorphised island (that’s my big word for the day), the magic, the trees, was entrancing. Where is this place? I need to go there! It’s OK, I know it’s fictitious, but, y’know…
There are so many twists and turns, double crosses, misunderstandings - there’s never a dull moment on this island. Handsome men and Kings who are passed over because the women, the potential Queens, know that to have their own autonomy they must remain single.
Ok, this book could have been shorter, but I really believe that this would have affected the world building - and what a world Innis Lear and the countries near and far from it’s borders are!
If you like fantasy with Kings, Queens, magic and strife, then this may well be the book for you. I adored it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated The Invisible Assistant in Books
Jan 26, 2022
Magical Locked Room Mystery
Magician Eli Marks is surprised when his ex-wife, Deirdre, shows up at one of his magic shows with her new husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton. However, they are there seeking Eli’s advice. A recent murder/suicide inside a lock townhome appears to be open and shut to Fred, but Deirdre, a DA, is certain that something else is going on, and she is hoping that Eli’s unique view of things will help explain what really happened. Will his knowledge of magic help solve the case?
I’ve been meaning to read this story for a while, and I’m glad I finally did. This is a classic locked room mystery, and I always enjoy those. The solution was logical if a bit of a stretch. Still, I was willing to buy into it. We really only have three characters in this story, and the interaction between them was fun. As a fan of the series, I laughed at some of it, in fact. I suspect that those coming to the characters first the first time will find it just as amusing. The story is set early in the series, so fans should expect those dynamics as they read. Whether you are new to Eli’s world or not, this is a short story you’ll enjoy.
I’ve been meaning to read this story for a while, and I’m glad I finally did. This is a classic locked room mystery, and I always enjoy those. The solution was logical if a bit of a stretch. Still, I was willing to buy into it. We really only have three characters in this story, and the interaction between them was fun. As a fan of the series, I laughed at some of it, in fact. I suspect that those coming to the characters first the first time will find it just as amusing. The story is set early in the series, so fans should expect those dynamics as they read. Whether you are new to Eli’s world or not, this is a short story you’ll enjoy.
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated How To Be A Complete And Utter Blunt in Books
Sep 3, 2022
I think this is the shortest book I’ve ever read (I finished it within half an hour) but that doesn’t stop it from being entertaining.
I have seen some of James Blunt’s tweets before, but having some of them compiled into a book is even more entertaining than reading them when I come across them.
James has a dry and sarcastic sense of humour, and when it comes to being insulted by members of the public, he seems to know exactly what to say to both make it seem like he’s not bothered and get one over on the person tweeting. No one is safe, he even insults Piers Morgan when he’s having an argument with someone else.
I actually think he could have included more tweets and made a longer book and it would have just got better and better. I love the self deprecating sense of humour that he has over his music, and the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. The only thing that let this book down was how short it was, I think there could have been so many more tweets in it.
Fingers crossed that James Blunt decides to make another compilation of his tweets in the future, I would definitely be buying that book after having read this one!
I have seen some of James Blunt’s tweets before, but having some of them compiled into a book is even more entertaining than reading them when I come across them.
James has a dry and sarcastic sense of humour, and when it comes to being insulted by members of the public, he seems to know exactly what to say to both make it seem like he’s not bothered and get one over on the person tweeting. No one is safe, he even insults Piers Morgan when he’s having an argument with someone else.
I actually think he could have included more tweets and made a longer book and it would have just got better and better. I love the self deprecating sense of humour that he has over his music, and the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. The only thing that let this book down was how short it was, I think there could have been so many more tweets in it.
Fingers crossed that James Blunt decides to make another compilation of his tweets in the future, I would definitely be buying that book after having read this one!
ClareR (5916 KP) rated The Mars House in Books
Oct 1, 2024
Can I just say that I loved a book and leave it at that? Because this is one of those books.
Ok, a short summary:
January Sterling is a climate refugee, escaping the floods and intense heat for the Mars colony of Tharsis. Life as an Earthstronger on Mars isn’t ideal. He and the other Earthstrongers are seen as a danger to the native Martians: they are much stronger because of the weaker gravity, even though they’re much smaller. January and his fellow Earthstrongers are discriminated against and given the worst manual labour jobs.
January meets a Martian politician who is staunchly anti-Earth stronger, an somehow ends up in a sham-marriage. Of course, it’s a slow-burn romance with lots of peril, lies and climate change politics.
My only complaint, is that in trying to make the characters asexual, they all read as being very male. Perhaps it was just the way I read it.
The Mars House has a lot to say about climate change and its refugees - and the predictable refugee-haters. Instead of boats, they arrive in space ships, and the inhabitants of Mars are as scared of, and enraged by, these people, as some elements in our own society today.
I really enjoyed this book, and I loved how different it was to Natasha Pulley’s previous books. Whatever will she write next? I’ll be waiting!
Ok, a short summary:
January Sterling is a climate refugee, escaping the floods and intense heat for the Mars colony of Tharsis. Life as an Earthstronger on Mars isn’t ideal. He and the other Earthstrongers are seen as a danger to the native Martians: they are much stronger because of the weaker gravity, even though they’re much smaller. January and his fellow Earthstrongers are discriminated against and given the worst manual labour jobs.
January meets a Martian politician who is staunchly anti-Earth stronger, an somehow ends up in a sham-marriage. Of course, it’s a slow-burn romance with lots of peril, lies and climate change politics.
My only complaint, is that in trying to make the characters asexual, they all read as being very male. Perhaps it was just the way I read it.
The Mars House has a lot to say about climate change and its refugees - and the predictable refugee-haters. Instead of boats, they arrive in space ships, and the inhabitants of Mars are as scared of, and enraged by, these people, as some elements in our own society today.
I really enjoyed this book, and I loved how different it was to Natasha Pulley’s previous books. Whatever will she write next? I’ll be waiting!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Man in the High Castle in Books
Jan 8, 2018
Great idea, not very well executed
I was sorely disappointed on this book. I’ve never seen the tv show either, so had nothing whatsoever to bias my views. On paper this is a fantastic idea for a dystopian future, I just felt that it wasn’t very well excecuted or, I’m ashamed to say, very well written either.
I found that I cared very little for the characters, and the plot itself seemed very plodding and boring at times. I read to the end as it was only short and I kept hoping for more, but it never delivered. Yes the ending was good, but could’ve been so more much more. I’m actually very frustrated as this is such a great idea, i love dystopian future novels and this could’ve been so much better than it is. I like Philip K Dick, but I keep imagining how differently this story could’ve been told in the hands of another author.
I found that I cared very little for the characters, and the plot itself seemed very plodding and boring at times. I read to the end as it was only short and I kept hoping for more, but it never delivered. Yes the ending was good, but could’ve been so more much more. I’m actually very frustrated as this is such a great idea, i love dystopian future novels and this could’ve been so much better than it is. I like Philip K Dick, but I keep imagining how differently this story could’ve been told in the hands of another author.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Fault in Our Stars in Books
Sep 11, 2017
Bittersweet, but quite similar to others in the genre
There seems to be rave reviews for this book and its counterpart film, and while I understand that it is tragic I just feel I've read similar novels in the past.
The tone resembles My Sister's Keeper in many ways, written in the perspective of teenagers suffering from cancer and attempting to lead as normal a life as possible. And while it's sweet and sad, I just don't feel it was written that spectacularly. The story content is important, but the writing falls a little short - but I'm assuming that as this is more for young adults, it is geared in this way as well.
And I may sound completely heartless but the build-up to the reveal was overdone, and the ending was drawn out for far too long that it was an anti-climax. That could be the author's intention to make death seem as if a passing ship. A little disappointed overall.
The tone resembles My Sister's Keeper in many ways, written in the perspective of teenagers suffering from cancer and attempting to lead as normal a life as possible. And while it's sweet and sad, I just don't feel it was written that spectacularly. The story content is important, but the writing falls a little short - but I'm assuming that as this is more for young adults, it is geared in this way as well.
And I may sound completely heartless but the build-up to the reveal was overdone, and the ending was drawn out for far too long that it was an anti-climax. That could be the author's intention to make death seem as if a passing ship. A little disappointed overall.
BTPBookclub (18 KP) rated The Woman in the Window in Books
May 14, 2019
Messes with your head
This is a story that will mess with your head over and over… One revelation after another. I loved it. The Woman in the Window is set out in days and short chapters making it an easy to read story which can be devoured easily.
At first I thought hmm this woman (Anna) is a bit strange maybe she is just one of those nosy neighbours we all hate, boy was I wrong. Readers are in for a treat with this story. I must admit I thought with the story being based in just one specific location that it was going to be dull and dragged out, yet again I was wrong.
I awarded four stars for this story as I found it took a while to get to the good bits but it still turned out to be a brilliant brain twister of a story to dive into. Highly recommend!
At first I thought hmm this woman (Anna) is a bit strange maybe she is just one of those nosy neighbours we all hate, boy was I wrong. Readers are in for a treat with this story. I must admit I thought with the story being based in just one specific location that it was going to be dull and dragged out, yet again I was wrong.
I awarded four stars for this story as I found it took a while to get to the good bits but it still turned out to be a brilliant brain twister of a story to dive into. Highly recommend!